Raiders TE Brock Bowers (foot) was limited in Wednesday's practice. The team has downplayed this issue, but it's been lingering for over two weeks now. The rookie seems on track to play vs. the Chargers on Sunday, but he'd be a more comfortable fantasy play with at least one full practice on Thursday or Friday.
Raiders TE Brock Bowers is currently sidelined with a sore foot, according to The Athletic's Vic Tafur. The rookie missed Saturday's preseason game and remained sidelined for Tuesday's practice. There's been no update from the team on the extent of Bowers' injury or his timeline for return.
Raiders starters played 14 snaps in Saturday's preseason opener against the Vikings, and both TEs spent most of that on the field. Michael Mayer played 12 of 14 snaps, ran six routes and drew two targets, according to Pro Football Focus. Rookie Brock Bowers played 11 snaps, ran five routes and drew two targets. And the Raiders moved him around. PFF counted six snaps in a "traditional" TE position, two at outside receiver, one in the slot, and two in the backfield. That aligns with how Raiders coaches have discussed using the first-round pick -- as well as the stated plan to deploy two TEs often.
According to The Athletic's Vic Tafur and Tashan Reed, the Raiders have "usually" been lining up in "heavy sets" on offense, meaning multiple TEs on the field at the same time. That makes sense given the team added first-round rookie Brock Bowers to 2023 second-rounder Michael Mayer at the position. The team also sports lackluster WR talent behind Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers.
The Raiders drafted TE Brock Bowers 13th overall, which says plenty about how much they like his talent. But that doesn't guarantee he'll get enough playing time to produce right away. According to The Athletic's Tashan Reed, new OC Luke Getsy's "run-first offense asks a lot out of tight ends in the run game, so Bowers will have to make strides in that area to stay on the field."
The Raiders expect WR Tre Tucker to "take a big leap as their starting slot," per The Athletic's Tashan Reed. A third-round pick in 2023, Tucker managed just 19 catches, 331 yards, and 2 TDs as a rookie. At 5'9 and 185 pounds, Tucker brings exciting speed (4.40 forty time; 1.48 ten-yard split). This offseason, the Raiders added Brock Bowers to an offense that already includes Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers. Bowers is expected to see a good chunk of his snaps out of the slot.
The Raiders added Georgia TE Brock Bowers in Round 1 of the NFL Draft. Bowers arrives after an uber-productive college career. He led Georgia in catches, receiving yards, and receiving TDs across all three seasons on campus. Bowers tallied a 56-882-13 line as a true freshman, ranking third among 45 qualifying TEs in both Pro Football Focus receiving grade and yards per route. He improved his yards per game each of the next two seasons (62.8 and 71.4) and led all 52 qualifying TEs in yards per route last year. Bowers won the Mackey Award as the nation’s top TE in both 2022 and 2023, becoming the first two-time winner of the award. He was deployed all over the formation at Georgia (53% slot, 37% inline, 10% out wide) and even carried 19 times over the last three years. That speaks to his skills with the ball in his hands: Bowers averaged a big 8.5 yards after catch per reception for his college career. He also boasts impressive ball skills and reliable hands, dropping just 4.4% of his career targets. Bower is a bit undersized at 6’3, 243 pounds and didn’t test in the pre-draft process. But it’s tough to worry about any of that after he dominated for three seasons in the SEC. In Vegas, he joins a squad that spent a 2023 Round 2 pick on TE Michael Mayer. The Raiders lack a QB of the future but offer a nice spot for Bowers to soak up targets long-term. He remains a fringe top-5 pick in rookie drafts.
Georgia TE Brock Bowers measured in at 6’3, 243 pounds at the NFL Combine. That was pretty much the expectation for Bowers, who declined to participate in athletic testing. He delivered massive numbers across three college seasons (175-2,541-26). His tape is littered with dynamic run-after-catch ability and physical play. He stood out on screens at Georgia, where his versatility showed in various alignments. The potential top-10 pick will push for fantasy value early in 2024. Visit our dynasty TE rankings, and you’ll see him checking in as a mid-range TE1.
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