Jacoby Ford

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For the second year in a row, a Lisfranc foot injury derailed Ford's season, this time before it even got started. When healthy – as Ford appears to be at press time – he's a blazingly fast playmaker who's dangerous in space or down the field. He'll be involved in the return game, and occasionally in the backfield as well. At 5-9, 185, there won't be a lot of red-zone looks, but with Darrius Heyward-Bey gone and only the injury-prone Denarius Moore ahead of him on the depth chart, Ford could see a lot of work this year.

Foot problems derailed Ford’s season, but he’s still very much part of the team’s plans. At 5-9, 185, Ford is small, shifty and blazingly fast. He’s involved in the return game, he’ll occasionally take a handoff and he’s dangerous down the field and in space. The Raiders suddenly have some depth at the receiving position with the emergence of Denarius Moore and Darrius Heyward-Bey last year, so the targets will be split among the three. But Ford is so explosive he doesn’t need a ton of volume to produce. His ceiling looks something like the Eagles’ DeSean Jackson, but he’ll have to stay healthy and find a rapport with quarterback Carson Palmer. Bump him up in leagues that count return yards.

One of the fastest receivers in the NFL, Ford got his chance to play and made the most of it. Ford caught only two touchdown passes but rushed for 155 yards and two more scores and also returned three kicks for touchdowns. That's seven TDs (and three catches for 40-plus) on just 54 targets, something that's almost sure to increase given new coach Hue Jackson's plan to get Ford more involved. At 5-10, 185, Ford is going to have to make his entire living on big plays, because he's not going to see much work in the red zone. He's also at the mercy of the Raiders' quarterback situation and hasn't cemented a starting role yet. But he profiles as a DeSean Jackson type if things break his way.

Ford did not put up huge numbers in college, but he is a burner whose quickness could help get him on the field in multiple-receiver sets. Ford will get a shot at the punt return job, but don't expect him to make much of an impact in his rookie season with the Raiders' top three receivers locked into their roles.