NFL Player News

The Ravens have a deal in the works to sign Richardson, the Baltimore Sun's Jeff Zrebiec reports.

Released by Oakland at the end of the preseason, Richardson never latched on with another team. Though he's now expected to get a shot in Baltimore, the former No. 3 overall pick will face an uphill battle to earn a spot on the final roster.

Though Jones underwent minor groin-related surgery this offseason, the running back will be ready for OTAs, per coach Jay Gruden, Mike Jones of the Washington Post reports.

With that in mind, Gruden noted that he believes Jones is capable of being a No. 1 back in the NFL, with such an opportunity quite likely forthcoming, with fellow RB Alfred Morris a candidate to join another team in free agency.

Rawls is likely to be the Seahawks' starting running back next season.

Rawls was hugely impressive as a rookie this past season, rushing for 830 yards and scoring five touchdowns after going undrafted. In seven starts due to Marshawn Lynch's injury absence, Rawls posted four 100-yard rushing games, including one 209-yard effort against the 49ers. While an ankle injury of his own ended his season early, Rawls is the Seahawks' frontrunner to start next season following Lynch's retirement. If Rawls indeed cements that spot, his fantasy value should rank within the top 10 in the league at his position, evidencing his incredible ascent.

Artis-Payne finished his rookie campaign with 45 carries for 183 yards and one touchdown in seven regular season games played.

Artis-Payne also hauled in five passes for 58 yards this season. The rookie fifth-rounder was often inactive during the early portion of the campaign, but saw his involvement increase after starter Jonathan Stewart was sidelined in the regular season's final weeks. In fact, Artis-Payne topped the 40-yard mark in each of the Panthers' last three games, and scored a touchdown in Week 17. In a rush-heavy offense, Artis-Payne's stock should improve heading into his second season, but having the likes of Stewart, Fozzy Whittaker, Mike Tolbert and quarterback Cam Newton around make touches somewhat hard to come by.

Following another arrest on Sunday morning, Randle was charged with aggravated battery, drug possession, and criminal damage to property, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

Randle cannot avoid breaking the law, as the arrest marks his third since he was released by the Cowboys on Nov. 3, and fifth overall since October of 2014. Booked into Sedgwick County jail in Wichita, Kan. at 8 AM on Sunday, his bail has been set at a lofty $100,000, which could be the final straw in his NFL pursuits. In addition to any legal ramifications, Randle is subject to further suspension for repeated violations of the league's personal conduct policy.

Zenner (chest) could experience an uptick in usage next season, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.

The release of Joique Bell on Tuesday whittled down the Lions' backfield situation to Ameer Abdullah, Theo Riddick, and Zenner. Assuming the status quo remains after free agency and the draft, Abdullah seems to be the leader in the clubhouse for the top gig, but Riddick's pass-catching prowess leave the door open for the versatile Zenner to have a regular role in the offense. In the preseason, Zenner led all players with 183 rushing yards, and he followed it up with 17 carries for 60 yards and two catches for 11 yards in six regular season contests before his rookie campaign ended when he sustained cracked ribs and a partially collapsed lung in Week 6.

Hillman rushed for 863 yards and seven touchdowns on 207 carries in 2015, adding 111 yards on 24 catches. He fumbled three times during the regular season. In the playoffs, he rushed for 54 yards on 32 carries and added a seven-yard catch.

Hillman entered 2015 with just two career 100-yard games, but managed four such performances as he emerged as the lead in he and C.J. Anderson's duo for much of the season. The speedster, seldom a sure thing in short-yardage situations or pass protection early in his career, improved in both areas on his way to a career year. Hillman's grip on the featured role in Denver's running attack slipped during the playoffs, however, as he saw fewer touches week to week, resulting in just five carries for no yards in Super Bowl 50. Hillman showed promise in Gary Kubiak's zone attack, but may find himself on a new team in 2016 with Anderson tenderable and attentions turned on keeping Von Miller, Malik Jackson, Brock Osweiler and others in orange.

Anderson rushed for 720 yards and five touchdowns on 152 carries in 2015, adding 183 yards on 25 catches. He fumbled twice. During the playoffs, Anderson carried the ball 54 times for 234 yards and two scores and added 39 yards on nine catches.

Anderson's strong second half to 2014 made him a popular early-round pick in fantasy drafts to start 2015. He failed to live up to expectations, however. From Week 6 through the end of the regular season, Anderson saw fewer touches than fellow back Ronnie Hillman in eight of the 10 games they played with one another (Anderson missed one game with an injury). Come playoff time, however, Denver leaned heavily on Anderson, giving him 63 touches to Hillman's 33. Head coach Gary Kubiak's zone running game relies on backs who are more shifty than fast and are patient and decisive when hitting the hole. Those traits are more in line with Anderson's strengths than Hillman's slash-and-speed abilities. Hillman, an unrestrict free agent, is likely to find better offers elsewhere as Denver attempts to keep its defense intact. Anderson, a restricted free agent, would then become a prime candidate to tender and take on a heavier workload in 2016, potentially living up to the promise he failed to live up to in 2015.

Hillman ran the ball five times, but was held to no yardage in Sunday's Super Bowl victory over Carolina.

Hillman never moved more than three yards beyond the line of scrimmage and three of his five carries went for negative yardage. Running up against the likes of Kawann Short and Luke Kuechly will do that to a back, but Hillman's counterpart, C.J. Anderson, managed to collect 100 total yards. For the playoffs, Anderson totaled 273 yards and nine catches while Hillman was held to 61 total yards and one catch. Both are free agents this offseason and Anderson made the better final impression on Sunday.

Anderson gained 90 yards on 23 carries and scored a rushing touchdown, while also securing four of four targets for 10 yards in Sunday's 24-10 Super Bowl victory over the Panthers.

The third-year pro was named the starter heading into the game and was the clear-cut workhorse on the day, earning 90 tough yards against a talented Panthers front seven. The 23 carries were by far a season high for Anderson, who tallied 234 yards over three postseason games. He ripped off his game-long 34-yard run in the second quarter on the second play following a Mike Tolbert fumble, and impressively muscled his way into the end zone late in the fourth quarter for the deciding touchdown following Von Miller's strip sack of Cam Newton. Anderson was once again productive in 2015 as part of a timeshare in the Denver backfield, and likely goes into the offseason set to compete with Ronnie Hillman for starting duties in 2016.