Detroit Lions vs. Oakland Raiders
This game came into the weekend with the second-highest over/under of the week at 50.5 points just behind the Tampa Bay vs Seattle game and it did not disappoint. With two bad defenses on the field, it was supposed to be the Matthew Stafford vs. Derek Carr show. Stafford threw for over 400 yards which isn’t surprising due to the lack of a running game, but Carr didn’t have to throw it that much as Josh Jacobs was able to grind out 120 yards on the ground in a balanced attack for the Raiders. In a game that was supposed to be a shootout and ended up being just that, let’s take a look at what we saw:
Detroit Lions
Quarterback
- Matthew Stafford: 26/41, 406 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
Matthew Stafford has been great this year as a fantasy quarterback as their running game has been nonexistent and he has utilized his great WR corp to maintain his great season. Coming into this matchup, Stafford was touted as a top 5 option this week in anticipation of a shootout and the offense’s ineptitude to run the football. Stafford delivered with 400 plus yards and 3 TDs, his 1 INT came on an endzone pass that was a jump ball so his day could have been even bigger. Stafford also had a chance to win the game with 8 seconds left but threw too high for Logan Thomas in the back of the endzone. All in all, Stafford gave you what you expected and if you had him as a bye week fill-in for Brees/Goff or an injury replacement for Mahomes, you are happy with this performance.
Running Backs
- Ty Johnson: 9 carries, 29 yards | 3 targets, 3 catches, 7 yards
- J.D. McKissic: 4 carries, 32 yards | 4 targets, 3 catches, 40 yards, 1 TD
All that wasted FAAB on Ty Johnson… He has struggled to get anything going as last week Tra Carson took the starting snaps from him and was placed on IR coming into this week. This week J.D. McKissic was the best RB but mostly because the game plan this week was to throw as much as possible and he is the passing down back. Still, the inability to get anything going for Johnson is worrisome as he also lost some carries to Paul Perkins who was just called up from the practice squad. All in all, McKissic looks to be the safest RB on the team as the offensive line wasn’t able to get anything going for Kerryon Johnson before his injury and still cannot open any holes for Ty Johnson. If you have to start McKissic he would be a flex option in a good game flow matchup only.
Wide Receivers/Tight End
- Marvin Jones Jr.: 10 targets, 8 catches, 126 yards, 1 TD
- Kenny Golladay: 7 targets, 4 catches, 132 yards, 1 TD
- T.J. Hockenson: 7 targets, 3 catches, 56 yards
- Danny Amendola: 5 targets, 3 catches, 29 yards
The dynamic duo of Marvin Jones Jr. and Kenny Golladay continue to be a problem for opposing defenses. In a pass-first offense, both Jones Jr. and Golladay are WR2 options each week no matter the matchup. We have seen Jones Jr. score a 4 TD game this year and Golladay continues to progress into a big play, yet safe WR2 each week. This was most likely the best matchup for either so far this year and they both performed exceedingly well. Jones Jr. was the receiver Stafford turned to when he was in trouble and Golladay was the receiver they ran specific plays to get him in space so that he could utilize his YAC ability. T.J. Hockenson could have had a great day but still turned in a respectable output for a TE. On the final drive of the game, Hockenson was hit hard on a seam route that he otherwise would have caught and left the game. The final play of the game was scripted for the TE which could have been Hockenson as well. Danny Amendola will have games like this now and then but in this offense, he is a safe WR3/Flex option most weeks.
Oakland Raiders
Quarterback
- Derek Carr: 20/31, 289 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs
Derek Carr has been impressive this year in his ability to complete passes at a high level and take care of the football. He won’t flash with 400 yards passing like Stafford did because this offense is balanced and loves to remain a run-first team. That being said, Carr won’t lose the game for the Raiders this year but as he showed in this game if he needs to win the game, he still can. Without a true #1 WR Oakland has been able to use Darren Waller and a combination of Tyrell Willams and Hunter Renfrow to get by. Carr threw a nice fastball to Foster Moreau on his first TD pass of the game and then used his athletic ability by rolling to the left and finding Renfrow for the game-winning TD. Carr is a safe QB2 and in a great matchup a decent option as a bye week fill in.
Running Backs
- Josh Jacobs: 28 carries, 120 yards, 2 TDs | 2 targets, 0 catches
- Jalen Richard: 2 carries, 12 yards | 4 targets, 3 catches, 56 yards
Josh Jacobs has been fed the ball so far this year and almost every game he turns in an RB2 performance. The one thing that is a knock on Jacobs is his lack of production in the passing game which could be one of the things he works on this offseason because this offense needs him to be what he has already been, the workhorse RB. His volume and production make him an RB2 each week. Even in a game like this where Oakland was supposed to throw at will, they leaned on Jacobs which is a great sign. Jalen Richard made a big impact on the final drive of the game with 54 of his 56 yards through the air coming on two plays leading to the final score. It was nice to see that he can still be a weapon when needed but Jacobs’s usage and the offensive game plan limit his upside.
Wide Receivers/Tight End
- Hunter Renfrow: 7 targets, 6 catches, 54 yards, 1 TD
- Tyrell Williams: 4 targets, 3 catches, 48 yards
- Zay Jones: 4 targets, 3 catches, 21 yards
- Darren Waller: 2 targets, 2 catches, 52 yards
- Foster Moreau: 2 targets, 1 catch, 3 yards, 1 TD
Tyrell Williams ended his streak of 1 TD in every game this season as Hunter Renfrow lead the team in targets and catches. Renfrow had a couple of bubble screens called for him but he saved his biggest catch until the end of the game when he caught a 9-yard pass in the corner of the endzone to win the game for the Raiders. Renfrow is the prototypical slot receiver as he rarely drops a pass and is quick enough to get open on just about every route. He could have some relevance moving forward as defenses try to stop Williams and Darren Waller. Williams had a few nice catches but overall had his worst performance as a Raider. Waller also was quiet with only 2 catches but managed 52 yards. Zay Jones was on the field a lot in his second game in a Raider uniform which should be expected moving forward. Foster Moreau caught a short TD and could be an option if you’re desperate at Te.
- Colin Weatherwax