Darren McFadden Fantasy News 2012/2013

HacheMan · Jun 25, 2012

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Darren McFadden - RB - Raiders </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Darren McFadden (foot) confirmed he was a "full go" for all of minicamps and OTAs.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">McFadden admitted that his Lisfranc sprain was perhaps the worst injury he could have had because the only remedy is rest. Now that he's gotten that rest, the Raiders are expecting no problems whatsoever. McFadden was averaging 126.8 total yards per game with five touchdowns through the first six weeks of last season. Goal-line vulture Michael Bush fled to the Bears in free agency.
Jun. 25 - 11:16 a.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: NFL.com</td></tr></tbody></table>

HacheMan · Aug 6, 2012

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Darren McFadden - RB - Raiders </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Darren McFadden referred to his string of injuries as "fluke-type."</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">McFadden has missed at least three games in each of his four NFL seasons due to various injuries. He's due for a run of good luck. "I can't worry about last year," he said. "Or that people say I always get hurt. I am always in shape and I work hard. ... If anyone has any answers as to how I can avoid getting hurt, with these fluke-type injuries, I would love to hear them." McFadden has not been limited at all in training camp.
Aug. 6 - 10:09 a.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: San Francisco Chronicle</td></tr></tbody></table>

HacheMan · Aug 22, 2012

<table width="100%" align="center"><tbody><tr vAlign="top"><td class="subHead" vAlign="top" colSpan="3">Raiders will not 'baby' oft-injured McFadden </td></tr><tr vAlign="top"><td class="vaLabel" colSpan="3">Darren McFadden - RB - OAK - Aug. 22 - 11:00 a.m. ET </td></tr><tr><td vAlign="top" colSpan="3">Head coach Dennis Allen said the team will not "baby" Darren McFadden this season.
It's exactly what we want to hear out of an aggressive head coach. McFadden is 100 percent healthy and has looked extremely explosive throughout camp. "I mean, [running back] is a tough position. They take some shots and that's part of football," Allen said. "We can't baby him. We can't protect him. We got to go out there and play football and give him an opportunity to carry the ball, and we hope that he's able to stay healthy." McFadden is overdue for some good luck on the injury front this year. His statistical ceiling is monstrous as a wildly talented three-down back.
Source: NFL.com
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HacheMan · Aug 24, 2012

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Beat writer Jerry McDonald has named Darren McFadden the Most Outstanding Player at Raiders camp.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">No surprise here. Anytime McFadden steps on the field, chances are strong that he's the best player. Per McDonald, he's "been impossible to deal with on a practice basis." McFadden has also rushed 11 times for 54 yards (4.90 YPC) and added two catches for 35 yards through two exhibition games. He's one of the most talented players in the NFL and is staring at a three-down plus goal-line role.
Aug. 24 - 8:48 a.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Contra Costa Times</td></tr></tbody></table>

HacheMan · Oct 22, 2012

Raiders coach Dennis Allen insists Darren McFadden has lost none of his explosiveness despite his early-season struggles.

McFadden is averaging 3.15 yards per carry, well down from his 5.0-plus marks over the past two seasons. Allen insists the Raiders have tried to incorporate more "gap plays" to get McFadden going, although they obviously didn't work against the Jaguars. McFadden was continually dropped before or at the line of scrimmage. Fantasy owners need to hold onto McFadden because he possesses the talent, workload, and schedule to catch fire during the second half.

Source: Vic Tafur on Twitter
Oct 22 - 4:40 PM

HacheMan · Nov 5, 2012

Coach Dennis Allen told reporters Monday that Darren McFadden (high ankle sprain) has not been ruled out for Week 10 at Baltimore.

Per Allen, DMC was begging Sunday to reenter the game against the Bucs, but the medical staff apparently wouldn't clear him to do so. The Raiders are desperate in the backfield, so we wouldn't rule out them pushing McFadden to play, even if he's not 100 percent. This could be another game-time-decision situation.

Source: Steve Corkran on Twitter
Nov 5 - 4:49 PM

HacheMan · Nov 7, 2012

Darren McFadden (high-ankle sprain) was absent from Wednesday's practice.

As was Mike Goodson (high-ankle sprain). The Raiders are refusing to rule McFadden out early for Sunday's tilt with the Ravens, but if he's truly dealing with a high-ankle sprain, there's a zero percent chance he'll suit up. Coach Dennis Allen may try to keep the drama going until Friday's injury report, but owners need to be preparing for a multi-week absence from DMC. FB Marcel Reece and Taiwan Jones will lead the Raiders' backfield in McFadden and Goodson's absence. Reece should be in for a lion's share of the touches, with Jones serving in a change-of-pace role.
Related: Mike Goodson, Marcel Reece

Source: Paul Gutierrez on Twitter
Nov 7 - 2:17 PM

HacheMan · Nov 9, 2012

Darren McFadden (high ankle sprain) missed Friday's practice and will not play in Week 10.

The Oakland beat writers expect Taiwan Jones to be the Raiders' starting tailback at Baltimore, although Marcel Reece is likely to be heavily involved. Mike Goodson (high ankle sprain) also isn't going to play in Sunday's game.

Source: Steve Corkran on Twitter
Nov 9 - 2:06 PM

HacheMan · Nov 13, 2012

Beat writer Steve Corkran considers Darren McFadden (ankle) and Mike Goodson (ankle) "long shots" to play in Week 11 versus the Saints.

Coach Dennis Allen conceded that both backs will remain in question through the end of the week, holding out scant hope that one will heal quickly enough to play. Both backs remain in walking boots, however, which would seem to preclude a shot at cutting on the field by the weekend. We expect Marcel Reece to maintain top-20 fantasy value for Week 11.
Related: Marcel Reece, Mike Goodson

Source: Sporting News
Nov 13 - 4:59 PM

HacheMan · Nov 14, 2012

Darren McFadden (ankle) was absent from Wednesday's practice.

As was Mike Goodson (ankle). All signs point toward FB Marcel Reece piloting the Raiders' backfield for at least one more week. Coming off a 20-touch, 104-yard performance against the Ravens, he'll be a strong flex play in all formats. As for McFadden, it doesn't look like this will be the year he sheds his "slow healer" tag. He should be considered week-to-week until he gets in some full practices.
Related: Mike Goodson

Source: Vittorio Tafur on Twitter
Nov 14 - 2:15 PM

HacheMan · Nov 26, 2012

Darren McFadden's (ankle) teammates reportedly expect him to return this week.

McFadden hasn't practiced since he sustained a high-ankle sprain in Week 9. The Raiders haven't provided many details on his status, but his teammates apparently have seen good progress. If DMC can get back on the field by Wednesday, it's reasonable to think he could see action in Sunday's game against the Browns. Owners that have been riding Marcel Reece for the last three weeks need to have backup plans on tap.
Related: Marcel Reece

Source: San Francisco Chronicle
Nov 26 - 11:48 AM

HacheMan · Nov 28, 2012

Darren McFadden (ankle) returned to Raiders practice Wednesday, getting in a limited session.

It's McFadden's first practice of any kind since he went down in Week 9. It puts him on track to suit up on Sunday, but long-time fantasy players know nothing should ever be assumed with McFadden. If he does take the field against the Browns, he should return as the lead dog, though he'll almost certainly cede a healthy amount of snaps to Marcel Reece, particularly on passing downs. McFadden was averaging a pathetic 3.3 yards per carry on 139 totes before going down.

Source: Vittorio Tafur on Twitter
Nov 28 - 2:16 PM

HacheMan · Nov 29, 2012

According to Raiders OC Greg Knapp, FB Marcel Reece will be used primarily at running back on Sunday as Darren McFadden (ankle) "gets back into football shape."

McFadden's return is no longer in doubt, but as expected, he's not going to handle a full workload. DMC should be in for somewhere between 10-15 touches as Reece notches 5-6 carries and monopolizes passing-down snaps. Depending on how things shake out the next 1-2 weeks, that could remain the case for the rest of the season. Owners shouldn't expect McFadden to receive the massive workloads he was getting in Weeks 6-8 during the fantasy playoffs. He has his injury and pathetic 3.3 YPC to thank for that.
Related: Marcel Reece

Source: Steve Corkran on Twitter
Nov 29 - 4:49 PM

HacheMan · Dec 2, 2012

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Darren McFadden (ankle, questionable) is unlikely to play on Sunday against the Browns.

McFadden put in three limited practices this week and seemed to have a decent shot at suiting up this week, but that doesn't appear to be the case. McFadden's trend of being a slow healer will continue on for another week. Cleveland and Oakland don't kick off until 4:25 ET, so we don't recommend DMC for fantasy lineups. Marcel Reece will be the team's "bellcow" back. OC Greg Roman had hinted that Reece may have out-carried McFadden anyway.

Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter
Dec 2 - 10:21 AM

HacheMan · Dec 4, 2012

Darren McFadden (ankle) was limited in Tuesday's practice.

Marcel Reece (hamstring, quadriceps) and Mike Goodson (ankle) were also limited. The Raiders confirmed that McFadden is expected back for Thursday's game versus the Broncos. According to RBs coach Kelly Skipper, McFadden has "got his burst back" and is "a lot better" this week. With Reece battling injuries of his own, McFadden should be assured of a fairly strong workload after waiting an extra five days for his return.
Related: Mike Goodson, Marcel Reece

Source: Vic Tafur on Twitter
Dec 4 - 3:40 PM

HacheMan · Dec 5, 2012

Darren McFadden (ankle) was upgraded to "full" in Wednesday's practice, and is officially probable for Thursday night's game against the Broncos.

He's going to play. McFadden has been out since Week 9, but could be in for a fairly significant workload with back-up Marcel Reece batting hamstring and quad injuries. Jeremy Stewart, or perhaps Mike Goodson (ankle), could be in for 4-5 touches. It's an ideal time for DMC to return, as he'll have three extra days to heal up for Week 15. Averaging just 3.3 yards per carry before going down, McFadden shouldn't be considered more than a low-end RB2 for the first week of the fantasy playoffs, particularly against the Broncos' elite defense.

Source: Jerry McDonald on Twitter
Dec 5 - 3:35 PM

GoForBroke · Dec 6, 2012

I wish DMC wouldn't play this week. I've been enjoying the production of Marcel Reece in PPR leagues.

HacheMan · Dec 12, 2012

Darren McFadden (ankle) is practicing in full this week.

Although it's hard to believe considering his injury history, McFadden's Week 14 ankle roll truly was just a tweak. Averaging 3.4 yards per carry over 150 totes this season, McFadden will be a low-end RB2 for the second week of the fantasy playoffs.

Dec 12 - 6:20 PM

HacheMan · Dec 13, 2012

Coach Dennis Allen reiterated that Darren McFadden's ankle is a non-issue for Week 15.

"Darren's been great," Allen said. "He's been great all week. I haven't noticed anything where he's had any issues at all, and so I'm really kind of expecting him to be a full go." Rotoworld ranks McFadden No. 21 among fantasy backs for Week 15.

Source: CSN Bay Area
Dec 13 - 6:24 PM