Team news: Las Vegas Raiders | Page 7

The Vikings are listing WR Justin Jefferson and RB Alexander Mattison as questionable for Sunday night vs. the Broncos.

Related Players: Ty Chandler, Kene Nwangwu, Jordan Addison, Jalen Nailor, Brandon Powell, T.J. Hockenson

Jefferson was trending in the right direction, but we were hoping for a full practice out of him on Friday. If he misses again, Addison and Hockenson should continue to control much of Joshua Dobbs' target share.

As for Mattison, Ty Chandler could be taking a heavy workload in his absence, making him a low-end RB2.

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said running back Alexander Mattison suffered a concussion in Sunday's game versus the Saints.

Related players: Myles Gaskin, Ty Chandler, Kene Nwangwu

The trend has been players sit out at least week after falling into concussion protocol, so Mattison owners may want to make alternate plans now. To complicate things, Mattison and the Vikings have the Sunday night game at Denver in Week 11. Chandler could see a bulk of the work and scored on a wildcat formation play in Week 10. The team has already signed Gaskin ahead of Week 11. Chandler could make for an interesting pickup this week if he's on your wire. It's a favorable matching against the Broncos.

Desmond Ridder’s play gave head coach Arthur Smith something to think about over the bye week.

Smith has said he doesn’t want his team’s quarterback situation to remain week-to-week once Atlanta gets back from the time off. He noted after Sunday’s loss that Ridder’s play “will definitely have an effect.”

Related players: Taylor Heinicke

Ridder was not supposed to play for the Falcons on Sunday as Heinicke earned the start. We reported last week the team was going to decide their QB for the rest-of-season after the bye. But, Heinicke pulled his hamstring in the second half of the eventual loss to Arizona. Ridder completed 4-of-6 passes for 39 yards and running in a 9-yard, go-ahead touchdown that gave Atlanta a 23-22 lead with 2:33 left in the game.

The Falcons will keep things status quo at quarterback for at least another week.

Head coach Arthur Smith announced at his Monday press conference that Taylor Heinicke will start for the team against the Cardinals in Week 10.

Related players: Desmond Ridder

“Taylor gives us the best chance, with everything going on right now,” Smith said, via Scott Bair of the team’s website. The story added that Smith said the team will reassess the position after the Week 11 bye.

Vikings running back Cam Akers will miss the rest of the season with a torn Achilles tendon.

That was believed to be the case as soon as Akers went down on Sunday, and it was confirmed by an MRI today, coach Kevin O’Connell confirmed today.

Related players: Alexander Mattison, Ty Chandler, Kene Nwangwu

This is the second time Akers has torn his Achilles. He previously tore it in July of 2021 when he was with the Rams and made a remarkably quick recovery, getting back on the field for the final game of the regular season. But even if he can repeat that remarkably quick recovery this time, he won’t be at full speed until April, the story said. Akers was cutting into Mattison's time since getting up to speed after being traded. The RB2 job would seem to go back to Chandler, although the Vikings, sitting at 5-4, may very well bring in another back.

The Falcons made a starting quarterback change in Week 9 and they could make another one in Week 10.

Taylor Heinicke got the start for Sunday’s game against the Vikings after playing the second half of the team’s Week 8 loss to the Titans and he went 21-of-38 for 268 yards, a touchdown, and an interception.

Related players: Desmond Ridder

After the loss, HC Arthur Smith was asked if he was going to name Heinicke the starter for the Falcons’ Week 10 game against the Cardinals. “Not right now,” Smith said, via the team’s website. “We have to get back to evaluate. I’m not going to give some answer when we haven’t sat back and looked at everything.” Smith has at least left the door open to go back to Ridder.

A new QB in Atlanta: Falcons’ HC Arthur Smith named Taylor Heinicke as the starting QB for Sunday’s game vs. the Vikings.

Related Players: Desmond Ridder

Maybe a change at the helm will force the team's hand into using their three top-10 offensive weapons. Heinicke should be left off of fantasy radars until we see what the Falcons look like with a full game of him at QB.

Another major move in Las Vegas: The Raiders are expected to start rookie QB Aidan O'Connell this week and going forward, with Jimmy Garoppolo going to the bench. The promising O’Connell now gets his shot.

Related Players: Brian Hoyer

Things are getting spicy in Vegas. O'Connell should be able to move the ball down the field better than Garoppolo was able to on Monday Night Football, and will hopefully bring Jakobi Meyers and Davante Adams back into fantasy relevance.

Daniel Carlson (right groin) is listed as questionable and figures to be a game-time decision.

Related players: James McCourt

The Raiders promoted kicker James McCourt from the practice squad for tonight’s game against the Lions, Pelissero went on to say in his post. Those needing Carlson to get them a couple of points for a victory tonight will want to check on Carlson's status before the game starts.

Arthur Smith said he’ll announce on Wednesday who his starter is against Minnesota.

“I promise you, I’ll come in on Wednesday and tell you who’s starting,” Smith said, via Tori McElhaney of the Falcons.

Related players: Desmond Ridder, Taylor Heinicke, Logan Woodside

Asked if Ridder would start assuming he’s 100 percent healthy, Smith answered, “I have to see where he’s at.” Heinicke came off the bench and played better than Ridder did, which would seem to indicate that Heinicke also gives the Falcons the better chance to beat the Vikings on Sunday, the story concluded. But Smith has invested a lot of time in developing Ridder and has indicated that he believes in Ridder going forward, and he may not be ready to bench his young quarterback just yet, the story added.