Start Brock Bowers over Trey McBride — Week 1 Start/Sit Verdict

Start Bowers — the game script and projection edges are too wide to ignore.

Brock Bowers plays in the better game script (22.3 implied team points to 17.0) and projects 15.6 to McBride's 14.4. McBride's edge is snap share, 91% to 86%. The gap is comfortable.

Brock Bowers

TE1LVvs MIA

9.612.615.6 Projected Points

Start

Trey McBride

TE2ARIvs LAC

7.911.114.4 Projected Points

Start

Why Brock Bowers

Start

TE1 and offensive focal point. Elite separation and yards-after-catch ability; mismatch weapon with WR-level target volume.

Start — every-week TE start at consensus TE1: MIA is the 8th-softest matchup vs TEs, 25% target share in 2025.

MIA ranks 25 of 32 against TEs (one of the softer matchups, 0-game sample).
Vegas implies 22.3 team points as 3.0-point favorites.
Listed TE on the latest depth chart with a 86% snap share in 2025.

Why Trey McBride

Start

TE1 and offensive focal point. Elite target-volume receiving tight end with YAC power and All-Pro caliber production.

Start — every-week TE start at consensus TE2: LAC is the 5th-toughest matchup vs TEs, 17.0 implied team total caps the ceiling.

LAC ranks 5 of 32 against TEs (one of the tougher matchups, 0-game sample).
Vegas implies 17.0 team points as 11.5-point underdogs.
Listed TE on the latest depth chart with a 91% snap share in 2025.

Head-to-head stats

Metric	Brock Bowers	Trey McBride
Projected points	9.612.615.6	7.911.114.4
Consensus rank	TE1	TE2
Opponent vs position	MIA · 25 of 320-game sample	LAC · 5 of 320-game sample
Receptions	30 of 32	3 of 32
Receiving Yards	29 of 32	4 of 32
Receiving TDs	21 of 32	9 of 32
Targets	23 of 32	2 of 32
Anytime TD	20 of 32	9 of 32
Target share	25%(2025)	27%(2025)
Reception share	27%(2025)	30%(2025)
Implied total · spread	22.3-3.0	17.0+11.5
Depth chart	TE1	TE1
Snap share	86%(2025)	91%(2025)