Rams at Raiders
Game Info
Kickoff: Saturday 8/10 at 8 pm (ET)
Location: Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, CA
Betting Odds: OAK -5.5 via Oddsshark
Network: KTVU, KCBS
These teams seem to be on opposite sides of the league in nearly every aspect. One just arrived in the state of California while the other is preparing to depart. One is coming off a Super Bowl appearance and the other is in the middle of a rebuild being featured on Hard Knocks. Both however still have 53 man rosters to determine and position battles to resolve. Here are some of the battles to watch closely this week.
Los Angeles Rams
Who could be this year’s CJ Anderson?
Anyone who has followed football this offseason has almost certainly heard the Darrell Henderson hype. There is a lot of concern about Todd Gurley’s knee and whether or not it will hold up the entire season. If not, another RB on the team could be in line for big numbers similar to what C.J. Anderson was able to put up for the team at the end of last season. While many are ready to give Henderson the backup job, others still feel that Malcolm Brown is the better option and that Henderson has a way to go. A Roster Watch tweet today even credited NFL Insider Adam Caplan as calling Henderson “so overrated for fantasy”. We should finally see Henderson get some carriers this week along with fellow backups Matt Colburn, Justin Davis, and last year’s preseason star, John Kelly.
Big Three then who?
Brandin Cooks, Cooper Kupp, and Robert Woods have all solidified their places on the Ram’s roster and in fantasy football. All provide potential value and each currently cracks the top 50 players in fantasy according to FantasyPros. This week we likely won’t see much from those three, but we will be watching to see who could be the next up and comer on the roster. There are currently nine other receivers on the roster, and the depth chart released on Monday shows that the next three receivers behind the starters are Josh Reynolds, KhaDarel Hodge, and Jojo Natson all of whom have spent time on NFL rosters before this season. Another veteran to keep an eye on is Mike Thomas who has been praised by head coach Sean McVay and reportedly developed chemistry with new backup QB Blake Bortles. I expect to see a few balls thrown his way Saturday.
Who will become the starting TE?
There are currently six tight ends on the Ram’s roster and none of them scream must-start. Tyler Higbee is listed atop the first depth chart and that was to be expected after being the team’s primary starting tight end in 2018. His numbers in that position, however, were a meager 292 yards and 2 touchdowns on 24 receptions, a stat line that is in no way insurmountable. Gerald Everett is arguably the best bet to steal starts from Higbee following a 33/320/3 line in 2018 and an offseason in which he feels that he has become “more of a complete pro”. The other four tight ends on the roster include Johnny Mundt, Kendall Blanton, Romello Brooker, and Keenen Brown. This position battle feels primed for a surprise.
Oakland Raiders
Will the team have a fantasy worthy tight end?
Every tight end on the team will see action in this game barring injury. The 2018 tight end, Jared Cook, left for the New Orleans Saints in the offseason and left the Raiders to see what their other tight ends can do to replace his 68 receptions on 101 targets for 896 yards and 6 touchdowns. The most hyped option so far this offseason is a former wide receiver, Darren Waller. He spent last year on the team and though he only had 6 catches in 4 appearances, he has been referred to as “unguardable” in training camp. Luke Willson is another good option entering his 7th year in the league. Paul Butler, Derek Carrier, and Foster Moreau will all get reps as well.
A Rookie Starter in the Slot?
One of the biggest surprises out of Raider’s camp so far is that rookie Hunter Renfrow seems to have taken the lead in the slot receiver competition. Early depth charts can be misleading but the depth chart isn’t the only place where Renfrow has been praised. There had been reports in the week leading up that he had a leg up on Ryan Grant. Former Cardinal, JJ Nelson is also in the mix for the job. All should get looks in this contest and there is still a lot of football to be played to determine the week 1 starter.
Multiple Running Backs to Feed
1st round pick Josh Jacobs is the favorite to handle the majority of carries for the Raider this year, but I do not expect him to see much action in this game. Where the running backs fall after Jacobs is anyone’s guess. The team appeared to be prepared to move on from Marshawn Lynch and Doug Martin when they signed Isaiah Crowell in the offseason. Plans changed however when Crowell tore his ACL in late-April and the team brought Martin back on a one-year deal. Familiar faces Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington will presumably compete for the third-string job. 2018 pre-season standout Chris Warren was surprisingly cut at the beginning of camp.
-Dave Lathrop