Las Vegas Raiders

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.

Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White's preseason performance on Saturday against the Dallas Cowboys showed promise, highlighted by a 17-yard run that boosted his nightly total to 23 yards on four carries. While the stat line looks promising, it's important to note that most of his production came from a single play. As the Raiders' projected lead back, White has potential for fantasy managers. He could emerge as a solid RB2 with upside, especially if the Raiders' offensive line performs well. However, the presence of Alexander Mattison adds competition to the backfield. Fantasy managers should monitor this situation closely. White has the opportunity to solidify his role, but Mattison's talent could lead to a timeshare if White doesn't perform consistently. Keep an eye on early-season usage and efficiency to gauge White's long-term value in your fantasy lineups. His success will likely depend on maintaining his lead role and capitalizing on his opportunities in the Raiders' offense. Don't sleep on either back and be ready to pivot if the winds change in Vegas.

The Athletic's Tashan Reed writes that Las Vegas Raiders running backs Ameer Abdullah and rookie sixth-rounder Dylan Laube are in a position battle to determine who will be the third-down running back behind Zamir White and Alexander Mattison. Neither Abdullah nor Laube made much of an impact in the preseason opener last weekend against the Minnesota Vikings, so the competition remains a toss-up as of right now. The 31-year-old Abdullah probably has a leg up just because of his familiarity with the offense after catching 19 of his 24 targets in 2023 for 131 yards in 17 games played. However, unless one of White or Mattison miss time with an injury this year, it's hard to foresee Abdulla or Laube having much fantasy appeal outside of very deep PPR leagues.

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (unknown) was not at practice on Thursday night and the reason is still unknown. The star wideout rejoined his teammates on Monday after the birth of his son and has practiced as usual since then. His absence is more than likely a short-term deal but it would be worth monitoring as it remains to be seen if he suits up for a preseason game this year. The quarterback battle continues while Adams' fantasy impact weighs heavily on who wins between Gardner Minshew II and Aidan O'Connell.

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell got the start in the preseason opener last week, so Gardner Minshew II will get the nod on Saturday against the Dallas Cowboys, with both QBs set to play a quarter as they continue their competition. O'Connell went 7-for-9 for 76 yards, while Minshew went 6-for-12 for 117 yards and a touchdown. Head coach Antonio Pierce said he's hoping to decide the QB battle after this Saturday's contest. The two signal-callers have much different styles, with O'Connell being more of a pocket passer, while the 28-year-old Minshew has found more success on off-script plays outside the pocket. Minshew is more of a boom/bust type QB in fantasy, but regardless of who wins the QB competition in Vegas, they won't be much more than a low-end QB2/high-end QB3 in superflex leagues.