2026 Team Outlook: Las Vegas Raiders

2. TE Brock Bowers, LVR - Stud (low risk)

Bowers was a standout at Georgia across three seasons, catching 170 of 233 targets (73.0%) for 2,417 yards and 24 touchdowns, while also contributing as a runner with 18 carries for 188 yards and four scores. He hit the ground running as a true freshman with 56 catches for 938 yards and 14 touchdowns, a remarkable debut that set the tone for his college career. A month-long absence due to an ankle injury slowed his 2023 campaign, but he was dominant in a three-game stretch (9/121/2, 8/160/1, and 7/132/1) from late September into early October. He led Georgia in receptions all three years, underscoring his consistency as a target hog. Bowers carried that same reliability into the NFL, immediately establishing himself as the Raiders' primary receiving option as a rookie. His route running, spatial awareness, and feel for finding soft spots in coverage translated seamlessly, drawing a heavy target share that included seven double-digit target games. He was especially dangerous on the road, hauling in 71 catches for 783 yards and four touchdowns on 93 targets away from home. On the season, Bowers caught 112 of 153 targets for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns, good for 263.10 PPR fantasy points and the top spot among all tight ends. He delivered two signature performances of 13/123/1 and 10/142/1, with two additional near-impact outings of 8/97/1 and 11/99.

Last season, Bowers shined in Week 1 (5/103 on eight targets), but a knee issue slowed him down over his next three starts (5/38, 4/38, and 5/46), followed by three missed contests. He dominated in his first game back (12/133/3 on 13 targets). After a dull showing (1/31), Bowers fell more into a steady category over his last six games (32/297/4 on 43 targets) while gaining only 9.3 yards per catch (10.7 in 2024). Las Vegas shut him down in Week 17 due to lingering affects with his knee issue. Fantasy Outlook: Bowers draws a WR1 opportunity when healthy, which is a significant edge for the tight end position. His injury year in 2025 creates a better buying opportunity based on his early ADP (19) in the National Fantasy Football Championship. Bowers has moved in front of Trey McBride in recent drafts in mid-June. He has a 100-catch floor with an excellent chance at 1,100 yards, and Bowers should lead the Raiders in receiving touchdowns.

8. RB Ashton Jeanty, LVR - Solid/Safe Pick

INJURY SCARE! Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty suffered a sprained ankle during Sunday's practice. While the initial scene caused panic, subsequent medical evaluations revealed the injury is not considered a long-term issue.

Jeanty began his college career at Boise State as a change-of-pace back, seeing limited action as a freshman with just two starts across 14 games. He still made an impact, racking up 976 combined yards, seven touchdowns, and 14 receptions. His role and production grew steadily over the next two seasons, peaking in 2024 with a dominant workload of 397 touches. His junior season was historic. Jeanty led the nation in carries (374) and rushing yards (2,601) while scoring 29 rushing touchdowns, finishing just behind Bryson Daily's 32 scores. He averaged an eye-catching 7.0 74 0.218 458 0.14 6.19 95 5 89 0.217 614 0.15 6.90 112 4 Las Vegas Raiders

yards per carry and topped 100 rushing yards in every game, reaching the 200 combined-yard mark seven times. The year prior, he was more of a dual threat, hauling in 43 catches for 569 yards and five scores, averaging 13.2 yards per reception. As a runner, Jeanty is a nightmare to bring down in space. He has a rare combination of balance, leverage, and body control that allows him to shed contact at the line and keep his legs churning through traffic. His vision is arguably his best trait. He consistently identifies and exploits creases that others miss, then has the acceleration and burst to turn those openings into big gains. His low, compact running style makes him effective near the goal line, and he's a savvy runner who sets up defenders with tempo changes before uncorking a quick lateral move to create separation. He's equally comfortable running through contact or spinning away from it, making him a threat to break a long run on any given carry. Daylight at the second level of defenses was rarely present in Jeanty's rookie season, highlighted by him gaining only 3.7 yards per rush and 6.3 yards per catch. Over his 321 touches, only six of his touches gained at least 20 yards, with two reaching the 40-yard mark. His volume opportunity led to him finishing 11th in PPR fantasy points (246.10) for running backs, with 41.1% of his stats coming in three contests (34.50, 24.80, and 31.80). On his off days, Jeanty scored fewer than 10.00 fantasy points in seven matchups. Fantasy Outlook: Despite him underachieving expectations in his rookie season, Jeanty ranks fifth at running back in the early draft season in the National Fantasy Football Championship. With better play by his offensive line and a more efficient starting quarterback, he has the tools to be a beast three-down back, but his ceiling is tied to improved scoring by the Raiders and bigger running lanes.

His college resume, paired with last year's opportunity, paints an exciting player if everything aligns in 2026. Next step: 1,800 combined yards with 12+ scores and a floor of 60 catches, which supports his early price point.

9. PK Matt Gay, LVR - Solid/Safe Pick

For fantasy drafters waiting on a kicker in 2021, Gay rewarded them with an excellent season. He made 94.1% of his field goal chances with success from 50 yards or more (4-for-5). His leg held value in 2022 (28-

for-30), with his only two misses coming from long range (7-for-9 from 50 yards or more). Over the past five seasons, Gay had 131 field goal attempts, with 22 misses (83.2% success rate). Eighteen of those errant kicks came from 50 yards or more 22-for-40). Over the past seven years, 189 of his 192 extra points went through the uprights. A back injury led to Gay only kicking 12 games in 2025. He made only 73.9% of his 23 field goals, but his failure came from 50 yards or more (4-for-9). Fantasy Outlook: Gay is undraftable in 2026 while not being a lock to open the season as the Raiders' kicker. Last year, Las Vegas scored 25 touchdowns while creating 27 field goal attempts.

27. QB Fernando Mendoza, LVR - Deep-league Only

After two solid seasons at California, totaling 4,712 passing yards, 30 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions, Mendoza transferred to Indiana and delivered one of the most memorable seasons in recent college football history. He guided the Hoosiers to a National Championship on the back of a perfect 16-0 record in 2025, completing 72.0% of his passes (379 attempts) for 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions. Mendoza also showed a willingness to use his legs, carrying 90 times for 276 yards and seven scores, though he averaged just 3.1 yards per carry. His performance earned him several prestigious honors, including the Heisman Trophy. His championship was a landmark achievement for Indiana as a program. Before head coach Curt Cignetti arrived in 2024, the Hoosiers had never won 10 games in a single season across their previous 125 years of football. Cignetti has since gone 27-2 at the helm. At the next level, Mendoza projects as a pocket passer with limited mobility, though he won't hesitate to take off when a running lane opens up. He's a diligent film studier with a solid ability to diagnose defensive looks pre-snap. His best traits show up in his release. Mendoza gets the ball out quickly and on schedule, and he's a reliable red zone passer who can finish drives through the air.

At 6'5" and 235 pounds, Mendoza has the ideal NFL frame for his position. His concerns center on the supporting cast he benefited from in college; a weaker offensive line and less dependable receiving options could limit his production, and his arm loses some effectiveness when he's pressured. The Raiders selected their new franchise quarterback first overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, with only one other potentially helpful player added in the draft (C Trey Zuhn – 3.27). Las Vegas signed C Tyler Linderbaum to a three-year deal for $81 million in the offseason. They lost LT Kolten Miller four games into last season due to a knee injury. Fantasy Outlook: The key to Mendoza’s success in his rookie season starts with a healthy, impact year by Brock Bowers. His wide receiving corps has a lot to prove, suggesting another draft class is needed for the Raiders to reach a more competitive ceiling in the passing game. Las Vegas should run a balanced offense while relying on its rookie quarterback to minimize the damage in turnovers. In the early draft season in the National Fantasy Football Championship, Mendoza ranks 29th due to the cloudiness of Kirk Cousins potentially starting in Week 1. He should be treated as an upside game manager whose fantasy value will be a work in progress. The Raiders should have him behind center in Week 1 against the Dolphins. Possible 4,000 combined yards with league-average production in touchdowns.

37. QB Kirk Cousins, LVR - Deep-league Only

Cousins had a statistically busy 2022, setting career highs in completions (424) and attempts (643) while posting 4,547 passing yards, his second-best total. Pressure was a factor, as 46 sacks helped drag his yards per attempt down to 7.1. He started slowly through the first half of the season but caught fire in the second half, putting up four

standout performances of 298, 425, 460, and 301 passing yards. He finished 6th in quarterback scoring at 354.95 points. Over his time in Minnesota, Cousins went 50-37-1 with a 67.9% completion rate and averaged 32 touchdowns per season across his first five years with the team. His 2023 campaign was cut short after eight games due to an Achilles injury, but he was playing well before going down, opening with three strong outings and staying productive even after losing Justin Jefferson to injury. At his pace, he was on track for nearly 5,000 yards and 38 touchdowns. He signed a four-year deal with Atlanta in March 2024, followed by the Falcons also drafting Michael Penix in the first round. Cousins started the year reasonably well, throwing for 2,328 yards and 17 touchdowns through nine games, including two explosive performances against Tampa Bay (509 and 292 yards, four touchdowns each). However, he collapsed down the stretch, managing just 1,180 yards, one touchdown, and nine interceptions over his final five games before losing his starting spot. Last year, Atlanta gave Cousins eight starts, leading to a sharp decline in his completion rate (61.7%) with a 5-3 record, 10 passing touchdowns, and five interceptions. He passed for fewer than 200 yards in seven matchups while delivering one impact game (373/3). Fantasy Outlook: At age 38, the best days for Cousins are behind him. I expect him to be holding a clipboard in Week 1 of the 2026 season.

43. TE Michael Mayer, LVR - Deep-league Only

Mayer's calling card is his blocking, which should earn him consistent snaps at the NFL level and give offensive coordinators a reason to keep him on the field on early downs. That physicality comes with a trade-off; he can struggle to create separation off the line and at the top of his routes, limiting his receiving upside out of the gate. Most of his production comes closer to the line of scrimmage, though he's not without athleticism, running a respectable 4.70 in the 40 for the position. His reliable hands are a genuine asset, allowing him to make catches in tight windows where lesser tight ends come up short. At Notre Dame, Mayer was a model of consistency across three seasons, catching 180 of 265 targets for 2,099 yards and 18 touchdowns. His yards-per-catch figure grew each year (from 10.7 to 11.8 to 12.1), suggesting gradual development as a route runner. His 2021 and 2022 seasons were nearly identical in production, and he closed out his college career with three 100-yard performances in his final season.

The transition to the NFL hasn't developed as expected, and the Raiders closed his TE1 window by drafting Brock Bowers. He managed just one catch for two yards over his first four games as a rookie before flashing some promise with a 5/75 outing in Week 6 and a touchdown grab in Week 15. A toe injury ended his season early, but Las Vegas did give him TE1 snaps in 10 of his 14 games, signaling organizational belief in his role. In year two, Brock Bowers hit the ground running, pushing Mayer's snap share down to 41.3%. He also missed six games early in the season due to a personal matter. When available, Mayer caught 21 of 32 targets for 156 yards without a touchdown, with his best showing coming in Week 14 with a 7/68 performance. With Bowers injured last year, Mayer flashed in two games (5/50/1 and 9/89) while drawing TE1 snaps in six contests. Las Vegas had him on the field for 46.8% of their plays. He finished the year with 35 catches for 328 yards and one score across 50 targets. He remains a reliable blocker and a complementary piece, but his path to fantasy relevance in Las Vegas looks narrow as long as Bowers is commanding the lion's share of tight end targets. Fantasy Outlook: Mayer offers handcuff value to Brock Bowers, with some playability in deep Best Ball formats. He will be found in the free agent pool in most 12-team redraft leagues.