With another NFL season comes another fantasy football season. While the Oakland Raiders offense is not expected to be one of the top offenses in the league, one person who has the potential to be a top player at his position is running back Darren McFadden.
When it comes to pure talent McFadden is arguably one of the five best backs in the NFL, but constant injuries have driven fantasy football owners insane over the last couple years. After rushing for 1,157 yards and seven TDs in 2010, McFadden has 1,321 yards and six TDs combined over the past two seasons while missing 13 games.
Because of injury concerns and inconsistencies McFadden is currently ranked as the 21st running back by Yahoo! Sports, behind guys like Lamar Miller, Stevan Ridley, and Le’Veon Bell. He is currently being taken in the 7th round of standard fantasy drafts at which point McFadden has the potential to be the steal of the fantasy season.
When you combine McFadden’s talent with having a young, first-time starting QB in Matt Flynn, and this being a contract year for him, this has all the makings of an outstanding fantasy season for him. Obviously, he’s not worth taking in the first three rounds, but if McFadden is your third RB/flex option he can easily take your team over the top.
The middle rounds are where your fantasy league is won and if McFadden is available in the sixth or seventh round of your draft he is worth taking a flier on, especially if you have two other top running backs already. He has a great chance to be the C.J. Spiller of this season.
So while under no circumstances do you take McFadden in the first three rounds, but somewhere between the sixth and eighth round, he could be the player to put your team over the top.
