The Fernando Mendoza Era in Las Vegas officially kicked off Tuesday when the Raiders shipped quarterback Kirk Cousins off to the Minnesota Vikings. They got a third-round pick back, making way for their 2026 top overall pick, Mendoza, to step into the starting role. And guess who gets to welcome him to the NFL? None other than our Seattle Seahawks defense.
The Rookie’s Brutal Welcome Wagon
Yeah, that’s right. The first real snaps Fernando Mendoza gets as an NFL starter are going to be against Mike Macdonald’s “very good” defense right here in the Emerald City. The dude is a lottery ticket, not a safe bet, and that’s not just our biased opinion, that’s the word out of Las Vegas. We haven’t seen Mendoza play much outside of garbage time, and outside of Brock Bowers, he ain’t exactly surrounded by an elite group of pass-catchers. Add to that the fact that his first two matchups are against two of the league’s “very good defenses”,us, the Seahawks, and then the Denver Broncos,and you’ve got a recipe for a rough start. For fantasy nerds, the consensus is to roster him if you’ve got room, but keep him stapled to the bench. That schedule eases up later, sure, but those first two games are going to be a brutal welcome wagon.
Who Else Gets Hit By This Shift?
While we’re busy prepping for Mendoza, what does this seismic shift mean for the rest of the Raiders’ offensive weapons? For tight end Brock Bowers, don’t sweat it. He should stay fantasy’s elite tight end, period. Young quarterbacks like to lean on their tight ends, and the Raiders are apparently very good at getting Bowers touches. So, he’s probably not getting affected much by this change.
Then there’s running back Ashton Jeanty. This guy is a total enigma. Last week, he was splitting carries right down the middle with Malik Washington, getting only six rushes for 25 yards. Oof. But here’s the kicker: he’s been a reliable option in PPR formats, hauling in 42 catches on the season. That’s the most among running backs in football! So, as a checkdown option for Mendoza, there’s a bit of upside, but it’s pretty limited. Think flex consideration, nothing more.
Finally, Tre Tucker. This wide receiver could be the one hurt most by the Cousins trade. He had built up a nice rapport with Cousins, even if he was a bit of a boom-or-bust play from a fantasy perspective. Now, his connection with Mendoza is a total unknown. The only thing keeping him in the flex conversation is the Raiders’ lack of other dynamic playmakers at receiver. Still, tough break for Tucker.
Get Ready, 12s, It’s Time To Feast!
So, get ready, 12s! The Raiders are coming to T-Mobile Park (oops, Lumen Field!) next, and they’re bringing a rookie quarterback making his first-ever NFL start. This is a massive opportunity for Mike Macdonald’s defense to absolutely feast and make a statement early in the season. You know Sam Darnold, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, and Rashid Shaheed are going to be ready on the offensive side, but all eyes are going to be on our defense to welcome Mendoza to the big leagues. Let’s show this kid what Seattle football is all about!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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