Start Or Sit: Fantasy Playoffs Are Here, Should Any Raiders Be Trusted?
Davante Adams, Darren Waller, Raiders
Oct 10, 2022; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) celebrates a touch down with Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) in the in the first half against the Kansas City Chiefs GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff -USA TODAY Sports
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I’m not sure your fantasy squad is still alive if you’ve relied too heavily on any Raiders — but if it is, it’s time to take a look at which guys might be poised for big weeks.

This week the Raiders match up against one of the better defenses in the league from New England, not to mention one of the best defensive game planners the league has ever seen. Can Bill Belichick take away Davante Adams and force someone else to beat him? Or will he key in on Josh Jacobs and try to make Derek Carr and the Raiders one-dimensional?

As always, a reminder: “start” and “sit” are used to describe how I feel about a player compared to their consensus rankings. “Sit” doesn’t mean a guy sucks, it just means I think he’ll underperform against expectations, while “start” means I think he’ll outperform them.

Derek Carr, Hunter Renfrow, Darren Waller, Raiders
November 3, 2019; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders wide receiver Hunter Renfrow (13) is congratulated by tight end Darren Waller (83) and quarterback Derek Carr (4) for catching a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Sit: Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow

Both Waller and Renfrow are rumored to be on the verge of returning to action this week, but if I were you, I wouldn’t bet my fantasy season on either guy breaking out in their first game back from a lengthy absence. Yes, the Raiders are desperate for difference-makers in the passing game, but I bet both guys will be on a limited snap count and could leave managers disappointed.

Prediction: 7 catches, 85 yards, 0 TD combined

Derek Carr, Raiders
Dec 8, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) gestures as he runs with the ball against the Los Angeles Rams in the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Sit: Derek Carr

I think Carr has been a “start” for me for the past five or six weeks, but after a dud against the Rams, he and I are taking a break. It’s not permanent, but we need some space, I think. My guess is Belichick schemes his defense to take away Adams, taking his chances with Mack Hollins and Foster Moreau — which doesn’t bode well for the Raiders quarterback.

Prediction: 220 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception

Jakobi Meyers, Patriots
Patriots wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (16) runs with the ball before being tackled by Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner (1). Sunday, October 30, 2022
Jets Host Patriots

Start: Jakobi Meyers

Coming off his worst performance of the season (3 catches, 22 yards), I think Meyers is in for a nice little bounce-back against a Raiders defense that made Baker Mayfield and Van Jefferson look like Pro Bowlers. Meyers leads the Patriots in catches (67) and yards (593) this season, and even though I don’t love Mac Jones, I think he helps fantasy managers who trust him on Sunday.

Prediction: 7 catches, 90 yards, 1 touchdown