# Nathan Jahnke: In an unbylined waiver-wire piece, PFF says Michael Mayer steps into the starting tight end role with Brock Bowers injured, and frames Tyler Shough as a widely available streaming quarterback for Week 1 who is likely to regress mildly from his rookie production.

**Claimed:** Sep 13, 2026
**Pundit:** Nathan Jahnke — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/nathan-jahnke
**Outlet:** Pro Football Focus — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/pro-football-focus
**How it reached us:** published in writing
**Original:** https://www.pff.com/news/fantasy-football-emergency-waiver-wire-targets-for-nfl-week-1/

One checkable claim, graded on its own against what actually happened.

Nothing to score yet: this grades once the result is in.

> Michael Mayer takes over for Brock Bowers

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **Michael Mayer to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Michael Mayer
  - Verdict: not settled yet

## Who this take is about

- Michael Mayer — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/michael-mayer

## What others said about the same people

- Ryan McCrystal on Michael Mayer: In his most recent mock draft, McCrystal projected specific first-round (and, for teams without first-rounders, Day 2/3) selections for all 32 teams in the 2023 NFL Draft, including Bryce Young at No. 1 to Carolina and Will Anderson at No. 2 to Houston. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/40af5841-7437-4bbc-8432-88cbb660dcf2 (scored 47.88)
- Andrew Erickson on Michael Mayer: In his Week 2 'Beyond the Waiver Wire' column, Erickson makes a long series of buy/sell/add calls on individual players (sleepers vs. busts), plus a few specific role, availability and outlook predictions — notably that Jahmyr Gibbs scores again Thursday night, that Drew Lock remains Seattle's starter, and that Kenneth Walker III leads the NFL in rushing yards. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/55c34eef-78e3-4dfe-af5d-5caa64a5d313 (not settled)
- Kyle Zeigler on Michael Mayer: Zeigler's Week 2 matchup column names good and bad spots: he expects bounce-backs from Baker Mayfield and streamer Michael Mayer, sees Jacory Croskey-Merritt as a back-end RB2/FLEX, and cautions on Trevor Lawrence, Jeremiyah Love, Nico Collins and Hunter Henry. He also endorses both Chicago receivers as strong WR2 plays. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/0f6651cc-5126-47ec-84ba-6a69576d5db3 (not settled)
- Joshua Poniatowski on Michael Mayer: In a Week 2 waiver wire column, Poniatowski recommends several low-rostered players as pickups/streamers who will outperform their availability — Tyler Shough, Kaelon Black, George Holani, Devaughn Vele, Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks, Mike Gesicki and Michael Mayer — and stakes out depth-chart roles for Black (49ers RB2), Vele (Saints' No. 2 pass catcher) and Wicks (Eagles WR2). — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/521ceef4-8569-4ab6-972c-149a12be0fdb (not settled)
- Frank Ammirante on Michael Mayer: Ammirante names five low-rostered waiver wire stashes for Week 1, headlined by Raiders tight end Michael Mayer, whom he ranks as his TE7 for the week, along with depth-chart claims about Adonai Mitchell, Chris Bell and Pat Bryant. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/76e57ed7-347b-41c5-8a2f-384604f3dc3c (not settled)
- Tucker Bagley on Michael Mayer: Bagley argues that with Brock Bowers out after a meniscus procedure, Michael Mayer becomes Las Vegas' clear starting tight end and primary target for Kirk Cousins, and that Kahlil Benson will start at left tackle for Kansas City if Josh Simmons sits; he also says Drake London sits atop Atlanta's receiver depth chart and will command heavy targets from Cooper Rush. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/fa282038-5d93-4f5c-9e93-5c0c14fcb562 (not settled)

## More depth chart calls

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

- Tyler Sullivan on Drew Lock: In an unsigned Week 2 odds roundup, the piece states that with Sam Darnold hurt, Drew Lock will likely start at quarterback for Seattle against Arizona. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/8a14b5e6-066b-457f-b409-a3ddbd512aca (scored 0)
- Ralph Vacchiano on Tua Tagovailoa: Vacchiano ranks all 32 NFL teams entering the 2026 season, with the Rams first and Dolphins last. He also flags the Giants as a potential surprise team with a top-10 defense, and notes Deshaun Watson won Cleveland's QB job while Tua Tagovailoa starts Week 1 in Atlanta. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/6f782be9-64d3-47cf-b054-6566e14194d6 (scored 0)
- Pat Fitzmaurice on Kyler Murray: Fitzmaurice touts Kyler Murray as a value QB who will start Week 1 for Minnesota, Tyler Shough as the Saints' undisputed starter, and Juwan Johnson and Terrance Ferguson as late-round tight end targets. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/70a7844a-2fb6-44d7-814f-30ec9fbcc26d (scored 100)
- Pat Fitzmaurice on Kyler Murray: Fitzmaurice expects Kyler Murray to be Minnesota's Week 1 starter and calls him one of the better quarterback values in 2026 drafts; he also views Jordan Love as a top-10 real-life quarterback but only a QB2 in fantasy. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/0653fc24-437c-4aba-89ee-f1f417e1983d (scored 100)
- Steven Ruiz on Michael Penix Jr.: In a retrospective tiering of all 32 starting quarterbacks, Ruiz treats Michael Penix Jr. as the Falcons' Week 1 starter over Kirk Cousins, whom he places in his lowest tier. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/968b3764-11ef-41b5-a370-ff570b3219d1 (scored 0)
- Mike Florio on Shedeur Sanders: Florio reports the Browns will start Deshaun Watson in Week 1 but predicts Shedeur Sanders will likely be the starting quarterback by Week 3. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/cf6258b2-b55f-4f50-84f9-24269a5a006a (scored 0)

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Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages.

Full method: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/methodology

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