After watching the likes of Aidan O’Connell, Gardner Minshew,
Jimmy Garoppolo, and Brian Hoyer start games for the franchise
over the last two seasons, incoming head coach Pete Carroll looked
to his past to acquire Geno Smith, who started for Carroll during
his final two years on the job in Seattle. Whatever you may think
of Smith, he’s a notch or three above O’Connell, Minshew,
and Hoyer, and though Garoppolo had some good years with the 49ers,
he was always more of a game manager, and that was before age
and injury took their toll.
As for Smith, he resurrected his career with the Seahawks, taking
over when they moved on from Russell Wilson before the 2022 season
and throwing for 4,282 yards, 30 TDs, and 11 INTs. In two seasons
since, he averaged 3,972 yards, 20 TDs, and 12 INTs. That’s
decent production but bear in mind that came with DK Metcalf,
Tyler Lockett, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba at his disposal. There’s
nobody in Las Vegas on JSN or Metcalf’s level, and expectations
are the offense will lean heavily on the running game.
Already a fringe fantasy reserve last year, Smith again finds
himself on the borders of ownability heading into 2025. He has
one dynamic threat in Brock Bowers, and first-round pick Ashton
Jeanty could do some damage as a receiver out of the backfield,
but this isn’t an offense built to air it out. At best, Smith
looks like a low-end QB2, likely someone you’d pair with a risky
QB1 as a parachute in case your starting quarterback didn’t pan
out.
During the halcyon days of Carroll’s time in Seattle, the
Seahawks offense was anchored by the bruising running of Marshawn
Lynch. It came as no surprise then when Las Vegas used the sixth
overall selection in this year’s draft on Jeanty, who racked
up an eye-popping 2,601 rushing yards for Boise State last year
-- only Barry Sanders had more in a single season in NCAA history.
Like Lynch, Jeanty is a load to bring down. He led FBS with 126
forced missed tackles, and his 1,733 yards after contact were
nearly 600 more than anyone else. While his work as a runner is
the focus, his skills as a receiver shouldn’t be overlooked
as he’s just one year removed from posting 569 receiving
yards, which led all FBS backs in 2023. If there’s a weakness
in his game, it’s speed. Jeanty has good initial burst,
but he lacks elite top-end wheels.
In terms of a marriage between talent and need, Jeanty to the
Raiders makes him the clear frontrunner to be Offensive Rookie
of the Year and an obvious choice as the first rookie off draft
boards for fantasy owners. Las Vegas’ depth behind Jeanty
contains has-beens and never-weres, and all signs point to the
rookie shouldering a heavy load from Week 1 on. As such, Jeanty
deserves to be considered a legitimate top five fantasy back before
ever taking a regular season snap.
Everyone knew that Mostert’s 1,187-yard, 21-touchdown campaign
in 2023 was an outlier. Even armed with that knowledge, his decline
was stunningly swift. The veteran ran 85 times for 278 yards (3.3
YPC) and 2 TDs while appearing in 13 games with the Dolphins last
season. He added 161 yards on 19 catches while finding himself
in what amounted to a timeshare with Jaylen Wright behind De’Von
Achane. The Fish cut bait after the season, and the Raiders added
him prior to the draft on a one-year, $1.6 million deal with just
$175,000 guaranteed.
With Jeanty now entrenched as RB1, Mostert will compete with
holdovers Zamir White and Sincere McCormick for backup duties.
Like Mostert, White failed to live up to expectations in 2024
after he was given first crack at the starting running back job
following the departure of Josh Jacobs. White, who’d cobbled
together a few good games late in 2023, averaged 3.1 yards per
carry over the first month, then injured his groin and had just
16 carries the rest of the way. McCormick provided a bit of a
spark in Weeks 13 and 14 (142 yards on 27 carries) but hurt his
ankle in Week 15 and was placed on Injured Reserve. Whoever wins
the No. 2 job would hold handcuff value for anyone utilizing a
Round 1 pick on Jeanty. The others would offer zero appeal.
Although talent evaluation is subjective by nature, you’d
be hard pressed not to include the Raiders in any discussion of
the league’s worst receiver rooms heading into 2025. Davante
Adams is gone, having been traded to the Jets last October, leaving
Meyers as the only receiver of any renown in Sin City. The veteran
has some experience operating as a de facto No. 1 from his time
in New England, and he is coming off his best season (87-1,027-4).
Nonetheless, you’re talking about a chain mover as opposed
to a true difference maker.
Despite that, Meyers has two things going for him. First, he
is the lone established threat on the outside, and when a risk-averse
veteran like Smith is going to the air he’s going to lean
on players he can trust. Second, he’s likely to see a lot
of single coverage with defenses gearing up to stop the ground
game and then looking to double Bowers in passing situations.
Over the past four years, Meyers has averaged 77 receptions, 876
yards, and 5 TDs. That looks like a reasonable baseline for this
year, which is enough to make Meyers a low-end WR3 or strong WR4
selection.
Once you get past Meyers on the depth chart it’s a free-for-all.
The most “accomplished” member of that group is Tre
Tucker, who posted a 47-539-3 line last year while flashing some
deep speed. He’s likely to hold down one of the two remaining
starting spots, but he doesn’t appear to offer much in terms
of upside. Rookies will likely fill the next two or three slots,
led by Bech, who was taken with the 58th overall pick back in
April. Named the 2025 Senior Bowl MVP, Bech can line up on the
outside or in the slot, and he has good ball skills. He has a
clear shot at a starting job.
Selected two rounds after Bech, Dont’e Thornton is another possible
contributor for 2025. He has good size (6-foot-5, 205 pounds),
excellent speed, and does a nice job on deep balls. He led college
football in yards per catch last year (25.4) but had just 26 receptions,
so it’d be a stretch to think he’ll step into the NFL and contribute
as anything more than an occasional home-run threat. Converted
quarterback Tommy
Mellott was taken in Round 6 and is considered more of a long-term
project. Of the group, Bech warrants the most attention, though
he’s more of a watch-list candidate unless you wanted to roll
the dice in the final rounds based on opportunity.
Initially, the decision to select Bowers in the first round just
12 months after using a second-round pick on Michael Mayer seemed
like a dubious use of draft capital. After watching Bowers eviscerate
opposing defenses, though, it’s hard to argue with the choice.
As a rookie, the Georgia product racked up 112 receptions for
1,194 yards and 5 TDs. About the only quibbles you could have
were a lack of red-zone production and less than ideal consistency
(he had seven games of 50 yards or less). Again, though, you’re
talking about minor issues.
Clearly, the arrow is pointed up with Bowers. Beyond just the
expected growth from Year 1 to Year 2, the acquisition of Smith
provides a much more accomplished quarterback delivering him the
ball, and Jeanty gives the offense another dynamic threat that
defenses will need to contend with. A year ago, Bowers was a low-end
TE1 curiosity. Now, it’d be difficult to even make a case
that anyone else should even be considered as the first tight
end off the board. A blue-chip talent set to be the team’s
go-to player in the passing game, Bowers could have a monster
year.
