Las Vegas Raiders WR Hunter Renfrow, who signed a two-year, $32 million contract extension in the offseason, has yet to produce the expected numbers through five games. Opponents have locked down the fifth-year receiver, who has hurt the Raiders late in games.
SCOOP AND SCORE FOR THE WIN!
— NFL (@NFL) September 18, 2022
Cardinals score 22 unanswered points in the 4th quarter and OT to win! #AZvsLV pic.twitter.com/9sHEfc3Bhl
Renfrow was hunting for Adams pic.twitter.com/tKPuqFcNnm
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) October 11, 2022
Although Las Vegas is sixth in the NFL in points per game (25), its second-best passing threat has only 14 catches for 104 yards. Renfrow -- who has missed two games with injuries -- seems to be struggling to adapt to first-year head coach Josh McDaniels' offense. His average of 7.5 yards per reception is drastically lower than the 12.3 figure of his rookie season.
"It took Derek Carr a while to get comfortable in Jon Gruden’s system and again now with McDaniels." The Athletic's Vic Tafur wrote. "I think the same is true of Renfrow."
Renfrow has a good opportunity to break out of his slump over the next month. In the next four games, the Raiders get the Texans, Saints, Jaguars and Colts -- all teams that don't rank in the top 15 in yards per catch allowed.
Perhaps we'll see an increase in production from Renfrow when all Las Vegas' weapons are healthy and on the field at the same time. Tight end Darren Waller has struggled with injuries, too.
Hunter Renfrow missed two games this season and Darren Waller left the KC game early (hamstring). #Raiders OC Mick Lombardi said "we haven't really had those guys out on the field together as a collective unit. We're working towards that."
— Anthony Galaviz (@agalaviz_TheBee) October 18, 2022
The New York Times playoff simulator gives the Raiders only a 15 percent chance to make the playoffs. For the Raiders to increase those chances, they need much more from Renfrow, who's a disappointment so far.
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