The Las Vegas Raiders have been a fantasy wasteland for much of the year, outside of rookie sensation Brock Bowers. But with the season winding down, another much-heralded young player has emerged as a legitimate fantasy option.
Below we take a look at Sincere McCormick’s outlook for the rest of the season.
Sincere McCormick’s Fantasy Outlook
The Raiders have shuffled through various lead backs throughout the season, with Alexander Mattison, Zamir White, and Ameer Abdullah all taking turns shepherding the worst rushing attack in the league. The Raiders rank last in both yards per rush (3.7) and rush yards (1,028), while also ranking 31st in rushing success rate (31.5%).
However, Las Vegas may have stumbled upon an answer in Sincere McCormick. The UTSA product didn’t receive a carry in any of the team’s first 10 games, but he’s seen his snap share steadily increase each of the last three games. That culminated in a 15-carry, 78-yard performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 14.
With both Mattison and White out of the mix due to injuries, McCormick feels like the solidified RB1 the rest of the way, particularly with the 2-11 Raiders playing for nothing except the first overall pick.
How Much FAAB Should You Spend on McCormick?
Given how little time is left, it’s never really a bad idea to spend the rest of your FAAB on a clear starting running back.
McCormick also has some extremely favorable matchups remaining from Weeks 15-17, which represents the end of the fantasy playoffs in most leagues. In those matchups, McCormick and the Raiders will see:
- Week 15: vs. Atlanta Falcons (seventh-fewest PPR points per game to RBs)
- Week 16: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (second-most PPR points per game to RBs)
- Week 17: at New Orleans Saints (fifth-most PPR points per game to RBs)
That’s two extremely favorable matchups against the Jags and Saints and another against a Falcons defense that is leaky overall, which could lead to more goal-line opportunities.
The issue with going all-in on McCormick is the state of the Raiders’ offense around him. Desmond Ridder is expected to start the rest of the season with Aidan O’Connell suffering a significant leg injury in Week 14. Ridder has flailed so far in four games off the bench since the Raiders signed him off the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad in October, throwing one touchdown while taking seven sacks and turning the ball over twice.
Still, depending on the depth of your league, there’s a reasonable chance that McCormick will be the best running back option on waivers the rest of the way. If you’re a manager for a player dealing with injuries such as Breece Hall or Kenneth Walker III, don’t hesitate to throw the rest of your budget at McCormick.
McCormick’s Background
While 2024 is the first season that McCormick has appeared in a game, he’s not technically a rookie by the NFL’s definition. McCormick has been in the Raiders’ organization since 2022, spending his first two years on the practice squad before getting the bump in 2024.
McCormick starred at Texas-San Antonio (UTSA), earning All-American honors his last two seasons. McCormick holds 20 different school records, including the most rush yards (3,929), rushing touchdowns (34), and all-purpose yards (4,438) in a career.
His most notable performance was for the 2021 UTSA team that finished 12-2 and entered the AP Poll Top 25 for the first time in program history. McCormick won the Conference USA Championship Game MVP award after rushing for 204 yards and three touchdowns in a 49-41 win over Western Kentucky.
None of this helped McCormick get drafted in the NFL, but now after biding his time as an undrafted free agent, the former UTSA star is getting a chance to shine in Vegas.