Who Should I Start? Michael Mayer or Gunnar Helm
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.2 | 21.3 | 0.1 |
Michael Mayer News
Monday, July 6, 5:14 PM
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers should be the focal point of new head coach Klint Kubiak's offense in 2026, but Kubiak's deployment of two tight ends on the field at the same time could help Michael Mayer's production as the top TE backup, according to Sam Warren of The Athletic. Beyond Bowers and Mayer, Ian Thomas and Carter Runyan could battle for the TE3 job in training camp this summer. Mayer, who was taken in the second round (35th overall) in 2023 out of Notre Dame, caught a career-high 35 passes on 50 targets for 328 yards and only one touchdown in 13 games (12 starts) for the Raiders in 2025 in his third year in the league. He was on the TE streaming radar with Bowers missing some time with injuries last year, but in the end, Mayer's numbers left a lot to be desired. His ceiling will obviously be capped because of Bowers' presence, but he could threaten for even more production if Kubiak involves him more as a pass-catcher alongside Bowers. Mayer should go undrafted in standard 12-team leagues, but if Bowers misses more time with an injury in 2026, he'll be a priority waiver-wire pickup at the position.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.1 | 27.8 | 0.2 |
Gunnar Helm News
Saturday, July 11, 7:53 AM
Tennessee Titans new head coach Robert Saleh has liked what he's seen from second-year tight end Gunnar Helm this offseason, according to Jim Wyatt of TennesseeTitans.com. "Gunnar looks good, man," Saleh said. "He looks like a legit dude - from what he was a year ago to what he is now, especially physically. Again, once pads come on, we'll be able to decide all that, but like all these guys, hopefully they take a big jump and find a way to grab the bull by the horns and take advantage of their opps." The 23-year-old former fourth-rounder last year out of the University of Texas is determined to improve on his rookie-year numbers of 44 catches for 357 yards and two touchdowns on 55 targets in 16 games (10 starts). He ranked fourth on the team in catches with 44, which set a franchise record for rookie TEs, and he ranked fourth on the team in receiving yards. Helm has focused on improving his pad level, his second-level blocking, and his diet, and he was impressive during offseason OTAs and minicamp. With Chig Okonkwo now in Washington, Helm could be primed for a Year 2 breakout in offensive coordinator Brian Daboll's scheme. Fantasy managers should target Helm as a low-end TE2 with upside for more.
Michael Mayer vs. Gunnar Helm
Still trying to decide between Mayer and Helm? 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 5.0 points this week while Gunnar Helm is projected to score 7.1 points.
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