Darren McFadden (RB, DAL) - Waiver Wire Pickups

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OWNED IN: 35% of Fleaflicker Leagues

ANALYSIS: While no one likes to talk about the upside of someone suffering an injury, there is little doubting that Darren McFadden benefits greatly from Lance Dunbar’s season ending knee injury. While McFadden had failed to break the 10 point barrier in standard or PPR Fleaflicker leagues in the first four weeks, Week 5 saw him get nine receptions for 62 yards (as well as five rushes for 16 yards). Facing the Patriots is usually not the best opponent to gauge a team’s strategy against, as the passing downs will be plentiful and catchup mode has to be engaged pretty early.

Dallas is heading into their bye week, and then goes against three good rushing defenses. The Giants have been surprisingly effective against the run, but they are susceptible to pass catching backs as their linebackers struggle in coverage. Then Dallas gets Seattle and Philadelphia after that. The point here is that with Matt Cassel coming in to take the reins for the Dallas Cowboys alongside all of the injuries, a reliable checkdown option is invaluable to Dallas. While their offensive line makes for a worthy adversary against even the most stout rushing defense, the Cowboys’ offense is so strapped that McFadden (and Dunbar before him) got steady and heavy usage in the passing game. Expect more of the same moving forward.