Who Should I Start? Michael Mayer or Luke Schoonmaker

Monday, June 30, 9:19 PM

The Las Vegas Review-Journal's Vincent Bonsignore reports that the Las Vegas Raiders are not interested in trading tight end Michael Mayer. It comes after reports that the Miami Dolphins were interested in acquiring Mayer from the Raiders after trading tight end Jonnu Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday. Mayer is scheduled to make $1.6 million in 2025 and $2 million in 2026 and took a back seat in 2024 to rookie Brock Bowers, catching just 21 of 32 targets for 156 yards and no touchdowns in 11 games (eight starts) in his second year in the NFL. The 23-year-old Notre Dame product caught 27 passes for 304 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie. There have been reports suggesting he'll have a bigger role in 2025 in two-tight end sets in new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly's scheme, but as long as Bowers is healthy, he'll be the second fiddle at the position if he stays in Vegas.

Friday, November 29, 10:18 AM

Dallas Cowboys tight end Luke Schoonmaker caught five of six targets for 33 yards during Thursday's Week 13 win over the New York Giants. Schoonmaker established himself early in the contest as four of his five catches came within the first 32 minutes of the game. The 26-year-old has been playing quite admirably in the absence of Jake Ferguson (concussion). Over the last three games, he has 14 catches, 144 yards, one touchdown, and 34.4 fantasy points (PPR). Schoonmaker projects to drop off the fantasy radar as soon as Ferguson returns. However, if Ferguson can't play in Week 14, Schoonmaker would remain an intriguing low-end TE1 option.