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Cowboys' Darren McFadden impresses in preseason game vs. Vikings

Kyle Terada / USA TODAY Sports

Darren McFadden is starting to show signs of being the explosive playmaker the Dallas Cowboys hoped they were getting in free agency after initially struggling with injuries at the outset of training camp.

The veteran running back saw a number of snaps with the first-team offense in Saturday night's preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings, recording four carries for 37 yards.

It's a small sample size for McFadden, and certainly not enough to anoint him the clear-cut starter over Joseph Randle, but the former first-round pick has an opportunity to seize the lead role heading into Week 1.

The most productive season of McFadden's seven-year stint with the Oakland Raiders came in 2010, when he recorded 1,156 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground while adding another 507 yards and three scores as a receiver.

Staying healthy and seeing enough opportunities behind the NFL's most dominant offensive line could lead to McFadden challenging and eclipsing each of those career-best marks, thus serving the Cowboys well as DeMarco Murray's replacement.

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