Las Vegas Raiders at Indianapolis Colts: 3 Studs, 3 Duds in Week 17

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) celebrates with Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Hunter Renfrow (13) after scoring a touchdown Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, during a game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) celebrates with Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Hunter Renfrow (13) after scoring a touchdown Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, during a game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. /
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Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Hunter Renfrow (13) runs toward the end zone Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, during a game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The play was ruled down at the spot of the reception.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Hunter Renfrow (13) runs toward the end zone Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, during a game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The play was ruled down at the spot of the reception. /

Las Vegas Raiders at Indianapolis Colts: 3 Studs, 3 Duds in Week 17

Studs

Hunter Renfrow

What a player Hunter Renfrow has turned out to be for the Las Vegas Raiders, especially this past almost month and a half that Darren Waller has been out. Renfrow has taken the role of lead receiver for Derek Carr and has not only performed but over-performed.

He finished this game with seven receptions for 76 yards and one touchdown, and his route running ability is out of this world. He was able to carve up one of the best slot cornerbacks in the league and became the first wideout to go over 1,000 in a season since 2016.

Zay Jones

Zay Jones is much maligned by Raiders fans, but he is not only loved by all his teammates but especially quarterback Derek Carr. Carr will throw to Jones a lot, and use him as the team’s deep threat, especially since the departure of Henry Ruggs.

It hasn’t always worked out for the Raiders but it did in this game. Zay finished the game with his first career 100-yard game collecting eight receptions for 120 yards and a 40-yard catch and run reception.

Devine Deablo

When Deablo was picked in the third round of this past draft, and Raiders fans were told that he would be switching from playing safety in college to playing Linebacker in the NFL, it was met with much skepticism from fans, especially because Tanner Muse was just drafted a year earlier with that same plan in mind. But when Muse was released to make room for KJ Wright, and Deablo started his offseason injured and not playing much, that skepticism was warranted.

However, Deablo was forced into playing a few weeks ago and he has been performing in every single game he has played in so far. Sure, he will have the occasional rookie mistake, but his overall play on the field supersedes that.