Brock Bowers

Coming off a meniscus trim procedure last week, Brock Bowers returned to practice for the first time today in a limited capacity. The “doubtful” designation along with the limited practice suggests he is almost certainly not playing this week, but the Raider coaching staff seems optimistic he can be back in time for the week 3 contest against the Saints. Fantasy football managers will need to continue to watch his status in the coming days.

In Bowers’ absence, Michael Mayer will continue to operate as the team’s undisputed TE1. Against the Dolphins, Mayer was quarterback Kirk Cousins‘ favorite target, leading all pass catchers with seven targets. He also dominated tight end usage with an 81% snap share, and 22 routes run, completly eclipsing teammate Ian Thomas‘ 42% share and 2 routes run.

Michael Mayer won’t get the chance to test the 2027 free-agent market after all, securing a new deal that ranks fourth among tight ends in average annual value. Agreeing to an extension right before stepping in for an injured Brock Bowers is a surprising move, when a healthy season likely would have positioned him for a massive payday next offseason.

Perhaps Mayer values long-term security over the pressures of going elsewhere to compete for a TE1 role, or maybe he is truly happy being a Raider. After all, the organization did support him when he stepped away from football during the 2024 season for what was later reported as mental health reasons.

Mayer is now happy to remain in Las Vegas, and with Fernando Mendoza on a rookie contract for the next few years, he clearly felt comfortable committing Top-5 tight end money to a foundational depth piece. Mayer is PlayerProfiler’s TE10 for Week 1 fantasy football, and is currently the TE25 in dynasty leagues, although that will certainly change as we get more clarity on Bowers’ long term health.

Brock Bowers reportedly banged up his knee during training camp and had the injury diagnosed last week. He underwent a menicus trim procedure today and is expected to miss “a game or two.” The next man up on the depth chart would be fourth year tight end, Michael Mayer, who stepped into the primary tight end role last year, during Bowers’ injury riddled 2025 campaign.

Mayer came into the NFL with a strong prospect profile, featuring a 95th percentile College Dominator Rating, although he has failed to translate college dominance into consistent NFL production. In 2025 contests where he saw a snap share above 60%, Mayer averaged 5.5 targets, 3.6 receptions, 35 yards, and 0.14 touchdowns. Mayer is now a must-draft in all tight end premium fantasy football formats.

Kirk Cousins starting Week 1 has always been the expectation, as the Raiders have been open about not wanting to rush Fernando Mendoza into action. Cousins ranked 20th in True Passer Rating in 2025, showing that, while not the QB he once was, he still has enough in the tank to be a capable bridge to the Mendoza era.

Cousins is currently ranked as QB36 on PlayerProfiler’s 2026 Redraft Rankings. While Cousins will begin the year as the starter, he will be hard to trust as a fantasy option due to the lack of proven capable pass catchers beyond all-world TE Brock Bowers. He is best left undrafted in 1QB leagues, but can be drafted in superflex leagues as a bye week or injury fill-in starter.

Despite a knee injury capping his sophomore season at 64 receptions and 14.5 fantasy points per game, Brock Bowers enters a wide-open Las Vegas depth chart alongside Tre Tucker and Jalen Nailor. New play-caller Klint Kubiak plans to weaponize Bowers in a target-rich environment, putting Trey McBride’s tight end record of 126 catches and Travis Kelce‘s 1,416-yard milestone within reach for the tight end phenom.

Fantasy drafters have a unique opportunity to enjoy a truly historic fantasy season at an injury-depressed market price. Bowers is a smash second round pick in all fantasy football formats, and he is a legitimate Top-5 overall option in tight end premium formats.