Injured Brock Bowers Reportedly on Raiders' IR, Who Are Top Fantasy Waiver-Wire TEs?

The 2025 season reportedly has ended early for Las Vegas Raiders star tight end Brock Bowers.

According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the Raiders are placing Bowers on injured reserve on Wednesday, ending his sophomore season in the NFL with two games remaining. He's reportedly been dealing with a knee injury since Week 1, so "the decision was made to get it taken care of now and focus on being [100 percent] in 2026," per Pelissero.

Bowers' absence could create some headaches for fantasy football managers who are in the playoffs, so some of the top waiver-wire tight ends to target include Chig Okonkwo of the Tennessee Titans, Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Mike Gesicki of the Cincinnati Bengals, Jake Tonges of the San Francisco 49ers and Bowers' backup on the Raiders, Michael Mayer.

Bowers will finish the season with 64 catches for 680 yards and seven touchdowns in 12 games. Per ESPN's Ryan McFadden, he needed just 107 more yards to surpass Mike Ditka's NFL record for the most receiving yards by a tight end in his first two seasons. Sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter that he's been dealing with a PCL injury and a bone bruise in his left knee that he suffered in the Raiders' season-opening win over the New England Patriots.

Bowers' absence should create more opportunities for Mayer, but the Notre Dame product hasn't done much this season with just 23 catches for 192 yards and a touchdown in 11 games.

The Steelers' duo of Freiermuth and Washington would likely be safer options, as they should see increased targets after star receiver DK Metcalf was suspended for two games. Tonges could also be in for an uptick in activity in the 49ers' final two games in the wake of star tight end George Kittle's ankle injury suffered on Monday Night Football earlier this week.

While the Titans passing offense can be hard to gauge, Okonkwo has seen at least five targets in three of his last four games. He recorded six catches for 44 yards and a touchdown in this past Sunday's upset win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Gesicki also had a solid outing on Sunday with three catches for 35 yards and a score in a win against the Miami Dolphins.

Choosing the right tight end to replace Bowers could be the difference in winning a fantasy football championship, so it will be important for managers to make a good decision this week.