The Oakland Raiders have struggled for years to find consistent threats at the wide receiver position. Ever since the departures of Tim Brown and Jerry Rice, the Raiders have not been able to find a legitimate combo of starting receivers. From the disappointments in Ronald Curry and Jerry Porter to the disaster that was Randy Moss, the Raiders have been weak at wide receiver for a while. But with the problems at quarterback, the wide receiver problems were greatly overlooked.
Now, the Raiders boast a group of young and very talented receivers. Anyone who is a Raider fan will tell you that there are stars in the making in the Raiders wide receiver corps. Now, they are not the only ones to think so. ESPN blogger Bill Williamson ranked the top WRs in the AFC west. Four Raiders receivers made the list and one of them is ranked third, but it is probably not who you are thinking.
For most who follow the Raiders, Denarius Moore and Jacoby Ford are thought of as the top two receivers on the Raiders. Last season, however, one receiver stepped up to the plate to become a clear number one in Oakland. That receiver was Darrius Heyward-Bey. Much to the shock of those in the Raider Nation, Heyward-Bey had a very impressive 2011 season in Oakland. DHB finished out his third year in the NFL with 64 catches for 975 yards and 4 touchdowns. As a result of his breakout season, Williamson listed him as the third best WR in the AFC West behind Dwayne Bowe of the Kansas City Chiefs and Malcolm Floyd of the San Diego Chargers.
Jacoby Ford, Denarius Moore and Louis Murphy also made the list of the 15 best WRs in the AFC West. Moore was placed at number 6, Ford was named number 9 and Murphy, number 13.