Las Vegas Raiders @ New York Jets
Final Score: Raiders 38, Jets 33
Writer: Steven Pintado (@coachstevenp)
Three Up
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Mike Washington Jr. — Coming out of almost nowhere, the rookie running back took over the Raiders’ backfield with 25 carries and helped move the offense down the field in a winning effort. Washington made the most of his opportunity and showed why he deserves a larger role moving forward.
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Adonai Mitchell — Mitchell was brilliant in this game, using his crisp route running and impressive speed to make the Raiders’ secondary look lost at times. Mitchell finished with over 100 receiving yards and a touchdown, leading all Jets receivers. His ability to create separation and make explosive plays was on full display throughout the game.
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Braelon Allen — Allen received another opportunity to prove why he deserves the starting role in the Jets’ backfield, and he certainly made a strong case. Allen rushed for 147 yards and did everything he could to keep the Jets’ offense moving. His combination of power and explosiveness continues to make him an intriguing option moving forward.
Three Down
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Omar Cooper Jr. — After an impressive breakout performance in Week 7, the rookie receiver was completely invisible in this matchup. Cooper failed to record a target or reception as the offense leaned heavily on its veteran pass catchers. It was a disappointing follow-up for a young receiver looking to build momentum and establish a consistent role in the offense.
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Ashton Jeanty — No benching, no significant injury, no explanation! Jeanty surprisingly took a backseat in the Raiders’ backfield despite continuing to see opportunities in important situations, including passing downs and red-zone snaps. It’s a concerning development for fantasy managers who expected Jeanty to remain the clear lead back.
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Tre Tucker — After a breakout performance in Week 7, Tucker came crashing back down to earth with a quiet outing against the Jets. Tucker saw just 1 target as the Jets’ defense completely took him out of the game.
Las Vegas Raiders
Quarterback
Kirk Cousins: 19/26, 247 Yards, 3 TDs | 5 Carries, 3 Yards, TD
Cousins was impressive throughout this game, showing excellent pocket awareness and consistently pushing the ball across the middle of the field. Cousins moved well within the pocket, delivering quick, accurate passes to keep the Raiders’ offense moving. His touchdown throws were beautifully placed, showing great touch and timing with his receivers. He even managed to find the end zone on the ground, adding an unexpected rushing touchdown to his performance. Despite the Raiders’ defense allowing plenty of points and the running game struggling to find consistency, Cousins played about as well as the team could have hoped.
Running Back
Mike Washington Jr. : 25 Carries, 83 Yards
Washington surprisingly received the first snap of the game and dominated the Raiders’ backfield touches, outcarrying Ashton Jeanty 25-2. Washington showed some flashes with a few runs of 10-plus yards, but his overall performance was relatively average. He finished with just 3.3 yards per carry and struggled to consistently create yardage. Washington also missed several opportunities to find the end zone, getting stuffed near the goal line on multiple occasions. He wasn’t involved in the passing game, limiting his overall impact. While Washington received a massive opportunity to establish himself in this backfield, he didn’t exactly take full advantage of it. His volume was impressive, but his efficiency and missed scoring opportunities left plenty to be desired.
Ashton Jeanty: 2 Carries, 9 Yards | 4 Targets, 3 Receptions,64 Yards
There were some surprising changes in the Raiders’ backfield, with Washington taking over as the primary early-down runner while Jeanty was limited to a passing-down role. Jeanty has been dealing with an ankle injury, but it’s something he has played through previously, making this sudden change in usage difficult to understand. The Raiders primarily featured Washington on early downs while Jeanty handled passing situations and third downs. They also split red-zone opportunities, although Washington received more chances inside the 10-yard line. Jeanty looked healthy enough, especially on an impressive 45-yard catch-and-run that showed off his explosiveness. However, outside of that play, he struggled to make much of an impact with his limited opportunities. Jeanty was outtouched 25 to 5, which is a concerning development for fantasy managers who expected him to remain the clear lead back.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Brock Browers : 10 Targets, 7 Receptions, 92 Yards, 2 TDs
Bowers was absolutely brilliant throughout this game, serving as one of the most important pieces of the Raiders’ passing attack. He made an immediate impact with explosive gains of 24 and 27 yards, consistently finding openings across the middle of the field. His first touchdown was an incredible diving catch that required excellent concentration and body control to secure the football. His second touchdown came on a 2-yard pass, where Bowers powered through a defender to cross the goal line. He nearly added another score in the third quarter after catching a short crossing route and getting tackled at the 1-yard line. Bowers was dominant throughout the matchup, making difficult catches and creating explosive plays whenever Cousins looked in his direction.
Michael Mayer: 6 Targets, 5 Receptions, 53 Yards
Mayer quietly put together a productive performance, primarily working underneath the defense and creating additional yardage after the catch. Mayer made several solid receptions that helped keep the Raiders’ offense moving. He also had a 12-yard catch-and-run called back because of a penalty, taking away another positive play from his final stat line. Mayer received a touchdown opportunity as well, although it would have been a difficult catch to bring in. While he missed a few opportunities to produce an even bigger game, Mayer was a reliable underneath target and contributed solid production alongside Bowers.
Jalen Nailor: 4 Targets, 4 Receptions, 38 Yards, TD
Nailor finally made his presence felt after being relatively quiet for most of the season. Nailor made several solid catches across the middle of the field, giving Cousins another reliable option in the passing game. One of his more important plays came in the third quarter when he hauled in a 12-yard reception that helped move the Raiders inside the 20-yard line and set up another scoring opportunity. Nailor also found the end zone, putting together one of his better performances of the season.
Tre Tucker: 1 Target
Tucker was almost completely invisible in this matchup after putting together an impressive performance in Week 7. His lone target didn’t result in anything significant, as the Jets’ defense did an excellent job limiting opportunities along the outside. New York appeared determined to prevent Tucker from getting behind the secondary and creating explosive plays downfield. What made his lack of involvement even more surprising was the negative game script, which should have created additional passing opportunities for the Raiders.
New York Jets
Quarterback
Geno Smith: 20/32, 290 Yards, 2 TDs, INT | 1 carry, 4 Yards
Smith put together a strong performance for most of this game, especially throughout the first three quarters. Smith was aggressive pushing the football downfield, connecting with his receivers on several impressive throws while showing excellent mobility within the pocket. He consistently extended plays and delivered accurate passes on the move. His touchdown throw to Isaiah Williams was a beautifully placed pass that led his receiver perfectly into the end zone. Smith also connected with Adonai Mitchell on an impressive over-the-shoulder touchdown, showing excellent touch and accuracy. However, Smith wasn’t perfect, missing a few throws that could have resulted in additional explosive plays. His costly interception late in the game also hurt the Jets’ chances of completing the comeback. Despite the loss, Smith played well overall and gave his receivers plenty of opportunities to make plays.
Running Back
Braelon Allen: 21 Carries, 147 Yards, TD | 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 6 Yards
Allen delivered another dominant performance against the Raiders, rushing for 147 yards and finding the end zone. Allen was the driving force behind several Jets possessions, consistently breaking off big runs and helping move the offense down the field. His combination of power and explosiveness was on full display as the Raiders struggled to bring him down. Allen already had 18 carries by halftime, showing just how heavily the Jets relied on him early in the game. However, New York surprisingly moved away from the running game in the second half, which felt like a mistake considering how effective Allen had been. While he managed to score a touchdown, there were additional opportunities for him to find the end zone that the Jets failed to capitalize on. Allen continues to make a strong case for a larger role in this backfield, especially with Breece Hall expected to return soon. His recent performances could make the Jets’ backfield decisions much more difficult moving forward.
Isaiah Davis: 5 Carries, 15 Yards
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Adonai Mitchell: 9 Targets, 7 Receptions, 142 Yards, TD
Mitchell stepped up in a massive way against the Raiders, putting together one of his most impressive performances of the season. Mitchell was making plays all over the field, using his speed and crisp route running to consistently create separation from defenders. He was particularly effective finding soft spots in zone coverage, allowing Smith to connect with him on several explosive plays. Mitchell made an impressive sideline catch in the second quarter before hauling in a 47-yard bomb in the fourth quarter. His touchdown reception was another perfect example of his talent, as he used his speed to beat the defender downfield before tracking Smith’s beautifully placed over-the-shoulder throw. What makes his performance even more impressive is that he left several big plays on the field. Mitchell missed an opportunity for another 50-yard reception that he dropped, while Smith also overthrew him on a play where he had plenty of open field ahead of him. Mitchell could have realistically finished with another 100 receiving yards if those opportunities had connected.
Garrett Wilson : 12 Targets, 6 Receptions, 83 Yards
The Jets made it a priority to get Wilson involved early, targeting him six times in the first quarter alone. Wilson responded with several solid receptions, including an impressive 31-yard gain that helped establish the passing attack. However, his involvement became much more inconsistent over the final three quarters, with his remaining targets scattered throughout the game. Mitchell eventually took over as the primary playmaker, overshadowing Wilson despite his team-leading 12 targets. Wilson also had a 27-yard reception called back because of a penalty late in the third quarter, which would have significantly improved his final stat line. He received an end-zone target as well, but the defender managed to break up the pass before Wilson could secure the catch. Overall, Wilson played a solid game, but his connection with Smith still appears inconsistent at times.
Kenyon Sadiq: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 22 Yards
The rookie tight end had a relatively quiet performance, finishing with just one reception for 22 yards. His lone catch was an impressive leaping grab that showcased his athleticism and ability to make difficult plays. However, his overall involvement in the passing game was minimal, as he saw just two targets.
Mason Taylor: 5 Targets, 3 Receptions, 19 Yards
Taylor couldn’t replicate his impressive performance from the previous week, finishing with just three receptions for 19 yards. However, he remained more involved in the passing game than Sadiq, a fellow tight end, receiving five targets compared to Sadiq’s two. Taylor was primarily used on short underneath routes and dump-off passes, where he attempted to create additional yardage after the catch. While his production was disappointing, his continued involvement suggests he remains the preferred receiving option at tight end for the Jets.
Isaiah Williams: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 18 Yards, TD