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Tre Tucker • WR • Raiders

Tre Tucker an Appealing Depth Add for Fantasy Managers Ahead of 2026

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker had the most productive season of his career in 2025, recording 57 catches for 696 yards and five touchdowns on 92 targets across 17 games. While Tucker's numbers may not leap off the page, his statistical impact was limited by the offensive environment around him in Las Vegas, which was one of the NFL's worst in 2025. Entering 2026, the Raiders have a new head coach and play-caller in Klint Kubiak, and two new quarterbacks in veteran Kirk Cousins and first overall pick Fernando Mendoza. Tucker could also remain the WR1 in a Las Vegas wide receiver room that features veteran Jalen Nailor and 2025 second-rounder Jack Bech as its other projected starters. Given the clear opportunity available to him with the Raiders, Tucker could be worth rostering as a depth piece in most fantasy formats.

Yesterday

Mike Washington Jr. • RB • Raiders

Mike Washington Jr. Has Impressed Ahead of Week 1

Las Vegas Raiders rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. put on a show during the preseason and is expected to have a role in the backfield this season. In three preseason games, Washington totaled 23 carries for 168 yards and a touchdown, averaging a whopping 7.3 yards per carry. There were reports that head coach Klint Kubiak was "jumping on the table" to draft the former Razorback running back. With Kubiak's history in Seattle running a two-back committee, Washington will have a role this season. While things are trending up for second-year back Ashton Jeanty (ankle), who suffered what appeared to be a serious injury in practice on August 23rd, Washington should still produce against the Miami Dolphins, who allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to running backs last season. While he's not a startable option for fantasy managers if Jeanty is active, the rookie running back offers upside as a handcuff option behind the already banged-up Jeanty.

Yesterday

Jack Bech • WR • Raiders

Jack Bech Set for a Starting Role in Second Season

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jack Bech is expected to occupy a starting role this season. Bech should consistently handle a large snap share as the team's primary slot receiver, playing alongside Tre Tucker and Jalen Nailor. Bech finished his rookie season last year with a modest 20 catches for 224 receiving yards, but he had an impressive stretch near the end of the year, catching 12 passes for 132 yards across four games. The state of the Raiders' offense this year remains a question mark with Kirk Cousins starting at quarterback, but Bech's role as the starting slot receiver should get him on the fantasy radar in deeper leagues. Plus, if the Raiders do find themselves playing from behind often, they'll likely pass the football more, which benefits Bech. At the moment, he ranks as RotoBaller's WR114 in redraft leagues. He has an ADP of 274.8, which makes him the 100th receiver off the board in fantasy drafts.

3 days ago

Michael Mayer • TE • Raiders

Michael Mayer Has Path to Fair Share of Targets with Raiders

While all of the buzz is on Brock Bowers in Las Vegas -- and rightfully so -- don't count out Michael Mayer as a relevant deep-league fantasy tight end for the Raiders this season quite yet. Mayer is entering the final year of his contract in 2026 and has a lot to prove. Mayer is listed as the second tight end on the Raiders' depth chart, behind Bowers. While Bowers is likely to lead the team in targets, he will also get a lot of defensive attention. Las Vegas' wide receiver corps of Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, and Jack Bech, among others, is largely underwhelming on paper, which should allow Mayer to have opportunities in the passing game with veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins at the helm. Despite this, Mayer is not necessarily somebody to roster just yet in standard redraft leagues. In fact, he is only rostered in 1% of Yahoo leagues right now. He is somebody to monitor on the waiver wire as he currently ranks as RotoBaller's No. 33 tight end in PPR/half-PPR leagues. If the WR room struggles early on, Mayer could carve out a role on a weekly basis.

3 days ago

Ashton Jeanty • RB • Raiders |

Mike Washington Jr. • RB • Raiders

Ashton Jeanty A Riskier Pick Due to Ankle Injury

Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (ankle) suffered a sprained ankle in the preseason rather than a more serious injury that was feared, and ESPN Insider Adam Schefter said he has a "legitimate chance to play in Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins." However, with the injury and the emergence of rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. in camp, there is real worry in selecting Jeanty in the late first round, which was where he was projected prior to his injury. The good news is it was only a sprained ankle; the bad news is there could be more of a split in carries than originally thought with Washington. Washington has looked good in camp and is averaging 7.3 yards per carry in preseason games. General manager John Spytek has praised Washington this fall: "We have an expectation that he's going to help us win football games this year," Spytek told Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com.

3 days ago

Brock Bowers • TE • Raiders

Brock Bowers Projected for a Massive Target Share

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers is likely headed for an enormous target share in 2026. Injuries and subpar quarterback play limited Bowers to just 64 catches, 680 yards, and seven touchdowns last year. However, he had 112 catches on 153 targets as a rookie in 2024, and he's looking to get back to that level of volume this year. The good news is that he's fully healthy and got a quarterback upgrade this offseason, as the Raiders moved on from Geno Smith. Kirk Cousins will lead the offense for now, and we know that he's capable of elevating his tight ends to the next level. After Cousins took over the Falcons' offense last year, tight end Kyle Pitts averaged 8.0 targets, 0.6 touchdowns, and 16.3 fantasy points per game. That should be Bowers' floor, and his ceiling is significantly higher. There's a legitimate chance that Bowers will finish as the overall TE1 this year if he stays healthy for all 17 games. For now, he has an ADP of 19.8, which corresponds to the second round of fantasy drafts and makes him the first tight end off the board.

4 days ago

Jalen Nailor • WR • Raiders

Jalen Nailor's Opportunity Makes Him a Late-Round Sleeper

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jalen Nailor has a much cleaner path to volume than he ever had in Minnesota. Nailor spent four years buried behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, but he enters 2026 listed with the first-team offense in a wide receiver room that doesn't have an established target hog. He caught 29 of 53 targets for 444 yards and four touchdowns last season, then spent August building real chemistry with Kirk Cousins. Nailor caught a deep score from Cousins on Aug. 6, another touchdown on Aug. 10 and two more in red-zone work a week later. That doesn't guarantee a huge target share, especially with Brock Bowers likely to remain the centerpiece and Tre Tucker and Jack Bech still involved. It does give Nailor a legitimate chance to see more work than he ever did with the Vikings. Las Vegas signed him early in free agency, kept him with the starters all summer, and the opportunity held through roster cuts. For managers looking for a late-round receiver with room to beat his draft cost, Nailor has a pretty easy case to make.

4 days ago

Mike Washington Jr. • RB • Raiders

Mike Washington Jr. "Is Going to be a Thing in Fantasy Football"

The Las Vegas Raiders are optimistic about the health of running back Ashton Jeanty (ankle), NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reports, but that doesn't mean rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. will take a back seat this season. Rapoport says Washington "is going to be a thing this year, not just in real football, in fantasy football as well." Rapoport went on to say, "he for sure is going to be a weapon in Las Vegas." Washington stands out as a sleeper pick even if Jeanty does return to full health. Washington finished this preseason with 168 rushing yards on 23 carries for 7.3 yards per rush. Jeanty is recovering from a low ankle sprain that looked a little bit worse to teammates at the time. But now it looks like Jeanty is considered day-to-day with the injury. He is a top-of-the-line running back, but it seems as if Washington is carving out a role for himself in Las Vegas this season.

5 days ago

Fernando Mendoza • QB • Raiders

Fernando Mendoza to Serve as Raiders QB2

The Las Vegas Raiders named veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins as their Week 1 starter on Wednesday, and while some late training camp rumblings hinted at Fernando Mendoza potentially starting his career as the third quarterback behind Aidan O'Connell, the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft will serve as the team's primary backup, according to The Athletic's Sam Warren. Mendoza appeared in all three of the Raiders' preseason games, turning in a mixed bag on his way to a 56.5% completion percentage and two interceptions to his one touchdown. The Raiders face a daunting schedule to begin the year, a fact that could lead to early calls from fans to put the rookie on the field, but also a landmine that the coaching staff must navigate with the ultimate goal of setting Mendoza up for long-term success. Equipped with the tools and mindset to eventually become the face of the franchise, Mendoza is RotoBaller's QB29 and not a player who needs to be drafted as anything more than a third quarterback in 2026 superflex leagues.

6 days ago

Kirk Cousins • QB • Raiders

Raiders Officially Name Kirk Cousins the Week 1 Starter

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak has officially named veteran Kirk Cousins as the starting quarterback for Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins, according to Ryan McFadden of ESPN. Despite a training-camp push by first overall pick Fernando Mendoza, the Raiders have decided to let the 38-year-old veteran open the 2026 campaign as the starter under center. The expectation all along was that Cousins would open the year as the starter to give Mendoza more time to adapt to the NFL game and get used to playing under center. In 30 offensive snaps during the preseason, Cousins went 13-for-17 for 101 yards with one touchdown. Cousins could have some low-end QB2 sleeper appeal in the season opener against Miami in what should be an improved Raiders offense, but with Mendoza looming as the long-term option at the position, he makes for an unintriguing two-QB superflex option in season-long formats as he heads into his 15th NFL season.

6 days ago

Ashton Jeanty • RB • Raiders

Klint Kubiak Optimistic About Ashton Jeanty's Week 1 Status

When asked if he was optimistic about second-year running back Ashton Jeanty (ankle) being able to play in the Week 1 season opener versus the Miami Dolphins, Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak said, "Yes," with a sly grin, according to Levi Edwards of the team's official website. Jeanty has not practiced with the team since suffering what is believed to be a low-ankle sprain in training camp practice on Aug. 23, but he worked off to the side with trainers on Tuesday and is apparently making progress. If the former first-rounder from Boise State can avoid setbacks going into next week's practices, it looks like he will have a good shot at suiting up on Sunday, Sept. 13. With that said, the 22-year-old could have his workload limited against Miami if he is active, with the Raiders saying that they expect rookie Mike Washington Jr. to have a key role early on, even if Jeanty is available. Going into his second year in the NFL, Jeanty should be viewed as a low-end RB1/high-end RB2 for fantasy purposes after scoring 10 total touchdowns (five rushing, five receiving) and finishing as the RB13 in half-PPR scoring as a rookie in 2025.

6 days ago

Ashton Jeanty • RB • Raiders

Ashton Jeanty Misses Wednesday's Practice

Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (ankle) missed another day of practice on Wednesday, according to Ryan McFadden of ESPN. Jeanty worked off to the side with trainers on Tuesday, but he has yet to return to a full practice since injuring his ankle in a training camp practice on Aug. 23. The 22-year-old former first-rounder from Boise State is believed to be dealing with a low-ankle sprain, but it is unclear yet if it will impact his availability for the Week 1 contest against the Miami Dolphins. At the very least, though, rookie Mike Washington Jr. figures to have a key role in Vegas' backfield to open the regular season, even if Jeanty is active on Sunday, Sept. 13. Jeanty still carries low-end RB1/high-end RB2 fantasy appeal in upcoming drafts, and he could be poised for an even bigger season in Year 2 in what should be a better offense after running for 975 yards and five touchdowns on 266 carries in 2025. He also had 55 receptions on 73 targets for 346 yards and another five scores as a receiver in 17 games played. We will have a much better read on Jeanty's Week 1 status once the Raiders start releasing official injury reports next week.

6 days ago

Mike Washington Jr. • RB • Raiders

Raiders are Counting on Mike Washington Jr. to Win Games

Las Vegas Raiders running back Mike Washington Jr. is expected to have a significant role in the backfield this upcoming season. Raiders General Manager John Spytek recently praised head coach Klint Kubiak for drafting Washington. He also added that the team is counting on Washington to win games this upcoming season, Ryan McFadden reports. Lead back Ashton Jeanty (ankle) is uncertain for Week 1, so Washington could immediately slide into a large role in the offense. Once Jeanty is healthy, it sounds like Washington will remain a big part of the running game. The 23-year-old is becoming one of the more important handcuffs to roster in fantasy leagues.

7 days ago

Ashton Jeanty • RB • Raiders

Ashton Jeanty is in "Good Spot" with Ankle Injury

Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (ankle) was seen working off to the side during Tuesday's practice. This was the first time that Jeanty was seen doing work during a media viewing period since suffering his ankle injury. Raiders General Manager John Spytek recently said that Jeanty is in a good spot following his ankle injury, Ryan McFadden reports. Spytek continued by saying he expects Jeanty to be back in the mix quicker than people would expect. He didn't give an exact timetable, but the Raiders might not know exactly when Jeanty will be ready to play. Mike Washington Jr. could operate as the lead back in Las Vegas in Week 1, but that'll depend on Jeanty's progress over the next few days.

7 days ago

Ashton Jeanty • RB • Raiders

Ashton Jeanty Remains Sidelined at Practice

Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (ankle) remained out of practice Tuesday, according to Ryan McFadden. Jeanty hasn't practiced since suffering a sprained ankle on Aug. 23 when he landed awkwardly while diving for a pass. The injury isn't expected to be a long-term issue, but there still isn't a firm timetable for his return. Head coach Klint Kubiak said Friday that Jeanty was "on the mend" and that the Raiders were counting on him while continuing to assess his availability for the season opener. Tuesday's absence doesn't necessarily signal a setback, but Jeanty is running out of practice time before Week 1. Rookie Mike Washington Jr. has been working with the first-team offense while he's out. Jeanty rushed for 975 yards as a rookie and finished with 1,321 yards from scrimmage and 10 total touchdowns. His practice participation later this week should provide a better indication of his Week 1 status.

7 days ago

Dont'e Thornton Jr. • WR • Raiders

Raiders Place Dont'e Thornton Jr. on Injured Reserve

The Las Vegas Raiders announced on Monday that they placed wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. (undisclosed) on Injured Reserve with an undisclosed injury. Thornton will miss at least the first four weeks of the 2026 campaign. His injury means that Jalen Nailor, Tre Tucker, and Jack Bech are locked into the top three receiver spots in Vegas this year, with rookie Malik Benson and Dareke Young rounding out the WR room. The 23-year-old fourth-rounder from Tennessee last year saw limited production in his first NFL season in a bad Raiders offense last year, catching just 10 of his 30 targets for 135 yards and zero touchdowns in 15 games played (eight starts). Thornton missed all of the preseason and most of training camp this summer, which puts him behind the eight ball with the Raiders' new coaching staff in his sophomore campaign. He should only be stashed in deep dynasty/keeper formats, but after Benson's strong summer, Thornton figures to be the team's WR5, at best, when he makes his 2026 debut.

Aug 31

Mike Washington Jr. • RB • Raiders

Mike Washington Jr. Will Have Key Role in Raiders' Backfield

The Las Vegas Raiders trimmed some depth at the running back position on roster cutdown day on Sunday, giving rookie fourth-round RB Mike Washington Jr. an even clearer path to a sizable early-season workload, even if starter Ashton Jeanty (ankle) is ready to go for the Week 1 regular-season opener against the Miami Dolphins. Washington looked good in the team's preseason finale last week against the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday, rushing eight times for 49 yards, including a couple of chunk gains on the ground. The 23-year-old impressed the Raiders' coaching staff this summer during training camp, and he is firmly entrenched as the RB2 in Sin City, with only Dylan Laube behind him in the running back room. In upcoming fantasy football drafts, managers should view Washington as a strong handcuff option for Jeanty with a potential path to a starting role in Week 1 if Jeanty is limited or ruled out entirely. The drawback to Washington is that he was not very efficient as a pass-catcher in college, and he comes with some ball-security issues. RotoBaller has him ranked as the No. 49 fantasy RB for 2026.

Aug 31

Ashton Jeanty • RB • Raiders

Ashton Jeanty Avoids Stint on Injured Reserve

Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (ankle) was not placed on injured reserve prior to the 53-man roster deadline on Sunday, according to Sam Warren of The Athletic. Given that an IR stint carries a minimum four-game absence, the Raiders' decision to keep Jeanty on their 53-man roster suggests that he'll be able to play in some or all of the team's first four games this season. Whether he'll be able to play in Week 1 remains unclear, although the team has been quite optimistic about his availability. Nevertheless, fantasy managers will want to monitor his participation levels in practice leading up to Week 1. Managers should also monitor the Raiders' roster moves. They only have three running backs on their roster right now, so if they sign or claim another one, it could be a sign that Jeanty might not be ready to go. If he does suit up for the season opener, he'll rank as a strong RB1 option against a Miami Dolphins team that has plenty of question marks on both sides of the ball.

Aug 30

Brock Bowers • TE • Raiders

Brock Bowers Looks Like Himself Again

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers spent most of last season fighting through a knee injury. This summer has looked a lot more like the player who caught 112 passes for 1,194 yards as a rookie. Bowers said in May that he felt 100 percent, and the Raiders have spent camp feeding him the ball. He caught two red-zone touchdowns from Kirk Cousins on July 31, added another deep score on Aug. 6, and was one of Las Vegas' best offensive players during the Aug. 18 joint practice with Houston. Cousins found him for another touchdown there, too. That connection matters even more now with Cousins expected to start Week 1. Bowers still managed 64 catches for 680 yards and seven touchdowns in only 12 games last season, so the floor was never the concern when healthy. The draft price is already steep. RotoBaller has him as the TE1 and No. 21 overall in its latest half-PPR rankings. Still, there has been nothing this summer to make fantasy managers back off. If anything, Bowers looks like himself again.

Aug 30

Kirk Cousins • QB • Raiders

Raiders Set to Name Kirk Cousins as Week 1 Starter

According to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports, the Las Vegas Raiders are expected to name veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins their Week 1 starter. Even though Cousins was slated to take the starting job back at the beginning of training camp, newly appointed head coach Klint Kubiak has kept the door open for a competition. However, the veteran earned the starting gig over first-overall pick Fernando Mendoza and Aidan O'Connell. Cousins has been sharp in the preseason, going 5-for-6 in the opener and 8-for-11 in their preseason finale this past Thursday evening. Last season, Cousins appeared in 10 games for the Falcons and averaged 205.5 passing yards per game with a 10:5 TD:INT in the eight games in which he logged more than 50 offensive snaps. Given that the Raiders lack many proven options in the passing game outside of star tight end Brock Bowers, the 38-year-old carries low-end QB3 appeal in their Week 1 opener against the Miami Dolphins.

Aug 29

Las Vegas Raiders News

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