NFL Player News

Dennis Allen said Wednesday that oft-injured Raiders running back Darren McFadden has an ankle problem. He sustained his latest injury in the loss Thursday to Dallas.

McFadden has already missed four games this season, including the three before Thursday with a hamstring injury.

Colts running back Trent Richardson hit a season low in touches against the Titans in Week 13, with five carries for 19 yards and no receptions. Donald Brown, meanwhile set a season high, with 16 touches (and he scored a touchdown).

To make the situation even uglier for Richardson, the Colts have to face the Bengals this Sunday. Cincinnati hasn't allowed a running back to score since Week 4. So Richardson is in the unenviable position of not only facing the defense that has allowed the third-fewest Fantasy points per game to opposing running backs, but doing so as the clear backup. 

Richardson has seen his value slowly fade this season. He can be benched in most Fantasy formats. 

The good news for Colts running back Donald Brown: his 16 touches in Week 13 were a season high, and the game marked the second time in three with Brown getting 15 or more touches. Additionally, Trent Richardson was relegated to backup duty, and Brown scored his third touchdown in three games. 

The bad news: Fourteen carries are still kind of low for a starting running back (for Fantasy purposes, at least), and Brown is facing a Bengals defense in Week 14 that has been brutal on opposing running backs. The Bengals haven't allowed a running back to score a touchdown since Week 4. They've only given up three touchdowns on the season to running backs. And only Lamar Miller and Johnathan Franklin have run for over 100 yards. 

Brown has a bigger role on his team, which gives him a nice uptick in value. But his Week 14 situation makes Brown a tough start, even with his recent success in finding the end zone. He's a borderline flex play in deeper Fantasy formats. 

Cardinals receiver Michael Floyd (ankle) and running back Andre Ellington (knee) likely won't practice Wednesday, coach Bruce Arians told the team's website. Both are considered day to day ahead of Sunday's game vs. the Rams.

Raiders deposed featured back Darren McFadden did not practice Wednesday. He had returned to game action from a hamstring injury Sunday in Dallas, but had just five carries.

His inactivity, which could be precautionary, resulted in practice reps at that spot for cornerback Taiwan Jones, according to ESPN.

Buccaneers running back Bobby Rainey has had two disappointing performances since breaking out for 163 rushing yards and three touchdowns (two rushing) during a 41-28 win Week 11 vs. Atlanta. Well, Rainey finally might break his slump Week 14 vs. Buffalo.

In Rainey's defense, he's faced two pretty good run defenses the last two weeks in the Lions and Panthers. Running backs have averaged just 61.6 rushing yards per week against Detroit and 71.3 rushing yards per week against the Panthers.

Running backs are averaging just 15.3 Fantasy points per week against the Bills, which is tied for the 10th-lowest average, but running backs are averaging 108.1 rushing yards per week. Running backs have also totaled five rushing touchdowns in the last three games against Buffalo. The trend has started to change against Buffalo, as running backs have averaged 24 Fantasy points the last three weeks.

Even though Rainey is coming off two bad games, the Bucs continue to feed him the football. The last time he had a favorable matchup, he went off against the Falcons. Rainey could be in for another good game Week 14, so Fantasy owners have to give strong consideration to starting him.

The Colts made a slew of roster moves Tuesday, which included placing running back Dan Herron and Mario Harvey on season-ending injured reserve.

The Colts also elevated outside linebacker Daniel Adongo and tackle Xavier Nixon from the practice squad to the active roster, while adding fullback Robert Hughes and defensive tackle Jeris Pendleton to the practice squad. 

Everyone under the sun has pretty much chimed in on why former first-round pick Trent Richardson has struggled since his acquisition from Cleveland. Titans defensive tackle Jurrell Casey is the latest person to voice his opinion, but he provides an interesting perspective on what might be the problem with the Colts' second-year running back.

According to Casey, Richardson is "probably afraid of getting hurt."

"With a guy like [Trent], everybody knows he’s a downhill runner," Casey told FOXSports.com in a telephone interview. "A lot of times guys shoot at his legs. He’s a smaller guy so nobody tries to hit him up high.

"When guys are shooting at your legs, that could result in injury so I think that’s probably one of his cases is he feels, ‘they’re shooting at my knees. I got to figure out how to not allow this to happen.’ So I think that’s probably the biggest thing with him is he’s probably afraid of getting hurt."

Ravens coach John Harbaugh mentioned a few weeks ago he would go with the hot hand at running back since Ray Rice continued to struggle. It opened the door for Bernard Pierce to become a factor in the run game, but sadly Bernard hasn't capitalized. 

Pierce averaged just 2.8 yards per carry and totaled 125 rushing yards in five November games. He started to see more carries after Harbaugh made his comments, but it didn't help spark Pierce's game. Will his fortunes start to change in the first December game against Minnesota Week 14?

Running backs are averaging 20.8 Fantasy points per week, which is the fifth-highest average. Running backs are also averaging 96.8 rushing yards and 55.3 receiving yards per game against Minnesota, but in the last six games running backs are averaging 114.7 rushing yards. Running backs have totaled 14 touchdowns (11 rushing) in 12 games.

Week 14 presents a favorable matchup for Rice and Pierce, and this could finally be the week Pierce gets going. However, that's a big IF, and the Ravens could lean on Rice if he gets on a roll as well. Pierce is more of a desperation Fantasy option, if you are in need of a running back Week 14.

The Seahawks listed seven players as inactive for Monday's game vs. the Saints: receiver Percy Harvin (hip), cornerback Brandon Browner (groin), defensive tackle Jordan Hill, running back Christine Michael, defensive end Benson Mayowa, and offensive tackles Michael Bowie and Caylin Hauptmann.