Week 11 at Arizona Cardinals
The Raiders are so bad at this point in the season that Oakland is a 5.5-point underdog to a two-win team this week. The Raiders implied team total of 17.5 points is also the lowest on the slate this week by a full two points. That's not a recipe for fantasy success. The Cardinals are sixth in the league in aFPA to WRs but only 27th against RBs, potentially foreshadowing a run-heavy attack for Oakland this week. That doesn't bode well for a receiving group where none of the wideouts have averaged five targets per game over the past two weeks. Running back Jalen Richard and tight end Jared Cook are the primary pass catchers in this horrific offense. No Oakland receiver is a fantasy consideration.
Week 9 at San Francisco 49ers (Thursday)
Here's how the targets played out in Oakland's first game without Amari Cooper: Jalen Richard 8, Jared Cook 5, Jordy Nelson 4, Seth Roberts 4, Brandon LaFell 4, Doug Martin 2, Keith Smith 1. Feels like Washington West, huh? Derek Carr, like Alex Smith, did not heavily target his receivers. Four targets just aren't enough for us to consider Roberts in starting lineups in Week 9.
Fantasy Upside
Seth Roberts could potentially work his way into 3-WR sets if Martavis Bryant is suspended.
Fantasy Downside
Roberts just doesn't appear to have a path to consistent targets this season, with Amari Cooper and Jordy Nelson ahead of him and TE Jared Cook also likely to see more targets.
2018 Bottom Line
Roberts is not a draft consideration in 2018.
Week 16 at Philadelphia Eagles
The Raiders go cross-country for a Christmas night battle with the Eagles. With the possible return of Amari Cooper, no other WRs outside of Cooper and Michael Crabtree are under fantasy consideration.
Week 15 vs. Dallas Cowboys
The Raiders face the Cowboys in a must-win game for their playoff hopes. Oakland has an implied team total in Vegas below the top half of teams for Week 15. However, Amari Cooper is out again this week, which meant 13 targets in this same situation for Michael Crabtree last week and no more than 6 targets for every other Raider pass-catcher. That's not enough volume to make Seth Roberts a starting consideration.
Week 14 at Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs-Raiders game has the second-highest over/under in Vegas for Week 14, but with Amari Cooper out, most of the targets should go through Michael Crabtree and tight end Jared Cook. Seth Roberts had his fill-in week during Week 13, but he should not be anywhere near your lineups in the fantasy playoffs.
Week 13 vs. New York Giants
The suspension of Michael Crabtree and injuries to Amari Cooper means Seth Roberts becomes a WR3-type option in Week 13. Practice reports have him getting a lot of action, moving around formations. Last season, he was also among the NFL leaders in red zone targets. The Giants have also lost Janoris Jenkins for the season, so a bad defense (25th in aFPA vs. WRs) got worse. If you are in serious need for a WR, you could do worse than Roberts.
Week 11 vs. New England Patriots (game in Mexico City)
Seth Roberts is averaging less than 4 targets per game. He is not a starting consideration in Week 11.
Week 7 vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Despite Amari Cooper's struggles, Seth Roberts hasn't reached 50 yards this season. He's not a starting option.
Week 6 vs. Los Angeles Chargers
There are not enough targets in this offense for Seth Roberts to be on the fantasy starting lineup radar. Do not start him in Week 6, with both Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree active.
