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Dont'e Thornton Jr. • WR • Raiders

Dont'e Thornton Jr. is Losing Traction in Dynasty Formats

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. was unable to find much success this past season. To be fair, the Raiders' offense was horrible as a unit, but Thornton barely showed up on the stat sheet. He finished the season with 10 receptions for 135 receiving yards and zero touchdowns in 13 games. The 24-year-old might've missed his opportunity with the Raiders adding some reinforcements this offseason. They signed Jalen Nailor and Dareke Young in free agency, while adding Malik Benson in the sixth round of this year's draft. Thornton could fall to fourth on the depth chart, which is not a good spot, given Brock Bowers eats a ton of targets at tight end as well. He's young enough to hold onto in dynasty leagues, but Thornton having a consistent role in 2026 seems unlikely.

14 hours ago

Michael Mayer • TE • Raiders

Michael Mayer a Roster-Worthy Handcuff Who Could Still See an Expanded Role

A second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders' Michael Mayer showed promising flashes as a rookie, finishing the year as the team's most productive tight end. Any hopes of a true fantasy breakout were dashed, however, when the Raiders spent the 13th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft on generational prospect Brock Bowers, who has since proven worthy of the often overused label through his first two seasons in the league. In years past, there might have been very little fantasy value in a team's second tight end, but with the league trending toward more multi-tight end usage, and new head coach Klint Kubiak partly responsible for helping to lead that charge, Mayer remains an important dynasty hold. Potentially capable of providing the occasional standalone bye week or injury fill-in, Mayer's highest value remains as a handcuff to Bowers, now in a Kubiak system that saw AJ Barner finish as the TE9 or better six different times in 2025. With only one year remaining on his rookie contract, Mayer could hit free agency in 2027 at the age of 25, and with several paths in play to finding a more substantial role, RotoBaller's dynasty TE43 remains a worthy end-of-bench stash in all but the shallowest of leagues.

3 days ago

Brock Bowers • TE • Raiders

Brock Bowers Offers Clear Bounce-Back Appeal for Dynasty Managers Entering 2026

After earning first-team All-Pro recognition as a rookie in 2024, Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (knee) put together an underwhelming sophomore campaign in 2025. Across 12 games (eight starts), the 23-year-old recorded 64 catches for 680 yards and seven touchdowns on 86 targets. However, injury was a major part of the story for Bowers. He attempted to play through a PCL injury that he suffered in Week 1 for most of the year before the Raiders finally shut him down and put him on Injured Reserve towards the end of the year. Entering 2026, Bowers is expected to be back to full health. He also remains the clear number one option in a Raiders passing game that should be improved following the offseason additions of rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza and new head coach/play-caller Klint Kubiak. Bowers profiles as an obvious bounce-back candidate in dynasty formats and should be prioritized as a buy-low target in any league where his value may have taken a hit.

3 days ago

Jalen Nailor • WR • Raiders

Jalen Nailor Was a Priority Free Agent for the Raiders and Could Be WR1

While building an offense around the No. 1 overall pick that would eventually become quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the Las Vegas Raiders signed former Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor to a three-year, $35 million deal, and according to Raider Nation Radio host Q Myers, Nailor was precisely the player the team was targeting in free agency. In a disastrous 2025 season that saw primary receiver Jakobi Meyers dealt to the Jaguars and All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers miss five games and face limitations in several others, no Raiders player reached 700 receiving yards. Outside of Bowers and running back Ashton Jeanty, Nailor's most significant competition is likely to come from the 5'9", 185-pound Tre Tucker, who led the team with 90 targets while playing 17 games in 2025. While acknowledging the vast talent disparity, some around the organization believe Nailor will be asked to do many of the things Jaxon Smith-Njigba did during new head coach Klint Kubiak's time in Seattle. With a clear path to becoming the number one receiver in what could soon become a significantly improved offense, Nailor is potentially being slept on as RotoBaller's dynasty WR86 and could become one of the better values in the later rounds of 2026 dynasty startups.

4 days ago

Roman Hemby • RB • Raiders

Is Roman Hemby Worthy of a Deep-League Dynasty Roster Spot?

Despite recording 1,285 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns on 245 touches while winning a national championship during his final collegiate season at the University of Indiana, running back Roman Hemby went unpicked in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, the 23-year-old signed as an undrafted free agent with the Las Vegas Raiders and could be in position to earn a roster spot with Las Vegas in training camp. Ashton Jeanty is firmly atop the Raiders running back depth chart and should dominate backfield touches for the team in 2026. Still, Hemby looks to be fighting with the unproven running back trio of Mike Washington Jr., Dylan Laube, and Chris Collier for the RB2 role behind Jeanty. Because of his status as a UDFA, Hemby should be viewed as a long shot to carve out a fantasy-relevant role. At the same time, the situation around Hemby in Las Vegas could make him a worthy deep-league dart throw for dynasty managers.

5 days ago

Jalen Nailor • WR • Raiders

Jalen Nailor Undervalued as the Raiders' Potential WR1?

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jalen Nailor signed a three-year, $35 million contract in free agency, leaving behind one of the league's most top-heavy receiver rooms in Minnesota for a wide-open one in Vegas. In his final season with the Vikings, Nailor led the team with four touchdown grabs and 15.3 yards per reception, making the most of a bad situation and flashing big play ability in a limited role. While the Raiders offense is expected to run through tight end Brock Bowers and running back Ashton Jeanty in 2026 and beyond, Nailor needs to beat out only Tre Tucker and 2025 second-round pick Jack Bech for an every-down role in Klint Kubiak's play-action-heavy system. With Bowers fighting through injury for much of the year and ultimately missing five games, Tucker led the team with 696 receiving yards in 2025. However, Jakobi Meyers opened the year as the Raiders' primary receiver, helping to suppress individual production across the team. With Meyers now gone, there's a realistic path for one of Vegas' wideouts to reach 1,000 yards for the first time in their career, and with the highest financial commitment of the lot, Nailor should see every opportunity to be that guy. At RotoBaller's dynasty WR86, he's an under-considered asset who could provide usable depth to contending rosters.

7 days ago

Fernando Mendoza • QB • Raiders

Fernando Mendoza Could Be Brought Along Slowly

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza spent most of minicamp working with the third-team offense, as he did during organized team activities. While praising him for his work ethic and attitude, head coach Klint Kubiak has made it clear that the first overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft will not just be handed starting reps. With veterans Kirk Cousins and Aidan O'Connell still ahead of him on the unofficial depth chart, the next month and a half before teams gather again for training camp will be a critical stage in Mendoza's development. An opportunity to lead the second-team offense should come early in camp, but from there, Mendoza will need to continue demonstrating growth to push for a starting job that will need to be earned rather than assumed. While the playmakers in Vegas are not necessarily a deep group outside of tight end Brock Bowers and running back Ashton Jeanty, it's clear the team is doing all it can to set Mendoza up for long-term success, and at RotoBaller's dynasty QB17, he is worthy of an early selection in superflex rookie drafts.

Jun 12

Kirk Cousins • QB • Raiders

Is Kirk Cousins Still Worthy of a Dynasty Roster Spot Entering 2026?

Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins is entering his first season with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2026. Cousins' production has fallen off considerably in recent years, and he finished 2025 with 1,721 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, and seven interceptions across 10 games (eight starts) for the Atlanta Falcons. The 37-year-old appears set to enter training camp as the nominal QB1 in Las Vegas. However, Cousins is highly unlikely to hold the starting job for the Raiders all season long after the team's selection of quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the number one overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Even if Cousins opens 2026 under center for Las Vegas, he may struggle to put up fantasy-relevant production in an offense that is light on pass-catching talent outside of star tight end Brock Bowers. Cousins also averaged just 6.4 yards per pass attempt with the Falcons in 2025, his first season under seven yards per attempt since 2013. Dynasty managers should feel comfortable moving on from Cousins ahead of 2026.

Jun 11

Tre Tucker • WR • Raiders

Tre Tucker Profiles as a Dynasty Sell-High Candidate Entering 2026

Across 17 games in 2025, Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker hauled in 57 receptions for 696 yards and five touchdowns on 92 targets. Following the Raiders' midseason trade of veteran wideout Jakobi Meyers to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tucker emerged as his team's WR1. Entering 2026, Tucker could find himself in a similarly prominent role. The Raiders added wideouts Jalen Nailor and Dareke Young in free agency, but neither profiles as a particularly high-volume target-earner. However, Las Vegas should get more out of superstar tight end Brock Bowers after he battled through an injury-marred 2025 campaign. Tucker's underlying metrics also remained uninspiring despite his increased role last season, as he managed just a 18.6% target share and averaged a subpar 1.19 yards per route run. The 25-year-old is entering a contract year and may not be in the long-term plans of the new coaching staff in Las Vegas. In dynasty formats, managers may want to explore selling high on Tucker.

Jun 7

Jack Bech • WR • Raiders

Should Dynasty Managers Target Jack Bech as a Buy-Low Candidate?

A second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jack Bech failed to carve out a consistent role in his team's offense as a rookie. Across 16 games (five starts), the 23-year-old hauled in 20 receptions for 224 yards on 29 targets. While Bech's production was unquestionably underwhelming, he was done no favors by the putrid offensive environment around him in Las Vegas. Entering 2026, the Raiders offense should be better with a new play-caller in Klint Kubiak and new quarterbacks in veteran Kirk Cousins and 2026 first overall pick Fernando Mendoza. Additionally, Bech should still have an opportunity to emerge within a Las Vegas wide receiver room that added veterans Jalen Nailor and Dareke Young in free agency but remains without a true WR1. In dynasty formats, managers may want to take advantage of the buy-low window on Bech ahead of 2026.

Jun 7

Maxx Crosby • DE • Raiders

Maxx Crosby Close to Returning to Practice?

Las Vegas Raiders All-Pro pass-rusher Maxx Crosby (knee), who is calling his nixed offseason trade to the Baltimore Ravens "water under the bridge," is improving physically and is "almost back to being" on the field, according to Sam Warren of The Athletic. The 28-year-old was in the early stages of his recovery from surgery to fix a torn meniscus when the Ravens withdrew from a potential Crosby trade due to a failed physical. Baltimore's doctors reportedly were worried about Crosby's long-term prognosis of his surgically-repaired left knee, despite his short-term outlook being positive. New head coach Klint Kubiak said the team is "counting on" Crosby being back for training camp in July, adding that he "wouldn't be surprised if Maxx was ahead of schedule." Barring a setback, the five-time Pro Bowler should be ready for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season, which will make him a highly coveted D-lineman in IDP fantasy formats despite added injury risk after he missed seven games in the last two seasons due to injuries.

Jun 4

Ashton Jeanty • RB • Raiders

Raiders Emphasizing Ashton Jeanty's Progress as Their Lead Back

Levi Edwards of the Las Vegas Raiders' official site writes that the Raiders have put an emphasis during offseason workouts to make sure running back Ashton Jeanty "thrives and continues to grow in his role as the lead back." The Raiders selected Jeanty with the sixth overall pick last year out of Boise State, and the 22-year-old impressed in his first year in the NFL, leading all rookie RBs in rushing yards (975). Nearly 60% of his yardage came after contact, though. "If I don't have to, I don't want to come off the field," Jeanty said. The second-year back is "doing all the right things" to ensure that he's a three-down workhorse in 2026, according to RBs coach Omar Young. New head coach Klint Kubiak has never had a true workhorse back leading his offenses, but that could change now that he has Jeanty at his disposal. With a new coaching staff in town and quarterbacks Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza under center, Jeanty's fantasy stock is on the rise heading into his second NFL campaign. RotoBaller has him ranked as the No. 8 fantasy RB for the 2026 season.

Jun 3

Mike Washington Jr. • RB • Raiders

Mike Washington Jr. Carries Dynasty Sleeper Appeal Entering 2026

After recording 1,296 yards from scrimmage and nine touchdowns on 195 touches across 12 games at the University of Arkansas in 2025, running back Mike Washington Jr. was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Even after a relatively disappointing rookie season, 2025 number six overall pick Ashton Jeanty remains firmly atop the Raiders running back depth chart going into 2026. However, Washington Jr. could be the favorite for the RB2 role in a backfield that also contains Dylan Laube, Chris Collier, and Roman Hemby. Jeanty has the skill set of a three-down workhorse and logged 321 touches across 17 games in 2025, so there may not end up being much fantasy-relevant playing time behind him in Las Vegas. At the same time, Jeanty averaged a highly inefficient 3.7 yards per carry last season, and the Raiders could be looking to keep him fresher by spreading out their backfield touches a bit more. Washington Jr. could be a solid buy-low target for dynasty managers heading into 2026, given the opportunity available to him in Las Vegas.

Jun 2

Brock Bowers • TE • Raiders

Brock Bowers Taking Part in OTA Workouts

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (knee) is participating in OTA practice this week and was getting open with ease on Thursday, according to Ryan McFadden of ESPN. Bowers was the consensus top fantasy TE going into last season after he caught 112 passes on 153 targets for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns in 17 games in his rookie campaign. However, the 23-year-old former 13th overall pick out of the University of Georgia initially injured his knee in Week 1 and missed Weeks 5-7 as a result. He was never the same the rest of the way and finished with a disappointing 64-680-7 line in 12 contests (eight starts) in his sophomore campaign. Now apparently fully healthy and dominating in practices already, Bowers is a clear bounce-back candidate with league-winning upside at the position in a new offense led by head coach Klint Kubiak and new quarterbacks Kirk Cousins and rookie first overall pick Fernando Mendoza. Last year's down year due to injuries isn't really going to allow fantasy managers to purchase Bowers at a discount in 2026. He's currently ranked as the No. 2 overall TE, behind only Arizona's Trey McBride.

May 28

Dont'e Thornton Jr. • WR • Raiders

Dont'e Thornton Jr. Falling Out of Favor Already in Dynasty Formats?

Fantasy managers in dynasty/keeper formats who drafted Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. going into his rookie season in 2025 knew that the production most likely was going to take time. The 23-year-old former fourth-round pick (108th overall) in 2025 out of Tennessee didn't have much of a chance in a Raiders offense that was among the league's worst, and he finished with only 10 catches for 135 yards and no touchdowns on 30 targets across 15 games (eight starts). The 6-foot-5, 205-pounder has plenty of speed despite his size, and although there is still plenty of opportunity in the Raiders' WR room going into the 2026 season, the team did sign Jalen Nailor and Dareke Young in free agency and added rookie Malik Benson in this year's NFL draft. Tre Tucker and fellow second-year wideout Jack Bech are expected to have bigger roles, and tight end Brock Bowers will take away valuable targets as Vegas' top pass-catcher. We aren't giving up on Thornton entirely, but fantasy managers need to take into account that he was drafted by the previous regime, and he definitely doesn't have a clear path to an increased role in Year 2. Thornton has fallen to No. 117 in RotoBaller's WR dynasty rankings for 2026.

May 26

Roman Hemby • RB • Raiders

Does Roman Hemby Have a Chance to Make Raiders Roster?

Former Indiana running back Roman Hemby went undrafted in April despite leading the National Champion Hoosiers in rushing with 1,120 yards in 2025 before the Las Vegas Raiders signed him as an undrafted free agent to reunite him with quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who was the No. 1 overall pick in 2026. The Raiders will be hoping that the 23-year-old can find some more magic at the NFL level due to his connection with Mendoza. The 6-foot, 200-pound back also led Maryland in rushing in his three seasons as a starter, and he averaged 4.9 yards per carry with 29 total rushing touchdowns in his five collegiate campaigns with the Terapins and Hoosiers. Hemby has plenty of experience, can be trusted with ball security, and is a strong downhill runner. However, he's not a physical specimen and may lack the athleticism necessary to become much more than an RB2/3 at the NFL level. In a best-case scenario, Hemby will make the Raiders' regular-season roster and compete for complementary touches with Mike Washington Jr. and Dylan Laube behind starter Ashton Jeanty. At best, Hemby should be viewed as a late-round dart throw at RB in rookie-only dynasty drafts later this year.

May 25

Jalen Nailor • WR • Raiders

Jalen Nailor is Expected to Have Larger Role in Las Vegas

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jalen Nailor could be poised for a breakout season with his new organization. After spending the last four seasons in Minnesota, Nailor signed a three-year deal with the Raiders this offseason. Nailor has been stuck as the third option behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison with the Vikings. Now, Nailor is expected to be a top wide receiver alongside Tre Tucker in Las Vegas. Last season, Nailor finished with 29 receptions, 444 receiving yards, and four touchdowns in 17 games with the Vikings. His numbers should see a significant rise as he moves to the top of the depth chart with the Raiders. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect Nailor to be a superstar just because he has become a top option on the depth chart. He might be able to provide WR3 value, but that depends on his chemistry with quarterbacks Fernando Mendoza and Kirk Cousins. He's an interesting buy-low candidate in dynasty formats with the move to Las Vegas.

May 22

Ashton Jeanty • RB • Raiders

Bigger Role Could be Coming for Ashton Jeanty in Year 2

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak hinted that second-year running back Ashton Jeanty could have a much bigger role in his offense in his second year in the league, according to Paul Gutierrez of Raiders.com. "It's important to have a quality second back, but the best player has got to play, and we've got to get them on the field as much as we can. I don't know the play-snap percentage, but you look at [49ers running back] Christian McCaffrey, his play-snap percentage is high. So, those great backs, they don't want to come off the field," Kubiak said. After he was the sixth overall pick last year out of Boise State, Jeanty's 3.7 yards-per-carry average was a disappointment in his first year in the NFL, even though he led all rookies with 975 rushing yards, 1,321 scrimmage yards, five rushing touchdowns, and five receiving TDs. He was the fifth player in league history with that many scores on the ground and through the air in his rookie campaign. The Raiders want rookie fourth-rounder Mike Washington Jr. to push Jeanty as much as possible, but Jeanty should be as close to a workhorse as it gets. Jeanty finished as the RB13 in half-PPR scoring in 2025 and is currently ranked as the No. 8 redraft RB for the upcoming 2026 season.

May 21

Fernando Mendoza • QB • Raiders

Fernando Mendoza Working Behind Other QBs

Although Las Vegas Raiders rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza worked mostly third in the team's OTA practice on Wednesday behind Kirk Cousins and Aidan O'Connell, he has impressed the coaching staff, according to Sam Warren of The Athletic. The No. 1 overall pick in this year's NFL draft mostly worked with rookies during competitive periods of practice. Mendoza and O'Connell will get their fair share to compete for the starting job going into Week 1 of the regular season, but Cousins appears to be in the driver's seat to start the season opener in early September. The rookie's positioning in the QB rotation is due to his inexperience in the NFL and in new head coach Klint Kubiak's offense. Despite being eased in, the former Indiana product hasn't failed to impress. "Anything that you put in front of him, he's going to attack it," Kubiak said. "Anything that's new, he spends extra time on it. You can tell he fixes things from one day to the next. Very coachable, and that can be said for all those quarterbacks in the room." Although Mendoza might not start from Day 1 at the next level, he's still the clear-cut top QB in rookie-only drafts in dynasty leagues going into the 2026 season, and he could be starting in Vegas sooner rather than later, depending on how Cousins fares.

May 21

Fernando Mendoza • QB • Raiders

Fernando Mendoza a Top Dynasty Target Even if He Doesn't Start Week 1?

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza might not start Week 1, but he remains an appealing dynasty option and the clear-cut No. 1 quarterback among this year's rookies in fantasy football. Mendoza worked behind Kirk Cousins and Aidan O'Connell during OTAs on Wednesday. Managers shouldn't read too much into this pecking order, as it's common for rookies to take the backseat during practices this early in their careers. With that said, it does seem like there's a real chance that Cousins starts Week 1 for the Raiders while Mendoza learns from him, develops, and prepares to take over the offense midseason. Regardless of whether Mendoza starts right away or rides the bench for a little while, he's an undisputed riser in dynasty fantasy football leagues. His passing skills, mobility, and toughness give him top-12 quarterback upside, and he should have a very long career ahead of him. Currently, he ranks as the overall QB17 in RotoBaller's dynasty fantasy football rankings, and he projects as a mid-first-round pick in 2026 rookie drafts.

May 21

Las Vegas Raiders News

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