Who Should I Start? Michael Mayer or Harold Fannin Jr.

Tuesday, November 4, 12:38 PM

ESPN's Ryan McFadden writes that both Las Vegas Raiders tight ends Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer should see an increase in targets after the team traded receiver Jakobi Meyers to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Tuesday. Mayer was targeted seven times and had three catches for 26 yards in Sunday's overtime loss to the Jaguars. The Raiders used 12 personnel (two tight ends) more than any game this season in Week 9. In addition to Bowers and Mayer seeing more targets going forward, Tre Tucker will be the team's unquestioned WR1, with rookies Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton Jr., and veteran Tyler Lockett seeing the field more. Although Mayer was targeted a season-high-tying seven times on Sunday, Bowers still overshadowed him with a monster 12-127-3 line. As long as Bowers remains healthy, Mayer will be a touchdown-dependent TE2 in fantasy.

Tuesday, November 4, 8:19 AM

Cleveland Browns tight end Harold Fannin Jr. will be back in action in Week 10 after the team had its bye in Week 9. The third-round rookie from Bowling Green has been excellent in his first eight games in the NFL, averaging 4.8 catches for 44 yards per game. He scored his second touchdown of the year in Week 8 against the Patriots just before the bye, totaling 62 yards by catching six of his eight targets. He has at least four catches in each of his last four games and has formed a solid connection with fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel at quarterback. David Njoku doesn't look like he'll be traded at this point ahead of Tuesday's deadline, but Fannin has still shown enough potential to be a strong starting option the rest of the season while sharing time with Njoku. If someone dropped Fannin due to the bye week or his uncertain playing time, the rookie tight end makes a solid pickup from the waiver wire for the rest of the season and should be a starter in PPR leagues. He faces the Jets and Ravens in the next two weeks in solid tight end matchups.