Blake Corum or Michael Mayer: Who Should You Start?
2026 Week 2 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.
Corum’s game script meets Mayer’s conditional volume
Corum gets the better script: Los Angeles is positioned to play from ahead, making his complementary rushing role more valuable than its small workload suggests. Mayer counters with steadier involvement, but that case is conditional; Yahoo Sports 2026-09-17 says he remains the top tight end only if Bowers sits, and Las Vegas’ modest scoring outlook leaves less room for a touchdown rescue. The call is genuinely level rather than hiding a small projection gap: Corum carries the sharper workload risk, while Mayer carries the sharper role risk. Corum is the better bet if the Rams’ control turns into sustained carries; Mayer is safer only after the Raiders’ tight-end hierarchy is confirmed.
What flips it: Bowers being cleared to play for Las Vegas.
Sources: Yahoo Sports · Sep 17, 2026
AI editor
In standard and half-PPR scoring this flips to Corum.
Blake Corum
8.38.79.1 Projected Points
Michael Mayer
5.37.610.0 Projected Points
Blake Corum’s market
Michael Mayer’s market
Why Blake Corum
Toss-Up· mediumRB2 in complementary role. Compact one-cut runner with meaningful carry share behind the starter.
Blowout script (-8.5, 28.5 implied) and near-even Week 1 carry split with Kyren make Corum a live flex dart, but 23% snaps and 0% targets cap the PPR floor.
- A likely Rams lead gives Corum a path to late rushing volume despite his limited passing-game role.
- Corum’s compact running style fits a complementary role that can benefit if Los Angeles protects a lead.
The call
- Game script is ideal: Rams are 8.5-point favorites with a 28.5 implied total, the exact setup where a backup back eats fourth-quarter carries.
- Week 1 usage is the tease — Corum finished one carry shy of Kyren Williams at 5.4 yards per pop after averaging just 8.5 carries a game to Williams' 15.8 last season.
- The cap is real: 23% snap share and a 0% target share mean no PPR floor, so he needs volume and a goal-line look to clear the RB38 projection.
- Tip it toward start if you need ceiling in a deep league or Williams' status wobbles; sit him if your flex alternative catches passes.
Latest on Corum
In the Week 1 opener, Corum finished with just one fewer carry than Kyren Williams, averaging 5.4 yards per carry after averaging just 8.5 carries per game to Williams' 15.8 in 2025.
Yahoo Sports · Sep 11, 2026Why Michael Mayer
Toss-Up· mediumTE2 in complementary role. Physical in-line blocker with reliable short-to-intermediate hands behind the starter.
Mayer's 10.0 projection and 24% target share only hold if Bowers sits — confirm inactives before locking him in a 12-team TE slot.
- Mayer’s reliable short-area hands support usable reception volume when he is the Raiders’ top tight end.
- His 81% role is more stable than Corum’s, but only if Bowers remains out.
The call
- Week 1 usage was real: 81% snap share, 24% target share and six catches on seven targets with Bowers out of the starting lineup — that's a locked-in TE1 workload if it repeats.
- The entire case is conditional. The Yahoo report (2026-09-17) says he's expected to stay the top tight end only *if* Bowers sits Week 2; if Bowers is active, Mayer's target share craters and 10.0 points is unreachable.
- Matchup and script are fine — LAC ranks 26 of 32 in DvP composite (softer end) and an 8.5-point deficit with a 17.0 implied total means plenty of trailing-script throws and checkdowns.
- Tiebreaker: if Bowers is ruled out, start Mayer without hesitation; if Bowers plays, bench him for any streaming TE.
Latest on Mayer
Mayer was replaced Bowers in the starting lineup for the Week 1 opener and had six catches on seven targets for 32 yards; he is expected to remain the top tight end if Bowers sits out Week 2.
Yahoo Sports · Sep 17, 2026Tight end Michael Mayer, who is stepping in for an injured Brock Bowers to start the regular season, has received a multiyear extension from the Raiders.
Mayer has totaled 83 receptions for 788 receiving yards (9.5 avg.) and three touchdowns over 38 games (32 starts) in his first three NFL seasons.
Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.
Head-to-head stats
| Metric | Blake Corum | Michael Mayer |
|---|---|---|
| Projected points | 8.38.79.1 | 5.37.610.0 |
| Consensus rank | RB38 | — |
| Opponent vs position | NYG · 15 of 321-game sample | LAC · 26 of 321-game sample |
| Rushing Yards | 6 of 32 | — |
| Rushing TDs | 15 of 32 | — |
| Rushing Attempts | 6 of 32 | — |
| Receptions | 21 of 32 | 30 of 32 |
| Receiving Yards | 20 of 32 | 29 of 32 |
| Anytime TD | 22 of 32 | 20 of 32 |
| Receiving TDs | — | 21 of 32 |
| Targets | — | 32 of 32 |
| Target share | 0% | 24% |
| Reception share | 0% | 29% |
| Implied total · spread | 28.5-8.5 | 17.0+8.5 |
| Depth chart | RB2 | TE2 |
| Snap share | 23% | 81% |
| Start/Sit record | 1–0+1 toss-up | 0–0+2 toss-ups |
Recent form
Blake Corum — last 1 week
| Week 1 | vs SF | 5.45.45.4 |
Michael Mayer — last 1 week
| Week 1 | vs MIA | 3.26.29.2 |
Signal breakdown
- 9.1 vs 10.0 projected PPR pointsMichael Mayer +
- Consensus position rankeven
- Opponent DvP rank 15 vs 26 (32 = softest)even
- Implied 28.5 vs 17.0 team pointsBlake Corum +
- No injury designationseven
- 23% vs 81% snap shareMichael Mayer +
Compare different players
Every fantasy-relevant player this week — search or filter by position.
More Corum comparisons
More Mayer comparisons
This week’s toughest calls
- K. WilliamsKyren WilliamsRBLARvs NYG
C. SkatteboCam SkatteboRBNYGvs LAR
- C. SkatteboCam SkatteboRBNYGvs LARD. SwiftD'Andre SwiftRBCHIvs MIN
- D. SwiftD'Andre SwiftRBCHIvs MINB. IrvingBucky IrvingRBTBvs CLE
- B. IrvingBucky IrvingRBTBvs CLED. MontgomeryDavid MontgomeryRBHOUvs CIN
- D. MontgomeryDavid MontgomeryRBHOUvs CINJ. PriceJadarian PriceRBSEAvs ARI
- J. PriceJadarian PriceRBSEAvs ARIR. StevensonRhamondre StevensonRBNEvs PIT
- D. AdamsDavante AdamsWRLARvs NYG
J. WilliamsJameson WilliamsWRDETvs BUF
- J. WilliamsJameson WilliamsWRDETvs BUFL. Burden IIILuther Burden IIIWRCHIvs MIN
- L. Burden IIILuther Burden IIIWRCHIvs MINM. EvansMike EvansWRSFvs MIA
- M. EvansMike EvansWRSFvs MIAC. WatsonChristian WatsonWRGBvs NYJ
- C. WatsonChristian WatsonWRGBvs NYJC. SuttonCourtland SuttonWRDENvs JAX
- C. SuttonCourtland SuttonWRDENvs JAXM. GoldenMatthew GoldenWRGBvs NYJ
- K. Pitts Sr.Kyle Pitts Sr.TEATLvs CAR
G. KittleGeorge KittleTESFvs MIA
- G. KittleGeorge KittleTESFvs MIAS. LaPortaSam LaPortaTEDETvs BUF
- S. LaPortaSam LaPortaTEDETvs BUFT. KraftTucker KraftTEGBvs NYJ
- T. KraftTucker KraftTEGBvs NYJT. KelceTravis KelceTEKCvs IND
- T. KelceTravis KelceTEKCvs INDD. GoedertDallas GoedertTEPHIvs TEN
- D. GoedertDallas GoedertTEPHIvs TENJ. FergusonJake FergusonTEDALvs WSH
- D. PrescottDak PrescottQBDALvs WSH
J. DartJaxson DartQBNYGvs LAR
- J. DartJaxson DartQBNYGvs LARJ. HerbertJustin HerbertQBLACvs LV
- J. HerbertJustin HerbertQBLACvs LVC. WilliamsCaleb WilliamsQBCHIvs MIN
- C. WilliamsCaleb WilliamsQBCHIvs MINB. PurdyBrock PurdyQBSFvs MIA
- B. PurdyBrock PurdyQBSFvs MIAP. MahomesPatrick MahomesQBKCvs IND
- P. MahomesPatrick MahomesQBKCvs INDB. NixBo NixQBDENvs JAX
- B. AubreyBrandon AubreyKDALvs WSH
K. FairbairnKa'imi FairbairnKHOUvs CIN
- K. FairbairnKa'imi FairbairnKHOUvs CINH. ButkerHarrison ButkerKKCvs IND
- H. ButkerHarrison ButkerKKCvs INDT. LoopTyler LoopKBALvs NO
- T. LoopTyler LoopKBALvs NOC. SantosCairo SantosKCHIvs MIN
- C. SantosCairo SantosKCHIvs MINC. McLaughlinChase McLaughlinKTBvs CLE
- C. McLaughlinChase McLaughlinKTBvs CLEN. FolkNick FolkKATLvs CAR
- Buccaneers D/STBuccaneers D/STDSTTBvs CLE
Chargers D/STChargers D/STDSTLACvs LV
- Chargers D/STChargers D/STDSTLACvs LV49ers D/ST49ers D/STDSTSFvs MIA
- 49ers D/ST49ers D/STDSTSFvs MIABears D/STBears D/STDSTCHIvs MIN
- Bears D/STBears D/STDSTCHIvs MINBroncos D/STBroncos D/STDSTDENvs JAX
- Broncos D/STBroncos D/STDSTDENvs JAXPackers D/STPackers D/STDSTGBvs NYJ
- Packers D/STPackers D/STDSTGBvs NYJPanthers D/STPanthers D/STDSTCARvs ATL
- A. Jones Sr.Aaron Jones Sr.RBMINvs CHI
D. AdamsDavante AdamsWRLARvs NYG - D. AdamsDavante AdamsWRLARvs NYGD. SwiftD'Andre SwiftRBCHIvs MIN
- J. PriceJadarian PriceRBSEAvs ARIM. EvansMike EvansWRSFvs MIA
- M. EvansMike EvansWRSFvs MIAR. StevensonRhamondre StevensonRBNEvs PIT
- C. SkatteboCam SkatteboRBNYGvs LARC. WatsonChristian WatsonWRGBvs NYJ
- C. SuttonCourtland SuttonWRDENvs JAXJ. DobbinsJ.K. DobbinsRBDENvs JAX
- J. WarrenJaylen WarrenRBPITvs NE
S. LaPortaSam LaPortaTEDETvs BUF - S. LaPortaSam LaPortaTEDETvs BUFM. LloydMarShawn LloydRBGBvs NYJ
Get a Start/Sit call on your whole roster →
Save your team once and see a Start, Sit, or Toss-Up verdict on every player, every week — with the matchup, usage and game-script evidence behind each call.
Add to My Team — freeOr browse this week’s NFL games or NFL player props.