Brock Bowers vs Michael Mayer: 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 Michael Mayer managed 4.3 across 13 games with the Las Vegas Raiders. A 7.7-point weekly edge is substantial at the tight end position.
A 7.7-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 10 bye. That means you need a backup plan at tight end for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.
