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Low-Cost Playmakers the Raiders Should Sign in Free Agency

Max Staley
Derek Carr and the Raiders could use some low-cost upgrades on offense.
Derek Carr and the Raiders could use some low-cost upgrades on offense. / Justin Edmonds/Getty Images
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The Las Vegas Raiders are quietly one of the league's most intriguing teams this offseason. Set to start a new era in Las Vegas, the team elected to sign Marcus Mariota in free agency, which could lead to a QB controversy between the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft and Derek Carr.

Complicating matters further, Mariota was Raiders GM Mike Mayock's No. 1 ranked quarterback, over Jameis Winston, in 2015. With a QB controversy brewing, Jon Gruden will want to do all he can to ensure the offense puts whichever signal-caller is under center in the best position to succeed. But Las Vegas is middle of the pack in terms of cap space, so it may have to do so on the cheap.

With that in mind, let's take a look at three low-cost playmakers the Raiders should target in free agency.

3. Devin Funchess

Devin Funchess could be a great gamble for the Raiders.
Devin Funchess could be a great gamble for the Raiders. / Justin Casterline/Getty Images

If the team is searching for a low-cost, high-upside gamble, look no further than Devin Funchess. He's coming off an injury-riddled 2019 campaign that saw him play in just one game, but he's got big-time talent. He's never managed to quite put it all together, but the big-bodied wideout racked up 2,233 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns over the first four seasons of his career. He'd be a nice addition to the WR corps.

2. Chris Thompson

Chris Thompson could be a nice target for Las Vegas.
Chris Thompson could be a nice target for Las Vegas. / Quinn Harris/Getty Images

With DeAndre Washington set to hit free agency, Las Vegas could stand to add another pass-catcher at RB. Jalen Richard, who had 323 receiving yards last season, is still with the team, but this is a valuable role in the offense. Carr had an average depth of target (aDOT) of just 6.6 yards last season – the third-lowest mark among qualified starters. Mariota wasn't much more aggressive, posting a 7.0 aDOT, which would've ranked No. 28. That suggests both passers like shorter routes, so having capable pass-catchers in the backfield is a necessity for this team. Even though he's struggled with injury issues, Chris Thompson is the best low-cost option on the market for that role.

1. Paul Richardson

Paul Richardson is a talented deep threat who could work in Las Vegas.
Paul Richardson is a talented deep threat who could work in Las Vegas. / Scott Taetsch/Getty Images

Paul Richardson likely isn't as well known as the other names on this list, but he's a legitimate big-play threat. As mentioned above, Carr and Mariota don't go deep all that often, but this offense could use someone other than Tyrell Williams to keep defenses honest. The last time Richardson played a 16-game season, he did just that, averaging 16.0 yards per reception. That was the ninth-best mark in the league in 2017.

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Max Staley is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Max Staley also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username mstaley1212. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.

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