Some strong options for a niché position
Fullback has become a niché position in the modern NFL, but the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders have had a few good ones in the last 25 years with Marcel Reece, Zack Crockett and Alec Ingold all deserving some recognition.
So, the Raiders’ 2000s All-Quarter Century Team wouldn’t be complete without a lead blocker coming out of the backfield and a 12 personnel unit. For clarity, this means we’ll only have two wide receiver spots on the team to keep the offense to just 11 players.
Zack Crockett
Photo by Robert B. Stanton/NFLPhotoLibrary
Raiders Stats: 1,664 total yards from scrimmage, 36 total touchdowns, 146 first downs (8 seasons, 125 games)
Accolades: none
Crockett led the way for running backs Napoleon Kauffman, Tyrone Wheatley and Charlie Garner in addition to being a quality short-yardage option himself during the early 2000s. That helped Oakland rank first in rushing yards during the 2000 campaign and make three consecutive playoff appearances from 2000 to 2002, including the Super Bowl run in ‘02. Crockett was a staple of the Raiders’ offense during his eight years with the club, but one thing to consider is that the numbers above include the 1999 season.
Marcel Reece
Raiders Stats: 2,859 total yards from scrimmage, 15 total touchdowns, 134 first downs (8 seasons, 96 games)
Accolades: 3x Pro Bowl (2012-2014), Second-Team All-Pro (2013)
As a converted college wide receiver, it makes sense why Reece had more than double the amount of receiving yards (2,088) as rushing yards (844) during his tenure with the Silver and Black. In a way, he helped change the way the fullback position was used across the league by getting more involved in the passing game, rather than just being a pass protector and occasional check-down option. While Reece didn’t make any postseason appearances with the Raiders, he was one of the team’s few Pro Bowlers and consistent players from the early 2010s.
Alec Ingold
Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images
Raiders Stats: 261 total yards from scrimmage, 3 total touchdowns, 27 first downs (3 seasons, 41 games)
Accolades: none
In a similar fashion, Ingold was also a much more productive receiver (239 yards) than rusher (22 yards) during his time with the Raiders. However, he did make a name for himself by having enough strength and power to get the tough yards on the ground, while also being athletic enough to become a factor as a pass-catcher. Also, the 2019 undrafted free agent helped pave the way for Josh Jacobs to rush for over 3,000 yards during the 2019 first-round pick’s first three NFL seasons.
So, which fullback are you going with for the Raiders’ 2000s All-Quarter Century Team?
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