BrockBowers

News: 3 days agoBowers will open the 2026 season working with Kirk Cousins as his quarterback after the veteran was named the Week 1 starter Wednesday, Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com reports.

Spin: The star tight end is looking to return to the caliber of production he managed during an outstanding 2024 rookie campaign, when he recorded a 112-1,194-5 line across 17 regular-season games. Bowers endured a lingering knee injury last season that ultimately limited him to 12 games, but the combination of his return to full health and a savvy veteran familiar with head coach Klint Kubiak's system in Cousins sets the stage for a potentially productive start to the 2026 season.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: Bowers entered 2025 with high expectations and appeared well on his way to another productive season with 103 yards in Week 1, but a late-game injury limited him for three weeks and led to five full missed games. Bowers remained productive when healthy, finishing second among tight ends in fantasy PPG. Incredibly, he tied for fifth in the NFL with 13 end zone targets despite all the missed action. Bowers, who posted a 112-1,194-5 receiving line as a rookie in 2024, will be the top target for No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza. The 23-year-old is well positioned for a highly productive season and should be on your radar in the second or third round.