Brock Bowers delivered one of the most impressive rookie seasons ever for a tight end last season, and fantasy drafters expect more of the same this season. In more than 20,000 mock drafts and fantasy drafts combined on RotoWire, Bowers is coming off the board at pick 17 in mocks and pick 24 in fantasy drafts.
That's a premium price for a second-year tight end. But does Bowers' draft capital align with the best fantasy football draft strategy? Or is there a better way to address the position at a more reasonable cost?
Let's break it down.
Bowers Delivered Elite Production as a Rookie
By raw numbers, Bowers already looks like an elite fantasy asset. If we isolate non-quarterbacks, Bowers ranked 19th in fantasy football scoring in 2024. Among wide receivers, his fantasy points would have ranked eighth. Those numbers are more than enough to justify a top-20 ADP in 2025 fantasy football drafts.
According to the RotoWire draft numbers mentioned above, it seems those in mock drafts have figured this out while those drafting their actual fantasy teams are still lagging behind.
The case for Bowers remains strong. The Raiders did not add any major target competition this offseason, and with Geno Smith taking over at quarterback, the passing attack gets a serious upgrade from the inefficient mess that plagued the team last year.
If Bowers sees a second-year leap, something we often see from elite pass catchers, he could easily return value at cost.
Trey McBride Might
Brock Bowers delivered one of the most impressive rookie seasons ever for a tight end last season, and fantasy drafters expect more of the same this season. In more than 20,000 mock drafts and fantasy drafts combined on RotoWire, Bowers is coming off the board at pick 17 in mocks and pick 24 in fantasy drafts.
That's a premium price for a second-year tight end. But does Bowers' draft capital align with the best fantasy football draft strategy? Or is there a better way to address the position at a more reasonable cost?
Let's break it down.
Bowers Delivered Elite Production as a Rookie
By raw numbers, Bowers already looks like an elite fantasy asset. If we isolate non-quarterbacks, Bowers ranked 19th in fantasy football scoring in 2024. Among wide receivers, his fantasy points would have ranked eighth. Those numbers are more than enough to justify a top-20 ADP in 2025 fantasy football drafts.
According to the RotoWire draft numbers mentioned above, it seems those in mock drafts have figured this out while those drafting their actual fantasy teams are still lagging behind.
The case for Bowers remains strong. The Raiders did not add any major target competition this offseason, and with Geno Smith taking over at quarterback, the passing attack gets a serious upgrade from the inefficient mess that plagued the team last year.
If Bowers sees a second-year leap, something we often see from elite pass catchers, he could easily return value at cost.
Trey McBride Might Offer Better Value
While Bowers appears to be a strong top-20 option, many fantasy managers are overlooking Trey McBride, who was quietly just as productive after the Cardinals switched offensive schemes in Week 6.
From Week 6 onward, the Cardinals ran two-tight end sets at one of the highest rates in the league. During that stretch, McBride actually outscored Bowers in PPR scoring.
After both tight ends' bye weeks (Weeks 10 and 11), McBride outproduced Bowers by nearly two PPR points per game. McBride scored only two touchdowns in 2024, but that is unusually low given his target volume. With positive touchdown regression and no major additions to the Cardinals' depth chart at receiver, McBride's ceiling in 2025 should rival or exceed Bowers'.
Despite this, McBride is often available half a round later than Bowers. Indeed, McBride's ADP is 25 in RotoWire's mock draft simulator and 28 according to our draft assistant tool.
For drafters looking to execute the best fantasy football draft strategy, targeting McBride over Bowers could create an immediate value edge.
Final Thoughts on Brock Bowers' 2025 Fantasy Outlook
There's no question Brock Bowers belongs among the top two tight ends (and the top-24 overall picks) in 2025. His rookie season was elite, his role is secure and his quarterback play is trending up. But that doesn't automatically make him the smartest tight end pick in Round 2.
Trey McBride might not be as flashy, but the Cardinals' offensive structure and his 2024 usage suggest he could be just as valuable. With a cheaper price and similar upside, McBride is arguably the better investment.
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