Michael Mayer

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.

Brock Bowers suffered through a Week 1 PCL sprain and bone bruise, yet he still managed 14.7 Fantasy Points Per Game, ranking No. 2 at the position.

Now fully healthy, he returns to Klint Kubiak’s offense that helped him post an impressive 23.6-percent Target Share and 22.2-percent Target Rate despite his health-compromised 2025 season. Raiders team reporter Levi Edwards also reported, “it seems the Raiders’ coaching staff will give TE Brock Bowers every opportunity to replicate his historic rookie campaign.”

The talent profile is undeniable, making him a prime candidate to recapture the overall TE1 crown this year. At just 23-years old, Bowers is an absolute smash in the first round in all fantasy football formats based on position scarcity, especially dynasty leagues.

After trading away 2024’s fantasy football TE4 in Jonnu Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers, it left a void at the position. In a surprise move, the Dolphins traded for the then retired Darren Waller. 

With plenty of trade buzz surfacing for players such as Cole Kmet, Michael Mayer, Isaiah Likely, and many more it came as a sudden surprise when Waller was acquired from the New York Giants. Since 2020, Darren Waller has seen a significant dive in production. In 2020, Waller was the TE2 in fantasy points per game with 17.4. Prior to retiring after the 2023 season, Waller only recorded 9.4 fantasy points per game. 

On Underdog, Waller has surged from being wholly unranked to the late 16th round for a cumulative rise of 25 spots in the last week. There is little harm in adding Waller as a 3rd tight end in best ball builds as he goes late enough in drafts to where there still lies uncertainty for many surrounding him at cost. Drafters should have low expectations for Waller as he should only be a small part of a portfolio for those who draft in bulk.

Author: Jeremiah Retzlaff (@coachretzlaff1)

New Las Vegas Raiders GM and head coach Antonio Pierce found themselves in a unique position when their turn was up with the 13th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Raiders’ previous regime drafted TE Michael Mayer in the 2nd round in 2023. The Notre Dame TE was coming off a junior season that saw him as PFF’s TE2 in pre-season and finish as PFF’s TE1. The following year, Georgia’s Brock Bowers was the consensus TE1 of the class who some called the best offensive player in the 2024 Draft and would have measured out as WR4 statistically, if he wasn’t a tight end. When the Raiders’ pick came around, they were looking at the name “Brock Bowers” at the top of their draft board, but they already had “Top TE” at home.

The surprise of Bowers’ eligibility wasn’t the BIGGEST surprise of the draft. That was the Falcons’ pick, but the Raiders stunned most observers when they added another gold-star prospect at the position. Enter new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy. Getsy’s Chicago Bears used 2+ TE sets more than 24 other teams, ranking 8th in 2 TE usage. In the Raiders’ training camp sessions, the team is “usually lining up in heavy (2 TE) sets, and they all seem to be making catches”. Getsy has two of the best TE’s to have played college football in the last 5 years and the results are showing on the practice field.

The major advantage that Getsy will have in his schemes to exploit matchups is Bowers. Bowers is hyper-athletic, strong, and fast. He is a violent blocker and makes up for what he lacks in technique with ill intent. Lining up split out, Bowers will be a nightmare to cover for the linebackers he’s faster than, and the CB’s he’ll outmuscle. Michael Mayer is no slouch himself. Mayer averaged 11.75 FPG as a rookie, in games he received 5 or more targets. Over 17 games, that would have placed him at TE7 in PPR leagues. Additionally, the Raiders have a veteran presence in 5-year man Harrison Bryant as a “break-glass”option, or to line up in 13 personnel packages. Bowers is Player Profiler’s 11th ranked TE, without stepping on the field, yet, and is a high-upside play as an 8th rounder on Underdog. Mayer is TE31 and is going undrafted. Both could be viable options based on upside and scheme fit.