NFL Player News

Buccaneers running back Doug Martin has shed the walking boot, but remains absent from practice Thursday, per the Tampa Bay Times.

Martin has been dealing with a sprained left ankle.

Vikings wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, who suffered a bruised left foot Week 8, said Thursday he is 100 percent and expects no issues with the injury Week 9 against the Redskins, per the Pioneer Press. Patterson is coming off arguably his best game since the opener, totaling six catches for 86 yards in a 19-13 overtime win at Tampa Bay.

Colts running back Trent Richardson has returned to practice Thursday after missing time with a hamstring injury. He was active for the Week 8 game in Pittsburgh, but did not play.

His participation Thursday was expected. Richardson should be ready to roll for the Monday night game against the Giants.

By giving the previously unknown Jonas Gray 17 carries for 86 yards Week 8 against Chicago, the Patriots revealed that they'll stick with a two-man backfield even with preferred rusher Stevan Ridley out for the year with a torn ACL and MCL.

But Week 9 against Denver might be a better matchup for preferred receiver Shane Vereen, who also thrived in Week 7 against the Jets. The Broncos, like the Jets, have done a good job stopping the run this season. They rank No. 1, in fact, allowing 72.4 yards per game.

Plus, the Patriots will most likely have to throw more than usual just to keep up with the league's highest-scoring team. These days, a team's only real choice against Peyton Manning is to beat him at his own game.

So most likely, Gray will spend much of Week 9 on the sidelines while Vereen spends much of it in the backfield. Jamey Eisenberg and Dave Richard both rank Vereen among their top 20 running backs for this week.

Setting your lineup has been pretty easy to this point, right? I mean, it may not seem like it, but with no more than two teams on bye in any of the last four weeks, you haven't had to scramble to fill a roster spot like you might have in years past.

Which means Week 9 could be quite a shock to you ... and everyone else playing Fantasy Football. A full six teams are on bye, which probably impacts most every roster in some way.

If you didn't prepare for it, you'll have to resort to the waiver wire, which is slim pickings this late in the week, especially at running back. This may be one of those weeks where you have to turn to a backup -- in a real-life sense, that is -- to give your team a chance.

Looking over their Week 9 rankings, Jamey Eisenberg and Dave Richard like several backups enough to start them this week, if only in a desperate situation. The Bengals' Jeremy Hill, the 49ers' Carlos Hyde, the Broncos' Juwan Thompson and the Seahawks' Christine Michael could find their teams up big in the second half, allowing them to deliver starter numbers in garbage time.

Of course, if you have a shot at a fill-in starter like Andre Williams or Bobby Rainey instead, that's probably the preferred way to go, but not everyone is so lucky.

Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman, who was listed as limited with a shoulder injury Wednesday, told the Denver Post that his shoulder feels fine and he won't be limited Sunday at New England. Hillman has gone over 100 yards from scrimmage in three straight games.

Buccaneers coach Lovie Smith said Wednesday there is a chance rookie running back Charles Sims will make his debut Sunday against the Browns. Sims has been on short-term injured reserve all season recovering from an ankle injury.

Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman was limited Wednesday with a shoulder injury after coach John Fox said he "landed funny" in practice, reports the team's website. Denver is preparing to visit the Patriots on Sunday.

Chargers running back Ryan Mathews, who's missed six straight games with a sprained MCL, did not practice Wednesday as San Diego prepared for Week 9 at Miami, reports the San Diego Union-Tribune. The Chargers are off Week 10. It appears likely that Mathews won't return until Nov. 16 against the Raiders.

Chargers running back Donald Brown, who's missed three straight games with a concussion, returned to a padded practice Wednesday, reports the San Diego Union-Tribune.