Who Should I Start? Michael Mayer or Tucker Kraft

Wednesday, November 26, 7:42 PM

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (ankle) was a non-participant in the team's first practice of the week on Wednesday due to an ankle issue, according to Ryan McFadden of ESPN. Mayer only played 13 offensive snaps in Sunday's loss to the Cleveland Browns before injuring his ankle and never returning. The 24-year-old's status is now up in the air for this weekend's divisional rematch against the Los Angeles Chargers. Mayer has not been a realistic TE2 fantasy football streamer this year as long as Brock Bowers has been healthy. In nine total games, the former second-rounder in 2023 out of Notre Dame has 22 catches for 182 yards and only one touchdown on 32 targets. If Mayer is unavailable to play against L.A. on Sunday, it should open up more playing time for rookies Dont'e Thornton Jr. and Jack Bech in three-wide sets.

Monday, November 3, 12:07 PM

Tests on Monday confirmed that Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft (knee) suffered a season-ending torn ACL in his right knee in Sunday's Week 9 loss to the Carolina Panthers at Lambeau Field, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. It's a massive blow to the Packers and fantasy managers, as Kraft was in the midst of a breakout campaign in 2025. The 25-year-old former third-round pick will now finish his third year in the NFL with 32 catches on 44 targets for 489 yards and six touchdowns in eight games played. Kraft was coming off a massive seven-catch, 143-yard, two-touchdown performance in the Week 8 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. With Kraft now done for the year, Luke Musgrave becomes a waiver-wire target for fantasy managers in need of help at the TE position. Receivers Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, and Matthew Golden should also see more targets in the passing game going forward.