NFL Player News

Colts running back Ahmad Bradshaw reversed a troubling trend in Week 5 against the Ravens, as he was more involved in the offense than his backfield mate Trent Richardson in the win.

Richardson, who had 63 carries to Bradshaw's 40 over the team's previous three contests, took a backseat to Bradshaw. Bradshaw had 19 touches Sunday, including a season-high 15 carries, while Richardson's nine touches were his lowest total since Week 1.

Bradshaw has been the better back on a per-touch basis, but the team had been force-feeding Richardson over the last few weeks. It remains to be seen if this is a permanent change moving forward, but it should make Bradshaw's owners happy to see, at the very least. 

The Ravens did not lean on the running game much in Week 5, which makes taking much out of the usage a difficult task at this point.

Justin Forsett was once again the best option out of the backfield for the Ravens, as he racked up 97 all-purpose yards and a touchdown. However, he had just six carries, with much of his damage coming through the air.

Bernard Pierce and Lorenzo Taliaferro took on the remainder of the work, which only amounted to nine carries between them. Pierce looked like the better runner, though he still carried the ball just four times for 30 yards, compared to 18 yards on five carries for Taliaferro.

At this point, It seems pretty tough to rely on anyone in the Ravens backfield, though Forsett is the guy to own if anyone is. However, it really seems like there is room for anyone to step into a larger role, if they can show they are worth it. For not, keep Taliaferro and Pierce on your bench in their current roles. 

The Jaguars couldn't get much of a rushing attack going during a 17-9 loss Week 5 vs. Pittsburgh. 

Starting running back Toby Gerhart turned in another disappointing performance, rushing for 9 yards on four carries. He has just 123 rushing yards through five games.

Backup running back Denard Robinson wasn't much better Sunday, rushing for 6 yards on three carries. 

Surprisingly, the Jaguars leading rusher was rookie Storm Johnson, who received the first carries of his NFL career Sunday. He rushed for 27 yards on four carries.

Gerhart added one catch for 20 yards and Robinson had two catches for minus-1 yards. The Jaguars are back in action Week 6 at Tennessee.

Buccaneers running back Doug Martin carried 14 times for 45 yards (3.2 ypc) and caught three of five targets for 29 yards in the loss at New Orleans. Martin is averaging 2.5 yards on 37 carries this season.

Martin served as the lead back ahead of Bobby Rainey, who carried six times for 21 yards and also caught three passes. Martin plays the Ravens in Week 6.

The Jaguars used three running backs in Week 5 against the Steelers, as the team continues to search in vain for some kind of spark out of the backfield. Can anything be salvaged from the combination of Toby Gerhart, Denard Robinson or Storm Johnson?

Gerhart has been an unmitigated disaster since signing with the Jaguars as a free agent, which has opened a chance for the unheralded guys down the depth chart to earn playing time. Unfortunately, Robinson continues to show little life, as he rushed for just 6 yards on three carries, with -1 receiving yards as well. At this point, neither looks like the answer.

Someone Fantasy owners might want to keep an eye on over the next few weeks is rookie seventh-round pick Storm Johnson. Johnson was Blake Bortles' teammate at the University of Central Florida, and looked alive in his first chance to play Sunday. He carried the ball just four times for a team-high 27 yards, before leaving due to an ankle injury. That ankle injury might be what derails his chance to usurp the role, though it remains to be seen if it is a significant issue.

At this point, Johnson is only an intruiging option by default; he isn't Gerhart or Robinson. He also has not proved anything, and might be just as useless as the two guys who have failed before him. However, with how valuable any running back who gets playing time is he is at least worth monitoring, to see how he might figure into the team's plans.

Rams running back Benny Cunningham rushed for 47 yards and a touchdown on seven carries and added 24 receiving yards on three catches in his team's 34-28 loss to the Eagles in Week 5.

Cunningham saw extended time late in the game after Zac Stacy went down with an injury, and the backup runner weaved his way into the end zone from 14 yards out on a draw from a shotgun formation. He could be in line for an uptick in playing time depending on the severity of Stacy's injury. The Rams will host the 49ers on Monday night in Week 6.

The Broncos have made RB C.J. Anderson, S David Bruton, DE Ben Garland, LB Lerentee McCray, DT Mitch Unrein, WR Cody Latimer and OL Michael Schofield inactive Week 5 against the Cardinals. 

Both Bruton and McCray entered the day considered questionable. Bruton is dealing with an ankle injury. McCray has a knee issue. 

The Jets should have all their probable players Week 5 against the Chargers.

Willie Colon, Breno Giacomini, Damon Harrison, Chris Johnson, Nick Mangold, Dee Milliner and Calvin Pryor are all active for the contest. Wideout David Nelson entered the day considered questionable, but he will also try to play through his injury. 

The Chargers have made LB Jeremiah Attaochu , RB Ryan Mathews, LB Manti Te'o , LB Reggie Walker, CB Shareece Wright, WR Dontrelle Inman and OL Rich Ohrnberger inactive Week 5 against the Jets.

Inman is the only healthy scratch of the bunch. The other six players on the injury report had previously been ruled out prior to Sunday. 

Cardinals running back Andre Ellington is good to go Week 5 against the Broncos. 

Ellington has been dealing with a foot injury all season, but has been able to play through it. He came into the game listed as probable, and was expected to give it a go.