It was surprising that the Raiders took Bowers with their first-round pick, giving them a very unique talent who could shine as soon as this year. An instant hit at Georgia, Bowers scored 13 touchdowns as a freshman, then totaled 13 touchdowns with over 1,600 receiving yards in his next two seasons (25 games). Bowers also worked on occasion as a rusher, including when he lined up as a Wildcat QB. He is very much a mismatch tight end in the mold of George Kittle, capable of working downfield for splash plays or taking short passes a good distance through his ruthless power and speed. He's just not as effective as a blocker, but that's something Fantasy managers don't have to sweat. There is an injury track record with Bowers but he's too promising of a player to ignore. Consider him a start-worthy Fantasy tight end with much more upside than downside if you get in him Round 9 or later. In rookie-only drafts he could go as high as fourth overall (especially in one-QB leagues) or as late as 10th overall (much more likely in Superflex/two-QB leagues).
Bowers (foot) doesn't carry an injury designation for Sunday's season opener against the Chargers.
After logging limited sessions Wednesday and Thursday, Bowers was listed as a full participant Friday, paving the way for the 2024 first-rounder to make his NFL regular-season debut this weekend. As the coming campaign approaches, he's in line to be a key target in a Las Vegas passing offense that also features WRs Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers and fellow TE Michael Mayer, a 2023 second-rounder. Though the continued presence of Mayer is of note, Bowers should still provide fantasy utility as a rookie, with the Raiders likely to frequently employ two-TE sets.
... See More... See Less
Raiders' Brock Bowers: Still limited Thursday
Rotowire
Bowers (foot) remained limited in Thursday's practice.
Coach Antonio Pierce has stressed Bowers will be ready to go for Sunday's Week 1 opener against the Chargers despite the limited practice reps. The Raiders are expected to use both Bowers and second-year TE Michael Mayer in tandem this season, with Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers handling the wideout reps in an offense that likely won't use a ton of three-receiver looks.
... See More... See Less
Raiders' Brock Bowers: TEs to Sit
Rotowire
I'd prefer to keep Bowers reserved if possible in his first NFL game since he's been dealing with a foot injury coming into Week 1. He missed several practices in training camp, and he might not be 100 percent for this matchup against the Chargers. Eventually, you should expect Bowers to become a weekly starter in all leagues given his potential, but he's not a must-start Fantasy tight end in this game against the Chargers on the road.
... See More... See Less
Raiders' Brock Bowers: Limited practice Wednesday
Rotowire
Bowers (foot) was a limited participant at practice Wednesday.
Per Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com, head coach Antonio Pierce noted before practice that Bowers would be "ready to go," and despite his listed limitations Wednesday, the rookie tight end is trending toward being available for Sunday's season opener against the Chargers. Bowers now has two more chances to log a full practice session prior to the announcement of his team's final injury report ahead of the Week 1 game.
... See More... See Less
Raiders' Brock Bowers: Returning to practice
Rotowire
Bowers (foot) will return to practice Wednesday, Vic Tafur of The Athletic reports.
Bowers missed most of the team's practices between mid-August and the end of the month, but head coach Antonio Pierce sounded optimistic Wednesday about the rookie's chances of playing Sunday against the Chargers. The extent of Bowers' practice participation will be revealed later Wednesday, when the Raiders release their first official injury report of the season. For his part, Pierce noted that Bowers will be "ready to go" this weekend, per Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com.
Coach Antonio Pierce noted Thursday that he feels very good about Bowers (foot) being on the field for the Raiders' season opener, Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.
Per Bonsignore, the Raiders are simply exercising prudence with the rookie tight end, who has been managing foot soreness of late. Added context regarding Bowers' status should arrive no later than next week's initial practice/injury report, but at this stage it appears as though Bowers will be available for the team's Week 1 contest against the Chargers on Sunday, Sept. 8.
... See More... See Less
Raiders' Brock Bowers: Remains absent Wednesday
Rotowire
Bowers (foot) is not participating in Wednesday's practice, Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com reports.
Bowers hasn't practiced since missing the Raiders' Aug. 18 preseason matchup against the Cowboys due to what was labeled foot soreness. Head coach Antonio Pierce said last week that Bowers' absence is precautionary, per Tashan Reed of The Athletic, but the rookie tight end's status nonetheless needs to be monitored. Bowers has a bit less than two weeks to ramp up his activity level ahead of Las Vegas' regular-season opener against the Chargers on Sept. 8.
... See More... See Less
Raiders' Brock Bowers: Misses practice
Rotowire
Bowers (foot) didn't practice Tuesday, Vic Tafur of The Athletic reports.
Bowers was held out of Saturday's 27-12 preseason loss to Dallas with foot soreness and is still working through the issue. The Raiders named Gardner Minshew as their Week 1 starting quarterback Sunday, answering one of the big questions about their offense heading into the season. One of the other questions is how snaps at tight end will be divided between Bowers and Michael Mayer, especially in clear passing situations when the Raiders will want three receivers and only one tight end on the field.
... See More... See Less
Raiders' Brock Bowers: Las Vegas bound
Rotowire
The Raiders selected Bowers in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, 13th overall.
Despite investing a high second-round pick in tight end Michael Mayer in 2023, the Raiders couldn't pass up on Bowers in the first round. Bowers is the highest-drafted tight end since Kyle Pitts in 2021 and has an impressive prospect profile. Athletic enough to run from the slot and split defenders down the seam but physical enough to play in-line and block, Bowers is the complete package. He led Georgia in receiving in all three of his seasons in Athens and left school with the second-most touchdown catches (26) in program history. A hamstring injury prevented Bowers from testing at the combine and his measurements (6-3, 243) are not that of a prototypical tight end. However, the film and standout production paint Bowers as a weapon in the passing game and that will be his primary function in the Raider offense. Given Bowers' skill set and high draft capital, he projects to be the primary tight end over Mayer right away.
