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.
Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak is open to naming ...
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza is expected ...
Las Vegas Raiders rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza showed...
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.
So you’re saying there’s a chance? Kirk Cousins posted an 83.3-percent True Completion Percentage on his lone drive, capping it with a 13-yard Red Zone touchdown strike to tight end Michael Mayer. Head coach Klint Kubiak maintains Cousins is the clear frontrunner for Week 1 starter duties, yet rookie Fernando Mendoza is now well-positioned to siphon first-team practice reps following a dazzling preseason debut.
The clock is ticking on Cousins, and we will continue to monitor Mendoza’s first-team snaps throughout camp. If Mendoza continues to look undeniable in preseason, Cousins will inevitably step aside and support the franchise rookie’s ascendance as early as Week 1. Mendoza is one of the best-value QB selections in superflex leagues, especially fantasy football dynasty formats.
Sixth-round rookie Benson is earning reps with the starters after receiving offseason praise for establishing an instant connection with quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Armed with deep-threat speed, Benson offers inexpensive upside in deep leagues.
Given his late-round draft capital, Benson is unlikely to earn a starting role, but he possesses upside as a playmaking field stretcher. He is a worthy dart throw who belongs on fantasy football dynasty league watchlists and deep league taxi squads.
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.
Kirk Cousins is dominating first-team repetitions this offseason, consolidating his grip on the starting job despite posting just 9.9 Fantasy Points Per Game in 2025. This deployment provides critical development runway for rookie Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick who registered a elite 90.3 College QBR at Indiana.
Unless the landscape shifts when full training camp launches, expect Cousins to operate under center for Week 1 while the high-pedigree rookie watches and learns. Cousins is an early-season option in deep superflex leagues.
