RADIO
Jalen Nailor "Will Thrive" in Klint Kubiak's System
After four years in a depth role with the Minnesota Vikings, wide receiver Jalen Nailor signed a three-year, $35 million deal with the Las Vegas Raiders, and former All-Pro Steve Smith Sr. believes a 1,000-yard season is well within his realm of possibilities. In speaking with NFL Insider James Palmer, Smith indicated that Nailor would not leave the field in Klint Kubiak's offense and will be the team's clear-cut number one receiver. With All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers in and out of the lineup, Tre Tucker led the Raiders with 696 receiving yards in 2025, but Smith points to his limited vertical route tree as an area where Nailor can step in and add significant improvement. Both Smith and Palmer were in agreement that the free agent addition can thrive in Kubiak's system, and with Nailor being drafted as the WR61, he is the exact type of upside swing that drafters should be targeting in the closing rounds of 2026 drafts.
Source: James Palmer
Source: James Palmer
Can Jack Bech Remain Involved Despite Raiders' Wide Receiver Additions?
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jack Bech seems like a natural fit for a Year 2 breakout, but the team's offseason moves could serve as an obstacle in his development. There are no flashy names in Vegas' receiver room, but the Raiders deliberately signed both Jalen Nailor and Noah Brown. Both receivers are veterans in the NFL, and they have the ability to serve as dependable (albeit not very flashy) targets for Kirk Cousins and, eventually, Fernando Mendoza. Although Bech might have more long-term upside than Nailor and Brown, he's not exactly a proven veteran target who can form a rapport with Cousins and Mendoza right away, so it would be tough to justify drafting him in redraft leagues. In addition to Nailor and Brown, he faces competition for targets from Tre Tucker and Dont'e Thornton. At this point, Bech is avoidable in most redraft leagues, but we would continue to stash him on the back end of dynasty rosters, as he still represents a key part of the Raiders' offense long-term.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Raiders Sign Noah Brown to a One-Year Deal
The Las Vegas Raiders have signed wide receiver Noah Brown to a one-year deal. Brown spent last season with the Commanders, but injuries limited him to just four games. During that span, he caught five of 10 targets for 83 yards and zero touchdowns. The veteran receiver reached his fantasy peak as the WR61 back in 2022, and his productivity has declined ever since. It's unlikely he'll return to his 2022 form in Vegas, so fantasy managers should avoid him in drafts. With that being said, he could immediately compete for a role in a relatively thin receiver room that is headlined by Jack Bech, Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, and Dont'e Thornton Jr.
Source: Las Vegas Raiders
Source: Las Vegas Raiders
Dont'e Thornton Jr. Still "Banged Up," Expected to Return in Preseason
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. (undisclosed) was working off to the side without pads during Sunday's training camp practice, according to Sam Warren of The Athletic. Thornton missed the team's preseason opener on Thursday against the Arizona Cardinals and several practices before that with an undisclosed injury. Head coach Klint Kubiak said Thornton has been "banged up" but expects him to return in the preseason. The 23-year-old second-year wideout has missed valuable reps as rookie Malik Benson currently looks like the favorite for WR3 duties behind starters Tre Tucker and Jalen Nailor. After being taken with the 108th overall pick in the fourth round in 2025 from the University of Tennessee, Thornton caught only 10 of his 30 targets for 135 yards and zero touchdowns in 15 games (eight starts) in his first year in the NFL. When he returns to practice, he'll be competing with Benson and fellow second-year pass-catcher Jack Bech for playing time in 2026. Thornton's combination of size (6-foot-5, 205 pounds) and speed makes him an interesting offensive weapon in what should be a better Raiders offense, but he's not currently on the redraft radar in 12-team leagues.
Source: The Athletic - Sam Warren
Source: The Athletic - Sam Warren
Malik Benson Earning Reps With First-Team Offense
Las Vegas Raiders rookie wide receiver Malik Benson has earned reps with the first-team offense in training camp, according to head coach Klint Kubiak, per Levi Edwards of the team's official website. "He's earned those reps, but he's got to stay humble and stay hungry," Kubiak said. Benson has looked like the front-runner for the team's WR3 role this summer behind Tre Tucker and Jalen Nailor, although Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton Jr. could still have something to say about that before the Week 1 regular-season opener rolls around in early September. The 23-year-old was taken in the sixth round in April from the University of Oregon after he caught 43 passes for 719 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games with the Ducks last year. Benson caught two of his four targets for 26 yards on 20 offensive snaps in the team's preseason opener on Thursday against the Arizona Cardinals, also returning a kickoff for 21 yards. For now, Benson is a name to monitor in single-year redraft leagues.
Source: Raiders.com - Levi Edwards
Source: Raiders.com - Levi Edwards
Jalen Nailor Could Deliver Spike Weeks from the Flex Spot in 2026
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jalen Nailor played only eight snaps in the team's preseason opener on Thursday night, coming off the field with the rest of the starters after a successful scoring drive led by quarterback Kirk Cousins. Nailor signed a three-year, $35 million deal in free agency, and while there has been little doubt about how the team views him as part of the offense, his usage on Thursday all but cemented his status as a top receiver along with Tre Tucker. A sixth-round pick of the Vikings in 2022, Nailor spent the past two seasons as Minnesota's WR3 behind Jordan Addison and four-time All-Pro Justin Jefferson. While he's never reached 450 receiving yards in a season, he posted an impressive 15.3 yards per reception in 2025, and he should find production as a perimeter player in Klint Kubiak's play-action-heavy system. The presence of All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers will help to create spacing on the outside, but will also cap Nailor's target share, and consistency could be an issue in 2026, particularly with the expectation of a quarterback change at some point in the season. That said, Nailor has the potential to bring spike weeks to the flex spot and is practically free in drafts as RotoBaller's WR64.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Raiders Will Play Their Starters in Preseason Opener
The Las Vegas Raiders' starters will play in Thursday's preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals, head coach Klint Kubiak told Sam Warren of The Athletic. While many teams opt to rest their starters in Week 1 of the preseason, we'll see the Raiders mix in everyone as players compete for key roster spots. According to Warren's post on X, "the team has a plan for how much [Kubiak] wants the 1s, 2s and 3s to play." It makes sense that the Raiders will get reps for their starters, especially at the wide receiver position. It's a relatively inexperienced group, and there are a few starting roles up for grabs among a group that features Jalen Nailor, Tre Tucker, Jack Bech, and Dont'e Thornton Jr., among others. Warren also notes that even though Kirk Cousins is expected to start the regular season opener at quarterback, rookie No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza will get plenty of snaps this week.
Source: Sam Warren
Source: Sam Warren
Malik Benson Models his Game After Offensive Player of the Year
Las Vegas Raiders rookie sixth-round wide receiver Malik Benson said he tries to model his game after reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba, according to Levi Edwards of the team's official website. Not many people are likely to know about Benson just yet, but the 23-year-old from the University of Oregon has made some noise in training camp and could be pushing to secure the WR3 role behind Jalen Nailor and Tre Tucker in Vegas in his first year in the NFL. Benson's primary competition for a starting role in three-wide sets in 2026 is Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton Jr. The 6-foot, 189-pounder is thin but comes with plenty of pure athleticism, and he could become interesting as a deep-league sleeper at the WR position if he finishes out training camp and the preseason strong, primarily because of the Raiders' lack of depth at the position. In his final collegiate season with the Ducks in 2025, Benson caught 43 passes for 719 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games. He's an under-the-radar rookie name to keep an eye on.
Source: Raiders.com - Levi Edwards
Source: Raiders.com - Levi Edwards
Tre Tucker Leaves Practice With Leg Injury on Friday
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker (leg) left training camp practice on Friday with an undisclosed leg injury, according to Joshua Jacopetti. Fellow wideout Dont'e Thornton Jr. also left Friday's practice with an undisclosed injury, so the Raiders' WR depth will be tested this weekend. The 25-year-old Tucker is expected to start alongside newcomer Jalen Nailor in 2026 in the team's new offense under head coach Klint Kubiak, with veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins and rookie Fernando Mendoza running it. Tucker had career highs across the board in 2025 in his third year in the NFL, catching 57 of his 92 targets for 696 yards and five touchdowns in 17 starts. The efficiency was not there in a bad Raiders offense, but that could change with new personnel and a new scheme this year. Still, the 25-year-old is a hard sell in 12-team fantasy football leagues, even with a potentially more efficient Raiders offense in 2026. RotoBaller has Tucker ranked as the No. 65 fantasy WR in half-PPR formats.
Source: Joshua Jacopetti
Source: Joshua Jacopetti
Dont'e Thornton Jr. Leaves Practice Early on Friday
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. (undisclosed) was forced to leave training camp practice early on Friday with an undisclosed injury, according to Sam Warren of The Athletic. It's unclear at this time if Thornton's injury will keep him out for an extended period of time this summer as he competes for the WR3 job with Jack Bech and Malik Benson behind Jalen Nailor and Tre Tucker. After being selected in the fourth round (108th overall) last year from the University of Tennessee, Thornton caught just 10 of his 30 targets for 135 yards and zero touchdowns in 15 games (eight starts) in a pretty dysfunctional offense. It remains to be seen if he'll be in line for a bigger offensive role in Year 2 under new head coach Klint Kubiak, but reports early in camp have suggested that Benson could be leading the competition for the WR3 role in Vegas. The Raiders are expected to rely more heavily on two-tight-end sets in 2026, so as things currently stand, Thornton is a receiver to avoid for fantasy managers in standard-sized 12-team leagues.
Source: The Athletic - Sam Warren
Source: The Athletic - Sam Warren
Jack Bech Has Not Separated in the Raiders' Receiver Battle
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jack Bech ended his rookie season with a little life, catching 12 passes for 132 yards over the final five games. That does not erase how quiet the year was. The 2025 second-round pick finished with 20 catches for 224 yards and no touchdowns across 16 games, despite five starts and a receiver room that opened up after Jakobi Meyers was traded. Year 2 brings another chance under Klint Kubiak, but Bech has not pulled away from the competition. Tre Tucker led the group last season, Jalen Nailor was added in free agency, and sixth-round rookie Malik Benson has been one of the early camp risers. Dont'e Thornton Jr. remains in the mix as well. RotoBaller ranks Bech WR100 across its main scoring formats. That is low enough for deep dynasty managers to wait, especially given his age and second-round investment. Redraft managers do not need to follow. Bech still has to win regular snaps before Las Vegas can provide enough weekly volume for him to matter.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jalen Nailor Standing Out in Raiders Camp
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jalen Nailor has emerged as one of the team's most consistent pass-catchers early in training camp, according to the Las Vegas Sun. Nailor won all three of his one-on-one reps during Monday's first padded practice, then connected with Kirk Cousins on a long post route during team drills. He also made two red-zone catches from Cousins on Friday, continuing a connection the pair developed during their two seasons together in Minnesota. Nailor signed a three-year, $35 million contract with Las Vegas after posting career highs of 29 receptions and 444 yards with four touchdowns in 2025. The Raiders have moved him between the slot and outside, and the Sun currently views Nailor and Tre Tucker as the clear top two receivers. Brock Bowers remains the offense's premier target, but Nailor is building a strong case for a meaningful role. His contract, versatility, and early chemistry with Cousins put him on the late-round radar in deeper fantasy drafts.
Source: Las Vegas Sun
Source: Las Vegas Sun
Malik Benson Running With Raiders' Top Three Receivers
Las Vegas Raiders rookie wide receiver Malik Benson has worked with the team's top receiver group through the first six practices of training camp, according to Ryan McFadden of ESPN. McFadden identified Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, and Benson as the Raiders' current top three, though the early rotation does not amount to an official depth-chart announcement. Las Vegas selected Benson in the sixth round with the 195th overall pick after he caught 43 passes for 716 yards and six touchdowns during his final season at Oregon. His speed and strong offseason have helped him gain ground in a crowded competition that also includes second-year receivers Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton Jr. Tucker led the Raiders with 696 receiving yards last season, while Nailor joined the team after recording 444 yards and four touchdowns for Minnesota. Benson's early placement gives him a legitimate path to offensive snaps, but he still needs to maintain that standing throughout camp and the preseason before becoming a serious redraft consideration.
Source: Ryan McFadden
Source: Ryan McFadden
Tre Tucker Operating Mostly on the Outside at Training Camp
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker is spending most of his reps on the outside at training camp. With new head coach Klint Kubiak in town and his prior rapport with receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who led the NFL in fantasy points scored from the outside (17.3), Tucker could have a ton of success in this new system. Kubiak said in March that "One guy that sticks out is watching [Tucker] play football. He's kind of everything that we're about." Tucker scored 90% of his fantasy points from the outside in 2025 and totaled 747 yards and five touchdowns in 17 games last season. With potential upgrades at quarterback, including rookie Fernando Mendoza, Tucker could become a real fantasy starter in 2026.
Source: Adam Hill - Las Vegas Review Journal
Source: Adam Hill - Las Vegas Review Journal
Raiders Looking to Maximize Malik Benson's Abilities
Since landing with the Las Vegas Raiders as a sixth-round pick in the 2026 NFL draft, rookie wide receiver Malik Benson has drawn praise for his ability to stress a defense vertically. Benson made a number of deep catches throughout OTAs and minicamp, and he has continued to make plays during the team's first practices of training camp, already taking reps with the first-team offense. The Raiders have one of the more wide open receiver depth charts in the league, so anything Benson can do to stand out will help his chances not just to make the team but to become a meaningful contributor, and Raiders offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko wants to keep testing him while taking advantage of his 4.37 speed, telling reporters earlier in the week, "We're going to want to maximize what he does, how he comes off the ball, be able to challenge him mentally and do different things with him and just see him grasp the offense and take it from the meeting room to the field." Benson currently sits outside of RotoBaller's top 300 players for 2026, but if he can continue to earn meaningful reps in three-receiver sets alongside Jalen Nailor and Tre Tucker, he could become a usable piece in best ball formats.
Source: Paul Gutierrez
Source: Paul Gutierrez
