Fantasy Football Player Notes

The No. 6 overall pick in this year's draft could have an enormous fantasy impact right away. Jeanty is fast, has great vision, and his contact balance is otherworldly. Jeanty is used to handling big workloads after being a heavy-duty back at Boise State, and he adds value as a pass catcher. Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly likes to run his offenses at a brisk pace, which should help Jeanty pile up touches. I have no issues with anyone who wants to take Ashton Jeanty in the top half of the first round in 2025 fantasy drafts.

Brock Bowers had a legendary rookie season. He finished as the TE3 in fantasy points per game. He logged the most receptions, receiving yards, PPR fantasy points per game, and targets for a rookie tight end EVER! Insane, insane production. Last year, among 47 qualifying tight ends, he remained stellar, ranking second in target share (23.6%), third in receiving yards per game (70.2), fifth in yards per route run (2.11), and sixth in first downs per route run (0.108, per Fantasy Points Data). With more target competition added in the offseason with the additions of Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton, we'll see if Bowers can reproduce this type of season in year two, but I won't be betting against him with improved quarterback play with Geno Smith now under center. Bowers is worth paying up for in drafts as a difference-making option at a onesie position.

The rock-steady Jakobi Meyers established single-season highs in receptions (87) and receiving yards (1,027) last season despite missing two games. Although the Raiders added WRs Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton in the draft, Meyers is likely to remain the No. 2 target in Las Vegas behind star TE Brock Bowers. The arrival of QB Geno Smith, who threw for more than 4,300 yards last season, and new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, who favors a brisk pace, could boost Meyers' fantasy value. Just don't expect a TD bonanza. Meyers has scored 20 touchdowns in 91 career games.

Geno Smith was the QB15 in fantasy points per game on the strength of operating in an offense that ranked fourth in passing attempts. I don't know if he'll be afforded anywhere near that amount of volume with the Raiders, but Smith also checked more than a few boxes for strong quarterback play last season. Among 40 qualifying quarterbacks, he ranked 13th in yards per attempt, fourth in CPOE, and tenth in highly accurate throw rate (per Fantasy Points Data). The wheels came off for Smith when he was pressured, and that happened often in 2024 as he faced the sixth-most pressures in the NFL. Last year, when pressured, Smith ranked 35th in passer rating with the fourth-highest turnover-worthy throw rate while sitting at 17th in adjusted completion rate. When Smith passed from a clean pocket, he ranked 13th in passer rating, had the 23rd-lowest turnover-worthy throw rate, and was second in adjusted completion rate. The move from Seattle to Las Vegas could benefit Smith's pressure sensitivity greatly as the Raiders were 14th in pass blocking grade last season (Seattle 19th). I don't think Smith has the juice to be a QB1 this season, but he could easily turn in high-end QB2 numbers again this season with plenty of splash performances for the quarterback-streaming crowd.

Bech heard his name called during the NFL Draft earlier than many expected. The Raiders selected him with the 26th pick in the second round. Bech enters the building with the ability to push for a starting job out of the gate. Geno Smith will love the route running, tenacity, and sure hands (fourth in contested catch rate, minimum 20 contested targets in 2024) that Bech brings to the table. In his final season in college, Bech ranked 17th in receiving grade and 22nd in missed tackles forced (per PFF). The former tight-end plays with a physicality and passion that is infectious. Bech is a nice late-round flier.

Raheem Mostert lands with the Raiders as Ashton Jeanty's backup. Jeanty should be the team's clear bell-cow, with Mostert only offering some change of pace carrries weekly. Mostert looked like a player on his last NFL legs last season, with only a 14% missed tackle rate and 1.76 yards after contact per attempt (per Fantasy Points Data). He's a deep league/final-round handcuff pick only.

The Raiders play the second-most games indoors in 2025. Daniel Carlson has one finish outside the top-10 in the last five seasons (2023).

I love the addition of Thornton to this Raiders' wide receiver room. He fits in nicely with the receivers they already have on the roster as a field-stretching compliment. He should be starting in three wide receiver sets shortly over Tre Tucker. Thornton had only 34 targets last season, but he posted a whopping 3.72 yards per route run (per PFF). With his elite build-up speed, he will take the top off of plenty of defenses in 2025. If Las Vegas hands Thornton Jr. the D.K. Metcalf route tree in year one as a full-time starter, he could surprise people, but that's not a given. It's tough to project him to become a high-end target share earner in 2025, but he could easily offer some week-winning upside from the flex when the matchup is right.