Michael Bush

Converting on 5-of-7 goal-line opportunities in 2012, Bush continues to serve as one of the league's top touchdown vultures. The 6-1, 245-pound bulldozer has piled up 18 scores from inside the five-yard line the last three seasons, while Matt Forte continues to struggle in close (5-of-38 the last four years). Although that means Bush is in a nice spot to steal touchdowns, he's still little more than a backup as long as Forte remains healthy. Of course, it's worth noting Forte has more than 1,500 touches in his five seasons and has missed five games the last two years.

Bush took over for an injured Darren McFadden last season, totaling 1,395 yards with eight touchdowns and proving to be a surprisingly capable receiver. Despite starting just nine games, he finished with the fourth-most snaps among all backs, and that heavy workload caught up to him, as Bush got just 3.3 YPC over the final seven games. In a somewhat surprising move, the Raiders let Bush sign with the Bears during the offseason, where the coaches have stated he’ll take over the role Marion Barber had last season. There’s some chance Matt Forte holds out, but assuming he signs, Bush will be looking at a backup role, though he’s a near lock to take over goal-line work.

Bush entered 2010 as the favorite to be Oakland’s lead back, but Darren McFadden’s breakout relegated him to second string. At 6-2, 247, Bush is well suited to short-yardage and goal-line work, and last year saw 13 carries from inside the five to McFadden’s six. Otherwise, McFadden will see the bulk of the work both on the ground and as a receiver out of the backfield. Given Bush’s size, and McFadden’s injury history, Bush is worth stashing late, but if McFadden stays healthy, it’s hard to see the upside.

Bush averaged 4.8 YPC last year and isn’t a bad receiver for someone who weighs 245 pounds. He’s now three full years removed from his gruesome leg injury in college, and he averaged a whopping 6.0 YPC over the final seven games last season. Bush has been criticized for his lack of conditioning, often asking out of games when the coaches preferred he stayed in, so he needs to get in better shape. With Justin Fargas jettisoned, Bush will battle Darren McFadden for Oakland’s RB1 role. McFadden enters as the favorite, but he’s proven to be quite injury prone, and he’s unlikely ever to be a 20-plus carry back anyway. At minimum, Bush should dominate the goal-line carries, and there should be more of them in 2010 with Jason Campbell replacing JaMarcus Russell at QB.

Bush ended the 2008 season with a bang, rushing for 177 yards and two touchdowns against a strong Buccaneers defense that needed to win in order to make the playoffs. He also racked up 19 receptions for 162 receiving yards in extremely limited work, revealing ability to be an asset in the passing game. Bush is 6-1, 245, but it doesn’t look like the Raiders view him as a fullback after Week 17’s eye-opening performance, and few backs his size can rip off 67-yard runs like he did in Tampa Bay. He’s now two full years removed from the broken leg he suffered while at Louisville, and Oakland implements a run-heavy offense. Justin Fargas remains on the roster, but he averaged just 3.9 YPC last year, and it’s time he takes a backseat to superior talent. Bush will also compete with Darren McFadden for touches, but Bush is the favorite to get goal-line work, and there will be plenty of carries to go around in the Raiders backfield.

Bush dropped from a first-round prospect to a fourth-round pick after breaking his leg two years ago. He was held out of practice most of last season and never appeared in a game for Oakland. His surgically repaired right leg is finally healed, and his rare combination of size and speed makes him someone who can't be forgotten.The Raiders have Darren McFadden and Justin Fargas ahead of him in the RB pecking order, but Bush might already be the team's best option at the goal line, and he could force his way into the lineup with an impressive training camp.

If not for a catastrophic leg injury suffered in his collegiate season opener last year, Bush likely would have been a first-round pick. As it happened, he fell to the fourth round, where the Raiders picked him with the 100th-overall selection. The hope is Bush won't have any long-term effects from the injury, but it's unclear when he'll be fully recovered, since a rod was inserted into his leg. Still, Bush is a phenomenal athlete with great vision and instincts. He has excellent balance and agility, with superb hands and a nose for the end zone. New coach Lane Kiffin was known for utilizing multiple backs at USC, so Bush likely will be a part of a rotation including Dominic Rhodes (when he returns from suspension) and LaMont Jordan. But Bush is the one with all the upside. Come the second half of the season, he might make the others irrelevant.