Adimchinobe

Echemandu

If Lee Suggs is out, the rookie will be the backup to William Green.

Starter Dominic Rhodes rushed five times for only five yards and added one catch for eight more. Jordan has a couple electric plays, which indicates he’s healthy. Adimchinobe Echemandu continued to impress by running four times for 18 yards. He caught a 23-yard pass, and might make the team over Justin Fargas, who had nine runs for 30 yards and a four-yard catch.

Jordan had back issues last season, so this is no small or new problem. He’s reportedly spent a lot of time stretching out the injury at Raiders camp recently. Joe Echemandu is probably the favorite to start Saturday.

He’ll be losing carries to Dominic Rhodes by Week 5, but Jordan has a big edge over Adimchinobe Echemandu and Justin Fargas right now. The Raiders face the Lions, Broncos, Browns, and Dolphins to open the season.

It can’t be Dominic Rhodes (suspension) and almost certainly won’t be Michael Bush (leg surgery). That leaves LaMont Jordan ahead of Joe Echemandu and Justin Fargas. Jordan recently returned to the practice field and says he’s eager to forge his status among the NFL’s top backs.

Rhodes also started the team’s exhibition opener, and if he wasn’t suspended for the first four games of the regular season, might have a better chance to start in Week 1 than LaMont Jordan. Jordan will rotate in second, with Joe Echemandu working in for the majority of the second half.

The two are competing to back up LaMont Jordan until Dominic Rhodes returns from a four-game suspension.

The Raiders’ backfield is now quite full, and on paper it would appear they’re poised to use a running back by committee. Griffith averaged 5.6 yards-per-carry in 2006 and is a capable receiver, though he’ll be hard pressed to become a factor in fantasy football. This could spell the end of Zack Crockett’s tenure in Oakland and leaves ReShard Lee, Joe Echemandu, and Justin Fargas possibly competing for a roster spot.

The Raiders had to make room for Dominic Rhodes, who’s coming back from suspension. Echemandu showed promise in camp, but his upside is limited. The Broncos may be interested, as he knows their blocking scheme.

Echemandu averaged 4.3 yards per carry in limited duty with Houston last season. His style fits the Raiders’ running scheme and he could be Oakland’s third string back in 2008 if Justin Fargas isn’t re-signed and LaMont Jordan is cut.