Aidan O'Connell Replaces Gardner Minshew in Las Vegas | Fantasy Impact for Brock Bowers, Jakobi Meyers, Tre Tucker and More
Discussing the QB change in Las Vegas and what it means for the team's offensive fantasy options.
There’s been several starting quarterback changes this week. Drake Maye was named the Patriots new starter, and the same thing is happening in Las Vegas as Aidan O'Connell replaces Gardner Minshew.
Let’s take a look at both quarterbacks and then what the QB switch might mean for the rest of the team’s offensive playmakers.
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Quarterback Stats
Minshew started the first five games of the season, with the team going 2-3 in those games.
Minshew completed 70.7% of his passes, but for only 1,014 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions. He’s been sacked 15 times and has added 38 rushing yards on 11 attempts.
O’Connell has appeared in two games, completing 19 of his 34 passes for 176 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He’s been sacked twice and not attempted a run.
O’Connell made 10 starts across 11 games played in 2023. He helped the team to a 5-5 record in those games. O’Connell completed 62.1% of his passes for 2,218 yards, 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions, while adding 11 rushing yards and a score on 17 attempts.
Quarterback Fantasy Outlook
Minshew and O’Connell are both right on the line of starting/being a top backup, but I think neither are long-term starters for NFL teams.
They are capable of big games, but they are hard to predict. That makes both QBs to avoid in standard leagues, while just being backups in deeper leagues and even two-QB setups.
There’s some favorable matchups ahead for whichever QB starts for the Raiders. The week 6 matchup against the Steelers is rough, and I would not recommend starting O’Connell if you don’t have to.
If O’Connell were to even look somewhat average this week, there’s some more favorable games coming up, and that might mean O’Connell is a possible streaming option, especially when there’s a lot of teams on bye weeks.
Minshew has been average or worse as a fantasy performer this season, and I’d expect O’Connell to perform similarly.
Other Las Vegas Fantasy Options
With Davante Adams busy trying to get off the roster, a few guys have stepped up from week to week, but none are really big-time fantasy assets.
The team’s best fantasy player right now is probably rookie tight end Brock Bowers. He’s coming off a good showing and leads the team with 313 receiving yards.
Bowers is the only Raider I actually would trust with a fantasy starting spot in standard leagues this week. His matchup is actually average against the Steelers, and I’d do what I could to get him in my lineup.
Jakobi Meyers leads the team’s pass catchers with 295 snaps played. He has 273 yards on the season, and 19 targets since Adams has sat out.
He’s a borderline starting option in standard leagues, but I’d still play matchups with him. The matchup with the Steelers is slightly tougher than average for Meyers, so I’d prefer to sit him. He’s a good starting option in deeper leagues.
Tre Tucker is second in pass catcher snaps, and has 190 yards this season. He’s at 11 targets over the past couple games without Adams around. He’s a deep league option, but one I’d probably try to avoid given the tougher matchup.
DJ Turner had four targets a week ago, but has just two grabs and 21 yards on the season. He’s a deep, deep league option, and one to avoid until he starts producing some more.
Meyers and Turner are both on the team’s injury report, so keep a close eye on their status as this week’s game approaches. I wouldn’t move my opinion on Tucker too much if Meyers or Turner missed week 6.
Tight end Michael Mayer could eventually factor in, but has been out while dealing with a personal matter. Much like how I like Bowers regardless of which QB is around, Mayer could also be a decent fantasy option when he’s back on the field.
The team’s backfield is also a mess with Zamir White injured and Alexander Mattison and Ameer Abdullah splitting the work in week 5.
It’s a brutal matchup against the Steelers for whatever Vegas running back is out there, so I’d do my best to avoid all three guys outside really deep leagues.
Final Thoughts
To kind of summarize things, the QB change for the Raiders does not really affect much from a fantasy perspective.
Bowers and Meyers are the only possible standard league starting options, while Tucker is a deep league option. The rest of the possible fantasy difference makers are players who should get a lot of playing time, but are pretty unlikely to be even average options. The tough matchup against the Steelers doesn’t help matters.
This is more of an offensive situation to follow as the weeks pass by. Maybe a player or two will step up in time, but for now it’s more of a wait-and-see situation.
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