The Las Vegas Raiders activated tight end Michael Mayer (personal) from the Non-Football Illness list on Saturday before the Week 11 contest on Sunday on the road against the Miami Dolphins. It's a big lift for the Raiders offensively, but Mayer is a poor TE2 streamer given the team's offensive struggles this year under quarterback Gardner Minshew II. Mayer has also taken a clear back seat to impressive rookie tight end Brock Bowers in 2024. The 23-year-old was listed as questionable on Friday's final injury report, so he still isn't a lock to suit up on Sunday, although being activated from the NFI list is a good sign for his availability this weekend. Mayer hasn't played since the Week 3 loss to the Carolina Panthers and hasn't even reached 2.0 half-PPR points in his three games played in 2024. He only has four catches on seven targets for 21 yards this year.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (personal) has a chance at making his return to the field against the Miami Dolphins in Week 11. Mayer hasn't played since September due to a personal matter. However, it sounds like he's on the verge of returning as Mayer is listed as questionable for this weekend. He's hauled in four of his seven targets for 21 yards through three games this season. Mayer is unlikely to have much fantasy value with Brock Bowers emerging as the primary option at tight end. Mayer figures to have a minor role behind Bowers once he's cleared to play.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (personal) has returned to practice this week and could be available to play this Sunday in Week 11 against the Miami Dolphins. The Raiders are coming off their bye week, but Mayer has missed the team's last six games while tending to personal matters. If Mayer is cleared to play this week, he may not see the field as much as he normally would as he works himself back into shape. The 23-year-old tight end wasn't a realistic option for starting fantasy lineups before leaving the team, though, with rookie Brock Bowers serving as Vegas' top pass-catching TE. Before leaving the team, Mayer had only four receptions on seven targets for 21 yards and no touchdowns in his three games played. He should remain on the waiver wire in most leagues unless Bowers misses time with an injury.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (personal) has been sidelined with a non-football-related issue for over a month, but head coach Antonio Pierce said that the 23-year-old is "getting close" to making his return. Mayer played a depth role through three games at the start of the season, catching just four passes for 21 yards and zero touchdowns. He remains buried behind rookie Brock Bowers and should be avoided in all fantasy leagues, even if he returns as soon as he's eligible in Week 11.
Michael Mayer Placed On Reserve/Non-Football Injury List
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (personal) was placed on the reserve/Non-Football Injury and Illness list, according to Field Yates of ESPN. Mayer has not suited up since Week 3 due to a personal matter and is now expected to miss more time. The Notre Dame product enjoyed a productive rookie campaign, as he caught 27 passes for 304 yards and two scores. While Mayer remains away from the team, fantasy managers should expect rookie Brock Bowers to continue to see the vast majority of snaps at the position, and remains a high-end option for the foreseeable future.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (personal) missed practice all week and has been ruled out for the Week 5 contest on the road in Denver against the division-rival Broncos. Mayer left the team to tend to a personal matter last week, so this will be his second straight absence. It's bad timing for the 23-year-old, too, with receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) also missing a second straight game. He has taken a clear back seat to impressive rookie Brock Bowers at the position through his first three games in 2024, with Mayer catching only four of his seven targets for 21 yards and no touchdowns. Bowers disappointed last week with Adams and Mayer out, but he's a weekly TE1 play for fantasy managers. With Mayer out again this week, Harrison Bryant should have a bigger role once again behind Bowers. Bryant isn't worth starting in fantasy.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (personal) has been ruled out for the Week 4 contest on Sunday against the visiting Cleveland Browns. Mayer didn't practice due to a personal matter on Thursday and now will not be with the team at all this weekend. Top receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) has also been ruled out, so Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker now figure to be quarterback Gardner Minshew II's top targets in the passing game, as well as rookie tight end Brock Bowers. Harrison Bryant should have a bigger role behind Bowers with Mayer out, but he remains off the fantasy radar. Tucker is worth consideration as a WR4/flex play in deeper fantasy leagues with Adams officially out. It's unclear how long Mayer will be away from the team. The 23-year-old former second-rounder has taken a clear back seat to Bowers and has four catches for 21 yards through three games in 2024.
Raiders To Feature Two-Tight End Sets With Brock Bowers, Michael Mayer
The Athletic's Vic Tafur writes that it's the Las Vegas Raiders' plan to use more two-tight end sets this year involving rookie first-rounder Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer, who was a second-round selection in 2023. In addition, the Raiders will line up Bowers out wide and behind the quarterback at times to give the defense unique looks. It's not that the Raiders suddenly don't like Mayer now after drafting Bowers in the first round, but they just thought they couldn't pass up on Bowers' explosiveness and even turned down a team trying to trade up for him. While Mayer will still have a role in the offense in his second NFL season, he's going to take a back seat to Bowers in 2024 and will go undrafted in standard 12-team fantasy leagues this fall. Bowers, meanwhile has the potential for a Sam LaPorta-like season in his rookie campaign.
Raiders Could Have Dangerous Combo In Michael Mayer-Brock Bowers
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer, who is heading into his second year in the NFL, is excited to work with rookie tight end Brock Bowers, who the Raiders selected in the first round this year. Bowers fell to the Raiders at No. 13 overall. "He's fast. He's got great hands. He can block. He can do it all. I feel like we can both do it all," Mayer said. Mayer wasn't all that involved in the Raiders' offense in his rookie campaign, catching just 27 passes for 304 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games played. Given Bowers' pedigree, Mayer figures to be the No. 2 TE in 2024, even in 12 personnel, which the Raiders ran just 14.2% of the time last year. Unless Bowers misses time due to an injury in his first year in the league, Mayer is going to have a hard time standing out for fantasy managers.
Las Vegas Raiders rookie tight end Michael Mayer (toe) missed all three practices this week and has officially been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos. The 22-year-old's rookie season comes to an end with three consecutive absences. It was a somewhat underwhelming year for Mayer, who totaled just 27 catches, 304 yards, and a pair of touchdowns. Austin Hooper will step up as the Raiders' top tight end but isn't on the fantasy radar.
Michael Mayer
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Raiders
