Las Vegas Raiders

One of the biggest moves of the day was the Raiders signing quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. This move made sense for a bunch of reasons. The obvious one is the connection with head coach Josh McDainels. On top of that the Raiders offense is full of weapons. Josh Jacobs is coming back on the franchise tag. You have one of the best receivers in the game in Davante Adams and if Darren Waller is healthy watch out. The Raiders also made another sneaky good move this morning acquiring former Patriots stand out Jakobi Meyers. Adams, Meyers and Hunter Renfrow on paper can be one of the best wide receiver groups in the league.

Chicago Bears

The Bears are having an excellent offseason. Not only did they get a haul of picks for the #1 pick in this year’s draft they also acquired stud WR D.J. Moore in the deal. On Monday the Bears worked to sure up one of their biggest weaknesses by acquiring two stud linebackers. Tremaine Edmunds was arguably the best linebacker available and he signed a 4 year deal with Chicago. They also signed LB T.J. Edwards who was a solid piece for the Eagles defense last year. I still expect the Bears to pick up some offensive lineman in the coming weeks.

Atlanta Falcons

Another team that impressed on day 1 of NFL free agency was the Falcons. Early in the day they acquired TE Jonnu Smith from the Patriots while only giving up a 7th round pick. I am really intrigued on how Smith will fit with Kyle Pitts and expect the duo to work well together. Later in the day the Falcons signed former Bengals S Jessie Bates. Bates is underrated in my opinion. He is an excellent safety whom is great against the run. The Falcons were not done as early this morning they picked up QB Taylor Heinicke on a 2 year deal. Heinicke showed in Washington he is an excellent back up that can be called upon if needed to win big games.

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By: Jake Rajala

Week 1 started with the Josh Allen show and it ended with fireworks from Geno Smith (which may sound like a bit of a surprise). There is a lot of chaos to unfold in the fantasy football realm — particularly at the WR position. With that said, I’m going to untwine a few faces at the wide receiver position that ought to be shipped away heading into Week 2.

• Hunter Renfrow

I’m not sold on Hunter Renfrow, who made the Pro Bowl last season, in 2022. He only capped off three catches for 21 yards in his first contest. Davante Adams stole most of the magic in Week 1 (as he hauled in 10 catches for 141 yards and a touchdown). The Raiders still have the unearthly TE Darren Waller (who recorded 79 yards in Week 1). Trust me, Renfrow won’t be the next Julian Edelman in his offense that will face a lot of brutal AFC West competition moving forward.

• Brandon Aiyuk

The San Franciso 49ers were the biggest loser of Week 1 in my opinion. Brandon Aiyuk was a ghost on that same team. Aiyuk notched a couple of catches for 40 yds. I’m definitely iffy about QB Trey Lance. Aiyuk blatantly sits behind Deebo Samuel and George Kittle —- with an unstable QB situation. Aiyuk still has some glamour from many flashes in his first two seasons, so it would be wise to see if someone else feels that he has an incredible ceiling in 2022.

• Kadarius Toney

I was a Kadarius Toney stan this off-season, but it looked like his controller was broken in Week 1. He had two catches for 23 yards. The worst part is that he only played 12% of the snaps in GMEN’s first contest. In the offense that runs through a healthy Saquon Barkley (18 carries, 164 rushing yards, and 1 TD), I’d be hesitant about relying on any significant impact from Toney. The former first-round pick also had a rocky rookie season – to say the least.

Honorable Mention:

• Mecole Hardman

I didn’t love Mecole Hardman’s role heading into this season and he didn’t help his case by having three catches for 16 yards (with a touchdown) in Week 1. Hardman did find the end-zone, but his lack of ability to excel with six targets in Week 1 scares me. Mahomes also threw 360 yards and 5 touchdowns, yet he didn’t need Hardman to shine by his side. I’d scout to see if some owners believe Hardman has more upside than he deserves in the Chiefs offense in 2022.

The post Fantasy: 3 WRs to trade away heading into Week 2 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Justin Frye

One of 2021’s biggest surprises was the Hunter Renfrow breakout. With struggling receivers on the outside and TE Darren Waller battling through injuries, Renfrow stepped up and became Derek Carr‘s favorite option. Despite the top thirteen finish at receiver, Renfrow is currently viewed as outside the top 36 options. Is that low ranking justified or is he a strong buy-low option?

Coaching Change

One big change, which isn’t being accounted for enough in his value, is the hiring of Josh McDaniels. The Patriots’ system, where he came from, has had prolific slot receivers for years. If Renfrow continues in the same mold as Wes Welker and Julian Edelman, he’s vastly underrated and should be viewed as a WR2 type.

Looking back through Patriot seasons, it’s hard to find apples-to-apples comparisons. Unfortunately, Randy Moss, Welker, and Rob Gronkowski all played together, as Gronkowski joined the year Moss left. The fewest targets a healthy Patriots slot WR saw since 2010 is 86, to Danny Amendola when playing with Brandin Cooks and Gronkowski. So that is the absolute floor, health permitting.

That undersells the targets though, which routinely hit 130+ in those seasons. The Patriots were aware of Amendola succumbing to injuries often and minimized his usage to protect him for the playoffs, especially with Julian Edelman already out. I believe a better comparison is out there though. Let’s look at the 2013 season. In 2013, the Patriots had four primary targets: Edelman (134 targets), Gronkowski (131), Brandon LaFell (119), and Shane Vereen (77).

Increased Target Competition?

I brought up the difficulty in finding a Patriot comparison because the Raiders no longer have just Renfrow and Waller, they made a huge offseason addition. Davante Adams is now in Las Vegas, reunited with his Fresno St running mate in Carr, and is clearly the team’s new alpha. Adams has seen at least 127 targets in each of the last four seasons, and that low was in only 12 games.

It’s unlikely the Raiders have two players still mentioned in the above tweet after the 2022 season. Which is bad news for Renfrow because those targets aren’t coming from Adams. What it does mean is that Renfrow is likely to see a lot less coverage, as teams are going to have to roll safeties towards Adams and Waller. So I’m expecting more efficiency in 2022, though less scoring.

The 2022 offense

I want to circle back now to the 2013 Patriots. While this is the closest comparison, I still think it’s flawed. For one, while Josh Jacobs has shown an ability to catch passes before, I don’t think he’ll be used that way (again). McDaniels prefers sharing the load, so likely a combination of Jacobs, Kenyan Drake, and possibly Zamir White split backfield touches.

With less short-area target competition, this bodes well for Renfrow. Waller and Adams are both vertical threats to challenge defenses. So were Gronkowski and Moss. Renfrow is likely to be the open-off-the-line guy Carr targets to move the chains and when he sees a blitz or free rusher coming. Which is likely to be a lot with all the pass rushing in the AFC West.

That’s to say nothing of the current offensive line situation. It’s gross and unlikely to improve drastically. The way McDaniels calls plays to combat this? Get it out quick to the open slot WR. It’s why Edelman saw so many targets later in his career. I expect similar from Renfrow this year.

Long Term Outlook

Darren Waller and Davante Adams both turn 30 in the season, while Renfrow will only hit 27. This gives him his prime years with Carr as his QB and likely a slot-friendly scheme for at least his next two years. He’s shown adept at collecting targets, including the red zone. His role can grow too, as both Waller and Adams have injury histories that only get worse with age.

In any PPR leagues, I think I’m comfortable with Renfrow as my WR2 or 3, likely paired with a higher variance player like a Terry McLaurin or Drake London. He’ll never be highly sought after, but is going to be a steady contributor to whoever manages him. As a contender, he’s someone I absolutely want on my team. I think now is the time to buy before people see him pop in the system.

The post Hunter Renfrow’s dynasty outlook right now appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The underrated wide receiver Hunter Renfrow signed a multi-year contract worth $32 million dollars with the Las Vegas Raiders today. Josh McDaniels has expressed his gratitude for Renfrow after the contract was official. Per PFT, the Raiders HC stated, “Hunter is one of the true leaders on this team and he exemplifies the values of the organization in how he comes to work every day. He is a tremendous teammate on and off the field and the entire Raider nation is excited to see what the future holds for Hunter.” Carr is obviously ecstatic that Renfrow extended his contract after they were able to swing big for Davante Adams earlier in the off-season.

The Raiders slot weapon and 26-year-old WR had career-high marks in many categories last season: targets (128), receptions (103), yards (1,038), and receiving touchdowns (9).

Renfrow had an impressive 80.4 grade by PFF – which placed 10th best among all WRs last season. He also had Chris Carter-like hands, as he caught 96.5% of catchable targets (fourth-highest in the league). It’s safe to say that he has been a steal for the Raiders after being drafted in the fifth round.

It should be noted that McDaniels is accustomed to seeing late-round wideouts blossom. The former Pats OC enjoyed a ton of success with the seventh-round pick and slot WR Julian Edelman, who had four seasons of 950+ yards under McDaniels.

Renfrow will join the former Packers WR that turned down more money from the Pack. Adams has registered 29 total touchdowns and 2,928 yards in the past two seasons combined. Tae mentioned that Rodgers’s potential retirement in the near future was a factor in joining LV.

Outside of the big two wideouts in McDaniel’s offense, the Raiders will expect WR Demarcus Robinson to be a threat. Robinson went from the dark side (Kansas City) to the light (Las Vegas) this off-season. He will aim to replace the production of Zay Jones, who went to Jacksonville. Robinsons’s best season came in 2020 – as he recorded a career-high 460 yards and 45 receptions.

Darren Waller may not be a WR, but he will be a top-notch receiving weapon. He missed six games in 2021 and it also seems that his contract situation could be the next priority after Renfrow. After the Raiders lock up their familiar toys (combined with the Tae’s presence), It seems that Derek Carr may be on the verge of being an annual top-shelf QB in the AFC.

The post Raiders WR outlook right now appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The Las Vegas Raiders unsung wide receiver Hunter Renfrow went from a Willie Snead-like slot WR in his first two seasons to a Pro Bowl slot weapon for Derek Carr in 2022. Renfrow recorded career-high marks in receptions (103), targets (128), yds (1,038), and touchdowns (9). Hence, Renfrow was a quality fantasy choice (averaging roughly 15 pts in PPR) in 2021.

Renfrow was a nice breakout player in 2022, but it’s not a secret that it may be hard for him to be a Pro Bowl-caliber player moving forward. He will be joined by Davante Adams, who was the second-most targeted WR in 2021. Adams is one of the rarest WRs in NFL history that should be able excel beyond age 30 (similar to Reggie Wayne, Randy Moss, and Chad Ochocinco). Renfrow will benefit from superb match-ups, but Tae will demand infinite targets in shoot-out contests against AFC West opponents for many years to come.

It should also be noted that Darren Waller missed six games in 2021, which resulted in him having his worst season as a Raider. Expect Waller to be healthy and also wreaking havoc from the slot, as Silver and Black Pride reported.

I don’t love the long-term outlook with Renfrow to say the least. I expect him to remain a Raider and a part of Carr’s quest to win a Super Bowl, but I don’t believe Renfrow will enjoy a “Jarvis Landry-like” career after his coming out party in 2021. I do believe that Waller’s impact from the slot will quietly hurt Renfrow’s ability, too. Josh McDaniels loves to utilize athletic TEs to their fullest ability (cough, cough Robert Gronkowski).

Renfrow’s 2022 season wasn’t cute, but it will be hard for him to have 128 targets per season or overly impressive individual game performances (like many game performances by Ja’Marr Chase). The 24-year-old is young, on a quality offense, and enjoying a peak moment, so he should be traded away in the dynasty world.

The post Hunter Renfrow dynasty outlook appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

The Las Vegas Raiders acquired Davante Adams, also known as the long-time jealous ex of Derek Carr. Josh McDaniels clearly wanted to press the pedal to the metal in the AFC West and he should feel very confident in his Tyreek Hill-less division.

I feel strongly that Tae should have a strong career moving forward with McDaniels and Carr in Sin City. Per Fantasy Pros, Tae was the second most targeted wideout last season (169) and the most targeted WR in 2020 (149), but I absolutely expect him to remain one of the Top 5 most targeted WRs with the Raiders in each of the next few seasons. Meanwhile, Hunter Renfrow received 128 targets last season. Adams might have been the “be and end all WR” for Rodgers, but he didn’t quite sling the rock as much as Carr. The Raiders QB1 threw 626 passing attempts last season, while A-Rod unleashed the ball 531 times in 2021. I fully expect Carr and Tae to link up at least 140+ times in 2022. Adams also has a unique skillset in the Raiders offense and he will demand a lot of bombs on the perimeter.

I absolutely see no reason why Adams isn’t a Top 6 dynasty WR at the moment. Tae might be on the verge of 30 years old, but he is coming off a career-high receiving yard mark in 2021 (1,553) and he ousted 18 receiving touchdowns in 2020 (career-high). He is one of the few pros in today’s league that manages to not only retain his form but improve his all-around craft. The NFL world witnessed Randy Moss and Larry Fitzgerald hail as elite WRs beyond the age of 30 and I surely expect the shifty, persistent Adams to be a cream of the crop WR for 4-5 more seasons with Carr.

The post What is the dynasty outlook of Davante Adams? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The Las Vegas Raiders made the playoffs last season, but they had a tough (and cringy) loss against the AFC Champions Cincinnati Bengals in the wildcard matchup. Derek Carr and Hunter Renfrow were outmuscled by Joe Burrow and the 2021 Offensive Rookie of The Year Ja’Marr Chase, but the Raiders should hold their heads high this offseason.

The Raiders have plenty of room to improve on offense and their ceiling is sky-high. Derek Carr has been phenomenal with Josh Jacobs, Darren Waller, and Hunter Renfrow, but the offense can really lift off with a big addition at wideout. The Desean Jackson experiment won’t last forever, as the Eagles legend is 34 years old. With that said, here are a few free agents that Josh McDaniels should strongly consider signing.

Michael Gallup

The buzz surrounding JuJu Smith-Schuster and Las Vegas has been hot and cold. Furthermore, JuJu seems in love with the Dallas Cowboys in numerous ways and there’s also a strong possibility he reunites with the Steelers. I foresee JuJu taking a prove-it deal with Dak and replacing Michael Gallup, while Gallup looks for a new home.

I honestly believe that the shiny and overly popular free agent wide receiver Michael Gallup is the perfect fit for the Las Vegas Raiders. Josh McDaniels ought to be the most aggressive buyer for Michael Gallup in free agency.

Gallup had a single-season career-high receiving yards mark in 2019 (1,107) and 11 touchdowns in 2019 and 2020 combined. He can be a consistent, big catch WR on the outside, while Renfrow mows down defenses from the inside.

The Raiders have the 16th most cap space in the NFL, but they should really prioritize Gallup to ensure that they give him the best offer among any interested teams in his services. I believe they are simply the best combination of fit, riches, and ascending culture to attract him.

Cordarralle Patterson

If Gallup re-signs with Dallas or heads elsewhere (potentially a Top 5 team on a prove-it deal), the Las Vegas Raiders could really get creative with Cordarrelle Patterson in their offensive attack. The combination of Josh Jacobs, Kenyan Drake, and Patterson at RB would be entertaining, but quick screens and deep shots to Patterson at WR across from Darren Waller would be more thrilling. The methodical scheme with play-action shots deep down the field by McDaniels would be firing off all cylinders with Patterson in the offense.

Patterson is a much younger version of Desean Jackson and he can be a more versatile athlete. Patterson was named second-team All-Pro by Pro Football Focus at the flex position.

Tre’Quan Smith

The Saints young wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith had to suffer from a brutal passing attack in New Orleans with a half injured Taysom Hill (and Ian Book) for a large chunk of 2021. I believe he would be the perfect value signing for Vegas this offseason.

I don’t expect him to join the Saints and their mysterious QB situation long-term, especially with Michael Thomas returning and Deonte Harris possessing a unique role as the reliable deep threat WR. He would provide excellent depth at the Raiders WR position and he would surely help the Raiders passing game late in the season.

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The Las Vegas Raiders, over the past several seasons have not been a team to bet on making the playoffs. Being a hotbed for inconsistency, mediocrity, and notorious for being in the news for all the wrong reasons, the former team from Oakland is having one of its better seasons in 2021, vying for an AFC West title in an extremely competitive division chock-full of extremely talented rosters (and then the Broncos). The Raiders are very prone to finishing 3^rd or 4^th in the division, going 8-8, 7-9, and 4-12 over the past three seasons. This year however is looking different, with good play from Derek Carr, a good running game, and an improving defense, the Raiders are poised to make waves in the wild card race if they continue to win games.

The Raider’s field general, Derek Carr stands in the inevitable ”˜no man’s land’ of are they elite QBs, with the likes of Joe Flacco, Jimmy Garoppolo, and Matt Ryan. This year, offensive team building seems to have clicked for the Raiders especially with their wide receiver group. With the removal of Henry Ruggs from Raiders organization, the backs and auxiliary wide receivers have been given the spotlight. A standout star, Hunter Renfrow, is best poised to make a potential leap to star, household name WR1, from an on field perspective, and fantasy football perspective.

Hunter Renfrow, judging from his Instagram, looks like a B-tier caddie that you see on TV during the Masters Golf Tournament.  However, don’t lets his 5’10’’ smaller frame fool you, this man runs routes like the best. Renfrow leads the Raiders wide receiver group in targets, only paling in comparison to Darren Waller, a top 5 tight end in the league, stand in good company. Renfrow leads the entire team in receptions, yards, and receiving TDs.

The Raiders are an extremely boring offense, only having like 4 or so things that they really do when possessing the ball. Here is my, probably wrong list of exactly that ”“

1. Run the ball down the opponent’s throat using Josh Jacobs
2. Derek Carr closes his eye and throws the ball to Darren Waller for a completion
3. Checkdown to Hunter Renfrow
4. Rail it deep to DeSean Jackson

This is my impression of the Raiders offense — in is a lesser version.

In typical short-yardage situations, Hunter Renfrow is the automatic target to get 1^st downs. Carr averages 8 air yards per throw to Renfrow and has been exceptionally good at it throughout the season. Fantasy owners have Renfrow’s route running to thank for his production, and as a result has catapulted him to a top-30 WR in fantasy in all formats. In dynasty leagues he also stands as an excellent investment, on pace to shatter his previous single-season total yards, receptions, and TDs without a doubt.

Any great offense can be stopped by a great defense, and fortunately, the AFC West is mostly devoid of them ”“ the Chiefs let up a ridiculous amount of points, the Chargers can’t stop the run to save their life, and the Broncos are hit or miss. Other games on this season’s schedule include the Bengals – who can beat the Ravens one week and then lose to Mike White ”“ and the Cowboys, likely matching up Trevon Diggs with Renfrow. The outlook looks positive and Renfrow should have a great time to flousish in the Raider’s offense.

Hunter Renfrow is the quintessential don’t judge a book by its cover player. Some may laugh at his shortish appearance, but fantasy players everywhere should be on watch, this guy is someone that all players should look to roster if still on waivers.

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