Who Should I Start? Michael Mayer or Noah Gray

Wednesday, June 4, 3:17 PM

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer is in tremendous shape and has been a standout performer at OTAs this offseason, according to team reporter Vincent Bonsignore. Mayer was a second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft after a fantastic career at Notre Dame, but he has not had the impact many hoped for when he began his professional career. Injuries, poor quarterback play, and the team's selection of Brock Bowers in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft have led to little production through his first two seasons. Overall, the 25-year-old has hauled in 48 receptions for 460 yards and two touchdowns. A potential Year 3 improvement would be great for the Raiders' 12-personnel groupings, but it would be a surprise if Mayer ends up on the fantasy football radar if Bowers stays healthy. The ideal outcome for Mayer's fantasy value is a trade to another team.

Saturday, January 25, 10:05 PM

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Noah Gray is a low-floor desperation play in this Sunday's Conference Championship bout with the Buffalo Bills. Gray had a stretch of four games in the middle of the season when he snagged four touchdowns and nabbed at least four passes per contest. However, he's since caught just eight balls while seeing his snap percentage drop roughly 10-20% per outing. The drop in playing time coincides with the return of wide receiver Marquise Brown, so it makes sense that the 25-year-old has had his work cut some. He'll still be eligible to catch a short-area TD or two, but by and large, is tough to trust from a volume standpoint in a passing attack that hasn't been all that effective this season. Gray can be safely avoided for fantasy purposes, even in a game that should feature a healthy amount of points.