The Las Vegas Raiders have released Henry Ruggs following a fatal car crash and his pending felony DUI charges. Our collective hearts here at Dynasty Football Factory go out to all parties involved but understand many may have questions in the fantasy aftermath of Ruggs’ release.
We are truly sensitive to the fact that someone lost their life and others are suffering due to this incident and that this is about far more than this little game we all play called fantasy football, but as a company whose ultimate focus is giving fantasy advice, we feel it’s our responsibility to cover the impact this has on the rest of the players and team. It goes without saying, please do not drink and drive. It’s simply not worth the risk.
With that said, let’s discuss the fallout from the Henry Ruggs situation.
DEREK CARR
Some fantasy managers may worry about a drop-off in production from quarterback Derek Carr, but I’d argue he was just fine before Henry Ruggs became a thing and he’ll be equally fine after. If we’re being honest, Ruggs was largely a bust as a former 12th overall pick in the NFL Draft. He was a disappointment as a rookie for the Raiders, and while he was finally catching his footing he was still inconsistent, being utilized mainly as a deep threat but only able to find the end zone twice in seven games.
Regardless, it’s not as if Carr sits atop the leaderboard in aDot (Average Depth of Target). He averages 9.0 yards per pass attempt, meaning he’s not necessarily looking to push the ball downfield THAT often to where we should be concerned he’d miss Ruggs’ on-the-field presence significantly. The fact is Carr has been extremely efficient when throwing deep, proven with a top-five deep ball completion rate of 46.5%.
It’s very possible we see a short-term decline in overall passing yards produced as the team adjusts but I’m not very worried about Derek Carr from a fantasy perspective. I wouldn’t rule out the team adding another wide receiver in free agency. Either way, he should remain the same safe and efficient passer he’s always been. Pencil him in for 300 yards and a couple of touchdowns per week.
Bryan Edwards
Henry Ruggs’ release, while unfortunate for many reasons, opens the door to the Bryan Edwards hype train and what appears to be an inevitable breakout season to follow. We think of Ruggs as this incredible deep threat but he was averaging two yards per target (16.9) more than Edwards (15.0). The second-year standout will likely see more work in general but I’d expect increased opportunities downfield.
Free Agency
Of course, we hope Edwards receives a bump in playing time and opportunity but there’s always the chance the Raiders look to free agency to fill the role left by Ruggs. DeSean Jackson would be the logical addition to replace Ruggs considering he’s always had game-breaking speed and been successful when stretching the field. He’s become somewhat of a one-trick pony, but many would argue that’s exactly what Ruggs was. The Raiders could also reach out to John Brown who they recently released and signed with the Denver Broncos’ practice squad. Jackson would fill the role so perfectly the Raiders may not miss a beat if they signed him.
Others Involved
If the Raiders choose not to sign anyone then Zay Jones, who has averaged 16.1 yards per target this year, would likely become the greatest beneficiary. Hunter Renfrow and Darren Waller should remain unaffected by the release of any potential signing. Truthfully, the majority of the team will hopefully avoid any largescale fantasy impact.
Final Thoughts
I want to reiterate again the importance of abstaining from drinking and driving. There are so many alternatives these days and absolutely nothing good can come of taking such a risk. We at Dynasty Football Factory understand real lives were impacted by this horrible incident and don’t want to understate or overlook what happened. We acknowledge this is just a game but also feel it’s our duty to our members to cover the story in relation to our little world.
Thank you for reading. If you have any thoughts or questions and would like to discuss them, you can reach out to me on Twitter @WillieBeamanDFF.
