Oakland Raiders: Rising star, breakout player, rebound player, and more
By Brad Weiss
Comeback Player
The 2017 Raiders were one of the more disappointing groups in recent memory, as they had so many expectations heading into the season and never really got it going. All of their big name players on offense took a step back, and the defense, outside of Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin, were terrible on all levels.
Here are a few players who could be the Raiders Comeback Player of the Year in 2018.
Jose Sanchez: Jalen Richard
After a fantastic rookie season in 2016, Jalen Richard fell off tremendously in 2017. In 2018, he’ll be the team’s comeback player. Richard has worked best with a chip on his shoulder, thus he was able to explode on the scene in 2016. After a poor 2017, Richard has all the pressure on him to perform, especially with the addition of Doug Martin. His main drawback from last season was his poor ball security. If he corrects that, then he’ll become playable. At that point all that needs to be corrected is his habit of dancing too much in the backfield.
Thomas Wheaton: Derek Carr
Everyone knows that Carr plays with a ton of emotion and leaves everything he has on the field. Last season, well, that was one to forget and it begins with Carr. He needs to shrug off last season’s struggles and look forward, leading the team back to greatness. If he can do that, Carr may be a front runner for MVP once again.
Jordan Alexis: Derek Carr
One year ago, the NFL media was ready to vault Carr into the class of rising star. But after a disappointing and injury-riddled performance in 2017, those talks have cooled. Carr is now fully healthy, and I’m sure he is extremely motivated to remind people how good he is.
Brad Weiss: Doug Martin
At one time, Doug Martin was the future of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, putting together incredible seasons from his running back position. However, he comes to the Raiders with the expectation that he will be the No. 2 back for the team in 2018, but the way he has looked since joining the organization has me thinking he will play a huge role for the team this Fall.