NFL Player News

As has been the case for weeks, Colts running back Donald Brown did more with his carries than Trent Richardson did with his. Brown gained 49 yards on six carries, an average of 8.2 per carry, in the Week 9 win at Houston. 

Brown, who's averaging 6.3 yards per carry this season, ripped off a 24-yard run late in the first quarter. He was targeted twice without a catch.

Brown faces the Rams in Week 10.

Ravens running back Bernard Pierce performed about as well as backfield mate Ray Rice in Cleveland on Sunday. And that's not good.

Pierce rushed for a mere 11 yards on six carries and was not targeted in the passing game. He entered Week 9 tied with Rice with a shocking 2.8 YPC. Pierce and the Ravens will try to fix what has been an awful ground game next Sunday when the Bengals come calling.

Patriots running back Brandon Bolden nearly scored for the third straight game during Sunday’s contest against the Steelers in Week 9.

Bolden punched it in from 1-yard out with 4:24 remaining in the first quarter, but had his touchdown overturned by a replay review. He was only limited to three carries for 36 yards in a 55-31 win.

Bolden will get a bye next week before returning to action Week 11 against Carolina.

Falcons running back Jacquizz Rodgers again took a back seat to Steven Jackson Week 9 at Carolina, but he showed he's still a factor in the passing game even as a backup. His six catches tied tight end Tony Gonzalez for the team lead.

Of course, he had only 25 yards on those six catches and wasn't much more effective as a rusher, picking up 19 yards on five carries. But he looks like he won't be confined to strictly a backup role even with Jackson back.

Rodgers will look to validate his place in the backfield rotation Week 10 against the Seahawks.

A lack of second-half work combined with playing from behind made for a slow day statistically for Ryan Mathews. Of his seven carries at Washington, only one came in the second half. 

When Mathews posted back-to-back 100-yard performances in Weeks 6 and 7 they came in games where the Chargers needed to kill the clock in the second half. The second half of Week 6 had him get 11 carries for 55 yards; the second half of Week 7 had him get 12 carries for 56 yards and a score. When I ranked Mathews as a No. 2 Fantasy running back it was under the idea he'd have to kill the clock at Washington. It didn't work out that way -- the Chargers leaned on Danny Woodhead for much of the third and fourth quarters. 

I'd call it unlikely the Chargers will need to kill the clock in Week 10 vs. Denver. I'd shy away from using Mathews then. 

Jets wide receiver Josh Cribbs and fullback Tommy Bohanon were minor contributors during a 26-20 win Week 9 vs. New Orleans.

Cribbs' biggest impact came on a 25-yard pass completion to Zach Sudfeld after taking a direct snap out of the Wildcat formation. Cribbs also had three carries for 12 yards and two catches for 6 yards.

Bohanon finished with one catch for 11 yards.

The Jets are on a bye Week 10 before returning to action Week 11 at Buffalo.

The Cowboys got back the services of starting running back DeMarco Murray on Sunday during the Week 9 win over Minnesota. That meant fewer touches for Joseph Randle and Lance Dunbar. 

Randle rushed just once in the game for 3 yards. Dunbar had three carries for minus-6 yards. Dunbar did have three catches for 17 yards on three targets. Randle was not targeted in the passing game. Dallas plays at New Orleans Week 10. 

Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder really spread the ball around on Sunday during the Week 9 loss at Dallas. Ponder found nine different receivers for at least one catch in the game. 

Among the receivers making minor contributions to the loss against the Cowboys was wideout Jarius Wright. Wright caught three passes for 31 yards in the game. He saw five targets from Ponder. 

Wide receiver Jerome Simpson caught two passes for 24 yards in the game. He saw five targets as well. Rookie Cordarrelle Patterson, who is also a return man for the Vikings, had three grabs for 13 yards. 

Tight end John Carlson had four receptions in the game for 23 yards. He saw six targets to finish second on the team behind Greg Jennings. Fullback Jerome Felton had one catch for 11 yards and backup RB Toby Gerhart had one grab for 6. Minnesota next takes the field Week 10 on Thursday at home against Washington. 

Raiders running back Darren McFadden left Sunday's game against the Eagles with another hamstring injury. McFadden was noticeably absent from the team's final few drives in the second quarter, and the Raiders revealed shortly after halftime McFadden would not return to the game because of a hamstring injury.

McFadden suffered a hamstring injury Week 4 vs. Washington and sat out Week 5 against the Chargers before returning to action Week 6 at Kansas City. No word yet if McFadden's newest hamstring injury is a recurrence of his previous hamstring injury.

McFadden had five carries for 12 yards and one catch for 3 yards before leaving the game Week 9. He was once again replaced by Rashad Jennings. The Raiders are back in action Week 10 at N.Y. Giants.

Redskins running back Roy Helu did little during the Week 9 overtime win over San Diego Sunday. With fullback Darrel Young scoring three touchdowns and getting the goal-line carries, Helu only touched the ball three times during the game. 

Helu rushed twice for 23 yards and had a long run of 21 yards for the Redskins. He added one reception for 6 yards. Helu was only targeted once in the game by quarterback Robert Griffin III. Helu and the Redskins play Minnesota on Thursday of Week 10.