Fantasy Football Cut-N-Go: Michael Bush to Release the Kraken

The Cut-N-Go is back to keep you up-to-date on all the NFL news that affects the upcoming fantasy football season.

Release the Kraken!

That's exactly what new Oakland OC Hugh Jackson's been screaming in Michael Bush's ear this offseason. At least according to the Contra Costa Times' Jerry McDonald:

Jackson's arrival has signified some power blocking to go with the zone scheme. He talked tough on the field about not caring about whether the defense knows it's a run, because he's going to run it anyway.

With Justin Fargas gone and Darren McFadden's skills as a pure runner still an open question, Bush needs to come out of Napa convinced he's a power back to help balance an improved passing game.

As McDonald notes, Bush has relied more on skill -- his footwork and pass-catching ability -- than his size (6-foot-1, 245 pounds) in his short time as an NFL running back. The question now is, can he be convinced to use more of his muscle?

Based on recent comments Bush has made regarding Jackson's system, and the fact that Bush is in the last year of his contract with the Raiders, I'm guessing he's game. He has to be if he expects to both stay on the field and improve his stock heading into free agency.

As far as Oakland's other running back options are concerned, Darren McFadden certainly isn't a model of health, nor is he the type of bruising back Oakland needs to sustain drives. Rock Cartwright and Michael Bennett? Emergency fall-backs, nothing more, nothing less.

With Justin Fargas gone, Bush should see the heaviest workload of his three-year career, in addition to a significant increase in carries near the stripe. Jason Campbell is no world-beater, but he'll command a lot more respect from opposing defenses than his "Purple Drank"-ing predecessor. This should ultimately lead to more size-able running lanes, where Bush can utilize his downhill-running skills. Put simply, at least in terms of opportunity. we're looking at a tour de force all around.

About 40 other running backs are hearing their name called before Michael Bush in recent mock drafts. With an ADP around 100, he could easily wind up being one of this season's best values.

Some other newsworthy items from around the NFL:

• According to NBC's ProFootballTalk, Vincent Jackson can serve his three-game suspension without signing his free-agent tender:

Players not under contract can nevertheless serve their suspensions. So, for Chargers receiver Vincent Jackson, he won't be required to sign a contract before serving his three-game suspension. Instead, he'll serve his time from Week 1 through Week 3, regardless of whether he signs his tender offer.

But wait, there's more ...

The bigger news regarding Jackson is that if he doesn't sign his free agent tender before Week 7, he could miss the entire season. It's a complicated situation, so I'll turn the floor over to NFL Network's Jason La Canfora:

According to the Roster Exemption rules in the CBA, if Jackson does not report to the Chargers by at least the day before their fourth preseason game, then, whenever he does sign, he could still be placed on the roster exempt list for an additional three games -- without pay. The Chargers, who have lowered his tender already and are locked in a bitter feud with the Pro Bowl receiver, would have to notify Jackson and the NFL Players Union of their intent to place him on roster exempt at least five days prior to the team's second preseason game.

So, if Jackson waited until the 10th week to sign, and then was placed on roster exempt, he would not have the required six regular-season games to earn an accrued season. He would have to sign before Week 7 to be certain in that case.

Convoluted, I know. Just something to keep in your back pocket when you sit down at the draft table in the coming weeks (just make sure to take the information out of your back pocket before planting your fanny).

• Headlines like, "Knowshon Moreno Could Be a Sleeper" don't exactly scream conviction, but you gotta appreciate when the beat writers are the ones issuing "fantasy alerts." With Moreno a year wiser, Correll Buckhalter a year older, and NFL.com's Michael Lombardi dishing out hyperbole like, "Moreno, if healthy, might set the league on fire" (BTW -- is setting the league on fire against the NFL's personal conduct policy?), it's hard not to get excited about the former first-rounder's potential.

The team's new offensive scheme meshes well with Moreno's running style, coach Josh McDaniel plans to use Moreno more in the screen-passing game, and with Brandon Marshall "taking his talents to South Beach", the Broncos may be forced to rely more on the ground game than they have in years past. In short, don't be afraid to extend the arm a little on the talented Denver RB. The pieces are in place for a breakout campaign.