Justin Fargas crucial to Oakland Raiders offense

October 6, 1:22 AMOakland Raiders ExaminerPatrick Patterson

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The Raiders had two straight late-game collapses coming into the bye week, and it's not a coincidence that Justin Fargas was not available for those two games. Fargas was expected to be the Raiders workhorse back this season, with rookie Darren McFadden being a speedy compliment and Michael Bush filling in the rest. This trio was to be the crux of the Raiders offense.

Fargas got hurt in the first half of the Chiefs game, which took away the Raiders offensive veteran leader as well as an important cog in the Raiders running back machine. McFadden developed turf toe later in that same game, which further hobbled the Raiders rushing attack by leaving Bush the only fully healthy tailback.

Whilst McFadden was supposed to be the home run threat, Fargas was the every down back who would get the three, four, five yards every time he touched the ball. That consistency is something that the Raiders backs have not been able to attain since Fargas went down.

A key example of how having Fargas would have helped is the fourth quarter of the Buffalo Bills game. The Raiders scored on the bomb from JaMarcus Russell to Johnnie Lee Higgins to regain a nine point lead. The Bills took advantage of a worn down Raider defense to drive down for a touchdown to make it a two point game. Those are the type of situations where have a back who can hit the hole hard and plow his way through for three yards would make a huge difference. The Raiders offense promptly went three and out and the now completely gassed defense couldn't get the key stop. Had the raiders had Fargas to grind out yards, they would have had a much better chance of not getting stuffed for no gain on first and second down as they did. Fargas would have likely been able to grind out at least a few yards at that point to make it a much more manageable third down.

At the time of his injury Fargas was averaging 5.2 yards per carry, whilst the home run hitter McFadden is averaging 5.3 yards per carry. Michael Bush, who became the do-it-all back as Fargas and McFadden have nursed their injuries, is averaging 4.4 yards per carry.

Fortunately for the Raiders, Fargas is expected to be back on the field by the time the Raiders play the Saints on Sunday. Having Fargas there to wear down defenses will not only help the Raiders offense hold on to the ball and keep the defense off the field, it will also make it easier for McFadden to break through a gassed defensive front seven and run wild.