NFL Player News

Chargers featured back Ryan Mathews, who has been sidelined since Week 3 with a knee injury, has yet to begin running, per the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Mathews is making progress, but is likely to miss at least two more games before returning to game action.

Though the Colts visit the Texans in Week 6 and the Texans are vulnerable against the run, allowing 132.2 yards per game, 25th-most in the league, running back Trent Richardson isn't such a great play in Fantasy. The Colts went a different direction with their backfield platoon in Week 5, giving Ahmad Bradshaw more reps than Richardson for the first time in three games, which puts Richardson's relevance to Fantasy owners in question.

To put it bluntly, he's inefficient, picking up yardage in small increments. Regardless of the matchup, he needs bunches of carries to get anywhere, and it's not so clear right now that he'll have them.

The upside is minimal -- in standard CBSSports.com leagues, Richardson has only once scored double-digit Fantasy points this season -- so you don't stand to lose much by benching him. Jamey Eisenberg and Dave Richard barely have Richardson within their top 40 running backs for this week.

The Buccaneers still have faith in running back Doug Martin, according to ESPN on Wednesday.

Martin has rushed for 94 yards on 37 carries through three games, averaging only 2.5 yards per carry over that span. After suffering a knee injury in the opening week of the season, Bobby Rainey filled in and rushed for 144 yards in Week 2. Martin is back healthy and ready to get back on track. Quarterbacks coach Marcus Arroyo, who is temporarily calling plays for offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford, indicated he's going to give Martin every opportunity to bounce back.

"I like the things Doug has done," Arroyo said. "Our run game has to improve, obviously, overall. We believe that as a staff that starts with us. I think wholeheartedly we need to continue to find out what exactly it takes to get us back on track in the run game. There's going to be some finer points, detail and those things execution wise."

Broncos star quarteback Peyton Manning has put the onus of responsibility on teammate and running back Ronnie Hillman.

Hillman appears destined to serve as the featured back Sunday against the host Jets in the wake of an injury that has knocked out Montee Ball.

"When you're running out there in pregame warmups as a starter it's a different helmet you wear," Manning told the Denver Post. "So we're counting on hm."

Hillman performed well after replacing Ball in Week 5. He rushed for 64 yards on 15 carries.

Jaguars rookie running back Storm Johnson might get a shot to take the NFL by storm starting Sunday against Tennessee, according to the Florida Times-Union.

Johnson appears destined to receive extended playing time after impressing Gus Bradley in his NFL debut in Week 5. The seventh round pick rushed for 27 yards on just four carries in the loss to Pittsburgh after missing the start of the season to an ankle injury.

Jaguars featured back Toby Gerhart has proven disappointing by averaging just 2.6 YPC and scoring one touchdown.

With the exception of Week 5 against the Falcons, when he broke out for three touchdowns, Vikings running back Matt Asiata has failed to stand out as the team's starter. That is unlikely to change in Week 6, with the Lions on the way.

Asiata has failed to reach double figures in two of his four games as the starter, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him make it three after this Sunday. Running backs are averaging just 13.6 Fantasy points overall against the Lions this season, and though four backs have reached double figures, No. 1 backs are averaging just 9.4 points per game.

Asiata gets a healthy workload every week -- averaging 17.8 touches per week -- but he has been pretty underwhelming even with that work. He makes for a useful Fantasy option against a tough matchup, but is more of a low-end starter. 

The Broncos have had one of the least effective running games in the league, but there is some hope that the ascension of Ronnie Hillman and C.J. Anderson to larger roles will turn things around. What are the chances that happens in Week 6, with a tough matchup against the Jets on the way?

The Jets fell to 11th in FootballOutsiders.com's DVOA against the run in Week 5, after the Chargers ripped through them for 162 yards on the ground. However, in four games prior, the Jets allowed just 63.3 yards per game on the ground, with no running backs reaching double figures in Fantasy scoring against them.

Hillman ran the ball well for the Broncos last week against a tough Cardinals defense, but there is no telling whether he will be able to keep that up against New York. He should be worth starting in most Fantasy leagues even with the tough matchup, but temper expectations, especially with Anderson looming as a potential part-time player. 

The Raiders backfield duo of Darren McFadden and Maurice Jones-Drew has produced just 27 Fantasy points over four games, falling well short of even our most pessimistic expectations so far. Is there any upside moving forward?

McFadden has taken the lead with Jones-Drew slowed by injury, but has done little to inspire confidence, rushing for just 3.4 yards per carry on 45 attempts. With a full bye week to recover, there is reason to think Jones-Drew will take on a heavier load in Week 6 against the Chargers, but you will probably want to steer clear of both this week.

The Chargers are allowing 15.8 Fantasy points per game to opposing running backs, the 13th-lowest total in the league. However, they have allowed just 18 points total to the last two backfields they faced, with both the Jaguars and Jets featuring similarly underwhelming options in the running game.

Both McFadden and Jones-Drew have been productive players in the past, but it is hard to see them turning back the lock this Sunday. Consider neither player more than a flex option. 

The Broncos are preparing to be without running back Montee Ball for at least four games, reports ESPN's Ed Werder. Ball suffered a groin strain in the Week 5 win over Arizona.

Ronnie Hillman will serve as Ball's primary replacement, Werder added.

Fantasy owners waiting for Ryan Mathews to return from his knee injury will need to be a bit more patient, as U-T San Diego reports he is likely to miss at least one and possibly two more games, including Week 6 against the Raiders.

The emergence of Branden Oliver might lessen the pain of Mathews' absence, but this team badly needs Mathews back. Donald Brown has flopped in his turn as the primary option, so there is little reason to think Mathews won't get the job back when he returns. Though Oliver looked good in Week 5, he has a limited track record of success and should not be much of a road block to Mathews getting his job back.

The Chargers like to use multiple running backs in their offense, and Oliver could fit into the Danny Woodhead role. Even playing alongside Woodhead, Mathews still managed 90 all-purpose yards and seven touchdowns a year ago, so don't worry about his role. Just get healthy, Ryan.