The Raiders released running back Dominic Rhodes on Monday, a move that was not surprising considering they drafted Darren McFadden over the weekend.

Rhodes left the Colts before last season to sign with Oakland, then was hit with a four-game suspsension for violating the league’s drug policy. As Justin Fargas emerged as a solid NFL running back (and signed a big contract in the offseason), Rhodes apparently became the odd man out. I wonder if LaMont Jordan will be far behind in unenployment.

I also am a little befuddled why the Raideres drafted McFadden when they did just sign Fargas to the big deal in the offseason. Perhaps Oakland hopes the two running backs can turn into the Adrian Peterson-Chester Taylor combination that worked so well in Minnesota last year. But those were the Vikings, these are the Raiders, where nothing seems to go right. McFadden won’t have the initial fantasy value Peterson did last year, and Fargas’ stock just dropped. I think McFadden will be the man in Oakland, just maybe not in 2008.