RADIO
Dont'e Thornton Jr. a Healthy Scratch on Sunday
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. is a healthy scratch on Sunday for the team's Week 8 road matchup against the New York Jets. Receiver Malik Benson is also a healthy scratch with Jack Bech returning from Injured Reserve this weekend. Thornton was activated from IR himself earlier this week, but he will not make his return against the Jets and finds himself as the odd man out in the Raiders' receiving corps behind Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, Bech, Cody White, and Dareke Young. Unless the Raiders suffer another injury to their receiving corps, the 23-year-old Thornton could be a healthy scratch again in Week 9 against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Nov. 8. The former fourth-rounder in the 2025 NFL Draft from Tennessee has yet to play a game in 2026 for Vegas after catching just 10 of his 30 targets for 135 yards and no touchdowns in 15 games (eight starts) in his first year in the NFL in a bad Raiders offense. Thornton only deserves to be stashed right now in deep dynasty/keeper leagues.
Source: Las Vegas Raiders
Source: Las Vegas Raiders
Raiders Plan to Start Kirk Cousins as Long as Possible
The Las Vegas Raiders will continue to play quarterback Kirk Cousins "as long as possible," according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. While there has been some chatter about the transition plan to No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza in recent weeks, it doesn't sound like the Raiders are ready to make a quarterback move. Vegas opened the season 3-0 but now finds itself in the midst of a four-game losing streak. However, Schefter reports that the Raiders don't believe Cousins is responsible for their latest woes. The 38-year-old has impressed to the tune of 1,877 passing yards, 16 touchdowns, and just five interceptions this season, although some of those positive statistics did come during garbage time. Still, the veteran quarterback has the team in a decent spot ahead of the midway point of the 2026 season, and we should expect to see him leading the offense for the foreseeable future while Mendoza continues to develop and watch from the sideline.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Maxx Crosby Not Seeking Trade, Raiders Plan to Keep Him
Las Vegas Raiders star pass rusher Maxx Crosby "doesn't want to go anywhere," according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Additionally, Schefter reports that the Raiders "currently have no plans of trading him." Last year around this time, there was speculation that Crosby could be dealt, and he even requested a trade following the 2025 season. That led to the framework of a deal with the Ravens that ultimately fell through due to a failed physical. However, all is now quiet on the trade front, as the Raiders want to keep Crosby beyond the 2026 trade deadline, and the talented defender is satisfied staying in Las Vegas. The 29-year-old has continued to disrupt the offensive backfield this season, racking up 18 tackles, two sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. His presence will be key down the stretch for the 3-4 Raiders, who are technically still in the mix for a playoff spot despite losing four games in a row.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Raiders Activate Jack Bech From Injured Reserve
The Las Vegas Raiders have activated wide receiver Jack Bech (forearm) from injured reserve. Bech is technically still listed as questionable for Week 8 against the New York Jets, but his return from injured reserve indicates that he will be active for Sunday's contest. Bech was off to a mediocre start to the season before getting injured. In two games (plus part of Week 3), he caught five passes for 48 yards and one touchdown. Now, he'll return to a passing attack that has been heavily anchored by Brock Bowers and Tre Tucker. In the receiver room, Bech may have a chance to occupy the No. 2 role behind Tucker, but he'll first have to beat out Jalen Nailor, who handled a season-high 75% snap share last week. For now, he's the No. 3 receiver behind Tucker and Nailor, leaving him off the fantasy radar in redraft leagues with 14 or fewer teams.
Source: Las Vegas Raiders
Source: Las Vegas Raiders
Maxx Crosby Trade Rumors Could Resurface Ahead of Deadline
While star pass rusher Maxx Crosby wants to be a Las Vegas Raider, general manager John Spytek is expected to field calls about him ahead of the trade deadline. During the offseason, Crosby demanded a trade from the Raiders and was sent to the Baltimore Ravens, but he failed his physical, which led to his return to Las Vegas. Now, Crosby wants to remain in Las Vegas and has no desire to leave. In seven games this season, Crosby has recorded only two sacks, three tackles for loss, and 18 tackles, putting him on pace for his worst career season. With the Raiders 3-4 and on a four-game losing streak, the team could try to gain value for the aging pass rusher, but that appears unlikely at this time.
Source: Tom Pelissero - NFL Network
Source: Tom Pelissero - NFL Network
Ashton Jeanty Continues Struggling on the Ground
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty is hopeful to find more room to run versus the New York Jets in Week 8. Jeanty has been held to under 30 rushing yards in each of the last three games. He'll draw a favorable matchup against the Jets defense that ranks 24th in the league in rush defense this season. They've allowed 127.7 yards per game on the ground heading into Sunday's game. This is the same defensive unit that allowed Ollie Gordon II to rush for over 100 yards this past weekend. The expectation is that Jeanty should be able to break through and do more damage than weeks prior. The 22-year-old ranks as Rotoballer's RB14 and should be a viable RB2 for this upcoming weekend.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Dont'e Thornton Jr. Could Be a Deep-League Target in Week 8
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. (hamstring) could make his season debut in Week 8, but it's still unclear what his workload will be like in a tough road matchup against the New York Jets. The 23-year-old was activated off IR earlier in the week after a hamstring injury during training camp sidelined him for the first seven games of the season. In 15 games played last year, Thornton Jr. caught 10 passes on 30 targets for 135 yards and no touchdowns, although that was with Geno Smith playing under center. Having a more successful quarterback in Kirk Cousins could make Thornton Jr. more productive, although the air game largely runs through fellow receiver Tre Tucker and star tight end Brock Bowers. The Raiders receiving corps also has a tough matchup this week against the Jets, who have limited opponents to 187.7 passing yards this season. Thornton Jr. has the potential to be WR2 behind Tucker and be a stash candidate in deep league formats, but fantasy managers should keep an eye on whether he plays first.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Jack Bech a Mystery Ahead of Potential Week 8 Return
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jack Bech (forearm) could return in Week 8, but what does that mean for his fantasy value? The 23-year-old TCU product has missed the last four games due to injury, and his status for Sunday's road game against the New York Jets is still unclear. Bech caught a touchdown in Week 1 and has caught all but one of his targets this season, but he still has just five receptions for 48 yards through three games in 2026. Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins has had success with multiple targets this season, but Brock Bowers and Tre Tucker still garner most of the target share. That is unlikely to change when Bech returns, especially against a Jets defense that is allowing 187.7 passing yards per game this season. He would also be competing with fellow wideout Dont'e Thornton Jr., who was activated off IR earlier in the week. If Bech returns for Week 8, he would be a deep-league option at best.
Source: Raiders.com
Source: Raiders.com
Tre Tucker a WR3 in Week 8 vs. Jets
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker is slowly garnering more fantasy value as the season progresses, which makes for an interesting scenario in Week 8 against the New York Jets. The 25-year-old wideout saw a season-high 12 targets in Week 7, and led the receiving corps with five catches for 103 yards and a touchdown. That brings Tucker to 29 receptions for 474 yards and four touchdowns through seven contests. Tucker's biggest competition for targets remains tight end Brock Bowers, and his workload shouldn't be upended if Jack Bech (forearm) returns from IR or if Dont'e Thornton Jr. makes his season debut. However, the Jets have not allowed over 100 yards to any one receiver this season, limiting Packers receiver Christian Watson to 41 yards and Lions star Amon-Ra St. Brown to just 19 yards. That could make it hard for Tucker to maintain his production, even with a heavy workload. He is a WR3 in this tough road matchup.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Michael Mayer Maintains Dynasty League Appeal in Week 8
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer still has fantasy value to offer as his team prepares for a tough road matchup against the New York Jets. Mayer is coming off a quiet Week 7, recording three catches for 32 yards. Klint Kubiak continues to use both Mayer and Brock Bowers in games, and it isn't readily clear how much the target share will change if Jack Bech (forearm) returns from IR or if Dont'e Thornton Jr. makes his season debut. All that being said, Mayer is very consistent, catching 31 of 37 targets for 298 yards and one touchdown through seven games. Plus, the Raiders will face a Jets defense that has allowed 328 yards to tight ends this season, and 200-plus passing yards overall in each of their last two games. Mayer doesn't produce enough to be a weekly starter in redraft leagues, but does enough things right to be a stash candidate in dynasty formats.
Source: CBS Sports
Source: CBS Sports
Brock Bowers a Solid TE2 in Tough Week 8 Matchup
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers has once again rebounded from being limited in practice mid-week, and now faces a tough road matchup against the New York Jets. A calf issue limited the 23-year-old at practice on Wednesday, but he has since been a full participant leading up to Sunday's intriguing East Coast matchup. Bowers caught six of eight targets for 73 yards in Week 7, which is solid for the average tight end but tepid by Bowers' standards. He was targeted fewer times than wide receiver Tre Tucker for the first time this season in that game. Still, Kirk Cousins likes to air the ball out to Bowers, and it's unlikely his target share will decrease even if Jack Bech (forearm) returns from IR or if Dont'e Thornton Jr. makes his season debut. He will be going up against a Jets defense that is ranked fifth overall against the pass this season but has allowed 200-plus yards in the air two weeks in a row. Bowers is a solid TE2 in Week 8.
Source: FOX Sports
Source: FOX Sports
Mike Washington Jr. Has More to Offer vs. Jets
Las Vegas Raiders running back Mike Washington Jr. should continue his steady workload in Week 8 against the New York Jets. The 23-year-old rookie was questionable to play in Week 7 due to foot and back injuries, then managed six carries for just 27 yards. But Week 8 could be a different story against a Jets defense that is allowing 127.7 rushing yards per game and six rushing touchdowns through Week 7. Washington has slowly taken on a heavier workload as de facto RB1 Ashton Jeanty struggles with efficiency in the ground game. That trend should continue as long as the Arkansas product stays healthy. He is a waiver-wire target and a solid streaming option against New York.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Ashton Jeanty an RB2 in Week 8 vs. Jets
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty should have a productive day at the office as his team takes on the New York Jets on the road. Jeanty continues to struggle with efficiency on the ground, averaging just 3.1 yards per carry. However, his receiving work has kept him in the fantasy conversation, like when he caught all eight of his targets for 61 yards and a touchdown in Week 7 against the Rams. The Jets defense ranks 24th against the rush (127.7 yards allowed per game) and allowed 103 yards to Ollie Gordon II in a Week 7 loss to the Dolphins. Jeanty should maintain a heavy workload against New York, even with Mike Washington Jr. healthy this week. The former Boise State product is an RB2 option for Week 8.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Kirk Cousins a QB2 in Week 8 Matchup vs. Jets
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins remains a strong weekly fantasy play as his team prepares to face the host New York Jets. The 38-year-old completed just 59% of his passes for 295 yards and two touchdowns in a Week 7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Vegas' fourth straight defeat. Still, head coach Klint Kubiak maintains that Cousins is the Raiders' de facto starter, as the veteran leads the league with 16 touchdown passes. Plus, Cousins' 1,877 passing yards through seven games rank third behind only Rams QB Matthew Stafford and Packers starter Jordan Love. The Week 8 matchup will be interesting: the Jets' defense has allowed just 187.7 average passing yards per game, but it also allowed Drake Maye and Malik Willis to pass for over 200 yards over the last two games. Cousins is a solid QB2 for Week 8.
Source: FOX Sports
Source: FOX Sports
Jack Bech's Week 8 Activation Still Undecided
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jack Bech (forearm) has not yet been cleared to return to the active roster, with head coach Klint Kubiak still weighing his availability for Sunday's Week 8 matchup against the New York Jets, according to Levi Edwards of Raiders.com. Bech was designated to return from injured reserve Monday after missing four consecutive games with a broken forearm suffered against New Orleans in Week 3. The second-year receiver practiced in full Wednesday and Thursday, but his activation remains undecided. Bech caught five of six targets for 48 yards and a touchdown across three appearances before the injury. Las Vegas also activated Dont'e Thornton Jr. earlier this week, adding another option to a receiving corps featuring Tre Tucker and Jalen Nailor. Even if Bech returns Sunday, his limited production and competition for snaps make him difficult to trust in fantasy lineups. He remains a speculative option in deeper leagues.
Source: Levi Edwards
Source: Levi Edwards
