Who Should I Start? Michael Mayer or Julian Hill

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.

Friday, September 12, 9:38 PM

Miami Dolphins tight end Julian Hill will be atop the depth chart for a second straight week with Daren Waller (hip) ruled out against the Patriots. In Week 1, the third-year tight end split snaps right down the middle with Tanner Conner, each playing 28 snaps in Waller's absence. While he did not get a single target in Week 1, he did catch a two-point conversion. It doesn't count as an official reception, but the conversion did give his fantasy managers something to show for Week 1. Hill will probably play plenty of snaps again in Week 2, but he is not involved enough in the offense to be a fantasy factor. He can be left on the waiver wire in all formats at this point and is the TE43 in RotoBaller's Week 2 rankings.