Las Vegas added Kenny Pickett to back up Geno Smith after Aidan O’Connell’s preseason wrist injury, giving the Raiders seasoned depth at quarterback. Pickett, a 30-game pro with 4,765 passing yards and a 15-10 record as a starter, steps into a dangerous-yet-volatile situation where immediate fantasy upside is limited by Smith’s incumbency.

O’Connell’s timeline creates a window for Pickett to push Cam Miller for experience and potential late-season work. Browns’ Dorian Thompson-Robinson move remains part of Pickett’s backstory, while Pickett’s path through Pittsburgh to Cleveland and now Vegas highlights how teams value veteran presence in a high-variance position.

Aidan O’Connell has opened the preseason with ugly turnover numbers, and questions about whether he’s taken the next step into NFL starter potential loom as he heads into year three. The Raiders have him pegged as Geno Smith’s backup for 2025, raising concerns about their QB2 depth if Smith were to miss time. O’Connell’s Week 1 picks against Seattle and Week 2 misfires versus San Francisco underline a bigger issue: speed and decision-making from the huddle to the snap remain inconsistent. The throw that drew Rich Gannon’s ire is emblematic: covered target, defender parked in front, no margin for error. Yet there are brighter notes in preseason, as rookie Cam Miller flashed in two games, hinting at potential on-field upside if development continues. The backdrop is the Raiders’ desire to keep Miller as a developmental project while preserving O’Connell as a steady if imperfect reserve.

From Seattle’s sideline, Pete Carroll pointed to the Raiders’ signal-caller’s pace as a core problem—imperfect cadence translates to slower tempo and more uncertain reads. The GM booth’s John Spytek was present for at least one pick, but his stance offered no fireworks. The unsettled dynamic in Las Vegas is clear: O’Connell remains the default QB2, Cam Miller has intrigue, and Seattle’s depth chart remains a short-term concern for fantasy rosters until clearer roles emerge. In fantasy terms, early-season exposure to O’Connell’s back-end potential carries risk, with Miller’s bursts offering speculative upside for those willing to chase upside late in drafts.

Rookie quarterbacks dominated the NFL preseason chatter this week, with the top value leaning toward Jaxson Dart, who again led the charge for the Giants in a clean, productive two weeks. Ward flashed a sublime arm on a moving strike but otherwise battled for consistency, while Dillon Gabriel showed Browns coaches exactly what they hoped for with quick reads and timing—until a late miscue turned into a pick-six. Quinn Ewers and Graham Mertz delivered some encouraging moments, yet most reps belonged to a rookie class spread across multiple teams, each offering a baseline for fantasy upside and weekly sprint-practice implications.

Jaxson Dart sits atop the rookie QB ladder with 291 passing yards and two TDs across two games, aided by a fake to open space to Greg Dulcich and a middle-field connection to Montrell Washington. Ward’s best moment remains a highlight-reel throw on the move, while his Week 2 line (2-of-7 for 42 yards) underscored the volatility of early-action reps. Gabriel operated with Browns’ under-center comfort, efficiently taking underneath routes before a late, ill-advised throw. Ewers connected twice with Wease Jr. for TDs as he stayed composed under pressure, and Milroe carved out value with timely scrambles. Overall, the rookie landscape looks rich but uneven, with a few players projecting real fantasy spark if their situations firm up over the next few weeks.