NFL Player News

Colts running back Trent Richardson is coming off his worst game of the season -- a five-carry, two-yard game in Week 10 against the Rams. And while things haven't looked pretty since joining the Colts, Richardson does have a nice chance to succeed against a Titans team that has allowed opposing running backs to score the seventh-most (19.7) Fantasy points per game. 

The Titans have allowed opposing backs to score eight touchdowns over the last four games. While only one (Zac Stacy) has managed a 100-yard game in that span, five backs have found the end zone. This bodes well for Richardson, who hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 4. 

There's not much to like about Richardson overall this season, outside of the hope that he'll be cut loose very soon. He hasn't seen 15 carries since Week 5, and while it's encouraging to see five receptions over the last two games, his owners in standard leagues have little to show for it. 

Richardson has reached "bench" status, but for owners who like this matchup and have a gut feeling the Colts will try to exploit the Titans' run defense with the player they gave up a first-round pick for, he could be a pleasant surprise.

Titans running back Chris Johnson has a few things working against him heading into Thursday: a slam-dunk Week 10 mathcup fizzled into a five-point game in standard formats, he has Shonn Greene in the mix for carries, and his Week 11 opponent, the Colts, are solid against the run, allowing an average of 13.1 Fantasy points per game to opposing running backs (seventh-fewest in the league). 

While this all adds up to trouble, Johnson may have some hope. The Colts have been solid overall, but they've allowed two touchdowns in the last three games, and three backs in the last four (Ryan Mathews, Ben Tate, and Zac Stacy) have carried the ball 22 or more times. Those were the only three backs to do so this season. 

Johnson has his bouts of invisibility, and has a track record of frustrating owners, so proceed with caution. But even a bad matchup following a down week means you downgrade Johnson within the top 24, not knock him outside of it, leaving him as a decent start in most formats. 

Expected to play a bigger role with Mike James following Doug Martin to the injured reserve list with a broken ankle, Buccaneers running Bobby Rainey couldn't have a better opportunity to make his presence known Week 11 against the Falcons. Atlanta ranks 27th against the run, allowing 126.8 yards per game, and has given up the 12th-most Fantasy points per game to running backs. The Seahawks' Marshawn Lynch had a season-high 145 yards against the Falcons just last week.

Of course, Lynch also had a full workload in that game. Rainey probably won't. Brian Leonard came in at running back when James first went down last week, but Rainey came on late with 45 yards on eight carries.

So does either have a clear advantage? Rainey was the more effective of the two in Week 10, but then again, eight carries don't say much. Jamey Eisenberg sees Leonard as the steadier of the two, with Rainey more of a big-pay threat, but he's the only one of the three CBSSports.com Fantasy Football analysts to rank Leonard ahead of Rainey for this week.

Because the two figure to split carries in some form or fashion, you wouldn't want to use either as more than a flex option even with the favorable matchup.

Patriots running back Shane Vereen is slated to return Week 11 from the wrist injury that’s kept him out since the opener. He’ll serve as New England’s primary passing-down back, a role in which he thrives.

Vereen totaled 159 yards from scrimmage in the Week 1 win over Buffalo. He ran for 101 yards on 14 carries, caught seven passes for 58 yards and caused six missed tackles, according to Pro Football Focus. Consider that his replacement, Brandon Bolden, has forced five missed tackles all season.

Vereen's Week 1 performance didn't come out of the blue. Vereen posted 124 yards from scrimmage and scored three touchdowns in last season’s playoff win over Houston. The Pats like to split him out wide as a receiver, which they did five times vs. Buffalo.

Carolina is tough on opposing running backs, giving up the fifth-fewest Fantasy points, and Vereen could be rusty. But he's worth the risk. Stick him in your lineups as a low-end RB2 or high-end flex.

Cardinals running back Andre Ellington heads into Week 11 vs. Jacksonville ranked first among NFL running backs averaging 7.2 yards per carry (minimum 50 attempts). Still, the Cardinals choose to limit Ellington's touches as he shares backfield reps with Rashard Mendenhall.

Even if Ellington is limited to 10-15 touches again Week 11, he could still do some damage against a team struggling to stop running backs. Through nine games against Jacksonville, running backs average 121.2 rushing yards, 40.7 receiving yards and 22 Fantasy points per week, which is tied for the second-highest average. Running backs have totaled 10 rushing touchdowns, including seven in the last four games.

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians commented earlier this season he felt Ellington would top out as a 30-35 snap back because he isn't sure Ellington would be durable enough to be a workhorse back.

It seems the plan Arizona has for Ellington works since he leads NFL running backs in yards per carry. It's just that it's a bit frustrating from a Fantasy standpoint because we would like to see more from Ellington, who is a viable No. 2 Fantasy running back Week 11 because of the favorable matchup.

After scoring three touchdowns against the Bears in Week 7, backup running back Roy Helu has become an afterthought in the Redskins offense with starter Alfred Morris performing so well, getting just a handful of touches per game. He remains the team's perferred pass-catcher out of the backfield, though, which could work to his advantage if the Redskins' trip to Philadelphia in Week 11 goes like their Week 1 matchup against the Eagles, when they were down 26-7 at halftime.

Unless they get in an obvious passing situation, as happened then, they'll likely just stick with Morris, who has run for at least 90 yards in four straight games. The Eagles have fared well enough against the run -- allowing 110.5 yards per game, 14th-fewest in the NFL -- that you probably shouldn't expect big numbers for both Morris and Helu. Helu has a better chance of contributing in this game than most, but he's still no better than a desperation play in points-per-reception leagues.

Even with starting running back Steven Jackson back from injury the last two weeks, backup Jacquizz Rodgers has managed to remain relevant in Fantasy with the Falcons constantly playing from behind. He had five catches for 28 yards against the Seahawks in Week 10 and six catches for 25 yards at the Panthers in Week 9. The Falcons lost both games by more than 20 points.

Of course, they're visiting the Buccaneers in Week 11, who they beat by eight points back in Week 7. The Buccaneers just beat the Dolphins Monday night, but it was their first win of the season. Chances are this game will be closer than what the Falcons have been used to in recent weeks.

That said, if Jackson struggles again, Rodgers could end up playing a bigger role than expected, but either way, he figures to be short on yardage. The Buccaneers rank fifth against the run, allowing 95.8 yards per game.

Rodgers gets a boost in points-per-reception leagues, of course, but he looks like nothing more than a desperation option in Fantasy this week.

The return of Shane Vereen (wrist) is expected to provide a boost to the Patriots' backfield and help in more ways than expected. Patriots running backs coach Ivan Fears told the Boston Globe running back Brandon Bolden (knee) has been playing hurt and could use some "relief."

Bolden carried the ball only three times Week 9 vs. Pittsburgh, but he averaged 12 yards per carry.

Running back Bobby Rainey, who helped lift the Buccaneers to their first victory Monday night, drew high praise from his teammates.

“Bobby Rainey has been pretty quiet but he picked up our offense tonight,’’ left tackle Donald Penn told the Tampa Bay Tribune after Rainey ran eight times for 45 yards and the winning touchdown against the Dolphins.

“He’s like a hired assassin," Penn added. "He made the most of his opportunities in football. This is how I got my start in the NFL.’’

A 26-year-old Western Kentucky product, Rainey should see substantial carries moving forward with Mike James (ankle) out indefinitely.

Dolphins running backs Lamar Miller and Daniel Thomas found zero running room behind a revamped offensive line Week 10 at Tampa Bay. Miller gained 2 yards on seven carries, while Thomas actually lost 2 yards on four carries, including getting tackled for a safety.

The duo's futility helped Miami set a franchise record with 2 rushing yards on 14 carries.

Miller was targeted three times in the passing game, making two catches for 9 yards. Thomas was not targeted. The tandem will try to move past this embarrassment in Week 11 vs. San Diego.