Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Brock Bowers vs Michael MayerWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Brock Bowers is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.0 PPG to Michael Mayer's 4.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Brock Bowers is the better fantasy play this season.

Brock Bowers is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 12.0 PPG and 682 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Michael Mayer (4.7 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Brock Bowers as the starter and Michael Mayer as depth.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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TELas Vegas Raiders#4PPG LEADER

Brock Bowers

PPG

12.0

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

680

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 13

TELas Vegas Raiders#37

Michael Mayer

PPG

4.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

328

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 13

The Edge Chart

Brock Bowers

Michael Mayer

Head to Head

12.0 PPG4.7 PPG

12 GP12 GP

Bye: Week 13Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

Brock Bowers: Tier 1 (Elite) TE (ranked #4 at the position). Michael Mayer: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #37 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Brock Bowers is producing at 55% of elite pace and Michael Mayer at 21%. That ranking gap means Brock Bowers carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Brock Bowers vs Michael Mayer: The Full Breakdown

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 Michael Mayer managed 4.7 across 12 games with the Las Vegas Raiders. A 7.3-point weekly edge is substantial at the tight end position.

A 7.3-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 Michael Mayer profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (1 scores on 35 catches). In weeks where Michael Mayer finds the end zone he out-scores Brock Bowers, but the floor gap is real.

One thing to note: both players share a Week 13 bye. That means you need a backup plan at tight end for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Brock Bowers at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Michael Mayer is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Brock Bowers (age 23) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. Michael Mayer (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Brock Bowers outscored Michael Mayer by a projected 124 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Brock Bowers scored 7 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.6 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Brock Bowers saw 86 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Both players share a Week 13 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Brock Bowers vs Michael Mayer: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Brock Bowers	Michael Mayer
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.0	4.7
Games Played	12	12
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	144	56
Receptions	64	35
Rec/Game	5.3	2.9
Receiving Yards	680	328
Rec Yds/Game	56.7	27.3
Receiving TDs	7	1
Targets	86	50
Target Share/Game	7.2	4.2
Age	23	24
Experience	1 yrs	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 13	Week 13

Summary

Brock Bowers outscored Michael Mayer by 7.3 PPG in 2025 (12.0 to 4.7). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Brock Bowers or Michael Mayer in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Brock Bowers has the edge at 12.0 PPG compared to Michael Mayer's 4.7 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer average in 2025?▾

Brock Bowers averaged 12.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 12 games in 2025. Michael Mayer averaged 4.7 PPG over 12 games. That is a difference of 7.3 points per game.

Do Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer share a Week 13 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at tight end for that week.

Is Brock Bowers or Michael Mayer a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Brock Bowers outscored Michael Mayer by 7.3 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.