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Las Vegas Raiders vs Denver Broncos: 3 Raiders to watch in Week 16

By Alex Perl

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 05: Defensive end Maxx Crosby #98, free safety Trevon Moehrig #25, defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson #77 and outside linebacker K.J. Wright #34 of the Las Vegas Raiders walk off the field following the team's 17-15 loss to the Washington Football Team at Allegiant Stadium on December 5, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 05: Defensive end Maxx Crosby #98, free safety Trevon Moehrig #25, defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson #77 and outside linebacker K.J. Wright #34 of the Las Vegas Raiders walk off the field following the team's 17-15 loss to the Washington Football Team at Allegiant Stadium on December 5, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 14: Wide receiver Zay Jones #7 of the Las Vegas Raiders lands out of bounds as he reaches for the end zone after making a catch against defensive end Alton Robinson #98 of the Seattle Seahawks during a preseason game at Allegiant Stadium on August 14, 2021, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Raiders defeated the Seahawks 20-7. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 14: Wide receiver Zay Jones #7 of the Las Vegas Raiders lands out of bounds as he reaches for the end zone after making a catch against defensive end Alton Robinson #98 of the Seattle Seahawks during a preseason game at Allegiant Stadium on August 14, 2021, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Raiders defeated the Seahawks 20-7. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Las Vegas Raiders vs Denver Broncos: 3 Raiders to watch in Week 16

Zay Jones

The Raiders are likely to once again be without star tight end Darren Waller in this game, so Derek Carr is going to have to find a way to get it done without him once again. The best wide receiver on this offense has been hands down Hunter Renfrow over the second half of this season, but out of nowhere, the second-best option at receiver has been Jones.

Carr has never been shy in shielding praise on the 26-year old receiver who is in his third season as a Raider. But all of the praise never translated to huge numbers, and Jones had been used as more of a decoy or backup heading into this season.

With the release of Henry Ruggs, the Raiders moved to bring in veteran DeSean Jackson, but that move has been seen as nothing more than adding wide receiver depth. The rise of second-year receiver Bryan Edwards was also expected to fill in the gaps, but Edwards has been nothing more of a bit player in this offense.

The onus has now been placed on Jones to be one of the top options in this passing game, and his target share has shown that this is truly the case. He caught six of his nine targets in the Raiders’ recent victory over the Cleveland Browns. His 67 yards also were the most by any Raider as the game was a defensive highlighted clash.

Jones looks as though he now has the full trust of Carr and offensive coordinator Greg Olson. Keep an eye out on Jones as he now seems to be the most trusted deep threat for Carr and this offense.

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