Brock Bowers Fantasy
It’s been a while since we’ve seen a TE prospect of Bowers caliber. Bowers is the clear-cut TE1 in this draft class and has all the tools to become an elite weapon for any offense. So there is no doubt that he is capable of being that rare rookie tight end who finds his way into significant fantasy production. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it can be Sam LaPorta. But where he landed does have some questioning if he’ll be able to realize his massive potential, particularly in Year 1. Most analysts didn’t think Bowers would be there when it came time for the Raiders to draft at No. 13, believing he would go to the Jets a couple of picks earlier. But when the Falcons broke the internet by drafting Michael Penix Jr. (a potential target for the Raiders) at No. 8 and Bowers dropped to them, the Raiders, for better or worse, decided to take the best player available. I understand the logic but let’s dig a bit deeper to see if it will be more better or worse.
Fantasy Value
On the surface, Bowers’ fantasy value should be sky-high. Bowers has an elite skill set that could help him become a centerpiece of this passing offense alongside Davante Adams. But the landing spot is not ideal. The Raiders failed to address the QB position in the draft which means they will rely on Gardner Minshew or Aidan O’Connell to distribute the ball. They also have another talented TE on the roster in last year’s draft pick, Michael Mayer, but with the addition of Bowers, Mayer may be relegated to blocking duties. With Bowers’ versatility, the Raiders may choose to use him in the slot or outside, which would help maximize his opportunities. In an offense with just one veteran star, Bowers could see some solid volume in a league where volume is usually king. I’m just not sure how productive a large piece of a passing game that is likely to be underwhelming will be. In future years he may be an early pick in fantasy drafts, but this year, especially in redraft, he is little more than a bench stash as a TE2 until we see this offense in action.
Dynasty Value
Dynasty is a completely different story. In dynasty, regardless of format, Bowers is a first-round pick, although in 2QB/Superflex leagues he’s closer to the end of the round than the middle of it. At some point, the Raiders will address the QB position, and once they do and get a bit more overall talent around Bowers, he should be an elite matchup nightmare for years to come. It is very hard to find any sort of consistency at TE from a fantasy perspective, and while his rookie season will have its’ share of ups and downs the long-term prospect of Bowers is very bright. Bowers plays a complete game with very few, if any, weaknesses. The reality is there hasn’t been a rookie playmaker at TE as accomplished as Bowers in over a decade. If he can overcome some of the shortcomings of the Raiders’ offense, he could surprise us in his first season. But Bowers is the type of offensive weapon you build around and as the Raiders begin to do just that we will begin to see him realize his full potential.
Conclusion
There is always the possibility that I am being a bit too hard on the landing spot here. If Bowers truly is as talented as I believe, then perhaps he’ll be able to make more noise in his inaugural season than I think. After all, talent does often have a way of shining through even when the situation is less than ideal. The good thing is that Bowers will be a Day 1 starter for the Raiders and will likely be second in targets on the team behind only Davante Adams. Not only that but with Josh Jacobs leaving the neon lights of Las Vegas for the home of the cheeseheads the Raiders could be a more pass-happy offense, even with their concerns at QB. Bowers is not an advisable selection in redraft formats unless you like to carry two TEs or you wait very late to address the position while you stock up on RBs and WRs instead. But in dynasty formats feel free to select him in the first round of rookie drafts because at some point he is going to break out in a big way and you want him on your roster when he does.
