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As Sports Xchange senior writer Len Pasquarelli pointed out this week, the raw win-loss numbers suggest that the Raiders are no worse off with star tailback Darren McFadden out of the lineup than in it.

Since choosing McFadden with the fourth overall selection in the 2008 draft, after all, Oakland is 13-19 when the former Arkansas standout has started and 13-19 when he hasn't.

Still, the incoming Raiders leadership is making no secret of their belief that McFadden will be vital to their success. "He's a key," first-year general manager Reggie McKenzie acknowledged simply. "A big key."

It's safe to assume Fantasy owners will enthusiastically endorse that notion.

And there's no question that having a fully rehabilitated McFadden would be a pretty nice starting point for new offensive coordinator Greg Knapp.

The good news? It appears that McFadden, who played in and started only seven games in 2011 because of a Lisfranc sprain to his right foot, was on the field for the first day of the team's OTAs today. According to Oakland Tribune staffer Steve Corkran, McFadden was full go; running, catching, cutting and doing every drill. The star halfback was even sent deep on a fly pattern late in the practice.

That falls into line with everything we've heard in recent weeks.

Remarks recently from running backs coach Kelly Skipper certainly were optimistic. As were the reports from McKenzie and incoming head coach Dennis Allen a little more than a month ago.

"The thing about Darren is he didn't have any major surgeries, so he's able to come back here healthy and he's playing at a high level right now and it's offseason," Skipper told the San Francisco Chronicle. "He's making cuts at full speed, everything. There's no problem with that."

And McFadden, who was chosen a Pro Bowl alternate last year despite playing less than half the season, seems ready to go.

"There's (a lot) of lost time to make up for," McFadden said. "It was going good before the injury. I think I can pick it right back up."

Indeed, before the Lisfranc sprain, which did not require surgery, McFadden averaged a heady 5.4 yards per carry. Over the course of the season, only two backs who registered more than 100 carries, Buffalo's Fred Jackson and DeMarco Murray of Dallas, posted higher averages.

McFadden, who will be 25 in August, was on pace for a 1,400-yard season. Oakland was 4-3 with McFadden in the lineup.

And then he went to the sidelines and, even though replacement Michael Bush rushed for nearly 1,000 yards in his place, the Raiders' playoff hopes seemed to limp off with him. And now, with Bush moving on to Chicago to ply his trade with the Bears, the Raiders are heading in a specific direction.

In response to a recent question as to whether McFadden can by a guy who carries to 25 to 30 times a game in a run-oriented offense, Allen replied: "Here's what I would say-can he run the ball 25, 30 times? Absolutely. But I also think the running back position in this league, I think you have the ability to use different people. Because those runners take such a pounding on a play-in and play-out basis. Does he have the ability to be the lead back? Absolutely and he will be."

But Allen was quick to add, "We're going to have to find ways to spell him some, too. ..."

Still, at this point Taiwan Jones, a speedy but unproven youngster who struggled with chronic hamstring issues as a rookie, is the top backup on the depth chart. There's been talk of adding a veteran free agent -- Cedric Benson and Ryan Grant have both been mentioned as possible candidates to serve as insurance with Bush no longer on the roster, but there has been no real indications a move will be made.

Meaning, the Raiders are all in on McFadden.

The former first-round pick McFadden had his best year in 2010 -- in which he played 13 games -- when he rushed the ball 223 times for seven touchdowns and 1,157 yards, adding 47 catches for 507 yards with three touchdowns. The problem is McFadden has yet to play a full 16-game season.

So will he take a more cautious approach this fall?

"The only thing I can do is go out there and go hard," McFadden told SiriusXM NFL Radio last month. "If I get hurt, I just get hurt."

And the injury concerns will continue being an issue for Fantasy owners until McFadden proves it's not. That being the case, his value this fall will likely be determined by the least risk-averse owner in your league.