In one of the strongest tight end classes in recent memory, Las Vegas Raiders rookie TE Michael Mayer feels like a forgotten man. What will his fantasy football impact be in 2023?
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Michael Mayer’s Fantasy Outlook in the 2023 NFL Season
The Raiders surprised many across the league when they traded Darren Waller to the New York Giants this offseason. A few months later, the Raiders drafted his replacement in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Mayer may not have been the dynamic pass-catching TE prospect that you move all over the formation like Dalton Kincaid, but he was thought to be one of the more well-rounded TE prospects in the draft.
Love the way Michael Mayer fights for extra yards here #Raiders pic.twitter.com/3dHSJJHO7H
— Matt Holder (@MHolder95) August 29, 2023
He was a capable and reliable pass catcher during his days at Notre Dame, catching a minimum of 67 passes for 800 yards and seven TDs over the last two seasons.
He has a nice catch radius, can create yards after the catch with his deceiving athleticism, and understands how to leverage his body at the catch point in contested situations.
Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see a ton of his playmaking ability in his three catches this preseason, but he certainly feels capable of producing if given enough opportunities.
The question really is … will it be enough work to make him a reliable fantasy option in 2023?
The other pass-catching options include Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, and Hunter Renfrow. Adams’ target share is secure, while both Meyers and Renfrow have seen success in the NFL.
Will there be enough weekly targets in a Jimmy Garoppolo-led offense for a rookie tight end to be a top-12 option at the position? My first inclination leans toward probably not.
Is Mayer a Good Fantasy Pick?
The hit rate on rookie tight ends being fantasy producers out of the gate is traditionally low.
While Waller’s role in this offense feels open, there is no guarantee that Josh McDaniels is going to feature Mayer in this offense with some of the other quality veteran options at WR.
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He is all upside with no risk at his current price, but I would rather go with other options for my late-round dart throw than Mayer heading into 2023.
- PFN Consensus: 194th overall
- ADP: 214th overall