Here is the much-awaited weekly update to our Las Vegas Raiders Fantasy Football Tracker. Today, let’s analyze what little fantasy football production the Silver and Black put up this week. Also, we will have some projections for this Sunday’s matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Is anyone besides Davante Adams and Daniel Carlson worth starting (or even rostering) in Week 3? For this article, fantasy points will be calculated using ESPN standard scoring, a half-point PPR format, to be exact. First up, the team’s starting quarterback!
Jimmy Garoppolo Still Not Worth Starting In Fantasy Football
Week 2 at Bills: 185 passing yards, 1 passing touchdown, 2 interceptions, 1 rushing yard (7.5 fantasy points)
Season point total: 22.6 (11.3 ppg)
Analysis
Oof. Garoppolo had a rough outing vs. Buffalo. He made several questionable throws, costing him (and the Raiders) dearly. Unfortunately, he did not have much of an opportunity to make up for his mistakes. The Vegas defense could not get off the field, especially in the second half, leaving Garoppolo and the offense on the bench. It was a fantasy owner’s worst nightmare. That performance makes you question Garoppolo’s viability as a QB2.
Projection
Week 3 vs. Steelers (projected): 215 passing yards, 1 passing touchdown, 1 interception, 8 rushing yards (11.4 fantasy points)
Going up against another tough defense in the Pittsburgh Steelers, Garoppolo remains off the fantasy football radar in Week 3. While this projection may be a tad pessimistic, his ceiling for this week isn’t much higher. Say he plays his best game yet and throws for 250 yards, two touchdowns, no picks, and 15 rushing yards; that is only 17.5 points. The Raiders quarterback has no business being on a roster right now.
Can Josh Jacobs Get The Raiders Run Game Going?
Week 2 at Bills: 9 carries, -2 rushing yards, 6 targets, 5 catches, 51 receiving yards (7.4 points)
Season point total: 15.5 (7.75 ppg)
Analysis
Wow. Those rushing numbers look fake. It is hard to tell what the issue is at this point. It could be Josh Jacobs, the run blocking, the scheme, or a combination of the three. Whatever it is, Jacobs’ fantasy owners should be very concerned by this performance.
Projection
Week 3 vs. Steelers (projected): 12 carries, 44 rushing yards, 5 targets, 4 catches, 48 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown (17.2 points)
We have to keep assuming that things will get better for Jacobs, right? Right?! Honestly, just getting close to four yards per carry would be a step in the right direction. We could see the 2022 All-Pro get his first score of the year this week. However, it will be through the air since he is essentially a slot receiver now (God forbid they let Hunter Renfrow do that). You have to keep starting Jacobs, but prepare for the worst.
Davante Adams Returns To The Gridiron
Week 2 at Bills: 8 targets, 6 catches, 84 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown (17.4 points)
Season point total: 27 (13.5 ppg)
Analysis
Adams got a little closer to his old self in Week 2. It helps that without Jakobi Meyers, he is essentially the only wide receiver that Garoppolo can see. As Meyers did in the opener, Adams left this game with a head injury after another Garoppolo hospital ball. Luckily, he seems to be okay.
Projection
Week 3 vs. Steelers (projected): 9 targets, 7 catches, 89 receiving yards (12.4 points)
Davante Adams is a tricky one to project this week. His volume likely hinges upon the injury status of Meyers, which is still uncertain. Either way, his absolute floor should be double digits against Pittsburgh. Their secondary presents a favorable matchup relative to what Adams has faced thus far. The problem for the Star wideout in 2023 is that he is not a near-lock to score most weeks like last season. Until the Raiders offense proves it can break 20 points, Adams has no shot at maintaining his elite status among fantasy football wide receivers.
Jakobi Meyers Hopes To Continue Momentum After Missing Week 2
Week 2 at Bills: Did not play (concussion)
Season point total: 24.6 (24.6 ppg)
Analysis
With Meyers out, we got to see who is next in line for targets. The answer appears to be nobody. Wide receivers not named Davante Adams combined for three targets against Buffalo. None of them had more than one. It is safe to say that Meyers’ role in the offense will still be waiting for him when he returns.
Projection
Week 3 vs. Steelers (projected): 5 targets, 4 catches, 42 receiving yards (6.2 points)
As mentioned earlier, Meyers’ status for Week 3 makes projections complicated. Even if he does play, it is probably better to assume he will not be 100 percent. It also doesn’t help that there is a lack of offensive production in general. Keep Meyers on the bench this week.
Hunter Renfrow: The Forgotten Man In Vegas
Week 2 at Bills: 1 target, 1 catch, 23 receiving yards (2.8 points)
Season point total: 2.8 (1.4 ppg)
Analysis
Hunter Renfrow improved from Week 1 to Week 2, statistically speaking. Yet, this week may have done even more damage to his fantasy football stock than the opener did. In the opening contest, it was easier to understand the team wanting to get Meyers going. Last weekend, there was absolutely no reason why Renfrow should not have been the second-most targeted Raiders player. Instead, he finished tied for fifth behind Adams, two running backs, and a tight end. That is a disaster.
Projection
Week 3 vs. Steelers (projected): 2 targets, 1 catch, 11 receiving yards (1.6 points)
Renfrow’s target share is so minuscule that the Meyers’ injury doesn’t even matter. Here is how the game will go for him: He will make a nice first-down grab early on. Later, Garoppolo will go back to him, hanging him out to dry over the middle. Renfrow will get separated from both the ball and consciousness, making him the third consecutive Raiders wideout to leave a game with a head injury.
Okay, maybe that is an exaggeration and certainly something we hope never happens. But it is worth pointing out how often Garoppolo leaves his receivers hung out to dry. Either way, don’t expect much from Renfrow. He is no longer relevant in fantasy football until proven otherwise.
Austin Hooper Is The Top TE For Raiders, But That’s Not Saying Much
Week 2 at Bills: 2 targets, 2 catches, 20 receiving yards (3 points)
Season point total: 5.5 (2.75 ppg)
Analysis
Austin Hooper is slowly establishing himself as the Raiders’ top tight end. This is mostly by default. It is clear that the team is going to keep trying to get Michael Mayer going. Nonetheless, each week the rookie fails to live up to expectations is another chance for Hooper to carve out a role for himself.
Projection
Week 3 vs. Steelers (projected): 3 targets, 3 catches, 33 receiving yards (4.8 points)
Hooper’s usage should continue to go up this week. Take that with a grain of salt, though. It is pretty easy to improve upon two catches. Regardless, Hooper is worth keeping an eye on down the road.
Michael Mayer Is Not Quite Ready For Fantasy Football Production
Week 2 at Bills: 1 target, 1 catch, 2 receiving yards (0.7 points)
Season point total: 0.7 (0.35 ppg)
Analysis
Michael Mayer had a catch! Hooray! It is time to temper expectations for the rookie. He is not nearly as far along as anyone thought he would be. A big part of it is the blocking. The Notre Dame alum is just not serviceable enough in that phase to be out there regularly. Also, he is not savvy enough in space to be used as a de facto wide receiver like Darren Waller was. Mayer is just not ready yet.
Projection
Week 3 vs. Steelers (projected): 2 targets, 1 catch, 6 receiving yards (1.1 points)
The Raiders could try to keep Mayer’s positive momentum going by giving him a couple of designed looks to make sure he at least gets another catch this week. It’s not enough to matter in fantasy terms, though. At this point, the best-case scenario for Mayer this year is that he becomes a red-zone threat. For now, he has no fantasy relevance.
Daniel Carlson Just Needs A Chance
Week 2 at Bills: 1/1 FG, 1 40-49 yards, 1/1 XP (5 points)
Season point total: 10 (5 ppg)
Analysis
Daniel Carlson cannot catch a break. The Raiders have struggled so much offensively that he isn’t getting hardly any opportunities. He isn’t even getting those long field goal attempts because Vegas has issues crossing the 50-yard line. Stay strong, don’t dump Carlson yet. This can’t last forever. Plus, it helps that he does not miss when he is actually called upon.
Projection
Week 3 vs. Steelers (projected): 3/3 FG, 1 <39 yards, 2 40-49 yards, 1/1 XP (12 points)
Sunday night is a great chance for Carlson to get going. The Raiders are at home against a Steelers team that is not great overall but is solid defensively. That is a recipe for a lot of field goal opportunities. Expect Carlson to finally get into double-digits and regain his status among the best of the best in fantasy football.
Avoid The Raiders Defense/Special Teams In Fantasy Football
Week 2 at Bills: 2 sacks, 38 points allowed, 450 yards allowed, (-6 fantasy points)
Season point total: -1 (-0.5 ppg)
Analysis
Any goodwill this unit built up in the opener has been completely shattered. The showing vs. the Bills was just abysmal. The Raiders defense was bullied all game long, especially on the ground. The unit actually made 2023 Latavius Murray look like he did in 2016 with the Silver and Black. That was seven years ago, which is about 50 in running back years.
Projection
Week 3 vs. Steelers (projected): 3 sacks, 1 INT, 17 points allowed, 300 yards allowed (6 fantasy points)
There will be a temptation to stream the Raiders defense this week against a putrid Steelers offense. Don’t do that to yourself. Even this optimistic projection only nets six points. The ceiling is not much higher than that at about eight points. The floor, on the other hand, is closer to zero. There are so many better options available.
*Top Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images