Week 14 – Darren McFadden vs. San Francisco 49ers
With Latavius Murray sidelined last Sunday, Darren McFadden headed up Oakland’s backfield committee and was predictably ineffective, rushing for 27 yards on 11 carries. He also had two catches for 18 yards. Murray will be back for the Battle of the Bay Area, making McFadden even more unwelcome with fantasy owners than he already is.
Week 13 – Darren McFadden at St. Louis Rams
After Latavius Murray put on a dazzling show early in a Week 12 clash with the Chiefs, the Raiders were forced to turn back to Darren McFadden after Murray suffered a concussion. Oakland’s running game promptly went into the gutter, with McFadden rushing for 29 yards on 12 carries. The Raiders then turned to Marcel Reece in the latter stages of the game. McFadden has stayed healthy for a change and could potentially lead Oakland’s rushing attack on Sunday with Murray declared out, but his best days are in the rearview mirror. He is at the lowest point of the low-end flex scale.
Week 12 – Darren McFadden vs. Kansas City Chiefs
The days of Darren McFadden as a flex option appear to be over. McFadden has not scored a touchdown since Week 7 and has just 124 total yards over the past three games. Plus, the Raiders finally gave some work to Latavius Murray on Sunday. Murray may not turn out to be anything special, but at least he has youth on his side while McFadden is past his prime. If you have been starting D-Mac, look to pull the plug.
Week 11 – Darren McFadden at San Diego Chargers
Darren McFadden did not stand a chance against Denver’s dominant run defense last Sunday. The Broncos held him to 14 yards on seven carries. McFadden also caught four passes for 22 yards. It is a shame that McFadden is finally enjoying prolonged good health, because he does not seem to be the same player he once was. Regardless, he did rush for 80 yards against San Diego back in Week 6 and continues to be the busiest of Oakland’s backs, giving him flex value on a week where players such as DeMarco Murray, Denard Robinson, Justin Forsett, and Chris Ivory are off.
Week 10 – Darren McFadden vs. Denver Broncos
Because he put up some numbers as a receiver, Darren McFadden avoided being a complete disaster in Week 9. Nevertheless, he was still a disappointment. McFadden rushed for 20 yards on 13 carries and hauled in four passes for 47 yards. On the surface, McFadden should be off the radar this week, with Denver having the best run defense in the NFL. However, with so many teams on bye and McFadden still getting a lot of volume and playing a role in the passing game, he can be regarded as a flex option for teams in a bind.
Week 9 – Darren McFadden at Seattle Seahawks
Heading into last weekend's matchup with a Browns defense that has struggled to stop the run, hopes were high that Darren McFadden, who had been steady but not sensational so far in 2014, might have his first big game of the season. Instead, it was more of the same for the suddenly durable D-Mac, as he produced 85 total yards. Unfortunately, he did not score a touchdown.
Hope are not as high this time around for Darren, as Seattle is a rough place to play, especially with the Seahawks surrendering an average of 89.6 yards on the ground, one of the best totals in the entire league. Nevertheless, with Maurice Jones-Drew looking terrible and McFadden getting plenty of volume, owners in need can start Darren as a low-ceiling flex.
Week 8 – Darren McFadden at Cleveland Browns
Last weekend in a 24-13 loss to Arizona, Darren McFadden rushed for 48 yards and a touchdown. It used to be that McFadden was a boom or bust player, largely because of injuries. But in 2014, Darren has found middle ground and been a fairly steady, if not spectacular fantasy player. However, McFadden has a shot at being spectacular in Cleveland on Sunday with the Browns having the worst run defense in the NFL. Start him with confidence, as the worst-case scenario looks to be RB2 numbers.
Week 7 – Darren McFadden vs. Arizona Cardinals
Continuing to operate as Oakland’s clear-cut lead back, Darren McFadden rushed for 80 yards on 14 carries last weekend. However, McFadden does not get the volume other lead backs get and Arizona has a top five run defense. For owners with roster issues, McFadden can be plugged in as a flex. If your team is in pretty good shape, it would probably be best to keep Darren on the bench.
Week 6 – Darren McFadden vs. San Diego Chargers
Darren McFadden’s explosive days appear to be behind him, but the fact he is currently Oakland’s lead back keeps him in the flex discussion, especially with some chatter about the Raiders renewing their commitment to the running game. Of course, when you fall behind all the time it’s hard to run the ball, but it’s something. Darren had 11 carries for 40 yards and four receptions for 32 yards when Oakland lost to Miami back in week four. San Diego has allowed only two rushing touchdowns and yields 96 rushing yards per game. When you factor everything into the equation, McFadden is located at the lower end of the flex scale.
Week 4 – Darren McFadden vs. Miami Dolphins
In Oakland’s last two games, Darren McFadden served as Oakland’s main back with Maurice Jones-Drew sidelined due to injury. The results were mixed. McFadden rushed for 59 yards on 18 carries last Sunday, after accumulating 68 total yards and a touchdown the week before. With Jones-Drew potentially rusty, McFadden is the best choice among Oakland’s backs in a decent matchup with a below-average Miami run defense. That said, McFadden is nothing more than a risky flex option.
