Bottom Line

Mayer had a highly productive three-year career at Notre Dame, totaling 2,099 yards and 18 TDs on a school-record 180 catches. The Raiders made him the 35th overall pick of this spring’s draft.

Mayer only needs to beat out Austin Hooper and O.J. Howard for lead TE duties. But WRs Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers present stiff target competition. And rookie TEs generally aren’t good bets for significant fantasy production.

Consider Mayer an upside TE3 target in best ball drafts but a waiver-wire watch list guy in lineup-setting fantasy leagues.

What We Learned Last Year

• Mayer set a Notre Dame TE record with 180 career receptions … in just three seasons.
• As a 19-year-old true freshman, he tied for the team lead with 42 catches, totaling 450 yards and two TDs.
• He broke out for a big 71-840-7 line in 2021 and followed that up with a 67-809-9 line last season, leading the Irish in all three categories.
• He was the only FBS TE to clear 800 yards in each of the past two years.
• Mayer averaged an elite 2.44 yards per route run last season – tops among 84 qualifying TEs.
• The 6’5, 252-pounder registered a 4.70-second 40 time with a 32.5-inch vertical at the Combine. He earned a 77th percentile Relative Athletic Score – not elite, but certainly not worrisome.
• For more on Mayer’s profile, check out our full scouting report.

What to Expect in 2023

• The Raiders made Mayer the 35th overall pick of this spring’s draft. He was the third TE off the board, behind first-rounder Dalton Kincaid and 34th overall pick Sam LaPorta.
• Vegas lost its top two TEs from last season in Darren Waller and Foster Moreau, who combined for 97 targets (16.6% of the team total).
• The Raiders also added free-agent TEs Austin Hooper and O.J. Howard this offseason. Hooper hasn’t reached 450 yards in any of the last three seasons and turns 29 in October. Howard has totaled just 426 yards over the last three years. Mayer has a good chance to lead the group in targets and fantasy points.
• But target hog Davante Adams returns. And the Raiders gave WR Jakobi Meyers a three-year, $33 million deal in free agency. They figure to be Vegas’ top two targets this season.
• Over the past five seasons, only two rookie TEs (Kyle Pitts, Pat Freiermuth) have reached 9.0 PPR points per game – generally the level needed to be a top 15 TE. Three other rookie TEs (Will Dissly, Greg Dulcich, and Kaden Smith) have hit 8.0 PPR points per game.