Darren McFadden Injury: Oakland Raiders RB expected to play next week
Oakland Raiders running back Darren McFadden (20) rushes for a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Oakland Raiders running back Darren McFadden returned from an injury on Thanksgiving, only to suffer yet another multi-week injury upon his return. It’s been a frustrating past-three-seasons for McFadden, who hasn’t been able to replicate his monster 2010 season due to either injuries or ineffectiveness. It’s been a mixture of both this season for McFadden, who is averaging just 3.5 yards per carry this year and has only been able to play in eight games overall.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle’s Vic Tafur, McFadden “should play” in next week’s game against the bitter rival San Diego Chargers, as McFadden is starting to feel better. This ankle injury has caused him to miss two games thus far, but it sounds like we shouldn’t expect him to miss a third contest.
That said, Rashad Jennings is still locked in as the Raiders No. 1 back, but his return would complicate things for Jennings’s fantasy owners. It will be interesting to watch McFadden’s practice status throughout the week, because there’s a chance he takes significant carries away from Jennings, who has been very impressive since Week 9 when McFadden suffered his first injury.
It would be nice to see McFadden back on the field next week, and his home-run ability will help keep the Chargers defense on its toes. But in championship week, McFadden is not a viable option at all.