Raiders fans! We are now roughly 25 percent of the way through the NFL regular season, and we are even further along in the regular season in most fantasy football leagues. At this point, managers have a good idea of what players are worth in terms of fantasy football. It is also the time to start making the big moves that can win you a championship.
Assessing Which Raiders Are Worth Rostering In Fantasy Football
Now is the time to start making tough decisions about your favorite Raiders players. Las Vegas’ offense has simply not been conducive to fantasy football success this year. Nevertheless, there are a few Raiders that still have significant fantasy value. Let’s get into who those players are.
Josh Jacobs, Running Back
Josh Jacobs has had a weird year in fantasy this season. While his rushing numbers have been absolutely horrible, his enormous workload in the passing game has kept him relevant, especially in PPR formats. The difference between where Jacobs stands in PPR versus non-PPR formats is stark. In the former, he is averaging 14.5 points per game and is 14th among running backs in total points. In the latter, he is averaging just 10 per game and sits 18th in scoring.
What has been really impressive is that Jacobs has remained a top-20 fantasy running back despite not scoring a touchdown until this past Sunday against the Chargers. At some point, Jacobs is going to start finding paydirt more. His rushing numbers showed signs of life in Los Angeles, as well. The 81 yards on the ground were far and away his most of the year.
Jacobs may not get back to being the elite fantasy player he was last year, but he will get closer to that level as the year goes on. His volume of touches is still there. The rushing yards and touchdowns will eventually see positive regression to what they once were. Until that happens, he remains a solid RB2 with RB1 upside. If Jacobs is on your roster, keep him and keep starting him. If he is not, he is a great buy-low trade candidate, especially in PPR formats. Speaking of receptions…
Davante Adams Is Still That Guy
Davante Adams, Wide Receiver
Who had Davante Adams’ targets increasing on their 2023 NFL bingo cards? That honestly did not seem possible, but here we are. Adams’ 50 targets are second in the league behind Rams rookie star Puka Nacua. He is currently on pace for over 200 targets this season. That crazy volume has allowed him to remain a top-six fantasy football wide receiver — in both PPR and non-PPR formats — despite averaging three yards less per catch than he was in 2022.
Adams’ target share does not appear to be a fluke. He is the focal point of Josh McDaniels’ offense. It does not matter who is at quarterback or what other receivers are on the field. The Raiders wide receiver gets his touches every week. The only thing keeping Adams from achieving the fantasy production we saw last year is a lack of explosive plays. Adams’ longest reception so far this season is just 32 yards. With Jimmy Garoppolo at quarterback, that is unlikely to change anytime soon.
Even without the explosive plays, the consistent volume makes Adams a high-floor WR1. At this point, his usage has no chance of being a fluke like it could be for someone like Nacua. Adams remains a solid WR1, but with Garoppolo throwing him the ball, he will struggle to crack the top five in scoring for fantasy wide receivers. However, Adams is not the only Raiders wideout worth rostering.
Jakobi Meyers Was A Steal In Real Life And In Fantasy Football
Jakobi Meyers, Wide Receiver
Meyers’ fantasy production has been a huge shocker for the Silver and Black in 2023. Heading into the season, he was thought of as a low-end WR4 and a possible flex option. Turns out, he is a bonafide WR2. He is top-15 in both formats in average fantasy football points per game. Like Adams, a big part of Meyers’ production is sheer volume, averaging just under nine targets per game.
We thought Meyers would compete with Hunter Renfrow as the second option in the passing game. That has not been the case, with Renfrow being largely irrelevant. However, this past week against the Chargers, both receivers were targeted four times. That was a season-high for Renfrow and a season-low for Meyers. It was likely a one-off occasion, as Jacobs was targeted an absurd 11 times. Nevertheless, it is a trend to keep an eye on, especially if Aidan O’Connell starts another contest.
For now, Meyers is the guy you want out of the Raiders’ receiving corps outside of Adams. He remains a solid WR2. Although given where he went in most drafts, he is likely a luxurious WR3 or flex option for many fantasy football owners. He will continue to be useful in that role even if his target share dips as the season goes on.
Anyone Else?
Probably not. Jimmy Garoppolo, even when healthy, is averaging just 13.4 points per game. At running back, there is no clear handcuff option if Jacobs goes down. As mentioned above, Renfrow just had his best game of the year and still only caught two balls. He is more productive than any Raiders tight end, so that position group is out as well.
Due to a lack of turnovers, the Raiders’ defense remains irrelevant in fantasy despite playing well. Kicker Daniel Carlson is typically a fantasy stalwart, but he is only averaging one field goal a game this year. For the time being, Jacobs, Adams, and Meyers are the only Raiders that should be on your fantasy football roster.
*Top Photo: Justin Edmonds/Getty Images
