Fantasy Football Drops Include Defense of the Las Vegas Raiders

As fantasy football playoff races heat up, managers are making tough decisions to trim underperforming players from their rosters—and one unit that’s increasingly finding its way to the waiver wire is the defense of the Las Vegas Raiders. Once a mid-tier fantasy option early in the season, the Raiders’ defense has stumbled in recent weeks, posting inconsistent numbers, struggling to generate turnovers, and allowing explosive plays at an alarming rate. Fantasy Football Drops Include Defense of the Las Vegas Raiders explores the key reasons behind this trend, from injuries to schematic flaws, and explains why fantasy managers are choosing to cut ties rather than wait for a turnaround. For those fighting for a playoff spot, holding onto a struggling defense like the Raiders’ could mean the difference between winning and losing down the stretch.

Fantasy Football Drops Include Defense of the Las Vegas Raiders begins with a look at the unit’s recent statistical collapse, which has made it one of the least reliable fantasy defenses in the league. Over the past four weeks, the Raiders’ defense has averaged just 3.2 fantasy points per game in standard scoring formats—ranking 29th among NFL defenses during that span. They’ve failed to record a single sack in two of those games, have forced only one turnover (a fumble recovery), and have allowed an average of 28.5 points per contest. Even more concerning for fantasy managers is their inability to produce “big plays” that boost scores: they’ve tallied zero defensive touchdowns, zero interceptions, and just two forced fumbles in their last six outings. “Fantasy defenses live and die by sacks, turnovers, and shutouts—and the Raiders aren’t delivering on any of those fronts right now,” says Mike Clay, a fantasy football analyst for ESPN. “If a unit isn’t contributing double-digit points most weeks, it’s hard to justify keeping them on a roster when there are better options available on the waiver wire.” This recent slump has turned the Raiders’ defense from a usable fill-in to a liability for fantasy teams.

Fantasy Football Drops Include Defense of the Las Vegas Raiders continues with a deep dive into the injury issues plaguing the Raiders’ defense, which have gutted the unit’s depth and effectiveness. The most significant loss has been star defensive end Maxx Crosby, who missed two games with a knee sprain and has been limited in practice since his return. Crosby, who entered the season with 12 sacks in each of the last two years, has recorded just one sack in his last four games and has looked noticeably less explosive. The Raiders have also dealt with injuries in the secondary: starting cornerback Nate Hobbs has been sidelined with an ankle injury, and safety Tre’von Moehrig missed three games with a hamstring strain. These absences have left the Raiders’ defense vulnerable to both the run and the pass—opposing teams have rushed for an average of 142 yards per game against them since Crosby’s injury, and quarterbacks have posted a 102.3 passer rating when targeting their secondary. “Injuries are a part of football, but the Raiders’ defense was already thin before losing key players,” notes fantasy expert Scott Pianowski of Yahoo Sports. “Without Crosby generating pressure up front, their secondary can’t hold up—and that’s a death sentence for fantasy production. Managers can’t afford to wait around for everyone to get healthy, especially with playoffs looming.”

Fantasy Football Drops Include Defense of the Las Vegas Raiders includes an analysis of the Raiders’ upcoming schedule, which only adds to the case for dropping their defense. Over the next four weeks, the Raiders will face three top-10 offenses: the Kansas City Chiefs (ranked 2nd in total yards), the Buffalo Bills (5th), and the Los Angeles Chargers (9th). Each of these teams features elite quarterbacks—Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Justin Herbert—who can exploit the Raiders’ banged-up secondary and keep the scoreboard ticking. Even their “easier” matchup during this stretch, against the New England Patriots, comes with a catch: the Patriots have a run-heavy offense that can control the clock, limiting the number of snaps the Raiders’ defense gets (and thus their fantasy opportunities). “A tough schedule doesn’t automatically mean a defense is useless, but when you pair it with a unit that’s already struggling, it’s a recipe for disaster,” says fantasy football podcaster Liz Loza. “The Raiders’ defense isn’t going to suddenly start racking up sacks and interceptions against Mahomes and Allen. Fantasy managers need to look for defenses facing weaker offenses—like the Chicago Bears or Carolina Panthers—instead of holding onto a unit that’s about to get steamrolled.” For the Las Vegas Raiders, this brutal stretch of opponents makes their defense an even riskier hold in fantasy football.

Fantasy Football Drops Include Defense of the Las Vegas Raiders delves into the rise of better alternative defenses on the waiver wire, which have made cutting the Raiders’ unit an easy choice for managers. In most fantasy leagues, defenses like the Cleveland Browns (who have averaged 8.5 fantasy points per game over the last month), the Minnesota Vikings (7.8 points), and the Green Bay Packers (7.2 points) are available for free. These units offer more consistent production: the Browns have recorded at least one sack in every game this season, the Vikings have forced 12 turnovers in their last six outings, and the Packers have held three of their last four opponents to under 20 points. “The waiver wire is loaded with defenses that are outperforming the Raiders right now,” explains Clay. “Why hold onto a unit that’s averaging 3 points when you can pick up the Browns, who are averaging nearly 9? It’s a no-brainer for managers who want to maximize their points each week.” For the Las Vegas Raiders, the presence of these viable alternatives means there’s no reason for fantasy managers to tolerate their inconsistent play—dropping them to pick up a more reliable defense is a strategic move that can strengthen any lineup.

Fantasy Football Drops Include Defense of the Las Vegas Raiders wraps up with a look at the long-term outlook for the Raiders’ defense, which gives fantasy managers even less reason to hold onto them. Beyond the upcoming tough matchups, the Raiders have no clear path to fixing their issues this season: Crosby’s knee injury could linger, the secondary lacks depth to replace injured starters, and the coaching staff hasn’t shown an ability to adjust schematically to mask these weaknesses. Even if they do improve slightly, their ceiling is limited—they rank 26th in the NFL in defensive DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average), a metric that measures overall efficiency, and they’re not projected to climb higher than 22nd by season’s end. “Fantasy football is about winning now, not waiting for next year,” says Pianowski. “The Raiders’ defense might bounce back eventually, but it’s not going to happen in time to help managers win playoff games. Holding onto them is a mistake—one that could cost you a championship.” For the Las Vegas Raiders, this bleak long-term outlook solidifies their status as a top fantasy drop. In the end, Fantasy Football Drops Include Defense of the Las Vegas Raiders is a story of a unit that has failed to live up to expectations—and of fantasy managers making smart, data-driven decisions to replace them. When a defense is struggling with injuries, facing a brutal schedule, and being outperformed by waiver-wire alternatives, dropping them isn’t just an option—it’s a necessity for anyone hoping to win their fantasy league.