Game Info
Kickoff: Saturday, December 18th, at 4:30 PM EST
Location: FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
Betting Odds: LV +6, 42 total via Oddsshark
Network: NFLN
Las Vegas Raiders
Quarterback
Derek Carr (Sit)
Having completed 33 of 45 attempts for 263 yards, a touchdown, and an interception – which should have been charged as a fumble on his tight end – Derek Carr was not the streaming option I pegged him to be against the Chiefs last week. In the first week of the fantasy playoffs, I would be hard-pressed to start him against the Browns. He has not built much of a connection with his receivers sans Hunter Renfrow, and with Myles Garrett and company on tap, the pressure will be on again for Carr.
Running Backs
Josh Jacobs (Start, RB2), Peyton Barber (Sit)
In his first game without Kenyan Drake waiting in the wings, Josh Jacobs struggled against Kansas City; but so did the entire Raiders offense. He had just nine rush attempts go for 24 yards, but did have five receptions for 46 yards. The Browns are not an easy matchup upcoming, as they have allowed the 14th fewest fantasy points to RB’s on the year, but Jacobs should be considered an RB2 seeing pass-game work still.
Wide Receivers/Tight End
Hunter Renfrow (Start, WR3), DeSean Jackson (Sit), Bryan Edwards (Sit), Darren Waller (Start if active, TE1), Foster Moreau (Sit)
One would have thought the reliable receiving threat for the Raiders was Darren Waller, but he has had a down year by his standards, most recently caused by an injury that has caused him to miss the last two games. Instead, it’s the top option for Carr has been Hunter Renfrow, who has over 100 receiving yards in each of his last three games, averaging 117 yards a game in that span. His target share since Week 12 has been 9, 10, and 14, respectively. He does have only one score in that timeframe – which came last week – but he’s as steady a WR3 as you can start entering the playoffs. The likes of DeSean Jackson, Bryan Edwards, and Zay Jones can be left on the wire.
Regarding Waller, at the time of writing, he was a DNP on Tuesday. The Raiders could greatly use him back, but it’s trending in the wrong direction once again. If he’s a surprise active at this rate, he’s right back in the TE1 discussion. If he were to miss another game, his backup Foster Moreau is not a viable streaming option, despite the hope for the last two weeks. Turning six targets into three catches for 13 yards last week against KC is not what Moreau-truthers banked on happening.
Cleveland Browns
The #Browns currently have 17 players and 2 coaches on the COVID list. List is so long it won't fit in a tweet. pic.twitter.com/2ryDxKCV6W
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 15, 2021
Quarterback
Baker Mayfield (Sit), Case Keenum (Sit)
It’s been quite the up and down season for Baker Mayfield, one of which has not seen him possess much fantasy relevancy. That sentiment continues this week, as news broke Wednesday morning that he’s tested positive for COVID-19. His status for Saturday’s game is now in doubt, leaving Case Keenum as the next man up. Despite the fact that the Raiders defense has given up the 11th most fantasy points to QB’s on the year, Keenum is a sit here given the COVID outbreak that has hit the Browns this week.
Running Backs
Nick Chubb (Start, RB1), D’Ernest Johnson (Sit)
Week 14 saw Kareem Hunt leave with an ankle injury that is already been deemed bad enough for him to miss the Raiders game. Assuming that’s the case, re-enter D’Ernest Johnson, who will take on the backup role once again behind Nick Chubb. That said, Johnson has no path to starting this week. The stage is set for another Chubb-centric game, and the matchup sets up very nicely. The Vegas defense has given up the fifth most fantasy points to running backs on the season. Surely Chubb will bounce back from his down game against the Ravens, where he totaled only 59 yards on 17 carries. It’s obviously worth noting that with at least three linemen hitting the COVID list thus far, Chubb has that dilemma to work through now.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Jarvis Landry (Sit), Donovan Peoples-Jones (Start, WR3), David Njoku (Sit), Austin Hooper (Sit), Harrison Bryant (Sit)
Both Cleveland receivers – Jarvis Landry and Donovan Peoples-Jones – are seemingly clear from injuries that plagued them this season. The issue is, Landry hit the COVID list on Monday, and his status for Saturday is in severe doubt. DPJ – for now – is set to be the healthy lead receiver for the Browns, and by default should play himself into a strong option this week off volume alone. David Njoku missed the Ravens game due to COVID, and he remains on the reserve list at the time of writing. Austin Hooper turned seven targets into five receptions for 30 yards and a touchdown in his absence, and that’s a stat line you’d be happy to have if you ended up streaming him. The issue is, Hooper is also on the COVID list now. That would leave Harrison Bryant, who is expected to return back to practice this week, as the healthy option in the TE room. That being said, I still wouldn’t trust starting him in this spot.
-Matthew Cava (@cavaM_ Twitter & Reddit)