Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers suffered a knee injury in Week 1 but downplayed its severity, calling his early exit precautionary. Fantasy football managers should monitor his status closely as he’s been a dominant receiving threat since entering the league.
Consider securing backup tight end options while awaiting further updates on Bowers’ availability for Week 2. Here’s a deeper look.
Brock Bowers Injury Update
Tight end Brock Bowers was knocked out of the Las Vegas Raiders’ first game of 2025 against the Patriots with a knee injury. After the match, Bowers downplayed the severity of the injury, stating he was held out as a precaution.
#Raiders Brock Bowers – Video suggests MCL sprain
Meniscus, ACL possible but suspect they’re less likely here
If MCL alone, absence would typically be short-term pic.twitter.com/wBWSAtw3eU
— Deepak Chona, MD. SMA (@SportMDAnalysis) September 7, 2025
That seems to suggest that Bowers could be active for Week 2. Securing a Plan B at tight end could be worthwhile if you have space for waivers in Week 1, such as Juwan Johnson or Harold Fannin Jr.
As for Vegas, TE Michael Mayer could be in line for a bigger role if Bowers misses time. He caught four passes for 38 yards in Week 1 while splitting time with Bowers.
— PFSN Fantasy Football Analyst Dan Fornek
Bowers Fantasy Outlook
If you’re reading this, you’re aware of what Brock Bowers is — a machine. We’ve seen him on the professional stage 18 times, and he’s already hit 90 receiving yards seven times.
For context, Justin Jefferson, Puka Nacua, and Ja’Marr Chase all had seven such stat lines through their first 18 career games. In fact, since 2000, Odell Beckham and Victor Cruz are the only players to top seven in that very niche stat that you can now flaunt at your Week 2 watch party.
KEEP READING: Soppe’s Week 2 Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em: Analysis for Every Player in Every Game
I’m not worried about the knee injury he seemed to pick up late last week, nor am I concerned about Michael Mayer earning a red-zone target. For me, Mayer is Tyler Allgeier to Bowers’ Bijan Robinson, case closed.
You spent up at the position this summer to have a built-in edge every week over your league. While Geno Smith may not be a perfect quarterback, he certainly looked comfortable funneling the targets where they needed to go in this offense, and that’s all you care about.
Bowers had eight-plus targets in both Charger games last season, and I’d be surprised if he doesn’t make it three-for-three in that regard this week.
— PFSN Fantasy Football Analyst Kyle Soppe
