The Oakland Raiders are coming into the 2014 season with high expectations and the team is hoping that Darren McFadden and Maurice Jones-Drew can stay healthy, but if that doesn't happen the team could look at a trade with the Buffalo Bills for CJ Spiller or to the 49ers for a potential trade with LaMichael James, as both those players have come up in rumors this summer.
The Raiders are hoping McFadden can remain healthy for the first time in his career and the team also added Maurice Jones-Drew to help bolster the run game with Rashad Jennings heading to the NY Giants. According to NFL.com, the Raiders could be an option for Spiller or James since they have draft picks that they could afford to move, but the team likely will not look at trades until someone is injured. Reggie McKenzie signed McFadden to a one year deal so there isn't much risk there, but the team doesn't know how Latavius Murray will be in his second year after missing all of last season.
According to NFL.com, Spiller has been dealing with trade rumors this summer since he is heading towards free agency and the two sides have not been able to come to a contract extension. James has been on the block all summer and once the Niners drafted Carlos Hyde it looked like he would be moved. Both players have speed and explosive ability and right now the Raiders are missing that in the backfield.
McFadden needs to stay healthy and Drew has also has injury problems in the past and along with his age, the Raiders are hoping a lot cuts the right way for their running backs. Last season McFadden was injured for most of the year and did not even make it into the top two in rushing on his team, with Jennings and Pryor leading the way. Jennings had over 700 yards so that production will need to be made up and he also made an impact out of the backfield as a receiving RB. The Raiders brought in Matt Schaub and they are desperate for the running game to be consistent.
The Raiders also have fullback Marcel Reece and while he has shown in the past he can be a solid running back out of the backfield, he is not the best option for a starter if someone goes down. Last season McFadden had 379 yards rushing and he has been dealing with injuries throughout his career, never playing in more than 13 games in a season. The Raiders are coming into the season after going 4-12 over the past two years and that is one reason why they need to improve overall and the offense will be a major part of that.
