The Black Hole, an abyss-like stadium that is home to the Oakland Raiders and Oakland Athletics, will host yet another season of Raider-football. But will the team’s prospects improve this year? After having missed the playoffs every year since 2003 Raiders’ fans need a sign of hope, or at least a capable showing from new quarterback Matt Schaub.
A team that has been largely irrelevant in fantasy football just as they have in division races over the past decade, 2014 could usher in a new era of Raider football and provide valuable sleepers in silver and black
Matt Schaub, Quarterback
Taking a risk on a 33 year old former Texans’ quarterback is not a wise move, especially since Schaub is not even being drafted in standard formats. The only hope from this position for the Raiders’ this year comes from rookie Derrick Carr who will likely sit out the majority of 2014. Carr is a worthy pick in dynasty formats, but otherwise avoid Raiders’ passers like the plague.
Maurice Jones-Drew, Running Back
This guy may still have something left in the tank, but with Darren McFadden lurking in the background as well as potential sleeper Latavius Murray, carries may be harder to come by in the Oakland backfield than a winning season for the silver and black. Regardless, Jones-Drew’s average draft position of the 33rd running back taken makes him worth the risk. While avoiding Run-DMC is a good call due to his injury history, Murray makes an excellent late-round or dynasty addition as backing up two elderly runners with a young stud is always a good call.
James Jones, Wide Receiver
From the third option in a wide ocean of targets to the biggest fish in Oakland’s pond, James Jones will have to cement his place as a legitimate starting wideout if the Raiders’ hope to find success in the passing game this season. Currently being taken as the 49th pass catcher, 69% of experts rank Jones better than his average draft position. As Jones goes so will the Raiders’ vertical offense, so if you are taking a risk on any Oakland pass catcher this is your man, this is just not a situation to be confident in.
Rod Streater, Wide Receiver
Though his star does not shine as bright as Andy Sandberg’s, this guy is a real hot rod. Locked on a struggling Raiders’ team, Streater possesses an excellent catch radius and is a true home run threat. The only issue is who is throwing him the football. In a different situation Streater’s 73rd average draft positon would be obscenely low, but if there is no improvement at quarterback for Oakland, there will be no boost in Streater’s statistics either.
Mychal Rivera, Tight End
A promising young player, Rivera finds himself locked in the same old song and dance much like his counterparts at wide receiver. As Schaub goes so does the Raiders offense, and there is little faith to be had in a 33 year old passer in an offense with no superstar. Still, Rivera does have the most upside of any player on the Raiders’ offense due to his youth and his tenacity for catching balls in traffic.
Biggest Fantasy Surprise: Mychal Rivera, Tight End
The cliché “safety valve” come to mind when Mychal Rivera is the subject of conversation. One of the lone bright spots in the Raiders’ arsenal, Rivera will be Schaub’s go to target in high-pressure situations making Rivera’s status as an undrafted player in fantasy drafts seem ridiculous. Though he will lose some snaps in the run game to David Ausberry due to his inability to block consistently, Rivera is by far the best pass catcher and route runner in the Raiders’s table to tight ends.
Biggest Fantasy Disappointment: Darren McFadden, Running Back
Yearly expectations for McFadden have been high ever since he was selected fourth overall out of Arkansas in the 2008 draft. These hopes and dreams have never been met by the former Razorback, so why should 2014 be any different? Now locked into a crowded depth chart, McFadden has never played more than 13 games in a season. Injury concerns and lack of touches will make McFadden irrelevant in fantasy football in 2014.
How the Schedule Impacts Oakland’s Fantasy Options
Dennis Allen’s 2014 Raiders will start off their season against one of the best defensive teams in football in the New York Jets, then face four cupcake defenses in five weeks with their bye week falling very early. The latter here could spell trouble injury-wise later in the year for the veterans especially Jones-Drew and McFadden.
While games against the Chiefs, Cardinals, Broncos, 49ers and Seahawks will limit the Oakland offense, two dates with the Chargers should help alleviate this schedule in a state of imbalance. The AFC West is one of the tightest divisions in football, and with the NFC West on the docket as well, the schedule makers did little to help Oakland’s playoff or fantasy prospects heading into 2014.