# Nathan Jahnke: PFF says Michael Mayer steps into the starting tight end role with Brock Bowers injured, and frames Tyler Shough as a widely available streaming quarterback for Week 1 who is likely to regress mildly from his rookie production.

**Claimed:** Sep 13, 2026
**Pundit:** Nathan Jahnke — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/nathan-jahnke
**Outlet:** Pro Football Focus — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/pro-football-focus
**How it reached us:** published in writing
**Original:** https://www.pff.com/news/fantasy-football-emergency-waiver-wire-targets-for-nfl-week-1/

One checkable claim, graded on its own against what actually happened.

Nothing to score yet: this grades once the result is in.

> Michael Mayer takes over for Brock Bowers

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **Michael Mayer to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Michael Mayer
  - Verdict: not settled yet

## Who this take is about

- Michael Mayer — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/michael-mayer

## What others said about the same people

- Ryan McCrystal on Michael Mayer: In his most recent mock draft, McCrystal projected specific first-round (and, for teams without first-rounders, Day 2/3) selections for all 32 teams in the 2023 NFL Draft, including Bryce Young at No. 1 to Carolina and Will Anderson at No. 2 to Houston. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/40af5841-7437-4bbc-8432-88cbb660dcf2 (scored 47.88)
- Nick Raducanu on Michael Mayer: Raducanu says Brock Bowers will return from his knee procedure to make his season debut in Week 3 against the Saints, that Ashton Jeanty stays a high-volume RB1 with Bowers back, and that Michael Mayer reverts to a block-heavy backup tight end role behind Bowers. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/db8c7dd1-428c-4a5a-a4c5-5d3c7eae0077 (not settled)
- Tucker Bagley on Michael Mayer: Bagley argues that with Brock Bowers out after a meniscus procedure, Michael Mayer becomes Las Vegas' clear starting tight end and primary target for Kirk Cousins, and that Kahlil Benson will start at left tackle for Kansas City if Josh Simmons sits; he also says Drake London sits atop Atlanta's receiver depth chart and will command heavy targets from Cooper Rush. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/fa282038-5d93-4f5c-9e93-5c0c14fcb562 (not settled)
- Jared Feinberg on Michael Mayer: Previewing the Raiders' season opener against the Dolphins, Feinberg expects Michael Mayer to serve as Las Vegas' top pass-catcher with Brock Bowers out, and sees Maxx Crosby and rookie safety Treydan Stukes as key factors. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7ce4c3c2-2069-4c03-8770-8ebf6df22684 (not settled)
- Frank Ammirante on Michael Mayer: In his Week 1 NFL DFS cash game column, Ammirante names Jared Goff and Malik Willis at quarterback, Chase Brown and Rico Dowdle at running back, Ladd McConkey and Tre Tucker at receiver, and Juwan Johnson and Michael Mayer at tight end as underpriced plays, arguing Michael Mayer steps in as the Raiders' top tight end with Brock Bowers out. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/69d9de07-19b8-4aaf-9390-c004e2f1b0bc (not settled)
- Mark Morales-Smith on Michael Mayer: In a fantasy sell-high column, Morales-Smith argues Rhamondre Stevenson, Kaleb Johnson and Michael Mayer should be traded away now because their value is inflated and will decline. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/721debf3-3450-41ae-a862-b6fe5801d333 (not settled)

## More depth chart calls

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

- Pat Fitzmaurice on Jonah Coleman: In his Week 3 waiver column, Fitzmaurice makes several depth-chart calls around injuries: Jonah Coleman leading Denver's backfield, Marcus Mariota taking over in Washington, Michael Penix Jr. starting once healthy, and Malik Washington serving as Miami's top receiver, plus availability expectations for Detroit's injured safeties. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2cbd48f6-15ea-4aa5-84bc-bcc50d94d09a (scored 0)
- Fox Sports on Michael Penix Jr.: Fox Sports states that a healthy Tua Tagovailoa will serve as Atlanta's backup quarterback in Week 3, with Michael Penix Jr. handling the starting duties against Green Bay. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a90e69a8-707f-43e9-a63e-cdb3e7bd0829 (scored 100)
- Pat Fitzmaurice on Aaron Jones: In previewing the 10 most intriguing fantasy performers of Week 2, Fitzmaurice expects Atlanta's quarterback problems to persist with Tua Tagovailoa unlikely to play and Michael Penix Jr. not ready to return, flags Falcons slot corner Billy Bowman Jr. as a possible Week 2 returnee, and describes Aaron Jones as Minnesota's lead back and Kaelon Black as the clear backup to Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/31adc8bb-8f15-453f-bbcf-cab44e29b8b3 (scored 100)
- Matt Severance on Deshaun Watson: The CBS Sports preview backs Tampa Bay to beat Cleveland in the Bucs' Week 2 home opener, and states that Deshaun Watson — not Shedeur Sanders — will be Cleveland's starting quarterback in Week 2. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/944568ce-7205-409f-8354-a392016fd8bf (scored 100)
- Rafael Zamorano on Deshaun Watson: Zamorano reports Watson will start Week 2 at Tampa Bay and suggests there's little reason to expect improvement, raising the possibility Watson's five-year contract never yields more than single-digit wins. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d7d7e0a2-61e0-4525-970b-b01a2356f11b (scored 100)
- Rich Hribar on Tua Tagovailoa: Hribar expects Tua Tagovailoa to be Atlanta's starting quarterback for Week 2 while Michael Penix stays out, with Penix's return closer to Week 4. He is unenthusiastic about the Falcons' offense either way and treats Bryce Young as a fringe fantasy starter. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/124ac755-a942-4382-8bad-177da7f8170d (scored 0)

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Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages.

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