Could Randall Cobb remain a Top 10 Fantasy Football wide receiver with the Oakland Raiders in 2015?

Before that type of speculation kicks off, Cobb needs to be available at the start of free agency. Cobb wants $9 million per season, and it’s hard to argue that he doesn’t deserve it.

The Packers’ stud receiver wasn’t relied on heavily in his rookie season and he only played six games in 2012, but if you combine his second year in the league and his 2014 season, the 24-year-old receiver has 2,241 receiving yards, 20 touchdowns and eight games of 100 or more receiving yards to his name.

Like most Fantasy Football players, I’m really interested in how Cobb would perform without catching passes from one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.

Not every player is as lucky as Wes Welker to go from Tom Brady to Peyton Manning, and my “Early 2015 Fantasy Football Wide Receivers Rankings,” accounts for the uncertainty of where Cobb may find himself for 2015.

Bill Williamson of ESPN Tweeted that the Raiders will make a run at Cobb, which would have a domino effect on the 2015 Fantasy Football season.

No shock, but hear expectation around NFL is #Raiders will make run at Cobb. But #Packers not expected to hit him hit FA. — Bill Williamson (@BWilliamsonESPN) February 23, 2015

The Progression of Derek Carr

With a full season under his belt, I think Derek Carr is an interesting Fantasy Football prospect for 2015. In 2014, he was as a Top 20 quarterback, and with better receivers and a more consistent rushing attack, he can easily improve his numbers from his rookie year.

There were only four games in which Carr did not have a turnover, and he had four games where he did not throw a touchdown. That killed his production in Fantasy Football, and he may have finished as a Top 15 option if it wasn’t for his four games of six or fewer Fantasy points. With more experience and a better offense, there isn’t any reason Carr wouldn’t make a viable backup on your 2015 Fantasy Football team, and he could turn into more than a backup.

I wanted to review the receivers Carr worked with in his final season at Fresno State, and it’s interesting to note that Carr was a big fan of Cobb’s teammate, Davante Adams. I think Adams is actually one of the reasons the Green Bay Packers would feel comfortable letting Cobb walk.

Randall Cobb Compared to Derek Carr’s Favorite Wide Receivers

Here is a list of the top receivers from Fresno State in 2013 in terms of receiving yards, and their physical stats and Combine dash times.

Davante Adams: 6-foot-1, 215 pounds, 4.56 40-yard dash time

Isaiah Burse: 5-foot-10, 188 pounds, 4.58 40-yard dash time

Josh Harper: 6-foot-1, 191 pounds, 4.64 40-yard dash time

Adams totaled 1,718 yards at Fresno State in 2013, Burse hauled in 1,026 yards and Harper finished 2013 with 1,011 receiving yards.

How does Randall Cobb match up with some of Carr’s favorite college targets?

Randall Cobb, 5-foot-10, 192 pounds, 4.46 40-yard dash time

Physically, Cobb is similar Burse and Harper, and he isn’t too far off from Adams. His 40-yard dash time, however, is a huge difference. Remember, it doesn’t matter how good Cobb is, it matters how well he and Carr can work together. The 23-year old quarterback is obviously experienced with receivers who have similar physical traits as Cobb, and having a faster receiver to throw to will only help Carr’s progression.

If the Oakland Raiders Draft a Receiver…

With the fourth-overall pick in the draft, the Oakland Raiders could very realistically go after a wide receiver in free agency, and draft Kevin White or Amari Cooper.

Some may think that an additional receiver such as White or Cooper may hurt the Fantasy Football success of Randall Cobb, but I think you would find an offense that can support multiple players. If the Raiders are able to sign Cobb, I think it makes much more sense to go with White. At 6-foot-3, White is a big target for Carr, and his blazing 4.35 40-yard dash time set him up as the top wide receiver prospect at the 2015 NFL Combine.

If you look at the Denver Broncos, Demaryius Thomas is 6-foot-3, 229 pounds, and Emmanuel Sanders is 5-foot-11, 180 pounds. Each receiver finished with over 1,400 receiving yards and nine or more touchdowns. Carr obviously isn’t Manning, but there are cases where wide receivers from the same team can have Fantasy Football success. Cobb and White have complementary skill sets, and defensive coordinators would have to pick their poison when trying to figure out a game plan to stop the Raiders’ passing attack.

I think adding White or even Cooper only serves to boost the stock of Randall Cobb with the Oakland Raiders.

More Randall Cobb Rumors

Right now, I’ve seen everything from Cobb going to the New York Jets to the Cleveland Browns. As free agency inches closer, there will be a ton of rumors surrounding not only Randall Cobb, but several talented players who may not return to their teams. Rotoworld.com does a great job of keeping you up to date with a list of free agents, so make sure to mark March 10th on your calendar, the official start of free agency.

Just like everyone else, I’m very interested in where Cobb may find himself. I think Cobb with the Raiders is a little more unique than other teams, as Carr could become a viable Fantasy Football commodity with more weapons. This is still just speculation, and a lot would need to happen to make this a reality. Make sure to check back with the So-Called Fantasy Experts, as we monitor all the major movers and shakers during free agency, and help you dissect the 2015 NFL Draft for the 2015 Fantasy Football season.

Randall Cobb Photo Credit: Mike Morbeck