Las Vegas Raiders: 5 players who need to step up in 2020
By Matt Holder
Las Vegas Raiders: 5 players who need to step up in 2020
Tyrell Williams
Tyrell Williams is another member of the 2019 free-agent class who has something to prove in 2020. When the Raiders brought him in, he was expected to serve as a complementary option to Antonio Brown, but of course, plans changed about a week before the season.
After Brown’s departure, Williams was thrust into the number one role which at first, seemed like a smooth transition. He scored a touchdown in the first four games of the season and averaged 54 yards per game during that timeframe. Unfortunately, an injury knocked him off track as he only found paydirt two times and his yards per game total dropped to 43.5 in the final ten games he played in.
While the former Charger’s lack of production can be chalked up to a foot injury, that doesn’t excuse his high rate of drops. Last season, he let five passes slip through his hands, which tied for the most on the team. To make matters worse, the player who he as tied with, Darren Waller, had nearly double the number of targets, meaning Williams had the highest drop rate on the team. That’s not what anyone is looking for from a “number one” wideout.
Of course, the five-year veteran will have a chance to right the ship in 2020, and he will go back to the complementary role he originally signed up for with the addition of Henry Ruggs III. However, Williams’ contract carries no dead cap in 2021 and beyond, so if he fails to step up, third-round pick Bryan Edwards will be there to take over.