NFL Player News

Ravens running back Bernard Pierce had a quiet 2013 debut, averaging 2.4 yards per carry in a Week 1 loss at Denver. He will look to increase his output Week 2 vs. Cleveland.

Pierce had good success against the Browns as a rookie in 2012. He managed just 13 carries, but he averaged 5.7 yards per carry and had one touchdown in two games.

Dolphins running backs Lamar Miller and Daniel Thomas struggled Week 1 against Cleveland, totaling 17 rushing yards on 18 carries. Though, Pierce and Ray Rice should have better success against Cleveland in Week 2.

Although Pierce is enjoying increased reps on offense, Rice is still the lead back. Pierce is nothing more than a flex option for deeper Fantasy formats Week 2.

Playing behind the newly acquired Steven Jackson for the first time, Falcons running back Jacquizz Rodgers had a grand total of three touches for 2 yards in Week 1. His role doesn't figure to change that much against the Rams in Week 2.

While Rodgers was a necessary pass-catching complement to Michael Turner in his first two years in the league, Jackson can handle that role himself -- and did quite admirably in Week 1, catching five passes for 45 yards.

Maybe if the Falcons build up a big lead -- which seems unlikely after the Rams scored 27 against the Cardinals in Week 1 -- Rodgers can get some touches late, but other than as a handcuff option for Jackson, Fantasy owners should want no part of him.

Browns running back Trent Richardson has never gone more than two games in his young NFL career without scoring a touchdown. He hasn't scored in his last two games dating back to last season, so he seems due heading into Week 2 at Baltimore.

Richardson's last 100-yard rushing game came against Baltimore in Week 9 last season. Richardson performed well against the Ravens as a rookie, totaling 152 rushing yards, 88 receiving yards and one touchdown in two games. 

While Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning shred the Ravens' secondary for seven touchdowns Week 1, the Denver backfield managed just 67 rushing yards and averaged 3.2 yards per carry.

Browns coach Rob Chudzinski said Monday Richardson was held to 15 touches Week 1 against the Dolphins because Cleveland couldn't extend drives due to a poor third-down conversion rate (1 for 14). It sounds like the Browns could run Richardson early and often Week 2. If you own Richardson, then consider starting him in all Fantasy formats.

Though he's able to practice again after being suspended in Week 1 for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy, Rams running back Isaiah Pead hasn't been promised anything by coach Jeff Fisher, who said "we'll see" when asked Monday if Pead would play Week 2 at Atlanta, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Pead wasn't especially effective in the preseason, but he did lead the Rams with 26 carries for 86 yards. As a former second-round pick on a team still searching for a running game with Steven Jackson now out of the picture, he's a good bet to contribute in some capacity.

Most likely, he's not going overtake Daryl Richardson, who averaged just 3.2 yards on his 20 carries in Week 1, but the two could work in tandem. Unfortunately, a tandem role probably won't amount to much even against a Falcons defense that struggled against the run last season, allowing 123.2 yards per game and 4.8 yards per carry.

Until Pead proves his worth on offense, he's nothing more than a bench option in Fantasy.

Though second-year running back Daryl Richardson gained just 63 yards on 20 carries (to go along with 33 yards on five catches) in Week 1, the Rams seemed mostly pleased with his first go as Steven Jackson's replacement.

"He showed that he has matured since last year both in the ability to run the football and to pick up blitzes," quarterback Sam Bradford told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "I'm extremely proud of him, and I'm excited for what this year is gonna be for him."

That said, Richardson may not get the same workload Week 2 at Atlanta with former second-round pick Isaiah Pead due back from suspension. Coach Jeff Fisher hasn't said how he'll use Pead, if he uses him at all, but because Richardson didn't exactly separate himself from the pack in Week 1, you have think he's at risk of losing some touches.

And even if he doesn't, you can't assume he'll get another 20 carries. The Falcons have one of the league's most prolific offenses, and with Jackson gone, Bradford is the Rams' best bet for keeping pace. Because he'll be hard-pressed just to repeat last week's numbers, Richardson remains more of a flex option than a true starting running back in Fantasy.

Titans running back Chris Johnson prepares to face a familiar foe Week 2, as Tennessee makes the trip to face AFC South rival Houston. Johnson has averaged 89.3 rushing yards per game in 10 career games against Houston, eclipsing the 100-yard mark four times, including a 141-yard rushing performance last season at Houston.

Johnson averaged 2.8 yards per carry in a tough Week 1 win at Pittsburgh. He did carry the football 25 times, with Tennessee showing a committment to six-year veteran back and the run game.

Though his history against Houston is strong, Johnson could have trouble finding running lanes Sunday. Chargers running backs totaled 18 Fantasy points Week 1 against Houston, but had just 62 rushing yards and averaged 3.3 yards per carry.

While Johnson is a recommended Fantasy start Week 2, it's probably best to view him as more of a No. 2 running back.

Chargers running back Ryan Mathews equaled his 2012 touchdown total in the first 15 seconds this season, diving for a 14-yard scoring toss from Philip Rivers. But Mathews was unable to find running room against the Texans’ stout defense.

Mathews finished with 33 yards rushing on 13 carries (2.5-yard average) and two catches for 22 yards. He’ll play at Philadelphia in Week 2.

Redskins running back Roy Helu backed up Alfred Morris and did a nice job late in a game that saw Washington come back from 33-7 down for a 33-27 loss.

Helu saw just one carry in the Week 1 Monday night in Washington, but had an important catch for the Redskins during the comeback. Helu rushed for 5 yards and his lone grab went for 11. He saw two targets in the passing game from quarterback Robert Griffin III.

Helu will once again be nothing more than a seldom-used backup RB to Morris when the Redskins take the field Week 2 at Green Bay.

Rams " data-canon="St. Louis Rams" data-type="SPORTS_OBJECT_TEAM" id="shortcode0"> running back <player idref= Isaiah Pead will practice this week and might play Sunday after serving a one-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy. After St. Louis averaged 2.8 yards a carry against Arizona, the door is open for Pead to become a contributor in tandem with Daryl Richardson, reports ESPN.com.

"The opportunity appears to remain for Pead to claim the backup job and be involved in the offense on at least a semi-regular basis," the report said.

Coach Jeff Fisher called the Cardinals' defense stout against the run, but added "we are going to have to run the ball a little bit better as well."

Patriots running back Shane Vereen is expected to miss at least four weeks following surgery on his broken left wrist, a source told the Boston Herald. Vereen broke his wrist on the first play Sunday aaginst the Bills, but he still managed to just for 101 yards on 14 carries and total seven catches for 58 yards.