Fernando Mendoza named Raiders' starting quarterback

Fantasy football: Mendoza takes over as the Raiders' QB1 after Kirk Cousins was traded to Minnesota, but a tough matchup and minimal sample make him a risky…

By Fantasy Roundup Staff · November 11, 2026 · Updated November 11, 2026

Fernando Mendoza was promoted to QB1 on the Raiders depth chart on 11 November. He was QB2 before the change. The 2026 first overall pick will make his first career start on Sunday at home against the Seattle Seahawks after Las Vegas traded Kirk Cousins to Minnesota on Tuesday. General manager John Spytek said Mendoza "passed every test" and has exceeded expectations in practice, though the team insists it is not punting on the season.

This is a depth chart promotion for a player with almost no NFL track record. Mendoza has appeared in 1 game this season, completing 6 of 8 passes for 48 yards, 0 TDs and 0 INT on 17% of snaps in Week 5 versus New England for 2.2 half-PPR points. His Week 10 matchup against Seattle, which has allowed 11.3 half-PPR points a game to quarterbacks, the 2nd fewest of 32, makes him a difficult start even in deeper formats. For the rest of the season, his value depends entirely on how he performs in his first extended action.

Fantasy impact

Player by player

Fernando Mendoza

Mendoza has produced 48.0 passing yards and 1.0 carries a game over his last 1 game, good for 2.2 half-PPR points a game. Our models show he is scoring 1.3 half-PPR points a game below what his usage predicts, so his role is worth more than his recent points, but that usage came on just 17% of snaps in a mop-up appearance. In his 1 game this season, his completion percentage over expected was +8.8 (4th of 49 quarterbacks) and his expected points added per attempt was 0.15 (17th of 49 quarterbacks). His Roundup Score is 6 out of 99, QB62 overall.

Seattle has allowed 11.3 half-PPR points a game to quarterbacks, the 2nd fewest of 32, making this a brutal debut matchup for a player with 1 game of NFL experience. We project 3.1 half-PPR points a game he plays. Mendoza is rostered in few leagues and should be added only in deep two-quarterback or superflex formats where managers are desperate for a starter. The Raiders are 4-5 and still in playoff contention, so he will have every opportunity to prove himself, but streamers should wait for a better matchup or a game that shows he can produce at this level.

What to do

• Add Fernando Mendoza only in deep two-quarterback or superflex leagues where you need a starter, but temper expectations against Seattle's stout defence.

• Stream another quarterback in Week 10 if you have better matchup options available on the waiver wire.

• Monitor Mendoza's first start closely to see if his college success translates to the NFL before committing a roster spot in shallower formats.