Fernando Mendoza is expected to make the first preseason start of his career, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. After essentially playing a half last week, entering for Kirk Cousins after the opening touchdown drive and staying in through the end of the third quarter, the Raiders’ first overall pick is expected to get a similar workload this time as the starter.
2026 Fantasy Football Impact: Passing Profile Pops
The top pick of this past draft looked the part in his first taste of NFL game action, completing 10 of 16 pass attempts for 97 passing yards along with a TD and no interceptions.
Mendoza may not come into the league offering much rushing production. But 4.4 rushing fantasy points per game at Indiana last season is certainly formidable, and he has a very impressive passing profile.
After throwing for 23.5 passing fantasy points per game on just 23.7 pass attempts per game last year, he joined Cam Newton, Jalen Hurts, and AJ McCarron as the only college seniors to produce over 20 passing fantasy points per game on fewer than 25 pass attempts per game.
Pairing that with one of the best receivers in football that happens to play tight end in Brock Bowers and the pass catching prowess of the Raiders prior top 10 pick in Ashton Jeanty, it creates the possibility of the best passing offense in the league.
After tonight’s start, though, we’ll likely wait a while to see that connection in action.
