The Las Vegas Raiders will be on a short week in Week 15, taking on the Los Angeles Chargers for Thursday Night Football. The Raiders may be making a move under center this week, but whoever starts will have a reliable option in tight end Michael Mayer. The rookie has played in 13 games and has 265 yards and a touchdown on 23 receptions.
Fantasy Football analysis: Raiders TE Michael Mayer
Mayer has a fantastic matchup as the Chargers allow the seventh-most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends. The one game that he has missed this season was when the Raiders faced the Chargers in Week 4. Mayer hasn’t been on the same page with O’Connell over their last two games, as he has brought in three of his six targets for only 41 yards.
Start or sit in Week 15 PPR leagues?
No.
There are no teams on bye this week, so there should be ample options for your fantasy football lineups. Mayer would only be started in 20-team leagues or larger until he carves out more of a defined role in the offense. Whether that is a more consistent target share or redzone targets, either would help give him more value down the stretch.
Start or sit in Week 15 standard leagues?
Nope.
Similar to the reasoning for the PPR section, you should be able to find someone with a better matchup. If you take receptions out of it, Mayer is still not seeing targets in the redzone and doesn’t come down with a consistent number of receptions.
Player(s) you would start ahead of Michael Mayer
There are plenty of tight ends you should start over Mayer. Noah Fant, Juwan Johnson, Gerald Everett, Tyler Conklin and Brevin Jordan would should all be started over Mayer.