Michael Mayer

Michael Mayer 2023 Fantasy Football Rookie Profile

Overview

Michael Mayer is a junior tight end prospect from the University of Notre Dame. Nicknamed “Baby Gronk” for most of his three-year college career, the four-star recruit leaves Notre Dame as the school’s all-time leader in tight end receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. Following his final college season, Mayer became the first Notre Dame tight end to earn First Team All-American honors by consensus since 1977.

Mayer began his college career with a relatively quiet freshman season, amassing 450 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 42 catches. But there was nothing quiet about Mayer’s sophomore and junior seasons. In those two seasons, Mayer caught 138 balls for 1,649 yards and 16 touchdowns, including nine touchdowns in 2022 which set a single-season tight end school record.

In that same two-year stretch, the Kentucky native not only put up huge numbers for a college tight end, but he did it consistently. Mayer had either 80+ receiving yards or at least one receiving touchdown in 12 of the 24 games, and he accomplished both in nine games. Since 2010, Mayer is the only college tight end to put up 800+ receiving yards in two consecutive seasons and one of only four tight ends to catch 16 touchdowns over their final two college seasons (Isaiah Likely, Kyle Pitts and Jermaine Gresham).

Pros

• Wins contested catches often
• Above average at creating separation
• Early declare
• Never missed a game in college
• Maximizes Yards After Catch (YAC)
• Good route runner

Cons

• Average blocker
• Lacks top-level athleticism
• Limited route tree

Michael Mayer Player Comparison

Mark Andrews (TE, Baltimore Ravens)

Mayer and Mark Andrews are similar size and Andrews also entered the NFL with pass-catching as a strength and blocking as a weakness. Both are excellent red zone threats and can also help move the sticks between the 20s. Both excelled with contested catches and have “high-pointing” in their skill set. While Andrews finished his college career with a massive 958-yard campaign, it was in 14 games. Both players averaged about 68 receiving yards per game during their final season. Both lack the top-level quickness to run away from defenders. However, they make up for that with little wasted motion and an above-average ability to create YAC.

Mayer will enter the league with much higher draft capital (projected first-rounder compared to Andrews’ third-round selection). Andrews averaged over four Yards Per Reception (YPR) more in college, but Mayer will enter the league as a more polished all-around tight end. While blocking is technically considered one of Mayer’s weaknesses, he is a better blocker than Andrews.

Michael Mayer Fantasy Football Projection

Mayer will likely be a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. History has not been kind to NFL rookie tight ends when it comes to fantasy success. However, I believe Mayer will buck that trend and offer top-12 fantasy upside for whichever team drafts him in 2023. Mayer will play early and often and become an immediate red zone threat with the potential for high volume between the 20s.

Being a rookie tight end, Mayer will likely be a later-round fantasy draft pick or an early waiver wire pickup in redraft formats, depending on league size. While I advise against waiting on tight end and locking in Mayer as your TE1, he is worth a flier, even in redraft, to see how quickly he adjusts to the NFL. There is not much disparity between tight ends once beyond the upper tiers, making Mayer worth the low risk of a bench stash. In rookie drafts for 1QB dynasty leagues, Mayer will likely be a late first-round pick and a mid-first-round pick in tight end premium formats.

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