TE Michael Mayer Sneaky Fantasy Pickup and Stash Target

Pickup and Stash + DFS Play Week 7

With Brock Bowers sidelined until after the bye week, maybe longer, Michael Mayer has emerged as an attractive waiver-wire option for fantasy managers this week. The third-year tight end represents exceptional value for a week or two of streaming with the potential for sustained production.

Mayer just returned from a two-game absence due to a concussion and immediately made an impact. In his first game back against Tennessee last week, he commanded five receptions on seven targets for 50 yards and a touchdown while logging 92 percent of the Raiders’ offensive snaps. That target share and snap count signal the Raiders are committed to featuring him in their offensive game plan.

The timing couldn’t be better for a pickup. Bowers’ lingering PCL injury has kept him sidelined since Week 4, and the Raiders have decided to hold him out through their bye week, targeting a Week 9 return. This gives Mayer at least two consecutive weeks of guaranteed volume in a pass-heavy offense. Quarterback Geno Smith has been forced to lean on his receivers more frequently, and Mayer has solidified himself as Smith’s safety blanket in the short-to-intermediate passing game.

From a roster construction standpoint, Mayer ranks as the Raiders’ clear second receiving option behind Bowers. He’s proven capable of delivering production when given the opportunity, and the offensive coordinator has no hesitation deploying him in meaningful situations. His five receptions on seven targets last week demonstrate Smith’s trust and comfort level in targeting him.

The fantasy tight end position remains unpredictable, with injury and opportunity creating constant turnover among viable options. Mayer provides stability and a clear pathway to touches. In PPR scoring, his five-catch floor in a single game already exceeds the weekly production of many starting tight ends, and touchdown upside exists in a Raiders offense searching for consistency.

For managers streaming tight end or dealing with injuries at the position, Mayer offers a low-risk, high-reward proposition. His snaps, targets, and production trajectory suggest he can deliver respectable production for the next few weeks while Bowers recovers. At worst, he’s a one-week safety valve. At best, he establishes himself as a consistent contributor in an offense desperate for offensive weapons to emerge.

Bowers Out Again; Return Targeted After Bye

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers did not practice on Wednesday as the team continues to manage his lingering knee injury ahead of Sunday’s divisional matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. The All-Pro’s absence from the field Thursday suggests another week on the sideline for the second-year tight end.

Bowers has not played since Week 4, when he recorded 46 receiving yards in a loss to the Chicago Bears. He suffered a PCL sprain accompanied by a bone bruise in Week 1 against New England but initially played through the discomfort before ultimately sitting out Weeks 5 and 6.

Head coach Pete Carroll addressed Bowers’ status during his Monday press conference, indicating the team is leaning toward holding him out through Week 7, with the bye week in Week 8 providing an additional recovery opportunity.

“I’m hopeful, but we’re looking after him,” Carroll said. “There’s a big bye coming up and all that kinda stuff. An extra week, a couple of weeks you’d get, before you’d have to come back.”

NFL Network reported that Bowers is unlikely to suit up against Kansas City, making Week 9 against Jacksonville on November 2 his earliest realistic return date. The Raiders have decided to err on the side of caution with their star receiver rather than risk aggravating the injury during a pivotal divisional clash.

The injury timeline has been complicated by Bowers’ initial reluctance to rest the injury adequately. Sources indicated that doctors recommended rest as the only path to full recovery, but the 22-year-old was unwilling to sit out initially and played through discomfort for three consecutive weeks.

“I’m really frustrated,” Bowers said earlier in the week. “It’s painful, sore, just annoying because I want to be back to full strength and going full speed, being able to separate from guys. I feel like I can’t really do that to the best of my abilities right now.”

Bowers opened the season with a dominant 103-yard performance on five receptions in Week 1 before the injury limited his effectiveness. Over the following three games, he never exceeded 46 yards, finishing with 19 receptions for 225 yards through four games while playing through noticeable discomfort.

[lv] Michael Mayer

DraftKings Salary: $3,500

This week, a great potential DraftKings Stack could include Mahomes and his top two wide receivers with Michael Mayer at $3500 as the comeback. It’s early, but I’m kinda liking this play