Jamey Eisenberg's Week 1 Fantasy football sleepers and DFS picks: Michael Mayer steps into a prime opportunity

Brock Bowers (knee) is out for Week 1 against Miami, and he could miss multiple weeks. That should allow Michael Mayer and Tre Tucker to step into prominent roles against the Dolphins, and both should be considered sleepers in the majority of leagues.

Mayer has top-10 upside in Week 1, and he should be immediately added in all leagues where available. We don't know how long Bowers will be out, but Mayer is a great replacement option. At the time of publication, he was only rostered in 24 percent of leagues on CBS Sports.

Mayer played three games without Bowers in 2025 and averaged 13.9 PPR points over that span and 7.3 targets per game. This week, Mayer is facing a Dolphins defense that was No. 3 in most Fantasy points allowed to tight ends in 2025, and he should see plenty of targets.

Tucker has the chance to be a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in Week 1, and he gets a favorable matchup against the Dolphins. Miami allowed six receivers to score at least 12.1 PPR points in the final five games last season, and Tucker will hopefully reach that threshold.

He played five games without Bowers in 2025, and Tucker scored at least 11.1 PPR points in two of those outings. Tucker is also worth adding while Bowers is out, and Tucker is rostered in 61 percent of leagues on CBS Sports.

It stinks that Bowers is out, and we hope he returns to action soon. But his absence opens the door for Mayer and Tucker to be sleepers in Week 1, and both could be useful Fantasy options until Bowers returns.

Now, here are some other sleepers that I like for Week 1.

QB: Baker Mayfield (at CIN) $7,500
RB: Omarion Hampton (vs. ARI) $7,300
RB: Ashton Jeanty (vs. MIA) $7,000
WR: Ja'Marr Chase (vs. TB) $8,900
WR: DeVonta Smith (vs. WAS) $7,500
WR: Chris Godwin (at CIN) $6,300
TE: Michael Mayer (vs. MIA) $4,600
FLEX: Luther Burden III (at CAR) $6,200
DEF: Chargers (vs. ARI) $4,600

I'm expecting a high-scoring game with the Buccaneers and Bengals, and hopefully Mayfield will lean on Godwin with Emeka Egbuka working his way back from a toe injury, as well as Jalen McMillan (knee) not expected to play. I'll use Chase to counter my Tampa Bay stack.

Smith should soak up targets in his first game without A.J. Brown in Philadelphia, and Smith has three games with at least six catches in his past five outings against Washington, including two touchdowns over that span. I'm also expecting a big game from Burden, who would benefit in a big way if Rome Odunze (calf) is out. Burden averaged 6.5 targets per game in 2025 when Odunze was out with a foot injury.

Mayer is the free space this week with Brock Bowers (knee) out. The Dolphins were No. 3 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends last season, and Mayer averaged 7.3 targets per game when Bowers was out in 2025.

At running back, I'll spend up for Hampton and Jeanty. Hampton should dominate the Cardinals, who were No. 3 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs last season. And Jeanty, who is healthy after dealing with an ankle injury in training camp, should do well against the Dolphins, who were No. 7 in most Fantasy points allowed to running backs in 2025.

QB: Tyler Shough (at DET) $5,600
RB: Jahmyr Gibbs (vs. NO) $8,000
RB: Saquon Barkley (vs. WAS) $6,900
WR: Chris Olave (at DET) $6,700
WR: Tetairoa McMillan (vs. CHI) $6,100
WR: Quentin Johnston (vs. ARI) $4,700
TE: Michael Mayer (vs. MIA) $2,900
FLEX: Kenneth Gainwell (at CIN) $5,200
DST: Steelers (vs. ATL) $3,300

The Saints and Lions have a projected total of 48.5 points, and Detroit is without safeties Brian Branch (Achilles) and Kerby Joseph (knee). That bodes well for Shough and Olave, and I'll counter that stack with Gibbs.

I'll pay up for Barkley, who has a tremendous history against Washington. In his past five games against the Commanders, Barkley has 111 carries for 588 yards and five touchdowns and nine catches for 150 yards and three touchdowns.

Gainwell should be heavily involved in the passing game for the Buccaneers, and he did well against Cincinnati last year when he was in Pittsburgh. In Week 11, Gainwell had nine carries for 24 yards and seven catches for 81 yards and two touchdowns.

I'll use Mayer in this lineup as well, and I love my two other receivers in McMillan and Johnston. For McMillan, he's facing a Chicago secondary without Kyler Gordon (calf) and Coby Bryant (knee). And Johnston has a fantastic matchup against the Cardinals, who should struggle to stop all the Chargers in Week 1.