If you were to just look at the box score, you might be disappointed with the rookie season for Henry Ruggs. The former Alabama receiver tallied just over 500 yards and scored only two touchdowns. But despite the up-and-down rookie season, there are reasons to be excited.
In a recent article by Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus, he wrote about Ruggs entering Year 2 and why he should be in for a much bigger role in 2021. Here is a snippet of Monson’s thoughts on the speedster:
“Ruggs’ early-season role was much different from the one he ultimately ended up in, and that’s when we saw flashes of the devastating speed and big-play ability. Over the first five weeks of the season, Ruggs saw three times as many deep targets as Nelson Agholor (six to two), but then he got injured and Derek Carr began to connect with Agholor on those deep passes.”
If Ruggs can play like he did in the first few weeks of the season, he has a chance to be a big-time playmaker for the Raiders. Without Nelson Agholor, the Raiders will need him to develop into a more consistent pass catcher. And from everything we’ve heard so far, he appears to be on the right track.
Look for Ruggs to have a much more productive season in 2021 as the Raiders expand his role.
