Who Should I Start? Travis Kelce or Michael Mayer

Friday, October 17, 11:19 PM

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce will face the Las Vegas Raiders at home in Week 7. Kelce caught six passes for 78 yards as he led the Chiefs pass catchers against the Detroit Lions in Week 6. The veteran tight end has strung together back-to-back good games, but that solid production could be coming to an end. Rashee Rice is set to return from suspension in Week 7, which could negatively impact Kelce's offensive contributions. Rice had an outstanding start to the 2024 season, averaging over 20 PPR points per game, but Kelce was not effective during that span. At the beginning of the 2024 season, the Chiefs tight end had eight catches for 69 yards through three games. Kelce and Rice win in the same areas of the field, and the latter is much more explosive at this point. It remains to be seen how the usage will be divided amongst the Chiefs pass catchers, so Kelce should still be a viable starter against Las Vegas this week. The Raiders have allowed the eighth-fewest points to opposing tight ends this season, but that does not mean it will be a bad matchup for Kelce. He can find success against the Raiders if Patrick Mahomes decides to feed him. Kelce is ranked TE8 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, making him a solid TE1 this week.

Friday, October 17, 8:41 PM

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer is expected to take on a significant role in Sunday's divisional showdown against the Kansas City Chiefs. With Brock Bowers (knee) listed as doubtful and wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (knee) questionable, Geno Smith may once again look heavily toward Mayer in the passing game. The 24-year-old tight end led the Raiders in targets last week, converting seven looks into five receptions for 50 yards and a touchdown. Mayer has developed into a trusted red-zone option and reliable safety valve for Smith, giving him strong streaming appeal for fantasy managers in need of a tight end. Given the potential for increased volume and scoring chances, Mayer profiles as a back-end TE1 potential in Week 7.