The Las Vegas Raiders trading their alpha WR leaves room for other pass catchers to ascend.
The Las Vegas Raiders have traded WR Davante Adams to the New York Jets. Adams had been the target leader for the Raiders in the games that he played before injuring his hamstring during Week 4 practice. Subsequently, his absence opens the door for other pass catchers to ascend.
WR Jakobi Meyers will be the first beneficiary of targets in the Raiders offense. In Meyers’ first five games of 2023, two played without Adams, Meyers averaged just over 7 targets per game, highest among the Raiders WR corps. Primarily, and excellently, a slot receiver, Meyers will be moved over to supplant Adams’ role as the X, or, outside and in-line receiver…the WR1. Meyers’ best season came in 2023 opposite Adams. He accrued 1028 air yards on 106 targets and a career-high 8 TDs. His ascension should result in similar numbers, rest-of-season.
The other major beneficiary of the target vacuum will be TE Brock Bowers. Bowers, the current PPR TE2, received 12 and 10 targets in the Raiders last two games without Adams. He has outpaced all of the Raiders’ pass catchers thus far and will continue to do so. Having scored just one TD will positively regress and he will finish the season as the TE1, barring injury.
There are other pass catchers who’s roles will increase in the Raiders’ offensive attack. WR Tre Tucker didn’t see much action in Week 6, although he did have 20 targets in the three games prior. Tight ends Harrison Bryant and Michael Mayer, when he returns to the team, will benefit, as will Week 6 surprise Kristian Wilkerson.
Bowers, Meyers, and Tucker should be rostered in all formats, while Bryant, Mayer, Wilkerson, and the rest will remain deep league streaming options.
Brendon Booth | @bigbonededFFB
Las Vegas Raiders rookie tight end Brock Bowers is ...
There's still no sign of Las Vegas Raiders rookie tight end ...
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Las Vegas Raiders rookie phenom TE Brock Bowers has been held out of team activities recently with a sore foot.
Las Vegas Raiders TE Brock Bowers enters the 2024 season with huge expectations. Taken with the 13th pick in the first round of the 2024 draft, Bowers was considered the best TE in college football and a consensus first rounder for three straight seasons at Georgia. In week 1 of the pre-season, Bowers began showing some of his promise, lining up all over the formations, including at fullback, and being heavily targeted in his series’ on the field. Since then, however, there hasn’t been much word on his progress and he didn’t play in game 2.
The Raiders currently haven’t formally said anything except that he missed the 2nd pre-season game with a sore foot, but there wasn’t an indication of an actual injury, nor any hint of prognosis. The Raiders’ beat writers have reported that Bowers missed the first two practices before the 3rd pre-season game, but other than that, there has been nothing from the team.
Without anything official and with the Riders planning on not playing any starters in the remaining pre-season game, the Bowers situation remains a wait-and-see and hope for the best. He is still Player Profilers TE2 in all Dynasty formats and his early 4th round ADP remains unchanged until there is official word of an injury.
The Las Vegas Raiders might have the best tight-end room in the NFL, and the offensive coordinator to make it matter.
New Las Vegas Raiders GM and head coach Antonio Pierce found themselves in a unique position when their turn was up with the 13th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Raiders’ previous regime drafted TE Michael Mayer in the 2nd round in 2023. The Notre Dame TE was coming off a junior season that saw him as PFF’s TE2 in pre-season and finish as PFF’s TE1. The following year, Georgia’s Brock Bowers was the consensus TE1 of the class who some called the best offensive player in the 2024 Draft and would have measured out as WR4 statistically, if he wasn’t a tight end. When the Raiders’ pick came around, they were looking at the name “Brock Bowers” at the top of their draft board, but they already had “Top TE” at home.
The surprise of Bowers’ eligibility wasn’t the BIGGEST surprise of the draft. That was the Falcons’ pick, but the Raiders stunned most observers when they added another gold-star prospect at the position. Enter new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy. Getsy’s Chicago Bears used 2+ TE sets more than 24 other teams, ranking 8th in 2 TE usage. In the Raiders’ training camp sessions, the team is “usually lining up in heavy (2 TE) sets, and they all seem to be making catches”. Getsy has two of the best TE’s to have played college football in the last 5 years and the results are showing on the practice field.
The major advantage that Getsy will have in his schemes to exploit matchups is Bowers. Bowers is hyper-athletic, strong, and fast. He is a violent blocker and makes up for what he lacks in technique with ill intent. Lining up split out, Bowers will be a nightmare to cover for the linebackers he’s faster than, and the CB’s he’ll outmuscle. Michael Mayer is no slouch himself. Mayer averaged 11.75 FPG as a rookie, in games he received 5 or more targets. Over 17 games, that would have placed him at TE7 in PPR leagues. Additionally, the Raiders have a veteran presence in 5-year man Harrison Bryant as a “break-glass”option, or to line up in 13 personnel packages. Bowers is Player Profiler’s 11th ranked TE, without stepping on the field, yet, and is a high-upside play as an 8th rounder on Underdog. Mayer is TE31 and is going undrafted. Both could be viable options based on upside and scheme fit.
Brock Bowers Ready to Display His NFL Powers in Las Vegas.
Brock Bowers has been selected by the Raiders with the 13th pick overall in the 1st round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The Georgia Bulldogs tight end won 2 National Championships as well as the 2022 and 2023 John Mackey Award crowning and cementing Bowers as the best tight end of this 2024 rookie draft class.
With questions about who will be throwing him the football, expect Brock Bowers to adjust well to the NFL. Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers will provide the perfect balance in the offense, further giving defenses headaches. The problem for fantasy gamers will be the headache of how Bowers will split time with fellow tight end Michael Mayer.
With Brock Bowers officially being drafted by the Raiders, fantasy gamers can further crystallize their tight end rankings. Despite the dent of Michael Mayer being on the roster, Brock Bowers is safely a top 5 tight end in Dynasty. Player Profiler’s best comparison is none other than Travis Kelce. Brock Bowers UnderDog ADP closed in the 70’s prior to the draft. You can now pair him with Raiders players in a stack. Happy drafting!
Brock Bowers attended the combine and got his physical measurements, but did not participate in tight end workouts.
Though Fantasy Managers will have wanted to see what could’ve been for Bowers in Indy, he’ll have the opportunity to perform drills similar to the combine at Georgia’s pro day on March 13th. Bowers did get his physical measurements, weighing in over 240 lbs and boasting similar measurements to recent successful tight ends like Sam LaPorta and Trey McBride.
Bowers suffered a high ankle sprain in October and returned from surgery in November to finish the season. Fantasy Managers should keep an eye out for how his conditioning looks during his pro day. He projects as TE1 for the 2024 season.
