- Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers underwent a meniscus trim on Tuesday and will miss “a game or two.”
- Michael Mayer steps in with a great scoring opportunity against the Miami Dolphins, who surrendered the fifth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends last season.
- Mayer projects for 4.5 receptions, 40.5 receiving yards, and has +270 odds to score a touchdown in Bowers’ absence.
LAS VEGAS – A surprising meniscus trim procedure for Las Vegas Raiders’ tight end Brock Bowers will sideline the All-Pro for at least the season opener against the Miami Dolphins. League sources told Adam Schefter and Ian Rappaport that Bowers expects to miss “a game or two” after getting a little banged up incamp.
Raiders All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers underwent a meniscus trim Tuesday in Dallas with Dr. Daniel Cooper and now is expected to miss “a game or two”, league sources told @rapsheet and me. Bowers got banged up “a little in camp” and the injury was diagnosed last week and surgery… pic.twitter.com/42ANGHbYSC— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 9, 2026
In Bowers’ absence, Michael Mayer is set to feast at NFL betting sites against a vulnerable Dolphins’ defense. Last season, the Dolphins allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends, allowing 108 receptions (most), 1,134 yards (5th), and eight touchdowns (9th).
Michael Mayer Props Vs Dolphins
Kirk Cousins’ track record with tight ends makes for even more exciting expectations for Michael Mayer stepping up for Brock Bowers. Cousins targeted tight ends at the highest rate in the NFL last season, leading to career-high totals for Kyle Pitts’s receptions, targets, and touchdowns.
- Anytime Touchdown Odds: +270
- 4.5 Receptions: (Over -105, Under -125)
- 40.5 Receiving Yards: (Over -115, Under -115)
In four games without Bowers last season, Mayer played 93% of the snaps and got a 25.5% target share. Excluding their 31-0 blowout by the Kansas City Chiefs where the Raiders recorded a historically-low number of offensive snaps, Mayer averaged 5.6 receptions and 62 receiving yards in those three games without Bowers.
He only scored once in those games, limiting the value on his +270 legal sports betting odds to score on Sunday, but his receiving props are undervalued. Expect Cousins to rely on Mayer and bet over 4.5 receptions at -105 odds.
