Oakland Raiders: 2009 NFL Regular Season Schedule and Fantasy Football Rankings

Oakland Raiders- 2009 NFL Regular Season Schedule- Printable- Downloadable

The 2009 Oakland Raiders

The Oakland Raiders are considered by some to make a strong run at finishing second in the AFC West this season. If the Raiders do intend to have a season with a record of .500 or better they are going to have to stop the running game on defense and get receiver Chaz Schilens back and healthy as soon as possible.

Below are three sections of interest that are worth paying attention to for fantasy owners coming into the season for this team.

First, we have listed our fantasy players which we believe are worth paying attention to this season. Next, is strength of schedule against the run, pass, and points against. Lastly, we have a few games selected that will be key in telling how this team will preform for the 2009 season.

Fantasy Players

QB. JaMarcus Russell
RB. Darren McFadden
RB. Justin Fargas
RB. Michael Bush
WR. Chaz Schilens (Injured)
WR. Darious Heyward-Bey
WR. Louis Murphy
TE. Zach Miller
K. Sebastian Janikowski

Strength of Schedule

vs Run 10th Hardest Schedule

vs Pass 15th Easiest Schedule

vs Points 16th Given Up Easiest Schedule

The Raiders don't have an easy schedule but at the same time they don't have a hard one this year. What I do like about their schedule is that the NFL has not made the start of the season extremely hard as it seems they have loved to do in years past.

Oakland should have a top five rushing attack overall as they have three talented runners in McFadden, Fargas, and Bush. Unfortunately I was disappointed to see that the Raiders cut full back Lorenzo Neal this week as he has been an excellent run blocker over the years.

In the passing game this team needs JaMarcus Russell's top target Chaz Schilens back soon as he is projected to miss four to six weeks with a foot problem that required surgery.

At this time, without Chaz the Raiders are starting two rookie receivers in first round pick Darrius Heyward-Bey and Louis Murphy. Both receivers are talented but it is very hard for a young quarterback to have consistent success at this level with two "true freshman" receivers in the starting lineup.

Games of Interest

Week One vs Chargers: Who can forget how great the Raiders looked in the 2006 preseason only to be humiliated on Monday Night Football in the first week of the regular season. In that game the Chargers steam rolled right over the Raiders with nine sacks (three by Shawne Merriman) and won the game 27-0.

LaDainian Tomlinson also had one of his signature games, as he usually kills the Raiders and had 158 yards rushing and a touchdown. I could be wrong but I don't think he even played most of the second half in that game.

No doubt 2006 was a long time ago, but the Raiders must play this team strong if they have any hope of making a run at the division title or a wild card spot. Even if they don't win the game it would be a big confidence booster to their young offense to play a solid close game with a very good team on national television.

Weeks 15 and 16: These two weeks mark the fantasy football playoffs and for many leagues week 16 is championship weekend. In those two weeks the Raiders players could do some damage as they play the Broncos week 15 and the Browns week 16. Just those matchups in and of themselves make Raider players more attractive to have this season.

2009 Football Projection

The Raiders look like they are going in the right direction but they still need this season to grow on offense. They also must show they can stop the run effectively as the 49ers ran all over them last weekend in the second week of the preseason. By next year I believe the Raiders will be ready to make a strong run at the AFC West Title but this year they will be lucky to go 8-8 on the season.

Fantasy Football Information Writer Sean E. Douglas: fantasy-info.com