Who Should I Start? Michael Mayer or Brock Bowers
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.4 | 23.1 | 0.1 |
Michael Mayer News
Wednesday, September 9, 12:19 PM
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer's pass-catching production has been limited over the past two seasons thanks to the presence of superstar Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (knee). However, the Raiders announced on Wednesday that Bowers recently had a meniscus trim and is now expected to miss the first one or two games of 2026. As a result, Mayer should operate as the Raiders' TE1 to begin the year. Across the four games he played in 2025 when Bowers was sidelined by injury, Mayer recorded 18 catches for 196 yards and a touchdown on 24 targets. The Raiders should have a more stable offensive environment in 2026 with Kirk Cousins at quarterback and Klint Kubiak calling plays. Ahead of a relatively favorable matchup against the Miami Dolphins in Week 1, Mayer could be a worthy tight end streamer for fantasy managers to target on the waiver wire.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 3.9 | 41.2 | 0.3 |
Brock Bowers News
Wednesday, September 9, 12:10 PM
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (knee) underwent a meniscus trim on Tuesday and is now expected to miss "a game or two," per ESPN's Adam Schefter. Schefter reports that Bowers got banged up "a little" in training camp and that the surgery was scheduled last week. While the initial return timeline for Bowers sounds relatively positive, this surprise surgery is still a worrying development for fantasy managers. The star tight end's 2025 production was down across the board after he suffered a PCL sprain in his left knee in Week 1. Bowers attempted to play through the injury for much of the season before eventually being placed on Injured Reserve in December. It appears the Raiders are being a bit more proactive this time around, which could help Bowers get back to full strength more quickly. Still, fantasy managers may want to downgrade their expectations for his production, at least initially upon his return. With Bowers sidelined, Raiders tight end Michael Mayer will likely play a larger role in the Las Vegas passing game.
Michael Mayer vs. Brock Bowers
Still trying to decide between Mayer and Bowers? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Michael Mayer is projected to score 5.4 points this week while Brock Bowers is projected to score 10.0 points.
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