Raiders Add Tyler Linderbaum, but the O-Line Still Lags in AFC West

Las Vegas patches the middle, not the whole line

The Raiders added center Tyler Linderbaum to shore up an offensive line that ranked among the worst in the NFL. The question is whether one interior upgrade meaningfully changes a unit with this many holes — and where that leaves Las Vegas in the AFC West pecking order. A strong center helps, but it doesn't rebuild the tackle spots or the run game around it overnight.

The survivor-pick read on the Raiders

For survivor purposes, the early schedule tells the story more than the roster tweak. Las Vegas opens as a home favorite in Week 1 against Miami, but only by a field goal (-3) — too thin a margin to trust your season on, especially with an offensive line still in question. Then it gets worse: the Raiders are road underdogs by 8.5 at the Chargers in Week 2 and underdogs again at New Orleans in Week 3. That's an easy fade for two of the first three weeks and a coin-flip in the opener.

Bottom line: don't reach for Las Vegas as a survivor pick over these early weeks. A single center signing doesn't offset a soft line and a schedule that puts the Raiders behind the number twice. If you're weighing Week 1 options, look elsewhere and keep the Raiders in your back pocket — browse more survivor analysis before you lock anything in, and if you're just getting started, start a free survivor pool to run the numbers yourself.