Raiders' Holmes Emerging as Receiving Threat

With passing game growing with Derek Carr, Holmes is showing he can be a prime target

There’s really not much on Andre Holmes’ resume that points to him becoming a standout wide receiver in the NFL.

Though he set receiving records galore at Division II Hillsdale College, he went undrafted, was signed by the Minnesota Vikings and then waived. Holmes then had brief stints with the Dallas Cowboys (twice) and New England Patriots before being waived again in May of 2013.

That’s when the Raiders claimed him.

Though he’s bounced around and shown both the good and the bad – great size and good speed, but a penchant for dropping passes – it now appears Holmes’ stock finally is on the rise. Perhaps for good.

Holmes showed flashes of brilliance in his first season with the Raiders, catching 25 passes for 431 yards and a touchdown. But as this season began, he disappeared. Through the first three games he was thrown to just nine times, with six catches for 74 yards.

But over the past two, Holmes has emerged. He’s been targeted 20 times and has nine catches for 195 yards and three TDs. In Sunday’s near-victory over San Diego, Holmes had 121 yards receiving on four catches for two scores – a 30.3 per-catch average.

With the development of rookie quarterback Derek Carr now accelerated, the Raiders are in need of playmaking wide receivers, and Holmes appears to be in sync with Carr. At 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, Holmes provides a big target and is athletic enough to go over smaller cornerbacks.

As Bill Williamson of ESPN.com wrote, the play of young receivers Holmes and Brice Butler was a highlight of the Chargers game. Both made big, significant plays. But it’s Holmes who seems to have the bigger upside, with his size.

“I have always been intrigued with him and think he has the best shot of any of the Oakland receivers to emerge as their No. 1,” former NFL scout and current analyst Matt Williamson told Bill Williamson. “He is very gifted. It will be great for him and Carr to grow together.”

Sunday marked just the second 100-yard receiving day for Holmes in the NFL. Last season, he had 136 yards vs. the Cowboys on Thanksgiving.

Michael Beller of Sports Illustrated wrote this week that it appears Holmes has won the trust of Raiders coaches to earn his improved playing time. He’s played 111 snaps over the last two games after getting a total of 66 over the first three games.

Wrote Beller: “He’s a big guy at 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, and he ran a 4.53 40-yard dash, so there’s enough speed here to make him a downfield threat. Carr’s arm talent was unquestioned coming out of Fresno State, and that will only make Holmes better.”

Holmes will get his next chance to shine this Sunday, when the 0-5 Raiders take on the 4-1 Cardinals at O.co Coliseum.

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