Louis

Murphy

The trade comes three weeks after the Contra Costa Times reported Murphy was in a “fight” for his roster spot, and greatly increases undrafted rookie Rod Streater’s chances of cracking Oakland’s 53-man roster. The move could be interpreted as a lack of faith from Carolina in Brandon LaFell and David Gettis, but the reality is Murphy is little more than a depth acquisition for one of the league’s thinner receiver corps. He’ll have an inside track on a roster spot, but will have to stay healthy, something that has proven challenging for Murphy over the course of his first three years in the league.

Rookie Louis Murphy will likely be an every-down receiver for one more game. No Raiders wideout will be a fantasy option against the Broncos this week.

He won’t be ready to play by Sunday, so the Raiders will have to aim for the following week. Coach Tom Cable indicated that he would likely eat into Louis Murphy’s workload as opposed to Darrius Heyward-Bey’s when he does return. “Schilens plays the other side (from Heyward-Bey),” Cable said. “You’ve got the ability to get three guys on the field at the same time and maybe have some fun with that.”

This meshes with the SF Chronicle’s projection. “He’s started to move around this week,” coach Tom Cable said of Schilens. “He’ll probably get more (reps) next week and we’ll evaluate it come Thursday of next week.” Louis Murphy will be an every-down wide receiver until Schilens rejoins the lineup.

Coach Tom Cable says the Raiders will ideally have a four-wideout rotation when all of their receivers are healthy and playing well, but Murphy’s stock is obviously falling despite leading the team in receiving through nine games. Still, Schilens is only worth grabbing in very, very deep leagues.

The high-flying Raiders could come out with Darrius Heyward-Bey, Louis Murphy and Chaz Schilens on the field. Scary. The lineup doesn’t matter because none of Oakland’s wide receivers will produce with JaMarcus Russell at QB.

Murphy’s goal all along has been to return in Week 3, but that might be his best case scenario. There have been no outward signs of progress. That said, the Raiders will do what they can to get Murphy back with Jacoby Ford battling a bum hamstring. Ford’s availability for Week 2 and beyond is uncertain.

The majority of his production came in garbage time. Murphy did see nine targets, and it seemed like he was playing ahead of a possibly injured Chaz Schilens after the first quarter. We’d hold off on adding Murphy to fantasy rosters until the Raiders’ wideout picture clears up in the middle of next week.

Murphy may be active for a wide-receiver reverse or two against the Chiefs, but he’s not a fantasy option as the Raiders’ fourth or fifth receiver.

Operating as a No. 4/5 receiver for most of the season, Murphy played a bigger role than expected in the finale. His final regular season stat line was 15/241/0 after leading the Raiders in receiving in 2010. Murphy would need injuries to Denarius Moore and Jacoby Ford to be fantasy relevant next season. The former Florida Gator can run, but he’s pretty low in the pecking order.