NAPA, Calif. -- The Oakland Raiders were ranked 22nd in total defense last season, giving up 363.6 yards per game, and surrendered the 11th most points in the league at 399. Their 38 sacks ranked 14th in the league and they were 26th in pass defense (258.8 yards per game) but a more respectable 13th in run defense (104.9). So, there’s room for improvement. With some continuity in coach Jack Del Rio and defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. -- both of whom were Pro Bowl linebackers as players -- and the additions of free agents like outside linebacker Bruce Irvin, cornerback Sean Smith and free safety Reggie Nelson, the defense should be improved. Special teams, meanwhile, will rise and fall on the foot of Sebastian Janikowski.
Oakland Raiders defense/special teams
ESPN Fantasy projection: 38.2 sacks, 16.2 INTs, 3.2 TDs
Over or under: Besides re-tooling the defense with the aforementioned signings, the Raiders also addressed the takeaway situation by drafting strong safety Karl Joseph, who had five interceptions in five games at West Virginia last year. That goes well with Nelson, whose eight picks were tied for the NFL lead. Then there’s All-Pro OLB/DE Khalil Mack, who racked up 15 sacks, including five in one game in an upset of the eventual Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos. The addition of Irvin should only make Mack more dangerous. The Raiders' defense and special teams are ranked 10th in the league heading into this season after the defense had eight top-10 fantasy weeks in 2015, which was tied for the fifth-most in the NFL. Plus, Oakland’s five blocks were tied for the most in the NFL. Janikowski, 38, may be coming off the second-fewest field goal attempts (26) of his career, but he lost about 15 pounds this offseason and still looks strong. This unit should be intriguing and, yes, a good bargain.
