Who Should I Start? Michael Mayer or Feleipe Franks

Monday, January 6, 10:15 AM

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer caught all four of his targets for 21 yards during Sunday's Week 18 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Mayer has been routinely out-produced by Brock Bowers this season, but that didn't stop him from playing 81.3 percent of the offensive snaps in the Raiders' regular-season finale. That represented his second-highest rate of the season, and it showed that the Raiders can have success operating out of two-tight end sets. Mayer finished his second pro season with 21 catches and 156 yards through 10 games, remaining a solid short-yardage outlet for quarterback Aidan O'Connell while Bowers did more work downfield and after the catch. There's no question that Bowers remains the No. 1 tight end in Las Vegas (and all of fantasy football), but Mayer could sneak onto the end of the fantasy radar in deeper PPR leagues next season.

Wednesday, September 18, 1:30 AM

The Carolina Panthers have promoted tight end Feleipe Franks from the practice squad to the active roster. Franks saw limited action in Sunday's 26-3 loss to the Chargers, playing just one offensive snap as starting tight end Tommy Tremble was active. A one-year starter at Arkansas, Franks spent three years at the University of Florida before signing with the Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2021. After playing quarterback, he transitioned to tight end in 2022. Atlanta waived him in 2023, then joined the Panthers in 2024. Franks started the season on the active roster, was briefly released, and then signed to the practice squad, where he contributed as a standard elevation last week. He has already made his mark on special teams, and with Ian Thomas (calf) on IR until early October and Jordan Matthews released, Franks is poised to take on a depth role for Carolina.