The Raiders were one of the only teams in the NFL to bring back all five starting offensive linemen from last season. But that didn’t mean all five would continue to start. Before the season began, the Raiders released starting right guard Alex Bars and decided to start veteran Greg Van Roten instead.
That move has paid off well for the Raiders, with Van Roten playing well above expectations. According to Pro Football Focus, he’s been one of the top guards in the league this season:
Van Roten has allowed just 11 pressures through nine games and has the third-highest overall grade among guards in the NFL.
Roten is 33 and is on a one-year deal with the Raiders, so he isn’t really a long-term option at guard. However, his outstanding play has been much-needed for the Raiders and it has allowed them to have one of the better offensive lines in the NFL.
Van Roten will have a big assignment on Sunday, going up against Quinnen Williams and the Jets. But considering how well he’s played this season, the Raiders should feel pretty good about this matchup heading into primetime.
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