In most leagues Darren McFadden is the fifth back being taken off the board, but in ESPN leagues he is the tenth back.
Analysis: Obviously many, many clueless people play fantasy football through ESPN. Keep in mind that Darren McFadden was going to lead the league in rushing yards last year prior to his injury in week seven. With McFadden this year we have what Matthew Stafford was last year… a great player but injury prone. McFadden should not slip out of the top five to six backs unless he tweaks something in the preseason. His 5.2 yards per carry in 2010 and 5.4 yards per carry in 2011 was fifth and third respectively among backs with at least 100 carries those seasons. He is an absolute game breaker who is going as the fifth back and ninth overall pick on average in leagues across the country.
The ESPN ADP of 24.6 is shocking but when ESPN ranks a back the eleventh best the sheep have trouble forming an opinion for themselves. McFadden finished 2011 as the thirty-fourth back in standard leagues despite missing nine games and having two carries in a week seven contest. That’s right… he put up RB3 numbers last year in six games and change. McFadden is at the point in his career where he could miss four games and still outperform his 24.6 ADP in ESPN leagues. If you are willing to gamble a bit, Darren McFadden just may follow in Matthew Stafford’s footsteps this year.