Fantasy Football Team Previews 2020: Las Vegas Raiders
Must Own = Top 120
Value = 121-170
Deep Sleeper = 171 or later
All ADP data is courtesy of Fantasy Pros
Must Own:
Josh Jacobs, RB (ADP: 17): Jacobs was impressive as a rookie, narrowly missing out on being Offensive Rookie of the Year, and there’s still plenty of room for him to grow. Jacobs is the clear leader of the Raiders’ backfield, and he was dominant on the ground, finishing 2019 with 1,150 yards and seven touchdowns on 242 attempts. He also put up these numbers in just 13 games. Based on that volume and production alone, he’s worthy of an ADP higher than his current one, but Jacobs possesses untapped potential as a receiver out of the backfield. He was often taken out in favor of Jalen Richard last season, who is still in the fold. Another RB, DeAndre Washington, was fifth on the team in targets with 41, is gone though, opening up opportunity for Jacobs to prove his skill. If Jacobs can make a jump in targets like Ezekiel Elliott did – 38 targets in 2017 to 95 in 2018 – Jacobs will blow away this ADP and be a no-brainer pick early in Round 1 in 2021.
Darren Waller, TE (ADP: 54): Waller earned significant hype last preseason and delivered on it, catching 90 passes for 1,145 yards and three touchdowns as the Raiders’ primary pass catcher. This season, the Raiders drafted two receivers – Henry Ruggs (Round 1) and Bryan Edwards (Round 3) – but that shouldn’t threaten Waller’s place as the team’s top target hound. Waller was a safety valve for QB Derek Carr who is notoriously risk-averse, and his low touchdown total screams positive regression even if there’s some dip in his target share. Waller has the potential to be an elite fantasy TE, and with the crew of skill players around him, his floor should be quite high. The fifth TE off the board sounds about right.
Value:
Henry Ruggs, WR (ADP: 126): Ruggs, the 12th pick of the 2020 draft and first WR taken in a class billed as historic for receivers, is not someone I’m dying to own this year. He should be the Raiders’ No. 1 receiver based on the draft capital it took to snare him, but he’s a smallish speedster in a DeSean Jackson mold. The Raiders are probably hoping he’s the next Tyreek Hill, since he enters the league as one of the fastest players ever, but this offense is focused on Jacobs, and Carr is built to utilize guys like Waller, not chuck it deep. For Ruggs to be impactful, he’s going to have to make his hay with shorter targets and yards after the catch. He’s talented enough to do it, but I don’t love the fit, and there are plenty of WRs going after him I’d rather have. This ADP has major bust potential.
Derek Carr, QB (ADP: 165): Carr is the 27th QB off the board for good reason, but he does have a little more upside than most near the bottom of the position. While he’s gained a reputation as a game manager, Carr was, once upon a time, an exciting fantasy QB. In 2015 he threw 32 touchdowns vs. just 13 picks, and nearly got to 4,000 yards. Times have changed, and 2015 was a long time ago, but the Raiders are making a concerted effort to surround him with sufficient weaponry. Jacobs is legit, Waller is a very nice option, and Ruggs has the potential to turn Carr’s passes into big plays. I’m not banking on it, but if you like to wait for your second QB in two-QB formats, Carr has some nice potential for a re-breakout.
Deep Sleepers:
Hunter Renfrow, WR (ADP: 174): Renfrow has some sneaky Cole Beasley potential. He’s not a major big play threat, but he did accumulate 49 receptions, 605 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games as a rookie. Even more impressive, Renfrow only made four starts. He’s got very little appeal in standard leagues, but in deep leagues that are full or half-PPR, he’s a sneaky late pick who could pay off as a WR3 or matchup-based FLEX.
Bryan Edwards, WR (ADP: 208): Edwards’ hype is building, and some think the third round pick could overtake Ruggs in Year 1. The South Carolina product was consistent as a sophomore, junior and senior, improving every season. He didn’t, however, put up any eye-catching totals as a Gamecock, failing to hit 1,000 yards in his collegiate career and topping out at seven touchdowns. Despite the rave reviews from training camp, I’m not buying in until I see it on the field. He won’t be on my teams.
Tyrell Williams, WR (ADP: 216): Williams has become a forgotten man these days with all the hype around the rookies, but he was solid last season scoring six touchdowns and averaging 15.5 yards per catch. Williams is unlikely to make any leaps this year, but he has a Kenny Stills-ish ability to make big plays and finish seasons with more touchdowns than you expect. Still, in a low volume offense where the receiver hierarchy is unclear, he’ll need injuries to present any semblance of stability.
Jalen Richard, RB (ADP: 235): Richard is a good real life player, and maybe one of the most annoying fantasy players in recent memory. He caught 36 passes last season for 323 yards, receptions and yardage that could’ve largely contributed to making Jacobs a first round caliber player. Richard is the rare “handcuff” that I’m pretty sure would not become a workhorse should Jacobs get hurt; at best, he’d simply be on the field more and see increased targets if the injury bug bit Jacobs. I’m not trying to own Richard in any format, even full-PPR, although that’s the only format where he should be a consideration.