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Dallas Cowboys: Darren McFadden Can’t Be the Lead Back

By Joel Childers

Jan 3, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Washington Redskins cornerback Will Blackmon (41) and Dallas Cowboys running back Darren McFadden (20) during the game at AT&T Stadium. The Redskins defeat the Cowboys 34-23. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Washington Redskins cornerback Will Blackmon (41) and Dallas Cowboys running back Darren McFadden (20) during the game at AT&T Stadium. The Redskins defeat the Cowboys 34-23. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Darren McFadden had a good 2015 season, but he can’t be the lead back moving forward if the Dallas Cowboys hope to improve on a disappointing year.

Darren McFadden had one of the best years of his career in 2015, and it would be easy for the Dallas Cowboys to relax and expect to rely on him as their lead back again next year. While I do believe McFadden still has productive football left in him, if Dallas relies on him as their top running back again next season, I think the team is going to end up being very disappointed.

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McFadden’s 1,089 yards on 239 carries gave him the fourth highest rushing total last season, and placed him third in yards per carry among players with at least 200 carries. This was McFadden’s second career 1,000 yard season, and his first since 2010 with the Oakland Raiders. When Dallas signed him, most people thought the former Arkansas Razorback was no more than a depth add that possibly wouldn’t even make the roster.

Instead, before the half way point in the season McFadden was the team’s starter. He didn’t break any record, but he had more rushing yards this season than any Dallas running back not named DeMarco Murray has had since Emmitt Smith in 2000. McFadden has had a lot of carries in his career, but he’s only 28 so it seems possible that he could have a few more great seasons in front of him.

When you look a little deeper at McFadden’s career, however, you see that giving him 200+ carries again in 2016 would be a mistake. The 239 carries he saw in 2015 were the most he has ever seen, but it was only the second season in his career in which he played in all 16 games. He has never started more than 13 games in a season. McFadden has seen 20+ carries in back-to-back weeks only three times in his career. Last October/November Dallas gave him 20+ carries in four out of five weeks including 3 straight.

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SportsInjuryPredictor.com lists 18 injuries for McFadden since his college days, with 5 hamstring injuries, 4 ankle injuries, and 4 foot injuries. He has needed 3 surgical repairs throughout his career to recover from these injuries. 2014 is the only season since 2006 in which he hasn’t shown up on an injury report. Clearly McFadden’s body hasn’t been able to hold up in the long term, and continuing to give him the high level of carries he saw last season will only break him down even more.

We’ve all heard how great the Dallas offensive line is, and I have to imagine that it was the o-line rather than some resurgence from McFadden himself that gave the back one of the best seasons in his career. One piece of evidence is the fact that he was unable to find the end zone with any regularity. He could run behind his offensive line, but he struggled to break big plays on his own. All 3 of his 2015 touchdowns came from within 6 yards of the goal-line.

Dec 27, 2015; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Darren McFadden (20) runs the ball during the second half against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Buffalo defeat Dallas 16-6. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 27, 2015; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Darren McFadden (20) runs the ball during the second half against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Buffalo defeat Dallas 16-6. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports /

Lance Dunbar will hopefully be back in 2016 from both his knee injury and free agency, and that will take some of the pressure off of McFadden as an every-down back, but Dunbar was never a big part of the rushing game seeing only 5 carries through four games last year. Dallas needs to add another back this offseason if they want to return to the offensive diversity they enjoyed in 2014.

Feb 26, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Derrick Henry participates in drills during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 26, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Derrick Henry participates in drills during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

NFL Spin Zone’s Stephen Forsha thinks running backs Derrick Henry and Alex Collins could be options for Dallas in the second round of the upcoming NFL Draft. Later in the draft I like Notre Dame’s C.J. Prosise as a developmental prospect for the Cowboys. He lacks experience as a starting running back, but has all the physical tools to develop into a good NFL back.

Other speculation suggests that free-agents-to-be Lamar Miller and Doug Martin could be looking in Dallas’s direction. These two young running backs may be looking for a team where they can be the lead back while playing behind an elite offensive line. Dallas would be just the spot.

Whether the Cowboys address the position through the draft or through free agency, its clear that they need to find another running back to play alongside or in front of Darren McFadden. McFadden’s body won’t hold up under the strain of another season like 2015 and he simply doesn’t have the skills to continue to be the workhorse back in Dallas.

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McFadden needs to either relinquish the starting spot to a more talented, younger player or share the spotlight with someone that compliments his skills. The running-back-by-committee approach has become more and more common in the league, and that may be the best approach in Dallas as well. McFadden had a great season but if Dallas wants to improve on their 4-12 2015 record, he can’t be their lead back moving forward.

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