Who Should I Start? Trey McBride or Brock Bowers

Sunday, October 19, 9:53 PM

Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride has proven over the last two games that he doesn't need starting quarterback Kyler Murray (foot) to produce for his fantasy managers. In fact, he's been better in Weeks 6 and 7 while working with veteran backup Jacoby Brissett. In the 27-23 loss to the visiting Green Bay Packers on Sunday, McBride caught a season-high 10 passes on 13 targets for 74 yards and two touchdowns as Arizona's leading receiver. The 25-year-old tight end also went off while working with Brissett in last week's loss to the Indianapolis Colts, catching eight of 11 targets for 72 yards and a touchdown. So McBride now has 18 receptions for 146 yards and three touchdowns on 24 targets and three touchdowns with Murray sidelined the last two games. Fantasy managers might be bummed that Murray could be returning following Arizona's Week 8 bye, but McBride is without a doubt a set-and-forget TE1 in fantasy football.

Monday, October 20, 3:00 PM

Las Vegas Raiders All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers (knee) has missed the last three games as he recovers from the bone bruise and PCL injury he sustained in the season opener, but according to head coach Pete Carroll, he's expected to return to the field following the team's Week 8 bye. The Raiders are coming off one of the worst offensive performances in recent history, managing fewer than 100 total yards in a 31-0 shellacking from the Kansas City Chiefs, so for multiple reasons, the bye week comes at a good time. Bowers caught five of eight targets for 103 yards in Week 1, but was clearly limited in his next three outings, lacking his trademark explosiveness as he played with a knee brace. Rather than risk further injury, the team made the decision to shut him down until he's fully healthy, and he is now in line to play in Week 9 against the Jaguars. While he may need to work himself back into game shape, he should still be inserted right back into starting lineups, as the upside he offers at the position is practically unmatched across the league.