Huddle Up: Kirk Cousins is likely going to be the starter, and it's unknown if Mendoza will take over at any point this season. Mendoza has the look, though. Both are midrange QB2 options with Mendoza obviously having a lot of dynasty allure.

Huddle Up: It remains to be seen whether Mendoza or Kirk Cousins will open the year as the starting quarterback, but regardless, Mendoza will eventually have a chance to show what he can do. He will be a low-end QB2 whenever he does take the field, but he a solid long-term option in dynasty formats.

Huddle Up: Whomever wins the No. 1 quarterback job in Las Vegas might have to make his way without Ashton Jeanty, who left practice Sunday due to an apparent knee injury. He was unable to put pressure on the right leg, which is a huge concern. The starting quarterback of the Raiders will be nothing more than a QB2 in most fantasy leagues of 12 or more teams, especially if Jeanty is forced to miss any time.

Huddle Up: If Mendoza is going to be the Week 1 starter, it is going to take better performances than the one he had Thursday night. There was always a strong possibility that Kirk Cousins would open the year as the starter, but Mendoza should ultimately have his chance to show what he can do.

Huddle Up: The No. 1 overall pick got his first taste of the NFL on Thursday, taking over after Kirk Cousins connected with Michael Mayer for a touchdown on the opening drive. Mendoza saw extended action, engineering one touchdown drive of his own that ended when he hit Jack Bech from six yards out. Mendoza should open the season behind Cousins before eventually taking the reins. For the time being, his value remains isolated to keeper leagues. Those in single-year formats can stick him on a watch list to monitor, but that should be the extent of it.

Huddle Up: Mendoza, the first overall pick in the 2026, will likely start Week 1 holding the clipboard for veteran QB Kirk Cousins, but should get plenty of reps during the preseason. It's likely Mendoza gets his first NFL start at some point in the middle of this season, so he's somebody to watch if he can lift up the Raiders immediately or if he's a work in progress. For fantasy this season, he's a high-end QB3 for multiple-QB leagues, and somebody to keep tabs on in free agency in your league for single-QB formats.

Huddle Up: It seems like Mendoza will start the season on the sidelines but there is a good chance he will take over the starting job at some point during the season. He will be a No. 2 fantasy quarterback in leagues if he takes over the starting job.

Huddle Up: Mendoza should get to start this season, whether it's in Week 1 or sometime during the season. Or whenever the Raiders are tired of Kirk Cousins. Anyway, Mendoza has Brock Bowers, Ashton Jeanty, and not much else, so it could be lean times in 2026 for Mendoza. However, he has the talent to lift all boats in Las Vegas, so tread lightly in seasonal formats unless he is wildly impressive in his initial starts.