WR Denarius Moore, Oakland Raiders

HT: 6-0, WT: 194, Born: 12-8-1988, College: Tennessee, Drafted: Round 5

2013 Projections

Average draft position

Current as of May 21st. [Full ADP list]

Overall: O Daniels (104), J Franklin (105), Denarius Moore (106), B Tate (107), B Roethlisberger (108)
Position: K Britt (98-WR40), L Moore (101-WR41), Denarius Moore (106 - WR42), D Hopkins (110-WR43), J Blackmon (112-WR44)
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PPR Average draft position

Current as of May 21st. [Full PPR ADP list]

Overall: T Austin (110), B Pierce (111), Denarius Moore (112), R Williams (113), J Flacco (114)
Position: L Moore (96-WR41), T Austin (110-WR42), Denarius Moore (112 - WR43), A Boldin (117-WR44), K Wright (119-WR45)
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Outlook

If you still believe in the third-year receiver break out season, Denarius Moore is your guy. Moore hauled in 33 receptions for 618 yards and and five touchdowns as a rookie and upped those totals to 51-741-7 in 2012. In 2013 he enters his third season with the only possible catch being the play of his new quarterback. Moore saw his yards per catch drop significantly in 2012, but that was mostly due to his development in the area of route running. As a rookie Moore was viewed mostly as a deep threat only, but he's becoming a complete receiver. He's lost Darrius Heyward-Bey as competition and will clearly be the top dog on Matt Flynn's radar. Assuming Flynn can match or exceed Carson Palmer's production, Moore could be in for his biggest year yet.

2013 Schedule

2012 Game Summaries

Week 2 - Moore’s return to the team was mildly successful, as he made 3 catches, and showed impressive speed and ability as he was able to run after the catch, make defenders miss and get the ball up the field. In the first quarter, Palmer also missed Moore high on one throw, and then Moore seemed to drop a ball later in the game, although the Miami defender was draped all over his back. Overall, for someone who missed all of training camp and is just getting acclimated into the offense, though, this was a pretty successful first game.

Week 3 - Moore’s return to this offense was very impactful. Carson Palmer looked for him early, but he slipped on his route – resulting in an interception. Moore and Palmer were able to get back on track, though, as Moore ran a variety of routes and was targeted on multiple levels of the defense. His touchdown catch showed that he and Palmer were on the same page as Palmer extended the play by rolling left. Moore went along with him and made a nice diving catch as Palmer had to throw low away from the defense. His ability to make defenses pay attention to him at all levels allows the Oakland offense to be more balanced.

Week 4 - With Heyward-Bey sidelined with a concussion on Sunday, Moore was the Raiders only outside threat and was tied for the team lead in targets with eight. In a complete blowout of a game, Moore was one of the few bright spots. Moore was able to beat the corners relatively consistently, but often for naught as Palmer never had time to get him the ball. Moore’s biggest play came on the 2nd quarter, as he ran right by Tracy Porter (clearly the one to attack in Denver’s defensive backfield) and underneath a nicely placed Palmer pass. Moore tried to cut back, but safety Mike Adams was able to take his feet out from underneath him preventing what would have been a TD for Moore. Moore just missed a TD the drive prior, again getting behind the defense, but a rushed throw from Palmer proved to be inaccurate and just out of Moore’s reach. Another positive from a downright awful game, Moore appears completely over his hamstring issue that has plagued him throughout the 2012 season.

Week 6 - Denarius Moore operated as the number one wide receiver today, totaling 5 catches, 102 yards and a touchdown. Moore's touchdown was an extremely nifty move, ducking under a tackling and scooting into the endzone before anyone else could get to him. Most wide receivers wouldn't have scored on that particular play. Early in the game, Moore also missed out on a 20 yard catch because he slipped on the grass, and that play could have gone for even more. Perhaps Moore's best play, however, was simply speeding past Asante Samuel on a go route for about 50 yards in the first quarter. He also dinged up his shoulder in the 3rd quarter, so given his missed opportunities, it's clear Moore has the potential to be a solid wide receiver in the NFL.

Week 7 - Although Carson Palmer misfired to him twice down the field early in the game, Moore still came up big in the red zone, finishing the day with 8 targets, catching 4 for 36 yards and a touchdown. His TD was a simple dumpoff underneath, but required enormous effort to stretch into the end zone. Although Moore wasn’t able to do damage deep on Sunday, he can affect the game from anywhere on the field. Always capable of getting deep for a big play, especially when a play breaks down, Moore is fully over his early season injury and ready to breakout. As long as Palmer stays upright and somewhat mistake free, Moore could see some big numbers in the second half of the season, especially if McFadden gets going.

Week 8 - Leading all Raiders in targets, receptions, and receiving yards, Moore had a huge day in helping the Raiders top the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Coming back to the ball on a first-quarter bubble screen, Moore took Carson Palmer’s pass upfield for a fifty-eight yard gain, the longest reception of the day. Moore exhibited the patience of an elite running back as he ran to and away from defenders and allowed blockers to set up his path down the field. His nine-yard touchdown reception in the final minute of the first half was an incredibly athletic snatch. Leaping above coverage, Moore hauled in Palmer’s toss to set up a seven point Raiders lead as time expired in the first half. The sophomore receiver could have stuffed the stat sheet even more, but he let an end zone pass from Carson Palmer slip through his hands. On a team whose offense runs through Darren McFadden, Moore brings the Raiders another dimension as a versatile threat in the passing game.

Week 9 - Denarius Moore and Carson Palmer were rarely on the same page today and it really hurt their offense. Moore is obviously an important part of this offense, but they can't continue to play together like this. Moore's first target was a quick out. He was well covered by Eric Wright on the play and Carson Palmer didn't give him enough time to develop his route. Palmer came straight back to Moore, but a miscommunication meant that the ball landed more than 15 yards away from him. Either Moore ran the wrong route or Palmer made the wrong read. Palmer and Moore finally connected in the second quarter when Palmer hit him in stride on a deep route coming infield from the sideline. Moore ran an excellent route to come free. Palmer hit Moore perfectly on a slant route late in the third quarter, but he dropped the football despite being free of any immediate pressure. The Raiders went back to Moore on the same drive with a safe screen pass that he carried forward for seven yards. The lack of understanding between the two eventually caught up to Palmer however, as Leonard Johnson stepped infront of a pass intended for Moore to for his first interception of the day. At the start of the next drive, Palmer went straight back to Moore, but they couldn't connect on a deep comeback even though Moore had lost his defender. A quick curl route got him his next reception. Moore's final catch came on a deep crossing route when the middle of the field was wide open, it was most certainly too little too late as the damage had been done.

Week 10 - Moore had a good fantasy day despite being the target of Palmer’s few inaccurate deliveries. Moore scored easily from the slot as Ed Reed was slow to shift over the coverage. He also juked a defender on a crossing route for additional yardage later in the game. Palmer missed Moore on two occasions, leaving plays on the field, in addition to a pass tipped at the line of scrimmage. Moore’s lone mistake came in the second half on a high throw on third-and-long. It was a catchable ball with room to roam if the reception had been made. Moore’s big-play ability was on display against Baltimore. He showed that even with few quality opportunities, he can carve out a solid performance any given week.

Week 11 - Clearly Palmer’s favorite WR, Moore led all the wide-outs with seven targets. However, rarely receiving a catchable ball, Moore was only able to catch one for nine yards. The first target clearly a miscommunication as Moore ran away from the intended pass, Palmer struggled to put anything thereafter on Moore until much later in the game. After missing him badly three times on shorter routes, Palmer appeared to have Moore on a 20-yard fade. However, pass interference on the defense prevented Moore from getting his other arm extended. Moore again got behind the coverage on a 4th down pass late in the game, but Palmer slightly overthrew him, just missing a 44-yard TD connection. Moore consistently beat the coverage, but only one of his six missed targets actually touched some part of the WR’s body.

Week 12 - In a game where Moore saw a season-low four targets, his fantasy day was saved by a gorgeous touchdown catch in the second half. Prior to that play, Moore dropped a third down target right in his hands and Palmer missed Moore badly down the field. On Moore’s touchdown, Palmer threw the ball up for grabs against pressure. Moore was able to run under the pass and separate from his coverage for a beautiful touchdown. It was the best passing play for the Raiders all game. Moore’s final target came on a poorly thrown pass against pressure that nearly resulted in an interception. It was an underwhelming game for the dynamic downfield receiver. Considering the ineptitude of the Oakland passing game and the lack of garbage time production this week, Moore’s touchdown was a saving grace that preventing a zero-point day that was a distinct possibility.

Week 13 - Moore and Carson Palmer were rarely in-sync against Cleveland this week. When Moore had single coverage early in the game, defensive backs made solid plays on the ball at the last second to break up the reception. On a later slant route where Moore gained early separation, the pass was clearly behind him. Moore was targeted again on a deep pass, but failed to make much of a play on the ball and it was nearly an interception. Moore’s day concluded with a horrible drop on a deep in-cut that could have salvaged at least a decent fantasy performance. Moore’s eight targets were the third-most this season, yet he managed just two receptions. Moore’s production will continue to be very hit-or-miss as he is the team’s main deep threat and clearly needs more chemistry with Palmer. The Broncos will be a tough test for the pair to rebound next week.

Week 14 - After being roughed up by a big hit from Rahim Moore early in the game, Moore returned on a crossing route uderneath for his first reception and a first down. Moore made an excellent hands catch under pressure over the middle before being pulled down by a linebacker. Moore's next reception came in the fourth quarter as he caught a deep comeback for a first down on second and 13. Palmer went straight back to Moore open in the flat as he carried the ball forward for 11 yards and another first down. For the third straight reception, Moore caught a comeback route for 11 yards and a first down. That play was negated for holding however.

Week 15 - Denarius Moore, when Palmer went downfield, was the primary target. Moore almost reeled in a beautiful pass on a post pattern, but Javier Arenas was there to break it up at the last second. Moore was rather inconsistent in his route-running overall, and seemed to be well-covered throughout. He strengthened his performance in the second half, but almost had a fumble to his name, which Oakland fortunately recovered. It was a sloppy game by the former Vol.

Week 16 - Denarius Moore was just one victim of the Carson Palmer injury, as the Raiders’ passing attack took a nosedive for the remainder of the game. Moore’s involvement in the passing game was limited to safe quick screens, which were quickly snuffed out by Carolina.

Week 17 - Moore was the unfortunate recipient of some errant passes by QB Terrelle Pryor. He was able to gain separation on a couple of occasions, including a few deep downfield where he had several steps on his defenders. But the passes from Pryor were either just overthrown or underthrown or behind the intended target, etc. The one time the two were able to fully get on the same page was on a late floater from Pryor in the end zone where Moore went up high to snatch it. Pryor was rolling out to his right, but kept his eyes on the end zone the whole time. He threw back across his body high to Moore, who leapt up and came down with the score.