Las Vegas Raiders

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce confirmed on Wednesday that quarterback Aidan O'Connell won't play in the preseason finale on Friday against the San Francisco 49ers. The Raiders named Gardner Minshew II as their starting QB earlier this week, and the Raiders will hold both Minshew and O'Connell out of action this weekend, with Carter Bradley and Nathan Peterman set to split the reps under center. The 25-year-old O'Connell will enter his second NFL season as the backup to Minshew, but if Minshew struggles early on, don't be surprised if Pierce gives O'Connell a shot. He went 5-5 as the starter in 2023 after the team moved on from Jimmy Garoppolo, throwing 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Ultimately, experience won out for Pierce, with Minshew having 37 career NFL starts under his belt. For now, O'Connell is merely a QB3/4 bench stash in superflex fantasy leagues.

Las Vegas Raiders rookie first-round tight end Brock Bowers (foot) missed Tuesday's training camp practice after he sat out of the second preseason game on Saturday against the Dallas Cowboys due to a sore foot. Bowers' foot injury is worth watching with the 2024 regular quickly approaching in several weeks, but as of right now, his injury doesn't appear to be serious enough to make him questionable for the Week 1 regular-season opener against the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers. The 21-year-old from Georgia was the 13th overall pick in April and figures to immediately serve as Vegas' top pass-catching TE over Michael Mayer. Volume-wise, it's possible that Bowers is the No. 2 pass-catcher behind WR1 Davante Adams, making him worth a fantasy draft selection as a low-end TE1. The 6-foot-4, 265-pounder could be a beast in yards after the catch in his first year in the NFL.

According to Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce, quarterback Gardner Minshew II will start in Week 1 versus the Chargers. Aidan O'Connell was the presumed starter at one point. Yet, Minshew did enough throughout camp and the preseason to claim the top spot on the depth chart. The 28-year-old has had mixed results from a production standpoint over the years, throwing for 9,937 yards, 59 touchdowns, and 24 picks with the Jaguars, Eagles, and Colts. This could be Minshew's last chance to earn a starting job, with O'Connell potentially entering the equation if things get out of hand. However, neither signal-caller should be considered a top fantasy quarterback entering the 2024-25 campaign, despite having Davante Adams in their arsenal.

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce said that rookie first-round tight end Brock Bowers (foot) was held out of Saturday's preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys due to a sore foot. It remains to be seen how serious Bowers' foot injury is, but he's unlikely to play in the preseason finale on Friday against the Atlanta Falcons. There are still several weeks to go until the start of the 2024 regular season in early September, but missed practice time now for the 21-year-old could cause him to get off to a slow start in his rookie campaign. Fantasy managers targeting him in upcoming drafts as a low-end TE1 will want to keep a close eye on his status this upcoming week. When healthy, the former Georgia Bulldog is expected to immediately become Vegas' top pass-catching tight end in 2024 over Michael Mayer. It's possible that Bowers will be the team's No. 2 target behind receiver Davante Adams.

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker made a strong impression in the Raiders' preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday, hauling in three passes for 66 yards and demonstrating his versatility with two punt returns for 48 yards. The highlight of his night was a 48-yard reception from quarterback Gardner Minshew II, which was a key play that led to one of the Raiders' few scoring drives. Tucker's explosiveness was on full display, with another notable punt return unfortunately negated by a penalty. Tucker's performance in this game continues to build on the momentum he generated in the preseason opener, signaling that he could be primed for a breakout sophomore season. His knack for making big plays not only as a receiver, but also as a return specialist, makes him a valuable asset for the Raiders. Tucker could be on the verge of securing a significant role in the Raiders' offense this season. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on Tucker as a high-ranking sleeper pick, especially if he continues to showcase this level of playmaking ability as the regular season approaches.