Las Vegas Raiders, Week 3: 3 Vital players to beating Dolphins
The Las Vegas Raiders catch the Dolphins without Tua Tagovailoa in Week 3 but they still need these players to come up big if they’re going to win.
It’s been a dream start to the 2021 season as the Las Vegas Raiders enter Week 3 as one of seven remaining undefeated teams in the NFL. Derek Carr has played at an MVP level but, more importantly, the silver and black’s defense has been stifling and making plays throughout the first two weeks.
On Sunday afternoon at home in Allegiant Stadium, the Raiders will look for that to continue as they welcome the Miami Dolphins to town, though they’ll be starting Jacoby Brissett in place of the injured Tua Tagovailoa. That puts them behind the 8-ball, certainly, but it’s still not a game Las Vegas can take lightly.
They are still up against a good defense and a veteran quarterback with talent around him. Thus, for the Las Vegas Raiders to pick up the win in Week 3, they need these players to show up and have good performances.
Vital Las Vegas Raiders players to beat the Dolphins in Week 3
3. John Simpson, OG
With Richie Incognito out for the third straight week to start the season, it’ll again be young John Simpson starting in his place. And for as good as the Raiders offense has been this season, Simpson has been a decisive weak spot. Through three games, he’s graded out as the fourth-worst qualified offensive lineman according to PFF (subscription required).
If the Dolphins are going to hang in this game, they need their defense to make a ton of plays. Should Simpson’s struggles continue, that will give the likes of Christian Wilkins, among others, the ability to penetrate and disrupt. As such, Simpson needs to shore up the interior.
2. Darren Waller, TE
At this point, Darren Waller needs no introduction to NFL fans and certainly fantasy football managers. He’s arguably the best player on the Las Vegas roster and is Derek Carr’s favorite target. And we should definitely see a lot of that in this game.
Though the Dolphins have plenty of defensive talent, their linebackers have played poorly to start the 2021 season. On top of that, Eric Rowe just doesn’t have the physical traits to hang with Waller on a down-to-down basis. Especially with Josh Jacobs out again, the Raiders need a heavy dose of Waller to shoulder the load offensively.
1. Maxx Crosby, EDGE
Las Vegas focused heavily this offseason on improving their defense and, while some of the newcomers have definitely helped, Maxx Crosby has emerged as a star-like performer. He’s consistently disrupted the opposing offense off the edge and has been a menace.
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Miami’s offensive line, to put it plainly, has been ghastly early in the year. It’s part of the reason why Tagovailoa is out for this game after the Bills defense basically had one free run after another on him early last week. Crosby needs to take advantage of that to get after the backup in Brissett and make life even harder than it already would be for him.