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Yahoo Fantasy Football fantasy football takes on Michael Mayer

Every source-backed article insight STACKED has extracted from Yahoo Fantasy Football about Michael Mayer.

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Insight ledger

All Yahoo Fantasy Football insights about Michael Mayer

PositiveProjectionSep 11, 2026
The source projects Michael Mayer to finish as a top-five TE in Week 1. With Brock Bowers sidelined, Mayer has shown he can be a strong fantasy option. Mayer started four games last year, averaging 4.5 catches and 49 yards per contest while finishing as a top-five fantasy TE twice. His other two starts came against the Chiefs defense, which was the seventh toughest matchup for his position. This week Mayer gets the Dolphins, who were the third easiest opponent for tight ends. Without a proven No. 1 receiver, Klint Kubiak's offense is projected to feature the tight end even with Bowers out, setting Mayer up for a busy afternoon. The source recommends not hesitating to get the former second-round pick in your lineup this week.
PositiveRoleSep 11, 2026
Mayer was a late riser in Week 1 rankings after Brock Bowers was ruled out for a week or two following a meniscus trim. Though mostly relegated to serving as an overqualified No. 2 tight end behind Bowers in recent years, Mayer has flashed TE1 upside in his limited starts. In the four games where Bowers was sidelined last season, Mayer averaged 4.5 receptions and 49 yards per contest while finishing as a top-five fantasy TE in two of those outings. He'll get the benefit of facing a weak Dolphins defense that allowed the third-most fantasy points to tight ends last year, making him a viable starter with a very high ceiling.
PositiveSleeperSep 10, 2026
Raiders TE Mayer (11% rostered) is positioned as a beneficiary to Brock Bowers' meniscus trim surgery (1-2 games missed). Mayer was a second-round pick three years ago with a strong Notre Dame career (most productive receiving tight end in Notre Dame history); his best NFL start came recently with an 8-89-0 line against the Giants last December. Kirk Cousins often locks in on his tight ends, and Miami was very poor in tight end coverage last year, making this a favorable matchup.
PositiveValueAug 19, 2026
Mayer, drafted by the Raiders before Brock Bowers joined in 2024, posted 6.1 YAC per reception in his rookie year, ranking sixth among all TEs. The source speculates that with Klint Kubiak's system rating two TEs on the field at third and second over the last two seasons, and without an alpha WR on the team, Mayer becomes a late-round TE to monitor. The Raiders' decision to hold onto Mayer despite interest from other organizations and injuries to star TEs around the league suggests organizational confidence.