Raiders' Michael Mayer: Joined by Bowers in TE room
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GM Tom Telesco said Thursday that he excepts Mayer to "take a leap this year" even though the Raiders drafted fellow tight end Brock Bowers at No. 13 overall, Nick Walters of KTNV Las Vegas reports.
The Raiders presumably plan to use a lot of multi-TE formations, but the new competition for snaps and targets is nonetheless terrible news for Mayer's fantasy value. He and Bowers were arguably the most productive tight ends in college football over the past half-decade, with Mayer recording 2,099 yards and 18 TDs in three seasons at Notre Dame and Bowers putting up 2,538 and 26, respectively, over three seasons for Georgia. While Mayer is both taller and heavier, Bowers is faster, more agile and an earlier draft pick (Mayer went 35th in 2023). On the bright side, Telesco said there's "no concern" about the foot injury that brought Mayer's rookie season to an early end after 14 games (12 starts) and a 27-304-2 receiving line, per Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com.
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Raiders' Michael Mayer: Shifts over to IR
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Mayer (toe) was placed on injured reserve Saturday.
Mayer had already been ruled out for Sunday's finale prior, but the Raiders wanted to open up a roster spot for the final week of the regular season. The rookie tight end was widely lauded as a sure-fire starter in the league, but he ended up splitting time frequently with Austin Hooper the entire campaign and ended up with a 27-304-2 line on the season. The 22-year-old Mayer likely still projects as a clear-cut starter in future seasons, but it's certainly been a frustrating season for fantasy managers who expected Mayer to flash to the same extent as fellow rookies Sam LaPorta, Dalton Kincaid and Luke Musgrave.
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Raiders' Michael Mayer: Ends season with three-game absence
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Mayer (toe) has been ruled out for Sunday's season finale against the Broncos, Anthony Galaviz of The Fresno Bee reports.
Mayer's rookie season will end with three consecutive absences. Austin Hooper should continue to fill in as Vegas' top tight end against a Denver defense that has struggled to defend the position. Mayer finishes his first NFL campaign with 27 catches on 40 targets for 304 yards and two touchdowns.
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Raiders' Michael Mayer: Still nursing toe injury
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Mayer (toe) was listed as a non-participant on Wednesday's estimated practice report.
The second-round rookie has already missed the Raiders' last two games, and his continued absence from practice doesn't bode well for his chances of suiting up in Sunday's season finale versus the Broncos. While Mayer was sidelined last week, Austin Hooper played 85 percent of the offensive snaps, catching three passes for 28 yards on three targets in a 23-20 loss to the Colts.
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Raiders' Michael Mayer: Expected to remain sidelined Sunday
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Coach Antonio Pierce said Friday that Mayer (toe) will more than likely remain out Sunday against the Colts, Vic Tafur of The Athletic reports.
Mayer missed Monday's win over Kansas City due to a toe injury and hasn't been able to participate in practice leading up to Sunday's game in Indianapolis. The rookie tight end's status won't be confirmed until Friday's injury report, but it looks like Austin Hooper and Zach Gentry will be Vegas' only healthy tight ends against the Colts.
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Raiders' Michael Mayer: Listed as non-participant
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The Raiders listed Mayer (toe) as a non-participant on Wednesday's estimated practice report.
The team merely held a walkthrough Wednesday after upsetting the Chiefs two days earlier. Austin Hooper took on a three-down role in the contest as Las Vegas' top tight end with both Mayer and Jesper Horsted (hamstring) inactive, catching two of three targets for 13 yards while playing 89 percent of snaps. That's not unlike the stat lines Mayer has posted of late, with large snap shares rarely leading to considerable receiving production. The rookie is in danger of missing a second straight game when the Raiders play in Indianapolis this Sunday.
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Raiders' Michael Mayer: Doesn't practice Thursday
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Mayer didn't practice Thursday due to a toe injury.
In the Raiders' 63-21 win over the Chargers last Thursday, Mayer caught four of his five targets for 39 yards and a touchdown. He may have sustained a toe injury at some point along the way, and his absence from practice to begin Week 16 prep now makes his status worth monitoring ahead of Monday's game against the Chiefs. If Mayer ends up sitting out versus Kansas City, Austin Hooper would be the next man up for reps at tight end.
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Raiders' Michael Mayer: Gets into end zone in win
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Mayer brought in four of five targets for 39 yards and a touchdown in the Raiders' 63-21 win over the Chargers on Thursday night.
The rookie tight end finished second in receptions and targets on the night, although well behind Davante Adams in both categories. Mayer rounded out his night with the second touchdown catch of his career, an 11-yard grab in the second quarter. Mayer heads into a Week 16 road showdown against the Chiefs on Christmas Day with a pair of four-reception tallies in the last four games.
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Raiders' Michael Mayer: Finishes third in targets
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Mayer caught two of four targets for 27 yards in Sunday's 31-17 loss to Kansas City.
Mayer tied slot receiver Hunter Renfrow for third in team targets Sunday with each player recording four apiece. The rookie tight end has seen his role increase over the Raiders' last three games by averaging 4.7 targets while catching his first touchdown over that span. Mayer will look to continue developing in a starting role when Las Vegas returns from its bye to face the Vikings on Dec. 10.
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Raiders' Michael Mayer: Week 12 Waiver Priority List
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Mayer has scored at least 8.6 PPR points in each of his past two games against the Jets and Dolphins, and he has 10 targets over that span for seven catches, 65 yards and a touchdown. We'll see if he continues to get more targets from Aidan O'Connell, and Mayer is worth adding in deeper leagues for one percent of your FAB heading into Week 12 against Kansas City.
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Raiders' Michael Mayer: One catch in Week 8 loss
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Mayer caught one of two targets for 19 yards in Monday's 26-14 loss to the Lions.
Mayer was one of four players that tied for second on the team in receiving yards behind Josh Jacobs' 27, as Jimmy Garoppolo (back) threw for only 126 yards in his return from a one-game absence. Fellow tight end Austin Hooper was among those four players, but Mayer has 133 receiving yards to Hooper's 49 in Garoppolo's last three starts. The rookie tight end let out some anger over Vegas' poor offensive performance with a huge hit on special teams, accounting for Mayer's first career tackle. Mayer and the rest of Vegas' passing game will look to get back on track in Week 9 against the Giants.
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Raiders' Michael Mayer: Earns four targets in loss
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Mayer caught two passes for 13 yards on four targets in Sunday's 30-12 loss to the Bears.
He once again played ahead of Austin Hooper, as the rookie tight end out-snapped the eight-year veteran 46 to 22, but Mayer's volume was disappointing while wide receivers Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers saw a combined 25 targets from quarterbacks Brian Hoyer and Aidan O'Connell. Mayer will look to take better advantage of his recently expanded role against the Lions in Week 8, and he would likely benefit from the potential return of Jimmy Garoppolo (back) under center.
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Raiders' Michael Mayer: Sleeper TEs
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Mayer is coming off a big game in Week 6 against New England with five catches for 75 yards on six targets, and this could be the start of something big for the rookie tight end. I expect the former Notre Dame product to do well in Week 7 against the Bears. Chicago has allowed five tight ends to score at least 8.0 PPR points this season, including Logan Thomas and T.J. Hockenson in each of the past two weeks. Mayer is worth starting as a low-end No. 1 option in Week 7.
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Raiders' Michael Mayer: Week 7 Streamers (TE Preview)
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If Mayer becomes a starting tight end rest of season, we will view Week 6 as his breakout party. He set season highs in targets (6), receptions (5), yards (75) and played 81% of the snaps. There is no reason to think Josh McDaniels will go back to Austin Hooper, but I also understand if you would like to see more than one good game before you start him.
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Raiders' Michael Mayer: Leads LV with 75 yards
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Mayer brought in five of his six targets for 75 yards in Sunday's 21-17 win over the Patriots.
Mayer followed up his career-high 39 receiving yards from Week 5 by nearly doubling that mark in the win over New England. Part of the rookie's increased usage came as a response to the opposition focusing on star wideout Davante Adams (2-29-0) on Sunday, which opened up room for Mayer to operate in the middle of the field. The 2023 second-round pick has garnered nine targets over his last two games after totaling two through the first four games of the season. Mayer is still on the lower end of the fantasy tight end spectrum, but that could change with another productive outing against the Bears next Sunday.
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Raiders' Michael Mayer: Season-high 39 yards Monday
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Mayer had two receptions (on three targets) for 39 yards in Monday's 17-13 win over the Packers.
Mayer entered Monday's contest with just one catch for two yards on two targets across four games, so this was actually a significant step forward for the rookie as he adjusts to the pro level. Teammate Austin Hooper also had two catches in the win but generated just 11 yards with his limited opportunities. Las Vegas' timeshare has nullified any marginal value either tight end would have created as traditional starters. Mayer will look to build off his two-catch game as the Raiders stay put to host the Patriots in Week 6.
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Raiders' Michael Mayer: First career reception in loss
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Mayer caught his only target for two yards in Sunday's 38-10 loss to the Bills.
Mayer's first NFL reception came on the final play of the first half Sunday, but he failed to earn another target throughout the remainder of the contest, while fellow tight end Austin Hooper caught two passes for 20 yards. The TE duo has yet to find the end zone through the Raiders' first two games, but red-zone looks could be available against the Steelers in Week 3 if Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers are unable to clear the league's concussion protocol.
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Raiders' Michael Mayer: Tacks on two more catches
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Mayer recorded two receptions on two targets for 20 yards in Saturday's 31-16 loss to the Cowboys.
Mayer participated in his second consecutive preseason contest and saw run into the early second quarter. He showed rapport with Aidan O'Connell on a 13-yard connection, his longest gain of the exhibition schedule. It's possible that veteran Austin Hooper plays ahead of Mayer to start the regular season, but the rookie should have a significant role in the offense.
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Raiders' Michael Mayer: Scooped by Las Vegas
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The Raiders selected Mayer in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, 35th overall.
Las Vegas dealt Darren Waller to the Giants this offseason, making tight end a need. The board set up well for them as only one tight end went in the first round, and the Raiders were able to get a player that many had ranked as the top prospect at this position. Mayer (6-4, 249) is a "complete" tight end in that he's an asset both as a blocker and as a receiver. The Notre Dame product carried the Irish passing game during his three years in South Bend, leading them in receptions each of those seasons and finishing with 180 career grabs. His combine performance was something of a disappointment, as his 4.7 speed was not ideal for a player under 250 pounds. Still, Mayer projects to be in the mix right away for not just run-blocking snaps, but targets as well.
