The NFL Season is nearly upon us. The season kicks off on Wednesday, September 9. Between now and then, we’ll be previewing all 32 NFL Teams along with playoff picks. One team will be previewed each day, beginning with the Super Bowl-winning Seahawks and ending with the New York Jets. Check back each day for the next installment!

The Raiders spent last off-season with the promise of something better. They hired Pete Carroll as Head Coach and brought in Chip Kelly to run the offense. They traded for Geno Smith at quarterback and drafted Ashton Jeanty. But it all ended in disaster. The Raiders won just three games, finishing with the worst record in football. That led to sweeping off-season changes. The question now is whether they are finally on the right track in 2026. Let’s dive in.

Off-Season Changes

Carroll, Kelly, and Smith were sent packing this off-season. In their place, the team added new Head Coach Klint Kubiak, who guided the offense for the Super Bowl champion Seahawks. The team also brought in veteran Kirk Cousins to provide some stability at the quarterback position. But the real future of the position is this year’s No. 1 overall draft pick, Fernando Mendoza.

Mendoza was the quarterback for the National Championship-winning Indiana Hoosiers in 2025. He also won the Heisman Trophy. Mendoza threw for 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns. He figures to be the face of the franchise—at some point. But it’s expected that Cousins will be the starter Week 1.

The Raiders also added veteran Jalen Nailor at receiver, to bolster the pass-catching group, and Tyler Linderbaum to bolster the offensive line. On defense, the team added Kwitty Paye to the defensive line, with Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean at linebacker. All that gives the Raiders a stronger core moving into 2026.

Fantasy Impact

At quarterback, Cousins will be the starter at the outset. From Week 12 on, when he took the top job for the Falcons, Cousins was QB16. He still has low-end QB2 upside. Mendoza is a better dynasty bet and should have QB2 value with QB1 upside when he takes the starting job. Jeanty finished as RB11 despite the offense being in shambles. He should be an RB1 this season. A question is whether Kubiak employs rookie Mike Washington to share the load, but Jeanty should still be a Top 12 back.

In the passing game, it’s more of a mystery. The top receiver is tight end Brock Bowers, who has TE1 upside. He was injured to end 2025 but should come back strong in 2026. I like him as a high-end TE1. At receiver, the team will lean on Nailor and Tre Tucker, while second-year players Jack Bech and Dont’e Thornton should have a chance to step up. But will they? Nailor is a flier for me, having shown flashes in Minnesota, but I’m not ready to rely on any of the Raiders’ receivers as starters early in the season.

Prediction

The Raiders were a bad team and a rough watch in 2025. I think they’ll be a better team and a better watch in 2026. But how much better? It’s a tough division and a tough conference, so I don’t expect the Raiders to be a playoff contender. But, much like the 2025 Saints, I think it could be a slow start and a hot finish for the 2026 Raiders.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.