Hunter Henry or Michael Mayer: Who Should You Start?

2026 Week 2 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Start Henry: the steadier TE1 role wins out over Mayer's conditional upside

Start Hunter Henry: his TE1 role and New England's stronger scoring environment make the small projection deficit less meaningful at a volatile position. Mayer's higher target share and projection are real, but his role depends on Bowers sitting, as Yahoo Sports 2026-09-17 reports. Henry's risk is modest volume against Pittsburgh's toughest tight-end matchup, so this is a narrow edge rather than a comfortable call.

What flips it: Bowers is active for Las Vegas.

Sources: Yahoo Sports · Sep 17, 2026

AI editor

Hunter Henry

Hunter Henry

TE18NEvs PIT

Projected Points

Start
Michael Mayer

Michael Mayer

TELVvs LAC

Projected Points

Toss-Up· medium

Hunter Henry’s market

REC
O/U 3.5
+114 / -145
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 37.5
-111 / -113
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+220
Anytime Touchdown Props →

Michael Mayer’s market

REC
O/U 5.5
+107 / -136
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 44.5
-112 / -112
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+230
Anytime Touchdown Props →
PIT@
NESun, Sep 20, 1:00 PM ETView the game →
LV@
LACSun, Sep 20, 4:05 PM ETView the game →

Why Hunter Henry

Start

TE1 and volume pass-catcher. Dependable seam and red-zone target with in-line blocking chops.

Start — TE18 consensus, projects TE17 this week: PIT is the 1st-toughest matchup vs TEs, 24.0 implied team total.

  • Henry's in-line and red-zone skill set gives him more than one path to a touchdown.
  • New England's scoring outlook better supports a TE whose value includes goal-line work.

Why Michael Mayer

Toss-Up· medium

TE2 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 short-area role can produce useful PPR volume if he remains Las Vegas' top tight end.
  • His physical blocking role should keep him involved even if the Raiders fall behind.

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

Role

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, 2026
Raiders TE Michael Mayer gets 3-year, $45M extension, sources say

Tight 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.

ESPN · Sep 12, 2026
Raiders sign TE Michael Mayer to multi-year extension

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.

raiders.com · Sep 12, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Head-to-head stats

MetricHunter HenryMichael Mayer
Projected points
Consensus rankTE18—
Opponent vs positionPIT · 1 of 321-game sampleLAC · 26 of 321-game sample
Receptions1 of 3230 of 32
Receiving Yards1 of 3229 of 32
Receiving TDs1 of 3221 of 32
Targets1 of 3232 of 32
Anytime TD1 of 3220 of 32
Target share10%24%
Reception share13%29%
Implied total · spread24.0-4.517.0+8.5
Depth chartTE1TE2
Snap share76%81%
Start/Sit record0–0+1 toss-up0–0+2 toss-ups

Recent form

Hunter Henry — last 1 week

Week 1vs SEA

Michael Mayer — last 1 week

Week 1vs MIA

Signal breakdown

  • 9.4 vs 10.0 projected PPR pointsMichael Mayer +
  • Consensus position rankeven
  • Opponent DvP rank 1 vs 26 (32 = softest)even
  • Implied 24.0 vs 17.0 team pointsHunter Henry +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 76% vs 81% snap shareMichael Mayer +

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