The mass of injuries suffered so far this season by the Dallas Cowboys will force some players into different roles. According to ESPN’s Ed Werder, that will include running back Darren McFadden, who will replace injured running back Lance Dunbar on the team’s passing downs.
Darren McFadden to see more targets for Cowboys, fantasy owners
The Dallas running back will absorb some of the work done by injured back Lance Dunbar. We break down the fantasy implications.
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Dunbar had 21 catches for 215 yards before tearing his ACL in Week 4. McFadden, meanwhile, has only three catches on the season. But with Dunbar out (not to mention quarterback Tony Romo and wide receiver Dez Bryant), the team has to get creative, and that will include McFadden on passing downs. Joseph Randle (59 rushes for 229 yards) will remain the team’s primary ball-carrier, with Christine Michael likely getting a handful of carries as well.
Fantasy impact: Randle will be a reasonable RB2 in Dunbar’s absence. If McFadden does take over the passing-down work as reported, he’ll be an interesting play, a low-end flex in standard games, with low-end RB2 possibilities in PPR leagues.
Michael, meanwhile, is a fantasy afterthought unless/until he shows more than he’s shown so far.
