Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

Were it not for Al Davis odds are former Raiders cornerback Chris Johnson would be sitting at home right now hoping some NFL team might give him an invite to training camp in July. Instead he’s a reserve corner who could end up with a Super Bowl ring to show for his service with the Baltimore Ravens this season.

Almost five years ago Mr. Davis had seen enough from failed free agent signing DeAngelo Hall. Only halfway through the first season of a seven year deal Hall was released and an opportunity was created for Johnson a former undrafted free agent that had bounced around the league.

Not only is it unheard of for a 29-year-old corner to become a starter for the first time but earning a 3-year, $12-million deal is also extremely rare for someone who had only been making league minimum previously. But that’s exactly what Johnson did and that’s’ exactly how Davis rewarded him for his improved play in the absence of Hall.

As we all know Johnson went on to start opposite Nnamdi Asomugha before being leapfrogged by Stanford Routt then eventually suffering through a string of injuries that ultimately ended his time in Oakland. Sadly Johnson’s final season as a Raider was marked by the tragic death of his sister.

The team gave Johnson as much time as he needed to be with his family though he only missed a day of practice after it was all said and done. However it was the support of then head coach Hue Jackson, DBs coach Rod Woodson and Willie Brown as well that he’ll always be grateful for.

Currently Johnson is looking after his 14-year-old niece who in took in after his sister’s tragic passing. He’s also preparing for the biggest moment of his football life as a member of the Ravens.

When asked about his time in Oakland by Jerry McDonald, Johnson had some very telling comments about the difference between the leadership in Baltimore versus that which he saw in the East Bay.

“I’d put it like this, if you put Ray Lewis in the Oakland locker room, probably a good 20 people wouldn’t be on that team, because of the way Ray runs his ship, and manning up the guys. In Oakland the guys weren’t like that I mean, I’m not going to call no names, but the high guys you’re supposed to put the position on, they weren’t leaders, you talk a good game but they weren’t playing a good game.”

No real surprise there. Most every man that departs Oakland later makes similar comments. Now if you want an eye opening quote then check what Johnson had to say of Hue Jackson a coach he thinks should still be calling shots in Oakland.

“Hue was the best coach I had since I was out there. I mean, we went 8-8, we was a good, solid team, you could see the identity of the team.”

Let’s not turn this into a Dennis Allen bash fest but Johnson hit the nail on the head saying Hue’s team had an “identity”. That’s something this team lacked in 2012 for sure. Now one thing Johnson doesn’t lack at all is a supreme appreciation for what the Raiders and Mr. Davis did for his career.

“I’m very thankful for what Mr. Davis did for me. I love that organization, the organization was good to me and my family.”

Say whatever you will of Al Davis and his nature but right up until the end he was still giving people opportunities others simply wouldn’t. The end result is Johnson’s life being changed forever as his professional career peaks this Sunday when the biggest game he’ll ever be a part of starts.

Brett Davis-US PRESSWIRE

For those of you who do not engage in the porn of the sports world that is fantasy football I’d suggest moving along to other more engaging topics today such as celebrating Lionel Richie’s belated birthday or searching Octomom videos. The rest of you, follow me, we’re going to take on the dicey subject of debating Darren McFadden’s fantasy value.

Now there really shouldn’t be any debate about this one. Darren McFadden is a top 5 fantasy stud that, obviously, were it not for health reasons would be in the top pick conversation. He is the quintessential fantasy running back racking up points in multitude of ways as a runner and a receiver…basically you name it and Run DMC does it. Most important of all is he finds the end zone. Anybody that had McFadden for the first half of last season was likely contending until disaster struck.

Of course if you were really proactive you didn’t sweat McFadden’s health issues because if you were hip to the game you went out and grabbed Michael Bush too. In my league I missed out on McFadden but landed Bush. For the first half of the season he sat on my bench but once McFadden went down I rode Bush and Marshawn Lynch to the title game…which I eventually lost no thanks to Drew Brees’ pursuit of history. But we’re getting off course here.

So here we are again. It’s June and your fantasy draft is a month or two away. By now you’ve already pegged a few sleepers, guys ready to breakout and you’ve also got your list of wildcards.

At the top of the wildcard list is McFadden. Unlike other rolls of the dice like Chris Johnson last year, there is no concern over McFadden’s ability to produce. Even in games when he doesn’t eclipse the golden 100-yard rushing barrier McFadden is still getting you at least 100 total yards. Johnson, on the other hand, just didn’t produce – at all.

For McFadden’s value to be so closely tied to his health is frightening. If he’s there and anyone you valued ahead of him is gone you’ve got to take McFadden. He’s a gamble but not the Peyton Manning type of gamble. Quiet as kept Manning is the biggest fantasy gamble this year and anyone taking him in the first round is really spinning the wheel. No telling how productive Manning will be or if he can even take a hot.

What confounds the McFadden dilemma is there is no insurance policy this time around. He’s not being backed by Bush any longer and there is no reason to think that Taiwan Jones, Mike Goodson or even Cedric Benson should he join the ranks can crank out Bush type numbers.

So the reality is this season you’re simply twisting in the wind with McFadden. Naturally every fantasy running back needs a backup plan. With injuries, bye weeks, bad matchups, etc. However with a healthy McFadden all you need to worry about is the bye. There is no such thing as a bad matchup for Run DMC. Ask the Jets and their supposed top notch run defense about that.

In short, McFadden is a fantasy stud that really shouldn’t last past the first 5 picks of any fantasy draft based on talent alone. Then there is all the uncertainty surrounding some of the other top backs around the league. Contract situations are making the likes of Matt Forte, Maurice Jones-Drew and Ray Rice a little less attractive in the fantasy market. Adrian Peterson’s health has taken him out of the conversation and top back Arian Foster has a new deal which, in recent years, has been a little like the Madden curse when it comes to top producing fantasy running backs.

Aside from his injury issues the other gamble with McFadden is the zone scheme Greg Knapp is installing. During the Raiders offseason program McFadden was singing the praises of the new scheme. But everything looks good when you’re not hitting in May. Then again, with McFadden’s talent he should be able to produce in any system. The problem is there is no system that guarantees his health.

What fantasy value do you give McFadden?

Last preseason Jones put on a show against the New Orleans Saints that had Cris Collinsworth making Chris Johnson comparisons.

Yeah, I realize that in the preseason Kyle Boller also looked like an NFL quarterback. Things change when it gets real and nothing is more of a wakeup call than the speed of regular season NFL action.

Still, you can’t deny what Jones brings to the table.

We constantly hear the term change-of-pace-back when Jones is being described. He’s absolutely in the third-down/scat back category but to me Jones could be so much more.

Given all of the weapons the Raiders have on offense imagine the things you could do with Jones, Darren McFadden and Jacoby Ford all on the field at the same time. Just the threat of having to pick your poison creates pre-snap advantages few teams have in this league.

As mentioned at the top of this piece Jones does have his shortcomings. So it will be on Greg Knapp to figure out the best way to get Jones involved. It will also be beneficial to McFadden’s health if he can take a few extra plays off with an expanded role for Jones.

For Knapp it will be all about getting creative. Jones is more than just a Darren Sproles type. He can be utilized in a multitude of ways other than screens and draws. Split Jones out wide and you’ll likely get a favorable matchup with a linebacker trying to keep Taiwan in front of him. Line up McFadden in the Wildcat with Jones at his side. Suddenly the defense has a real dilemma on its hands.

Whatever it takes just get Jones more involved. Even as a decoy he has real value.

At this point you get the feel that the only thing standing in Oakland’s way to becoming an elite NFL offense is…well…Oakland itself. With all the rules favoring the offense there is no excuse for the Raiders to not be one of the top 5 producing offenses in the league. Getting Jones more involved with certainly help propel Oakland into the elite level of NFL offenses.