Who Should I Start? Drew Sample or Michael Mayer

Saturday, September 27, 2:08 PM

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Drew Sample has only three catches this season, with one resulting in a trip to the end zone. The 29-year-old has logged more snaps than Mike Gesicki and Noah Fant (foot) through the first three weeks of the 2025 campaign. However, both have received more attention from quarterbacks Joe Burrow (toe) and Jake Browning. The Bengals offense is a mess, which has been a surprise to most. As a result, it's hard to trust anyone on that side of the ball. Granted, Sample should continue to lead the position in snaps, especially with his abilities as a blocker. Still, while he will likely add a few more scores to his resume before the end of the season, he's not consistent enough to be considered a starting fantasy option in any format in Week 4 versus the Broncos.

Friday, October 17, 8:41 PM

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer is expected to take on a significant role in Sunday's divisional showdown against the Kansas City Chiefs. With Brock Bowers (knee) listed as doubtful and wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (knee) questionable, Geno Smith may once again look heavily toward Mayer in the passing game. The 24-year-old tight end led the Raiders in targets last week, converting seven looks into five receptions for 50 yards and a touchdown. Mayer has developed into a trusted red-zone option and reliable safety valve for Smith, giving him strong streaming appeal for fantasy managers in need of a tight end. Given the potential for increased volume and scoring chances, Mayer profiles as a back-end TE1 potential in Week 7.