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Fantasy Football Starts with McFadden
by Geoffrey Stein on April 23 2008
The story of this weekend`s NFL Draft from a fantasy perspective is without a doubt the landing spot of University of Arkansas running back Darren McFadden, as he will unquestionably be the first rookie selected in the majority of redraft and dynasty leagues later this summer.
All possible scenarios have an influence not just on the value of McFadden, but the value of running backs already on the roster of the speedster`s likely destinations.
With the Miami Dolphins, St. Louis Rams and Atlanta Falcons all set at the running back position, barring trade the first chance for McFadden to leave the board comes to the Oakland Raiders at pick No. 4.
Landing in Oakland wouldn`t be a bad thing for McFadden, who would immediately become the best running back on the Raiders` roster, and likely see a good amount of initial playing time.
On the flipside, McFadden to Oakland would drop Justin Fargas -- a fifth-round selection in early mocks -- down cheat sheets, kill the little redraft value that LaMont Jordan and Dominic Rhodes may have had, and severely limit the dynasty value of Michael Bush.
Should the Raiders pass on McFadden, the next possible scenario involves the 20-year-old taking his game to the New York, with the Jets who select sixth overall.
If McFadden were to land in the Big Apple, he`d unquestionably be splitting carries with Thomas Jones -- whom the Jets signed to a four-year, $20 million dollar contract last spring -- in a situation that would resemble the Vikings 2007 timeshare which featured All-World rookie Adrian Peterson sharing handoffs with veteran Chester Taylor.
The loser from a fantasy perspective would be third-year back Leon Washington who would lose most of his 100-plus touches from a season ago, and at best, be relegated to kick-return duties.
An interesting scenario would present itself should McFadden be available at No. 7 overall, a selection belonging to the AFC Champion New England Patriots.
The Patriots already have a productive back in Laurence Maroney -- a second-round selection in early fantasy mocks -- but adding the draft`s top skill-position talent to an already record-setting offense could be too much for Bill Belichick and Scott Pioli to pass up.
McFadden in a Patriots uniform would hurt more than just Maroney, as Kevin Faulk and Sammy Morris -- both solid contributors last season -- would unquestionably see reduced on-field time.
It`s hard to see McFadden sliding past seventh overall and the three aforementioned teams. One possibility not raised, however, is a scenario involving a team trading up to grab the two-time runner-up for the Heisman Trophy. If that were to happen, the safe money would be on that team being the Dallas Cowboys.
After losing Julius Jones this offseason and with Marion Barber`s contract talks at a standstill, Dallas could enter the sweepstakes for McFadden, a not so secretive favorite of Cowboys` owner Jerry Jones, an alumnus of Arkansas.
Besides the obvious hit in value Barber -- a first-round selection in early fantasy mocks -- would take in falling back into a split carries situation, McFadden to Dallas would also hurt the value of his college teammate, running back Felix Jones.
With two selections in the first-round, 22nd and 28th overall, most experts have the Cowboys adding Jones -- who excelled in a dual runner backfield at Arkansas -- and pairing him with Barber. If McFadden ends up with a starred helmet, his fellow Razorback could find himself in a much less favorable situation for success in redraft leagues.
More so than any draft in recent memory, Saturday`s action will play a huge role in the upcoming fantasy football season; a season that officially starts when NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell steps to the podium and announces the name "Darren McFadden."
All possible scenarios have an influence not just on the value of McFadden, but the value of running backs already on the roster of the speedster`s likely destinations.
With the Miami Dolphins, St. Louis Rams and Atlanta Falcons all set at the running back position, barring trade the first chance for McFadden to leave the board comes to the Oakland Raiders at pick No. 4.
Landing in Oakland wouldn`t be a bad thing for McFadden, who would immediately become the best running back on the Raiders` roster, and likely see a good amount of initial playing time.
On the flipside, McFadden to Oakland would drop Justin Fargas -- a fifth-round selection in early mocks -- down cheat sheets, kill the little redraft value that LaMont Jordan and Dominic Rhodes may have had, and severely limit the dynasty value of Michael Bush.
Should the Raiders pass on McFadden, the next possible scenario involves the 20-year-old taking his game to the New York, with the Jets who select sixth overall.
If McFadden were to land in the Big Apple, he`d unquestionably be splitting carries with Thomas Jones -- whom the Jets signed to a four-year, $20 million dollar contract last spring -- in a situation that would resemble the Vikings 2007 timeshare which featured All-World rookie Adrian Peterson sharing handoffs with veteran Chester Taylor.
The loser from a fantasy perspective would be third-year back Leon Washington who would lose most of his 100-plus touches from a season ago, and at best, be relegated to kick-return duties.
An interesting scenario would present itself should McFadden be available at No. 7 overall, a selection belonging to the AFC Champion New England Patriots.
The Patriots already have a productive back in Laurence Maroney -- a second-round selection in early fantasy mocks -- but adding the draft`s top skill-position talent to an already record-setting offense could be too much for Bill Belichick and Scott Pioli to pass up.
McFadden in a Patriots uniform would hurt more than just Maroney, as Kevin Faulk and Sammy Morris -- both solid contributors last season -- would unquestionably see reduced on-field time.
It`s hard to see McFadden sliding past seventh overall and the three aforementioned teams. One possibility not raised, however, is a scenario involving a team trading up to grab the two-time runner-up for the Heisman Trophy. If that were to happen, the safe money would be on that team being the Dallas Cowboys.
After losing Julius Jones this offseason and with Marion Barber`s contract talks at a standstill, Dallas could enter the sweepstakes for McFadden, a not so secretive favorite of Cowboys` owner Jerry Jones, an alumnus of Arkansas.
Besides the obvious hit in value Barber -- a first-round selection in early fantasy mocks -- would take in falling back into a split carries situation, McFadden to Dallas would also hurt the value of his college teammate, running back Felix Jones.
With two selections in the first-round, 22nd and 28th overall, most experts have the Cowboys adding Jones -- who excelled in a dual runner backfield at Arkansas -- and pairing him with Barber. If McFadden ends up with a starred helmet, his fellow Razorback could find himself in a much less favorable situation for success in redraft leagues.
More so than any draft in recent memory, Saturday`s action will play a huge role in the upcoming fantasy football season; a season that officially starts when NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell steps to the podium and announces the name "Darren McFadden."
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