Much to the surprise of many in Raider Nation, Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Hunter Renfrow had to sit back and watch his name be omitted from the 2022 Pro Bowl selections. That is despite leading one of the league’s top passing offenses in receptions and yards.
Perhaps it is due to a general lack of attention to the humble and unassuming nature of the Clemson product. Let’s state the obvious; Renfrow has a build more suitable for handball at first glance, not the type of guy you figure is putting top corners on skates every Sunday. But, in a tumultuous season for the Silver and Black, the third-year pass catcher has earned his due.
Renfrow has improved when the Raiders needed him most…
2021 was supposed to be the season the Raiders saw a leap from their second-year targets Henry Ruggs III and Bryan Edwards, while tight end Darren Waller remained the top option, and Renfrow continued to be a reliable safety valve in the slot. However, injury, off-the-field tragedy, and outright stagnation have created the opportunity for Hunter to become more than just Third and Renfrow. Shifting into more of an outside role has allowed Renfrow to show what he can do against top corners. In case you missed it, he’s been pretty damn good. Defenses know quarterback Derek Carr is looking for 13 on most dropbacks, but few have been able to bottle him up.
How does the Raiders’ receiver stack up with the other Pro Bowlers?
They say numbers don’t lie, and in the case of Renfrow’s Pro Bowl snub argument, the statistics are iron clad.
Renfrow is currently tied for sixth in the NFL in receptions with 89, and while he may only be eighteenth in yards, the difference between his current position and a top ten spot is less than 130 yards. Hunter’s case becomes even stronger when you isolate his stats against the four receivers selected over him in Pro Bowl voting.
Season Stats
Tyreek Hill – 102/1178/9
Keenan Allen – 92/1,007/5
Hunter Renfrow – 89/909/5
Stefon Diggs – 82/1,007/8
Ja’Marr Chase – 61/1,038/10
Renfrow only trails Chargers receiver Keenan Allen by three receptions and does so while seeing 26 fewer targets than the Los Angeles pass catcher. In fact, the Chiefs’ leading target, Tyreek Hill, only leads Renfrow by 13 catches while seeing 33 more targets, and Stefon Diggs has also seen more targets than Renfrow (17) to the tune of seven fewer catches. Renfrow’s case becomes even stronger when you look at the numbers after Week 6, when the Raiders lost Ruggs.
Since Week 7, when he became the number one target outside, Renfrow has recorded 57 receptions for 568 yards and three touchdowns. To put that into perspective, 2022 Ja’Marr Chase has 61 catches for the entire season.
2022 Pro Bowl Selections vs. Renfrow Since Week 7
Hunter Renfrow – 57/568/3
Tyreek Hill – 56/586/4
Keenan Allen – 53/588/4
Stefon Diggs – 45/544/6
Ja’Marr Chase – 34/453/5
These numbers become even more impressive when you realize that 33 of those catches and 385 of those yards came without Waller taking defensive attention away. No one that actually pays attention will be stunned when Renfrow somehow ends up being a top ten receiver this season, but now is a better time than ever for voters to open their eyes to a major mistake in the voting process. Flash doesn’t equate to results, and “RenGOAT” is living proof.
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*Top Photo: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images