The Las Vegas Raiders selected tight end Brock Bowers with the 13th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. While many were surprised by the selection, it had nothing to do with Bowers’ talent and profile. Rather, it was more based on the fact that this is now the second straight year that the Raiders have spent an early draft pick on the tight end position. What does this somewhat complicated scenario mean for Brock Bowers’ fantasy football draft value in his rookie season?
2024 Las Vegas Raiders Fantasy Outlook
Despite a mid-season coaching change, the Raiders somehow backdoored their way into being a fringe playoff contender towards the end of last season. They did so with then-rookie Aidan O’Connell serving as their quarterback. Now, despite O’Connell still under contract, the team will pivot to veteran Gardner Minshew who offers similar upside for the team overall.
Given the underwhelming nature of the Las Vegas QB room, many have instinctively tempered expectations regarding the fantasy football draft value of Raiders players. To be fair, whoever is under center in Sin City this season will have plenty of viable weapons at his disposal.
Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers return to lead a receiving corps that added Michael Gallup in the offseason. Josh Jacobs departed via free agency, but Zamir White is more than capable of filling the void left in the backfield. Meanwhile, Brock Bowers joins 2023 second-round pick Michael Mayer to form one of the best young tight end duos in the NFL.
Brock Bowers’ Fantasy Football Profile
Anyone who has followed the sport of college football in recent years is surely familiar with Brock Bowers. He was a focal point of the Georgia Bulldogs’ offense as the school managed to capture back-to-back CFP National Championships in the 2021 and ’22 seasons. Bowers followed up a 56-catch, 882-yard, 13-touchdown line in ’21 with a 63-942-7 line in the subsequent season.
Although he missed some time due to injury last year, Bowers was once again productive. Georgia was talented enough to overcome his absence, but his presence on the field certainly made a difference for the entire offense. Make no mistake about it: Bowers is a stud. A prolific pass-catcher who plays tight end. The Raiders are confident that he will continue to produce at the next level, evidenced by their taking him 13th overall in the draft this past spring.
With the expectation that the Raiders will be average at best in terms of quarterback play in 2024, it’s reasonable to believe that both Bowers and Michael Mayer will be utilized in the offense. Tight ends who can make plays over the middle can often be the best friends of a young QB like O’Connell or a nomad like Minshew.
Bowers has the profile and talent to step right in and be a difference-maker in the NFL from day one. The main concern is usage. As detailed above, what the Raiders lack in surefire quarterback play, they make up for in offensive playmakers. If 2TE sets become a regular occurrence under new coordinator, Luke Getsy, Bowers could also find himself the priority of opposing defenses, with Mayer perhaps being the resulting beneficiary.
Brock Bowers Fantasy ADP
According to Fantasy Data, Brock Bowers’ current fantasy football average draft position (ADP) in PPR drafts has him going 103rd overall. At his position, he currently ranks as TE11. Players slotted directly ahead of him at the position include Jake Ferguson and David Njoku. Meanwhile, Bowers already finds himself ahead of names like Dallas Goedert and T.J. Hockenson in the current fantasy ADP as a rookie.
Where Should I Draft Brock Bowers in Fantasy Football 2024?
Brock Bowers presents plenty of upside even in his rookie campaign that makes him an attractive option at his current fantasy ADP. That said, rookie TEs have been notorious for struggling relative to expectations in their maiden NFL seasons. This rang true for Mayer with the Raiders just last season. When a Sam LaPorta-type busts out as a rookie, it’s a great story, but hardly the norm.
Even with the concerns about quarterback play and usage rate in his rookie season, it’s hard to argue against drafting Bowers at his current position. For managers who elect to bypass TEs in the top tiers, the rookie could make for a stellar consolation prize. If the Raiders prioritize getting Bowers involved in the offense, he has a great chance to outperform his current ADP.
Those who do opt to select Bowers at or near his current ADP might also consider adding a veteran TE in subsequent rounds of the draft. Depending on the nature of your league and roster, owning two tight ends may not seem savvy. In this case, however, it will help mitigate the risk of Bowers getting off to a slow start in his rookie campaign.
