Las Vegas reshapes its linebacking corps into a faster, smarter unit. Elandon Roberts and Devin White join Germaine Pratt to form a downhill, communicative trio that thrives on attack and football IQ, giving Patrick Graham a versatile front. Early signs show a more cohesive defense that reads plays quickly and converges with violence.

Fantasy managers should watch Week 2 for how this group handles pass coverage, blitz timing, and run support. Pratt’s leadership, White’s speed, and Roberts’ punch could translate into more tackles and opportunistic plays, lifting the Raiders’ defensive upside in fantasy formats.

Week 2 IDP waiver targets arrive with nine players across linebacker, defensive line and cornerback/safety, anchored by Demetrius Knight Jr., Carson Schwesinger and Germaine Pratt at LB, Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness and Haason Reddick on the DL, and Jordan Battle, Chamarri Conner and Roger McCreary in the secondary. Two players are slated for cuts: Jack Sanborn and Jaden Hicks. Rosters and Week 1 performances shape the pickups, with Packers, Bengals, Browns, Raiders, Chiefs and Titans all providing relevant week-two streaming opportunities.

Expect starting roles to drive the most value: Knight Jr. and Schwesinger are already seeing snaps, Pratt flashed veteran production in a new scheme, and the Packers’ edge trio (Gary, Van Ness, Reddick) could anchor multiple-package rushes. Battle, Conner and McCreary offer high-tide tackle upside and the potential for turnovers against upcoming pass-heavy offenses.

Las Vegas Week 1 vs New England highlights a transformed defense after a mass offseason exodus, with Elandon Roberts anchoring a deeper, more physical linebacker corps alongside Devin White, Germaine Pratt, and Tommy Eichenberg. Week 1 tests how well the Raiders’ revamped front seven can corral run-heavy Patriots attack and keep pass plays in front of them.

Roberts’ routine-focused mindset and the Texas-bred group’s chemistry signal a faster, tougher unit. This overhaul will immediately shape Raiders fantasy value at linebacker and could shift fantasy expectations for Raiders defenders entering Week 1.

Las Vegas overhauled its linebacker corps this offseason, replacing Spillane and Deablo as the Raiders lean on a veteran-led rebuild. Elandon Roberts is slated to anchor the group, with Jamal Adams, Devin White, and Germaine Pratt brought in to bring versatility, leadership, and playmaking upside. Adams’ move from safety to LB is highlighted, alongside White’s reclamation arc and Pratt’s steady veteran presence, creating a markedly different room from last year.

Roberts stands out as the most consistent, proven option in a room loaded with names that carry question marks. He logged nearly 500 Steelers snaps last season, earning elite marks in run defense (90.4 run-stop grade) but weaker in coverage (50.9). The Raiders expect him to set the tone, mentor newcomers, and stabilize the defense as they blend four veterans with a pair of big-name newcomers in Adams and White, plus Pratt, in a scheme overseen by Graham with input from Pete Carroll’s perspective.

Fantasy angles center on Roberts as a high-floor, tackle-heavy option whose presence could buoy the run-stopping ceiling of the unit. Adams and White bring blitz and disruption potential, Pratt adds versatility, and the overall LB corps should generate more consistent back-end production if deployment aligns with strengths. The Raiders’ approach is to leverage Roberts as the anchor while others rotate into familiar roles behind him, maximizing the group’s collective impact in a more stable, leadership-driven defense.