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Raiders QB Aidan O’Connell is expected to return "in a week or two," per beat writer Vic Tafur. The 26-year-old remains on IR with a broken thumb. Given Gardner Minshew’s struggles, it’s quite possible the team goes back to O’Connell when healthy. He’s worth stashing in deep superflex formats.
The Raiders are expected to start QB Desmond Ridder vs. the Dolphins this weekend, according to The Athletic's Vic Tafur. The news is buried in an article about the general state of the Raiders -- and we haven't seen it reported anywhere else. But we'll go with it for now.
The Raiders fired OC Luke Getsy, offensive line coach James Cregg, and QBs coach Rich Scangarello, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Vegas ranks 29th in yards per game, 29th in yards per play, and 26th in points per game through Week 9. Getsy has never brought much to the table as a play caller, but personnel is a bigger issue for the Raiders.
Raiders QB Aidan O'Connell is expected to miss 4-6 weeks with his broken thumb, according to NFL Network. He'll be placed on IR but should be able to return this season. Vegas will now turn back to QB Gardner Minshew, who's completed 65.5% of his passes at 6.7 yards per attempt with four TDs and eight INTs this season. Consider it a lateral move for the Raiders offense.
Raiders QB Aidan O'Connell is believed to have suffered a broken right thumb in the first half of Sunday's game vs. the Rams, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Considering that's his throwing hand, the injury figures to cost O'Connell multiple weeks. Vegas will turn back to QB Gardner Minshew, who was benched for O'Connell after Week 5.
Raiders QB Aidan O'Connell injured his right thumb in the first quarter of Sunday's game vs. the Rams and is questionable to return. He's been replaced by QB Gardner Minshew. We'll update O'Connell's status when we know more.
Raiders HC Antonio Pierce named QB Aidan O'Connell the starter for this weekend's game vs. the Steelers. O'Connell has already seen action in place of QB Gardner Minshew twice this season, completing 19 of 32 passes (59%) for 176 yards (5.5 YPA), one TD, and one INT. He made 10 starts as a rookie last year, finishing with a 62% completion rate and 6.5 yards per attempt. O'Connell did have his three best games of the season over the final four weeks, ranking 14th among 39 qualifying QBs in Pro Football Focus passing grade during that stretch.
Raiders QB Gardner Minshew was benched near the end of the third quarter of Sunday's game vs. the Broncos. It's the second time he's been yanked this season. Minshew completed 12 of 17 passes for 137 yards, one TD, and two INTs, leading Vegas to just 10 points. We'll see how QB Aidan O'Connell fares the rest of the way and what the Raiders do at QB moving forward. It'll continue to be a situation to avoid in fantasy lineups.
Raiders WR Davante Adams (hamstring) is out for this weekend's game vs. the Browns. He injured his hamstring in Thursday's practice, so it's possible that he misses more time beyond Week 4. We'll look for further updates on his status. Adams has accounted for 24% of Raiders targets this season, so he leaves behind a ton of opportunity. TE Brock Bowers, WR Jakobi Meyers, and WR Tre Tucker are candidates to pick up extra work.
The Raiders are sticking with QB Gardner Minshew as their starter, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Minshew was benched in the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss to the Panthers after producing just 15 points against a defense that had struggled mightily over the first two weeks. We'll see if Minshew can survive a much tougher Week 4 matchup against the Browns. He's not even a recommended QB2 starter for that one -- and we still expect to see QB Aidan O'Connell at some point this season.
Raiders HC Antonio Pierce didn't rule out a QB change at his Monday press conference, according to The Athletic's Vic Tafur. QB Gardner Minshew was yanked from Sunday's loss to the Panthers after throwing a bad INT in the fourth quarter. He finished 18 of 28 (64%) for 214 yards (7.6 YPA) with one TD and one INT. QB Aidan O'Connell played the final drive of the game, completing nine of 12 passes (75%) for 82 yards (6.8 YPA) and a score -- against Carolina's prevent defense.
Raiders WR Davante Adams had a final stat line of nine receptions on 12 targets for 110 yards and a TD. In a game where the Raiders were trailing for most of the game, QB Gardner Minshew threw the ball 38 times. Adams led the Raiders in targets.
Raiders HC Antonio Pierce announced Sunday that QB Gardner Minshew will start Week 1, leaving Aidan O'Connell to back him up. Pierce said the decision was based on many factors and not based on their performances in the second preseason game. O'Connell threw a pick-6 late in that game. The coach said they believe Minshew gives the team the best chance to start fast.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler believes Aidan O'Connell "probably has the slight edge right now" in the Raiders' QB competition against Gardner Minshew. Fowler calls it "a real battle."
The Raiders are signing QB Gardner Minshew to a 2-year, $25 million deal with $15 million guaranteed, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. That contract doesn't guarantee that Minshew will be the team's 2024 starter, but it at least makes him the favorite. With QB Jimmy Garoppolo set to be released, QB Aidan O'Connell currently stands as Minshew's competition. We'll see if the Raiders add anything else significant this offseason. They currently hold the 13th overall pick of April's draft. Minshew is good enough to keep an NFL offense on track but will not be an exciting fantasy option in Vegas. He averaged 229 passing yards and 1.1 TDs in 13 full games for the Colts last season. The Minshew addition does bring some stability to the fantasy outlooks of Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, and Michael Mayer.
Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr. returned from missing Week 16 with a shoulder injury to regain control of the team's receiving in Sunday's win over the Raiders. Pittman posted an unimpressive 5-46 receiving line on 7 targets. But he drew a target on 30.4% of the team's pass attempts and claimed 33.3% of Colts completions. WR Alec Pierce took his lone catch for a 58-yard TD to lead the team in receiving yards. Rookie WR Josh Downs followed with 53 yards on just 2 receptions. QB Gardner Minshew attempted just 23 passes, completing 15 for 224 yards on a day that found Indy running on more than half of its offensive plays. Pittman looks like the only startable Colts pass-catcher for most fantasy formats in Week 18. Indy faces Houston, which allowed Pittman 8 receptions back in Week 2. Pittman also caught 8+ passes in six straight full outings before the Week 15 game he left early.
Colts QB Gardner Minshew racked up 312 yards and two TDs with zero INTs in the Week 13 overtime win over the Titans. Minshew connected with WR Alec Pierce from 36 yards out for his first score. Then, in overtime, he hit Pierce for a 55-yard bomb and WR Michael Pittman for the game-winning 4-yard TD. It was a strong showing from Minshew against the pass-funnel Titans defense that entered this week ranked 20th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs. Week 14 brings another plus matchup against the Bengals. Minshew will be a nice QB2 and a low-end QB1 spot starter in that one.
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