2019 Team Previews - Oakland Raiders

Projected Starting Lineup

QB: Derek Carr RB: Josh Jacobs WR: Antonio Brown WR: Tyrell Williams WR: Hunter Renfrow TE: Darren Waller

LT: Kolton Miller LG: Chaz Green C: Rodney Hudson RG: Gabe Jackson RT: Trent Brown

Oakland Raiders Offensive Profile 2015-2018 Pass Attempts Rank: 14th, 9th, 15th, 16th 2015-2018 Rush Attempts Rank: 29th, 11th, 30th, 23rd 2015-2018 Play Volume Rank: 24th, 11th, 30th, 24th 2015-2018 Yards Per Play Rank: 23rd, 10th, 11th, 21st

Greg Olson's average offensive production as an Offensive Coordinator in the NFL. (5 Seasons)

Passing: ATT COMP PCT YDS AVG YDS/G LONG TD TD% INT INT% SACK YDSL RATE

587 354 60.3 3863 6.68 252 71 23 4.1 16 3 42 259 81.9

Rushing: ATT YDS AVG LONG 20+ TD YDS/G FUM FUML 1DN

381 1594 4.18 67 9 8 99.6 9 5 75

Receiving: REC TAR YDS AVG TD LONG 20+ YDS/G FUM FUML YAC 1DN

354 587 3899 11.1 23 71 49 244 3 1 1772 192

Quarterback-

This Raiders offense will be in year two of the Jon Gruden / Greg Olson regime. The good news for the duo is that things can only improve after finishing 23rd in total offense, and 28th in total points. The Raiders were blown out in 10 of 16 games last season, not a good look for a quarterback that signed a massive deal the season before.

Derek Carr remains the quarterback for at least one more season in Oakland, I have a feeling he might not make the move to Las Vegas next season. The past two seasons for Carr have been abysmal, he hopes his second season under Jon Gruden changes that narrative. Leading the Raiders to a 4-12 record is how you don't find your way on the team plane when they move to the desert next fall. The offensive weapons have been upgraded as they traded for Antonio Brown and signed Tyrell Williams this offseason.

While is weapons were upgraded, Carr is still one of the worst starting quarterbacks in the league. His decision making is poor, he doesn't read coverages well or make the proper reads while seeming overwhelmed in the pocket at times. Not the best situation when you have a coordinator that throws on 61% of plays. It is really tough to throw for just 19 touchdowns in 16 games as an NFL quarterback these days with all rule changes geared to offensive production, Carr did so while adding 10 interceptions. The numbers will deceive you as you might say, but he threw for 4,049 yards while completing 68.9% of his passes! It is easy to complete a high percentage of throws when teams are playing cover-4 and keeping plays in front of them up three scores. He will need to make a major jump in year two, otherwise Gruden might be making the move to Oakland in search of a new quarterback.

Fantasy Outlook-

He is outside my top-20 quarterbacks list offering you no value other than a bye week starter if you choose to only take one quarterback in your fantasy draft. Wide Receiver-

After the Raiders traded away every good pick that General Manager Reggie Mckenzie selected, they went out and traded for Antonio Brown. With Brown's meltdowns in Pittsburgh last season, it was time to move on for the most prolific wide receiver in the last six years. While Brown is a playmaker on the field he is an absolute head case off of it. In addition to Brown, the Raiders signed Tyrell Williams as it's deep-threat while drafting slot receiver Hunter Renfrow out of Clemson.

Antonio Brown has been the best receiver in the league since 2013. That is the good news for the Raiders, now here is the bad. The receiver just turned 31 in July and his production fell off a cliff last season in Pittsburgh. While he still caught 104 passes his yards per reception dipped almost three yards from his previous season and a full yard below his career average. He was a very touchdown dependent receiver last season as he caught a league leading 15 but only finished as WR4.

Now in Oakland he no longer has one of the best deep throwers and improvisers in the game. Instead he has a quarterback that does not throw the ball down field. In his 78 career games, Derek Carr only averages 6.7 yards per pass attempt compared to Ben's 7.7.His new quarterback also makes poor decisions when plays breakdown or get extended. One of the best things that Antonio Brown does is make plays after things breakdown or when it becomes backyard football. This is something that Carr has never showed the ability to do and further limits Brown as a fantasy option. When things could not look any worse for Brown's new home, he somehow got frostbite on his feet after using cryotherapy and has been out of practice most of fall camp.

The only good news for Brown is that Jon Gruden typically loves to throw 22%-31% of his target share to his number one receiver throughout his coaching career. This type of volume can keep Brown from being a complete bust in Oakland, but everything else goes against this being a big year in Oakland for the future Hall of Famer.

Fantasy Outlook-

With an ADP of #21 I honestly can't stop laughing. This is probably the worst landing spot Brown could have chosen. His quarterback has very thin skin, he throws a temper tantrum like a child whenever things don't go his way. I set the over under at game three before Brown has a tirade on the sidelines and completely quits on this football team and quarterback. I want no part of Brown in fantasy football this season especially at his current ADP.

Tyrell Williams is one of the better deep threats in the league averaging 16.3 yards per reception in his career. The six-foot-four speedster signed with the Raiders this offseason after four years in San Diego. While I love Williams big play ability, his quarterback simply doesn't take shots down the field. This is another bad fit for this Raiders offense and another acquisition that adds to the narrative that this is Carr's last year with the Raiders.

Fantasy Outlook-

With an ADP of #130 he is a flier that can pay off in fantasy football but I simply do not think his quarterback compliments his game well enough to justify his selection.

Hunter Renfrow seems like he should be 32 years of age after what felt like a 12 year career at Clemson. The 23 year old slot receiver always seemed to play his best on the biggest stages. In his first season against Alabama in the National Title he caught 7 passes for 88 yards and 2 touchdowns. The very next season in a game the Tigers won against the Tide he caught 10 passes for 92 yards and 2 more touchdowns. I am starting to see a trend for the Myrtle Beach native. His game fits exactly what Derek Carr likes to do, work the short to intermediate passing game with rub routes, crossers and check-downs.

Fantasy Outlook-

He is currently not being drafted in fantasy leagues. If I am going to own a piece of this Raiders passing game it will be Renfrow in the last round of my draft before I take Brown or Williams. His skill set matches what both his coach and quarterback look for and is someone that just gets it done against top competition.

Tight End- Who doesn't like a sleeper tight end! The Raiders are looking to fill the void in which Jared Cook lead his team in receiving last season. With Cook's departure in free agency so do 101 targets 68 catches, 896 yards and 6 touchdowns.

Darren Waller is hoping to replace that production after making the transition from wide receiver to tight end. At six-foot-six Waller has the size and hands to make plays in this league at the tight end position. He has been the talk of camp so far in Oakland and someone that continues to make plays daily.

Fantasy Outlook-

With so much of this passing game predicated from the tight end position, I will gladly take a stab at this sleeper, as he is currently going un-drafted in most leagues.

Running Back- After Marshawn Lynch retired yet again this off-season the Raiders went out and selected Josh Jacobs with the 24th pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. The backup running back at Alabama, Jacobs caught the eye of Gruden and Mike Mayock as this clown show continues to over draft players and or positions. After finishing 23rd in rush attempts and 25th in total rushing yards, the team went out and over-drafted a player and position that is fairly obsolete in this days NFL.

Josh Jacobs finished his career behind Damien Harris at Alabama, rushing for 495 yards on 95 carries last season. At five-foot-ten 220 pounds, Jacobs has the prototypical size for an every-down runner. He runs with good vision and a decent burst, while also being an effective pass-catcher out of the backfield or even from the slot as he did at Alabama. While he does lack top-end speed to be a home run back, he can handle all three downs and provide value to your fantasy football team as an RB2 or Flex play.

Fantasy Outlook- With a current ADP of #38 Jacobs is someone that is intriguing in the 3rd or 4th round. The volume should be there as his only competition is a washed up Doug Martin and passing downs back Jalen Richard. The question is will this offense and coaching staff give him enough opportunity and utilize him correctly so that he can pay off this ADP?

2019 Vegas Win Total The Raiders’ Win Total opened at 6 (-110). If you want to read up on how to ruin a well put together roster, follow the blueprint of Jon Gruden. The Raiders traded away the best pass rusher in the last decade for Clelin Ferrell and Josh Jacobs, both prospects went about 15 spots higher than they should have. The one move that was fairly savy, was bringing in Antonio Brown for just a 3rd and 5th round pick in last years draft. The issue with Brown is that he will be catching / attempting to catch balls from Derek Carr who is downright dreadful. Brown was extremely frustrated with future Hall of Fame quarterback Ben Roethlisberger last year, I can't wait to watch his meltdowns on the sideline with Carr this year. The schedule is not kind as well having to play the Chargers, and Chiefs twice. In addition they will have to play the NFC North, which is one of the top-4 divisions in football. I am going to let the Hard Knocks hype move this line up to 7 before I come in double fisting the under.