Who Should I Start? Michael Mayer or Brenton Strange

Tuesday, September 16, 12:45 PM

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer was a savvy waiver-wire pickup heading into Week 2 because star tight end Brock Bowers was questionable to play on Monday night against the Los Angeles Chargers due to a knee injury he picked up in the Week 1 win over the New England Patriots. However, Bowers was inactive in Monday's 20-9 loss and caught five of his eight targets for 38 yards. Meanwhile, Mayer once again took a back seat to Bowers in a Raiders offense that failed to find the end zone all night. The 24-year-old hauled in both of his targets for just nine yards against a stingy and stick Chargers D. The Raiders will continue to use Mayer alongside Bowers, but he's a distant No. 2 in Chip Kelly's offense and should only be rostered in TE-premium leagues. Mayer will not be a realistic fantasy starter going into Week 3 against the Washington Commanders.

Monday, September 15, 12:23 PM

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange was drawing waiver-wire consideration after catching all four of his targets for a team-high 59 yards in the Week 1 win over the Carolina Panthers. However, he took a step back in Sunday's 31-27 Week 2 loss on the road to the Cincinnati Bengals, catching three of five targets for just 17 yards. On the bright side, the 24-year-old was Jacksonville's clear TE1, playing 90 percent of the offensive snaps. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence leaned more on receivers Dyami Brown and Parker Washington in this one, but don't overlook the fact that Strange has nine targets through the first two weeks of the 2025 season. Strange will probably continue to have up-and-down weeks, but he's been on the field enough to be considered a borderline TE1/2 in fantasy as the Jags head into a Week 3 divisional matchup against the Houston Texans.