Tahir Whitehead
For the second week in a row, Whitehead will be a x-factor for the Silver and Black. The linebacker has made a name for himself as a run defender, and his PFF run defense grade ranks within the top 10 of AFC linebackers. He has a tough task in this week as he will be lining up against running back Marlon Mack.
On the ground the young back is averaging nearly 100 yards and a touchdown per game this season. Also, Mack managed to gather 328 receiving yards in his rookie and sophomore campaigns, so he is a threat in the passing game as well. The three-year veteran is a key piece to Colts offense and stopping him is a must for the Raiders.
In the past, Whitehead has struggled in coverage, however, this season has been a different story. The veteran has only allowed two receptions on three targets for 28 yards when covering running backs, and that includes a 32 yard reception to Damien Williams, which appears to be an outlier. It wouldn’t be too much of a surprise to see Whitehead shadow Mack on Sunday.