Fantasy: 2019 Projections - Does Raiders' Jacobs deserve more hype?
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With training camps approaching, theScore's Justin Boone is releasing his offensive projections for all 32 teams, including his thoughts on every fantasy-relevant player.
Projections are based on the following point values in PPR leagues:
- Passing Yards: 1 point per 25 yards
- Passing TDs: 4 points
- Interceptions: -2 points
- Rushing Yards: 1 point per 10 yards
- Rushing TDs: 6 points
- Receptions: 1 point
- Receiving Yards: 1 point per 10 yards
- Receiving TDs: 6 points
- Fumbles Lost: -2 points
- Two-point Conversions: 2 points
AFC East
NE | BUF | NYJ | MIA
NFC West
LAR | SF | SEA | ARI
AFC North
BAL | CIN | PIT | CLE
NFC South
ATL | NO | CAR | TB
AFC West
DEN | KC | OAK
NFC East
DAL | PHI
| Fantasy Points | 221.2 |
|---|---|
| Attempts | 546 |
| Completions | 365 |
| Pass Yards | 3985 |
| Pass TDs | 22 |
| INTs | 12 |
| Carries | 23 |
| Rush Yards | 58 |
| Rush TDs | 0 |
| Fumbles Lost | 5 |
| 2PT | 1 |
Carr enjoyed back-to-back years as a top-13 fantasy quarterback in 2015 and 2016. His production has dropped off considerably since then, with the Raiders passer averaging 10 fewer touchdowns per season over the last two campaigns to become an afterthought at fantasy's deepest position. But the arrivals of receivers Antonio Brown and Tyrell Williams and rookie running back Josh Jacobs give the offense a much-needed talent infusion, creating a sliver of hope Carr can resurrect his value from three seasons ago. He should be viewed as a low-end QB2 with the upside to be a strong bye-week replacement in the right matchup.
Quarterback depth: Carr's backups are Mike Glennon and Nathan Peterman. We don't need to spend any time discussing them as fantasy options...ever.
Josh Jacobs, RB| Fantasy Points | 217 |
|---|---|
| Carries | 222 |
| Rush Yards | 998 |
| Rush TDs | 5 |
| Fumbles Lost | 1 |
| Targets | 59 |
| Receptions | 48 |
| Rec. Yards | 352 |
| Rec. TDs | 1 |
| 2PT | 0 |
Jacobs doesn't seem to be getting the fantasy hype normally bestowed upon other first-round running backs. You can expect that to change once he hits the field in training camp and the preseason. The coaching staff and front office have made it clear they plan to put as much on Jacobs' plate as he can handle, even though he was never a workhorse in college. With that kind of guaranteed volume, the 21-year-old is being underrated by many in the fantasy community. Jacobs is an all-around back capable of eluding defenders with decisive cuts and isn't scared to initiate contact. He's also a quality pass-catcher who makes plays not just in the screen game but downfield as well. Though the Raiders' offense may not afford him as many scoring opportunities as other backs will see, Jacobs is headed towards top-20 fantasy numbers in his debut campaign.
Running back depth: If Jacobs misses time, the Raiders will rely on last year's late-season duo, with veteran Doug Martin banging on early downs and Jalen Richard handling the majority of the pass-catching duties. Richard had some appeal as a standalone PPR option, but The Athletic's Vic Tafur predicts a "good chunk" of his targets will go to the rookie Jacobs. Even in a starting role, Martin would remain merely a touchdown-dependent flex play.
Antonio Brown, WR| Fantasy Points | 275.3 |
|---|---|
| Targets | 164 |
| Receptions | 99 |
| Rec. Yards | 1203 |
| Rec. TDs | 9 |
| Carries | 0 |
| Rush Yards | 0 |
| Rush TDs | 0 |
| Fumbles Lost | 0 |
| 2PT | 1 |
Receivers can sometimes struggle when they switch teams, a fact fantasy managers will have to keep in mind when drafting Brown this season. But anyone who follows him on social media knows he's one of the hardest-working players in the league; his departure from Pittsburgh seems to have fueled his fire even more, which should help facilitate the transition to a new club and, more importantly, a new quarterback. We're projecting Brown to come close to a seventh straight season with over 100 receptions, but ultimately fall short. Even with natural regression from the 15 touchdowns he posted a year ago, Brown is still in line to be a top-10 fantasy wideout.
Tyrell Williams, WR| Fantasy Points | 145.4 |
|---|---|
| Targets | 81 |
| Receptions | 48 |
| Rec. Yards | 734 |
| Rec. TDs | 4 |
| Carries | 0 |
| Rush Yards | 0 |
| Rush TDs | 0 |
| Fumbles Lost | 0 |
| 2PT | 0 |
Best-ball managers and DFS aficionados should be all over Williams, who's been serving as a field-stretcher with the Chargers in recent years. When thrust into a larger role in 2016, Williams turned 119 targets into 69 receptions, 1,059 yards, and seven scores. Since then, he's seen fewer than 70 targets in each of the last two seasons, a total he should smash as the Raiders' only reliable downfield receiving threat outside of Brown. He's a high-ceiling flex play with a chance to become a regular fantasy starter if he clicks with Carr.
Receiver depth: Ryan Grant, J.J. Nelson, Hunter Renfrow, and Marcell Ateman are vying for the No. 3 job. Grant and Renfrow profile as possession receivers, while Nelson offers game-breaking deep speed. Regardless of how this training camp battle unfolds, no one mentioned in this paragraph will warrant consideration in fantasy drafts.
Darren Waller, TE| Fantasy Points | 82.4 |
|---|---|
| Targets | 59 |
| Receptions | 37 |
| Rec. Yards | 334 |
| Rec. TDs | 2 |
| Carries | 0 |
| Rush Yards | 0 |
| Rush TDs | 0 |
| Fumbles Lost | 0 |
| 2PT | 0 |
One or two sleeper tight ends often emerge as weekly fantasy starters and can represent a market inefficiency if you end up rostering the right player. Waller, who's going undrafted, is one such candidate this season as he takes over for Jared Cook in Oakland. Head coach Jon Gruden and offensive coordinator Greg Olson have praised Waller whenever they've been in front of a mic this offseason: Gruden called him "one of the most impressive guys on our team," according to Scott Bair of NBC Sports. Waller is worth a dart throw in the final rounds. At worst, he should be high on your waiver-wire watchlist early in the year.
Tight end depth: Part of the excitement around Waller stems from the lack of other options on Oakland's depth chart. Luke Willson has failed to be a consistent producer in any of his NFL stops and fourth-rounder Foster Moreau will need some time to develop. Waller is the only Raiders tight end with a shot at making fantasy waves in 2019.
2019 Fantasy ProjectionsAFC East
NE | BUF | NYJ | MIA
NFC West
LAR | SF | SEA | ARI
AFC North
BAL | CIN | PIT | CLE
NFC South
ATL | NO | CAR | TB
AFC West
DEN | KC | OAK
NFC East
DAL | PHI
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