Las Vegas Raiders DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers remains an absolute must-start in all fantasy football leagues ahead of his Week 9 matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals. The rookie star has racked up 52 receptions for 535 yards and one touchdown through eight weeks of NFL action. He's the TE2 overall in full-PPR fantasy scoring. He seems to be a lock to finish top-5 at his position on the season, though the return of wideout Jakobi Meyers (ankle) could siphon a few targets away from him. With Meyers on the field, double-digit targets for Bowers becomes less likely. Regardless, he won't need many to finish as a TE1 this week, and can't be left out of fantasy lineups.

Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert checks into Week 9 coming off a two-touchdown performance last week versus the Arizona Cardinals. The return of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) proved what the offense needed, putting up their highest point total of the season. This week, he gets another great matchup against his division rival, the Buffalo Bills. While Buffalo's defense has been solid this year, they struggle to defend the run. They have allowed the second most fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2024. Additionally, opposing teams are averaging 4.5 yards per carry against them, and they rank 19th in red zone fantasy points allowed to running backs. Mostert should get a healthy dose of touches, considering the temperatures are projected to be in the thirties in Orchard Park on Sunday. Mostert should continue to see goal-line touches, making him a flex-play for Week 9. He comes in at RB31 for this week's RotoBaller running back rankings.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith checks in as a player you can play in a pinch once again in Week 9. The Seahawks will host the Los Angeles Rams who are No. 15 against opposing quarterbacks in fantasy. This matchup is about as middle-of-the-pack as they come. Smith currently leads the NFL in passing yards. Unfortunately, we got a good look at life without wide receiver DK Metcalf (knee) in Week 8 against the Buffalo Bills and it was not pretty. Smith was limited to 212 yards and an interception. The Seahawks actually moved the ball relatively well in the first half, but they fell apart in the second half. The Rams should have no problem scoring on the Seahawks defense so Seattle will likely need to put the ball in the air. The volume will be there for Smith, but the question is whether or not the Seahawks will be effective without Metcalf who is slated to miss his second straight game. For those reasons, Smith will be a QB2 with upside this week. However, he has a great chance to throw for over 300 yards and a couple of touchdowns if the offense has adjusted to life without Metcalf.

Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White (quad) was unable to suit up for Thursday's practice session. White was limited to open the week, but was unable to go on Thursday. Possibly, White was given a rest day on Thursday, but nonetheless it's concerning that he sat out. White missed two games due to a groin issue which allowed Alexander Mattison to see increased looks. Mattison played well during that time and appears to be the lead back going forward. White has only seen five carries over the last two games. He's worth holding in dynasty formats, but his outlook seems bleak right now. He appears to be stuck in a committee which is never good for fantasy value.

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (personal) has been sidelined with a non-football-related issue for over a month, but head coach Antonio Pierce said that the 23-year-old is "getting close" to making his return. Mayer played a depth role through three games at the start of the season, catching just four passes for 21 yards and zero touchdowns. He remains buried behind rookie Brock Bowers and should be avoided in all fantasy leagues, even if he returns as soon as he's eligible in Week 11.