Zamir White – Page 5 – Syndication Server

Raiders OC Luke Getsy praises RB Zamir White during media day

The Raiders loved everything about Josh Jacobs during his time in Las Vegas. But they did not make a real serious push to bring him back this offseason. That has everything to do with former fourth-round pick, Zamir White.

Over the final four games of the 2023 season, White showed enough flashes to warrant a shot at the starting job this season. In those final four games, White racked up 457 total yards and one touchdown.

In a recent video that has surfaced from Raiders.com, Luke Getsy spoke about White during media day and praised his star running back for his rare size and speed combo. Here is a snippet of what Getsy had to say about his RB1:

He’s a different cat. That is a speed that not many guys have. And, again, to be paired with that size that he has… I think Z’s just gonna take off, for sure, when we get to training camp.

White has all the physical traits to be a star in the NFL and he has waited his turn for this opportunity. It appears the Raiders are ready to fully lean into White as their lead back and he is ready to win that job.

[lawrence-related id=108535,108533,108531,108528]

[lawrence-newsletter]

2024 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Running Backs

How will the strength of fantasy schedule impact RBs in 2024?

Schedule strength for running backs considers both rushing and receiving yards as today’s players rarely rely on just running production anymore. The analysis also considers the venue. There is a difference between how defenses respond either home or away, which creates 64 “different defensive matchups” depending on where the game is played.

Also see: Quarterbacks |Receivers

The scoring was a point for every 10 yards rushing or receiving, six-point touchdowns, and a point per reception. The average fantasy points allowed to running backs are at the bottom of this page for reference. Running backs prove to be most sensitive to schedule strength of any position.

Total Points

Below are the total points for each backfield according to their schedule using the averages allowed in 2023 by those defenses.

PHI	LAR	WAS	SEA	LAC	DEN	TEN	MIA	NE	MIN	TB
368	363	360	360	360	360	353	353	351	350	350
NO	CLE	BAL	NYJ	PIT	CHI	NYG	JAC	HOU	CAR
349	349	348	347	346	345	345	344	342	342
KC	BUF	DET	LV	CIN	GB	ATL	IND	ARI	DAL	SF
341	340	339	337	336	335	333	332	328	327	325

Weekly Play

Three different views are below. Week 1 to 17 is the full-season fantasy strength of schedule. “The Dorey Rule” says to draft by considering the first six weeks for a hot start. Finally, Weeks 15 to 17 represent the most common fantasy playoff weeks. “Good” games against a Top-22 venue from last year; “Bad” was when they played in one of the Bottom-22.

Week 1-17	SOS	Good	Bad	First 6	SOS	Good	Bad	Playoffs	SOS	Good	Bad
TEN	4	7	3	CLE	3	3	0	PHI	3	3	0
LAR	3	6	3	NYG	3	4	1	MIN	3	3	0
WAS	2	6	4	SEA	3	4	1	ATL	2	2	0
JAC	2	5	3	TEN	2	3	1	JAC	2	2	0
CLE	2	6	4	CHI	2	3	1	TEN	2	2	0
CHI	2	7	5	HOU	2	3	1	DEN	1	2	1
DEN	1	5	4	MIA	2	3	1	IND	1	1	0
LAC	1	7	6	LV	1	2	1	LAC	1	2	1
NYG	1	7	6	PIT	1	2	1	NE	1	1	0
HOU	1	6	5	LAR	1	2	1	SEA	1	1	0
MIA	1	6	5	JAC	0	1	1	TB	1	2	1
SEA	1	6	5	CAR	0	1	1	GB	1	1	0
PIT	0	5	5	MIN	0	1	1	KC	1	1	0
NE	0	5	5	TB	0	2	2	NO	1	2	1
PHI	0	6	6	DEN	0	2	2	CAR	0	1	1
CAR	0	4	4	KC	0	2	2	HOU	0	1	1
MIN	0	5	5	LAC	0	2	2	CHI	0	1	1
BAL	0	6	6	NE	0	2	2	CIN	0	1	1
BUF	0	5	5	SF	0	2	2	NYG	-1	1	2
NYJ	0	6	6	WAS	0	2	2	PIT	-1	0	1
DET	0	6	6	BUF	-1	0	1	BAL	-1	0	1
TB	-1	5	6	BAL	-1	2	3	BUF	-1	1	2
ATL	-1	4	5	GB	-1	1	2	LAR	-1	0	1
IND	-1	4	5	DET	-1	2	3	LV	-1	0	1
GB	-1	3	4	CIN	-2	1	3	MIA	-1	0	1
NO	-2	5	7	NO	-2	1	3	NYJ	-1	0	1
KC	-2	4	6	DAL	-2	1	3	WAS	-1	0	1
CIN	-3	4	7	IND	-2	1	3	CLE	-1	1	2
DAL	-3	4	7	PHI	-3	0	3	DAL	-2	0	2
ARI	-3	5	8	ARI	-3	1	4	DET	-2	0	2
SF	-3	5	8	NYJ	-3	1	4	ARI	-3	0	3
LV	-4	3	7	ATL	-4	0	4	SF	-3	0	3

Best schedule strength

Tyjae Spears/Tony Pollard (TEN) – The schedule is less important than installing an entirely different offensive scheme, but it is a factor. Especially when the Titans own the most advantageous set of opponents in the NFL based from last year’s stats, the O-line is still a work in progress, and the passing effort should be more productive than it has for many years. There should be fewer carries than in recent seasons, but either Tyjae Spears or Tony Pollard could surprise – if they can earn the bigger share in this committee approach post-Derrick Henry.

Kyren Williams/Blake Corum (LAR) – Kyren Williams took over in his second season and starting in Week 12, was as good as any fantasy running back in 2023. Now, he enjoys one of the best schedules with just three bad venues and a solid six best venues. It should propel Williams to being an elite back again this year, but the addition of Blake Corum potentially muddies the waters with a committee approach of some measure. But Williams’ injury history could mean Corum gets at least a few games to himself.

Austin Ekeler/Brian Robinson Jr. (WAS) – This is another situation where the offense will be all new, and the O-line is a concern. There will also be a committee involving Austin Ekeler and Brian Robinson. However, the Commanders benefit from one of the lighter slates of opponents, and the backfield should profit with four of the final five fantasy games being at home. A Week 14 bye won’t help teams in large contests for their playoffs.

Travis Etienne (JAC) – The schedule is better than most, but not hugely advantageous. Facing two good venues and no bad ones during fantasy playoffs is a plus for the player who ended as the No. 3 fantasy running back last year on a team that did not bother to get any new help for the backfield.

Worst schedule strength

Zamir White/Alexander Mattison (LV) – The Raiders are installing a new offense with OC Luke Getsy from Chicago, and they lost Josh Jacobs. The addition of Alexander Mattison to the backfield isn’t encouraging and Zamir White enters his third season with a spotty resume. Throw in an NFL-worst schedule for fantasy backs and the attraction is even less. Starting in Week 6, the Raiders face seven bad venues and only one light matchup.

Christian McCaffrey (SF) – Certainly, if any back is better than his schedule, it would be Christian McCaffrey. There’s no denying how productive he is when healthy and helped many fantasy teams reach their playoffs. The 49ers get three bad venues for the fantasy playoff weeks, but McCaffrey tends to just turn into a receiver when needed.

James Conner/Trey Benson (ARI) – Conner comes off his career-best season, but he turns 30 next year, and the Cardinals snapped up the second overall running back in the NFL draft when they picked Trey Benson. It will be a committee that will most likely evolve as the season progresses and Conner always misses three or four games. Their schedule works against them with an NFL-worst eight games played at toughest venues. And it works out poorly when they start out with almost nothing but bad matchups for the first half of the season, then brighten up with four of the next five games against easier opponents. And then, back to facing three tough defenses to end their fantasy year.

Ezekiel Elliott/Rico Dowdle (DAL) – The largest concern is the quality of rushers – an aging Ezekiel Elliott is back and paired with Rico Dowdle. There’s a chance that the Cowboys will find someone, anyone, after the final cutdown, but they only get four games in easier venues and seven with the tougher opponents.

Zack Moss (CIN) – The Bengals let Joe Mixon leave for the Texans and replaced him with Zack Moss, who has never been better than the No. 31 fantasy back. Chase Brown will figure in and the backfield looks less appealing for 2024 when the schedule works against them. Their final five games after the Week 12 bye include three tough matchups and just one softer opponent in Week 17.

2024 weekly grid

Fantasy points allowed per game

These are the values from 2023 that were applied to this year’s schedule to determine strength of schedule for running backs.

DEN	@ARI	CAR	LVR	WAS	@SEA	IND	NYJ	MIA	SEA	@WAS	NYG	CIN	GB	@IND	CHI
33.9	31.9	31.2	28.3	27.8	27.6	27.4	26.9	25.4	25.3	25.0	24.9	24.8	24.7	24.6	24.4
DAL	@PIT	TEN	@NE	@LAC	@CHI	ARI	@JAC	@BUF	@NYJ	@BAL	LAC	CLE	HOU	JAC	@NYG
24.3	24.0	24.0	23.9	23.8	23.7	23.6	23.3	23.2	22.9	22.5	22.5	21.8	21.7	21.5	21.1
@KC	SF	@DEN	MIN	PHI	@LVR	@NO	@PHI	@HOU	@MIN	NO	BUF	@ATL	PIT	ATL	@CAR
21.0	20.8	20.7	20.2	20.1	19.7	19.6	19.5	19.4	19.2	19.2	19.0	18.9	18.6	18.4	18.4
@LAR	TB	@GB	@CLE	@CIN	KC	BAL	@TB	@SF	DET	@DET	NE	LAR	@TEN	@DAL	@MIA
18.3	18.3	18.2	18.0	18.0	17.6	17.4	16.8	16.2	15.9	15.6	15.4	15.0	14.1	13.6	13.5

Zamir White taking ‘ownership’ of Raiders starting RB job, role as vocal leader

After five years with Josh Jacobs as the workhorse back for the Raiders, there’s a new feature back in Las Vegas. The job has been passed to Zamir White and the former fourth round pick out of Georgia knows his mindset must change with his new responsibilities.

“Last year my role was more like a quiet guy who was there when they need me I’m here,” said White. “But now I got to grow back into that vocal leader and just show it on the field every single day.”

As new teammate Alexander Mattison put it, White has taken “ownership” of his new role and the different mindset.

The last time White had these kind of expectations was in his Georgia days when he carried the ball over 300 times between his junior and senior seasons. He has just 121 carries over his two seasons with the Raiders, 84 of those carries coming over the final four games of last season filling in for the injured Jacobs.

He averaged 4.7 yards per carry over those four games and twice went over 100 yards rushing. Even still, he’s not looking back.

“Last year was last year,” White said. “I gotta move on from that and build off what we got going on right now. That’s the past.”

With this new year ahead, White said he’s not setting any personal goals. That’s not something he ever does.

While he is expected to be the feature back, he isn’t expected to shoulder the kind of load Jacobs did in his time in Silver & Black. New GM Tom Telesco has said multiple times he envisions the Raiders backfield as utilizing several backs. But White will have the shot to lead the way among the group and carry the bulk of the load.

Will Raiders RB Zamir White lead the team in rushing yards?

After letting Josh Jacobs walk in free agency, the expectation is that Zamir White will take over the starting running back job for the Las Vegas Raiders. White had a fantastic finish to the 2023 season and it’s all systems go for this year.

But is there a chance that White isn’t the lead back in Las Vegas? Could someone else lead the team in rushing yards, even if White is fully healthy?

In a recent article by Bill Barnwell of ESPN, he wrote about White and the possibility of him not leading the team in rushing yards this season. Here is a snippet of his thoughts on the backfield for Las Vegas heading into the year:

Zamir White is the incumbent after carrying the ball 104 times for 451 yards last season, most of which came during a four-game stint as the starter at the end of 2023. White posted modestly above-average rush yards over expectation (RYOE) numbers, especially in context compared to (Josh) Jacobs, who was one of the league’s worst backs by the same metric.

Both White and Jacobs were dismal in terms of gaining first downs versus expectation. White should be considered the favorite, but he’s also a 2022 fourth-round pick who was drafted by a regime that was fired in the middle of last season. That’s not the sort of recipe that usually leads to a firm grip on a starting job. I’d like to see White get an opportunity to be the full-time back, but I also wouldn’t be surprised if he ended up in a rotation by midseason.

It wouldn’t be a shock to see the Raiders add a veteran to their running back room at some point this offseason. They can upgrade from Alexander Mattison to a player with more athleticism and home-run ability. But if White is healthy, it would be a shock if anyone on the roster received more touches than him.

White is the most talented running back on the roster and the Raiders are ready to lean on him. While you can’t rule out the possibility of someone else overtaking this backfield, it seems pretty unlikely heading into the summer.

[lawrence-related id=108432,108430,108428,108416,108425]

Raiders QB Aidan O’Connell No. 4 no more, 3 others switch back to their college numbers

Three Raiders switching back to their old college numbers, Aidan O’Connell shedding No 4

More Raiders players are joining the number switching party.

QB Aidan O’Connell will now wear No. 12, switching from the No. 4 he wore as a rookie and which Derek Carr had worn for nine years in Silver & Black.

Safety Tre’von Moehrig will begin wearing No. 7 after wearing No. 25 his first two seasons with the team. Moehrig wore No. 7 in college at TCU.

Two others are getting their college numbers back. Running back Zamir White is switching to the No. 3 he wore at Georgia after wearing No. 35 his first two seasons. While his backfield mate Amir Abdullah is switching to the No. 8 he wore at Nebraska after wearing No. 22 the past two seasons with the team. He was unable to get the number last year as Josh Jacobs wore it.

O’Connell wore 13 and 16 at Purdue. Those numbers currently belong to QB Anthony Brown and WR Jakobi Meyers respectively. As it happens, both of are also wearing their college numbers.

It’s interesting seeing all the players taking advantage of the rule that allows more than just QB’s and kickers to wear single digit numbers. Players become attached to their college numbers and so it’s special for them when they get a chance to wear it again.

What Condition the Position is in: Assessing Raiders level of need at RB ahead of the Draft

What Condition Raiders RB Position is in heading into the Draft

With the Draft just weeks away, it’s time to check in on the Raiders’ running back position to give it a condition of either Strong, Stable, Unstable, Serious, or Critical.

Starters: Zamir White, Alexander Mattison

Backups: Ameer Abdullah, Brittain Brown, Sincere McCormick, Tyreik McAllister

White played well in the final five games of last season after Josh Jacobs was lost to injury. But new GM Tom Telesco made it clear he didn’t want a workhorse back, but rather a committee in the backfield. Mattison has been a part time player for most of his five-year NFL career. He put up a career-high 700 yards on 180 carries last season along with 30 catches for 192 yards and three touchdowns.

Condition: Stable

Notes: From the looks of it, the Raiders have the duo they like in White and Mattison. Though the depth is suspect. I wouldn’t put it past them to take a running back in this draft, but it would likely be no higher than a day three pick should someone they like happen to be there later than they expected.

What Condition the Position is in: Assessing Raiders need at RB

What Condition Raiders Position is in: Running back

With free agency under a month away, it’s time to check in on the Raiders’ running back position to give it a condition of either Strong, Stable, Unstable, Serious, or Critical.

Starter: Zamir White

Backups: Brittain Brown, Austin Walter, Sincere McCormick, Tyreik McAllister

Free Agents: Josh Jacobs, Ameer Abdullah, Brandon Bolden, Jakob Johnson

Jacobs was having a down season even before he was lost to injury. White stepped in and started the final four games, averaging just under 100 yards per game.

Condition: Unstable

Jacobs is headed for free agency again and this time they won’t be using the franchise tag on him which would pay him over $14 million next season. White has a couple great games late in the season, but had shown no indication he could be a full time starter prior to that, so another decent option would be smart.

Johnson was the team’s primary fullback and they could probably bring him easily if they wished to do so.

Ballers & Busters for Raiders Week 18 win over Broncos

For the fourth straight season, the Raiders complete the sweep of the Broncos. That’s right, the Las Vegas Raiders have never lost to the Broncos.

Fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em: Week 18

Start ’em, Sit ’em for fantasy football in Week 18.

Though most fantasy football championships have already been concluded, there’s a faction of leagues holding the crucial, final matchup in Week 18.

Though that’s not recommended considering the implications of fantasy studs sitting out the final week of the regular season, we’re still here to help with those lineup decisions.

Fantasy football sleepers to play in Week 18

Taking a look at some sleepers to play in Week 18.

While the majority of fantasy football leagues have concluded, there are still some leagues that partake in a Week 18 championship, and we’re still here to help those who need it.

And, even though the vast majority of fantasy managers are no longer competing, we can use these sleepers for prop betting and DFS plays.

We will be using The Huddle’s weekly PPR projections and rankings as a reference to find some potential boom games this week.