It’s no secret that the Raiders QB situation isn’t exactly a general manager’s or fantasy manager’s dream; Las Vegas was heavily rumored to be eyeing a trade up in April’s draft to land a signal caller, and when they didn’t, alarms started going off when all of the draft’s quarterbacks were off the board within the first 12 picks. That left them with second year QB Aidan O’Connell and free agent acquisition Gardner Minshew as their only options heading into 2024, which understandably caused a panic among fantasy managers who were hoping to have WR Davante Adams tied to a better passer than he had in 2023. However, a closer look at Adams’ production with O’Connell – as well as Minshew’s ability to support a fantasy WR1 in Indianapolis last year – suggest a much more optimistic outlook about Adams could be warranted.
First of all, it’s important to clear the air around Davante Adams – he is still a QB-proof fantasy wide receiver, with his target share (30.5%), air yards share (44.1%), and targets per route run (0.31) all ranking top-3 among 145 receivers to run at least 100 routes in 2023. In nine games with Aidan O’Connell under center, Adams averaged 16.3 PPR fantasy points per game, which would have ranked him as the overall WR11. The understanding is that O’Connell will get the first crack as QB1 for Las Vegas, but even if he doesn’t retain the job all season long, Adams would be in plenty capable hands with Gardner Minshew, as well…
Last year in Indianapolis, Minshew was able to sustain the Colts’ top WR Michael Pittman at 16.6 PPR points per game, good for an overall WR9 ranking in twelve games the two played together. As bad as things seemed for the Raiders and Adams in the immediate aftermath of the draft, it seems as though no matter what way you flip the Raiders QB coin, Adams should be able to produce at not only a serviceable level, but a high one with either of O’Connell or Minshew taking snaps.