GM Tom Telesco said Thursday that he excepts Mayer to "take a leap this year" even though the Raiders drafted fellow tight end Brock Bowers at No. 13 overall, Nick Walters of KTNV Las Vegas reports. The Raiders presumably plan to use a lot of multi-TE formations, but the new competition for snaps and targets is nonetheless terrible news for Mayer's fantasy value. He and Bowers were arguably the most productive tight ends in college football over the past half-decade, with Mayer recording 2,099 yards and 18 TDs in three seasons at Notre Dame and Bowers putting up 2,538 and 26, respectively, over three seasons for Georgia. While Mayer is both taller and heavier, Bowers is faster, more agile and an earlier draft pick (Mayer went 35th in 2023). On the bright side, Telesco said there's "no concern" about the foot injury that brought Mayer's rookie season to an early end after 14 games (12 starts) and a 27-304-2 receiving line, per Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com.
Heavy on Raiders
Las Vegas Raiders news & information.
Las Vegas Raiders
AFC West
(8-9, 2nd place)
Top Stories from Heavy on Raiders
Latest Raiders News Alerts
More from Heavy on Raiders
Raiders schedule 2023
Raiders team stats 2023
-
passing yards
2218rushing yards
805receiving yards
1144tackles
82interceptions
3Passing
name GP CMP ATT CMP% YDS YDS/G TD INT SACK SYL RTG J. Garoppolo,QB711016965.1%1,205172.1791410177.7A. O'Connell,QB1121334362.1%2,218201.61272417383.9J. Jacobs,RB13000.0%00.000140.0J. Meyers,WR162366.7%120.81000113.9B. Hoyer,QB3234254.8%23177.0021850.8Rushing
name GP CAR YDS AVG LNG YDS/G TD FUM LST FD J. Garoppolo,QB720392.095.60106Z. White,RB171044514.34326.5111519A. O'Connell,QB1117110.631.01417J. Jacobs,RB132338053.56361.9635634J. Meyers,WR164246.0171.52003D. Carter,WR173186.0151.10202T. Tucker,WR1610777.7344.80084B. Hoyer,QB33-3-1.01-1.00000A. Abdullah,RB1715895.9125.20006B. Bolden,RB174317.8261.81012Receiving
name GP REC TGTS YDS AVG TD LNG YDS/G YAC FD J. Johnson,FB131212120120.910.00M. Mayer,TE1427403041123221.7164.019C. Fotheringham,TE21166063.05.00H. Renfrow,WR1725372551003815.0152.011Z. White,RB1715199870155.894.04J. Horsted,TE131144040.32.00J. Jacobs,RB133754296802122.8293.015G. Van Roten,G170050000.35.00J. Meyers,WR16711068071183350.4242.046A. Hooper,TE172531234902113.8142.012D. Carter,WR174739100162.350.00T. Tucker,WR1619343311725020.728.012A. Abdullah,RB17192413170187.788.04D. Adams,WR171031751,1441184667.3336.059Defense
TacklesSacksInterceptionsFumblesname GP SOLO AST TOTAL SACK SCKYDS TFL PD INT TD FF FR FTD R. Spillane, LB17 82 66 148 3.5 15 7 4 3 0 0 1 0 D. Deablo, LB15 64 41 105 1 7 4 2 0 0 0 1 0 M. Crosby, DE17 55 35 90 14.5 100 23 2 0 0 0 1 0 N. Hobbs, CB13 59 27 86 1 8 6 7 1 0 0 0 0 T. Moehrig, SAF17 65 18 83 2 13 1 8 3 0 0 0 0 M. Epps, SAF17 41 25 66 0 0 4 3 0 0 0 1 0 J. Jenkins, DT17 24 37 61 1 4 4 4 0 0 0 1 0 A. Robertson, CB17 38 12 50 1 5 2 6 2 0 0 0 0 B. Nichols, DT17 25 23 48 1.5 3 4 1 0 0 0 1 0 M. Peters, CB12 28 15 43 0 0 1 5 1 0 0 0 0 M. Koonce, DE17 29 11 40 8 52 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 J. Bennett, CB14 24 8 32 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 J. Tillery, DT17 11 20 31 2 11 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 T. Wilson, DE17 16 13 29 3.5 18 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 A. Butler, DT17 16 12 28 5 38 8 4 0 0 0 0 0 J. Jones, CB7 20 5 25 0 0 1 4 2 0 0 0 0 L. Masterson, LB16 14 9 23 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 T. Hall, CB11 16 4 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 I. Pola-Mao, SAF16 12 5 17 1 7 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 A. Burney, LB7 9 5 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 D. Long Jr., CB8 10 2 12 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 I. Rochell, DE8 7 3 10 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 J. Robinson, DE6 5 3 8 1 9 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 B. Facyson, CB3 4 1 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 B. Young, DT6 4 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 R. Teamer, SAF6 3 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 M. Reed, LB4 1 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 J. Smith, LB1 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 N. Jade Silvera, DT2 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 K. Mauga, LB5 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 M. Butler, DT2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 C. Bolton, LB13 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 J. Bobenmoyer, LS17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 J. Johnson, FB13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 D. Turner, WR10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 A. James, C16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 M. Mayer, TE14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 H. Renfrow, WR17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Z. White, RB17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 J. Horsted, TE13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 C. Smith II, SAF12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 J. Jacobs, RB13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 J. Meyers, WR16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 D. Carlson, K17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 A. Hooper, TE17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 D. Carter, WR17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 T. Tucker, WR16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 A. Abdullah, RB17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 B. Bolden, RB17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 D. Adams, WR17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Raiders Depth Chart
Raiders Injury Report
GM Tom Telesco said Thursday that he excepts Mayer to "take a leap this year" even though the Raiders drafted fellow tight end Brock Bowers at No. 13 overall, Nick Walters of KTNV Las Vegas reports. The Raiders presumably plan to use a lot of multi-TE formations, but the new competition for snaps and targets is nonetheless terrible news for Mayer's fantasy value. He and Bowers were arguably the most productive tight ends in college football over the past half-decade, with Mayer recording 2,099 yards and 18 TDs in three seasons at Notre Dame and Bowers putting up 2,538 and 26, respectively, over three seasons for Georgia. While Mayer is both taller and heavier, Bowers is faster, more agile and an earlier draft pick (Mayer went 35th in 2023). On the bright side, Telesco said there's "no concern" about the foot injury that brought Mayer's rookie season to an early end after 14 games (12 starts) and a 27-304-2 receiving line, per Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com.
Crosby (knee) said, "I'm feeling better than I ever have," Monday, after he spent much of 2023 fighting through a knee injury that required draining multiple times a week, Nick Shook of NFL.com reports. Crosby set career highs in combined tackles (90) and sacks (14.5) last season despite spending much of the campaign hampered by a bursa joint issue. The 26-year-old underwent a procedure to correct it in January after the season ended and began rehabbing it soon after, which went "incredible," according to Crosby.
Whitehair signed with the Raiders on Monday. Whitehair was released by the Bears in February after eight years with the team, which saw him earn a Pro Bowl appearance in 2018. The 31-year-old made 118 starts on the offensive line during that time and will likely be a reserve option for Las Vegas this season.
Adams said Sunday at his annual youth football camp that he intends to play for the Raiders next season, Tashan Reed of The Athletic reports. There was some speculation early in the offseason that the Raiders could pursue trading their star wideout, but general manager Tom Telesco shot that idea down in late February. Adams' comments Sunday seem to solidify the expectation that he'll remain with Las Vegas for a third campaign in 2024. Adams reached the 100-reception mark for the fourth straight season in 2023, but his 1,144 receiving yards and eight receiving touchdowns were his lowest totals since 2019, when he played in only 12 games due to a toe injury.
Meredith re-signed with the Raiders on Monday. Meredith spent most of 2022 on Las Vegas' practice squad before earning a reserve role last season, suiting up for all 17 games, including one start at left guard. He'll likely serve as depth once again in 2024.
The Raiders re-signed Pola-Mao on Thursday. Pola-Mao has been a significant contributor on special teams for his first two seasons in the league. He also managed the first pick of his career in 2023, though he's not likely to see many defensive snaps in 2024.
Following the free-agent departure of Josh Jacobs, White is the Raiders' expected starter at running back, with Alexander Mattison likely to serve as his top backup, according to Tashan Reed of The Athletic. Once Jacobs departed, it seemed inevitable that the Raiders would fortify their running back corps, either through free agency, the draft, or both. In Mattison, the team adds a player who made 13 starts for the Vikings last season, but at this stage it appears as though White -- who finished the 2023 regular season strong -- has the inside track to lead Las Vegas' backfield in 2024 while Mattison can spell him on early downs as well as offer a receiving threat in passing situations. In such a scenario, White would maintain fantasy utility, though his upside in that regard could hinge on how much volume he cedes to Mattison. Meanwhile, Ameer Abdullah remains on hand to provide a change-of-pace presence, with Brittain Brown, Sincere McCormick and Tyreik McAllister also in the depth mix.
Mattison is in line to sign with the Raiders, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. In 16 games for the Vikings during the 2023 regular season, Mattison had 180 carries for 700 yards and caught 30 of his 44 targets for 192 yards and three receiving TDs. With the Raiders, Mattison -- who turns 26 in June -- is slated to provide the team with needed backfield depth and a complementary option alongside 2022 fourth-rounder Zamir White following the free-agent departure of Josh Jacobs. Assuming White serves as Las Vegas' top RB option, Mattison's weekly upside will be modest, but if White is injured or struggles at all as the 2024 season progresses, Mattison could reenter the fantasy lineup equation.