Everyone expected NFL teams to rely on heavier, multi-tight-end sets this season. Through two weeks of the 2026 NFL season, the Las Vegas Raiders are making that expectation reality. New head coach Klint Kubiak has some cutting-edge ideas.
Despite whispers of a tight end revolution in the NFL, the top 23 personnel groupings through Week 2 is 11 personnel (three receivers, zero tight ends), per Sumer Sports' tracking data
.Then you have the Seattle Seahawks, who Kubiak was the offensive coordinator for last season, leading the NFL in 12 personnel (two tight ends). Who ranks second in the league in 12 personnel? The Raiders.
The Raiders have been in 12 personnel on 37.80% of their offensive snaps. That ranks 33rd in personnel groupings. Interestingly
enough, the Raiders also rank 34th, having been in 11 personnel on 35.43% of their snaps.
Kubiak is calling a flexible offense. The most interesting tidbit of the Raiders' 12 personnel usage is this. They've run two tight end sets more frequently than any other grouping despite not having superstar tight end Brock Bowers yet this season.
Michael Mayer leads all Raiders skill players in snaps with 108 (Ashton Jeanty has 101). Backup tight end Ian Thomas ranks fifth with 62 snaps. They've been why the Raiders have been in 12 personnel more than any other grouping.
It's safe to assume the Raiders could be in 12 personnel even more often once Bowers returns and replaces Thomas.
What's even more interesting is the Raiders' success rate in these groupings. Sumer Sports measures EPA (Expected Points Added) for every team in each grouping. The Raiders' EPA in 12 personnel is 9.08, 13th-best in the entire NFL among 184 qualifying groupings. Meanwhile, they've really struggled in 11 personnel, ranking 141st (EPA -3.67).
It's no coincidence that the Seahawks and Raiders lead the league in 12 personnel after two weeks. The Raiders’ offense has been way more productive in 12 personnel, and they're about to get Bowers back. They should continue buying into two tight end sets.
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Raiders rank second in the NFL in this alignment through two weeks
