Desmond Ridder

We're beginning to think we'll never get to see Desmond Ridder waste the Raiders time. Minshew went for 282, two touchdowns, and one pick on Sunday against a Dolphins team that seemed pathologically unable to guard Brock Bowers. The Broncos will be a tougher test, one that likely will make Minshew a bottom-tier QB2 at best in most Week 12 rankings.

Minshew game-managed his way to two field goals and a four-point deficit at halftime. The Dolphins started to pull away and Minshew initially looked capable of keeping up with a touchdown toss to Brock Bowers. The rookie did most of the work, catching the ball near the line of scrimmage before shedding a would-be tackler en route to a 23-yard score. Still, it was a solid drive for the offense that kept them in the game. Minshew again answered the call with another touchdown throw on the team's next drive, this one another YAC-based completion to Ameer Abdullah. This is where the magic ended as Minshew threw a brutal interception on a possible miscommunication with Jakobi Meyers late in the fourth quarter, functionally ending the game. Minshew is still the Raiders' best bet at quarterback, but that isn't saying much. Head coach Antonio Pierce may still turn to Desmond Ridder for Vegas's Week 12 matchup with Denver.

Even Pierce, who is fighting for his job and is currently losing the battle, isn't desperate enough to turn to Desmond Ridder. The Raiders haven't won a game since September and Minshew struggled in his most recent start, throwing for 124 scoreless yards versus the Bengals before being pulled for Ridder late in the game. Minshew is the best option for the fantasy outlooks of Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers but isn't on the QB2 radar for Week 11.

The Raiders are expected to start QB Desmond Ridder vs. the Dolphins this weekend, according to The Athletic's Vic Tafur. The news is buried in an article about the general state of the Raiders -- and we haven't seen it reported anywhere else. But we'll go with it for now.

Mayer has not played since September. It's possible he'll be a bigger factor down the stretch with Davante Adams gone and the Raiders lacking for receiver help, but any Raiders passing game options outside of Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers are going to struggle for volume and reliability. Especially if this is about to become Desmond Ridder's show.