2025 Las Vegas Raiders Fantasy Preview
2025 Las Vegas Raiders Preview Perhaps no team needed a total cultural change as badly as the Las Vegas Raiders. Mission accomplished. Enter first-time general manager John Spytek, the former assistant GM in Tampa and an integral part of Tampa’s top-5 2025 NFL Draft haul. On the sidelines, the Raiders hired a proven coach in Pete Carroll. Collectively, the new regime feels like their rebuild began last season, and 2025 is prime for a new era. Refreshingly, an era of optimism. The first order of business for the club was trading for Carroll’s former quarterback, Geno Smith. Smith quietly threw for a career-best 4,320 yards and a 70.4 percent completion rate in 2024. He will bring much-needed stability to a woefully inadequate position since the franchise released Derek Carr ahead of the 2023 season. Smith is unlikely to post top-10 fantasy numbers with this supporting cast, but he can be a reliable streamer with week-to-week QB upside. No. 6 overall pick Ashton Jeanty profiles as the next great RB1 for years to come. Jeanty is a three-down workhorse with elite tackle-breaking ability, strong contact balance, and superb vision. He led the nation in yards after contact twice, including a record-shattering 1,970 in 2024. And the fit couldn’t have been better. The Raiders had very little depth in the backfield, assuring Jeanty will get all the work he can handle on his compact frame. Instant first-round RB1. WR Jakobi Meyers finished as the WR20 after setting career-best marks in targets (129), receptions (87), and receiving yards (1,027). Meyers once again proved to be a savvy mid-round draft value but remains a WR2 masquerading as a team’s WR1. The 2025 NFL Draft brought more depth to a receiving corps needing a youth infusion. Second-rounder Jack Bech is a favorite of the dynasty football community with sticky hands coming off a Senior Bowl MVP performance. Bech can also be employed all over the field. Fourth-rounder Dont’e Thornton is huge (6-5, 214) and is a dark horse to push Tre Tucker for playing time. Brock Bowers burst onto the scene, breaking the rookie reception record and becoming the second consecutive (after Sam LaPorta) first-year player to lead the tight end position in fantasy scoring. His 153 targets were third in the NFL, and he caught fewer than three balls only once.. And he didn’t just make an impression on fantasy managers, but also on his new signal-caller Smith, who told The Athletic that Bowers “is one of the best tight ends in the league already, and I still think he’s got so much room to improve. A big part of my job is to help him do that.” Bowers was a league winner last season and will be the top-ranked tight end in every format. Fantasy Grade: C QB Smith, Geno, LVR [QB1] Reunited and it feels so good. When the Raiders plucked Pete Carroll out of retirement, one of the first orders of business for Carroll was to engineer a trade for his old quarterback, Geno Smith. Carroll recognized the potential in Smith in Seattle. In two years together, Smith posted QB5 and QB19 numbers. Last year, without Carroll, Smith threw for a career-high 4,320 yards and thrived throwing the ball 20-plus yards, a staple of Raiders’ offenses. Smith brings stability and leadership to a young Las Vegas roster and projects to quietly be a solid QB2. ADVICE: Underrated QB2 who can be a decent streaming option week-to-week. RB Jeanty, Ashton, LVR [RB1] Here are the categories that Ashton Jeanty led in FBS in 2024: attempts (313), rushing yards (2,287), TDs (28), yards after contact (5.42/att.), missed tackles forced (125), first downs (106), and breakaway yards (1,247). These world-class metrics are indicative of how dominant Jeanty was at Boise State and why he’s considered the best incoming rookie rusher since Saquon Barkley. And as luck would have it, Jeanty landed in the perfect spot as Pete Carroll’s next Marshawn Lynch. Jeanty is a three-down workhorse who could lead the league in touches in his first season. ADVICE: Every bit worthy of a first-round selection in every fantasy format. RB Mostert, Raheem, LVR [RB2] ADVICE: Aging veteran won’t see much of a role playing behind Ashton Jeanty. Mostert is relegated to a handcuff role for fantasy managers lucky enough to land Jeanty in Round One. WR Meyers, Jakobi, LVR [WR1] Sleeper Jakobi Meyers was one of fantasy’s unheralded stars last season. Meyers had 10 games with nine or more targets, eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards for the first time, and finished as the WR20 overall. Meyers had the most targets (126) without a drop in the league last season. Since moving to the Raiders, Meyers has run 69.8 percent of his routes from the perimeter after being used inside in New England. However, a new coach, a first-round running back, and added target competition are obstacles that will make repeating those outstanding numbers challenging. ADVICE: Remains an underrated value in the middle rounds who provides a steady source of targets and receptions. WR Bech, Jack, LVR [WR2] Sleeper Jack Bech’s older brother, Tiger Bech, was killed in the New Orleans terrorist attack on New Year’s Eve. Jack, wearing his brother’s No.7 jersey, then won Senior Bowl MVP with a walk-off TD grab. In addition to that inspirational moment, Bech has good size (6-1, 214), sticky hands, outstanding ball tracking skills, and uses leverage well. He had a 62/1,034/9 season at TCU in 2024 that resulted in Second-team All-Big 12 accolades. Bech also landed in a great location with a Raiders’ offense that needed a youth infusion. Bech profiles as a reliable possession receiver. ADVICE: Bech’s hands, ability to create space, and opportunity make him one of the top late-round sleeper wideouts. WR Tucker, Tre, LVR [WR3] ADVICE: Tucker has made strides in each of his two seasons. He’ll enter camp as the Raiders’ No. 2 but will face stiff competition from rookies Jack Bech and Dont’e Thornton Jr. WR Thornton, Dont’e, LVR [WR4] Super
2024 Las Vegas Raiders Fantasy Preview
2024 Las Vegas Raiders Fantasy Preview Rumors ahead of the 2024 NFL draft speculated that new head coach Antonio Pierce and the Las Vegas Raiders were in the market for a rookie quarterback after experimenting with Jimmy Garappolo and Aiden
Rumors ahead of the 2024 NFL draft speculated that new head coach Antonio Pierce and the Las Vegas Raiders were in the market for a rookie quarterback after experimenting with Jimmy Garappolo and Aiden O’Connell last season. Unfortunately, they were unable to land the targets in which they coveted. Fortunately, though, they brought in a quarterback via free agency who has plenty of what Pierce is looking for in Gardner Minshew.
Wherever Minshew goes, a rookie quarterback is sure to follow. Last year, the Colts drafted Anthony Richardson after signing Minshew. Technically, Jalen Hurts was an Eagle before Minshew, but the Jaguars did draft Trevor Lawrence to replace Minshew in Jacksonville.
Minshew needs to get the credit he deserves. In 37 career starts, over 49 games played, he has thrown more touchdown passes (59) and fewer interceptions (24) than the generational Trevor Lawrence. That is the kind of production from the quarterback position Davante Adams was not getting from Garappolo or O’Connell last season.
Regardless of whoever lines up under center, Adams is a wide receiver you can trust when selecting at the start of the second round of your fantasy drafts. While the 31-year-old receiver is entering his 11th season, he is still producing. Adams has posted five 1000-yard seasons over the last six years, including 1,144 yards on 103 receptions in 2023. All that production resulted in a fantasy WR11 fantasy finish a season ago.
After Adams, it becomes interesting. Jakobi Meyers had some excellent fantasy value as a flex option heading into the draft. However, the Raiders’ selection of Georgia tight end Brock Bowers puts a cap on Meyers’ fantasy potential entering the 2024 season. Last year, Meyers averaged 13.1 fantasy points per game. But with Bowers’ ability to play in the slot, it’s hard to envision Meyers having that kind of success when asked to line out wide.
Bowers will likely be better for the Raiders than he will for your fantasy teams. In three seasons at Georgia, he finished with 2,538 yards and 26 touchdowns on 175 passes. Bowers is an excellent complement for Adams, as he finished last season with 56 receptions, six touchdowns, and 714 yards after returning in October from ankle surgery.
RB Zamir White finds himself well-positioned to have a top-15-caliber season at the running back position. From weeks 15 through 18, White would average 23.3 touches while churning out 114.3 per game, finishing as the RB12 in fantasy over that stretch. White also would finish sixth in yards after contact per attempt, 13th in explosive run rate, and 17th in success rate. White is an intriguing mid-round target.
Quarterbacks
QB GARDNER MINSHEW – BYE WEEK FILL-IN
The Raiders plan to have Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell compete for the team’s starting role this summer. “That’s the plan, to have both those guys really compete through the offseason program, but more so in training camp, and we’ll see how it plays out,” said GM Tom Telesco. Minshew is considered the favorite to win that role. He was slightly more effective than O’Connell and signed the contract of a player expected to start. Regardless of who wins, Las Vegas will be a run-first offense under Antonio Pierce and Luke Getsy. The Raiders QB spot should be avoided until there is some clarity. ADVICE: Only draftable in deep Superflex leagues.
QB AIDAN O’CONNELL – LOW POTENTIAL
ADVICE: O’Connell passing metrics were very similar to Gardner Minshew last season. He’ll be given every opportunity to beat out the newcomer in the preseason. The ceiling isn’t very high, but whoever wins the Raiders’ starting job can be a weekly streamer…