Wide Receiver
Perhaps the most intriguing offensive position for the Raiders this season will be wide receiver. The team added Antonio Brown and Tyrell Williams via free agency and Hunter Renfrow through the draft. Those three should make up the team’s starting receiving core barring an injury.
Brown has been a beacon of fantasy success during his time in the NFL. Last season he finished fifth in NFL.com scoring with 323.70 points. He has made the Pro Bowl the past six seasons with at least 1,200 yards and nine touchdowns. That shouldn’t change in Oakland and his numbers could improve if the Raiders find themselves in garbage time. Brown remains an excellent WR1 and arguably the best receiver in the league.
Williams is another solid add for the real-life Raiders and should be a decent WR2/Flex guy in Fantasy Football. Last year he caught 41 passes for 653 yards and five scores. He finished 47th in NFL scoring with 137.80 points. Williams doesn’t have the same name brand as Brown, but could see more receptions if Brown is blanketed by opposing team’s CB1. While he may be more of a sleeper now, Williams could end up being a solid middle-round add.
Renfrow is the unknown in the Raiders’ receiving corp. Last year at Clemson he caught 49 passes for 544 yards and a score. He is a bit undersized, however the Raiders’ brass clearly liked him, selecting Renfrow in the fifth round. He’s more of a wait-and-see prospect but could end up being a sneaky sleeper in the later rounds.
The Raiders’ receiving core is vastly improved from last season. Adding Brown and Williams should give the team a major boost. When it comes to Fantasy Football, wide receiver could be the most valuable among the Raiders’ skill positions.
Bottom Line: Brown remains an excellent selection anywhere in the middle-to-late first round or early second. Williams should be a solid starter and could go anywhere from the sixth to eighth. Renfrow is more of a hold but could go later in Dynasty leagues. Overall, the Raiders’ receiving core is a major buy compared to last season.
