NFL Player News

Titans running back Chris Johnson has one more tough matchup before things look up for him. Unfortunately, that matchup is this week against the 49ers.

Fantasy owners should again consider sitting Johnson in Week 7 against San Francisco. But he might never leave your lineup again after the Titans bye in Week 8.

When the Titans return to action, Johnson will face St. Louis, Jacksonville, Indianapolis, Oakland, Indianapolis and Denver in the following six games. It should be a dream finish for Johnson, but use caution with him this week.

He has gone from at least 19 carries in each of the first three games to 22 total carries the past two weeks. His catches have improved with seven the previous two games, but he's still searching for his first rushing touchdown.

The 49ers have allowed a running back to score double digits in Fantasy points in each of the past two games, but Johnson's unlikely to reach that mark based on his overall production to date.

His time is coming so be patient, and he will be a must-start option again in two weeks. For now, consider putting him on your bench.

Cardinals running back Andre Ellington has seen a nice upswing in Fantasy points the last three weeks, going from four points in Week 4 to eight in Week 5 to 14 in Week 6 (when he scored his first rushing touchdown of the season). 

Ellington has yet to receive double digit carries, but he did have a career-high five receptions in Week 6, along with 56 rushing yards. 

The problem with Ellington is that starter Rashard Mendenhall isn't going anywhere. He gets his 15-17 carries per game, and Ellington remains a complement. 

Ellington also has a tough matchup in Week 7, going up against a Seahawks team that has allowed the third-fewest Fantasy points per game to opposing running backs. But the Seahawks have allowed four receptions and 28 receiving yards per game to backs, so they aren't wholly immune to the pass-catching ways of players like Ellington. 

If better options exist, you may want to start them. Ellington has some value in PPR, but it's in the neighborhood of Chris Ogbonnaya. His value is still limited by Mendenhall's steady role in the offense.  

As expected, Cowboys rookie running back Joseph Randle is getting the first-team reps in Wednesday's practice, reports ESPN.com. Randle is expected to start at Philadelphia with DeMarco Murray (knee) probably out.

Chargers running back Ryan Mathews should have a nice performance Week 7 at Jacksonville for several reasons. The Jaguars have not been a good football team and that is probably the biggest one.

Mathews last played in Jacksonville in 2011 and he rushed 13 times for 112 yards and a touchdown in that game. Plus, after a mediocre start to the year, Mathews is coming off his best performance. He topped 100 yards last week for the first time this year as he ran 22 times for 102 yards.

The Jaguars have allowed the fifth-most Fantasy points per game this season to the opposition's running backs. They've surrendered six touchdowns to RBs and only the Rams have allowed more than the 712 yards they have given up on the ground.

Mathews should near 100 yards once again this Sunday. Mathews should be looked at as a solid low-end No. 2 or high-end No. 3 Fantasy RB for the Week 7 game.

Colts running back Donald Brown is averaging 7.8 yards per carry and has hit the holes quicker than Trent Richardson. But Brown gets so few touches, he's not worth starting Week 7 against Denver.

Indy has given Brown 15 carries in four games since Richardson arrived. If Richardson (3.2 yards per carry) continues to flounder and this becomes more of an even timeshare, Brown would become a regular flex option.

Keep Brown stashed for now and see if the Colts lose patience with Richardson.

Colts running back Trent Richardson has the same number of Fantasy points as Jason Snelling and just failed to capitalize on a juicy matchup at San Diego. Now Richardson, tied for 27th among Fantasy backs, plays a Broncos' defense giving up a league-low 70 rushing yards per game and 3.2 yards per carry.

Which, coincidentally, is what Richardson gains per tote. It's not like he's doing damage as a receiver, either, with two catches in four games as a Colt. He has one game with double-digit Fantasy points this year.

Broncos-Colts will be a high-scoring game, and you can hope Richardson gets a goal-line chance or two. He did score in Weeks 3 and 4. You can make an equally strong case for benching him, which is shocking considering where he was drafted.

Play Richardson at your own risk in Week 7. 

Though Doug Martin is still the league's ninth-leading rusher, the second-year running back hasn't had much room to run since the Buccaneers made the switch to Mike Glennon at quarterback in Week 4, averaging 56.0 yards in two games. But if Glennon continues to do what he did against the Eagles last week, throwing for 273 yards and two touchdowns, defenses will have to make some effort to stop the pass, freeing up Martin to get more out of his 20-plus carries per game.

So will that happen Week 7 at Atlanta? The Falcons are nearly as bad as the Eagles against the pass, allowing 274.8 yards per game, seventh-most in the NFL, so if they take Glennon for granted, they could get burned. Then again, seeing as they rank sixth against the run, allowing 97.4 yards per game, they may not have too much trouble slowing down Martin anyway.

Martin has history on his side, having rushed for 192 yards and three touchdowns in two games against the Falcons last season, and is still one of the safer running backs you could start each week because of all the carries he gets. But he may not be ready to break out just yet.

Falcons running back Jacquizz Rodgers, who broke out with two touchdowns when the team last played Week 5 against the Jets, may not have much help in the backfield Week 7 against the Buccaneers. Steven Jackson is still working his way back from a hamstring injury that has sidelined him since Week 2, and Jason Snelling, though able to practice Tuesday, is no certainty to play after suffering a concussion in Week 5.

Though a chance to carry the load would seemingly be a good thing for Rodgers' Fantasy value, it comes at an inopportune time. True, the Buccaneers rank a modest 13th against the run, but they've allowed the eighth-fewest Fantasy points per game to running backs, giving up 3.8 yards per carry and just one rushing touchdown.

Then again, with Julio Jones now out for the year and Roddy White still limited by injuries of his own, the Falcons may be looking to run the ball more than ever, regardless of what the numbers say. You could do worse for your flex spot this week.

Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman got 11 carries in Week 4, seven carries in Week 5, and four last week. It's a disturbing trend for his Fantasy prospects as Knowshon Moreno has taken command of the backfield.

Now purely a change-of-pace back, Hillman has retained some value by catching eight passes the past three weeks. He didn't help himself, however, by fumbling against the Jaguars.

In Week 7 at the Colts, Hillman is only a flex option in very deep PPR leagues.

With Cowboys running backs DeMarco Murray (knee) and Lance Dunbar (hamstring) expected to sit out Week 7 at Philadelphia, rookie running back Joseph Randle will be a hot pickup in Fantasy leagues this week. If you are lucky enough to nab Randle off waivers (owned in 6 percent of leagues), then you might consider starting him in Week 7.

Running backs average 91.2 rushing yards, 37.8 receiving yards and 15 Fantasy points per week against the Eagles. The Fantasy Points Against average is a little bit low because running backs have just four touchdowns and three fumbles against Philadelphia. Most teams have taken to the air to expose Philadelphia's weak secondary.

Randle got his first carries Week 6 when Murray left the game with a knee injury. Though, Randle was far from impressive, despite scoring a touchdown. He rushed for just 17 yards on 11 carries. Perhaps he will perform better Sunday after a full week of reps with the first-team offense. Fantasy owners can consider Randle a low-end No. 2 Fantasy running back or flex option Week 7.