Who Should I Start? Daniel Bellinger or Michael Mayer

Monday, January 6, 10:27 AM

New York Giants tight end Daniel Bellinger caught two passes for nine yards during Sunday's Week 18 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Bellinger has stepped up as the Giants' primary tight end with Theo Johnson (foot) on injured reserve, but he played just 58.5 percent of the offensive snaps on Sunday and hasn't been a dependable contributor despite his increased role. Moving forward, the 24-year-old will drop back down to second on the depth chart once Johnson is healthy again. He's off the radar heading into 2025 fantasy football drafts.

Thursday, August 7, 3:53 PM

ESPN's Ryan McFadden reports that Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer has been a standout in training camp. The Notre Dame product flashed during his rookie campaign, but the addition of Brock Bowers in 2024 was a detriment to Mayer's playing time. While Bowers and new quarterback Geno Smith have quickly gotten on the same page, Mayer has had an excellent camp of his own. The 24-year-old has been an offensive standout since OTAs, per McFadden, who also notes offensive coordinator Chip Kelly has "big plans" for him in 2025. There are undoubtedly targets up for grabs in the Raiders' offense, and Mayer may play a nice role for them. However, that translating to fantasy isn't a guarantee. Bowers and wide receiver Jakobi Meyers are worth rostering for now, but Mayer will have to impress in preseason action before he's worthy of fantasy managers' attention in drafts.