If he can stay healthy, McFadden will become one of the elite playmakers in football. His teammates know it cause they get to see him do it in practice on a daily basis. That’s why they’ve voted him as a team captain this season.

What makes McFadden different from most game breakers in the NFL is that he’s not some speed demon looking to dance his way into the end zone. McFadden is a football player to the core. He looks for contact and loves to deliver punishment. We’re not just talking about the times he’s got the rock either. McFadden freely sacrifices his body for the benefit of others.

Don’t believe me though. Check the game tape.

One such instance occurred a couple years ago during the final game of the regular season against the Baltimore Ravens. With little more than pride and a healthy offseason to play for, McFadden threw a punishing block on Haolti Ngata in order to protect a scrambling Charlie Frye.
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Despite being young and talented, McFadden is at the crossroads. (Photo: YardBarker.com)

Darren McFadden will most likely never be a true NFL running back.

He’s not the guy you’re going to see carrying the rock 25 times a game. He’s not the type of player capable of playing every down in the backfield.

After two years of pro ball, Run-DMC has just one 100-yard game to his name and has found his name on the injured list more often than he’s found the end zone.

Not unlike JaMarcus Russell one year ago, McFadden’s third year will be his make or break moment. Just like Russell, McFadden was handed the starting job in camp and just like Russell he eventually lost his job during the regular season. Unlike JaMarcus, however, McFadden’s poor performance was also tempered with injuries. Also very un-JaMarcus like is that McFadden is a hard worker willing to do whatever the coaches ask of him.

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