Darren McFadden’s Legacy Could Begin With Tennessee Titans Game

Darren McFadden goes into Sunday's game at Tennessee as the Raiders' starting running back. Going into his third year in Oakland, it will be the first real opportunity for McFadden to be the team's featured back.

He had a career day against the Chiefs in the second game of his rookie season and has shown only flashes of brilliance since.

With Fargas no longer a Raider and Michael Bush presumably not playing much, McFadden has the opportunity to do what he was drafted to do.

Ironically, this game comes against Chris Johnson, who was drafted at the end of the first round the same year McFadden went fourth overall. You can bet Al Davis hasn't spent a day in two years wishing he didn't draft Johnson and his legitimate 4.23 speed in the backfield.

At this point, McFadden has almost no chance to live up to his six-year, $60 million dollar contract. He barely made the team this year, according to reports that had him on the trade block during the offseason. Regardless, the team knows he is loaded with potential and, if nothing else, has plenty of tread left on his tires. He has 217 carries in two NFL seasons. The Titans' gameplan this weekend will probably be to get Chris Johnson that many touches in one game.

All that said, Darren McFadden has every opportunity to make his legacy on Sunday. If the Raiders win and McFadden can put up numbers anywhere near Chris Johnson, there will be reason for optimism.

The Titans have the superior offensive line, and we have yet to see McFadden flash anything near the brilliance of Johnson, but DMC should have a huge chip on his shoulder going into Tennessee. 

A lot will be forgotten if he can showcase his breakaway speed from college and improve his shiftiness near the line of scrimmage. His lower body is reportedly stronger than ever, so maybe h...

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