Week 9 vs Detroit Lions
In Week 8, Richard played 17 of 56 snaps (30%). He had one carry for three yards and two receptions for 24 yards.
Richard is only worth consideration if Jacobs misses time. 4for4 rankings expert, John Paulsen, has Richard ranked as the half PPR RB52 and should not be in starting lineups.
Week 4 at Indianapolis Colts
Richard played 29 of 59 snaps (49%) but this number is inflated because Josh Jacobs was dealing with an illness. Richard had two carries for 15 yards and three receptions on three targets for 14 yards. The Raiders are road underdogs (+7) and only implied for 19.5 points. 4for4 rankings expert John Paulsen has Richard ranked as the half PPR RB59. Fantasy owners should have better flex starting options.
Week 3 at Minnesota Vikings
Richard played 20 of 65 snaps (31%) but only had two carries for three yards and two receptions on three targets for two yards. He will face a very difficult Week 3 matchup on the road against the Minnesota Vikings. The Raiders are road underdogs (+8) and only implied for 17.75 points. 4for4 rankings expert, John Paulsen, has Richard ranked as the Half PPR RB70. Fantasy owners should have better starting options.
Week 2 vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Richard played nine of 58 snaps, did not have a single target, and only had one rushing attempt for three yards. Josh Jacobs took over as the lead running back in his rookie debut but he benefited from playing with a lead in the second half. The positive game script limited Richard’s usage. This week could be a different story because the Chiefs are implied for 30 points. 4for4 rankings expert, John Paulsen, has Richard ranked as the Half PPR RB64. Fantasy owners should have better starting options.
Fantasy Upside
Richard is technically a running back but he is primarily used as a pass-catcher. He had 68 receptions for 607 receiving yards compared to only 55 rushing attempts for 259 yards. He had more receptions than wide receivers Jordy Nelson and Seth Roberts. In fact, his 68 receptions tied Jared Cook for the most on the team.
Fantasy Downside
Richard had 68 receptions and 55 rushing attempts but it is reasonable to project a decrease in total opportunity. The Raiders selected Josh Jacobs with the 24th overall pick and they expect to use him heavily in his rookie season. Jacobs showcased his three-down skillset at Alabama, which will take away from Richard’s role in the passing game. Richard tied Jared Cook for the most receptions on the team but he only scored one touchdown. He will continue to have difficulty scoring touchdowns because he will be battling with Doug Martin for the second spot on the depth chart.
2019 Bottom Line
He had some value in PPR leagues but that value has vanished with the addition of Josh Jacobs. Richard will likely go undrafted in traditional season-long leagues with 15-16 rounds. If Jacobs experiences bad injury luck, Richard should be available on the waiver wire.
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 run in terms of aFPA to RBs, but negative game script could be an issue here. For these reasons, Jalen Richard is a better PPR option than Doug Martin in Week 17, but he's still a touchdown-or-bust risk.
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 best in the league in aFPA to RBs. Despite averaging more than four receptions per game this season, Richard is about as risky of a FLEX option as you can get for Week 16.
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. Nevertheless, the Bengals struggling defense (dead last in aFPA to RBs) keeps Jalen Richard on the PPR FLEX radar in deeper leagues, as he's averaging more than four receptions per game.
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 RBs. These factors and the signing of C.J. Anderson give us pause in starting either Doug Martin or Jalen Richard this week. Of the two, Richard is the more viable option among PPR desperation FLEX plays.
Week 13 vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City is ranked 29th in aFPA to RBs, and a very high over/under in this game keeps the Raiders from the bottom teams in implied team total for Week 13. Richard is averaging 9.5 PPR points per week since Oakland's bye, and despite the frequent low offensive output, his efficiency in the passing game is keeping Richard on the FLEX radar. However, he continues to be a low ceiling, low floor option.
