Taylor
TE · NYJ vs LV
Kickoff Sun 1:00 PM ET
Projected points6.1pts
Mayer
TE · LV @ NYJ
Kickoff Sun 1:00 PM ET
Projected points6.6pts
Toss-up
Bench
Mason Taylor or Michael Mayer: Who Should I Start in Week 8?
Toss-up. Mason Taylor gets the nod over Michael Mayer.
- Confidence
- Lower
- Toss-up
- Started
- 43%
- of leagues
Case for Mayer
The case for Mayer is a safer floor (3.7 to 2.6) and more upside (a ceiling of 11.2 to 10.6).
Flips if
Start Michael Mayer instead if you need a big week: he has more big weeks (29% of his games to 20%).
Risk
The risk: Mayer faces a Jets defense without linebacker David Bailey.
Highlights
TaylorToss-upTE · NYJ vs LVUsually 7.9−1.9pts this week
Helps him
- LVvs TEsEdgeLV is the 5th softest defense for tight ends.
- +4.7last 3 vs avgHis last three games run 4.7 points above his season average.
Hurts him
- −1.1ptstouchdownsHis lines put him at 0.22 touchdowns, below his usual 0.40.
- 3.6per gameHe sees only 3.6 targets a game.
- 58%snapsHe plays only 58% of snaps, so his work comes in rotation.
MayerFirst outTE · LV @ NYJUsually 9.5−2.9pts this week
Helps him
- +0.7ptstouchdownsHis lines put him at 0.26 touchdowns, above his usual 0.14.
Hurts him
- −1.9ptscatchesHis lines put him at 2.5 catches, below his usual 4.4.
- −1.7ptsrec yardsHis lines put him at 25.5 receiving yards, below his usual 42.6.
- 3.7floorA quiet week could drop to about 3.7 points.
Points are what each line adds to or takes off his usual week. EdgeFrom the game around him.
Stat comparison
Every player you picked, stat by stat, most important first.
Stat
Scoring
ProjectionTaylor: 6.1Mayer: 6.6 (best)
TD pointsof the projectionTaylor: 1.3Mayer: 1.6 (best)
Expected TDsthis weekTaylor: 0.22Mayer: 0.26 (best)
Projected team pointsTaylor: 23.5 (best)Mayer: 22.0
Red zone targetsper gameTaylor: 1.0 (best)Mayer: 0.3
Role
Snap shareTaylor: 58%Mayer: 81% (best)
Usage worthptsTaylor: 6.4Mayer: 8.1 (best)
Target shareTaylor: 13%Mayer: 15% (best)
Targets / gameTaylor: 3.6Mayer: 5.3 (best)
Air yards shareTaylor: 14% (best)Mayer: 9%
Vacated targets this weekTaylor: 0.5 (best)Mayer: 0.0
RZ target shareTaylor: 20% (best)Mayer: 5%
Inside 10 target shareTaylor: 0%Mayer: 14% (best)
Catch rateTaylor: 78%Mayer: 84% (best)
SeparationTaylor: 2.0 ydsMayer: 3.2 yds (best)
YAC over expectedTaylor: +0.1Mayer: +0.5 (best)
Usage worth vs scoredTaylor: Earned by usage 6.4Scored 7.9Mayer: Earned by usage 8.1Scored 9.5
Receiving TDs vs RZ targetsTaylor: AboveMayer: 2 RZ targets
WOPRTaylor: 0.30 (best)Mayer: 0.27
Range
FloorTaylor: 2.6Mayer: 3.7 (best)
CeilingTaylor: 10.6Mayer: 11.2 (best)
Points from TDssteadier when lowerTaylor: 30%Mayer: 9%
Big weeks (15+ pts)Taylor: 20%Mayer: 29% (best)
Dud weeks (under 5 pts)lower is betterTaylor: 40%Mayer: 14% (best)
SteadinessTaylor: Volatile±10.1 pts · 5 gamesMayer: Steady (best)±5.8 pts · 7 games
Matchup
Matchup gradevs his position · 2026, 7 gmTaylor: A- (best)Mayer: C
Game scriptTaylor: Expected to lead (best)Mayer: Expected to trail
Opp takeaways / gamelower is betterTaylor: 1.7Mayer: 1.1 (best)
Defense funnelTaylor: NeutralMayer: Neutral
Opp pass yds allowedTaylor: 22nd (soft) (best)Mayer: 5th (tough)
Starting QBTaylor: Smith (Active)Mayer: Cousins (Active)
Opp defender outTaylor: Johnson (DE)Mayer: Bailey (LB)
Roof / surfaceturfTaylor: OpenMayer: Open
Rest / scheduleTaylor: NormalMayer: Normal
Opp paceTaylor: 9th (fast) (best)Mayer: 28th (slow)
Opp deep targets allowed / gameTaylor: 0.4 (best)11th (average)Mayer: 0.14th (tough)
Opp catch rate allowedTaylor: 82% (best)31st (soft)Mayer: 72%14th (average)
Form
Last 3 avgTaylor: 12.6 (best)Mayer: 8.0
Last 5 avgTaylor: 7.9Mayer: 10.5 (best)
vs seasonTaylor: +4.7 (Rising) (best)Mayer: −1.6 (Cooling)
Yards per route runTaylor: 1.26Mayer: 1.61 (best)
Receiving aDOTTaylor: 7.5Mayer: 4.9
Target share trendTaylor: SteadyMayer: Steady
Crowd
Started in leaguesTaylor: 43%Mayer: Not widely started
Nuvela position ranklower is betterTaylor: TE26Mayer: TE22 (best)
Yards linereceivingTaylor: 22.5Mayer: 25.5 (best)
Deciding on someone else?
Choose 2 to 5 players for any week.