Brock Bowers sent the fantasy football community into a panic Wednesday, as the Las Vegas Raiders star reportedly underwent a meniscus trim to take care of a knee issue he'd been dealing with throughout training camp. The third-year pro is expected to miss at least a game and possibly two, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
After two straight Pro Bowl seasons, Bowers entered 2026 fantasy football drafts as the clear No. 1 tight end. The case was simple: First-year coach Klint Kubiak was a miracle worker for the Seattle Seahawks' offense, the Raiders don't have a true No 1 wide receiver, and Bowers is the most lethal player at his position with the ball in his hands and open space ahead of him.
Doubt surrounding Bowers amplified Saturday morning,
however, as the Raiders announced a contract extension for No. 2 tight end Michael Mayer. It's reportedly a three-year, $45 million deal, making Mayer the eighth-highest paid tight end in total value, per Spotrac.
Here's how Bowers fantasy football managers should view the Mayer extension.
Is Michael Mayer extension bad news for Brock Bowers?
Not at all. Heavy personnel (offensive groupings with multiple tight ends on the field) are in vogue across the NFL, most notably with Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams, as it aids the run game and opens up play-actions shots down the field. Kubiak has certainly followed the trend, as his Seahawks ranked seventh in percentage of plays with multiple tight ends on the field (43%) in 2025, according to Sharp Football Analysis.
Mayer, the 35th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, clearly has talent, and has shined when Bowers missed time before. With the Raiders having one of the NFL's weakest receiving corps, Kubiak will likely utilize both Bowers and Mayer in the passing game, so the extension shouldn't worry Bowers fantasy managers. If anything, this is the perfect time to buy low on Bowers.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Why Michael Mayer extension shouldn't worry Brock Bowers fantasy football managers
