Michael

Mayer

On Friday we noted that the Raiders had held discussions with interested teams, but the idea that the Raiders are trying to trade Mayer adds a layer of urgency to this. Mayer missed a big chunk of this past season for “personal” reasons and that will likely factor into his market value. He fell from a 27/304/2 receiving line in 2023 to a 21/156/0 slash in 2024 as Brock Bowers took over in Las Vegas. New regimes often move on from the previous one’s players, so perhaps a team will be able to buy low on Mayer.

Mayer makes for an intriguing dart throw for TE-needy teams. The 2023 second-round pick missed six games due to personal reasons in 2024 but was a well-respected prospect just two years ago. With sub-$3 million salary cap hits in each of the next two seasons, Mayer profiles as a highly affordable, potential starter.

Mayer was fated for a quiet season after the Raiders drafted generational tight end Brock Bowers prospect in the first round. Things went from bad to worse when he was placed on the reserve/NFI list early in the year for personal reasons. Mayer missed six games and returned to a backup role later in the season. He strangely erupted for seven catches and 68 yards in Week 14 but did little aside from that game. It was his only contest with more than two catches or 14 yards until Week 18. The Raiders could view Mayer as a strong backup option to Mayer, but the former second-round would still fetch a solid return in a trade. His name will undoubtedly come up in trade talks, giving dynasty managers something to cling to heading into 2025.

Meanwhile, Brock Bowers is setting records with one of the best seasons we’ve ever seen from a rookie tight end. Mayer is a talented player in his own right, and fantasy managers will hope that the 2023 second-round pick can get traded in the offseason to a team that will make him more of a featured part of their offense.

Mayer logged career highs in catches and targets while earning the second-most yards in a game of his young NFL tenure. The former second-round pick returned to the lineup in Week 11 after missing most of the season for personal reasons. Though he will fall behind Brock Bowers in the pecking order for targets in most weeks, Mayer could be more involved than most backup tight ends going forward given the lack of wide receiver talent on the team. He could sneak into the TE2 ranks for Vegas’s Week 15 matchup with the Falcons.

The former second-round pick has been out for personal reasons for a few weeks but is good to go for Week 11. With Harrison Bryant out, Mayer will slot in as Brock Bowers’ backup once again. Inactive for the Raiders are CB Nate Hobbs, C Andre James, TE Harrison Bryant, LG Cody Whitehair, RB Dylan Laube, S Trey Taylor, and DT Zach Carter.

Mayer was a full participant in practice this week. While he’s still listed as questionable for Week 11 against the Dolphins, expect him to suit up now that he’s been taken off injured reserve. Due to the presence of Brock Bowers, Mayer is merely the team’s TE2 and not on the fantasy radar.

Mayer was a full participant in all three practices this week. He remains on the reserve/NFI list but should be removed over the weekend. His questionable tag is likely a formality. With Harrison Bryant out for Week 11, Mayer should immediately slot in as the team’s TE2.

Mayer has not played since September. It’s possible he’ll be a bigger factor down the stretch with Davante Adams gone and the Raiders lacking for receiver help, but any Raiders passing game options outside of Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers are going to struggle for volume and reliability. Especially if this is about to become Desmond Ridder’s show.

Mayer has been away from the two for their past two games because of the personal matter. He will now miss at least four more weeks while on the reserve/NFI list. Brock Bowers is locked into an every-down role and a weekly top-five fantasy ranking at tight end.