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Factoid

Khalil Mack not getting enough help

Great pass rusher labors in lousy pass rush

The Raiders have the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, and he's a great one. No player has more sacks than Mack over the last two seasons (26). But watching the Raiders make Jared Goff look like Drew Brees the other night, it was painfully clear that Mack's excellence isn't enough to bring his defense along with him.

Indeed, over the last two seasons, although no player has more sacks than Mack, only six teams have fewer sacks than the Raiders. It's not as if there are no other capable players there (Bruce Irvin, for one) but not enough are doing their part.

TEAM SACKS, 2015-2016
Team20152016Total
Denver524294
Carolina444791
Pittsburgh483886
Arizona364884
Minnesota434184
Green Bay434083
New England493483
Seattle374279
Tennessee394079
Houston453176
Tampa Bay383876
Washington383876
Cincinnati423375
Kansas City472875
Chicago353772
LA Rams413172
Philadelphia373471
Jacksonville363369
Baltimore373168
Detroit422668
Indianapolis353368
Dallas313667
San Diego323567
NY Jets392766
Miami313364
Oakland382563
New Orleans313061
San Francisco283361
Buffalo213960
NY Giants233558
Cleveland292655
Atlanta193453

Some of the teams near the top (like Denver) also have an elite pass rusher, although note the Falcons and Vic Beasley way down at the bottom. Many of the teams at or near the top get contributions from multiple players (Vikings, Panthers).

In any case, the Raiders haven't ranked higher than 15th in fantasy defense (1 point for sacks, 2 points for turnovers, 6 for TDs) since 2010. That's unlikely to change unless the team can find away to uncover some pass rush help.

--Andy Richardson

Fantasy Index