NFL Player News

Titans running back Chris Johnson had his first game in double-digit Fantasy points in Week 5 (he scored 13), but it came in a game where Johnson had the fewest rushing yards of 2013 (17). His four receptions were a season high, but his 10 carries were a season low. 

Johnson began the season with two 25-carry games, rushing for 90-plus yards in two of his first three. Things quickly went south, though, and Johnson had 25 carries combined in Weeks 4 and 5, and just 38 total rushing yards (he scored a touchdown -- his only of the season -- in Week 5 on a 49-yard broken pass play). 

This good-game/bad-game unpredictability is nothing new for Johsnon -- last season, he had five 100-plus rushing yard games and five with fewer than 30 yards. It's become an annoying guessing game, where any week could bring 100 yards... or 15. 

With the Seahawks on tap for Week 6, Johnson faces a similarly unpredictable force -- Seattle has allowed just 12.6 Fantasy points per game to opposing running backs, but has given up 18.7 Fantasy points per game to running backs over the last three. 

If anyone says they know what to expect from Johnson this week, they're lying. But there is a simple strategy here: he's too explosive to bench, albeit too unpredictable to rely on. Start him in most leagues and hope for the best against an erratic Seattle run defense. 

Dolphins wide receiver Brian Hartline did his best to avoid answering a question on NFL Network Wednesday about if teammate Lamar Miller is a 25-carry-per-game running back.

"Luckily, at this point in my career, I don't have to make those decisions," Hartline said, per NFL.com.

Although Miller has started all five games for Miami, he hasn't had more than 14 carries in a game and has 50 carries to backup Daniel Thomas' 27 carries.

"I would say our coaches are really wanting one of the guys to step up," Hartline said. "You want someone to take the bull by the reins, and the coaches feel like that hasn't happened yet. So, until that happens, we are going to see multiple guys coming out of the backfield."

Raiders featured back Darren McFadden is participating in team drills on Wednesday, which bodes well for his status for the game Sunday in Kansas City, according to the Oakland Tribune.

McFadden has struggled most of the season. Aside from his 129-yard performance against the awful Jaguars in Week 2, he has just 86 yards rushing on 34 carries in three games.

Vikings wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson is coming off the worst Fantasy game of his young career -- a one-catch, nine-yard, zero Fantasy point performance in Week 4 against the Steelers. 

Patterson, a rookie out of Tennessee, was only targeted twice by Matt Cassel, who will be quarterbacking the team again in Week 6. Making matters worse, the Vikings face the Panthers, who have allowed the eighth-fewest Fantasy points per game to opposing wideouts this season. 

Patterson has value in leagues counting return yards, as he has a touchdown and is averaging over 100 yards per game. But in formats where only his receiving yards matter, Patterson is best left on waiver wires until he can put together a string of decent games. 

The Colts made two roster moves Wednesday. They signed running back Dan Herron off the Bengals' practice squad and signed free agent linebacker Andy Studebaker to the active roster.

Ravens running back Bernard Pierce averaged a season-best 4.2 yards per carry during a 26-23 win Week 5 at Miami. Pierce will look to be effective with his carries again Week 6 vs. Green Bay.

Running backs have had moderate success against Green Bay. They are averaging 79.8 rushing yards, 41 receiving yards and 15 Fantasy points per week. They have also totaled three touchdowns in four games against the Packers.

Pierce has averaged 61 rushing yards in two home games this season. Though, both of those games starting running back Ray Rice was either injured or didn't play. Rice is healthy heading into Week 6, so Pierce will see backup touches again. He's just a potential bye-week Fantasy replacement in deep formats.

The Titans made changes to their practice squad Tuesday. They signed running back Kendall Gaskins and linebacker Brandon Copeland, while waiving tackle Al Netter.

Buccaneers running back Doug Martin should be in or a bounce-back game Week 6 at home against Philadelphia. The Eagles offense hasn't been able to stop much of anything and Martin and the offense should be a more cohesive unit in Mike Glennon's second start at QB.

Martin managed just 45 rushing yards on 27 attempts last week with a 1.7 yard per carry average. Before that, however, he was having a very successful year with at least 88 rushing yards or a touchdown in each of his first three games. He had trouble getting anything going against the Cardinals last week, but should have more luck with a different bird in the Eagles Sunday.

Philadelphia has given up four rushing touchdowns this season. The opposition's starting running back has scored against the Eagles every week except Week 2 of the season. While no RB has topped 100 rushing yards against Philadelphia, we expect Martin to have a solid game catching the football as well.

The last time Martin rushed against the Eagles, back in 2012, he ran 28 times for 128 yards and a score and caught three passes for the Bucs. Fantasy owners can roll with Martin as a solid No. 1 Fantasy RB for Week 6.

What would Donald Brown do with more carries? The fifth-year Colts running back is averaging a ridiculous 8.3 yards per carry as a change of pace behind Trent Richardson and, previously, Ahmad Bradshaw.

Brown is averaging four carries since Indianapolis traded for Richardson. Brown vultured a 3-yard touchdown last week, his first rushing score since the 2012 opener, and caught two passes for the second straight week. 

Indy's Week 6 opponent, San Diego, gives up 4.9 yards per carry, so Brown is likely to be productive again. But until he starts getting more opportunities, leave him on your bench.

The Colts announced Tuesday they waived fullback Robert Hughes and released running back Kerwynn Williams from the practice squad.