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Opportunity knocking: Who's ready to answer?

By Bob Harris, Special to SI.com

Reuben Droughns added to the legacy of recent Broncos running backs with his 193-yard effort against the Panthers. Brian Bahr/Getty Images

I've said it before and I'll say it again: The NFL is all about opportunity. More specifically, taking advantage of opportunity is generally a key to NFL success.

Identifying players ready -- or at least in position -- to make the most of these situations can be just as important to fantasy owners looking to solidify a winning squad or turn around a less-than-successful season.

This week, I'll review four running backs who are facing that opportunity and assess their chances of parlaying it into long-term success.

Reuben Droughns, Denver Broncos: As of Thursday's practice, he still didn't know who the starting tailback would be Sunday against Oakland.

Asked if his 193-yard effort in Quentin Griffin's absence last Sunday wasn't enough to earn a starting spot, Droughns said, "I don't know about that. I'm sure it'll get me some carries."

You think?

Of course, he'll get some carries. The question is, does Droughns keep the starting spot or it will go back to Griffin when he gets healthy?"

"I'm not really sure myself. Or maybe I am sure and I'm just not telling you," head coach Mike Shanahan said Monday. "We'll get a chance to see the guys get some reps during the week and we'll go from there."

While Shanahan wouldn't address the issue specifically, he did speak about the situation in broader terms, telling reporters: "Whoever is our starter would probably carry the ball 20-22 times a game, somewhere in that area.

"The guy that was backing him up might carry eight to 10 times, somewhere in that area. I'm not saying who is going to start or who is going to be second team. I would never say, 'We are going to do this in a two-back set, one-back set.'

"We may go in that direction, but you can never know for sure."

Maybe not. But as the Rocky Mountain News reported, when it was all said and done last Sunday, Droughns stopped Shanahan, shook his hand and said, "Thanks for the opportunity." To which Shanahan quickly replied, "Thanks for taking advantage of it."

Bottom line? Although Griffin is clearly a Shanahan favorite, I'll be very surprised if the coach doesn't give Droughns further opportunity to take advantage of until he proves incapable of doing so.

For what it's worth, Droughns' phone rang off the hook Sunday night. "The weirdest thing I heard was from people telling me, 'I just picked you up in my fantasy league,'" he said.

Get used to it, buddy.

Droughns looks very much like the right guy in the right place to me.

Willis McGahee, Buffalo Bills: Travis Henry missed his second straight practice Thursday, opening the possibility for McGahee to get his first career start this weekend.

According to the Buffalo News, Henry injured the plantar fascia -- the tight band of muscle beneath the arch of the foot -- in New York last Sunday. He was walking with a limp and wearing a sweatsuit while watching Thursday's practice.

Although head coach Mike Mularkey told reporters Wednesday he assumed Henry would be ready to play this weekend, it now appears even if the veteran dresses Sunday, McGahee is in line for significant playing time if for no other reason than he's healthier.

While McGahee had some playing time in the first three games, he didn't make much of an impact. With Henry limping because of cramps in the opener against Jacksonville, McGahee had nine carries for 31 yards and a 12-yard catch. He then had two carries for minus-3 yards against Oakland and didn't touch the ball in last Sunday's 31-17 loss to New England.

But things changed for the better last Sunday, when McGahee ran for a career-best 42 yards on eight carries against the Jets. In doing so, he gave a glimpse of what everyone has been waiting to see since his comeback from major knee surgery, the guy who had 1,753 yards rushing and 28 touchdowns in his last season with the Hurricanes.

Bottom Line? I've watched him very carefully this season and as far as I'm concerned, McGahee has yet to regain the explosive burst he had before his major knee injury two years ago.

But with Henry hobbled, the Bills standing at 0-4 and first-year coach Mularkey and his offense being publicly criticized by owner Ralph Wilson, McGahee's chances of taking over as the starter might never be better.

Mewelde Moore, Minnesota Vikings: With Onterrio Smith serving a four-game NFL suspension, and Michael Bennett and Moe Williams nursing injuries, Moore became the workhorse of the Vikings' offense. He rushed for 92 yards on 20 carries and caught a dozen passes for 90 yards more to help his team to a 34-28 overtime victory over the Houston Texans.

Except for Daunte Culpepper, who gained 30 yards on six scrambles, Moore had every carry for the Vikings, and his 12 receptions led the team.

Moore did that so well, the Vikings never needed to call on Williams, who was available for emergency duty despite a strained calf.

Not bad for a rookie who had just one regular-season carry for eight yards coming into the game.

Bottom Line? With Smith out for three more games and Bennett expected to miss another week or two because of a knee injury, Moore's window of productivity appears to be limited. As impressive as he might have been last Sunday (and might be this week, as well), Moore is going to have a very hard time keeping a healthy Bennett and Smith off the field.

Artose Pinner, Detroit Lions: Kevin Jones is moving into the second phase of his recovery from the high ankle sprain he suffered Sept. 26 against Philadelphia and began jogging and working in individual drills this week, but it appears likely he will miss the game Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.

As noted by Pro Football Weekly, Artose Pinner got the starting nod in Sunday's against the Falcons, filling in for Jones and finished with 23 carries for 68 yards and a touchdown, the Lions' first rushing TD of the 2004 campaign. He also had one catch for 11 yards.

Bottom Line? Pinner is serviceable, but head coach Steve Mariucci seems to be set on investing as much playing time as possible in his talented 2004 first-round picks -- Jones and receiver Roy Williams -- with Detroit's long-term success driving the decision-making process. Mariucci's focus doesn't bode well for Pinner.

Bob Harris is Editor and Webmaster of the TFL Report and Senior Editor for Fantasy Sports Publications.