starting Darren McFadden with confidence (1 Viewer)

[TS Garp]

Bush inactive. Starting McFadden in two leagues and hoping he could really surprise this week. For those who have already written him off as a bum, let's remember he just turned 23 years old.

Would you start Mcfadden over Ricky Williams?

Absolutely.

 

[cstu]

Went brains over gut and started Ward instead of McFadden this week. Ward has had a solid game but hopefully those lost 10 points don't come back to haunt me. Good to see McFadden play well though, he seems to be making people miss a lot more when he gets a chance.

 

[elbowrm]

anyone who watched the game care to comment on how he looked? were his point garbage time solely, or may he actually be a legit option with bush out?

 

[Unwrittenlaw]

He looked good. He has probably Oak's only bright spot. I think OAK is going to play it safe and announce Bush out next week and start McFadden again.

 

[damageinc]

While I was against starting him he looked good and had a fantastic fantasy day 25 points in a PPR league. . stats are stats no matter if its garbage time or not. As long as Bush is out McFadden is startable as a RB2 or a flex. To the original poster, good going and good call.

 

[whodeywhodey]

Trying to move him and a few other players for Marshall as we speak.

He's my RB4.

 

[damageinc]

Yeah If I had him I would try to trade him if you can get value. Bush will be back soon and while I think mcfadden made his case for carries it will be a split and you got think they will not be in garbage time every week with the other team dropping back , Not saying this will be Dmacs best game oif the year but wouldnt be suprised if it was.

 

[cstu]

anyone who watched the game care to comment on how he looked? were his point garbage time solely, or may he actually be a legit option with bush out?

I wouldn't say he looked great since the OL didn't open up many holes but the yardage wasn't garbage time and he earned it. As expected he was very good out of the backfield and was picking up yards in chunks.

 

[JamesTheScot]

McFadden has to know it's probably now or never for him in Oakland.

So he's been sandbagging all this time?Or maybe just didn't see his own pride and self-respect (or getting drafted high and being paid millions of dollars) as incentive enough?Or maybe despite being drafted higher and paid tons of money, Al Davis likes Bush better and has been instructing Cable to limit McFadden's touches in favor of Bush?Starting McFadden isn't a matter of having cajones. It's a matter of not having any better option. Starting him when you know Bush is active and healthy would be having some stones. THAT would be calling your shot.

Just thought I'd come back and have some crow.

 

[pantherclub]

Yeah If I had him I would try to trade him if you can get value. Bush will be back soon and while I think mcfadden made his case for carries it will be a split and you got think they will not be in garbage time every week with the other team dropping back , Not saying this will be Dmacs best game oif the year but wouldnt be suprised if it was.

I dont understand this logic. What could you possibly trade him for and get any type of value?

 

[damageinc]

I guess a package as the fella above me said . Injuries force you to look for a player. if Ryan Grant is seriously hurt and the owner has little backing him up you might trade some value for McFadden. But didnt mean straight up. He can be packaged with other talent. Sell high on a player like McFadden is the Shark move.

 

[cstu]

I guess a package as the fella above me said . Injuries force you to look for a player. if Ryan Grant is seriously hurt and the owner has little backing him up you might trade some value for McFadden. But didnt mean straight up. He can be packaged with other talent. Sell high on a player like McFadden is the Shark move.

I doubt you could get more than the equivalent to a 2nd round pick by trading McFadden in a package deal. Right now everyone expects the load to be split evenly once Bush comes back. If you want to get some decent value for McFadden then you need to wait until he does well after Bush returns.

 

[California]

Raiders play the Rams at home next week. Unless you're getting a great deal for him now, hold another week at least.

If he comes out next week with another strong game, even with Bush scheduled to come back, at what point do you decide to ride him? The only "elite" D the Raiders face all year are the Steelers in Week 11. (I thought SF would be considered elite this year but they're getting killed by SEA as I type this).

Playoff schedule for Raiders W14-16: @JAC, DEN, IND.

edit: I can't believe I just advocated possibly keeping a Raider.

 

[super sleeper]

I missed the part where Michael Bush was some sort of perennial All-Pro that is automatically going to take half the carries when he returns despite what McFadden does. I guess it's hard to let go of the Bush=perennial sleeper and McFadden=bust groupthink on this board.

I think I'll withhold making absolute statements about playing time until I see a little more.

 

[CrazyHorse1581]

I missed the part where Michael Bush was some sort of perennial All-Pro that is automatically going to take half the carries when he returns despite what McFadden does. I guess it's hard to let go of the Bush=perennial sleeper and McFadden=bust groupthink on this board.I think I'll withhold making absolute statements about playing time until I see a little more.

This. I would think ol' creepy Al would like to give his #4 overall pick the chance to succeed. We all know who calls the shots in Oakland and it ain't the head coach. If Al thinks one of his picks has a chance to actually be worth his chosen spot he's going to get the chance to prove it.

 

[whodeywhodey]

I guess a package as the fella above me said . Injuries force you to look for a player. if Ryan Grant is seriously hurt and the owner has little backing him up you might trade some value for McFadden. But didnt mean straight up. He can be packaged with other talent. Sell high on a player like McFadden is the Shark move.

I doubt you could get more than the equivalent to a 2nd round pick by trading McFadden in a package deal. Right now everyone expects the load to be split evenly once Bush comes back. If you want to get some decent value for McFadden then you need to wait until he does well after Bush returns.

I have a deal on the table of McFadden+TO for Brandon Marshall+MWilliams(SEA).Not sure if I can do that deal though.

 

[kingsofromance]

All McFadden owners (myself included) should trade him immediately!!!!! That being said I probably won't because I am too loyal to my draft...ughhh the dilemna

 

[dharmapunk]

I guess a package as the fella above me said . Injuries force you to look for a player. if Ryan Grant is seriously hurt and the owner has little backing him up you might trade some value for McFadden. But didnt mean straight up. He can be packaged with other talent. Sell high on a player like McFadden is the Shark move.

I doubt you could get more than the equivalent to a 2nd round pick by trading McFadden in a package deal. Right now everyone expects the load to be split evenly once Bush comes back. If you want to get some decent value for McFadden then you need to wait until he does well after Bush returns.

I have a deal on the table of McFadden+TO for Brandon Marshall+MWilliams(SEA).Not sure if I can do that deal though.

Pull the trigger.I'm saying this as a McFadden owner. Come end of the season, Marshall and Mike will outperform McFadden and T.O.

 

[Saint]

right there with you. Starting him... of course it's between Forte and McFadden.. I have faith Oakland surprises.

Started McFadden with Forte on the bench. Spiller was the one I had no doubt about... Should have benched Spiller and played both these guys.

 

[Ariakis]

Started DMC with Wells hurt. Helped offset facing Arian Foster enough I still project to win.

 

[KellysHeroes]

started him over Boldin, its looking good

 

[whodeywhodey]

I guess a package as the fella above me said . Injuries force you to look for a player. if Ryan Grant is seriously hurt and the owner has little backing him up you might trade some value for McFadden. But didnt mean straight up. He can be packaged with other talent. Sell high on a player like McFadden is the Shark move.

I doubt you could get more than the equivalent to a 2nd round pick by trading McFadden in a package deal. Right now everyone expects the load to be split evenly once Bush comes back. If you want to get some decent value for McFadden then you need to wait until he does well after Bush returns.

I have a deal on the table of McFadden+TO for Brandon Marshall+MWilliams(SEA).Not sure if I can do that deal though.

Pull the trigger.I'm saying this as a McFadden owner. Come end of the season, Marshall and Mike will outperform McFadden and T.O.

Pulled the trigger. Thanks.Now have Andre Johnson and Marshall as WR1/WR2. Have Floyd/Crabtree/MWilliams as my WR3.

 

[damageinc]

Thats a great trade for you. No matter what ya think of Dmac you got a good trade. I got both myself Marshall and Williams. Good luck.

I guess a package as the fella above me said . Injuries force you to look for a player. if Ryan Grant is seriously hurt and the owner has little backing him up you might trade some value for McFadden. But didnt mean straight up. He can be packaged with other talent. Sell high on a player like McFadden is the Shark move.

I doubt you could get more than the equivalent to a 2nd round pick by trading McFadden in a package deal. Right now everyone expects the load to be split evenly once Bush comes back. If you want to get some decent value for McFadden then you need to wait until he does well after Bush returns.

I have a deal on the table of McFadden+TO for Brandon Marshall+MWilliams(SEA).Not sure if I can do that deal though.

Pull the trigger.I'm saying this as a McFadden owner. Come end of the season, Marshall and Mike will outperform McFadden and T.O.

Pulled the trigger. Thanks.Now have Andre Johnson and Marshall as WR1/WR2. Have Floyd/Crabtree/MWilliams as my WR3.

 

[mdlane]

He will continue to perform at this level until (unless??? could this be the year?) he gets injured or falls below 20 touches a game. All the people saying he's a COP scrub with chicken legs, no talent, blah-blah, etc., etc., were wrong. Seriously. The guy just got injured every single freaking year in the 2nd-3rd game of the season. How many RBs do you know that performed well with a turf toe injury in week 2? Well, McFadden had two turf toe injuries - one in each foot. And the next year, he had meniscus surgery. Until he got injured, he performed just like this.

Unfortunately, he's built up so much ill-will fantasy-wise, I think he's untradable. So you may as well ride him until (unless??? could this be the year?) he gets injured.

 

[NatronIsMean]

Started McFaddy at flex alongside the RB1/RB2 steamroller of Chris Johnson and Arian Foster. Very nice.

 

[Lab]

I just looked at McFadden's stats in the game log, and it's pretty interesting. Although Oakland got blown out, most of McFadden's success was not in garbage time. Here is a breakdown of his stats:

Full game: 18 carries for 95 yards, 6 receptions for 55 yards

1st Q: 7 carries for 32 yards, 1 reception for 3 yards

2nd Q: 4 carries for 26 yards, 3 receptions for 42 yards

1st half: 11 carries for 58 yards, 4 reception for 45 yards

2nd half: 7 carries for 37 yards, 2 receptions for 10 yards

McFadden's longest run was 13 yards, and his longest reception was 16 yards. So there were no giant gains that inflated the numbers.

Looking at the game log, it really seems that Campbell and the offensive line was struggling. McFadden had a really good game despite all that. My cojones feel less raisin-like.

 

[mdlane]

I just looked at McFadden's stats in the game log, and it's pretty interesting. Although Oakland got blown out, most of McFadden's success was not in garbage time. Here is a breakdown of his stats:

Full game: 18 carries for 95 yards, 6 receptions for 55 yards

1st Q: 7 carries for 32 yards, 1 reception for 3 yards

2nd Q: 4 carries for 26 yards, 3 receptions for 42 yards

1st half: 11 carries for 58 yards, 4 reception for 45 yards

2nd half: 7 carries for 37 yards, 2 receptions for 10 yards

McFadden's longest run was 13 yards, and his longest reception was 16 yards. So there were no giant gains that inflated the numbers.

Looking at the game log, it really seems that Campbell and the offensive line was struggling. McFadden had a really good game despite all that. My cojones feel less raisin-like.

Watch the game, too. He does not power through tackles but he was decisive and his acceleration is very, very nice. If it wasn't for the constant debilitating injuries, fantasy players would be valuing this guy at 2nd/3rd round. But the injury risk is undeniable.

Obviously, if you can find someone crazy enough to trade you Brandon Marshall for DMAC, you do that trade. But if his perceived value is still in the 10th-11th round, you put a harness on him and pray he somehow avoids injury. IMO this is a similar situation to Lamont Jordan in early 2007. But, hey, don't take my word for it ...

"He was a real positive for our football team," coach Tom Cable said. "He did a lot of things we needed him to do. Catching the ball, blocking, running with the football, he was able to convert some plays. So that's the kind of player we envisioned him being.

"As I have said all along, if he is healthy, that's what he's capable of."

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?.../SPLH1FCRTF.DTL