NFL Player News

Though Doug Martin is still the league's ninth-leading rusher, the second-year running back hasn't had much room to run since the Buccaneers made the switch to Mike Glennon at quarterback in Week 4, averaging 56.0 yards in two games. But if Glennon continues to do what he did against the Eagles last week, throwing for 273 yards and two touchdowns, defenses will have to make some effort to stop the pass, freeing up Martin to get more out of his 20-plus carries per game.

So will that happen Week 7 at Atlanta? The Falcons are nearly as bad as the Eagles against the pass, allowing 274.8 yards per game, seventh-most in the NFL, so if they take Glennon for granted, they could get burned. Then again, seeing as they rank sixth against the run, allowing 97.4 yards per game, they may not have too much trouble slowing down Martin anyway.

Martin has history on his side, having rushed for 192 yards and three touchdowns in two games against the Falcons last season, and is still one of the safer running backs you could start each week because of all the carries he gets. But he may not be ready to break out just yet.

Falcons running back Jacquizz Rodgers, who broke out with two touchdowns when the team last played Week 5 against the Jets, may not have much help in the backfield Week 7 against the Buccaneers. Steven Jackson is still working his way back from a hamstring injury that has sidelined him since Week 2, and Jason Snelling, though able to practice Tuesday, is no certainty to play after suffering a concussion in Week 5.

Though a chance to carry the load would seemingly be a good thing for Rodgers' Fantasy value, it comes at an inopportune time. True, the Buccaneers rank a modest 13th against the run, but they've allowed the eighth-fewest Fantasy points per game to running backs, giving up 3.8 yards per carry and just one rushing touchdown.

Then again, with Julio Jones now out for the year and Roddy White still limited by injuries of his own, the Falcons may be looking to run the ball more than ever, regardless of what the numbers say. You could do worse for your flex spot this week.

Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman got 11 carries in Week 4, seven carries in Week 5, and four last week. It's a disturbing trend for his Fantasy prospects as Knowshon Moreno has taken command of the backfield.

Now purely a change-of-pace back, Hillman has retained some value by catching eight passes the past three weeks. He didn't help himself, however, by fumbling against the Jaguars.

In Week 7 at the Colts, Hillman is only a flex option in very deep PPR leagues.

With Cowboys running backs DeMarco Murray (knee) and Lance Dunbar (hamstring) expected to sit out Week 7 at Philadelphia, rookie running back Joseph Randle will be a hot pickup in Fantasy leagues this week. If you are lucky enough to nab Randle off waivers (owned in 6 percent of leagues), then you might consider starting him in Week 7.

Running backs average 91.2 rushing yards, 37.8 receiving yards and 15 Fantasy points per week against the Eagles. The Fantasy Points Against average is a little bit low because running backs have just four touchdowns and three fumbles against Philadelphia. Most teams have taken to the air to expose Philadelphia's weak secondary.

Randle got his first carries Week 6 when Murray left the game with a knee injury. Though, Randle was far from impressive, despite scoring a touchdown. He rushed for just 17 yards on 11 carries. Perhaps he will perform better Sunday after a full week of reps with the first-team offense. Fantasy owners can consider Randle a low-end No. 2 Fantasy running back or flex option Week 7.

Colts running back Donald Brown ran three times for 15 yards and caught both his targets for 19 yards in the loss at San Diego. It was the fourth straight game Brown has averaged at least 5 yards per carry.

Brown is making a case for more playing time but isn't getting it so far, even with Trent Richardson struggling. Brown faces Broncos in Week 7.

Colts running back Trent Richardson had a great matchup against San Diego's leaky defense, but he failed to deliver. Again. He gained 40 yards on 10 carries, made a 13-yard reception and dropped his other target.

Richardson did not score for the second straight week, and he missed a blitz pickup that got Andrew Luck sacked.

Richardson's highlights came when he broke five tackles after a short reception in the second quarter, and when he ran 12 yards up the gut in the third quarter. Overall, though, it was another depressing performance by last year's No. 3 overall pick.

Richardson has just two runs of 20-plus yards in his career. He plays the Broncos in Week 7.

Chargers running back Ryan Mathews, who came in averaging 3.5 yards per carry, posted his first 100-yard rushing game since December 2011 in the win over the Colts. Mathews carried 22 times for 102 yards, an average of 4.6 per carry.

It was Mathews' sixth 100-yard effort in 44 career games. He was sharp from the start, gaining 47 yards on 11 first-half carries. When the Chargers wanted to bleed the clock late, Mathews showed good vision on a 10-yard zone run, then busted a 15-yard run off right tackle.

Mathews did not score a touchdown for the fifth straight game, and he foolishly ran out of bounds with 2:28 remaining. He was targeted once without a catch. Still, it was a breakthrough performance.

Mathews will try to build on it Week 7 at Jacksonville.

Chargers running back Ryan Mathews, who suffered a concussion in Week 5, is active against the Colts after being listed as probable. Mathews is averaging 3.5 yards per carry and has one receiving touchdown this season.

49ers running back LaMichael James was a healthy scratch again Week 6 vs. Arizona. The second-year running back has been active just six times in his young NFL career, but coach Jim Harbaugh said Monday he expects James to factor into the offense at some point.

"His development has been fine," Harbaugh said, per CSN Bay Area. "He’ll be back playing. I know the talk about insurance and etc. It’s no slight to LaMichael. LaMichael is very good player. And he’s a very valued member of our team.

"(I) let LaMichael know he’s a valued guy around here and has a big role for our football team. We definitely all value LaMichael as a backup running back -- like a two. And there’s going to come a time like last year when he’s fully in the mix and depended on. And that time will come again."

The struggles of the Ravens' run game persisted Week 6 vs. Green Bay. Ray Rice managed just 34 rushing yards on 14 carries, while backup running back Bernard Pierce had 9 rushing yards on six carries.

The Ravens totaled 47 rushing yards on 22 carries in the 19-17 loss.

"We would love to run the ball better," Rice said, per The Baltimore Sun. "It's not something that you plan on, going out there and messing up. The run game has to get better. They created piles. They did what good goal-line defenses do. I never had a fair one-on-one shot with a guy. There was always two or three [defenders] in the hole."

Through six games, the Ravens are averaging 2.7 yards per carry and 72.7 rushing yards per game, which ranks 27th in the NFL.

"What you saw out there is not what we put out in practice, we practiced so hard," Rice said. "I'd use the words, 'a little frustrated.' This is one of the hardest-working teams in the NFL, I believe. I know for a fact what we get in between weightlifting, practice and everything we do, what we put out there is a little bit frustrating."