NFL Player News

Ravens running back Bernard Pierce, who is questionable with a thigh injury, is expected to play Week 2 vs. Cleveland, according to NFL.com.

The 49ers enter Week 2 with a remarkably light injury report, as only running back LaMichael James (knee) is listed as injured. James is questionable for Sunday's game against the Seahawks, after being held out of practice throughout the week with a knee injury. 

Rams running back Daryl Richardson is expected to play in Week 2 against the Falcons, despite being limited in practice with a foot injury. Richardson was not slowed by the injury in practice Friday, and has been listed as probable for Sunday's game on the injury report. 

The Panthers ruled two reserves out for Week 2 against the Bills on Friday injury report. The two players who will miss Sunday's game are running back Kenjon Barner (foot) and defensive back James Dockery (thumb). Barner had been ruled out for the game earlier in the week, due to this lingering injury. 

Ravens running back Bernard Pierce remained limited in practice on Friday with a thigh injury and has been deemed questionable for the game Sunday against the visiting Browns.

Pierce will hope for a bounce-back performance if he does play after managing a per-rush average of just 2.4 in the Week 1 loss to Denver.

Buccaneers running back Doug Martin could be primed for a big performance heading into Week 2 at home against the Saints.

Martin found the end zone and rushed for 65 yards on 24 carries in Week 1 against the Jets. He’ll face a New Orleans defense that allowed 88 rushing yards, including 77 to Steven Jackson and the Falcons last week.

Martin totaled 100 yards of offense last time he faced the Saints at home. He rushed for 85 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries and caught three passes for 37 yards in Week 7 of last season. That said, he has only rushed for 101 yards and racked up only 56 receiving yards combined in two career games against the Saints.

The Saints were dead last in 2012 against the run, so we expect Martin to have a big day on the ground. There’s not many running backs in Fantasy that have a better matchup than Martin. Consider him a must-start option heading into Week 2 at home.

The Patriots did not have the services of running back Brandon Bolden for Week 2 against the Jets Thursday, due to a knee injury. Bolden was not in uniform for the matchup. 

Dolphins running back Daniel Thomas managed to salvage a poor performance in Week 1 against the Browns by finding the end zone. Will he be so lucky in Week 2 against the Colts?

The Colts struggled as a team with defending the run last season, allowing the fourth-most rushing yards in the league. However, they were better than expected at defending the end zone, allowing 14 rushing touchdowns, the 11th-most in the league. That could make it difficult for Thomas to find the end zone, and it is hard to see what Fantasy value he has if he isn't vulturing touchdowns.  

Thomas is worth owning for Fantasy purposes given the Dolphins' seeming lack of trust in Lamar Miller, however that is not enough to make him worth a look on a weekly basis. Fantasy owners should not consider starting Thomas outside of deeper formats in Week 2.

Rams running back Daryl Richardson (foot) returned to practice Thursday after sitting out Wednesday. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports Richardson "got a fair amount of work" as the team prepares for Week 2 at Atlanta.

Panthers coach Ron Rivera said Thursday he was encouraged after watching running back Kenjon Barner, who has already been ruled out for Week 2 with a foot injury, run in practice.