A critical component to the Oakland Raiders 2012 NFL season is running back Darren McFadden.
The Raiders started last season 3-2 and McFadden was the league’s leading rusher with 610 yards.
Week six brought a season-ending injury to quarterback Jason Campbell. McFadden was injured the following week.
Backup running back Michael Bush was decent, however, with McFadden’s 4.3 speeds gone, the Raider’s rushing attack was not the same. Moreover, McFadden was also a good pass-catcher.
If McFadden stays healthy, the Raiders can be an explosive offense led by quarterback Carson Palmer and his speedy receivers in Darrius Hayward-Bey, Denarius Moore and Jacoby Ford.
In the previous year, McFadden ran for 1,157 yards in 13 games.
As the fourth overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, McFadden signed a contract worth $60 million, including $27 million in guaranteed money.
The Raiders cannot afford to lose McFadden during a run to the 2012 NFL playoffs.
