Team news: Las Vegas Raiders

Jalen Nailor practiced on a limited basis Thursday, his first practice since suffering a concussion in Week 4 against Kansas City.

Related Players: Tre Tucker, Cody White, Dareke Young, Malik Benson, Brock Bowers, Michael Mayer, Kirk Cousins

Nailor is worth monitoring in deeper leagues, but managers should wait for confirmed concussion clearance before considering him for a FLEX spot. His return would create more competition for the secondary receivers’ routes. Tucker remains the strongest Raiders WR option, while Bowers remains an elite TE1.

Las Vegas has internally discussed giving Ashton Jeanty a week off at some point to recover from his ankle and foot injuries, Dan Graziano reports. Jeanty wants to continue playing. The team believes Mike Washington Jr. could handle the lead role if it decides to rest Jeanty.

Related Players: Mike Washington Jr., Dylan Laube, Brock Bowers, Tre Tucker, Kirk Cousins

Washington is a priority contingency pickup if he's still on waiver wires anywhere. If Jeanty misses a game and Washington handles the lead workload, he could jump into RB2 consideration. Laube would have deeper PPR FLEX appeal if his receiving work expands. Keep Jeanty in starting plans while monitoring his availability; the report describes a possible future rest game, not an announced absence against Buffalo.

Ashton Jeanty went from full participation Wednesday to limited participation Thursday.

Related Players: Mike Washington Jr., Dylan Laube

A Thursday downgrade warrants attention for a projected RB1. Washington becomes the primary contingency if Jeanty misses time.

For as talented as Brian Thomas is, Sunday's game proved once and for all that the Jaguars and Thomas are going in different directions, and a change must be made sooner than later.

Related players: Parker Washington, Jakobi Meyers, Josh Cameron

The story said Thomas only played 23 snaps and ran 13 routes against the Patriots in Week 3. This can not be merely excused away as the Jaguars getting up on the Patriots early, either, since Meyers and Washington each played 50 snaps and ran 27 and 28 routes, respectively, the story said. The story added that at the same time, Jaguars sixth-round rookie receiver Cameron played 23 snaps - the same as Thomas - and saw more targets despite running five fewer routes. The article sums this up nicely, it seems Thomas' time in Jacksonville is coming to an end, but the team should make a move sooner than later before he loses value. Thomas can't really be trusted in fantasy lineups right now. For those in deeper leagues, Cameron may be worth a pickup if you can afford to stash him. The story said Thomas is trending to become the team's fourth WR at this point.

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

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.

Brock Bowers getting ready for Wednesday’s practice. All signs pointing towards a 2026 Week 3 debut in NOLA.

Related Players: Tre Tucker, Jack Bech, Jalen Nailor, Michael Mayer, Ashton Jeanty, Kirk Cousins

Bowers immediately returns to the weekly TE1 tier if active, although the Raiders could manage his snaps after he missed the first two games. His return would reduce Mayer’s route and target outlook while also adding competition for Tucker, Bech and Nailor. Unless the Raiders indicate that Bowers will be heavily limited, fantasy managers should plan to start him Sunday.

From The Insiders on NFL Network: There is a good chance Raiders TE Brock Bowers returns this week.

Rapoport said the plan is for Bowers to return for Week 3. While Bowers is a TE, he's also the team's top receiver, so the Raiders are getting back a key weapon after starting the season 2-0. Fantasy owners will be getting back a key player, too, after likely spending an early pick on him in drafts. The Raiders are at the Saints in the later window of Sunday's games.

Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak told reporters Sunday that tight end Brock Bowers is "close, very close" to returning and added, "He looks great."

Bowers went through pre-game warmups before Sunday's game against the Chargers but the Raiders decided to hold him out one more game. It's looking like Bowers will be back for next week's trip to New Orleans. The Raiders are off to a 2-0 start even without Bowers. Michael Mayer caught three passes for 23 yards in Sunday's 26-14 win over the Chargers.

Raiders are listing TE Brock Bowers as doubtful for Sunday’s game vs. the Chargers due to his knee injury, per HC Klint Kubiak.

Related Players: Michael Mayer, Ian Thomas, Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, Jack Bech, Ashton Jeanty

Fantasy managers should prepare to be without Bowers despite his limited return. Mayer is a viable replacement at a thin position and should again handle the majority of Las Vegas’ tight end work. Tucker, Nailor and Jeanty also have paths to additional targets.

While the team still has hope, the Las Vegas Raiders’ practice week began Wednesday without starting tight end Brock Bowers and conerback Darien Porter working on the practice field.

Before practice began, Las Vegas coach Klint Kubiak said neither Bowers nor Porter will practice. However, he said he is hopeful they could practice this week before Sunday’s game at the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. Like he said Monday, Kubiak said both Bowers and Porter are “day-to-day.”

Related Players: Michael Mayer, Ian Thomas, Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, Jack Bech

Bowers still has two opportunities to return to practice, but fantasy managers should prepare an alternative. Mayer profiles as a viable TE1 streamer if Bowers misses another game after handling the starting role in Week 1. Bowers would carry additional workload uncertainty even if cleared.