Michael

Mayer

Coming off a career day (nine catches, 89 yards) in Week 17, Mayer was limited to a couple grabs in a low-octane game against the Chiefs. Mayer finishes 2025 with 32 catches for 281 yards and a touchdown as the Raiders’ distant No. 2 tight end behind Brock Bowers. He proved viable as a fantasy starter when Bowers was out, but the Raiders proved unable to feed multiple tight ends. Mayer, with 82 receptions and 767 yards over 37 NFL games, will return to Vegas for his fourth season, and could get an extension if the Raiders plan on using him more in 2026.

Mayer showed off his versatility in this one, lining up all over the formation. He nearly hauled in a pass on a short crossing route from the Giants’ 12-yard line, but QB Geno Smith’s pass was off the mark, allowing Giants LB Bobby Okereke to snatch the ball away, robbing Mayer of a potential catch-and-run touchdown. Aside from that, Mayer regularly picked up chunk gains between the 20s. He remains a TE1 against the Chiefs in Week 18, though Kenny Pickett could get the start with Geno Smith suffering a high-ankle sprain today.

He was more involved in the Vegas offense than third receiver Tyler Lockett (1/6 on two targets in 15 snaps) as Mayer handled 36 snaps while the Raiders tried to slow down Houston’s pass rush with chips. Mayer is not a recommended fantasy play and hasn’t done much from a fantasy perspective while Brock Bowers has been active.

Nor is Dont’e Thornton (concussion), as the Raiders get back some supporting cast members against the Eagles. Neither player is fantasy-interesting at this time, though Mayer has flirted with it at points of this season. The passing offense is simply too limited to get this far down the depth chart at this time.

The mediocre blocker should be available to two-hand punch a few chest pads and occasionally earn a target on Sunday. Mayer is largely an afterthought in the Raiders’ passing game, though. His backup, TE Ian Thomas (calf), was limited on Thursday.

Mayer has not played since suffering the ankle injury in Week 12. He returns to practice in a limited fashion on Wednesday with the hope of playing in Week 15 against the Eagles. Meanwhile, fellow tight end Ian Thomas, who has taken on more snaps in Mayer’s absence, did not practice on Wednesday due to a calf injury.

Mayer has been sidelined since injuring his ankle in Week 12 against the Browns. Raiders head coach Pete Carroll said he expects rookie WR Jack Bech to be more involved with Thornton, a fellow rookie, sidelined this week. Thornton has caught just 8-of-25 targets for 123 yards this season, though, so his absence in the passing game is hardly significant. Bech should not be started against the Broncos’ elite defense. Raiders EDGE Maxx Crosby (knee) is active, as expected.

Carroll is “hopeful” that Mayer will play against the Eagles in Week 15. Fantasy managers have not been given a compelling reason to roster Mayer for the better part of the last month, and this latest rule out won’t help matters.

Mayer is off the TE2 radar while he trends to miss a second straight game and doesn’t need to be held in any shallow leagues at this time.

Mayer has not been practicing since suffering an ankle injury in Week 12. He missed Week 13 and is not back practicing yet, indicating he is trending to miss Week 14 against the Broncos. Mayer can stay off fantasy radars at this point in the season.