Brock Bowers’ Raiders tenure is centered on a tight-end rotation with Michael Mayer, a hallmark of Chip Kelly’s offenses. Two preseason games showed both on the field with starters in lengthy 12/13 personnel looks, but early game usage suggested Mayer handled more inline and early-down work while Bowers shined on pass plays and third downs. The data hint Bowers won’t hit a full-time 85% snap rate, and Mayer’s presence could cap his targets. The takeaway for fantasy managers: expect around 60% routes for Bowers this year, not an 80–90% lock, and prioritize top-tier tight ends who can survive a rotation.

Rest-of-season projections shift as Mayer’s blocked vs. receiving roles split, especially with 12 personnel as the Raiders lean into two-tight-end sets. After Mayer’s mid-season absence, Bowers surged to lead the league in TE fantasy points, but early usage data and coaching personnel changes temper that ceiling. With Geno Smith’s accuracy and Ashton Jeanty adding run-game depth, Las Vegas signals a more varied offense where Bowers remains elite but not invincible. This nudges rankings: McBride and Kittle gain edge in a crowded TE field, while Bowers sits near the top but outside the guaranteed TE1 tier in some formats.

Las Vegas’ Brock Bowers is being mixed in with the starting unit at a high rate, but Michael Mayer still handles most early-down work, hinting at a two-TE rotation that could cap Bowers’ target upside. The Texans lean on veterans at receiver, with Nico Collins and Jaylen Higgins (and Hutchinson) penciled in as top 11-personnel options while rookies sit behind. New York’s backfield remains in flux, as Breece Hall plays about 61% of snaps behind a three-man look that includes Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis, making a stable early-season floor unlikely. In Jacksonville, Tank Bigsby and Etienne show a near-50/50 split on the field and in routes, with early-down workload leaning toward Bigsby and pass-game work toward Etienne, tilting expectations for both. The Broncos rotate Evan Engram and Trautman, with Engram maintaining a high snap share but limited 11-personnel targets, while the Saints pair Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed in a heavy-outside trio, potentially squeezing slot targets and shifting Wilson and Co. into secondary roles. On the Titans, Ayomanor’s usage in motion hints at a regular-season package, while the Seahawks confirm a streamlined wide-receiver setup around Smith-Njigba and Kupp, elevating the odds for Olave, Hutchinson, and Collins to hold big roles depending on scheme and health. Overall fantasy impact centers on two-TE rotations, volatile backfields, and WR depth-chart shuffles that will shape weekly ceilings and safe floors all season.

These takeaways underscore a recurring theme across teams: preseason usage often signals depth-chart intent more than exact weekly roles. Fantasy managers should treat early snap splits as directional rather than definitive, preparing for Week 1 to deviate as teams optimize for blockers, routes, and matchup-based usage. The common thread is clarity: stars may see dampened floors if rotations keep high-upside players limited to specific situations, while anyone with a clearly defined, workload-heavy role becomes more appealing in both redraft and DFS formats as the season approaches.

Brock Bowers sits as the prime upside pick for 2025, eyeing a potential repeat as the overall TE1 with the Las Vegas Raiders, after a historic rookie season. Arizona’s Trey McBride is right in the mix, posting elite target share and finishing near the TE1 tier in 2024, suggesting he could push for the top spot in a pass-happy offense. George Kittle and Travis Kelce headline the “outside chance” and “long odds” categories, respectively, given age and offense dynamics, while rookie Tyler Warren represents a high-reward, long-shot sleeper for Indianapolis. Sam LaPorta’s TE1 finish profile in past seasons keeps him squarely in the conversation for 2025. Deebo Samuel’s movement and QB upgrades in playbooks shape the broader passing landscape and impact how much volume TEs can command. Gardner Minshew and fellow signal-callers are noted for their roles in feeding this TE class, with the quarterback-receiver chemistry now more important than ever for fantasy success.

In short, Bowers leads the way with a realistic path to another TE1 finish, while McBride, Kittle, Kelce, Warren, LaPorta and Samuel offer compelling targets with varying risk-reward. Expect target shares, quarterback play, and offense shifts to dictate weekly upside, with rookies and aging stars offering both ceiling and floor considerations for 2025 fantasy drafts.

Geno Smith and Brock Bowers are shaping up as the Las Vegas Raiders’ premier QB-TE duo for 2025, a combination that could finally give Vegas an elite pass-game centerpiece. Bowers, now in his second year, is emerging as a top-tier tight end, while Smith’s veteran accuracy and touch could unlock a high‑volume, high‑upside offense around him.

Early preseason footage shows real chemistry, including a highlight‑level connection that has NFL reporters buzzing about a potential Chiefs‑like dynamic in the AFC West. If the pairing persists through camp, the Raiders’ fantasy outlook could pivot dramatically—Geno’s floor rises with a trusted big‑play TE, and Bowers’ ceiling could vault into the elite TE tier.

Expect this to draw attention in drafts: a QB with a weapon at TE is a fantasy game-changer, especially if Vegas capitalizes in red zone work and on early downs. The excitement is tempered by preseason caveats, but the initial signal is clear: Geno-to-Bowers could be the Raiders’ breakout storyline of 2025.

Week 2 of the 2025 preseason served up a handful of fantasy-relevant flash moments. Raiders rookies Jack Bech and Ashton Jeanty showed eagerness and versatility, with Bech grabbing two first-half passes and Jeanty punching in his first NFL TD while powering through a would-be tackler. Brock Bowers, linked with Geno Smith, flashed high-end upside for Seattle, while Quinn Ewers rebounded with a second TD for Miami after a rough debut. CJ Stroud connected with Nico Collins for a touchdown on Houston’s opening drive, signaling potential chemistry in a burgeoning Texans offense.

Other standouts included Maxx Crosby altering the opening series for the Raiders, and a Browns pick-6 by KJ Henry flipping the game’s momentum. Detroit’s Isaac TeSlaa and New England’s Efton Chism II contributed meaningful Summer football moments, hinting at deeper depth-chart conversations. Overall, these performances hint at developing usage that fantasy managers will want to monitor as the regular season approaches.