Las Vegas

Raiders

Bowers was utilized all over the formation, just as he was throughout the preseason. The fact that he also led the team in targets while playing alongside established veterans Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers speaks volumes to his expected role in this offense moving forward, with the biggest uncertainty being his ultimate touchdown numbers while playing for an offense expected to be near the bottom of the league in scoring in 2024. Furthering those concerns was ineffective play from quarterback Gardner Minshew, who looked indecisive and lacked pocket presence in the loss. Even so, Bowers can be started with confidence in PPR and TE-premium leagues moving forward.

Adams was out-targeted by rookie tight end Brock Bowers and out-gained by Jakobi Meyers, both of which are troubling revelations considering we saw more instances of Adams running free over the middle of the field with his arms raised without being targeted, a similar nod to what we saw to end the 2023 season with backup level quarterback play. To that end, Minshew looked indecisive and developed “happy feet” multiple times against the Chargers, failing to fully progress through his reads. It’s too early to reignite the Las Vegas quarterback competition from preseason, but it is definitely enough to keep an eye on moving forward in Las Vegas.

Meyers was handily out-targeted by Davante Adams and Brock Bowers but still managed to return the highest yardage output of the top trio of pass-catchers in Las Vegas. Even so, the three targets on 33 Gardner Minshew pass attempts is troubling for his fantasy value moving forward. It might be difficult for Meyers to see consistent volume for as long as both Adams and Bowers remain healthy.

Mattison began rotating through with Zamir White prior to the latter’s lost fumble, hinting at the potential for a strict timeshare between the two moving forward. He also turned nine touches into 62 yards and a score compared to the 46 scoreless yards on 15 touches for White. It would take a lot for Mattison to maintain fantasy value moving forward, with the apparent timeshare more a knock on White’s value moving forward.

The bigger story here was the split backfield between White and Alexander Mattison, the latter of whom scored a touchdown on 10 opportunities. Furthermore, rookie running back Dylan Laube was inactive in Week 1, indicating the potential for a strict timeshare moving forward between the top two options in the backfield. That spells potential fantasy trouble for managers that invested a top-100 pick into the third-year running back, particularly considering the inability for White to separate himself from Mattison after the latter’s poor showing in 2023 as a member of the Vikings.

Minshew reportedly won the camp battle for the starting quarterback position due to head coach Antonio Pierce’s confidence in his ball security, something the two turnovers and four sacks taken could work to prompt the coach to revisit moving forward. The Raiders seemed to be in control of the game after taking a 7-6 lead into half time but managed just an additional field goal the rest of the way. Minshew largely spread the ball around as he danced away from pressure throughout the game, targeting first-round rookie tight end the most with eight targets. His pocket presence looked spotty at times as did his progressions, even though the offensive scheme appeared to be generating one-on-one matchups all over the field. There might be a continuation of the offseason starting quarterback discussion brewing in Las Vegas. A week 2 matchup against the Ravens is not exactly the get-right spot Minshew needs to maintain control of the starting quarterback position.

Laube did well in camp and preseason to make the opening day active roster but will have to wait for his professional debut. Expect Ameer Abdullah to serve as the passing down back with Zamir White the clear lead back and Alexander Mattison operating in a change of pace role.

Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce told reporters earlier this week that Bowers was “good to go” for Week 1. Bowers practiced in a limited capacity on Wednesday and Thursday. He was upgraded to a full session on Friday before being cleared from the injury report. Bowers was the rare “generational prospect” who deserved the moniker and could immediately step in as the Raiders’ de facto No. 2 receiver opposite Davante Adams. He ranks as a low-end TE1 heading into his first NFL game.

It’s just semantics, as coach Antonio Pierce has already said Bowers will be active for his NFL debut against the Chargers. It does suggest he’s at least at a slight risk of re-injury, however. Bowers is on the TE1/2 borderline as we wait to see how the Raiders’ targets tree shakes out.

Bowers’ return puts him on track to start in Week 1. It could take Bowers a few weeks to establish himself as one of the team’s top three pass catchers after rehabbing the injury over the last two weeks. His elite traits should be evident from the jump though.