RADIO
The hype was simply hype, a flush draw that didn’t hit in a hand of Texas Hold ‘Em. Dallas Cowboys running back, Christine Michael, was set to be the lead guy this week against the division rival New York Giants, but it was Darren McFadden who emerged with a bang.
McFadden rushed the ball for 152 yards on 29 attempts, with one touchdown, and kept a Dallas Cowboys offense, seemingly on their last breaths, alive. With crucial injuries to star quarterback, Tony Romo, and star wide receiver, Dez Bryant, the Cowboys offense was and is in desperate need of a spark.
Despite another tough loss, largely in part to three interceptions by backup quarterback, Matt Cassel, and sloppy special teams play, McFadden was the only bright spot for Dallas on a dark and gloomy day at the Meadowlands. He averaged 5.2 yards/carry, caught two passes for 10 yards, and was Dallas’ first 100-yard rusher on the season.
After a week filled with chatter about giving him a larger role, Christine Michael was anything but big on offense. An early back injury to running back, Joseph Randle, opened a door for Michael to produce alongside McFadden, but Michael failed to impress, carrying the ball a measly five times for 18 yards.
Michael did look quick and promising on his longest run of the day, a 13-yard dash, but didn’t follow with anything worthy enough to earn him more carries. Also, he was targeted only once by Cassel, another potential asset that Michael could have provided for PPR operated leagues. It is definitely safe to drop him from your lineup.
Keep an eye on the status of Joseph Randle as well. Randle was handed the ball twice on Dallas’ first five plays, impressively picking up 11 and 24 yards, before scampering off to the sideline and disappearing to the locker room for the remainder of the game. When healthy, Randle is still an option at running back, especially on a weak and inefficient Cowboys passing offense.
With Romo shouting encouragement from the sideline and not calling plays in the huddle, look for Dallas to rely heavily on the run. At this point, it would be difficult to take the ball out of McFadden’s hands. Even against a tough Seattle defense next week, expect McFadden to get the bulk of the workload, ready to hopefully break through Seattle’s front seven, to meet the Legion of Boom.
