Here we are again. Two years ago, in this very fantasy outlook series for the 2024 season, I wrote an article outlining that Brock Bowers was a value in fantasy football drafts and could even finish as the TE1 overall. Bowers went on to make me look very, very smart. Things did not go as well in Year 2. But, even after a disappointing second season, I am right back on the hype train. Now, his ADP is TE1, so this isn’t much of a hot take, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t still a value in fantasy drafts.
Is Brock Bowers the TE1 in Fantasy Football?
What Happened Last Season?
I am not going to spend a ton of time on 2024. Bowers was amazing and finished as the TE1 overall. It was the most dominant season by a rookie tight end ever, and we should have seen it coming…and, well, some of us did. So, of course, heading into 2025, the hype caught up to the value. Bowers was universally the TE1 in fantasy football rankings, going off the board at the 1st/2nd Round turn. You know, peak Travis Kelce prices.
I want to start by giving a shout-out to my co-host, Josh Hudson. On our 2025 TE Preview episode, he made the case that if we thought Bowers and Trey McBride were close in fantasy production, that made McBride a better value in fantasy, since he was going a round later. Then McBride set the world on fire. Bowers, on the other hand, fell well short of expectations.
While it wasn’t possible to predict the injury that derailed Bowers’ season, there were some red flags that had Club Fantasy leaning toward McBride. To start, the Raiders were going to be running an entirely new offense with a new QB. Neither Chip Kelly’s scheme nor Geno Smith had a history of producing elite fantasy tight ends, so expectations may have been too high from the start. But nobody could have predicted what happened next.
Bowers would miss five games with a knee injury and finished as the TE11 in 12 games played. He ended the season with 64 catches, 680 yards, and seven TDs. While the uptick in scoring was great, the catches and yards were just a shade over half of what Bowers put up as a rookie. All in all, it was a big letdown. Frankly, that makes it surprising that fantasy managers have already made Bowers the highest-drafted tight end again. But that doesn’t mean they are wrong.
Will It Get Better in 2026?
It wasn’t all bad in 2025. Bowers had one week that reminded everyone just how dominant he can be for fantasy football. In his first game back from injury, he torched a strong Jacksonville defense for 12 catches, 127 yards, and three touchdowns. At the time, it was the best fantasy performance by a tight end we’d seen in years. Kyle Pitts would top it six weeks later, but that’s beside the point. The takeaway is that Bowers showed the player we saw in 2024 was still very much there.
So, as we head into 2026, should fantasy managers expect more of the slow start we saw last season? Or the TE1-caliber production that made Bowers such a coveted fantasy asset in the first place? There is some uncertainty. The Raiders are once again breaking in a new offense and potentially a new quarterback. The difference is that this situation feels far more stable than the one Bowers entered a year ago.
For starters, Klint Kubiak is about as different from Chip Kelly as a coach can be. Kubiak arrives fresh off a Super Bowl-winning season as an offensive coordinator and brings a system that has produced fantasy-relevant players at multiple stops. More importantly for our purposes, his offenses have consistently involved the tight end position.
In Denver, Kubiak’s tight ends combined for 121 targets and six touchdowns. George Kittle finished as the TE5 during Kubiak’s time in San Francisco. New Orleans tight ends saw 113 targets and eight touchdowns under his watch, and Seattle tight ends drew 102 targets while scoring seven times last season. The exact numbers vary, but the trend remains consistent. Kubiak’s offenses create opportunities for tight ends, especially around the goal line.
There are no guarantees in fantasy football, but the overall environment looks much healthier than it did entering 2025. Whether the Raiders ultimately go with veteran Kirk Cousins or first-overall pick Fernando Mendoza, the expectation is that quarterback play will improve. Pair that with a more proven offensive system, and it’s easy to see why fantasy managers are betting on a bounce-back season from Brock Bowers.
Be sure to check our fantasy football preview of Brock Bowers and the 2026 Raiders!
2026 Fantasy Football Outlook
At this point, it probably won’t surprise anyone that Brock Bowers is my TE1 for 2026. The Raiders still lack an established alpha wide receiver, and Klint Kubiak’s offense should continue funneling opportunities to its best playmaker. I project Bowers for roughly 135 targets, 99 receptions, 1,025 yards, and eight touchdowns. That works out to around 250 PPR points, just shy of the incredible rookie season that put him on the fantasy football map. And yes, part of this projection assumes Trey McBride comes back to earth after his monster 2025 campaign.
With his ADP settling into the late second or early third round, Bowers remains one of the few players capable of creating a meaningful positional advantage. Fantasy managers who invest early can lock down the tight end position for the entire season and focus their attention elsewhere. If Bowers stays healthy, there is every reason to believe he can reclaim the TE1 crown in 2026.
PS: A Brief Nod To Scott Fish Bowl
For those participating in this year’s Scott Fish Bowl (sign up here), Brock Bowers belongs firmly in the 1.01 conversation. The scoring system starts with 0.5 PPR and 0.5 points per first down, but tight ends receive an additional point for both categories. That means every catch and every first down is worth 1.5 fantasy points for Bowers.
That’s already a significant edge for elite tight ends, but the bonuses make it even more appealing. Every 100-yard game and every reception of 20 yards or more earns an additional 10 fantasy points. Through his first 29 NFL games, Bowers has recorded four 100-yard performances, another four games with at least 90 receiving yards, and at least 16 receptions of 20-plus yards.
When you combine his volume, big-play ability, and the unique Scott Fish Bowl scoring system, it’s easy to see why Bowers belongs near the top of every draft board. Few players have a realistic path to generating that much bonus scoring over the course of a season.
Looking for your favorite team? This link will take you to the rest of our 2026 Look Inside team previews.
A Look Inside the Las Vegas Raiders
Editor’s Note: While this article focused on Brock Bowers in fantasy football, we don’t want to leave you hanging on the rest of the team. Here is a quick look at the other fantasy-relevant Raiders.
Fernando Mendoza
Unlike most first-overall picks, Mendoza does not seem guaranteed a Day 1 starting job. When he does take the throne, there are still a ton of questions about this offense and its lack of WR talent. It could be a mediocre first season for Mendoza, even if he plays 17 games. Think 2025 Cam Ward, at best.
Kirk Cousins
Cousins was far better in 2025 than we saw in 2024, but that isn’t exactly reassuring. He will likely get the first four starts of the season, but his results will decide the rest. He is undraftable in your home league and barely a consideration in Best Ball or Superflex leagues.
Ashton Jeanty
Jeanty’s rookie season is all about perspective. If I told you he finished as a top-12 RB, racking up 975 rushing yards, 346 receiving, and ten total TDs before the season, you would have probably been happy. But a lot that came in a few games, and most view Jeanty as a disappointment due to a very high ADP. But that was last year. A new coach and better overall offense should mean even better numbers in 2026. A possible top-5 finish is not out of the question.
Tre Tucker / Jalen Nailor
If you have two WR1s, you don’t have a WR1. Tucker led the Raiders WRs in every stat last year and still finished as the WR38. Nailor showed flashes in Minnesota, but has never been a leading man. The attention you get as a 1a/1b is a lot different than when teams need to stop Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Both are interesting in Best Ball, but not worth a pick in most other leagues.
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You can also see where Brock Bowers and the rest of the Raiders fall in our 2026 Fantasy Rankings here!
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