Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Cade Otton vs Michael MayerWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Cade Otton is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 6.2 PPG to Michael Mayer's 4.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Cade Otton is the better fantasy play this season.

Cade Otton has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 1.5-PPG advantage is real (6.2 to 4.7), and Cade Otton's 1 touchdowns show scoring upside. Michael Mayer is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

Track Cade Otton and Michael Mayer in the DraftCall app and get their updates the moment they change.

Get the App

TETampa Bay Buccaneers#29PPG LEADER

Cade Otton

PPG

6.2

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

572

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 10

TELas Vegas Raiders#37

Michael Mayer

PPG

4.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

328

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 13

The Edge Chart

Cade Otton

Michael Mayer

Head to Head

6.2 PPG4.7 PPG

15 GP12 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

Cade Otton: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #29 at the position). Michael Mayer: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #37 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Cade Otton is producing at 28% of elite pace and Michael Mayer at 21%. That ranking gap means Cade Otton carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Cade Otton vs Michael Mayer: The Full Breakdown

Cade Otton and Michael Mayer are both viable fantasy tight ends heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Cade Otton averaged 6.2 PPG across 15 games with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while Michael Mayer posted 4.7 PPG in 12 appearances for the Las Vegas Raiders.

A 1.5-PPG gap gives Cade Otton 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.

Cade Otton is the volume tight end in this matchup with 59 receptions for 572 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 Cade Otton, but the floor gap is real.

One scheduling note: Cade Otton is off Week 10 and Michael Mayer Week 13. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in tight end for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Cade Otton (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Michael Mayer (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Cade Otton outscored Michael Mayer by a projected 26 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Cade Otton played 15 games in 2025 compared to Michael Mayer's 12. That durability gap means Cade Otton contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Cade Otton scored 1 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.1 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Cade Otton saw 81 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Cade Otton vs Michael Mayer: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Cade Otton	Michael Mayer
PPG (Half-PPR)	6.2	4.7
Games Played	15	12
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	93	56
Receptions	59	35
Rec/Game	3.9	2.9
Receiving Yards	572	328
Rec Yds/Game	38.1	27.3
Receiving TDs	1	1
Targets	81	50
Target Share/Game	5.4	4.2
Age	27	24
Experience	3 yrs	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 13

Summary

Cade Otton outscored Michael Mayer by 1.5 PPG in 2025 (6.2 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.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Cade Otton vs Michael Mayer

DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality, recent trends, injury impact, and game script to give you a clear start/sit recommendation.

See everything in the app →

Launch List

Get the live verdict on Cade Otton vs Michael Mayer

The DraftCall app delivers live game-day verdicts on every matchup. Join the launch list and we will email you the day it goes live for the 2026 NFL season, with your direct iOS and Android install links.

We will never share your email. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Cade Otton or Michael Mayer in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Cade Otton has the edge at 6.2 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 Cade Otton and Michael Mayer average in 2025?▾

Cade Otton averaged 6.2 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Michael Mayer averaged 4.7 PPG over 12 games. That is a difference of 1.5 points per game.

When are Cade Otton and Michael Mayer's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Cade Otton (TB) has a bye in Week 10, and Michael Mayer (LV) has a bye in Week 13. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Cade Otton or Michael Mayer a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Cade Otton outscored Michael Mayer by 1.5 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.