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Malik Benson: A Deep Stash Rookie to Watch in Las Vegas
The Las Vegas Raiders may have found one of the more intriguing late-round sleepers in the 2026 rookie class with Malik Benson. Selected in the sixth round at No. 195 overall, Benson enters the league as a classic deep stash candidate: a player with elite speed, real big-play ability, and a path to early opportunities in a wide-open receiver room.
Benson’s college journey was unconventional, but it helped shape him into a versatile and explosive playmaker. In 2025 at Oregon, he emerged as the Ducks’ leading receiver, finishing with 43 catches for 716 yards and six touchdowns across 15 games. His 16.7 yards per catch reflected exactly what makes him dangerous: he can take the top off a defense at any moment. Over the course of his career, Benson consistently showed he could create explosive plays, including five receptions of 40 or more yards, which ranked among the best marks in the Big Ten. He also added value as a punt returner, highlighted by an 85-yard touchdown that showcased his open-field burst. After stops at Alabama, Florida State, and Oregon, Benson arrives in the NFL with a journeyman’s path but the athletic profile of a player who can still break out.
At 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds, Benson has the size-speed combination teams covet. His official 4.37-second 40-yard dash at the 2026 Combine confirmed what his tape already suggested: he is a true burner. Benson has the acceleration to separate vertically, the burst to get behind secondaries, and enough body control to make contested catches downfield. He is the kind of receiver who can change a game with one touch, whether that comes as a vertical threat, a yards-after-catch weapon, or a return specialist.
The Raiders’ decision to take Benson in the sixth round fits the mold of a value pick with upside. In a receiver room that lacks a proven alpha but is full of youth, speed, and competition, Benson has a real chance to carve out a role. Las Vegas is building around a fast, versatile group that should benefit from Brock Bowers drawing attention at tight end and from the uncertainty surrounding the offense’s new scheme and quarterback situation. That creates an opening for late-round players to earn snaps, and Benson is one of the names best positioned to take advantage.
The current receiver depth chart gives Benson a challenging but promising path. Tre Tucker enters as the veteran leader and most established playmaker, coming off a 2025 season in which he led the team in receiving yards and touchdowns. Jalen Nailor brings proven deep-threat production from his time with the Vikings and should compete for a major role right away. Jack Bech offers route-running polish and developmental upside, while Dont’e Thornton Jr. adds another layer of speed to the mix. In a room like this, Benson does not need to be the finished product immediately. He just needs to flash enough to force his way into the rotation.
That is exactly what he has done so far. Benson has been one of the standout surprises of OTAs and minicamp, earning second-team reps and getting looks as both a receiver and a return man. Reports from the offseason program have emphasized his speed, his ability to get behind the defense, and the way he has consistently created big gains. Teammates and insiders have praised his explosiveness, and ESPN even highlighted him as one of the Raiders’ key offseason standouts. For a sixth-round rookie, that kind of buzz matters.
The most realistic early role for Benson is as a rotational receiver and special teams contributor, with punt return duties potentially giving him a path to the active roster. If he continues to impress in training camp and preseason, he could push for more offensive snaps than expected. In a wide-open competition, players with his athletic profile and return ability often find a way to stick.
For fantasy managers and dynasty players, Benson is exactly the type of rookie worth stashing. He may not be an immediate starter, but his combination of speed, versatility, and opportunity gives him real upside. Late-round receivers who can contribute on special teams and stretch the field often become valuable depth pieces, and Benson has the traits to become more than that if his development continues.
The Raiders may have landed a potential steal in Round 6. Malik Benson has already flashed in the offseason program, and if that momentum carries into training camp and preseason, he could earn a roster spot, handle return duties, and begin building a role in the offense. In a depth chart full of uncertainty, that makes him one of the more interesting deep stashes to monitor heading into the season.
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