In other words, temper your expectations. Here are some pros and cons to consider:
* The Raiders' remaining schedule features five games against teams that are in the top seven of most fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks. Two of those games are against Kansas City and another is against Denver, which is Oakland's opponent following next week's bye. At that point, Palmer will have been with the Raiders for nearly 3 weeks.
* Oakland's running game, second in the NFL, will keep defenses honest and limit how much double-teaming opponents can do on outside receivers.
* The Raiders' wide receivers are mediocre, though 2009 first-round pick Darrius Heyward-Bey has shown some life with 17 catches and 28 targets over the last three games. What the Raiders need is more consistency out of tight end Kevin Boss.
* Palmer has familiarity with head coach Hue Jackson, dating back to when both were at USC. Let's face it, the Raiders were in big trouble when Jason Campbell broke his collarbone and Kyle Boller was all that was left in the cupboard. Boller did hold on to the Raiders' lead in relief of Campbell on Sunday, but the guy is 2-10 as a starting quarterback since 2007.
* From a fantasy standpoint, what else is out there? In my 10-team league, the five best free-agent quarterbacks are Alex Smith, Colt McCoy, Curtis Painter, Andy Dalton and Matt Cassel. In leagues of 12 or more, the pickings are even slimmer.
ESPN has a source saying Palmer will start Sunday. Jackson said he might decide today.
"We're on course to where we need to go," Jackson said. "There's no decision . . . Sometime, maybe [this] evening, I'll figure it out. I'm not in a rush. There's no reason to rush."
Maybe the coach isn't in a hurry. But fantasy leaguers ought to be.
CONTEST OF THE WEEK
Guess Aaron Rodgers' passing yards.
