The Las Vegas Raiders have totally revamped their offense over the last two seasons. Entering the 2020 season, players like Josh Jacobs and Darren Waller have emerged as stars and are among the best at their respective positions.
This year, the Raiders are hoping that players like Henry Ruggs III and Bryan Edwards can become key role players, helping improve the offense even further. But one player that can dramatically improve the offense this season is slot receiver Hunter Renfrow.
In a recent article by Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report, he named every team’s secret weapon entering the 2020 season. For the Raiders, that player was none other than Renfrow. Here is a snippet of Knox’s thoughts on Renfrow entering the year:
A fifth-round pick last offseason, Renfrow exploded once he got an opportunity to shine. He became one of Derek Carr’s most reliable targets and finished the regular season with 49 receptions, 605 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games, including four starts.
If Renfrow can make a second-year leap, he could emerge as one of the top young pass-catchers in the game. Fortunately for him, the arrival of Ruggs, third-round pick Bryan Edwards and free agent Nelson Agholor shouldn’t affect his status as Carr’s man in the middle.
In Renfrow’s final seven games of the 2019 season, he caught 35 passes for 490 yards and four touchdowns. While he is unlikely to repeat his 14 yards per reception average, it wouldn’t be a shock to see him catch five passes per game this season. And given just how reliable he is, expect Carr to target him on high-leverage down and distances.
Renfrow won’t “carry” the Raiders’ offense this season, but he could be the perfect complement to players like Waller and Ruggs. Look for the former Clemson star to potentially catch 60 or more passes this season.
