Las Vegas Raiders

The Las Vegas Raiders signed quarterback Desmond Ridder off of the Arizona Cardinals' practice squad on Monday, according to sources. Ridder will give the Raiders extra QB depth after the team placed Aidan O'Connell (thumb) on Injured Reserve after he fractured his right thumb in the Week 7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. O'Connell is expected to miss four to six weeks with his injury. Ridder, the former third-round pick by the Atlanta Falcons in 2022 out of Cincinnati, did not see the field at all in Arizona and is coming off a 2023 campaign in Atlanta that saw him throw for 2,836 yards with 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while completing 64.2% of his pass attempts. For now, he'll serve as Gardner Minshew II's backup with the Raiders. If he's forced into action, Ridder will be a desperation QB2, at best, in superflex formats.

Las Vegas Raiders running back Alexander Mattison was much more efficient than usual in Week 7 in the 15-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Mattison rushed 23 times for 92 yards and caught all three of his targets for 31 yards, giving him 15.3 PPR fantasy points on the day. He took the vast majority of the RB workload. The sixth-year pro was much more involved in the offense than fellow RB Zamir White (groin) who was in his first game back from injury. It appears that the former Minnesota Viking could dominate RB touches in the future, but he also averaged under three yards per carry in four games this season. The Rams defense is also very weak, so the matchup was soft. The Raiders will face the Kansas City Chiefs and their formidable run defense in Week 8. Mattison is a risky FLEX option in deeper leagues. Las Vegas' depleted offense could have difficulty doing much of anything.

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (thumb) will be placed on Injured Reserve after fracturing his right thumb in the Week 7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, according to sources. O'Connell was making his second start of the year on Sunday but will now be out for four to six weeks and will miss at least the next four games after going on IR. He'll have a chance to return this season, but the earliest O'Connell can return would be in Week 13 against the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs on Dec. 8. In his two starts, O'Connell went 33-for-50 for 279 yards with a TD and an interception. Gardner Minshew II will now take over as Vegas' starter, but he's nothing more than a low-upside, low-end QB2 in superflex fantasy leagues. After relieving O'Connell on Sunday, Minshew went 15-for-34 for 154 yards with three interceptions and also lost a fumble.

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers continues to show he's their best offensive weapon. In his Week 7 game against the Los Angeles Rams, Bowers caught 10 passes on 14 targets for 93 yards. He's easily their best pass-catcher and chain-mover. He's also an absolute stud in PPR fantasy formats and currently ranks as the TE1 overall. His target volume could remain high even when lead receiver Jakobi Meyers (ankle) returns, and should be better than it was in the early season with Davante Adams was still a part of the team. Las Vegas will square off with the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8, but matchups should be ignored when deciding to start or sit Bowers. He must be started.

Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson reminded the fantasy world that he's still great in the Week 7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Carlson booted two kicks of 27 yards, two of 38 yards, and one of 47 yards, all without missing an attempt. He didn't have any opportunities for extra points. It was an uncharacteristic game for the seventh-year pro in that he had just ten field goal attempts through his first six games. While he's a great player at his position, the opportunities for days like this could remain few and far between. The Rams defense has been one of the league's worst. Next, the Raiders will face one of the league's best defenses when they take on the Kansas City Chiefs. Carlson is unlikely to get much volume and is mostly an option in very deep leagues.