NFL Player News

Several Buccaneers receivers and running backs made small contributions in a Week 4 upset of Pittsburgh.

The most significant were tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins and wideout Russell Shepard. The former caught three passes for 44 yards while the latter snagged two for 30 yards.

Fellow wideout Solomon Patton made the most of his opportunity, racing 19 yards on an end-around. Jorvorskie Lane added one carry for two yards while Bobby Rainey managed the same yardage on four attempts while catching one pass for 16 yards. 

The struggles continued for Chris Johnson throughout most of the day, as he was practically phased out of the running attack for the Jets on Sunday at home against the Lions in Week 4. Johnson, however, managed to break off a 35-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter. 

Before the score, Johnson had only five carries. He finished six carries for 44 yards on the ground, averaging 7.3 yards per carry. He caught all two of his targets for 17 yards. Meanwhile, his running mate Chris Ivory rushed for 84 yards on 17 attempts.

Johnson will try to get back in the end zone in Week 5 against the Chargers.

Justin Forsett and Lorenzo Taliaferro put together productive Fantasy games yet again for the Ravens Sunday against the Panthers. In fact, they played so well, it might be time to wonder whether there will be room for Bernard Pierce to play when he gets back to full health.

Pierce was healthy enough to suit up in Week 4, but did not see the field. Taliaferro and Forsett made sure the team didn't miss him, as they combined for 124 yards on 29 carries with two touchdowns. Forsett led the way with 66 yards, and added 31 more through the air, while Taliaferro rushed for 58 yards on 15 carries.

At this point, Forsett looks like the best Fantasy option in this backfield, though of course, that is subject to change if Pierce can get back to full health. The future outlook of this trio is still very much in doubt, to the point that there isn't a single player you can still definitely pencil into your lineup on a weekly basis. 

In his debut last week against the Browns, rookie Lorenzo Taliaferro had a wonderful first half before getting stuffed in the second half. This week he had a weak first half, getting 2 yards on two carries with a goal-line score, before coming back in the second half and running wild over the Panthers defense for 56 yards on 13 carries (4.3 yards per carry) including a 23-yard run.

Those who spent the high waiver claim or FAAB dollars on Taliaferro last week were handsomely rewarded as the Ravens opted to give him the rushing downs role instead of Bernard Pierce. Until further notice, Fantasy owners should expect Taliaferro to keep that job. 

The Ravens play at the Colts in Week 5, at the Buccaneers in Week 6, vs. the Falcons in Week 7 and then at the Bengals in Week 8 before a pair of enticing matchups in Weeks 9 and 10 before the bye. Taliaferro should be penciled in Fantasy lineups as at least a flex. 

Raiders running back Darren McFadden got the start but failed to make much of an impact in a Week 4 loss to the Dolphins in London.

Maurice Jones-Drew was eased back into action, so McFadden shouldered the load early on. But with the game well out of hand, the Raiders focused more on passing game. He was limited to 11 carries for 40 yards, averaging 3.6 yards per attempt. He also caught four of the five passes thrown his way for 32 yards.

The Raiders will have a bye week before hosting the Chargers in Week 6. Jones-Drew may be healthy enough to earn the starting no by then.

Bears rookie back Ka'Deem Carey helped his team run roughshod over the Packers on Sunday. Carey, who had just four yards on the ground heading into the game, rushed nine times for 43 yards in the fourth quarter alone to finish with 72 yards on 14 attempts.

Carey took three handoffs in the first quarter, one more than he had in his first three career games combined. The Bears ran for 235 yards in the loss.

Ravens running back Bernard Pierce was cleared to play Week 4 vs. Carolina after sitting out Week 3 due to a thigh injury. However, Pierce did not see the field Sunday as coach John Harbaugh held him out for precautionary reasons.

Running backs Justin Forsett and Lorenzo Taliaferro combined for 124 rushing yards and two touchdowns in a 38-10 win.

"He wasn't really 100 percent," Harbaugh said of Pierce, according to The Baltimore Sun.

Even though Bernard Pierce (thigh) returned to action Week 4 vs. Carolina, Ravens running backs Justin Forsett and Lorenzo Taliaferro paced the rushing attack in a 38-10 win.

Forsett totaled 66 rushing yards and one touchdown on 14 carries, while Taliaferro added 58 rushing yards and one touchdown on 15 carries. Pierce did not play despite being active.

Forsett gave Baltimore a 14-7 lead with an 11-yard rushing touchdown with 5:22 left in the second quarter. Forsett did most of his damage before halftime, totaling 61 rushing yards on eight carries. He also finished the game with three catches for 31 yards.

Taliaferro had a 1-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter, which gave Baltimore a 35-10 lead. 

Forsett's longest carry went for 21 yards, while Taliaferro's long carry of the afternoon went 23 yards. The Ravens are back in action Week 5 at Indianapolis.

Texans running back Arian Foster was expected to receive his usual workload in his return in Week 4 against the Bills, but Alfred Blue actually ended up with more rushing attempts in the win.

Of course, that doesn't tell the whole tale. Foster was ineffective with his eight carries, as he rushed the ball for just 6 yards in the win. Blue wasn't much better, finishing with 9 yards on his nine carries. Foster did shine in the passing game, hauling in seven passes for 55 yards, to Blue's two receptions.

The interesting thing about Sunday's game was how little Jonathan Grimes figured into it. It appears as if Blue and Foster might be the tandem going forward, though it is possible Grimes saw more of the field than the standard box score might indicate.

Foster might not have been fully healthy Sunday, which could explain his somewhat limited role. With another week of rest, however, he should improve next week, which will only be bad news for Blue. He looks like just a handcuff option for Foster owners, given his lack of usage in passing downs. 

The Colts are just going to keep giving Trent Richardson the ball. We just have to accept it.

He racked up another 20 carries in Week 4 against the Titans, despite rushing for just 47 yards. He made up for the typically mediocre running performance with his first rushing touchdown of the season, along with 52 yards through the air.

Of course, his understudy continues to lose playing time as Richardson's role grows, though Ahmad Bradshaw has remained Fantasy relevant in spite of that. He caught another touchdown Sunday, his fourth in three games, despite carrying the ball just nine times yet again.

The good news is, both players seem to have very defined roles in the offense at this point. Richardson is the workhorse, whether he deserves to be or not, while Bradshaw remains a force in the passing game. The Ravens have done a solid job against running backs this season, but both Bradshaw and Richardson should be considered decent options for Week 5's matchup.