Malik Benson is earning first-team reps ahead of Tre Tucker and Jack Bech, challenging the projectable order of the depth chart.
Benson brings continuous vertical juice to the offense, boasting genuine speed that forces defenses to retreat. Expect him to push for starter-level snaps in 11-personnel formations if this rotation holds through camp. Benson is PlayerProfiler’s WR95 in fantasy football dynasty leagues.
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Sixth-round rookie Benson is earning reps with the starters after receiving offseason praise for establishing an instant connection with quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Armed with deep-threat speed, Benson offers inexpensive upside in deep leagues.
Given his late-round draft capital, Benson is unlikely to earn a starting role, but he possesses upside as a playmaking field stretcher. He is a worthy dart throw who belongs on fantasy football dynasty league watchlists and deep league taxi squads.
Edwards identified Malik Benson as one of the biggest standouts of the Raiders’ offseason program, noting that the rookie WR connected with multiple quarterbacks on deep passes during practices open to the media. Benson enters training camp in what Ryan McFadden of ESPN reports to be an open competition at wide receiver, and his speed and ability to stretch the field could help him carve out a role if he builds on that momentum.
Benson’s agent helped to propel his NFL career by signing with Las Vegas, who features the most talent-deficient WR room in the NFL. Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, Jack Bech and Dont’e Thornton represent Benson’s main competition for snaps in 2026. Though undrafted, Benson has launched himself into 4th round consideration in fantasy football dynasty rookie drafts.
Not even two weeks after signing with the Las Vegas Raiders, veteran wide receiver Amari Cooper is set to retire. Finishing his career with 711 catches, 10,033 yards, and 64 touchdowns, he provided fantasy managers with plenty of production and spike weeks. Last season with the Buffalo Bills, it seems he lost his battle with Father Time, having his worst statistical season.
With the departure of Cooper, this opens up more opportunities for other Raiders’ pass catchers, most notably rookie Dont’e Thornton, who has shown progress in training camp. The big-bodied speedster brings a different element to this Raiders team and has built great chemistry so far with quarterback Geno Smith. New offensive coordinator Chip Kelly loves to deploy a fast-paced, spread offense, which creates mismatches. When teams must worry about Brock Bowers, Ashton Jeanty, and Jakobi Meyers, this is where we could see Thornton give us massive spike weeks.
Thornton currently has an Underdog ADP of 192, which makes him a low-risk, high-reward type of asset. He has been running reps with the first team and could return value immediately for drafters.
Author: Dane Madoche(@FF_DaMaddog)
Not even two weeks after signing with the Las Vegas Raiders, veteran wide receiver Amari Cooper is set to retire. Finishing his career with 711 catches, 10,033 yards, and 64 touchdowns, he provided fantasy managers with plenty of production and spike weeks. Last season with the Buffalo Bills, it seems he lost his battle with Father Time, having his worst statistical season.
With the departure of Cooper, this opens up more opportunities for other Raiders’ pass catchers, most notably rookie Dont’e Thornton, who has shown progress in training camp. The big-bodied speedster brings a different element to this Raiders team and has built great chemistry so far with quarterback Geno Smith. New offensive coordinator Chip Kelly loves to deploy a fast-paced, spread offense, which creates mismatches. When teams must worry about Brock Bowers, Ashton Jeanty, and Jakobi Meyers, this is where we could see Thornton give us massive spike weeks.
Thornton currently has an Underdog ADP of 192, which makes him a low-risk, high-reward type of asset. He has been running reps with the first team and could return value immediately for drafters.
Author: Dane Madoche(@FF_DaMaddog)
Coming off a down year with the Cleveland Browns, and subsequent trade to the Buffalo Bills, Amari Cooper waited all off-season to sign a deal in free agency. The Raiders lack veteran wide receiver depth behind Jakobi Meyers, who publicly requested a trade. There are a few other rookie WRs who may make noise, such as Jack Bech and Dont’e Thornton, but it’s worth noting that Cooper only signed after Meyers made his trade request known.
Unfortunately, Cooper’s archetype of big body outside wide receiver profiles as a steep drop off once production declines, unless he can claim a role in the slot. Tre Tucker and Brock Bowers mostly handle slot duty, leaving little pathway for Cooper to be a productive fantasy asset for 2025. He is an avoid in most formats, and worth last round speculative selection in bestball drafts.
Author: Bradley Stalder (@FFStalder)
