Fantasy Football Video: Can Brock Bowers return to overall TE1 status in 2026?

Going into the 2026 NFL season, there may not be a team with more buzz for fantasy football than the Las Vegas Raiders. The Raiders are expected to add No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza to a newly-run Klint Kubiak offense that also features RB Ashton Jeanty and TE Brock Bowers.

Last season, Bowers was the consensus overall TE1 in fantasy football but injuries derailed what could have been a solid sophomore season. Matt Harmon and Justin Boone discussed the idea of Bowers returning to the top of the tight end food chain in 2026 on the latest episode of the Yahoo Fantasy Forecast.

Of course, in order for Bowers to become the TE1 again, he’d have to surpass the Cardinals’ Trey McBride, who had a league-winning season in 2025 with 126 catches (most by a TE in NFL history), 1,239 yards and 11 touchdowns for a pass-happy Arizona squad.

In 2026, McBride should have more target competition from a healthy Marvin Harrison Jr., plus emerging wideout Michael Wilson, Boone says. The Cardinals also have a new head coach in Mike LaFleur, so the offense could be a bit more balanced as they spread the ball around.

Going back to Bowers, the Raiders added veteran QB Kirk Cousins to replace Geno Smith as the starter while Mendoza develops. That’s a plus for Bowers, who should see plenty of looks as the No. 1 receiving option. After posting 112 catches for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie, Bowers had just 64 catches for 680 yards and seven scores in 2025.

That was in five fewer games and Boone believes that a healthy Bowers could mean he jumps McBride for the No. 1 spot at the position. Boone thinks we could see a season similar to his rookie campaign coming in 2026.