Brock Bowers

Brock Bowers enters the 2026 fantasy football season as one of the safest elite tight end picks and a strong candidate to finish as the overall TE1. After a rookie year that showed his game-breaking upside and a 2025 season that was dampened by knee trouble and unstable quarterback play, he still remained one of the best fantasy tight ends, and multiple 2026 outlooks expect a rebound now that Las Vegas has upgraded the coaching staff and offense around him.

The biggest storyline is health. Bowers dealt with a lingering knee injury in 2025 after a PCL injury and bone bruise in the opener, which clearly affected his production and led to missed time later in the season. The encouraging part for fantasy managers is that there is no indication in the recent reports of a new injury, trade, or team change heading into 2026, so the main risk is simply whether his knee is fully behind him.

From a usage standpoint, Bowers looks set up to be the Raiders’ clear top target again. CBS Sports notes that Las Vegas brought in Klint Kubiak as coach, added quarterbacks Fernando Mendoza and Kirk Cousins, improved the offensive line with center Tyler Linderbaum, and did not make major additions at receiver, which should leave Bowers heavily involved as the team’s most reliable pass catcher. FantasyPros also describes him as the Raiders’ alpha option and projects another strong season with about 93 catches, nearly 1,000 yards, and close to eight touchdowns.

For fantasy drafts, Bowers belongs in the top tier with Trey McBride and should be treated as a premium difference-maker at a thin position. CBS Sports says he is worth selecting as early as the middle of Round 2, while FantasyPros suggests the back half of Round 2 or early Round 3 in 12-team leagues. If you want elite weekly upside at tight end and are comfortable paying for it, Bowers is one of the best targets in 2026.

Updated 06/08/2026