Who Should I Start? Durham Smythe or Michael Mayer

Thursday, March 6, 2:33 PM

The Chicago Bears signed former Miami Dolphins tight end Durham Smythe to a one-year deal on Thursday, according to NFL.com. The former fourth-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame has played his entire seven-year career with Miami but was released this offseason. Overall, the 28-year-old has hauled in 132 receptions for 1,228 yards and three touchdowns in 112 career games. Smythe is best utilized as a blocker, and with Chicago trading for former Los Angeles Rams offensive lineman Jonah Jackson and former Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Joe Thuney, it's evident they want to improve quickly in run and pass blocking. Smythe could help Chicago's offense in 2025 under new head coach Ben Johnson, but he's unlikely to be on the fantasy football radar.

Friday, October 10, 9:01 PM

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer is on track to return in Week 6 after being a full participant in practice throughout the week. Mayer has not played since suffering a concussion on September 21 but is expected to reclaim the starting role with Brock Bowers (knee) still sidelined. While Mayer doesn't offer the same explosive playmaking ability as Bowers, his steady hands and blocking versatility should make him a reliable complementary option in the Raiders offense. Fantasy managers, however, should temper expectations--Mayer is projected as TE17 this week, placing him outside the starting range in standard leagues. Still, with Bowers' recovery timeline uncertain, Mayer could see expanded opportunities in the weeks ahead and is worth monitoring as a potential streamer or stash in deeper formats.