#274 overall · LV · 43.7 projected half-PPR pts · -68.3 Draft Value
Michael Mayer — 2026 Fantasy Outlook
The case for drafting him
Michael Mayer's 2025 season was his most productive as a pro. He posted 50 targets, 35 receptions, and 328 receiving yards — all three-year highs — and added a receiving touchdown. That target share represents a meaningful step forward from the 40 targets he saw in 2023 and the 32 in 2024, suggesting he has carved out a more consistent role in Las Vegas's offense. His three-year averages of 40.7 targets, 27.7 receptions, 262.7 receiving yards, and 1.0 receiving touchdown per season establish a floor of involvement. For a drafter willing to roster a late-depth tight end, Mayer's 2025 trajectory is the most encouraging data point in his file.
What the model projects
The projection for Mayer in 2026 is 43.7 half-PPR fantasy points. He ranks TE44 at his position and #274 overall. His draft value is -68.3, placing him in Tier 9 on the board — well below replacement level at the tight end position. His bye week is Week 13.
| Att | Comp | Pass yds | Pass TD | INT | Car | Rush yds | Rush TD | Tgt | Rec | Rec yds | Rec TD | Fum | FG | XP | Half-PPR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 27 | 304 | 2 | — | 0 | 0 | 55.9 |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 21 | 156 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 26.1 |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 35 | 328 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 56.3 |
| 3-yr avg | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 40.7 | 27.7 | 262.7 | 1 | 0.3 | — | — | 46.1 |
The range of outcomes
Mayer's recent history illustrates how wide the outcome band can be at this position. In 2024 he totaled just 156 receiving yards and zero touchdowns on 32 targets; in 2025 he nearly doubled his yardage to 328 and added a score on 50 targets. The difference between a season that resembles 2024 and one that resembles 2025 is substantial in fantasy terms. A single fumble appeared in his 2025 log. The projection of 43.7 points reflects a profile where volume remains modest and touchdown variance is high — one score can meaningfully move his final point total.
How to draft him
Mayer does not have a market ADP across public 2026 draft platforms, which means he is not being consistently drafted in standard snake formats. He is a late-roster or waiver-wire consideration rather than a pick you need to plan around. At TE44 and #274 overall with a -68.3 draft value, he projects as a below-replacement option. If you carry him on a roster, it is as a speculative depth piece behind a starter, with his Week 13 bye factored into your schedule planning.
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Questions drafters ask
The projection is 43.7 half-PPR points and a draft value of -68.3, placing him at TE44 and #274 overall in Tier 9. Those numbers put him well below replacement level at the position, so he is not a recommended starting option.
Yes — his 2025 season was his best across all three tracked years. He set three-year highs in targets (50), receptions (35), and receiving yards (328), and scored one touchdown. His 2024 season by contrast produced only 156 yards and zero touchdowns on 32 targets.
Considerably. Over three seasons he averaged 1.0 receiving touchdown per year, with totals of 2, 0, and 1. His per-season yardage is modest enough that touchdowns represent a large share of his fantasy scoring, making his final point total sensitive to whether scores come or not.
He has no market ADP across public 2026 draft platforms, meaning he is not being consistently selected in snake drafts. There is no pick you need to budget to secure him.