We’re just past the official midway point of the Raiders 2019 season. They sit at 5-4 on the season, which is better than many thought they would be in light of the grueling 5-game, 7-week absence from a game in their home stadium. There were many great and solid performances over the first half of the season. Here’s a compilation of the very best.
RB Josh Jacobs
Baller nominations: 7
Best game: Week 5 vs Bears
Jacobs had 143 yards and 2 touchdowns on 29 touches (26 carries) against arguably the stoutest run defenses in the NFL. It was one of six games this season he has gone over 100 yards from scrimmage, with a seventh in which he hit 99 yards, all on the ground. It was also one of three multiple touchdown games for Jacobs, who has 7 touchdowns on the season. Only two games this season was he NOT a Baller.
TE Darren Waller
Baller nominations: 4
Best game: Week 3 vs Vikings
Waller was basically the Raiders’ entire offense in that game. He had 13 catches on 14 targets for 134 yards and another 7 yards on a run. Waller has been at least a good portion of the Raiders passing game all season and still leads the team in both catches (51) and receiving yards (588) by a considerable margin.
OT Trent Brown
Baller nominations: 4
Best game: Week 2 vs Chiefs
Brown kept the Chiefs pass rushers at bay, not allowing a single pressure on Carr. We’re talking about a Chiefs team that is tied for fifth in the league with 30 sacks, the most of any Raiders opponent this season. Brown also cleared the way for a 51-yard run by Josh Jacobs in that game.
C Rodney Hudson
Baller nominations: 3
Best game: Week 10 vs Chargers
It didn’t even look like he would play in this game. Just days earlier Gruden said Hudson wasn’t close to returning for the previous game with an ankle injury. He would return on a short week, play every snap, and look like he hadn’t missed a beat against one of the best defenses in football. His most impressive play was the one in which he laid two blocks to open a hole for Josh Jacobs to run 18 yards for the game-winning touchdown.
DE Benson Mayowa
Baller nominations: 3
Best game: Week 2 vs Chiefs
Despite playing just 18 snaps, Mayowa got in on two sacks on Patrick Mahomes, forcing the fumble on one of them which the Raiders recovered. That game gave him 3.5 sacks in the first two weeks and he has double that tally since then to lead the team with 7.0 sacks.
S Erik Harris
Baller nominations: 3
Best game: Week 10 vs Chargers
On Thursday night football, Harris spotted the Raiders 10 points with two interceptions; one that put them in field goal range and the other returned for a touchdown. That was his second pick-six of the season.
DE Maxx Crosby
Baller nominations: 3
Best game: Week 10 vs Chargers
While Harris was picking off Philip Rivers, it was Crosby putting on the pressure to help set them up. Pressure is something he has done a lot of this season. He leads the team with 25 pressures, is second with 7 QB hits, and third with 2.5 sacks.
Honorable Mention
QB Derek Carr — He led the way three times this season. But those were offset by three rough outings, including the game in Green Bay when he fumbled through the end zone for a touchback. But he shook that game off and has been Top Baller twice. He appears to be putting things together in Gruden’s offense and his arrow is pointing up.
OT Kolton Miller — A couple rough games early — mostly in the run game — he has picked it up since then and has done a stalwart job protecting Carr’s blindside.
FB Alec Ingold — He has been quite the find as an undrafted rookie clearing the way for Jacobs. And he’s made a few plays of his own, either in short-yardage or the Spider 2 Y Banana TD last week.
TE Foster Moreau — The number two tight end has been the most surprising rookie this season. He can catch and move a lot better than anyone gave him credit for coming out in the draft.
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