Despite a slow start through six weeks of the NFL season, the Las Vegas Raiders (1-4) still have time to fix their most pertinent issues.

That starts with one player in particular — tight end Darren Waller.

The Raiders' Pro Bowl deep-threat tight end has looked like a shell of himself this season. Rarely has quarterback Derek Carr found him in space. And often he doesn't look as engaged while running routes, leading to failures in getting good separation from defensive players.

He has to be better.

Darren Waller's history 

This season, Waller has 16 catches for 175 yards and one touchdown. For context, in 2019 and 2020, Waller produced back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons and 12 total touchdowns.

There is no excusing it. Waller has to play better. But that also starts with head coach Josh McDaniels putting Waller in positions to succeed.

Waller has only been targeted 24 times this season. It also didn't help that he sustained an injury during the Raiders' matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs. But, overall, Waller needs to be more involved in the passing game. He's one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the NFL.

It's not something he can't do either. Last season, through five games, Waller had amassed 48 targets by Carr in the passing game. As a result, he tallied 319 receiving yards and two touchdowns. But most importantly, the Raiders were a 3-2 football team.

And last year was a down year for Waller.

If in a down year he can still produce at near-nuclear levels in the passing game for tight ends, Las Vegas needs to get back to what was working — feeding Waller and allowing him to flourish.

Davante Adams may have changed things initially. And it's true that Carr is favoring Adams a bit too much in the passing game. But that provides more reason to look to Waller as a solution.

The Raiders may start winning again when the offense incorporates its prime matchup nightmare into the game plan.

Related Las Vegas Raiders reading 

"Raiders unlucky start following the bye week."

"Raiders: Former first-rounder put the team under a microscope." 

Feature image via George Walker IV / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK