NFL Fact or Fiction: Darren McFadden Is the Best RB

Is Darren McFadden the best running back in the NFL?  It’s hard to say, with the likes of Arian Foster, Adrian Peterson, Fred Jackson and LeSean McCoy making strong cases for themselves. 

After being drafted fourth overall in 2008, McFadden floundered and was thought to be a bust.  The amazingly gifted college athlete was presumed to be another great talent that just would not translate to NFL success.

Enter Hue Jackson, whose tenure has revitalized Darren McFadden’s game.

Now, McFadden is thriving in a new offensive system centered on his strengths.  The passing game and offense directly feed off his ability to run the football.

And "Run DMC" is running all over the NFL this season.

Do one successful season and a hot start in 2011 elevate McFadden to the best in the game?

I’ll state cases for and against him in this slideshow.

Positives

At 6’2” tall and 210 pounds, Darren McFadden is a rare combination of size and strength for the running back position.  His ability to alternate power rushing and speed is an invaluable trait not many others can boast.

One of the biggest positives for McFadden is his initial burst from the backfield. 

It is the best in the NFL.  After that burst, McFadden adds an intimidating acceleration skill set that has opposing defenses game-planning in fear.

If you could see McFadden accelerate through the line and get into the open field, you'd share that fear with NFL defensive coordinators.

Perhaps McFadden’s best attribute, though, is his elusiveness.  His ability to see open holes and fit himself into them while shedding tacklers makes him a rare combination back with all the tools for greatness.

Negatives

McFadden’s success has not been instant in the NFL.  Since being drafted in 2008, he has been under scrutiny for his inability to stay on the field.

These durability issues, up until last season, led many to question if he could ever be an every down running back in the NFL.

After a hot start to 2011, McFadden is again sidelined with an injury. 

Running back is, after all, the most physically punishing position.  If McFadden is to take the next step to elite status, he will have to strengthen and condition himself to combat the wear and tear of the 16-game NFL season.

Durability concerns are not the only knocks on McFadden, though.

At 6’2”, McFadden is one of the taller backs in the league.  When running, McFadden sometimes stands tall and creates a bigger target for defenders to hit.

His previously mentioned acceleration and elusiveness through the line of scrimmage sometimes hamper him as he looks to run past his blockers.  This puts him ahead of the play.

Comparisons

There is little denying the prowess of Darren McFadden since the start of the 2010 season.  He has burst onto the scene and electrified the league with incredible speed, vision and strength.

Unfortunately for Run DMC, there are two guys by the names of Adrian Peterson and Arian Foster who are not willing to just hand over the title of best back in the league.

How does McFadden stack up against these two? 

Minnesota Vikings RB Adrian Peterson

Peterson is a consensus No. 1 pick for the job.  His size, speed, athleticism and brute strength are all the desirable characteristics a running back should have. 

For the most part, he’s been durable and stayed on the field.

Without Adrian Peterson, the Vikings would not have won a game in 2011.

His ability to break tackles, extend plays and slip through the offensive line between the tackles makes any play a potential game-breaker.

The Minnesota Vikings are lucky to have Peterson.  In 2011, he has already recorded nine rushing touchdowns and is on pace to top his career best of 18 in 2009. 

Houston Texans RB Arian Foster

Recently, the Houston Texans’ best wide receiver, Andre Johnson, was sidelined with a hamstring injury.

No problem for the Texans—they decided to just hand the ball off to Foster all game long. 

Foster exploded two weeks ago for two touchdowns on over 100 yards rushing.  He also added over 100 yards receiving and one touchdown through the air.

Foster is not as explosive immediately out of the backfield like Peterson or McFadden, but he has the vision and means to explode once he finds an opening. 

His physically pounding running style wears down defenses as games progress. 

Once he does get into the open field, there are none better than Foster at shedding tacklers at the second level.  Foster makes defenders look silly by overpowering or running past them.

Verdict

Fiction

While Darren McFadden may certainly be a rising star in the NFL, he is not ready to take the title of best running back from Adrian Peterson.

Peterson is more durable, stronger and more agile than McFadden.  He is also a sound pass blocker in the backfield, something McFadden could improve on. 

Over the past four seasons, Peterson has battled and dominated opposing defenses.  Maybe in a year or two, McFadden analysts will be able to say the same thing about him.

But not yet.

Arian Foster also looks more complete at this stage in the comparison.  Coming off of breakout season in 2010, Foster has rebounded from a hamstring injury that hampered him through the first few weeks of 2011.

McFadden is dangerous in open space but not as dangerous as Foster.  Foster’s ability to create holes when there are none—either by going through a defender or around them—makes him an elite back.

McFadden isn't there yet, but he’s on his way.

In order for him to take the leap to the next level, he must continue scoring touchdowns.  With the presence of Michael Bush as a short yardage power running back, McFadden needs to prove to the Raiders he can continue to be the go-to guy in those situations.

McFadden is on the rise, though, and will continue to develop and prove his critics wrong.

Until then, stay on the field Darren and we’ll keep the highlight reel running.