NFL Player News

Colts running back Trent Richardson is having a lot of fun again - and that alone represents a change from his first three seasons in the NFL.

"It's not so much of a job anymore of where I need to do this, I need to do that," Richardson told ESPN.com. "It was fun last year, but it wasn't to where it is at this moment. I can say I can really contribute to the team other than practice."

He has done that, at least to a far greater extent than he did a year ago. Richadson is averaging 3.8 yards per carry after stumbling along at 2.9 YPC in 2013. He rushed for 135 yards in 36 carries over the past two games combined. He seems to have wrested the featured back spot away from Ahmad Bradshaw, who received 22 attempts in those games.

Two premier skill position players have been deemed probable by the Buccaneers for their Sunday game in Pittsburgh. Both wide receiver Vincent Jackson (wrist) and featured back Doug Martin (knee) appear all but set to play.

Cornerback Dee Milliner (quad) is the lone doubtful on the injury report released Friday by the Jets for their Week 4 clash against Detroit.

Wide receiver Eric Decker (hamstring) is questionable. The probables are offensive linemen Nick Mangold (shoulder), Dalton Freeman (knee) and Willie Colon (calf), running back Chris Johnson (ankle), wide receiver David Nelson (illness) and defensive tackle Muhammad Wilkerson (knee).

The Raiders have been waiting for the return of Maurice Jones-Drew, and that is expected to happen in Week 4 against the Dolphins. Fantasy owners, however, should not be so excited about his return.

Darren McFadden has been ineffective in Jones-Drew's absence, but is not likely to be relegated to the bench just because Jones-Drew is back. In fact, the two players split time nearly evenly in Week 1, with Jones-Drew playing 28 offensive snaps, to McFadden's 24.

The Dolphins have allowed 23.3 Fantasy points per game to opposing running backs this season, though 43 of the 72 points allowed came in last week's game against the Chiefs. On the surface, this seems like a fine matchup, but the Raiders' offense is unlikely to replicate the success the Chiefs' success. With Jones-Drew and McFadden likely to split time, neither makes much sense as much more than a bye-week replacement for Week 4. 

Washington 's backup runners failed to see much action Thursday against the Giants.

Roy Helu only received two carries, picking up 8 yards on the ground. He actually led the team in receiving yards, gaining 78 yards on five receptions. With the team down by quite a bit, Helu became a safe option in the passing game. 

Fullback Darrel Young had one carry, picking up 1 yard.

Both players will look for more Week 5 against the Seahawks. 

Vikings wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson is waiting for more touches, according to 1500 ESPN.

"With what this offense has got going on, I feel like I'll get more touches," Patterson said. "It's just a matter of time. I can't really rush it right now...I'm just waiting patiently." Offensive coordinator Norv Turner explained why he believes Patterson wasn't able to break out against the Saints. "I think [the Saints] matched up with [Patterson] with who they feel is their best corner, so that tells you how they feel about him," Turner said.

Patterson had a big game on the ground Week 1, but has only received one rushing attempt since then. That could change if Turner makes it a priority to get Patterson involved in the game plan. 

If you benched Knile Davis last week because you weren't sure you'd be able to find a suitable replacement from one of the three 4 p.m. games if Jamaal Charles made a miraculous return, you were probably pretty upset when Davis not only started, but piled up 132 yards and a touchdown. I was right there with you. My substitute, Stevan Ridley, had only 61 and no touchdown. Good thing we got the weird schedule stuff out of the way so we don't have to go through that aga--

What's that? The Chiefs are playing the Monday night game? Is this some kind of sick joke? You won the waiver claim for Knile Davis, the most significant of the year so far, but because the Chiefs refuse to accept that Charles is going to need some time to recover from a high ankle sprain, you can't be completely sure he's going to sit until the Chiefs reveal their inactives. And they don't do that until 90 minutes before game time. So when their game time is later than everyone else's, it doesn't really help, does it?

Annoying, to say the least. I, for one, don't want to be hoodwinked again, but the thing about being hoodwinked is you don't know you're being hoodwinked until you've been hoodwinked. If you own both Charles and Davis, it's easy. You just wait for the inactives and then make the call between the two. But if you own just Davis ... oh, to heck with it. I'm starting him. Even if Charles is active, it's not like he's going to play every down with that bum ankle. And if a shared role yields only 50 yards for Davis, well, that's not any worse than what Ridley did for me last week, is it?

Buccaneers running back Doug Martin said Thursday he is 100 percent recovered from a knee injury that kept him out two games, according to The Tampa Tribune. Martin added he is anxious to get back on the field and prove he is still an impact player. 

The Bucs travel to Pittsburgh Week 4.

Ravens running back Bernard Pierce was listed as a full participant in practice Wednesday. It appears Pierce is on track to return Week 4 against the Panthers after sitting out Week 3 with a quadriceps injury.

Neither Matt Asiata nor Jerick McKinnon has taken advantage of their increased playing time since the opportunity presented itself for the Vikings, but Week 4 against the Falcons might be their best chance yet.

Asiata and McKinnon were targeted a combined nine times in Week 3 once Teddy Bridgewater took over under center, and that could work out well against the Falcons. Only two teams have allowed more receiving yards to running backs through three games than the Falcons, who have been diced for 224 yards on 23 receptions out of the backfield.

Asiata is likely to see the majority of the work yet again this week, and is the better Fantasy option of the two. His underwhelming numbers might make you want to stay away, but the Falcons have surrendered 25.7 Fantasy points per game to opposing running backs so far, the third-highest total in the league.

Asiata should be considered a decent starting option for Week 4, perhaps as a No. 2 Fantasy running back. McKinnon makes for a much less glamorous option, and should be looked at only as a desperation play in PPR leagues.