ALAMEDA — Halfway home and better than expected.
Here’s a subjective ranking of the Raiders’ 53-man roster, top to bottom, taking into account not only first-half accomplishments but the level of performance which will be required to still be in the playoff chase come mid-December:
1. Derek Carr: The person most responsible for the Raiders being a surprise this season is coach Jon Gruden. Gruden’s direct extension to the field is Carr.
2. Josh Jacobs: The left jab that sets up all the combinations in the Raiders’ offensive arsenal, Jacobs is giving the Raiders their best performance at running back since Marcus Allen was in his prime.