Las Vegas RaidersOur read
Written Oct 17, from his facts through last season
One start in five weeks, and it went 2.22 points, 48 pass yards, no touchdowns. That is the whole 2026 season for Fernando Mendoza so far, because LV kept him on the sideline behind Kirk Cousins for every game from week 1 of 2026 through week 4 of 2026 before handing him the field in the first start of his career. He is still listed second on the depth chart, with Aidan O'Connell third, so the wait may not be over.
The preseason case was never strong. Our number had him at 167 points on 10 expected games, about 16.7 a game, and we docked him 25.4 points from what QBs taken near his ADP of 149.8 have historically produced. He went at the top of the draft in real life, first overall, but that says nothing about how fast a rookie finds his feet, and week 5 of 2026 gave no sign he has.
There are reasons to think the situation can change. Klint Kubiak and Andrew Janocko are both new, a first-overall pick does not sit all year, and the schedule softens with home games against DEN and TEN in weeks 15 and 16 of 2026. But holding a quarterback who scores 2.2 points a game costs you a lineup slot every week while you wait for a benching that may not come. If someone in your league wants to stash him for you, fine. On your own roster, we would cut him loose and pick up a quarterback with a path to starts.