The Las Vegas Raiders had a 2023 season that saw the defense finish in the top 10. There is a lot to build on after a solid second half in 2023 that saw the Raider defense allow an average of 19.5 points per game, ranking them 7th in that stretch.
Las Vegas will enter the 2024 season with a chip on their shoulder and a need to prove they can be an elite defense to be feared. It will be interesting to see if this defense can take the Raiders to the next level.
Las Vegas Raiders 2024 Fantasy Outlook
Patrick Graham, the Raiders’ defensive coordinator, is entering his 3rd year and the ceiling seems to be high for this group to perform in 2024. Graham has largely stayed under the radar regarding recognition as a top defensive mind.
Las Vegas Raiders 2023 Stats and Production
Last season, the Raiders accounted for 146 fantasy points, an average of 8.6 points per game. The team had 46 sacks, 13 interceptions, 13 forced fumbles, and 9 fumble recoveries. The defense also had 5 defensive touchdowns that were 2nd only to Dallas, who had 6 for the year.
Cornerbacks Raiders’ Jack Jones and 2nd-year Jakorian Bennett look to lead the secondary with their aggressive play and ball-hawking ability. Bennett struggled with injuries in his rookie season, but he looks to showcase his talent in 2024 with a healthy start.
Led by perennial Pro Bowler Maxx Crosby and his 14.5 sacks, the Raiders’ defensive line improved as the year evolved. Malcolm Koonce, the Raiders’ other edge rusher, finished the season with 32 solo tackles, 11 assists, and eight sacks in 17 games.
Other players like linebackers Robert Spillane, who led the Raiders in tackles (148), and Divine Deablo (106), will play a key part in the success of the secondary. Oh, and let’s not forget the addition of star tackle Christian Wilkins.
According to Sporting News, the Raiders’ biggest x-factors for 2024 include 7th overall pick Tyree Wilson, 2nd-year cornerback Bennett, and the speedy rookie Decamerion Richardson. Wilson had a rookie season that showed promise towards the end, even though he was involved in only 50% of the team’s defensive snaps.
Bennett, as mentioned, is expected to take on a bigger role at cornerback as he has excelled so far in the preseason, working hard to learn and understand the defense. Richardson has 4.34 speed and a 35-inch vertical leap that helped him attain an 86.5 coverage grade in his senior year.
Las Vegas Raiders Defense 2024 Projections
The Raiders were a top-five defense in the 9 games that Antonio Pierce coached last season, but according to Yahoo Sports that could have been a fluke. They have them finishing 22nd in 2024.
That would be a significant drop and a hard pill to swallow for defensive coordinator Graham. These Raiders may want to put their faith in a USA Today article, which has NFL.com ranking them at 11th and CBS Sports at 14. Clearly, one side is wrong on this prediction. FantasyPros has the defense ranking 19th and scoring 103 fantasy points, including 45 sacks and 11 INT’s.
Final Thoughts
There are still some questions to answer as to whether this Raider Defense for Fantasy is legit or just a pretender. One thing is for sure, if the D-Line has a healthy group, it would be hard to bet against them creating havoc for many offensive lines. There is also plenty of talent in the secondary to complement the guys in front of them, so it comes down to coaching and performance.
Their fantasy defense is ranked similarly to the Cincinnati Bengals but still ranked below the top-tier defenses like the Baltimore Ravens or San Francisco 49ers.
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