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Oakland Raiders’ rookie signal caller Derek Carr beat out veteran quarterback Matt Schaub for the starting nod under center, then made his NFL debut against the New York Jets. And reckoning wideout Rod Streater was the presiding beneficiary of Carr’s big league game. NFL fantasy owners and their respective general managers made bank of off Streater’s big league performance – that is, in the event they chanced dispatching him into the game.
Streater all but tore the Jets’ secondary apart. The third-year flanker was targeted seven times and snagged five receptions for 46 yards and a 12-yard touchdown reception, harvesting 10 fantasy points for his efforts.
The big league wide receiver led the Raiders in 2013 with 99 targets, ranking 25th in the NFL among the 72 receivers who managed to play in all 16 regular season games. His scouting report from last season bears a second glance. Streater registered 40 or more yards in all but three games and put up double-digit fantasy points during three of his last seven.
The presiding bigger question in 2014 will be Carr’s respective target distribution. Streater is projected to be vying for looks from Carr amongst the ranks of a thin but reckoning WR corps, with the seasoned likes of Denarius Moore and James Jones breathing down his back. He ranks 35th in the league among fantasy active wideouts, has a 3.2 ownership percentage, and a draft average of 170.
Translation? Streater boasts long-term potential. But until the young, blossoming flanker can inflate his big league stock and show coaches that he warrants more chronic looks, the young fire may be staring down the barrel of nothing more than an occasional fill-in amongst a loaded and dangerous Raiders passing game.
Fantasy owner who gave Streater the nod for Week 1 definitely cashed in, but they are advised to err on the side of caution if they are considering investing in him for the long haul.
