The Las Vegas Raiders are sitting pretty at 3-0 after a tough 35-27 win over the Saints in Week 3, but don’t let that perfect record fool you. While the W is sweet, their wide receivers put up a measly six catches for 63 yards and one touchdown on just 11 targets against New Orleans. Seriously, that’s it for the whole WR room. It’s a huge red flag, especially when you see how much their star tight end, Brock Bowers, had to do.
Who’s Stepping Up? (Or Not)
Let’s break down the wide receiver production, or lack thereof. Jalen Nailor, the free-agent pickup they signed to a three-year, $35 million deal this offseason, played 40 snaps, tied for the team high among wideouts. He managed just one catch for 16 yards on three targets. In two games, he’s got five catches for 62 yards on 11 targets. That’s not exactly screaming “big money signing,” is it? Tre Tucker also played 40 snaps and looked a little better this week with four catches for 43 yards, hauling in all four of his targets. Remember Week 2 when Tucker went off for five catches, 119 yards, and a score, including two 40-plus yard grabs? We need more of *that* consistent production. But let’s be real, the true story of the passing game was Brock Bowers, who absolutely stole the show with 10 catches for 116 yards, often lining up as a receiver. He’s practically bailing out the entire group.
The Wild Card and the Worries
Then you’ve got Cody White, elevated from the practice squad. He played 15 offensive snaps and somehow, against all odds, managed one catch for four yards and a touchdown. That’s three catches for three touchdowns this season. Wild, right? Talk about efficiency! On the flip side, Dareke Young played 12 offensive snaps for the second game in a row and wasn’t even targeted. What’s the point if you’re out there and not getting looks? The biggest worry, though, has to be Jack Bech. The 2025 second-round pick only got one snap in Week 3 before breaking his forearm, and he’s now out for an extended period. He wasn’t targeted before the injury, but had five catches for 48 yards on six targets this season. Losing him for a while is a real blow to a group already struggling to find its footing. Rookie Malik Benson, a sixth-round pick, saw four snaps and was targeted once without a catch, bringing his season total to just one catch on four targets in 19 offensive snaps.
The bottom line here is clear: The Raiders are 3-0, which is fantastic, but their wide receivers absolutely need to step up. Six catches for 63 yards and a single touchdown isn’t going to cut it long term, even with Bowers going off. These guys gotta produce more, and fast, if this team wants to keep that winning momentum going.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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