Brock Bowers
vs Justin Jefferson

“IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Brock Bowers – 13 targets, 10 rec It did not take long for Bowers to remind the fantasy football world how dominant he can be when healthy. The 13 targets to him in his season debut accounted for a 43.3% target share. It was the tenth time in 30 career games that he has earned double-digit targets.”

“TE Quick Hitters Brock Bowers | TE, Las Vegas Raiders (QUESTIONABLE) – Bowers is officially questionable after getting in two limited practices to start the week and then not practicing Friday. The Raiders indicated that Bowers’ Friday absence was planned and not a setback. If Bowers is active, he has to be in your starting lineup.”

“The Raiders are 2-0 despite not having TE Brock Bowers available, which is amazing considering how thin their skill group is viewed as. Unfortunately, I have serious doubts about how sustainable all of this is. The teams the Raiders have played so far have combined to go 0-4 with a scoring differential of -60.”

“Coach Klint Kubiak confirmed Bowers will sit after a meniscus procedure, leaving Mayer as the clear TE1 for Kirk Cousins. When Mayer has been featured, he has produced at a starter's volume. He logged a 78.4% route participation rate, a 23.7% target share, a 26% target rate per route, 4.5 receptions per game, 49.0 receiving yards per game, 2.25 yards per route run, and 1 receiving touchdown without Bowers last year.”

“With an anemic wide receiver corps in Las Vegas, Bowers should be awash in targets this season. New head coach Klint Kubiak has been tasked with repairing the Raiders’ offense, and his track record suggests he can right the ship. No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza provides hope, while the Raiders also have tight end-friendly quarterback Kirk Cousins .”

“Round 3 Jason (3.01) – Brock Bowers (TE, LV) Mike (3.05) – Chris Olave (WR, NO) Andy (3.09) – D’Andre Swift (RB, CHI) Of course, Brock Bowers is really only a third-round pick in this mock draft in name only, as Jason waited to take him at the 3.01.”

“Widely considered one of the best TE prospects to ever enter the league, Bowers had 112 catches for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns on 153 targets as a rookie. With better health in 2026, he has a chance to match or exceed his rookie numbers. The Raiders are talent-starved at wide receiver, so Bowers is poised to be their alpha pass catcher.”

“There are great expectations for Brock Bowers in his third NFL season following an injury-plagued Year 2. Bowers had five catches for 103 yards in the Raiders’ 2025 season opener against the Patriots, but he sustained a PCL injury and bone bruise to his left knee in that game, was clearly hampered over his next three games (with under 50 receiving yards in each) and was shut down for three games.”

“Brock Bowers (TE – LV) & Trey McBride (TE – ARI) Whether you prefer Brock Bowers or Trey McBride doesn’t really matter. Neither should be drafted this high. Last season, McBride averaged 18.6 PPR points per game, and Bowers averaged 15.5 in 2024, the better season of his two years in the NFL.”

“Jefferson looked especially miserable last year while enduring the worst season of his career. With J.J. McCarthy completely overwhelmed as an NFL quarterback, Jefferson finished with 84 catches, 1,048 yards, and two touchdowns.”

“Justin Jefferson (WR – MIN) | ADP: 11.8 (WR6) While he has been a fantasy superstar since entering the NFL, Justin Jefferson is coming off a massively disappointing season.”

“Justin Jefferson (WR – MIN) Finishes Outside the Top 20 Wide Receivers The prediction: Jefferson, currently going as a top-six receiver, finishes this season outside the top 20 at his position. This is partly a skepticism play on his new starting quarterback’s fit in this specific offense, particularly real questions about accessing the middle of the field effectively. Even last year, on a per-route basis, Jefferson already graded as only a fringe top-15 to top-17 receiver in efficiency metrics, not a true elite option, once poor quarterback play is set aside.”

“Jefferson has been a fantasy superstar since he entered the NFL. Unfortunately, the veteran is coming off a massively disappointing season, finishing last year as the WR21, averaging 11.9 PPR fantasy points per game despite finishing seventh in the league with 141 targets.”

“With a better quarterback, Justin Jefferson is a top-five pick, but with J.J. McCarthy ‘s past poor play and the uncertainty of Kyler Murray , we get a discount on one of the best wide receivers in the league.”

“Last year, Jefferson was still sixth in target share (28.5%) and seventh in first-read share (35.1%), so we should all expect the Minnesota passing attack to run through their alpha wide receiver again in 2026.”

“Last year, Justin Jefferson had a horrible runout as the WR28 in fantasy points per game (WR14 in expected fantasy points per game). Obviously, a ton of his season was impacted by the level of quarterback play, but Jefferson also slid to 36th in separation score and 38th in route win rate (among 109 qualifying receivers, per Fantasy Points Data).”

“Justin Jefferson is the fifth-best wide receiver in the Madden universe, apparently”

“This wasn’t Jefferson’s fault, however. Among wide receivers with 50+ targets, Jefferson ranked 58th in catchable target rate (71%). J.J. McCarthy stunk, and all indications are that Kyler Murray is the clear favorite to be the starter in 2026, and possibly beyond.”

“Jefferson should immediately become Murray’s go-to receiver, making an overall WR1 finish well within reach.”

“The Ballers agree that if Kyler takes the leading QB role, they are confident that Jefferson will be back as a top-tier WR. However, they see him more as a back-end WR1.”