Who Should I Start? Tucker Kraft or Brock Bowers

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.

Friday, December 19, 5:03 PM

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers has an opportunity to bounce back in Week 16 against the Houston Texans. The second-year tight end is coming off a disappointing Week 15 showing without quarterback Geno Smith (back, shoulder), hauling in six of his eight targets for just 28 yards, scoring single-digit fantasy points for the first time since Week 10. Despite this poor result, Bowers played 90% of the team's snaps, ran a route on every drop-back, and had a target share of 32%, signifying his importance in Las Vegas' overall passing scheme. Smith will start in Week 16, and Bowers is his preferred target against a Texans defense that just gave up 12 receptions, 134 yards, and two touchdowns to Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride, a career day for him, in Week 15. Since returning from injury in Week 9, Bowers has been a steady TE1 option for fantasy managers, averaging 16.9 PPR points per game. Bowers has a safe floor and should be started in all league formats in Week 16, but a sputtering Raiders' offense against a dominant Texans defense will probably limit his upside.