The Las Vegas Raiders enter their 5th season since relocating and are quietly moving in the right direction.
Despite a rocky start to the Las Vegas tenure, in which they have had three head coaches and seven different quarterbacks, the organization seems to be finally inching towards stability. After recently naming Gardner Minshew as this year’s starter, the Raiders expect to be competitive.
Las Vegas enters this season tied with the 24th-best odds to win it all at +10000 on DraftKings Sportsbook. They hold the 13th-best odds to win the AFC at +6000, are +900 to win the AFC West, and are +300 to make the playoffs. With a season-long win total sitting at 6.5, this under-the-radar team may have some value on the board.
Raiders Over 6.5 Wins (-130)
The two biggest questions with this Raiders team come down to coaching and quarterback play. While these are significant concerns, there is a great deal of talent on this roster that sets an intriguing baseline for the team.
Las Vegas officially named Antonio Pierce head coach after he led the team to a 5-4 record as the interim coach last season. This was a significant jump for the nine-year NFL veteran who was previously the linebacker coach before getting the interim opportunity.
The team bought into what Pierce brought as a head coach. In addition to the winning record under his leadership, Maxx Crosby publically advocated for Pierce to become the 23rd coach in franchise history. The Raiders star got his wish and Pierce will look to build off the successful baseline he produced last year.
Neither Gardner Minshew nor Aidan O’Connell will be the long-term franchise quarterback. However, Minshew does bring a high floor to the team. Just last season, Minshew led the Colts to a 7-6 record following Anthony Richardson’s injury. He threw for 3,305 yards and 15 touchdowns during this time and even received Pro Bowl recognition. The 27-year-old will also carry a chip on his shoulder since this very well could be his last opportunity at a starting quarterback job.
Outside of the quarterback position, there is a significant amount of talent on the Raiders roster. Despite the inconsistent quarterback play last year, Davante Adams still managed to notch his 4th consecutive season with 100+ receptions and 1,000+ yards.
The Raiders can also expect some dynamic play at the tight-end position this year. Former Notre Dame standout Michael Mayer is expected to take a stride forward in his second season. The team also drafted Georgia TE Brock Bowers with the 13th overall pick. Additionally, Zamir White will step into the lead running back position. The 24-year-old led the NFL in rushing in the final four weeks of last season and will look to continue this efficiency.
Defensively, the Raiders signed DT Christian Wilkins; perhaps the most impactful roster move of the NFL offseason. Coming off a career year with nine sacks, he will be a key addition to the rest of the defensive line.
The Raiders have several winnable games on their schedule. They will face two divisional matchups against the Broncos who have a win total of just 5.5 on the season on DraftKings Sportsbook. The door will also be open for victories against the Panthers, Browns, Buccaneers, Saints, and Jaguars. Stranger things have happened in the NFL so you cannot rule out Las Vegas finding a way to win a few other matchups as well.
They may not be prime time television, but the Raiders will be a solid football team this year. Minshew is capable of rallying a team and Las Vegas has a solid roster. Don’t expect them to elevate to true contenders, but we should feel confident about the Raiders finding a way to win at least seven games. They have reached this number in four of the last five seasons and should repeat this feat once again.
Davante Adams Over 1025.5 Receiving Yards (-110 Odds)
While his reputation as being one of the best wide receivers in the NFL may have fallen off, Davante Adams’ production has not.
The 6-time Pro Bowl wide receiver is coming off his fourth consecutive season with over 1,100 yards receiving. This also comes just one year removed from leading the NFL in receiving touchdowns (14) in a Raiders uniform. Adams also produced 100 receptions and 1,516 receiving yards that season.
At 31 years old, Adams is showing no signs of slowing down. His production should continue to be elite and the Raiders will lean on him heavily. It will be interesting to see how different the offense looks with a full year under Antonio Pierce, but there should be no doubt that Adams will be at the center of it. Adams saw a season-high 21 targets where he produced 126 yards and a pair of touchdowns in Game 16 last year. He will likely be Minshew’s favorite target this upcoming season as he works to extend his four-year streak of 1,025.5 receiving yards.
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