Who Should I Start? Tyler Higbee or Michael Mayer


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
3.8 0.0 0.0 1.4 16.4 0.1

Tyler Higbee News

Tyler Higbee Is Best Left Undrafted in 2026

Sunday, August 2, 10:21 AM

Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee is heading into his 11th season with the only team he has ever played for, but there is not much reason to chase that familiarity in fantasy drafts. Higbee managed 25 catches for 281 yards and three touchdowns in 10 games last year, missing seven contests with hip and ankle injuries. The Rams still brought him back for an 11th season. Fantasy volume is another matter. Colby Parkinson led the team's tight ends with 43 receptions, Terrance Ferguson turned 11 catches into 231 yards, and Davis Allen remained part of the rotation. Los Angeles then used the 61st overall pick on Max Klare. The Rams can keep several of them involved after leading the NFL in 13 personnel usage last season, but that makes the weekly target split even harder to predict. Higbee is 33, has appeared in only 13 regular-season games over the past two years, and sits at TE44 in RotoBaller's July rankings. A few touchdown weeks are possible with Matthew Stafford still under center, but there is no dependable floor here. Higbee should be left undrafted in ordinary one-tight-end leagues.


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
5.0 0.0 0.0 2.2 21.3 0.1

Michael Mayer News

Michael Mayer Returns to Practice Following Nose Injury

Thursday, August 6, 10:16 AM

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (nose) returned to training camp practice on Thursday, according to Sam Warren of The Athletic. Mayer missed a few practices after busting his nose during practice on Monday. The 25-year-old will return to working as the No. 2 tight end in Vegas behind Brock Bowers. The former second-rounder in 2023 from Notre Dame has yet to really make an impact for fantasy managers in his first three seasons in the NFL, and that will likely continue as long as Bowers stays healthy. Bowers dealt with a knee injury last year, which allowed Mayer to have career highs in catches (35), targets (50), and receiving yards (328) while scoring just once in 13 games played. The Raiders figure to use more two-tight-end sets in 2026 under new head coach Klint Kubiak, but that's unlikely to be enough to make Mayer a weekly starting option, even in two-TE fantasy leagues. Mayer opens his fourth NFL season ranked as RotoBaller's No. 35 fantasy TE. If Bowers misses time with an injury again, Mayer would become a priority waiver-wire addition.


Tyler Higbee vs. Michael Mayer

Still trying to decide between Higbee and Mayer? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Tyler Higbee is projected to score 3.8 points this week while Michael Mayer is projected to score 5.0 points.