By Chet Gresham – @ChetGresham
Follow @walterfootball for updates.
Each offseason brings change to NFL rosters, and those changes often have fantasy implications. Below, I lay out the changes at the skill positions and how those moves impact the fantasy status of the new roster.
2017
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QB: Derek Carr, E.J. Manuel
RB: Marshawn Lynch, Jalen Richard, Deandre Washington, Jamize Olawale, Elijah Hood
WR: Amari Cooper, Michael Crabtree, Seth Roberts, Cordarrelle Patterson, Johnny Holton
TE: Jared Cook, Clive Walford
2018
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QB: Derek Carr, Connor Cook, E.J. Manuel
RB: Marshawn Lynch, Doug Martin, Jalen Richard, Deandre Washington, Elijah Hood
WR: Amari Cooper, Jordy Nelson, Seth Roberts, Johnny Holton, Dwayne Harris, Marcel Ateman
TE: Jared Cook, Lee Smith, Derek Carrier
Pre-Draft Offseason:
Jon Gruden returning to Oakland 17 years later and to the NFL 11 years later to coach is the biggest move for the Raiders. There’s a real chance that the league has gone ahead without him, but there are still plenty of meathead types worried about blood and guts, and useless “intangibles,” so I think he could still win with a good team. Right now however, the Raiders are an average team that needs more than Gruden inspiring the players with some spittle in the face.
Gruden’s first few moves for this offense do not inspire confidence. Cutting Michael Crabtree for Jordy Nelson was a net loss, as Nelson has slowed down considerably and had his numbers bolstered by Aaron Rodgers over his career, while Crabtree has been the only consistent offensive player for Oakland over the last three years. “Ol’ Grudes” also picked up the thoroughly washed Doug Martin, who looked like death warmed over the last two years as he rushed for 2.9 yards per carry in back-to-back seasons, to back up the 32-year-old Marshawn Lynch.
Post-Draft Update
The Raiders beefed up their offensive line and worked on helping their poor defense in the draft. The only offensive skill player they took came with the 228th-overall pick when they grabbed wide receiver Marcell Ateman out of Oklahoma State. He looks like he could be a good possession receiver in the NFL, but he is not likely to make an early impact for the Raiders.
Oakland did trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers for wide receiver Martavis Bryant, who was suspended for a season and then lost his job to JuJu Smith-Schuster. Bryant still has plenty of talent and could reawaken in Oakland, but he will still be the No. 3 receiver with a worse quarterback throwing his way.
Jon Gruden’s personnel moves have looked misguided so far and skewed to the early ’90s at best, but he seemingly has complete control of this franchise and its moves, so he gets all the glory or all the criticism for the next few years. Good luck, Chuck!
2018 Fantasy Outlook:
Stud: None
Solid: Amari Cooper, Marshawn Lynch
Sleeper: None
For more recommendations, check out WalterFootball.com’s Fantasy Football Rankings.
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Fantasy Football Rankings
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings:
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Tight End Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Kickers - 8/21 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Defenses - 8/21 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 8/21 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 5/18 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Mock Drafts:
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 9/1 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/30 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/27 (Walt)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 8/23 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/22 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/16 (Walt)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 8/9 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/2 (Walt)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 8/1 (Chet)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 7/26 (Walt)
Fantasy Football 2-QB Dynasty Draft - 5/25 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets:
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 PPR - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 2-QB - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 Touchdown League - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Custom - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football: Dynasty Rankings - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Spreadsheets - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Articles:
2018 Fantasy Football Stock Report: OTAs, Training Camp - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Sleepers - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Busts - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Mid-Round Values - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 NFL Preseason Game Recaps - 8/31 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Preseason Games - 8/31 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Notes - 8/31 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Quarterback Preseason Targets Tracker - 8/30 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football D/ST Drafting - 8/28 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football ADP Values: Running Backs - 8/16 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Round-by-Round Strategy Guide - 8/15 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football ADP Values: Quarterbacks - 8/15 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Tight Ends to Target - 8/9 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football - PPR Draft Strategy: Rounds 1 and 2 - 7/27 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football: Doug Baldwin's Value - 7/25 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football: Chris Hogan's Value - 7/18 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football: Alvin Kamara's Value - 7/16 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Tight Ends - 7/11 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Wide Receivers - 7/6 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Running Backs - 7/5 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Quarterbacks - 7/4 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Tight Ends Better Than ADP - 6/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Wide Receivers Better Than ADP - 6/28 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Target Shares - 6/22 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Points Per Game - 6/13 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator - 6/2
2018 Fantasy Football Value Players - 5/25 (Chet)
2017 Fantasy Football Quarterback Look-Back - 1/28 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football: Running Backs with the Most Carries - 1/28 (Walt)
NFL Picks - Dec. 13
2025 NFL Mock Draft - Dec. 11
NFL Power Rankings - Dec. 9
2026 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 29
Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 4
