Game day update: Zamir White is “considered a long-shot to play”, per Ian Rapoport.
The Las Vegas Raiders will need all of the playmakers on offense that they can get in Week 6 as they take on the Pittsburgh Steelers. With that said, Raiders starting running back Zamir White’s status will be in question heading into Sunday.
Through five weeks, the Raiders sit at 2-3 with White as the team’s leading rusher with 152 yards. Against a tough Steelers defense, the Raiders will need a strong running game to take pressure off of quarterback Aidan O’Connell who will be making his first start this season.
Zamir White Injury Status
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Zamir White will be listed as questionable going into the weekend as he deals with a groin injury. White did not play last week and did not practice on Tuesday or Wednesday. However, White returned to the practice field on Friday in a limited capacity. White will be a player to monitor heading into Sunday.
What Zamir White injury means for fantasy football status
Outside of tight end Brock Bowers, the Raiders offense has been one to avoid this season. In Week 6, head coach Antonio Pierce has opted to make a change at the quarterback position. The Raiders will be starting Aidan O’Connell for the first time in 2024.
While starting O’Connell would suggest a run-heavy gameplan, the Steelers have allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to running backs this season. Even if White does play, the Raiders running back room would simply return to a running back by committee with Alexander Mattison also getting touches.
During Weeks 1-4, White was the RB54 and hadn’t surpassed over seven points in a game this season in PPR formats. Unless in a desperate situation with bye weeks and injuries, White is likely not worth a start against a good Steelers defense, especially coming off of an injury when his carries may be limited.
Even with bye weeks and injuries, there are may better options available. While the Raiders could keep the game close with the Steelers, allowing for a run-heavy gameplan, White simply doesn’t provide a lot of upside.
However, if White can’t go and Mattison is the starter, he would get a bulk of the carries. Over the past two weeks, Mattison is the RB39 in PPR formats and had 10.1 points in last week’s loss to the Denver Broncos.
Again, the Steelers have defended the run well this season, making any Raiders running back a low-upside play. This is probably simply a backfield to avoid in Week 6.
