Who Should I Start? Gardner Minshew or Desmond Ridder

Friday, November 22, 10:54 PM

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew II could be in for his last rodeo in Week 12. His team will take on the Denver Broncos, and QB Aidan O'Connell (thumb) won't be able to play. He's still recovering from a thumb injury. Minshew will have his hands full with a Denver Broncos defense that just held Kirk Cousins and the Atlanta Falcons to six points in a Week 11 blowout game. The 28-year old Raiders signal-caller has thrown eight touchdowns, but tossed nine interceptions and lost a fumble this season. It could be an ugly game, and it's hard to trust him in 1QB leagues. He should be started in 2QB/Superflex leagues, though. He's not always been bad, just wildly inconsistent. Garbage time production counts for fantasy points, too.

Tuesday, November 12, 11:10 PM

The Athletic's Vic Tafur writes that the Las Vegas Raiders are expected to make the change to quarterback Desmond Ridder after Gardner Minshew II was benched for a third time this year in the Week 9 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Nothing is official yet, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Raiders go with Ridder under center coming off their bye to face the Miami Dolphins this Sunday. Aidan O'Connell (finger) is on Injured Reserve. Head coach Antonio Pierce is feeling the pressure after losing five straight games to fall to 2-7 before the Week 10 bye. After Ridder took over for Minshew in the loss to the Bengals, he went 11-for-16 for 74 yards and a touchdown while also losing a fumble. The former Falcons QB won't be anything more than a desperation QB2 in superflex leagues if he gets the start against a Dolphins D that just kept the Rams out of the end zone all game on Monday.