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Over the past couple of seasons, it has been hard for fantasy football owners to draft any of the Oakland Raiders‘ skill players. If the team had any players of value, their production was generally lacking, which was largely due to poor play on both sides of the ball.
The 2014 offseason certainly didn’t turn the Raiders from one of the bottom feeders of the league into instant playoff contenders. Instead, the team made a slew of great decisions. They retained their own players, signing necessary free agents, and spending their draft picks wisely on areas of need.
While Oakland improved in many areas of weakness it is by no means a complete team yet. However, in terms of addressing deficiencies, the team had one of the best offseasons in the entire NFL. Let’s take a look at the fantasy implications for the Raiders’ upgraded receiving corps.
While James Jones may not be a true No. 1 receiver, he is currently the best receiver on the roster. In 2012, Jones hauled in 14 touchdowns and looked like a WR-1, whereas last season he only caught three TDs. The staggering drop in production can be attributed to injuries and fighting for snaps in a deep and talented unit. Jones should not have the same issue now that he is in the “Black Hole.” A best case scenario for fantasy owners is that Jones will be a low-end WR-2 with upside.
As of right now Denarius Moore is the No. 2 receiver in the group. He has immense talent, but has been wildly inconsistent in the past. The Raiders made no secret that they were fed up with Moore’s lack of consistency. They tried to trade him all offseason. There’s always a chance he can turn a corner and fully develop into the player he was expected to be when he was drafted. Fantasy owners should steer clear of the potential headache and look elsewhere for receiver help.
Rod Streater will go into the season as the No. 3 receiver. He steadily improved his numbers in 2013 from his rookie year in 2012. Streater flashed spurts of brilliance last season, which should be enough to earn him a little more playing time and trust with the coaching staff. Fantasy owners can view him as a WR-4 with upside and a solid draft choice in the late rounds of the fantasy draft.
Alexander Muir is a writer at Rant Sports.com. Follow him on Twitter @AmuirAlex, “Like” him on Facebook or add him on your network on Google.
