Who Should I Start? Michael Mayer or Luke Schoonmaker

Monday, July 8, 2:25 PM

The Athletic's Vic Tafur writes that it's the Las Vegas Raiders' plan to use more two-tight end sets this year involving rookie first-rounder Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer, who was a second-round selection in 2023. In addition, the Raiders will line up Bowers out wide and behind the quarterback at times to give the defense unique looks. It's not that the Raiders suddenly don't like Mayer now after drafting Bowers in the first round, but they just thought they couldn't pass up on Bowers' explosiveness and even turned down a team trying to trade up for him. While Mayer will still have a role in the offense in his second NFL season, he's going to take a back seat to Bowers in 2024 and will go undrafted in standard 12-team fantasy leagues this fall. Bowers, meanwhile has the potential for a Sam LaPorta-like season in his rookie campaign.

Saturday, August 3, 6:50 PM

Dallas Cowboys tight end Luke Schoonmaker (groin) was unable to practice on Saturday. It sounds like the second-year tight end is dealing with a minor groin issue. For now, Schoonmaker is considered as day-to-day. The Cowboys might hold him out of practice for a few days until he's back to full health. The expectation is Schoonmaker will be the No. 2 tight end behind Jake Ferguson this season. He finished with eight receptions for 65 yards and two touchdowns in 17 games last season. There probably won't be a ton of fantasy value for Schoonmaker with Ferguson ahead of him on the depth chart.