Little-Used Holton Produces Big Plays for Raiders

Against Dolphins, the second-year wide receiver catches just his second pass of 2017 -- and scores his second touchdown

Johnny Holton is just a small part of the Raiders offense.

In fact, going into Sunday night’s game against the Dolphins, the second-year wide receiver had just one previous catch in 2017.

But when Holton does get his opportunities, big things happen.

His first catch of the season came in October and resulted in a 64-yard TD play. His second catch Sunday night in Miami produced a 44-yard TD (and an interesting celebration, in which he apparently pretended to be riding a Dolphin).

According to Pro Football Reference, Holton has been targeted just twice this season and has two long scoring catches. Over two seasons, he has four catches in five targets for 142 yards, an average of 35.5 yards per catch.

In college at Cincinnati, Holton had similar big-play numbers. In his final season there, he averaged 27.1 yards per catch on just 17 receptions. The 6-foot-1, 190 pounder has excellent speed (4.54 in the 40-yard dash), but isn’t known as a polished route runner. His forte is going long, deep down the field.

“When he gets in the game people are pointing him out, (saying) ‘The fast guy is in,’ and you can see them pointing and coaches are yelling and all those things,” quarterback Derek Carr told reporters Sunday night after the Raiders’ victory. Carr said it was an especially big game for Holton because he’s from the Miami area.

“Honestly, I think he had 110 people at the game,” said Carr. “I think when a guy who doesn’t play a lot is able to score a touchdown in your hometown, all those things, Sunday night prime-time football, the story should be all about him, because … for him to come home in front of his family, his friends, his buddies and be able to score a touchdown on prime time, that’s a pretty cool story.”

Sports Illustrated selected the Carr-to-Holton pass as one of the biggest plays in the NFL this week. It gave the Raiders a 10-7 lead en route to the victory, which improves Oakland’s record to 4-5 going into its bye week. The Raiders now reside in second place in the AFC West behind the 6-3 Chiefs and ahead of the Chargers and Broncos (both 3-5).

The Raiders’ next game is set Sunday, Nov. 19, against the New England Patriots in Mexico City.

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