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Oakland Raiders: 5 players who must improve

By Brad Berreman

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - NOVEMBER 19: the game between the New England Patriots and Oakland Raiders at Estadio Azteca on November 19, 2017 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - NOVEMBER 19: the game between the New England Patriots and Oakland Raiders at Estadio Azteca on November 19, 2017 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images) /
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Mandatory Credit: Frank Mattia-Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: Frank Mattia-Getty Images /

4. Jordy Nelson

After being cut by the Green Bay Packers, Nelson landed pretty quickly on a two-year deal with the Raiders. He’ll replace Michael Crabtree, who had a pretty productive run as the No. 2 wide receiver opposite Amari Cooper over the last three seasons.

Due in part to Aaron Rodgers missing a big chunk of last season, Nelson’s production fell off a cliff (53 receptions for 482 yards and six touchdowns). He also averaged a by far career-low 9.1 yards per catch, and a lack of burst was easy to see apart from the obvious drop-off in quarterback play from Rodgers to Brett Hundley.

Nelson will turn 33 soon as of this writing (May 31), so his peak form from 2013 (85 catches for 1,314 yards and eight touchdowns), 2014 (98 catches for 1,519 and 13 touchdowns) and 2016 (97 receptions for 1,257 yards and 14 touchdowns), with a torn ACL costing him the 2015 season, is not coming back.

But Crabtree is leaving a 25 touchdown void from 2015-2017, which accounted for a shade over 30 percent of Derek Carr’s touchdown passes over that span. Nelson needs to step into the void left by Crabtree, if only as a viable red zone weapon.

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