Brock Bowers vs Jake Tonges: Who Should You Start?
The numbers tell a clear story here. Brock Bowers put up 12.0 fantasy points per game for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2025, while Jake Tonges managed 4.5 across 17 games with the San Francisco 49ers. A 7.5-point weekly edge is substantial at the tight end position.
A 7.5-PPG gap gives Brock Bowers the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.
Brock Bowers is the volume tight end in this matchup with 64 receptions for 680 yards, while Jake Tonges profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (5 scores on 34 catches). In weeks where Jake Tonges finds the end zone he out-scores Brock Bowers, but the floor gap is real.
Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Brock Bowers sits Week 10 while Jake Tonges is off Week 9. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.
