RADIO
The Week 9 fixture between the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles was thought to be a battle between the lame and downtrodden. Both teams were entering the game with poor quarterback play and losing records, and the end result was truly anybody’s best guess.
Though the Eagles would ultimately outlast the Cowboys in an overtime victory, what was most interesting for all who tuned in for the on-field spectacle were the impressive running performances turned in by Darren McFadden and DeMarco Murray.
McFadden, for starters, rushed 27 times for 117 yards. In addition to having the ball handed to him, McFadden added another five yards on two targets by quarterback Matt Cassel. While it’s true that McFadden was unable to convert on any red-zone chances, last night’s game was his second straight 20-plus carry game.
Having spent most of his career under-performing on the Oakland Raiders, many fantasy owners were interested to see how he’d perform behind the Cowboys’ incredible offensive line. The results haven’t been ideal, but they’re clearly getting better. The fourth-overall pick in the 2008 draft is on pace for 226 carries, 924 total yards and foiur touchdowns this year.
McFadden played well, but the spotlight belonged to DeMarco Murray, who was facing the Cowboys for only the second time since being nabbed by the team in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft out of Oklahoma.
Murray’s stellar performance produced a total of 161 yards, 83 of which came on the ground and 78 of which came through the air. He even managed to get into the end zone on a fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line.
Most impressively, however, was Murray’s play in overtime. When his team needed him most, he was able to rattle off two long gains to set up a game-winning connection between Sam Bradford and Jordan Matthews.
For fantasy owners, Murray’s success on Sunday night should be viewed as the beginning of a trend. Simply put, he’s looking substantially more comfortable in Chip Kelly’s scheme and should be considered a viable option at halfback next week when the Eagles take on the struggling Miami Dolphins at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
