Forget everything you thought you knew about Las Vegas Raiders TE Brock Bowers after last season, because his 2026 fantasy draft stock is absolutely wild, my friend. After a rough 2025 campaign totally marred by injuries, Bowers is heading into his third NFL season with fantasy analysts legitimately eyeing him as a potential first-round pick in full-PPR drafts. Talk about a massive bounce-back projection for a guy who was a relative bust just last year. It’s a bold take, but the numbers might just back it up.
From Rookie Sensation to Injury Setback
Man, Year 1 for Bowers in 2024 was something else, right? The dude absolutely blew up, finishing as the overall TE1 in fantasy scoring with a monster 206.7 points in Half-PPR formats. He was practically unstoppable, snagging 112 receptions for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns across 17 games. He was the consensus TE1 off the board for 2025 drafts, and everyone, I mean *everyone*, expected him to just build on that incredible start. But then, oof. Injuries totally derailed 2025, turning what should have been another stellar year into a serious disappointment for fantasy managers. He still managed to set a career high with seven touchdowns, which is wild considering the struggles, but his catches plummeted to 64 and yards to 680, playing in only 12 games. It was a tough break, no doubt, and it left a lot of folks wondering what was next for the guy.Why Year 3 Is Different and He's a League-Winner
Now, heading into Year 3, the sentiment is completely different for Bowers, and for some seriously compelling reasons. On the latest Yahoo Fantasy Forecast, Matt Harmon and Justin Boone broke it all down, and let me tell you, it's spicy. They're talking about running it back with Bowers as a high pick, even though the Raiders are projected to be one of the worst teams in the NFL *again* in 2026. Boone is totally comfortable with Bowers getting scooped up that high, arguing that while the Raiders might absolutely struggle offensively, Bowers himself can be a true difference-maker, a flat-out "league-winner" for your fantasy squad. The biggest reason? Las Vegas completely whiffed on adding playmakers at receiver this offseason. Seriously, unless you're counting Jalen Nailor, they didn't bring in anyone significant to help out the passing game. That leaves Bowers, the tight end, as the "de facto No. 1 receiver" for new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. Think about that target share! In Half-PPR, Boone sees Bowers as a solid second-round pick. But in Full-PPR, he's even higher on him, saying he absolutely doesn't mind taking the tight end at the end of the first round or into the early second. That's some insane draft capital for a tight end, especially after a bust year, but it’s all about opportunity. So, as fantasy draft season heats up, the big question looms for every manager building their roster: are you bold enough to buy into the Brock Bowers bounce-back hype at a first-round price? He's healthy, he's got the target volume practically guaranteed, and the potential for him to explode is absolutely real. If you're chasing that league title, keeping a very close eye on Bowers' draft position, and maybe even reaching for him, could be the move that makes or breaks your whole season. Think about it.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.