4-EYED IDP TEAM PREVIEW: LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (2021)
In this second part of our Raiders’ 4-EYED TEAM PREVIEW, we’re going to be covering the Raiders’ IDPs that you should consider rostering for the 2021 fantasy football season.
The first year in Vegas didn’t exactly hit the jackpot for the Raiders’ defense. To put it in my best gambling term, they shot craps! Despite the team going 8-8, they finished 30th in points allowed, 25th in yards allowed and led the league in missed tackles. If there was ever a chance to take the “over” in team defense finish, Gus Bradley’s 2021 team might be the horse to back! I know I just threw about every piece of betting jargon I could in 100 words or less, but I am optimistic and willing to double down on this defense.
So which players should we be willing to go all-in on to help you win your fantasy championship?
Find out now in our 2021 Raiders’ IDP Team Preview
Defensive Line
*Positional designations & ADP data brought to you by Sleeper.
Maxx Crosby (Current ADP: DL32)
Plenty of buzz was surrounding Maxx Crosby early into training camp last season! Jon Gruden went on record as saying, “He leads our team in effort.” It is this type of high-motor output that can make fantasy managers forget about Crosby’s 2020 season. Last season, despite playing 904 snaps, he finished as the DL35. Suffering through injuries to his shoulder and hand, the 7 sacks were down from 10 in 2019. In the offseason, Crosby had surgery to repair the shoulder and hand!
The Raiders went out and signed Yannick Ngokoue, and they hired Gus Bradley as DC. Add in Miller’s high praise for Crosby at his pass-rushing camp and I am willing to gamble on a rebound.
Von Miller said he learned a few things from Maxx Crosby at his pass rush summit Saturday. Called Crosby the Raiders’ “franchise guy.” pic.twitter.com/l6CdOcJLSw
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) June 13, 2021
Yannick Ngakoue (Current ADP: DL34)
New DC, Gus Bradley, is reunited with Ngakoue after the Raiders signed him to a 2yr-$26M deal after being with Jacksonville and Baltimore in 2020. With the two teams, he had 8 sacks and 4 forced fumbles, which led to a DL54. In his 5 years in the league, Ngakoue has had 8 sacks or more; something the Raiders hope he can continue with them. The 21 team sacks were 29th in the NFL.
Under Gus Bradley, Yannick had his best seasons for sure. His 12 sacks and 6 forced fumbles in 2017 (DL25) were a career-high and led to his only Pro-Bowl. Ngakoue and Crosby make for an intriguing set of defensive ends, and it remains to be seen if the presence of both can help get the Raiders out of the cellar in regards to pass rushing.
Linebacker
Cory Littleton (Current ADP: LB60)
There might not have been a bigger letdown around IDP circles than Cory Littleton. I am sure the Raiders’ front office would agree, as to why they have already restructured his contract. Coming off of back-to-back 125+ tackle seasons, the Raiders thought they had their OLB troubles fixed for 2021. Unfortunately, Littleton appeared lost at times under Paul Guenther. It didn’t help his own case that he had a 17% missed tackle rate. On a positive note tho, from Week 15-17, Littleton had 25 tackles, his best stretch of the season!
Hopefully, the new Gus Bradley system can allow Littleton to get back to his 2018/2019 seasons where he finished as the LB2 and the LB6. To sum it up, Littleton has the potential to return excellent value since he is basically an undrafted player in shallow IDP leagues.
Why Las Vegas #Raiders Cory Littleton is Struggling?https://t.co/E1q9JZ8yJ8 pic.twitter.com/FUvdJ96PvQ
— Sanjit T. (@Sanjit__T) November 11, 2020
Nicholas Morrow (Current ADP: LB99)
Finished last season as the LB36 on the heels of a stat-stuffing 2020. While he didn’t top the 100 tackle plateau, he did have 3 sacks, 9 passes defended, recorded a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery! Under Gus Bradley’s system, and a full 16 game slate, a return of profit at his current ADP. Currently, he is taking the majority of the snaps at middle linebacker in training camp. This is the type of news that could shake up his value! Monitor!
Nick Kwiatkowski (Current ADP: LB83)
Last season he finished as the LB60, which may not seem impressive until you factor in that he only started 12 games. In those 12 games, he totaled 81 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 1 sack, and 4 passes defended. The key to improving in 2021 is going to come down to rotation and snaps. Currently, in training camp, he is taking snaps with the second unit, as Nicholas Morrow is getting the 1st team reps at MLB.
Defensive Back
Jonathan Abram (Current ADP: DB26)
Jonathan Abram might not be the Raiders’ best value in first-round picks, but he is worth the price of admission every time he steps foot on the field. The problem is that he has only stepped on the field 14 times since he was drafted in 2019. An absolute wrecking machine when sizing up his opponents, and it is this type of play below that makes you love him as a fan, and hate him as an opponent. Unfortunately, it is also this type of play that lands him on IR year after year.
If we can put 2019 behind us, and only focus on 2020, the IDP future for Abram is quite bright. In only 13 games, he tallied 86 tackles, 4 QB hits, 5 passes defended, and 2 INT, good for 13.3 fantasy points per game. This style of play and the plans that Bradley has for him in his system could provide a solid floor at his current ADP
Jonathan Abram with the hit stick 🔥🔥🔥 #LVvsLAC
— Christopher Reiss (@ReissReport) November 8, 2020
pic.twitter.com/8DH7E6sTev
Trevon Moehrig (Current ADP: DB 27)
If there is a defensive back who has a chance to make an impact as a rookie, Moehrig might be my #1 choice. As a result of his back injury, he slipped to the 2nd round, despite winning the Jim Thorpe Award! Lucky for the Raiders.
The key to Moehrig in 2021 is the playing time of course, but Gus Bradley has already started giving him snaps with the 1st team. He has been playing the “Post Safety” role, which is extremely important because that role has “QB duties”. With Abram playing in the box, it is key that Moehrig is able to pick up the defense assignments. If I can continue with the “glass-half-full” optimism, Earl Thomas played a similar role from 2010 to 2012 with Bradley in Seattle. During those years, Thomas averaged 74 tackles, 3.5 INT, 7 passes defended, and 3 TFL. It might not happen in Week 1, but expect the FS role to be all his sooner rather than later.