The Oakland Raiders are ready for running back Maurice Jones-Drew to return and so are fantasy football owners and it looks like that will happen for Week 4, as he is healing up from his hand injury and now Drew, Darren McFadden, James Jones, Mychal Rivera and Denarius Moore are solid fantasy starter options for the team as they play the Dolphins from Wembley Stadium in England.
Drew had hand surgery and missed two games and while he was able to practice ahead of the New England Patriots game, he was held out and Darren McFadden got the start ahead of Latavius Murray. According to Pro Football Talk, Drew said that he should be healthy enough to play and that means McFadden and drew likely will split carries against the Dolphins in England. The Raiders have not been rushing the ball well this season and they are currently 0-3 and averaging just 64 yards per game on the ground in those three matchups.
McFadden has played okay without Drew in the lineup, going for nearly 100 yards on 30 carries and he should actually benefit from having Drew back in the fold. Having both players healthy gives the offense a chance to do some more things for Derek Carr and he needs all the help he can get right now. James Jones has been very solid for the team, but past that there hasn't been much to get excited about. Mychal Rivera has tons of potential and so far Denarius Moore and Rod Streater have been disappointments and the Raiders will be looking to bounce back now in Week 4.
Jones has been the most consistent receiver for the Raiders and that likely will continue through the season for him and Derek Carr. Jones had a nice game with nine catches for 112 yards and a TD against the Texans in Week 2, but he decreased that against the Patriots in Week 3 with just three catches for 40 yards. Jones is the best start option for the team and he comes in ahead of Moore and Streater along with new signing Vincent Brown.
Last season Jones missed two games and still ended up with nearly 60 catches for 817 yards and the yardage was a career high for Jones. Two years ago Jones had 14 touchdown catches on 64 receptions and the Raiders are hoping that he can continue to find the end zone and he should be the leading receiver heading into week 4. The team also has Andre Holmes and Brice Butler, but as receivers go, Moore and Jones are the ones to watch for the Raiders.
McFadden has the potential to be a very strong fantasy back, but he continued to get injured and while that has not yet happened this season, it is very likely at some point. McFadden has been injured every year he has been with the Raiders in the NFL and the most games he has played in any season were 13 and that was back in 2010. McFadden had an amazing year in 2010 with over 1500 total yards and that included career highs in rushing yards, catches and receiving yards as well as touchdowns and carries.
