ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Jamize Olawale earned his way onto an NFL roster as an undrafted free agent as a bruising lead blocker whose unheralded work helps higher-profile stars shine.Yet Olawale has developed into a big-play threat of his own this season for Oakland with the teams two longest catches of the season, including the momentum-changing 75-yard touchdown that helped the Raiders beat the Houston Texans 27-20 on Monday night in Mexico City to take over sole possession of first place in the AFC West.I enjoy winning, Olawale said. Whatever I have to do to help the team win. Sometimes its blocking, sometimes its catching, sometimes its both. Whatever I have to do.Olawale wasnt drafted out of North Texas in 2012 and made the Dallas Cowboys practice squad that season.The Raiders then signed him to their active roster that December in a move that garnered little attention at the time.Olawale spent most of his first three full seasons with the Raiders as Marcel Reeces backup as the team saw enough promise to keep two fullbacks on the roster in an era when many teams dont even carry one.The Raiders gave Olawale a three-year extension last December and he became the unquestioned starter when Reece was suspended late last season for violating the leagues policy on performance-enhancing drugs.Hes here for a good amount of time and hopefully hell be here as long as I am, quarterback Derek Carr said.I love `Maze. The cool thing about him is that not only is he a real, really good football player, hes one of the best people Ive ever been around. Hes quiet, hes funny and he works extremely hard.So, whenever you have a guy like that having success, everyone in the locker room feels good for him.Oakland cut Reece when he was eligible to return earlier this season because Olawale offered the same threat as a runner and receiver while being more adept as a blocker.Olawale has made that confidence pay off for the Raiders this season. He has eight catches for 189 yards and one TD and has carried 17 times for 47 yards and two scores as he has proven to be far more than a blocker.He scored on short TD runs against New Orleans and San Diego, but has made his biggest impact with the ball as a receiver out of the backfield.His 68-yard catch and run set up a field goal in an overtime win at Tampa Bay last month, then he helped wake up a stalled offense with his big play against the Texans.With the defense worried about Amari Cooper as a receiver out of the backfield in the flat, Olawale got downfield and caught a deep throw from Carr.He then ran the rest of the way for the game-tying 75-yard score that helped send Oakland to the win and put his name in the argument of who is the fastest running back on a team with speedy halfbacks in Latavius Murray, Jalen Richard, Taiwan Jones and DeAndre Washington.The argument has been going on all year, Murray said. Of course when you break off a big one like that, hell think he has the upper nod right now.I say Im still the fastest in that room and in the offseason we can really figure it out if they want to. Thats if they want to.Regardless of where he ranks on the speed chart, Olawales ability as a receiver and runner after the catch gives defenses yet another option to worry about beyond Cooper, Murray and Michael Crabtree.With the big plays hes delivered, Carr said he doesnt believe Olawale will be able to take teams by surprise anymore. He definitely caught the attention of this weeks opponent, Carolina.When you look at a fullback running that fast, its typically not in this day and age, especially when you talk about football, fullbacks more of a stockier, bigger type, Panthers safety Kurt Coleman said.Not to say that hes not, but he definitely has the speed and it surely showed against Houston.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFLJK Scott Super Bowl Jersey . Varlamov made 33 saves and Ryan OReilly had a goal and scored in the shootout as the Avalanche beat the New Jersey Devils 2-1 on Thursday night. Dexter Williams Super Bowl Jersey . -- In a span of seven Washington Redskins offensive plays, Justin Tuck sacked Robert Griffin III four times. https://www.packersrookiestore.com/Packers-Davante-Adams-Jersey/ .Y. -- Injured Buffalo Sabres forward Marcus Foligno did not practice with the team Monday and head coach Ron Rolston said its unlikely hell play in Wednesdays season opener in Detroit. Brett Favre Super Bowl Jersey .S District Court against Major League Baseball, the Office of the Commissioner and his own union, the MLBPA. Ray Nitschke Super Bowl Jersey . Pierce was ejected in the third quarter of Indianas 103-86 win Monday. George Hill stole a bad pass and was going in for a layup, and Pierce hustled back and appeared to be trying to wrap him up.Australian Nick Kyrgios continued his impressive season with a 7-6 7-6 victory over fourth seed Stan Wawrinka at the Madrid Open. The 21-year-old Australian reached the semi-final in Miami and having seen off clay-court specialist Guido Pella in the first round, followed that up with a straight sets triumph over the out-of-sorts Wawrinka.The Swiss star has been below his best in recent weeks after starting the season with two tournament victories in the opening months of the year. As a former French Open champion, Wawrinkas threat on clay is obvious but on Wednesday Kyrgios gained a first regulation win over the Swiss, coming through in two tie-breaks to book a place in the last 16.Kyrgios got a suspended 28-day ban and fine after making remarks about Wawrinkas girlfriend during their match at the Rogers Cup in Montreal last year, but the Australian has seemed a more focused indivvidual this season, claiming his maiden ATP title with success in Marseille.ddddddddddddElsewhere Kei Nishikori survived a major scare against Fabio Fognini - the Italian had chances in the final set to claim a surprise victory but the sixth seeded Japanese held his nerve to come through 6-2 3-6 7-6There was also a win for David Ferrer who continued his return to form, although he needed three sets and more than two hours to overcome American qualifier Denis Kudla.Next up for the Spanish ninth seed will be Tomas Berdych who enjoyed a routine win over Denis Istomin.You can follow the action in Madrid on Thursday on Sky Sports 3 from 11am. 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