We are diving into some fantasy football content this offseason as we look to bring in all sorts of football fans to Vikings Wire. It is arguably the most popular game that is around football, so not dipping our toes into the proverbial pool wouldn’t make sense.
What we will start with is some rookie profiles, and where they fit into the landscape of the team they were drafted by. First up, Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
Mendoza is just the fourth player in league history to be the first overall pick in the NFL Draft after winning a National Championship and a Heisman Trophy. He now heads to Las Vegas, where he hopes to be able to bring them new life after treading water for years. But where do things sit in terms of his fantasy potential? Let’s dive into that.
Depth Chart Situation
Skill Players Around Him
2026 Stat Projections
Stat projections are done by ESPN’s Mike Clay
Reason to Believe in Fernando Mendoza in 2026: Offensive Line
The Raiders made it a point this offseason to revamp their offensive line, led by the signing of center Tyler Linderbaum. Returning to protect his blindside is Kolton Miller, who has become a franchise-building block in Las Vegas. All of this leads to the belief that Mendoza should be able to enjoy more protection under center than most Raiders quarterbacks in previous years. Not only will that help Mendoza, but it will also help Ashton Jeanty, who showed promise as a rookie in 2025. Mendoza, benefiting from a reliable run game, also helps matters.
2026 Outlook
The team brought in Kirk Cousins, and the coaching staff has been vocal about letting Mendoza sit behind him. Ultimately, Kirk Cousins is not going to bring the spark that the Heisman Trophy winner can, and he will likely start sooner rather than later. Fantasy players could target Mendoza as a late-round quarterback target, but they will need a strong roster to support him if they plan on winning their league. In 2026, it may be best to punt on investing too heavily before going all in on 2027 in fantasy.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Fantasy Rookie Profile: Fernando Mendoza in redraft leagues
Reporting by Andrew Harbaugh, Buccaneers Wire / Bucs Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
