NFL Player News

49ers running back LaMichael James left Sunday night's game against the Vikings with an elbow injury. James carried nine times for 15 yards before the injury.

The Cardinals are shopping oft-injured running back Ryan Williams ahead of the roster cutdown deadlines, reports CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora. 

Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Sunday he doesn't have all the information yet on running back DuJuan Harris' knee injury, and that "it's up in the air," reports the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Harris downplayed the injury immediately after Friday's preseason game.

Ryan Mathews' last carry on Saturday was a costly fumble near the goal line. The Chargers still found a way to score on the play but it was a small blemish on what's otherwise been an outstanding preseason for Mathews. 

Over three games the rusher has 121 yards on 26 carries (4.65 avg.) with a touchdown. That's nice to see. He's running full-steam ahead between the tackles, fighting for yardage and playing tough. While it's not necessarily conducive to a back who is coming off a season with twin broken clavicles, Mathews at least is showing he's not playing scared. He's also the only real candidate the Chargers have to work at running back in non-obvious passing situations. To wit, Mathews has yet to catch a pass this preseason as other backs have done that work. 

Mathews is a candidate for well over 200 carries, and when you find him in your draft there won't be a lot of 200-carry running backs left you could look at and feel real good about. He might not be an elite back but at least he should begin the year routinely picking up 15 carries per game, maybe a few catches too, and working at the goal line. 

Part of the problem with Mathews' 2012 in Fantasy was that you needed a Top 20 pick to get him. Now it's almost a bargain -- he's pretty much a "good enough" running back worth taking in late Round 4 in deeper drafts (14-plus teams) and Round 5 in standard leagues. 

It's a risky choice, but compared to Ahmad Bradshaw, Rashard Mendenhall, Eddie Lacy and Darren McFadden, does it really matter? 

Chargers running back Ryan Mathews found the end zone but also coughed up the ball in Saturday's preseason game against the Cardinals.

Mathews scored from 1-yard out in the first quarter. He then lost a fumble on the final offensive play of the first half. He played one half with the first unit and rushed for a team-high 57 yards and one touchdown on 14 carries. 

"He's got to protect the football better. He knows that," head coach Mike McCoy said after the game.

Cardinals running back Ryan Williams was back in action in Saturday's preseason game against the Chargers. Williams had previously missed time due to a knee injury. 

Williams looked alright on two carries. He went for 10 yards. He also caught a pass for 6 yards on his only target. 

Titans running back Chris Johnson posted a decent performance Saturday in the third preseason game against the Falcons. Jackie Battle saw more carries, but certainly was not as impressive. 

Johnson rushed 11 times to Battle's 13, but finished with 65 yards to lead the Titans. He had a long run of 20 yards. Battle had 41 yards and mustered just a 5-yard run at his longest. 

Johnson caught one pass for minus-5 yards and Battle did not make a catch for the Titans. 

Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman once again had trouble holding onto the football Saturday in the preseason win over St. Louis. Hillman fumbled early in the game and ended up seeing only six carries. 

Hillman rushed six times for 34 yards and added three catches for 15 yards but has fumbled three times in his last two preseason contests for the Broncos. Montee Ball looked decent behind him with 14 touches for 43 yards and a touchdown and could be breathing down his neck for carries this season. 

Ball scored from 1-yard out in the third quarter for Denver. Knowshon Moreno finished the game with five carries for 33 yards. 

Buccaneers running back Doug Martin said after Saturday's third preseason game against the Dolphins that he could have played.

In an interview with CBSSports.com, Martin said he "feels good." He said the trainers held him out as a precaution after suffering a head injury in the second preseason game against New England. 

Martin is not sure of his status for the final preseason game against Washington on Thursday, but he expects to play in Week 1 against the Jets. He said if Saturday's game against the Dolphins were a regular-season contest he would have been active.

For those of you wondering if Daniel Thomas is a threat to Lamar Miller this season as the Dolphins starting running back, the answer is yes and no. Confused? Let me explain.

I was at the Dolphins game against the Buccaneers on Saturday at Sun Life Stadium, and I watched first-hand from the press box as Miller clearly outplayed Thomas. Miller had eight carries for 35 yards, including an impressive 20-yard run, while Thomas managed just 3 yards on seven carries.

Miller will be the starter for the Dolphins, but Thomas is going to still play a role. The Dolphins like Thomas on passing downs, and he had two catches for 12 yards, while Miller had one catch for 2 yards. At this point, Thomas is a better pass blocker.

After the game, Miller expressed optimism that he won the starting job. He said his goals of 1,500 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns remain the same, and he expects to do well this year.

It's highly unlikely Miller will be that good, but he does have the chance to be a solid Fantasy option. Put him back on your list as a high-end No. 2 running back worth drafting in Round 3. And Thomas is just a handcuff option with a late-round pick.