not expected to play Week 14

Raiders beat writer Steve Corkran doesn't expect RB Darren McFadden (foot) to return for this weekend's game against the Packers.  Run DMC wasn't spotted on the practice field or in the locker room on Monday.  "At this point, it’s a long-shot to envision McFadden playing against the Packers," Corkran writes.  "He has to get back into football shape, get used to being hit again and needs ample time getting back into the flow of the offense. The smart money says, he returns for the Raiders game against the Detroit Lions on Dec. 18 (Week 15)."  Corkran is just speculating here, but he's been spot-on about McFadden's recovery all along.  Look for RB Michael Bush to get another start this weekend.

The Cowboys will waive RB Darren McFadden, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. It's still unclear why McFadden was ever on Dallas' roster. Even with RB Ezekiel Elliott suspended, McFadden appeared in just 1 game and carried only 1 time. The Cowboys will continue to roll with RBs Alfred Morris and Rod Smith for the final 3 weeks of Elliott's suspension.

Cowboys RB Darren McFadden is a healthy scratch for tonight’s game against the Eagles. He can be safely dropped from fantasy rosters. Alfred Morris figures to serve as Dallas’ primary ball-carrier, with Rod Smith playing on passing downs.

Cowboys HC Jason Garrett confirmed on Wednesday that RBs Alfred Morris, Darren McFadden and Rod Smith will all be in the mix during RB Ezekiel Elliott's 6-game suspension. "We're not gonna over-analyze it," Garrett said. "We're gonna give each guy a chance to play." This sounds like a potential hot-hand situation. The only thing we can be relatively sure of here is that McFadden figures to handle most of the pass-catching duties. He has 254 career receptions vs. 51 for Morris and 4 for Smith. That makes McFadden the safest fantasy option this week, but the entire backfield comes with lots of risk.

When a federal circuit court last week lifted the injunction blocking Ezekiel Elliott's 6-game suspension, the immediate question for fantasy owners became: Which Dallas backup do I want? "I think the feeling inside the organization is that Darren McFadden is the guy they're going to lean on," ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Sunday. McFadden, of course, has been a healthy scratch for every game so far this season. Morris has been active but logged just 8 total carries. The whole situation will bear watching.

Cowboys RB Darren McFadden is inactive for tonight's game against the Giants. He wasn't listed on the injury report, so it looks like he's a healthy scratch. Alfred Morris will serve as Ezekiel Elliott's backup tonight. He's not a fantasy option, of course. But it's now unclear who the Elliott handcuff is.