The Oakland Raiders couldn't get anything going in the rushing game Sunday, leaving running backs Maurice Jones-Drew and Darren McFadden with little to show for their efforts in the team's 19-14 season-opening loss to the New York Jets. The two running backs combined for 44 yards from scrimmage in the game.
Maurice Jones-Drew, Darren McFadden have miserable day for fantasy owners, Raiders
The pair of Oakland running backs couldn’t get anything going at all Sunday. We break down the fantasy implications.
Jeff Zelevansky
Jones-Drew carried the ball nine times in the game for only 11 yards, adding two receptions for 12. McFadden, meanwhile, had four carries for 15 yards and one catch for 6. Trailing early, the team leaned on its passing game.
Fantasy impact: This could hardly have been more of a disaster for the two running backs -- Jones-Drew gave his owners two fantasy points, and McFadden offered only one.
In the interest of fairness, the Jets’ run defense was one of the NFL’s best a year ago, and it looks like that might continue in 2014. That said, there’s a reason the former big-name starting running backs are now a tandem in Oakland -- their glory days are behind them. Going forward, it looks like Jones-Drew is the Raiders running back you want, but he can’t be more than a low-end flex play unless something changes.
