NFL training camps are open, and for millions of people worldwide their fantasy football preparation has begun in earnest. Here at Sports World News we will break down all 32 NFL teams in terms of their fantasy value. Readers will find the must-own players in every format, the sleepers in specific formats, and hidden gems only necessary for those in very deep leagues.
Today's preview will be on the Oakland Raiders.
Must Owns
Maurice Jones-Drew, RB: The last two seasons have been down years for MJD, a once-mighty fantasy option who appears to have fallen victim to Father Time. Despite being just 29 years old, years of heavy workloads have eroded his big-play ability. Now, fantasy owners are just counting on his stablemate Darren McFadden getting hurt again, leaving MJD to another season of 250-plus touches.
Darren McFadden, RB: Unlike Jones-Drew, McFadden has never been able to assume huge workloads because he keeps breaking down. He is immensely talented, and still only 26 years old, but his injury history means the Raiders will probably limit his touches even if he's healthy.
That said, if both are healthy, McFadden's the higher upside play, and he is the 44th running back off the board (10th round) while MJD is going 30th among RBs (7th round).
Sleepers (Best Format)
James Jones, WR (Standard): Jones has been a nice option as the Packers' third or fourth option, but being a No. 1 with a subpar QB situation figures to be a big difference. Jones is going in Round 14 on average, and it's hard to argue with taking a flier on him with the upside of being a primary target. Just don't get too excited.
Andre Holmes, WR (Standard): Holmes is an even deeper sleeper in the Raiders passing game. He's even more physically gifted than Jones, but again, the passing offense is likely to rank near the bottom of the league. He is a high-upside player with a very low floor.
Rod Streater, WR (Standard): Someone has to put up decent receiving stats right? In case you haven't realized it, nobody's clear on which Raiders WR will be usable. They all have physical gifts-it's a matter of separating themselves with consistency. Streater has the tenure in Oakland though, so he could be the best bet among the three.
Deep Finds (Best Format)
Mychal Rivera, TE (Standard): At 6-foot-3 Rivera is a nice target in the red zone, and he scored four touchdowns as a rookie without even being the starter. Should QB Matt Schaub not rebound from a horrible 2013, and cede his role to rookie Derek Carr, Rivera could provide a nice safety blanket.
Derek Carr, QB (Two-QB): Carr is not the starter here, but Matt Schaub was so bad last season it's not a stretch to wonder if he's finished. Carr has some upside in the talent department. Yes he'd be raw, but it could be worth a shot if you're desperate in this format.
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