Under the Radar

Cooper, Crabtree capture attention; WR Roberts ready to emerge.

- Michael Wagaman

As opponents focused more of their attention toward stopping Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree last season, Seth Roberts emerged as a go-to receiver for quarterback Derek Carr.

Roberts sees no reason things will change this year, either. The way he sees it, Cooper and Crabtree continually being in the spotlight opens the door for the Raiders other wide receivers to fly under the radar and make plays.

“I hear all the time about Amari and Crab,” Roberts said. “That’s fine. It’s kind of like being the clean-up guy. I’m fine with that. As long as when the ball is in the air, make the catch.”

Roberts spent his rookie season on Oakland’s practice squad before breaking out in 2015 when he tied for fourth on the team with 32 catches for 480 yards and five touchdowns, including game winners against Baltimore in Week 2 and Tennessee in Week 12.

Roberts was also a consistent target for Carr. He averaged 15 yards a catch as a rookie, tops on the team among all players with 10 or more receptions, and was held without a catch only three times.

Not bad for a guy whose path to the NFL included a two-year stint at a junior college in Mississippi before he transfered to tiny West Alabama.

“Last year meant a lot and it helped me grow,” Roberts said. “It really helped me. It let me know in my mind that I can play with these guys and I can be on the same level.”

Make no mistake, though. While Roberts is being counted on as a key spoke in the offensive wheel, it is Cooper and Crabtree who will keep things moving.

The two were stellar in their first season working together.