NFL Player News

They say if you have two quarterbacks vying for the starting spot, you actually have no starting quarterback. The same might be said about featured backs.

At least those seeking that title with the Jets. Though newly acquired Chris Johnson is coming off a sixth consecutive 1,000-yard season with Tennessee, but his 3.9 YPC average in 2013 was the worst of his career. Chris Ivory followed strong performances with weak ones throughout last season and Bilal Powell also proved inconsistent.

The trio combined to rush for 223 yards on 43 carries for a 5.2 average in the preseason, which prompted Rex Ryan to declare that the three will alternate in the regular season. Though Johnson is the most likely to emerge as the featured back, it seems clear that all will receive enough opportunities in the season opener Sunday against an improved Oakland defense to make none of them more than a second option in shallower leagues and flex in deeper ones.

Fantasy owners should monitor their reps to determine if any of them emerge as a featured back.

Ravens running back Bernard Pierce (concussion) was a full participant in practice for a second straight day Thursday. The Ravens host the Bengals Week 1.

Just months removed from a frustrating offseason in which he was released by Tennessee after the team found no trade partners, Jets new running back Chris Johnson is claiming to be enjoying the game again.

Johnson is not officially the featured back, though he will likely receive more reps than backfield mates Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell. More will be known about the distribution of carries when the team opens against visiting Oakland on Sunday. All three are listed as first teamers on the depth chart. But Johnson is having fun.

"It just feels great to be back out there playing on Sundays," he told the New York Post. "It's fun again."

With Ivory and Powell earning playing time, Johnson will likely not approach the average of 17 carries per game given to him last year with Tennessee.

Ravens running back Bernard Pierce was a full participant in practice Wednesday.

Pierce has been dealing with a concussion, but was cleared Tuesday. The fact that he was able to get through Wednesday's full practice bodes well for him starting Week 1. 

The Jaguars announced that tight end Clay Harbor (calf), running back Storm Johnson (ankle) and offensive tackle Austin Pasztor (hand) didn't participate in practice Monday.

In addition, wide receiver Allen Robinson (hamstring), kicker Josh Scobee (quad), offensive tackle Josh Wells (shoulder), punter Bryan Anger (groin), guard Zane Beadles (calf) and defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks (shoudler) were limited participants in practice.

Vikings wide receive Cordarrelle Patterson became a must-watch player whenever the Vikings had the ball last December. In five December games, the rookie scored six touchdowns, three through the air and three on the ground. Four of those scores came from at least 33 yards out, including all three as a rusher. He also delivered a 79-yard touchdown reception against the Ravens. The second-year player picked up where he left off in August, grabbing a 53-yard touchdown in Week 3 during the team's dress rehearsal for the regular season.

If this were 2013, he'd be a virtual lock to carve up the Rams defense Sunday. St. Louis had the worst performance against No. 1 receivers in the league, per Football Outsiders, surrendering 97.7 yards per game against them. They took measures to correct that weakness, jettisoning top cornerback Cortland Finnegan and defensive coordinator Tim Walton. Patterson may have a little more difficulty this season against Gregg Williams' defense and presumably Janoris Jenkins at cornerback.

Patterson wasn't a high-volume player in his rookie season, topping five catches only once while chipping in a couple rushes per game near the end of the season. All Fantasy owners should be starting him in Week 1 hoping he breaks a carry or reception for a long touchdown.

Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman participated in individual drills Wednesday as he "inched toward availability" for Sunday night's game against the Colts, reports the Denver Post. Hillman was sidelined last Thursday by an undisclosed medical issue.

If available, Hillman will spell starter Montee Ball.

Andre Ellington took umbrage at the view circulating last season that he could not be a team's primary running back.The Cardinals agree it's a silly notion; they plan to give Ellington 18-22 touches per game, according to the team's website.

Ellington's debut as a feature back comes Monday night against the Chargers.

"I am very confident," said Ellington, who at 5-9, 203 pounds says he's stronger than last year. "Last year I wasn't aware of what my role would be on the team. Now I have got kind of an idea. I am approaching the year a lot differently."

Ellington will get the ball on handoffs, tosses, and swing passes. He'll operate out of the slot and line up wide, the website said. "It's fun creating things with a player like him," coach Bruce Arians said.

Arians saw enough last season to know Ellington is special. He averaged an NFL-high 5.5 yards per carry, broke off eight runs of 20-plus yards and averaged 9.5 yards on his 39 receptions.

In Week 1, Ellington faces a middle-of-the-pack run defense. Start him as an RB1.

Even though he opens the season as the starter with Ray Rice suspended, Fantasy owners aren't exactly thrilled about the prospects of starting Bernard Pierce in Week 1. With a tough matchup on the way against the Bengals, it doesn't seem like Pierce is likely to make anyone regret overlooking him this Sunday.

The Bengals allowed just 13.8 Fantasy points per game to opposing running backs last season, and Pierce was basically invisible in two matchups against them. Pierce had just seven Fantasy points over those two games, while racking up a total of just 89 yards on the ground and in the air.

The good news for Pierce is he did put together a solid performance in his lone career start last season, logging 12 Fantasy points while scoring one of his two touchdowns a year ago. However, the matchup against a tough Bengals defense that allowed just six touchdowns to running backs a year ago could lead to a long day for him and his Fantasy owners this Sunday.

Pierce falls just inside the top-30 among running backs in our expert rankings for Week 1, and should be considered more of a low-end Fantasy starter. 

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said running back Christine Michael will be held out of Thursday's season opener against the Packers due to a hamstring injury.