Fantasy Football Player Notes

Ashton Jeanty will be seen as a disappointment for fantasy managers exiting his rookie season. It wasn't a failure, but you can make the argument that, because of his talent and the hype, it didn't live up to lofty expectations. Jeanty was the RB15 in fantasy points per game, finishing with 321 touches and 1,321 total yards. He ranked fifth in snap share, first in opportunity share, seventh in weighted opportunities, and 15th in red zone touches. Among 49 qualifying backs, Jeanty ranked 16th in missed tackle rate and 17th in yards after contact per attempt (per Fantasy Points Data). The ecosystem surrounding Jeanty stunk. The Raiders were 31st in red zone scoring attempts per game and 30th in yards per play. Among those 49 qualifying backs previously, Jeanty had the second-fewest yards before contact per attempt (1.28), and 65% of his rushing yards came after first contact. With Klint Kubiak in town, Fernando Mendoza or Kirk Cousins at the helm, a healthy Brock Bowers, and improved blocking up front, Jeanty could be poised to post a strong RB1 season in his second season.

Toss Brock Bowers' 2025 season in the trash. All of it. In the trash. He sustained a PCL injury in Week 1 that he attempted to play through all year. He eventually landed on season-ending IR before Week 17 after gutting through 12 games last season. Despite playing on one leg for the entire season, Bowers still ranked 13th in yards per route run and first downs per route run last season (per Fantasy Points Data). To understand Bowers' 2026 upside and talent, we need to rewind to 2024 when he was the TE3 in fantasy points per game. During that season, he was seventh in target per route run rate, sixth in yards per route run, third in receiving yards per game, second in first read share, and seventh in first downs per route run (per Fantasy Points Data). 2026 Brock Bowers could be 2025 Trey McBride and be the runaway TE1 for fantasy, with little target competition existing on the Raiders' depth chart to challenge him.

Tre Tucker quietly put together a solid 2025 season and enters 2026 with a legitimate chance to emerge as the Raiders' top wide receiver, even if Brock Bowers remains the centerpiece of the passing game. The former third-round pick has improved each season, logged nearly every snap last year, and continues to command meaningful downfield volume. New coaches have already praised Tucker's leadership and work ethic, suggesting he will remain heavily involved in the offense.

It wouldn't shock me at all if Jalen Nailor steps up as the clear number two option for the Raiders this season behind Brock Bowers through the air. Nailor isn't facing stiff competition from Tre Tucker, Jack Bech, Dont'e Thornton, and company. Yes, last year Nailor had only a 10.3% target share, 1.19 yards per route run, and a 10.8% first-read share (per Fantasy Points Data). None of those metrics will or should get you excited, but when we dig deeper, his per-route numbers are QUITE INTERESTING. Last year, among 109 qualifying receivers, he was 33rd in separation and 51st in route win rate. As a perimeter receiver among the same sample, his numbers look even better (141 routes) as he was sixth-best in separation and 13th in route win rate. Nailor is the final pick in a draft that could pay dividends and become a weekly WR3 or flex if it all works out.

Mike Washington Jr. could help Ashton Jeanty with the early down lifting in 2026 and slot in as one of the best handcuffs in the NFL. Washington Jr. tested like an alien during the predraft process, leading to his fourth-round draft capital. During his final collegiate season, Washington Jr. broke out, ranking 33rd in yards after contact per attempt and 17th in breakaway rate (per PFF). Washington Jr. has blistering 4.3 speed and the size (6'1", 223 lbs) to be a three-down back if called upon. Stash him as a wonderful handcuff in 2026, where you can.

The No. 1 pick in this year's NFL Draft, Fernando Mendoza might sit behind veteran Kirk Cousins early in the season, but it shouldn't be long before the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner takes over as the Raiders' starter. Mendoza completed 72.0% of his passes last season, averaged 9.3 yards per pass attempt, and threw for 41 touchdowns in 16 games while leading Indiana to an undefeated season and the National Championship. Mendoza has an NFL-caliber arm and terrific ball placement. A student of the game, Mendoza is cool under fire. His functional mobility probably won't translate to much rushing value at the NFL level, although Mendoza could score a few rushing touchdowns every year. Matt Ryan seems like a reasonable comp for Mendoza based on their tools and style of play. We might not see much of a fantasy impact from the rookie in Year 1, particularly when the Raiders are so short on pass-catching firepower beyond TE Brock Bowers, but we can't rule out a fantasy-relevant rookie season for Mendoza.

The Raiders signed veteran QB Kirk Cousins to a two-year deal in the offseason and will let him keep the seat warm for No. 1 draft pick Fernando Mendoza before eventually settling into a backup role. The question is how long Cousins will be the starter. There have been reports that the Raiders - and particularly minority owner Tom Brady - would like Mendoza to have a full redshirt season and not make any starts. The reality is that no quarterback drafted No. 1 has sat out his entire rookie season since Carson Palmer in 2003. Cousins, who'll be 38 this season, averaged just 6.4 yards per pass attempt with the Falcons last season and had fewer than 200 passing yards in six of his eight starts. Cousins is a viable option in superflex leagues only because he's expected to play early in the season.