Top 5 Fantasy Players On The Oakland Raiders
One of the biggest dilemmas on Fantasy Draft Day is whether or not you should select players from your favorite team. If you pick players from your favorite team and they perform poorly, your real life and fantasy team are both going to lose.
That's just a bummer.
Luckily for Oakland Raiders fans this season, not only is the team on the rise, but they also have a handful of players who could have big fantasy seasons.
Even if you aren't a fan of the Silver and Black, you may want to consider drafting a Raiders player, or two.
Here are the top five fantasy players on the Raiders.
1. Amari Cooper - WR1
After having a tremendous rookie season in 2015 (1,070 yards, 6 TDs), Cooper is expected to have an even better year in 2016.
The more experience he gains in the league, and reps he takes with quarterback Derek Carr, will only help his value on the field and in the fantasy world.
At this point in his career, he isn't worth a first round pick, but give him another year or two and he will be one of the top wide receivers picked in all drafts.
If you can draft Cooper in the second or third round, he is a quality number one receiver option. If he falls past the third round, do not pass up on him. That would be a huge steal.
2. Latavius Murray - RB2
Murray also had a big season in 2015 (1,066 yards, 6 TDs), and can improve on those numbers in 2016.
If you can snag Murray as the second running back on your team, he should be able to provide a steady amount of points throughout the season.
He is Oakland's number one running back in an offense which vastly improved the offensive line and is projected to put up a lot of points.
If you happen to draft Murray as your top running back, the wide receiving core on your team better be loaded.
He's a good running back, but don't rely on him to carry your team.
3. Michael Crabtree - WR2/3
He's a possession receiver so he won't have as many big yardage games as Cooper, but he will pull in a lot of receptions.
If Crabtree can get into the end zone at the same rate he did last season when he scored nine touchdowns, he can be a valuable piece to your fantasy team.
His points are going to be inconsistent because he doesn't have big play ability which makes him more of a third wide receiver on a good fantasy team.
He will be around in the later innings; it would be best to try to fill up with big play guys before drafting Crabtree.
4. Oakland Raiders Defense
If you're the type of fantasy owner who will wait until the very end to pick a defense, Oakland might be the best pick for you.
Because they are the Raiders, a team which has had an awful defense for what seems like an eternity, this year's defense will not get the respect they deserve.
The Oakland defense should be one of the last ones taken in the draft, but with the ability to get to the quarterback and an improved secondary, the defense should put up a decent amount of points.
It's still best to go for a defense like the Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks or Arizona Cardinals, but if they are all gone, the Raiders are still a solid option.
5. Derek Carr - QB2
The Oakland Raiders' quarterback had a few big point games last season, but his numbers were too inconsistent to make him a fantasy starter.
If he improves on last season, Carr can develop into a starting fantasy option. For now, he's a quality backup to draft for your starter's bye week or an injury.
Carr doesn't turn the ball over often and has weapons to throw to with Cooper and Crabtree on the outside.
If the top quarterbacks are already off the board in the later round and you still need a starter, Carr could be a low-risk, high reward pick.
The biggest issue for Carr is that he has to face both the Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs defense twice in the season.
