The Las Vegas Raiders trading their alpha WR leaves room for other pass catchers to ascend.
The Las Vegas Raiders have traded WR Davante Adams to the New York Jets. Adams had been the target leader for the Raiders in the games that he played before injuring his hamstring during Week 4 practice. Subsequently, his absence opens the door for other pass catchers to ascend.
WR Jakobi Meyers will be the first beneficiary of targets in the Raiders offense. In Meyers’ first five games of 2023, two played without Adams, Meyers averaged just over 7 targets per game, highest among the Raiders WR corps. Primarily, and excellently, a slot receiver, Meyers will be moved over to supplant Adams’ role as the X, or, outside and in-line receiver…the WR1. Meyers’ best season came in 2023 opposite Adams. He accrued 1028 air yards on 106 targets and a career-high 8 TDs. His ascension should result in similar numbers, rest-of-season.
The other major beneficiary of the target vacuum will be TE Brock Bowers. Bowers, the current PPR TE2, received 12 and 10 targets in the Raiders last two games without Adams. He has outpaced all of the Raiders’ pass catchers thus far and will continue to do so. Having scored just one TD will positively regress and he will finish the season as the TE1, barring injury.
There are other pass catchers who’s roles will increase in the Raiders’ offensive attack. WR Tre Tucker didn’t see much action in Week 6, although he did have 20 targets in the three games prior. Tight ends Harrison Bryant and Michael Mayer, when he returns to the team, will benefit, as will Week 6 surprise Kristian Wilkerson.
Bowers, Meyers, and Tucker should be rostered in all formats, while Bryant, Mayer, Wilkerson, and the rest will remain deep league streaming options.
Brendon Booth | @bigbonededFFB
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (ankle) sat ...
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (ankle) is ...
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers has "really, ...
The Las Vegas Raiders have declared RB Zamir White and WR Jakobi Meyers OUT against the Steelers.
Jakobi Meyers and Zamir White join Davante Adams and Michael Mayer as offensive starters who are OUT for Week 6. Meyers took over for Adams when he went out with a hamstring pull. Meyers was injured against the Broncos in Week 5, an ankle injury. White has multiple injuries including a groin pull. Mayer is away from the team.
Brock Bowers will be new starting QB Aidan O’Connell’s target leader, while Tre Tucker becomes the primary WR. TE Harrison Bryant may also earn some targets. Bowers is the only startable fantasy asset and should be a mandatory start at TE or Flex as the season’s TE1.
Jakobi Meyers has not been cleared from concussion protocol and will not play in the Raiders’ contest against the Bills.
Las Vegas wide receiver Jakobi Meyers was the team’s off-season trophy buck. At the latter end of posting a career fantasy high point total in the Raiders’ season opener at Denver, Meyers took a shot to the helmet, was pulled from the game and into the concussion protocol, and subsequently ruled “Out” as the Raiders travel to Buffalo to take on the Bills.
Meyers gained notoriety in fantasy circles after playing 42 games before catching his first touchdown. The 5th year wideout caught his first in game 10 of his 3rd year. Having cut his teeth in Raiders 2nd-year Head Coach Josh McDaniels’ offense in New England, Meyers signed with Las Vegas and promptly became a focal point for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. Meyers made 9 catches for 81 yards and hauled in two touchdowns. It was the first time in his career Meyers recorded more than one TD catch.
Expect Davante Adams to maintain his role as alpha-receiver while Hunter Renfrow, Tre Tucker, and TE Michael Mayer may see more looks in Buffalo after the three were, virtually, non-existent in Denver. Adams is the Raiders’ only relevant fantasy play this week and should be started in all formats.
