The Raiders couldn't have asked for a better start to the season, but things can change in an instant in the NFL.
Here's a look at the Raiders' next eight games:
Week 4: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Week 5: at New England Patriots
Week 6: vs. Buffalo Bills
Week 7: vs. Los Angeles Rams
Week 8: at New York Jets
Week 9: at San Francisco 49ers
Week 10: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Week 11: at Denver Broncos
Las Vegas' matchups against the Patriots (Week 5) and Jets (Week 8) are its most winnable games over this stretch, but both are on the road. Even if you give the Raiders wins in those spots, they likely won't be favored in any of those remaining matchups, potentially setting up a 2-6 skid. That'd bring them to 5-6 before traveling to Cleveland to face the Browns in Week 12, before a bye.
If they are entering that bye week at .500 on the year (or worse), there will be chatter to bring in Fernando Mendoza if they haven't already.
Related players: Kirk Cousins
Fantasy Impact:
The Raiders are 3-0 this season and Cousins has played very well in those three games. However, as the story points out, the schedule is about to get tougher. The story said the earliest a change could make sense would be that Week 8 matchup at the New York Jets. If the bottom falls out from under the Raiders and they drop their next four games and fall under .500, the tone of the season changes and Kubiak could look to the top pick against the Jets to turn the tide, the story pointed out. We're obviously a long way from there so it probably doesn't make a lot of sense to have Mendoza taking up a roster spot in typical leagues. But in deep leagues where you play multiple QBs, you may want to think about adding Mendoza if he's on your wire. Or even in deep, one-QB leagues where you may need a backup.
Raiders news
