NFL Player News

Talented Ravens backup running back Bernard Pierce enters Week 3 against the Texans owned in 89 percent of CBSSports.com Fantasy leagues, and could prove a valuable investment in the event Ray Rice's hip injury sidelines him for Sunday's game.

Pierce stepped up in Rice's absence last week, rushing for 57 yards and a touchdown after Rice went down with an injury. He's got a chance to be a featured back if Rice is unable to go, and he would be a solid Fantasy option if that were the case, even with a tough matchup on the way.

The Texans have allowed just 171 yards on 50 carries in the rushing game through two weeks, and have allowed just one touchdown to a running back. Even against that type of matchup, Pierce is likely to be a top-20 back this week if given 20 carries; only one of our three experts have Pierce ranked below 20 this week.

Pierce's owners will have to keep a close eye on Rice's status moving towards game-time, because there is big-time potential here for a breakout game. If Rice is inactive, Pierce should be worth starting in the majority of Fantasy formats for Week 3. 

New Colts running back Trent Richardson intimated that he has noticed a difference in the locker room atmosphere between the Browns and Colts, ESPN is reporting. Richardson expressed his excitement on Thursday over joining the team that traded for him.

"Just being in the locker room for these couple hours, it's been a big change," he said. "They're happy to come to work and they're ready to go."

Chuck Pagano said Thursday that Richardson will play as much as he can handle Sunday against San Francisco.

Panthers coach Ron Rivera said Thursday running back Kenjon Barner will miss a third straight game Week 3 vs. N.Y. Giants because of a foot injury.

Raiders rusher Darren McFadden will play at the Broncos in Week 3. Does it mean he'll do well after two straight strong weeks to begin the season?

We'd bet against it. Denver is allowing just 2.0 yards per carry to running backs though they have been susceptible to running backs as receivers, allowing two receiving scores to the position. 

That's how McFadden scored on the Broncos in their last meeting, but the rest of his stats were pretty soft. McFadden had a 150-rush-yard game at Denver in 2011 but totaled 102 yards in two meetings in 2012. 

McFadden's going to need that touchdown to be beneficial to Fantasy owners. We'd ride him as a No. 2 running back but that's about it. 

New Colts featured back Trent Richardson will play "as much as he can handle" Sunday at San Francisco, Chuck Pagano said at his Thursday press conference, per the Indianapolis Star. Richardson was traded Wednesday from the Browns for a 2014 first-round pick.

Pagano expressed excitement about the acquisition, whom he called a "rolling ball of butcher knives."

Richardson has not been a productive rolling ball of butcher knives during his brief NFL career. He averaged 3.6 yards per carry as a rookie and is at a mere 3.4 in 2013. But Pagano said that Richardson a special player and added that his belief that the offensive line can block well enough for him to be successful.

New Colts running back Trent Richardson expressed shock and disappointment to Browns linebacker D'Qwell Jackson upon being traded, the latter told the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram. Jackson advised Richardson to focus on the positive.

Richardson had become decreasingly productive with the Browns. His per-carry average of 3.6 last season was blamed on injuries and his rookie status. But he was down to 3.4 yards and had yet to score through two games in 2013, which played a role in motivating the Browns to trade him.

Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder said Jerome Simpson's play at the beginning of the season is the reason rookie receiver Cordarrelle Patterson hasn't had many opportunities. Though, coach Leslie Frazier said earlier in the week the team is trying to rectify Patterson's absence in the passing game.

"He’s great with the ball in his hands," Ponder said of Patterson. "The problem is he’s behind a guy who is number four in the league in average yards per catch. Jerome (Simpson) is playing at an extremely high level, but we do want to continue to get Cordarrelle involved. He’s made plays for us and we’re going to keep getting him out there and put the ball in his hands. We see what he did in the return game and a couple of the screens that he has. He’s a great player."

Rams running back Isaiah Pead and Benny Cunningham earned more reps in practice Wednesday with starter Daryl Richardson sidelined by a lingering foot injury. With Rams coach Jeff Fisher expecting Richardson back at practice Thursday, Pead said you can't look too much into Wednesday's workload.

"Can’t worry about coaches’ decisions. I just have to focus on the next day’s practice and on doing what I need to do to get better," Pead said, per the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Cunningham had similar sentiments.

"I don’t feel (Richardson) not practicing will change my approach at all," he said. "I just feel like no matter who’s practicing, I have to prepare myself as if I’m a starter. That way, when my number is called, I’m ready because I’ve prepared myself for the opportunity."

If you're in a desperate situation at running back for Week 3 -- and I mean desperate -- then the Browns might have some options for you heading into their matchup at Minnesota.

Cleveland traded running back Trent Richardson to the Colts on Wednesday for a first-round pick. They are expected to sign Willis McGahee, but he likely won't be ready for the matchup against the Vikings.

With Richardson gone, the only other running backs on the roster are Chris Ogbonnaya and Bobby Rainey. Ogbonnaya would likely start and share carries with Rainey.

So far this season, Ogbonnaya has no carries and three catches for 34 yards. He was a reserve in 2012 with eight carries for 30 yards and 24 catches for 187 yards. But in 2011, Ogbonnaya started four games and finished the season with 73 carries for 334 yards and a touchdown and 23 catches for 165 yards.

Rainey has yet to touch the ball this year or in the NFL.

The matchup at Minnesota is tough, and Cleveland also has a new quarterback in Brian Hoyer for the injured Brandon Weeden (thumb). We'd avoid this backfield if possible, but in deep leagues for a desperate owner, give Ogbonnaya a look over Rainey if needed.

The Browns made a shocking move Wednesday when they traded running back Trent Richardson to the Colts for a first-round pick. We hope this will jumpstart Richardson's Fantasy value after a slow start.

Through two games, Richardson has struggled with just 31 carries for 105 yards and seven catches for 51 yards. He loses the Norv Turner system, which has been great for running backs over time like Emmitt Smith, Ricky Williams and LaDainian Tomlinson, but he goes to a better offense with more talent.

The Colts will likely split playing time with Richardson and Ahmad Bradshaw early on, but they didn't make this move to keep Richardson in a timeshare. He'll be the featured back, and he should be a must-start option in all leagues.

For Week 3, be cautious with Richardson since he might not play at San Francisco. Coming to a new team during the week, especially a road trip, doesn't give him much time to prepare. And if he does play his snaps could be limited. 

But moving forward we could see Richardson playing at a high level, and hopefully this is motivation for him to have a big season.