This was supposed to be a new era in Las Vegas. Pete Carroll arrived as the new head coach. They have Tom Brady as part of the ownership group and part-time quarterback whisperer. And Geno Smith was acquired to fix their years of quarterback problems. But none of this is going to plan. The Raiders are 1-4, and Geno Smith is chucking interceptions left and right.
So, is it time to panic about Geno and the Raiders’ offense? Or can they right the ship?
Analysis
The 1-4 record speaks for itself, but the struggles of this pass game are hard to overlook. The Raiders rank 21st in net yards per attempt and have thrown for just six touchdowns while getting picked off nine times. Those interceptions lead the NFL through five weeks. Things hit their lowest point on Sunday, when Las Vegas was blown out 40-6 by the Indianapolis Colts.
In that game, Smith completed 25-of-36 passes for 228 yards and two interceptions. That’s a hair over five total fantasy points. That’s not close to cutting it, even in two-QB leagues.
It can’t be denied that Brock Bowers’ struggles with a knee injury are playing a role. He missed their last game after not looking like himself in their first four games. Through those four games, Bowers averaged 56 yards per game without catching a touchdown. Without Geno’s top weapon being up to speed, it isn’t easy to imagine things working well. But working well hasn’t been on the table.
Can this be salvaged? Or is it time to cut bait with the entire Raiders offense?
The verdict
Chances are, if you invested in Bowers or Ashton Jeanty in your fantasy drafts, there’s no going back. You could sell very low or just ride it out, and selling low never works.
Receivers like Tre Tucker and Jakobi Meyers can still have value. With Las Vegas likely to see a lot of negative game script, owed to their poor defense and lack of a running game, those two are cheap flex options that can have big games.
But it’s time to cut bait on Smith. With his offensive line in tatters and his top weapon hobbled, he’s being asked to do everything against defenses that know the Raiders will pass the ball. Even if he was Patrick Mahomes, he’d have a tough time wringing value out of this situation, and he’s sure not playing like anything close to Mahomes.
If you have him in one or two-QB leagues, it’s time to cut ties and find another quarterback. It may be the end of the road for Geno as a starting quarterback sooner rather than later.
