Raiders at Titans: 5 best fantasy options
The Oakland Raiders head to Nashville to face the Tennessee Titans. Who are the best fantasy plays this week in this AFC encounter?
A pair of original AFL franchise renew acquaintances in Tennessee. And if last season’s November meeting (Week 12) is any indications, this should be a very intriguing matchup.
A year ago, the Raiders edged the Titans in Nashville. But does that meeting from last season have any kind of fantasy ramifications in regards to this Sunday? Here we will look at the best five performers who should be in your starting lineup this weekend.
Onward.
5. Marcus Mariota
He’s still learning his craft when it comes to the NFL stage. But Tennessee Titans’ second-year quarterback Marcus Mariota continues to make strides. And while he has yet to emerge as a reliable option when it came to fantasy production, it may be just a matter of times before the numbers improved dramatically.
This well be the second time in two years that the young pro faces the Raiders and Ken Norton’s Jr.’s defensive unit. In last season’s 24-21 loss to the Silver and Black (Week 12), Mariota completed less than half of his passes (17-of-37). But he threw for 218 yards and three touchdowns while being picked off twice. The Oakland defense sacked the 2014 Heisman Trophy winner twice.
This season, Tennessee has put 16 points on the board in each of their first two contests. And the second-year signal-caller has been fairly efficient (for both clubs, to be honest). Mariota has thrown for 509 yards and has hit on 67.6 percent of his attempts. The Titans’ offense has score four touchdowns, all via the arm of their young quarterback.
But it’s also worth noting that the still-learning performer has been sacked five times and turned over the ball on three occasions, with his interception and lost fumble in Week 1 both returned for touchdowns by the heady Minnesota Vikings’ defensive unit.
Next: Tight End on the Loose
Sep 18, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker (82) catches a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
4. Delanie Walker
Apparently the veteran tight end found the Detroit Lions’ defensive unit a lot more to his liking than the Minnesota Vikings.
In a 25-16 loss on opening weekend, Tennessee Titans Pro Bowler Delanie Walker was targeted five times and caught three passes for 42 yards. The experience performer got 26 yards on one of those plays and never found the end zone against the Purple Gang.
Last Sunday at Ford Field, it was a much different story. Quarterback Marcus Mariota took aim at Walker six times and connected each time, good for 83 yards and one touchdown. It was the first of two fourth-quarter scores for Mike Mularkey’s team, who rallied from 12 points down to beat the Lions, 16-15.
The one-time San Francisco 49ers’ standout has now played 16 consecutive games since being inactive in Week 2 a year ago. He’s been thrown to at least five times in 15 contests. Walker has totaled exactly 100 receptions, six for touchdowns. He’s been the Titans’ most reliable pass-catching options since joining the club and after two games this season has totaled nine catches for a team-high 125 yards and the aforementioned one score.
Mariota and Walker now take aim at an Oakland Raiders’ defense that had problems covering the Atlanta Falcons tight ends last Sunday. The trio of Jacob Tamme (5-75-1 TD), Austin Hooper (3-84) and Levine Toilolo (2-21) combined for 10 receptions, 180 yards and one touchdown in the team’s 35-28 win. Walker should find some holes against a new-look unit still trying to find itself.
Next: Comfortable Drive
3. Derek Carr
Two weeks into this third NFL season and 34 games into his career, it’s been an impressive beginning for Oakland’s newest quarterback.
Talented Derek Carr has thrown more than twice as many touchdown passes (57) than interceptions (25) in two-plus campaigns. He’s also served up at least two scoring tosses in just over half (18) of his outings with the Silver and Black.
This season, the one-time Fresno State product has connected on 69.9 percent of his throws, good for 618 yards and four scores without an interception. Also, you can’t ignore the fact that he’s thrown for a pair of two-point conversions this season. Carr has also been sacked only once while the Raiders are one of three teams in the league that has not committed a turnover in the season’s first three weeks.
Last year, Oakland managed a 24-21 win over the Tennessee Titans in Nashville and Carr enjoyed a big afternoon. He completed 24 of his 37 throws for 330 yards and three touchdowns (2 to Seth Roberts) without an interception. Carr did fumble twice and lost one of those bobbles but did lead his team from behind late in the fourth quarter.
The young-signal-caller will do his best to stay out of harm’s way against Dick LeBeau’s pass rush, which has totaled four sacks in two games – including a pair by outside linebacker Brian Orakpo.
It’s also worth noting that the Titans have committed two turnovers in each of their first two outings this season. That’s not only good news if you own the Oakland defense but it could enable Carr and the Raiders’ attack to get a few more possessions in this contest.
Next: Crafty Veteran
2. Michael Crabtree
Last offseason, the one-time San Francisco 49ers struggled to find a new home after it was apparent that the organization that made him the 10th overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft no longer desired his services.
Raiders’ general manager Reggie McKenzie opted to take a chance and inked Crabtree to a one-year deal. To say he was worth the flyer turned into a major understatement. In his first season with his new employer, he hauled in a team-best 85 catches and scores a club-high nine touchdowns – scoring at least once in eight contests. Then-rookie wide receiver Amari Cooper would lead the Silver and Black with 1,070 receiving yards but it was the veteran who led Oakland with 146 targets in 2015.
Two games into this campaign and it’s Cooper who has been the target more often. But both he and Crabtree are tied for the team lead with 11 receptions, the latter good for 118 yards and one score (Cooper has totaled 208 yards through the air but has zero touchdown receptions). Each wideout has also been on the receiving end of a successful two-point conversion attempt via quarterback David Carr.
The Tennessee Titans defense has allowed just one offensive touchdown in two games so far this season. And wouldn’t it be interesting to see Crabtree line up against one-time Niners’ teammate Perrish Cox, who has his club’s lone interception of the season. Regardless, we look for the proven Crabtree to be very productive as the Raiders’ highly-productive offense continues its strong start.
Next: Regaining Star Form
1. DeMarco Murray
While the 2014 NFL Offensive Player of the Year (with the Dallas Cowboys) and league rushing leader that season suffered through a forgettable stint in the City of Brotherly Love, running back DeMarco Murray has already been very busy with his third team in as many seasons.
The talented pro leads the club with 25 attempts and 131 yards on the ground, plus tops the Titans with 12 catches, good for 91 yards and a pair of end zone grabs. He’s totaled half of Tennessee’s four touchdowns and leads Mike Mularkey’s club with 12 points. Murray does have one lost fumble but 37 touches in two games is a very encouraging sign for fantasy owners who have the former All-Pro on their roster.
Last Sunday at Oakland, Atlanta Falcons running backs Devonta Freeman (17-93) and Tevin Coleman (12-46-1 TD) combined for 29 carries for 139 yards rushing against the Raiders’ defense. All told, after only two games, Jack Del Rio’s defenders rank 21st in the league against the run. That’s a very encouraging sign if you’re Murray and the Titans. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Tennessee workhorse compile those numbers by himself.
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The Raiders have been involved in a pair of high-scoring affairs the first two weeks and both Jack Del Rio’s club and its opposition has benefited in terms of offensive numbers. While we don’t anticipate Oakland getting to the 30-point mark against Dick LeBeau’s defense, there will still be plenty of opportunities for these five performers in this game to help your fantasy team this weekend.