Raiders: Predicting Week 1 starters at offensive skill positions

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 07: Josh Jacobs #28 of the Oakland Raiders runs the ball in for the winning touchdown against the Los Angeles Chargers in the fourth quarter at RingCentral Coliseum on November 07, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 07: Josh Jacobs #28 of the Oakland Raiders runs the ball in for the winning touchdown against the Los Angeles Chargers in the fourth quarter at RingCentral Coliseum on November 07, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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Raiders QB Derek Carr
Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

The Las Vegas Raiders will open their 2020 slate against the Carolina Panthers, and here are the predictions for the starters at the offensive skill positions.

The Las Vegas Raiders will head into their 2020 season opener against the Carolina Panthers with high expectations, as the team plans to make a playoff run in their first season in the desert. General manager Mike Mayock has done a tremendous job revamping the roster this offseason, adding quality talent to those positions of need, and there is reason to believe the Raiders could actually do some damage in the AFC this season.

With that said, here are our predictions for the Raiders Week 1 starters at the skill positions on offense.

Quarterback: Derek Carr

No big surprise here, as Derek Carr returns as the franchise’s starting quarterback for the seventh straight season. Carr has been the team’s starter since Week 1 of his rookie season, and is fresh off two straight 4,000-yard seasons in Jon Gruden’s offense.

The big thing with Carr is the win-loss record, as well as the coaching staff wanting him to make more plays with his legs. He has a tremendous cast around him this season, with talent all along that side of the ball, and the feeling is that he is going to finally get this team back to the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

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