Las Vegas Raiders

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers will face the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 16. They have one of the worst pass defenses in the last 25 years in terms of passing Expected Points Added per play allowed. That statistic attempts to measure how impactful each play is for the opposing offense. JAX thus allows a ton of big and crucial plays, and does that often. With the team's QB1, Aidan O'Connell (knee) set to return from injury, Bowers will have his preferred signal-caller back in the lineup, and should be fed a healthy dose of targets. This will be another chance for the stellar rookie to shine, and fantasy managers should not leave him out of their lineups in any leagues with tight end slots in starting lineups. He should be started in all leagues this week, as he's primed for a monster game.

The Las Vegas Raiders will take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 16 in what is an easy matchup for running backs in fantasy. Raiders running back Ameer Abdullah will probably split volume with RB Alexander Mattison (neck), and Abdullah presents the more interesting option in fantasy football, since he seems to have more pass-catching upside. The 31-year old rushed three times for just eight yards in Week 15, but caught all seven of his targets for 58 yards and a touchdown. JAX has one of the league's most porous defenses. These factors make the 10th-year pro an intriguing option in deeper PPR leagues as an RB3/FLEX, but starting anyone from this backfield in fantasy football carries plenty of risk.

Las Vegas Raiders running back Alexander Mattison (neck) is expected to play in Week 16, when his team will take on the Jacksonville Jaguars. We're just a few games away from finally wrapping up the rollercoaster of misery that has been the Raiders backfield in 2024. With RB Zamir White (quad) still on injured reserve and Sincere McCormick (ankle) out for the season, it looks like Mattison will split touches with fellow RB Ameer Abdullah. It's hard to say which one will out-snap the other, but having watched the Raiders this season, it will probably be some kind of committee. We don't expect Mattison to have a ton of fantasy value, as it appears Abdullah is the better pass-catcher, and neither will have a ton of TD upside. The former Minnesota Viking should probably be left on the bench.

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (knee) is ready to return to the field following a one-game absence and has been cleared from the final Week 16 injury report and will start on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The return of O'Connell is good news for the fantasy value of tight end Brock Bowers and wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, who are really the only weapons fantasy managers can trust from the Raiders. O'Connell hasn't been a fantastic fantasy option, but he will carry QB2 value in superflex leagues against a struggling Jags secondary.

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (knee) was a full participant during Thursday's practice session. O'Connell has now made it through back-to-back full practice sessions without a setback, which is great news ahead of the Week 16 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Another full session on Friday should get O'Connell cleared to play for this weekend. He sat out of last week's loss to the Atlanta Falcons after suffering a bone bruise in his knee in Week 14. The return of O'Connell should boost the fantasy value of both Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers. O'Connell would be a lower end QB2 if he is able to return this weekend.