Michael Mayer DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

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.

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.

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.

Las Vegas Raiders rookie tight end Michael Mayer (toe) missed a second straight day of practice this week on Thursday. Mayer is dealing with a toe injury that has kept him sidelined the last two games. The fact that the 22-year-old second-rounder has yet to practice this week makes him unlikely to play in a meaningless Week 18 regular season finale against the Denver Broncos. If Mayer doesn't play this weekend, he'll wrap up his first year in the NFL with just 27 receptions for 304 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games played. Austin Hooper was on the field for over 80 percent of the offensive snaps in last week's loss to the Indianapolis Colts, but it only led to three catches for 28 yards. If Mayer misses another game, Hooper will merely be a low-cost dart throw at the tight end position in DFS.