Previewing the 2008 fantasy football Raiders

By Os Davis  |   Wednesday, August 06, 2008  |  Comments( 8 )

Oakland Raiders
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Not that we’re obsessed with fantasy football here at RealFootball365.com, but come on, man, our in-house draft is about two weeks away. Time to pore over those players, roster by roster, seeking gems to brighten up your perpetual .500-level club. (OK, OK, my perpetual .500-level club.)

Today, it’s the Oakland Raiders’ 53 under the microscope in preparation of the draft board. Without (much) further ado, then, who in the silver and black is worth a spot on your roster in 2008?

(Note: Fantasy points are deriving from the system used by the RealFootball365.com in-house league's host, including one point for 25 yards passing; one point for 10 yards receiving/rushing; six points for a touchdown passed/run/caught; minus-2 points for fumble/interception. On defense, it’s:

• a defensive TD is worth six points, safeties are good for two;

• interceptions and recovered fumbles, two points each;

• sacks, one point per;

• zero to six points scored against equals eight fantasy points; seven to 13, six; 14 to 20, four; 21 to 27, two points; and

• zero to 49 yards allowed equals 12 fantasy points, 50 to 99, 10; 100 to 149, eight; 150 to 199, six; 200 to 249, four; and 250 to 299 is worth two.)

JaMarcus Russell, also known as the most difficult decision for owners in keeper leagues. Unless playing in an option-keeper league -- i.e., a league which allows the signing of players to multiyear contracts -- most owners will be forced to think long and hard about Russell in 2008.

While Russell is guaranteed the No. 1 position on the Raiders, the security of his well-being is far from such behind this offensive line. Sure, Russell can run and may even gain a few fantasy points for his owners this way, too, but his receiving corps doesn’t exactly inspire confidence vis-à-vis actually catching the ball. Russell could end up in the top half of the NFL’s fantasy quarterbacks come year's end and will certainly run up fantasy points against two porous AFC West passing defenses, but would any fantasy owner in his or her right mind really sleep well starting Russell in Week 3 against the improved Buffalo Bills defense? Or in Week 4 versus the Chargers? Or in Week 6 at New Orleans?

Recommendation: Russell is a decent bet for second-string QB in any league, particularly for the season’s second half. In option-keeper leagues, draft him and sign him to a five-year deal. After all, he is the future.

Darren McFadden/Justin Fargas. When reviewing the top running backs for the 2008 draft, this writer was high enough on McFadden to put him in the top half-dozen or so; in keeper leagues, this still goes. However, it appears that as camp progresses McFadden and Fargas will share touches.

Fargas was, of course, a boon to those who picked him up quickly enough last season -- sort of. Indeed, Fargas was the bandwagon pick after his 179-yard game against the Dolphins in Week 4. However, the next three weeks saw him amass just 26, 20 and 97 total yards and no TDs -- just 13 fantasy points against the 17 he managed in his breakout game. Patience was rewarded, though, as Fargas went for an average of 11.8 points per game the rest of the way before ending the season with two DNPs.

Recommendation: Can you say “handcuff”? The 2008 Raiders could well be running the very picture of the in-vogue two-back system while gaining lots of ground yardage. Those holding Fargas really shouldn't look anywhere else.

Any receiver. With all of his offseason troubles, there’s no way anyone will be happy with a Javon Walker pickup. And while the Raiders’ leading receiver of the past two seasons, Ronald Curry, should surely improve on his none-too-impressive fantasy stats (5.98 points per game in 2007, 4.9 in 2006) with a competent quarterback at the helm, truth is that he’d have to double his best numbers to make a dent in these days of WRs racking up points. Can you see Curry going for 1,400 yards and eight TDs? Me neither.

Recommendation: No. (Unless you’re a big Johnnie Lee Higgins fan, that is …)

Zach Miller. Aside from maybe Wes Welker, few AFC players were as disproportionately dissed in the fantasy game in relation to their importance to the team: That fact was paid for by the mighty fighting Os Holes, who drafted late in the TE round and wound up with the Raiders’ steadiest player. Miller was easily Oakland’s rookie of the year in 2007 and was at times the best blocker on the whole offensive line; unfortunately, while Fargas has much to thank the ex-Arizona State standout for, we all know that fantasy football just doesn’t award blocks.

On the other hand, Miller will certainly improve in all key stats (44 receptions, 444 yards, three TDs, 5.25 fantasy points per game) thanks to, again, a competent quarterback) and just three more fantasy points per game – equaling about 300 more yards and three more touchdowns – would put Miller close to the top-tier TEs in the NFL. (Antonio Gates, No. 2 overall at the position in 2007, contributed 9.5 per game.) Will Miller get this many more catches? With this bunch at receiver? You bet.

Recommendation: Miller’s set for a big year; take him as high as No. 5, after the big boys Gates, Tony Gonzalez, Kellen Winslow II and Jeremy Shockey.

The defense. Why not? Though stunningly bad against the run in giving up nearly 130 yards rushing per game – the league’s second worst – the unit’s stats versus the pass nearly made up for it last season. The Raiders’ 18 picks and 27 sacks were worth four points per game alone, a decent start for any fantasy ‘D’. Killing, though, were the 24.8 points allowed and that awful, awful run defense.

This year is even murkier around the league – truth is, no one defensive unit really stands out at all – and there’s little to believe that the run ‘D’ will be much better with so few improvements made there in terms of personnel acquisition. Meanwhile, the additions of DeAngelo Hall, Gibril Wilson and, to a lesser extent, Greg Wesley to Nnamdi Asomugha and Michael Huff may well equal the league-leading team in interceptions this season. As to whether it’s enough, well, things can only get better against the run.

Recommendation: Potentially even a starting ‘D’ in deep leagues, the best use of the Raider defense would probably be in a heavy rotation, with Oakland coming in against exploitable pass-happy offenses.

Training Camp: An entirely new kind of fantasy game!
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About Os Davis

Os Davis has taken a twisted route to get to RealFootball365.com in his nearly 17 years in professional writing, working in any number of capacities in the sportswriting, news reporting and film criticism worlds. In print media, Os has served as editor at a few publications, including Albuquerque's ...
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