Is Zamir White Injured or Playing In Week 5? Should I Start Alexander Mattison For Fantasy Football?

Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White has the ignominious title of being one of the biggest busts of this year's fantasy drafts. He's failed to produce a single big game for managers despite having an impressive workload. He's been outshined by his backfield mate Alexander Mattison.

White is the RB54 in PPR. He's just not startable at this point. However, he does have some indirect fantasy relevance in that he's been taking so many opportunities away from Mattison, who has clearly outplayed him to this point. It's looking like Mattison may start to eat into his workload.

White is now listed on the injury report for Week 5. Is he injured or playing in Week 5 and should you start Alexander Mattison? Let's work out this issue.

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Is Zamir White Playing In Week 5?

Probably not. Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce updated the media Friday and said that it's more than likely that White will be listed as doubtful for the Raiders' Week 5 game against the Denver Broncos. White is dealing with a groin injury. He was downgraded after suffering the injury at practice on Wednesday.

#Raiders HC Antonio Pierce on the status of RB Zamir White, who suffered a groin injury in practice Wednesday:

"More than likely he's doubtful."

Alexander Mattison is in line to man the Las Vegas backfield Sunday at Denver. @KTNV pic.twitter.com/MxISqJbyHb

— Nick Walters (@nickwalt) October 4, 2024

Fantasy managers can assume that White will not play. That said, he should've never been in consideration for starting anyway. He's had a terrible season and is a drop candidate. The fact that he's hurt should only add to fantasy managers' intentions to shed him from their rosters. The Raiders aren't a team on the rise either.

UPDATE: Zamir White is now officially listed as "OUT" and will not play in Week 5.

Should I Start Alexander Mattison for Fantasy Football Week 5?

No. The Broncos have a brutally tough defense. It's a terrible matchup for the Raiders, and the only hope for fantasy success from Las Vegas players would be the weird intra-divisional dynamics that happen. Sometimes teams just know how to beat other teams in their divisions.

However, the devil's advocate would tell you that the Raiders have beaten the Broncos in eight straight games and are 11-2 in their last 13 matchups. The black and silver have had Denver's number for quite some time. But they've typically had better rosters than this.

It's been 1,738 days since the Broncos have defeated the Raiders pic.twitter.com/FFAsCarhxU

— Raiders Report Mitchell Renz (@MitchellRenz365) October 1, 2024

Lead Las Vegas receiver Davante Adams will miss the Week 5 contest, and the Broncos have a much better defense than they've had in years past. It's a lopsided mismatch on paper, and with Mattison not being very impressive despite outplaying White, it's not recommended that you start him. There are likely better players to start with easier matchups on waivers for Week 5.

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