Erik Harris
When safety Johnathan Abram went down, Oakland was left with a hole in the back-end of its defense, however, Harris has filled the void Abram left behind. Among Raider defenders with at least 50 snaps, the former CFL star has the third-highest Pro Football Focus grade. As good as he has been, the matchup against the Lions will test Harris’ ability to keep plays in front of him.
According to NFL Next Gen Stats, quarterback Matthew Stafford ranks second in both average completed and intended air yards per pass, meaning he likes to chuck it deep. The gunslinger has always been known for his arm talent and this year is averaging a career-high 13 yards per completion. Limiting the number of explosive plays is key to stopping Detroit’s offense, but clearly, that’s easier said than done.
As a safety, its Harris’ responsibility to prevent big plays. The Silver and Black need the defensive back to prevent wide receivers like Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones, from getting behind the defense. If not, it could be a very long day for Oakland.