Las Vegas Raiders DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers has "really, really, really stepped up his game" in Year 2 with the team, according to head coach Antonio Pierce. "Since the offseason, he's been lights-out," Pierce said. Things couldn't have gone much better for Meyers in his first season with the Raiders in 2023, especially considering the quarterback situation, as he finished with 71 receptions (106 targets) for 807 receiving yards and a career-high eight touchdowns in 16 starts. He also rushed for two scores. The 27-year-old pass-catcher is almost certainly going to face touchdown regression in 2024, especially since he'll be working with either O'Connell again or newcomer Gardner Minshew. Meyers' numbers in the other receiving categories could also take a step back after the addition of rookie pass-catching tight end Brock Bowers.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith is not expected to play in Saturday's preseason opener against the Los Angeles Chargers, according to head coach Mike Macdonald. Along with Smith, some other offensive starters won't play, either. Smith certainly won't be the only starting signal-caller around the league to sit out of the first preseason games this week. The 33-year-old also missed some practice time early in training camp due to hip and knee injuries, so the Seahawks aren't going to take any chances with the veteran early in the preseason. In new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb's system, Smith could look more like he did in his career-best season in 2022 than he did in 2023, especially with one of the best receiver trios in the game in DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Smith is a high-end QB2 with QB1 upside in favorable matchups.

The new Seattle Seahawks coaching staff really likes quarterback Geno Smith, and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb has tailored his offense around Smith's strengths. "For people that haven't seen Geno throw in person, I think he's special," Grubb said. "He's an elite quarterback." Grubb's belief that Smith can make every throw is why the offense is shaped around his skill set. Smith has justified the coaches' faith in him with a strong training camp, and Seattle will likely view Smith and the passing game as diverse enough to have counterpunches for everything. The 33-year-old took a step back in 2023 after a career year in 2022, but he could be due for a step forward again under Grubb, whose offense at Washington was among the best in college football over the last two years. Nobody is saying fantasy managers should feel comfortable with Smith as their QB1, but he makes for a very strong QB2.

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce has yet to decide on a starting quarterback for the preseason opener against the Vikings, but he indicated that both Gardner Minshew II and Aidan O'Connell will each play a quarter. Pierce noted that the order of the starters is not significant because the other quarterback will start the following week. Throughout the offseason, Pierce allowed O'Connell to take the initial reps while equally distributing opportunities with Minshew. Early in camp, neither quarterback has managed to distinguish themselves. Although Minshew appeared to gain an edge over the past week, Pierce has maintained that the situation remains "status quo," with no final decision made. "This preseason game will be very telling," Pierce said of the QB battle. "I want to see these guys manage the ball, lead the team, and handle situational football." The unofficial depth chart for the game also lacks clarity, listing the first-team QB as either O'Connell or Minshew. While neither quarterback is likely to be worth rostering in single-QB leagues, monitoring the situation to determine who will be throwing passes to receiver Davante Adams and rookie tight end Brock Bowers is essential.

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce won't announce a starter at quarterback for the team's preseason opener this Saturday against the Minnesota Vikings but said Gardner Minshew and Aidan O'Connell will each get an opportunity to set themselves apart in the QB competition. "Like I said, both quarterbacks are gonna play a legit quarter. Who goes out first and who goes out second really doesn't matter. [They will] get hopefully an equal amount of snaps and opportunity to showcase," Pierce said. The head coach has allowed O'Connell to get the initial reps throughout the offseason but has equaled out the opportunities with Minshew. Through the opening stages of training camp, neither signal-caller has distanced themselves, despite some speculation that Minshew has the slight edge. By all accounts, it sounds as though the Raiders offense has struggled under both Minshew and O'Connell so far.