The Raiders have made some moves to upgrade at wide receiver, signing Michael Crabtree and drafting Amari Cooper, but quarterback Derek Carr already has familiarity with Andre Holmes. Holmes, heading into his fourth season, came to the NFL from tiny Hillsdale College and his acclimation to the NFL remains a work in progress. He led Oakland in receiving yards last year, but can he remain one of Carr's main targets?
Fantasy Upside
Holmes has the ability to explode for big games. Last October, he caught four passes for 121 yards and two touchdowns as the Raiders nearly pulled off an upset over San Diego. Carr, heading into his second season, is poised for further improvement. Crabtree and Rod Streater have both had health issues over the past year. Even if the Raiders want to move Holmes into more of a secondary role, they may not be able to pull that off.
Fantasy Downside
While Holmes is capable of putting up a big game here and there, he also provides plenty of clunkers. During a three week stretch in November, he caught four passes for 47 yards. That helps explain why Oakland entertained zero thoughts about building around him. If Cooper can make the same impact rookies like Odell Beckham Jr. and Mike Evans did last year, he will be Carr's number one target by a wide margin. And with Oakland's offense slanted towards the run, the lower-tier receivers are not going to have much upside.
Bottom Line
You do not need to reserve a space for Andre on your roster at the beginning of the season. He is currently out with a fractured hand. As he has proven to be a playmaker, albeit an erratic one, he could surprise at some point. However, until he learns to be more consistent, he will be no more than a fantasy spot starter who will be more bust than boom.