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Oakland Raiders at Indianapolis Colts: 3 players to watch

By Nicholas Cothrel

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 22: Derek Carr #4 of the Oakland Raiders drops back with the ball against the Minnesota Vikings during the first quarter of the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 22: Derek Carr #4 of the Oakland Raiders drops back with the ball against the Minnesota Vikings during the first quarter of the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 22: Derek Carr #4 of the Oakland Raiders passes the ball in the fourth quarter of the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 22: Derek Carr #4 of the Oakland Raiders passes the ball in the fourth quarter of the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) /

Derek Carr

Let’s face it, since the home opener on Monday night, Derek Carr has not played to the level of expectations that fans and people around the league have held him to. The success of the Raiders is solely reliant to how far Carr can take them.

Carr is without a doubt, the number one player to watch heading into week 4’s game at Indianapolis. Last week Carr only took two shots downfield through the air – one was dropped by Darren Waller and the other was a flea flicker to J.J. Nelson, which resulted in a touchdown. Through his ups and downs in the NFL, that’s been one thing that many people have harped on, “He doesn’t throw the ball downfield enough.”

For Carr to silence the doubters, he must air it out against the Colts banged up defense. Colts safety Malik Hooker tore his meniscus and linebacker Darius Leonard hasn’t practiced all week as he’s recovering from a concussion. That allows Carr to really let it rip, since two of the Colts better defensive playmakers will likely be sidelined.

Last season, Carr was the most accurate deep ball passer in the NFL with targets 20+ yards downfield according to PFF. He can throw the ball deep, but so far this season he hasn’t shown much of that. Eyes will be all over Carr this Sunday, as now it’s crunch time for him to produce so the Raiders avoid an egregious 1-3 start.

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