Oakland Raiders: Rising star, breakout player, rebound player, and more

CARSON, CA - DECEMBER 31: Marshawn Lynch #24 of the Oakland Raiders breaks free from Trevor Williams #24 of the Los Angeles Chargers during the second quarter of the game at StubHub Center on December 31, 2017 in Carson, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
CARSON, CA - DECEMBER 31: Marshawn Lynch #24 of the Oakland Raiders breaks free from Trevor Williams #24 of the Los Angeles Chargers during the second quarter of the game at StubHub Center on December 31, 2017 in Carson, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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OAKLAND, CA – OCTOBER 19: Amari Cooper #89 of the Oakland Raiders makes a catch against the Kansas City Chiefs during their NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on October 19, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – OCTOBER 19: Amari Cooper #89 of the Oakland Raiders makes a catch against the Kansas City Chiefs during their NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on October 19, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Needs to Rebound

There are players on every roster who are expected to put up big numbers, and when they don’t, it really hindrances what the team is going to do that year. Last year, the Raiders had good pieces in place, but the play-calling was terrible, and it really affected what they could do on the field.

Most of the JustBlogBaby Staff is in agreement with who needs to rebound, although Jose went a different route.

Jose Sanchez: Derek Carr

There is only one answer to this and it’s quarterback Derek Carr. Now I haven’t been one of those people that blame Carr’s poor performance strictly on him. There was a lot of variables that went into that in 2017. However, if Carr doesn’t have a stellar year, then this team will find itself struggling from the get go. It will also be some cause for panic because it’ll look like 2016 was a fluke year for him. Carr needs to rebound this season because he is the quarterback. You don’t go far as a team without a solid quarterback.

Thomas Wheaton: Amari Cooper

In a new and supposedly high-flying offense the Raiders are going to be dependent on Amari Cooper to lead the wide receivers unit. Now alongside Jordy Nelson and Martavis Bryant, Cooper needs to shoulder less of the load. However, Cooper needs to get back to the electric and elusive player we all saw in his first two seasons.

Jordan Alexis: Amari Cooper

This is a no-brainer, Cooper was disappointing in every way imaginable last year and has to have a bounce-back season. Jon Gruden has pegged him as the focal point of the passing game and it is time for him to emerge as a top-flight receiver. 

Brad Weiss: Amari Cooper

Cooper went for over 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons in the NFL, and the thought was the 2017 campaign would be no different. However, there were games where he really did not show up, but with a new offensive coordinator hired for 2018, you can expect some old school Coop this season.