Jakobi Meyers joined the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason in a move that didn’t shake the fantasy football world at the time but has the potential to be an impact transaction when we look back on things. Is it possible that he earns a consistent role in this underrated offense and offers Flex value, or is Meyers’ path to fantasy glory simply too thin for the limited ceiling he presents?
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The Case for Jakobi Meyers
The Raiders went out of their way to ink Meyers to a deal this season, and Step 1 in my fantasy analysis is to pay attention to what the team is telling you. By signing him, that tells me the team is at least a little concerned about Hunter Renfrow’s recovery from a tough 2022 season, and that’s all it takes to get excited about the potential return on investment in early fantasy drafts.
In the middle of Josh Jacobs producing at a career-best level, Mick Lombardi’s offense still through the rock at an above-average rate and preferred throwing to hold leads (eighth in pass rate when playing from ahead).
After some concerns early in the process, Jimmy Garoppolo has a clean bill of health and is a perfect fit for the slot stylings of Meyers. During his time in San Francisco, Garoppolo’s efficiency metrics when targeting the slot were on par — if not ahead — of Patrick Mahomes. Not. Bad. Company.
Also influencing my interest in Meyers is how much room figures to be available in the short game for Vegas. Last season, Davante Adams saw his aDOT spike by 27.8% from his final two seasons in Green Bay … and it worked in a big way.
I have a hard time thinking the Raiders tweak the role of a receiver who produced a 100-1,516-14 receiving line and made it look easy. Assuming Adams runs similar routes this season and Jacobs’ growth as a pass catcher out of the backfield is sustained, defenses have no real option but to be vulnerable in the middle of the field.
With Darren Waller now in New York, the slot receiver in Vegas is going to chew up a high percentage of those looks, and, for me, Meyers is the best bet to do that.
Before the jury rests, we want to call the Raiders’ schedule to the stand. In Weeks 11-16, a critical time during the fantasy football season, they face Aaron Rodgers, Tua Tagovailoa, Patrick Mahomes (twice), Kirk Cousins, and Justin Herbert. Does that sound like a run of games that will require some scoring?
The Case Against Meyers
Renfrow. I really do think it’s that simple. I want this slot role on my roster, and Renfrow is coming off of a down season marred with concussion and abdomen injuries. If he returns to his 2021 Pro Bowl form, there’s no chance Meyers is going to live up to his ADP, let alone my optimistic ranking.
Renfrow is just 27 years old and was praised as one of the better route runners in the game just 12 short months ago, so the risk of him pushing the 6’2″ Meyers to the perimeter is real. If that happens, he is now competing with Adams for those looks, and … well … that wouldn’t go well for us Meyers truthers.
Final Verdict
I’m not backing down. In that strong 2021 season, Renfrow finished 12th in fantasy points scored from the slot, and Meyers (for the Patriots) finished 15th. That sounds like a pro-Renfrow angle, right? Wrong.
Meyers nearly matched him while having a quarterback disadvantage (rookie Mac Jones compared to veteran Derek Carr). Oh, and his offensive coordinator that made that possible? Joshua Thomas McDaniels, the current head coach of the Raiders.
Meyers’ current draft price looks like a hedge to me — if you truly think he earns this role over Renfrow, Meyers is a top-100 overall player and a real threat to post a top-30 season at the position.