Let me start by saying that I love Hunter Renfrow. The slot receiver with the opposite of the body of a Greek God simply produces. He was a highly efficient and effective wide receiver at Clemson for Deshaun Watson. Now, he is seeing his role grow with the Las Vegas Raiders. Can Renfrow and Zay Jones be trusted in Week 18 for fantasy football purposes?
Hunter Renfrow is really good
When you look at the wide receivers from the 2019 NFL Draft, the hype often surrounds the likes of DK Metcalf, A.J. Brown, Deebo Samuel, and Terry McLaurin. You might get someone that’s enamored with Marquise Brown.
Rarely, though, is Renfrow mentioned in the same discussion. But in PPR leagues, only Samuel has more fantasy points on the season from the group above than Renfrow.
Yes, injuries played a role in that. However, the same “only Samuel” statistic applies to fantasy points per game, with Renfrow checking in at a healthy 15.1. He’s posted the same number of fantasy points per game as CeeDee Lamb.
Renfrow is consistently slept on, but he’s developing into one of the best slot receivers in the game.
Zay Jones has been developing more of a role
We all know the turmoil that the Raiders have faced this year, from the Jon Gruden debacle to losing Henry Ruggs because of his DUI fatality incident. They’ve faced a ton of adversity, both on the field and off.
Losing Ruggs caused a big change in their offensive game plan, as did the lingering injuries to star tight end Darren Waller, who hasn’t played since Week 12.
Jones, a 6’2” second-round pick in 2017 by the Buffalo Bills, has struggled to find any footing in the NFL. Since Week 12, however, Jones has seen his opportunities rise. Over the last six games, Jones has averaged 7.7 targets per game. He’s converted those opportunities into 5.5 receptions and 57 yards per contest.
Last week was one of Jones’ best games of his career, as he caught 8 of 10 targets for 120 yards. He’s consistently on the field, is looking confident, and is earning opportunities. It’s great redemption for a player that was labeled as a bust.
Zay Jones and Hunter Renfrow fantasy expectations
In Week 18, the Raiders are facing what is likely to be a must-win game against the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers. Assuming the Colts defeat the Jaguars, the winner of the Las Vegas-LA contest will grab the AFC’s final playoff spot.
The Chargers’ defense has been stingy against opposing wide receivers. They’ve allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers over the last four weeks. They’ve given up only 3 receiving TDs to receivers over that span.
Jones may not be in line for the most productive outing on the outside, but I trust Renfrow to continue producing in a high-volume role. Renfrow looks to be a good WR2 option for Week 18, with Jones factoring in as a big-play-dependent flex if you need him.