Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos: 3 things we learned in Week 17

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DENVER, CO – DECEMBER 29: Wide receiver Hunter Renfrow #13 of the Oakland Raiders catches a pass as cornerback Isaac Yiadom #26 of the Denver Broncos defends on the play during the fourth quarter at Empower Field at Mile High on December 29, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Raiders 16-15. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /

Promising Rookies

The highlight of this season was the emergence of this 2019 rookie class, and two, in particular, had big performances in week 17.

Starting with Hunter Renfrow, who followed up his great game the week prior against the Chargers with another big performance to end the season. Renfrow had six catches for 102 yards and scored the only Raiders touchdown. There were certainly a few drops that he would like back, but Renfrow seemed to make up for those with huge catches in critical moments.

In the fourth quarter, it was all about the rookie wideout as he had three catches for 70 yards seemed to be the number one option down the stretch. The Raiders do still need to address their outside receivers spots, but they have a gem in Renfrow.

The same can be said for Maxx Crosby on defense. Crosby finished with five total tackles, including 1.5 sacks, which gave him 10 for the season. This is a remarkable achievement for someone who was drafted in the fourth round, and he has quickly become a favorite among the fan base for his relentless play and high energy. Combine that with his elite athletic testing, and the Raiders have found someone who could terrorize quarterback for years to come.

Both Renfrow and Crosby figure to be long-time Raiders and have proven where you’re drafted in no way determines how good you can be in this league.

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