After an impressive rookie season, expectations are even higher for last year’s first-round pick
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers is coming off a strong rookie campaign where he set several records and quickly became one of the top players at his position in the NFL. For example, Bowers racked up the second-most fantasy football points among tight ends last season, according to Fantasy Pros.
So, expectations are high for the Georgia product heading into the upcoming season, and Pro Football Focus has him ranked as the second-best tight end and in the “Tier 1A and 1B” category for fantasy football.
“Starting with Brock Bowers, who finished last season as the overall TE1 [in PFF’s rankings], he exceeded all expectations as a rookie, even setting several rookie tight end records along the way,” PFF’s Jonathon Macri. “Heading into Year 2, those expectations are set as high as possible for Bowers, who is drafted as the TE1 more often than not, and anything short of that finish could be viewed as a disappointment.
“However, considering the elite 25.0% target rate on top of the talent as a “generational” tight end prospect, Bowers is fully capable of delivering on those expectations in Year 2, as his floor is high enough that there’s little risk investing in him in the second round of fantasy drafts.”
Trey McBride of the Arizona Cardinals was listed as Macri’s top tight end and the only one ahead of Bowers. McBride also enjoyed a breakout campaign last year, hauling in 111 catches for 1,146 yards and two touchdowns while finishing as Fantasy Pro’s No. 3 tight end. For those curious, the San Francisco 49ers’ George Kittle was FP’s top player at the position.
So, if you’re hoping to get Bowers on your fantasy team this year, you won’t be able to wait long during your draft and might have to use a first-round pick on him to be safe.
In Other Raiders’ Links:
- Pete Carroll the one to fix Tyree Wilson: “With a storied and vastly experienced defensive-minded head coach Pete Carroll now leading the Raiders, Wilson gets a hands-on type that’s a quality teacher,” Silver and Black Pride’s Ray Aspuria wrote. “But let’s put it plainly: If Carroll can’t get the most out of Wilson, then no one can.”
- Carroll and Geno Smith third-best new head coach-quarterback duo: “Though streaky, Geno still possesses the kind of big-play arm the Raiders haven’t seen for years,” CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin wrote. “Carroll, meanwhile, is a proven culture-builder whose infectious personality has the potential to bring the best out of unforeseen corners of the Las Vegas locker room.”
- Malcom Koonce holds free football camp: “Malcolm Koonce, a former Stepinac football player and current Las Vegas Raiders defensive end, returned to his alma mater to sponsor a free camp for kids June 21, 2025,” via lohud.com.
- 53-man roster projection: “General manager John Spytek and coach Pete Carroll are early in the process of formulating what the roster will look like, and there’s still potential for them to make outside additions before the start of the season,” The Athletic’s Tashan Reed wrote. “For the most part, OTAs were about laying a foundation.”