The highly-anticipated first NFL start for Fernando Mendoza takes place on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. ET. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and reigning Heisman Trophy winner steps in for the Las Vegas Raiders following their trade of Kirk Cousins to the Minnesota Vikings. Mendoza faces a tough test in his debut against the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks in front of a home crowd, generating significant interest for Week 10 NFL sports betting picks.
Expert Best Bets and Player Props
SportsLine expert Eric Cohen has locked in his best bets and player props for Mendoza’s debut and the wider Raiders versus Seahawks matchup. The curated selections include Fernando Mendoza Over 180.5 passing yards at -113 odds, Fernando Mendoza Under 30.5 passing attempts at -106, the Raiders versus Seahawks Over 40.5 total points, and Brock Bowers Over 59.5 total receiving yards at -111.
Addressing the passing yards prop, Cohen acknowledged that Seattle boasts the top pass defense in the NFL and noted that only one quarterback has surpassed 200 passing yards against them in 2026. However, Cohen stated, “But Mendoza has a knack for being the hero. Everything he did at Indiana last season turned to gold. I’m not saying the Raiders will win, but I’d be surprised if this wasn’t a semi-close game. The key for this prop is one big play of 40+ yards by Brock Bowers or a Vegas wide receiver.”
Regarding the passing attempts under, Cohen explained that against a difficult Seattle defense, the coaching staff is unlikely to game plan for the rookie to throw 35 times. Cohen outlined a projected stat line of 18 completions out of 28 attempts for 190 yards and one touchdown pass.
On the total points market, Cohen stated that he disregards Mendoza facing the Seahawks in his first start and Drew Lock starting for Seattle, calling the current total far too low. Cohen noted that each of the last seven Raiders games has hit the Over, with no less than 55 points scored in each, advising bettors to follow the trend.
For the receiving prop, Cohen described Bowers as the top tight end in the NFL and expects offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak to center the game plan around feeding him the ball. Cohen pointed out that Seattle recently allowed 65 yards to Colston Loveland and 54 yards to Trey McBride, concluding that Bowers exceeds their caliber and should reach at least 70 yards.
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