Las Vegas Raiders

Las Vegas Raiders rookie wide receiver Ramel Keyton turned heads with a team-leading four receptions for 76 yards in the Raiders' preseason finale against the San Francisco 49ers. While this performance certainly helps his case for making the 53-man roster, fantasy managers need to maintain perspective. Even if Keyton survives final cuts, he'll be buried behind established veterans and higher draft picks on the depth chart. His impressive 19.0 yards per catch average in this game hints at big-play ability, but opportunities to showcase this in the regular season will likely be few and far between. Keyton is competing for one of the final receiver spots, which typically translates to special teams duties rather than offensive snaps. For fantasy purposes, Keyton is nothing more than a name to file away in case of multiple injuries to the Raiders' receiving corps during the season. He's not draftable in any fantasy format at this time.

Las Vegas wide receiver Tyreik McAllister is making a compelling case for a roster spot with the Raiders, showcasing his versatility and special teams prowess. He caught two passes for 56 yards and a touchdown while rushing seven yards on one attempt in Friday's preseason tie against the San Francisco 49ers. After a standout performance against the 49ers, where he dazzled with a 35-yard touchdown catch and an electrifying 81-yard punt return, McAllister is turning heads. Originally a running back, his transition to wide receiver adds depth to his utility on the field, making him an intriguing pick for fantasy football enthusiasts looking for a sleeper. His background in the CFL and time on the Broncos' practice squad have honed his special teams skills, which could be his ticket onto the final 53-man roster. For fantasy managers in deep leagues, McAllister represents a late-round flier, especially if he secures a role that includes return duties for leagues that reward return yards.

The Los Angeles Chargers continue to have a heavily-contested competition for the No. 3 running back role, according to Eric Smith of the team's official website. Smith notes that it's possible the team carries four running backs, but that's far from a given. In the event that they stick with three, the team will deploy Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins as its top two running backs with Isaiah Spiller, Kimani Vidal, and Jaret Patterson all competing for the final spot on the depth chart. Perhaps the most prominent name is Vidal, who impressed in Week 2 of the preseason and cost the Chargers a sixth-round pick just a few months ago. However, Spiller has familiarity with the system and Patterson has gone under the radar to make a real push for a roster spot, too. Saturday's clash with the Dallas Cowboys will give these three backs one more opportunity to separate themselves from the competition before rosters trim down on Tuesday.

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.