For someone or something to be overrated, they need to be considered better than they actually are. Therefore, if someone is overrated, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s bad, only over-praised. So with that in mind, here are the most overrated Oakland Raiders.
Most Overrated Oakland Raiders
Michael Crabtree
Michael Crabtree is half of the NFL’s best wide receiver duo. Paired with Amari Cooper, Michael Crabtree has made life significantly easier for Derek Carr. Since joining the team before the 2015 season, Michael Crabtree has caught 174 passes and 17 touchdowns, both of which are the most on the team over that span. He’s also racked up 1,925 yards. While Amari Cooper has is a home-run threat every time he touches the ball, Crabtree has acted as Derek Carr’s safety blanket, especially in the red-zone.
However, over the last two seasons, Michael Crabtree has also dropped 17 passes, tied for second most in the NFL. As great as Crabtree can be, he’s also proven to be very unreliable. Jim Harbaugh once said that he believed Michael Crabtree had the best hands in the Nfl, but if this is true, he hasn’t shown it in Oakland.
Crabtree is very good, and remains a crucial part of the Oakland offense, but it’s Amari Cooper that makes the duo the best in the NFL. There’s a reason that Michael Crabtree was a ghost in San Francisco, and it’s not all Colin Kaepernick’s fault. If Crabtree could just cut down on the drops, he wouldn’t find himself on this list.
Latavius Murray
On the surface, Latavius Murray is the perfect Raider running back. He’s 6’3 and 225 pounds, but he ran a 4.34 forty yard dash. That combination of size and speed is almost unheard of in the NFL. This year, the Raiders decided to run by committee, using Murray as well as rookies, DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard, so he failed to match 2015’s total of 1,066 yards. However, despite receiving almost 100 fewer carries in 2016, he doubled his touchdown total from six to 12.
However, is Murray great? Or is he just a product of the offensive line? He had more fumbles than rushes of 40+ yards this season. Despite playing behind a comparable offensive line, Ezekiel Elliott had almost three times as many runs of at least 20 yards.
Weirdly enough, Murray’s biggest strength is also his biggest weakness. Despite the fact that Murray might be the NFL’s biggest tailback, he just doesn’t play like it. He doesn’t use his size to run downhill, barreling over people, he plays like a smaller, shiftier back. Both Richard and Washington averaged more yards per carry, and considering both guys carried the ball about 90 times, it’s not pretty. If you combine the two rookies, they’d have carried the ball 25 fewer times than Murray for 170 more yards.
Murray is a decent, but completely expendable back. 12 touchdowns aren’t anything to sneeze at, but it’s hard to give him credit when he plays behind that offensive line and even an undrafted rookie can duplicate his success.
Reggie Nelson
Reggie Nelson is not a popular player here on Last Word on Pro Football. He was named Oakland’s Least Valuable Player in the year in review article, and his status as a pro bowler is often mocked. Some have even speculated that he’s what separates the Raider defense from Seattle’s. How in the world he made the pro bowl roster, nobody will ever know.
Nelson often let plays get behind him and was known to miss tackles. He played a big role in Sean Smith’s struggles in 2016, and the Raiders would be wise to look for a replacement. Perhaps one that’s leaving Kansas City?
Sebastian Janikowski
This one is sure to make some people unhappy, but it’s absolutely true. Once considered a lock from 50+ yards, Sebastian Janikowski is not what he used to be, despite what he’s being paid. Seabass missed six field goals in 2016, as well as two extra points. In fact, Janikowski attempted eight of his patentet 50+ yard field goals, and he only made three. As great as Seabass has been in his career, a mediocre kick percentage isn’t acceptable anymore. Especially when you consider that he made nearly four million dollars this year, is set to make almost four and a half million dollars next year.
You’re probably upset, and that’s understandable. But there’s some good news. Every yin has a yang, and as this article listed the most overrated Oakland Raiders, there’s also a list about the most underrated Raiders! Be sure to check it out.
