NFL Player News

Panthers RB Kenjon Barner, DT Dwan Edwards, and S Robert Lester are all listed as doubtful Week 6 against the Vikings.

Both Edwards and Lester have been dealing with hamstring injuries. Neither player has been able to practice this week. Barner has a foot injury. 

One wouldn't know that Colts featured back Trent Richardson is struggling if they listened to the words of offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton.

"He's confident in his competence. He's made plays for us," Hamilton told the team website.

Richardson's production has decreased markedly in 2013 despite good health. He played his rookie season with a rib injury and averaged 3.5 yards per carry. He is at 3.1 YPC this season and has just 151 yards in 51 carries (2.9 YPC) for the Colts.

Despite losing his starting role last week, Rams running back Daryl Richardson was still second on the team with 13 carries for 48 yards in Week 5. He should see a similar role in Week 6 against the Texans.

The Texans haven't been great against running backs this season, allowing 17.6 Fantasy points per game. Still, the Rams clearly think Stacy is the answer at running back, and should give him the larger share of the workload this week, meaning Richardson is unlikely to take advantage of the matchup.

Fantasy owners looking for a bye-week replacement can be worth a role of the dice as a flex option, but he has little more value than that for Week 6. 

Raiders running backs Darren McFadden and Rashad Jennings have gained momentum in their quests to return from hamstring injuries. Both participated in their second straight practice on Thursday, per ESPN.

The status of Chargers featured back Ryan Mathews for the game Monday night remains cloudy as he has yet to complete concussion protocol. Mathews has not been cleared to play in the game against Indianapolis.

Mathews, who has struggled in 2013 at a meager 3.5 YPC, left the game Sunday night in Oakland after rushing for just 8 yards in three attempts.

Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman is looking to bounce back against the Jaguars Week 6. 

Hillman has emerged as the primary backup behind Knowshon Moreno, but hasn't received a ton of work. Hillman has received 27 carries over the past three weeks, but has only produced one good Fantasy game. 

There's a chance that will change against the Jaguars. Jacksonville hasn't been strong against opposing running backs, allowing a league-high 129.60 yards per game. On top of that, there's a chance Hillman could get more work if the team takes a big lead.

Hillman is still a risky Fantasy option, but is in a decent situation this week.

The Chargers announced Wednesday that the team has placed offensive lineman Michael Harris on injured reserve, ESPN reports. The team also signed running back Kerwynn Williams to the practice squad and released running back Miguel Maysonet from the practice squad. 

Chiefs rookie running back Knile Davis is not much of a Fantasy option heading into the Week 6 game at home against Oakland. With Jamaal Charles expected to do the heavy lifting, Davis can be avoided in most leagues. 

He has seen just one rush attempt in each of his last two games for a total of 4 yards. He's not a target in the passing game and has 12 carries all year. He may have a future, but it isn't now for the Chiefs. 

Titans running back Chris Johnson had his first game in double-digit Fantasy points in Week 5 (he scored 13), but it came in a game where Johnson had the fewest rushing yards of 2013 (17). His four receptions were a season high, but his 10 carries were a season low. 

Johnson began the season with two 25-carry games, rushing for 90-plus yards in two of his first three. Things quickly went south, though, and Johnson had 25 carries combined in Weeks 4 and 5, and just 38 total rushing yards (he scored a touchdown -- his only of the season -- in Week 5 on a 49-yard broken pass play). 

This good-game/bad-game unpredictability is nothing new for Johsnon -- last season, he had five 100-plus rushing yard games and five with fewer than 30 yards. It's become an annoying guessing game, where any week could bring 100 yards... or 15. 

With the Seahawks on tap for Week 6, Johnson faces a similarly unpredictable force -- Seattle has allowed just 12.6 Fantasy points per game to opposing running backs, but has given up 18.7 Fantasy points per game to running backs over the last three. 

If anyone says they know what to expect from Johnson this week, they're lying. But there is a simple strategy here: he's too explosive to bench, albeit too unpredictable to rely on. Start him in most leagues and hope for the best against an erratic Seattle run defense. 

Dolphins wide receiver Brian Hartline did his best to avoid answering a question on NFL Network Wednesday about if teammate Lamar Miller is a 25-carry-per-game running back.

"Luckily, at this point in my career, I don't have to make those decisions," Hartline said, per NFL.com.

Although Miller has started all five games for Miami, he hasn't had more than 14 carries in a game and has 50 carries to backup Daniel Thomas' 27 carries.

"I would say our coaches are really wanting one of the guys to step up," Hartline said. "You want someone to take the bull by the reins, and the coaches feel like that hasn't happened yet. So, until that happens, we are going to see multiple guys coming out of the backfield."