Raiders X-Factors against the Bengals in the Wild Card round

Raiders X-Factors against the Bengals in the Wild Card round

Darren Waller

First off, we must give wide receiver Hunter Renfrow his flowers. In a turbulent season for the Raiders receiving unit, which is due to several factors we won’t touch upon, Renfrow has been a breath of fresh air, and by far the most prolific and dependable target for quarterback Derek Carr.

When looking over the last few weeks, teams have zeroed in on the talented slot receiver in Renfrow, and although Zay Jones has become a somewhat reliable option, this team will need to get tight end Darren Waller involved in a heavy way to taste victory on Saturday.

Waller, a 2020 Pro Bowl selection at tight end, was head and shoulders above the rest of the Raiders inert group of receivers last season. This season, the rise of Renfrow has been well documented, but the most talented of the bunch is still Waller.

Injuries and a recent COVID-19 positive test for Waller had kept the talented tight end out of the last five contests before he made his return in a shallow and uninspiring way in Week 18.

Now with the rust off and more time to rest up and get healthy, the expectation is not only will Waller return to form, but the rapport between himself and Derek Carr will also be returning.

Carr needs to trust and rely heavily upon his dominating tight end, as this secondary will once again try to nullify the shifty route running ability of Renfrow.

Las Vegas Raiders to watch in their Wild Card matchup vs Cincinnati

If you are still catching your breath from the Raiders thrilling and stressful victory over the Chargers, well you do not have much time to recover.

Darren Waller will be a key X-Factor for a Raider offense that needs to not only give more help to Renfrow, but give Derek Carr the ability to stretch the field beyond one option, and hopefully get this once-dominant passing attack back to where it once stood.