For Week 10, the biggest fantasy story in Las Vegas has nothing to do with a running back. Kirk Cousins is in Minnesota, Fernando Mendoza is the starter, and every Raiders skill player's outlook shifted the moment that trade went through. Here's how I'd handle the key pieces against Seattle.
Sit Fernando Mendoza, QB
Mendoza's only NFL action came late in a Week 5 loss to the New England Patriots, when he went 6 of 8 for 48 yards. Now he gets a Seattle Seahawks defense that allows an NFL-low 244.2 yards per game in his first start.
I love the long-term upside of a Heisman winner who completed 72% of his passes for 3,535 yards at Indiana last season. In one-quarterback leagues, though, I'm not starting a rookie in this spot, and even superflex managers should treat him
as a low-end QB2.
Start Brock Bowers, TE
Bowers has drawn 70 targets in seven games, roughly 10 every time he plays. Young quarterbacks tend to lean on the most reliable target on the field, and nobody on this roster fits that description better.
Even in a tough matchup, that kind of volume keeps him in my lineup. He's a TE1 whoever takes the snaps, and if Mendoza feels pressure, Bowers is the outlet I'd bet on him finding.
Sit Ashton Jeanty, RB
The Raiders' ground game ranks second-worst in the league at 71.3 rushing yards per game, and Seattle hasn't allowed a 100-yard rusher in 38 straight games, playoffs included. Neither number points to a breakout.
Jeanty's 42 catches give him a little PPR floor, but last week showed me how thin that floor can get. I'd leave him on the bench in standard leagues and use him only as a desperation flex in PPR.
Sit Tre Tucker, WR
Tucker has 33 catches and averages roughly 16 yards per grab, so his weeks depend on hitting a big play or two. Deep timing between a receiver and a rookie in his first start is usually the last thing to come together.
I'd wait a week or two to see how Mendoza spreads the ball before trusting Tucker in a lineup again.
Deep-league start: Michael Mayer, TE
Here is my sneaky play for deep leagues and two-tight end formats. Michael Mayer has 39 catches for 388 yards, and a rookie quarterback who needs short, easy completions could look his way often.
He won't win anybody a week by himself. But if you need a TE2 or a deep-league flex, though, Mayer's role looks steadier than most of what is sitting on the waiver wire.
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Raiders Week 10 fantasy start/sit: Brock Bowers in, Ashton Jeanty sits
