What to Expect from Henry Ruggs III in 2020
It’s certainly fair for the expectations surrounding Henry Ruggs III to be sky high. The Raiders likely will feature him as the team’s No. 1 receiver early in his career, meaning there will be plenty of opportunities for him to contribute.
ESPN recently released their league-wide projections for all of the NFL’s offensive players in 2020. The expectation they have for Ruggs III during his rookie season is that he totals 59 catches for 791 yards, and five touchdowns.
There appears to be a healthy balance between opportunity and having enough supporting cast talent for Ruggs III entering his rookie campaign with the Raiders. Teams have to account for Darren Waller at tight end along with Josh Jacobs setting the tone for the running game.
Let’s not forget, the Raiders do have solid talent particularly at wide receiver around Ruggs III, too. Between Hunter Renfrow and Tyrell Williams, neither is going to be a major threat to opposing teams but certainly keep the defense honest in complementary roles.
There is also the possibility that Derek Carr elevates his game after adding a talent like Ruggs III to the Raiders’ offense. They will not have a legitimate speed threat to spread the defense out and make big plays in space. That adds needed layers to the overall attack Las Vegas can provide and shouldn’t be understated.
It’s safe to expect big things from Henry Ruggs III during his first season in the NFL. He’s the type of talent that if he reaches the height of his immediate potential, the Raiders could end up being one of the annual surprise teams in the league.
