Who Should I Start? Dallas Goedert or Michael Mayer

Friday, January 9, 4:41 PM

Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (knee) upgraded to a full practice on Friday and has been cleared to play in Sunday's Wild-Card game versus the visiting San Francisco 49ers. The Eagles held Goedert out, as they did most of their starters, during the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Washington Commanders. The 31-year-old is ready to play this weekend, though, and he'll be one of the best choices at the TE position for fantasy managers competing in playoff leagues. Goedert tied for the league lead with Trey McBride for most touchdowns with 11 during the regular season. San Francisco's defense is also extremely banged up and allowed the eighth-most half-PPR points per game in 2025 to opposing tight ends. Goedert finished as the TE3 overall in half-PPR scoring, behind only McBride and Kyle Pitts Sr.

Sunday, January 4, 7:54 AM

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer should continue to operate in a high-volume role during Sunday's Week 18 contest against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Raiders recently placed Brock Bowers (knee) on injured reserve, ending his season and putting Mayer into the starting role for the final two games of the year. Last weekend, he exploded as the top target in Geno Smith's offense, catching nine of 10 targets for 89 yards. In total, throughout the three games that Bowers has missed and Mayer has played this year, the latter tight end has 15 catches, 149 yards, and one touchdown. A quarterback change is expected in Week 18, though, as Kenny Pickett steps in for the injured Smith (ankle). Pickett struggled to the tune of 64 yards and one turnover in his lone start this year, but he should still be able to support a fantasy-relevant role for Mayer on Sunday. At worst, Mayer will operate as a security blanket in case Pickett struggles to throw the ball deep or needs to get the ball out quickly. As it stands, he ranks as the overall TE8 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for Week 18.