Mychal

Rivera

Ausberry and Richard Gordon are the longest-tenured tight ends on the roster, so they’ll get the first looks based on experience. But rookies Nick Kasa and Mychal Rivera will both be given fair shots to win the gig. The four players have combined for ten career receptions in the NFL.

Jeron Mastrud “started” in the absence of David Ausberry, but drew only one target. Rivera now has five catches for 58 yards through two games, but isn’t on the fantasy radar.

Rivera was targeted three times in the passing game and had one third-down catch nullified by his own offensive pass interference. He has seven catches for 79 yards through three games. Rivera will remain the starting tight end in Oakland after David Ausberry was placed on season-ending I.R. Monday.

A nifty little possession-type tight end, Rivera has been Oakland’s primary pass catcher at the position this season. He lacks re-draft value, but is a worthwhile own in deeper Dynasty formats. Through four weeks, Rivera is on pace for 36 receptions, 492 yards, and four touchdowns.

Rivera was concussed last Sunday but made it through the league’s protocol at an alarmingly fast rate. He’s a low-end TE2 for fantasy purposes.

Rivera is just four days removed from getting concussed on a vicious helmet-to-helmet hit, but is somehow ready to go. He’s a decent TE2 streaming option against the Cowboys’ sieve-like defense. Inactive for the Raiders are WR Denarius Moore, WR Brice Butler, SS Tyvon Branch, OG Lamar Mady, OT Menelik Watson, DL Brian Sanford and DE Jason Hunter.

The rookie tight end is essentially just a safety-valve option for Matt McGloin. Rivera has some long-term promise, but is a low-end TE2 in re-draft.

Rivera flashed his playmaking ability by running up the seam and making an athletic catch for a 14-yard score in the third quarter. He now has touchdowns in back-to-back games and three in the last five weeks. However, Rivera hasn’t topped 30 yards in the last month and would be a weak TE2 play at San Diego in Week 16.

Rivera caught a one-yard touchdown on fourth-and-goal with under three minutes remaining in the game. He was targeted eight times by Matt McGloin, primarily as a check down. Rivera will be nothing more than a low-end TE2 for Week 15 against the Chiefs.

He was targeted three times in the passing game. Rivera got open for a 37-yard catch downfield in the second quarter that set up a Darren McFadden one-yard touchdown. He’s shown some decent ability as a move tight end for the Raiders this season, but is removed in all blocking situations. Rivera has 36 catches, 384 yards, and four touchdowns going into the final week of the regular season.