Week 17 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Seth Roberts out-snapped Willie Snead last week and led Ravens wide receivers in yards and targets. However, that was only three targets and 23 yards as tight ends and running backs accounted for 84% of the team’s passing yards. Roberts might get some extra work in the season finale and could benefit if Lamar Jackson sits – the Ravens have already secured home-field advantage throughout the playoffs – but it’s still too risky to trust any Ravens outside of the backup running backs. Roberts hasn’t been nearly productive enough and the team could be conservative as it focuses on remaining healthy going into the postseason.
Week 16 at Cleveland Browns
Seth Roberts scored a touchdown last week and caught three passes for 66 yards. He’s had seven targets over his past two games and seems to be outplaying rookie Miles Boykin, but he’s unlikely to see consistent targets in the Ravens’ offense. Baltimore has been effectively using all three of their tight ends in the passing game and Roberts is at least second behind Marquise Brown among Ravens’ wide receiver options, so he’s unlikely to do well in any particular outing. Leave him on waivers.
Week 6 vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Seth Roberts has only been targeted 10 times so far this season, but his playing time has increased. He’s been involved in over 60% of the team’s offensive snaps in three consecutive weeks. While it’s good to see him on the field, his lack of production makes it hard to trust him. He failed to catch either of the two balls thrown his way last week against the Steelers, and he should remain on waivers for the foreseeable future.
Week 5 at Pittsburgh Steelers
Seth Roberts had four catches for 36 yards last week against the Browns. He significantly out-snapped rookie Miles Boykin, but he only has eight targets so far this season and is unlikely to put up legitimate fantasy production. Even as the third wide receiver, Roberts will need to contend with tight end Mark Andrews and running back Mark Ingram if he’s going to get consistent targets, and that seems like a tall order. He should remain on waivers.
Week 17 at Kansas City Chiefs
The Raiders end their season coming off an emotional win in what could have been the last NFL game played in Oakland but now walk into Arrowhead for a game the Chiefs need to win to ensure home field advantage. Combine that with an implied team total of fewer than 20 points this week, and this is an offense that carries great fantasy risk to end the regular season. Kansas City has struggled against the pass in terms of aFPA to WRs, and negative game script could be a benefit here. Jordy Nelson has posted four consecutive double-digit PPR performances, but he's the only Raider WR worth starting consideration.
Week 16 vs. Denver Broncos
Oakland hosts Denver as a home underdog with an implied team total of just 20 points. In what could be the last game the Raiders ever play in Oakland, one would expect Jon Gruden to have this team ready to play well. In fantasy though, we care more about quantifiable factors more than narratives. Denver is 15th in the league in aFPA to WRs. The secondary has weakened with injuries this late in the season, but the Raiders' receivers have not shown enough this season to have confidence starting any of them.
Week 15 at Cincinnati Bengals
The Raiders head to the eastern time zone for an early kickoff in Cincinnati. Oakland is a road underdog with a middle of the road implied team total, which should lead to negative game script. However, the Bengals are top 10 in aFPA to WRs, meaning Derek Carr should continue to target his tight end and backs most often. We can't recommend any Raiders receiver at this point in the season. In fact, none crack our top 50 wideouts for Week 15.
Week 14 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Raiders have an implied team total of fewer than 21 points, among the bottom ten teams in the league this week. The Steelers defense has had its struggles, but recently, that has come against offenses much better than Oakland's. Pittsburgh still ranks top 10 in aFPA to WRs. We are not comfortable starting any Oakland wideout in the fantasy playoffs, as none rank inside our top 40 PPR rankings at the position. That's what happens when a unit of seven receivers posts just two double-digit PPR performances over the past four weeks.
Week 13 vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City is ranked in the top 10 in aFPA to WRs. A very high over/under in this game keeps the Raiders from the bottom teams in implied team total for Week 13, suggesting some potential negative game script to bolster a pedestrian Oakland passing attack. We just can't trust these Oakland receivers at all for the rest of the season. Over the past month, seven Raiders receivers have combined for just one double-digit PPR game (Brandon LaFell, 10.9, Week 11). That is pathetic passing game production. Stay away from this entire unit in Week 13.
Week 12 at Baltimore Ravens
The Raiders travel across the country as a double-digit underdog, tied for the lowest implied team total of Week 12 at just 16 points. Baltimore also ranks top five in aFPA to WRs. Jordy Nelson is questionable this week, after beginning the practice week as a limited participant. The targets without him last week to Raiders receivers went: Seth Roberts 7, Marcell Ateman 5, Brandon LaFell (on IR now) 3, Dwayne Harris 0. If there's a desperation starter in this group in very deep leagues, it would be Roberts based on that target distribution, but given all the above factors, we wouldn't start any Raiders receiver in Week 12.
