Heading into the 2020 NFL Draft, the Raiders’ offense was essentially set. The team returned all five starters across the offensive line and emerging stars such as Josh Jacobs and Darren Waller made this offense go last season.
However, the one spot on the unit that needed upgrading was at receiver. While Tyrell Williams and Hunter Renfrow both had their moments last year, the group needed to add an elite playmaker to keep defenses on their heels. That is why the Raiders used the No. 12 pick on Henry Ruggs III from Alabama and made him the first receiver selected in the draft.
Entering the 2020 season, expectations are high for Ruggs. He is expected to start at one of the outside receiver spots with Williams and should see a healthy amount of targets.
In a recent article by Lance Zierlien of NFL.com, he named the league’s most pivotal rookies for each team entering the season. Not surprisingly, Ruggs’ name showed up for the Raiders. Take a look at what Zierlein had to say about the former Alabama star entering the year:
“One look at the season stats from 2019 shows that Derek Carr relied heavily on slot targets, tight ends and running backs in the passing game. Ruggs, with his next-level explosiveness and speed, can take the Raiders’ offense to the next level if they find ways to redistribute the football.”
Ruggs likely won’t lead the Raiders in targets or receptions this season as that’s not how they plan on using him. Instead, look for players like Waller and Renfrow to both finish the season with more catches.
What the Raiders are hoping for this season from Ruggs is a handful of explosive plays that can flip the field or change momentum. Consider this; during the 2019 season, the Raiders had just 19 completions of 30 or more yards last season. Of those 19 plays, only 12 came from the wide receiver group.
The Raiders are hoping that Ruggs can create 10-12 of those types of plays by himself this season, giving the team a far more explosive offense. If he can prove to be that type of receiver, look for the Raiders’ offense to improve significantly this year.
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