DAidan O'Connell QB LV (8) Sun 12/31/23 5:55 PM
DAidan O'Connell
QB LV (8)
O'Connell completed 30 of 47 passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 23-20 loss to the Colts.
EDGE Analysis
He added three rushing yards on two carries. O'Connell came just short of his first career 300-yard performance and tossed multiple TDs for the second time in three games, a stretch in which he has a 6:0 TD:INT. The Raiders were eliminated from postseason contention with Sunday's loss, but the team has little reason to rest its rookie quarterback for a Week 18 clash with the Broncos.
DAidan O'Connell QB LV (8) Mon 12/25/23 7:31 PM
DAidan O'Connell
QB LV (8)
O'Connell completed nine of 21 passes for 62 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions and also rushed four times for minus-4 yards during Sunday's 20-14 victory at Kansas City.
EDGE Analysis
O'Connell didn't outduel Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes by any means, but the former also didn't commit a turnover and kept feeding the ball to running back Zamir White, who earned another spot start for Josh Jacobs (quadriceps/illness) and racked up 22 carries for 145 yards. O'Connell benefitted from his defense scoring two defensive touchdowns on back-to-back Kansas City offensive plays late in the second quarter, and the Raiders offense did just enough to outlast the home team. Monday's paltry output was a far cry from the 248 yards and four touchdowns through the air that he contributed to a 63-21 win against the Chargers in Week 15. Nevertheless, O'Connell will turn his focus to Sunday's contest at Indianapolis.
DAidan O'Connell QB LV (8) Fri 12/15/23 12:14 AM
DAidan O'Connell
QB LV (8)
O'Connell completed 20 of 34 passes for 248 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions in the Raiders' 63-21 win over the Chargers on Thursday night.
EDGE Analysis
O'Connell was thought to be in danger of potentially losing his job coming into Thursday, considering interim head coach Antonio Pierce declined to name his starter all week. However, the rookie bought himself another game, to say the least, racking up a new career high in touchdown passes while connecting with Tre Tucker (30 yards), Jakobi Meyers (22 yards), Michael Mayer (11 yards) and Tre Tucker (20 yards) in the first half. O'Connell didn't have to do much in the second half, and he'll now have some extra time to relish his first career multi-touchdown game before facing off with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs on the road in a Week 16 Christmas Day matchup.
DAidan O'Connell QB LV (8) Wed 12/13/23 6:32 PM
DAidan O'Connell
QB LV (8)
Though coach Antonio Pierce has been noncommittal about who will get the signal-caller assignment Thursday night against the Chargers, O'Connell is expected to remain the Raiders' starting QB for the contest, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
EDGE Analysis
There had been some speculation that the Raiders might consider pivoting from O'Connell in Week 15, but it looks like the 2023 fourth-rounder will remain the team's starter versus Los Angeles, though it's possible he could be on a short leash Thursday. In this past Sunday's 3-0 loss to the Vikings, O'Connell completed 21 of his 32 pass attempts for 171 yards with an interception and based on that level of production, he profiles as a hit-or-miss fantasy lineup option this week.
DAidan O'Connell QB LV (8) Sun 12/10/23 10:12 PM
DAidan O'Connell
QB LV (8)
O'Connell completed 21 of 32 passes for 171 yards with an interception in Sunday's 3-0 loss to the Vikings.
EDGE Analysis
In the NFL's lowest-scoring game since 2007, O'Connell struggled to get the Raiders past midfield most of the afternoon, and the team's one trip to the red zone ended on a Hunter Renfrow fumble. It's the first time since Week 9 that the rookie quarterback has failed to throw a touchdown, but O'Connell's 3:5 TD:INT since taking over as Las Vegas' starter illustrates his struggles. The Raiders' passing game gets a better matchup in Week 15 against the Chargers.
DAidan O'Connell QB LV (8) Sun 11/26/23 11:01 PM
DAidan O'Connell
QB LV (8)
O'Connell completed 23 of 33 pass attempts for 248 yards and a touchdown with no turnovers or rushing attempts in Sunday's 31-17 loss to Kansas City.
EDGE Analysis
O'Connell cleaned up his play after throwing three interceptions in last week's loss to Miami, completing 69 percent of his passes with no turnovers against the Chiefs on Sunday. While the rookie signal-caller suffered another loss, he appears to be getting more comfortable under center after taking over for Jimmy Garoppolo back in Week 9. O'Connell's low upside and lack of rushing stats keeps him out of the fantasy picture in most leagues, but he has kept Las Vegas' offense respectable through a midseason coaching staff overhaul. The Raiders will resume play against Minnesota in Week 14 after the upcoming bye week.
DAidan O'Connell QB LV (8) Sun 11/19/23 7:16 PM
DAidan O'Connell
QB LV (8)
O'Connell completed 24 of 41 passes for 271 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions and rushed once for three yards in the Raiders' 20-13 loss to the Dolphins on Sunday. He also rushed once for three yards.
EDGE Analysis
The trio of turnovers are obviously a big blemish, but O'Connell did help keep the Raiders within striking distance despite his mistakes and posted a career-high passing yardage total in the process. The rookie's final pick of the day came at the Dolphins six-yard line on a deep ball intended for Tre Tucker, snuffing out Las Vegas' last chance to tie. Despite the stumbles, O'Connell is gaining valuable experience and making progress, but he faces a particularly difficult matchup against the Chiefs' stingy secondary in Week 12.
DAidan O'Connell QB LV (8) Mon 11/13/23 12:33 AM
DAidan O'Connell
QB LV (8)
O'Connell completed 16 of 27 pass attempts for 153 yards, one touchdown and one interception while gaining three yards on two rushing attempts in Sunday's 16-12 win over the Jets.
EDGE Analysis
O'Connell was hovering around a 50 percent completion rate with an interception thrown before dialing it in and throwing the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter of Sunday's win. The rookie signal-caller still finished with a pedestrian fantasy line despite helping earn his team its second win in his second start in place of the benched Jimmy Garoppolo. O'Connell's physical skill set doesn't project to generate big passing numbers in the Raiders' recent run-heavy gameplan. The rookie should be treated as a low-end option in Week 11 against Miami's aggresive pass rush next Sunday.
DAidan O'Connell QB LV (8) Sun 11/5/23 10:01 PM
DAidan O'Connell
QB LV (8)
O'Connell completed 16 of 25 pass attempts for 209 yards with no touchdowns, turnovers or rushing attempts in Sunday's 30-6 win over the Giants.
EDGE Analysis
O'Connell started his second game this season after interim head coach Antonio Pierce shook up the QB depth chart and demoted Jimmy Garoppolo this week. The rookie wasn't directly involved in any of Las Vegas' three trips to the end zone, but he didn't cause any turnovers and was accurate when asked to extend drives. O'Connell figures to have earned another start against the Jets next Sunday following this week's crooked score, but he doesn't yet carry enough upside to be considered outside of deeper fantasy leagues.
DAidan O'Connell QB LV (8) Wed 11/1/23 4:28 PM
DAidan O'Connell
QB LV (8)
Interim head coach Antonio Pierce confirmed Wednesday that O'Connell has been named the Raiders' starting quarterback going forward, Rachel Gossen of the team's official site reports. "We just feel like he gives us the best chance," Pierce said of O'Connell.
EDGE Analysis
The rookie's promotion to the top of the depth chart sends struggling veteran Jimmy Garoppolo into a backup role. In two appearances (one start) this season, O'Connell has accounted from three yards and a touchdown on the ground and has completed 34 of his 52 passing attempts for 313 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Now that he's been installed as Las Vegas' starter, the 2023 fourth-round picks profiles as a lineup option in deeper leagues or in formats that start two quarterbacks or have a QB flex spot. A classic pocket passer who didn't show much scrambling ability during his collegiate career at Purdue, O'Connell appears to have a limited fantasy ceiling, though he'll at least have some capable pass-catching weapons to work with in wideouts Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers and running back Josh Jacobs.