NFL Player News

The Colts pulled off a major trade Wednesday, acquiring former No. 3 overall pick Trent Richardson from the Browns in exchange for their 2014 first-round pick. 

Richardson has 1,055 yards on 298 carries through his first 17 career games, with 11 total touchdowns. 

The Browns also announce they will be bringing in free-agent running back Willis McGahee for a physical, with the expectation of signing him this week. 

Buccaneers running back Doug Martin is having a fine season, despite Tampa Bay starting off at 0-2 with the prospects of facing a well-rested Patriots team on Sunday of Week 3.

Martin ran for just 65 yards Week 1 but scored his first touchdown. He didn't score last week against the Saints, but averaged 5.0 yards per carry on his way to 144 rushing yards.

He should have a chance for a solid performance Week 3 against New England. He's never squared off against the Patriots in his career, but New England has given up an average of over 100 yards per game on the ground thus far this year. No back has individually topped 100 yards against them, but they have played the Jets and Bills, two teams that share carries more than the Bucs have with Martin.

He's been the best and most consistent offensive weapon that Tampa Bay has to offer. Martin should remain active in all Fantasy leagues as a No. 1 RB for Week 3.

Rams running back Daryl Richardson, who was limited last week, had his injured foot in a boot Wednesday, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Richardson, who played Week 2, did not practice Wednesday as the team prepares for Week 3 at Dallas.

Titans running back Chris Johnson has a good history against his Week 3 opponent -- San Diego. Johnson is averaging 72.7 rushing yards, 5.0 yards per carry and has two rushing touchdowns in three career games against San Diego.

The Chargers have yet to allow a 100-yard rusher in 2013, but running backs are averaging 89 rushing yards, 77.5 receiving yards and 15 Fantasy points per week against San Diego. Running backs are also averaging 4.3 yards per carry, but they have yet to score a touchdown against the Chargers.

Johnson has just one 100-yard game in his last eight appearances dating back to last season. He has just two rushing touchdowns in that span. Johnson is no longer the elite Fantasy running back he once was, but he's averaged 25 carries through the first two games, so he's still a valuable asset. Johnson remains a viable Fantasy start in all formats Week 3.

Cardinals running back Andre Ellington showed his ability to impact the offense with a 36-yard touchdown reception Week 2 against Lions and actually ended up being the team's leading receiver with 42 yards on two catches. But unless something happens to starter Rashard Mendenhall, he'll need to break another long one to factor in Fantasy at New Orleans in Week 3.

The Saints have struggled against the run this season. They rank 27th, allowing 124.0 yards per game, and just gave up 144 rushing yards to Buccaneers running back Doug Martin last week. But Ellington had only four carries to Mendenhall's 15 against the Lions last week and had only the two targets in the passing game. Getting him the ball clearly isn't a priority for the Cardinals.

Ellington has emerged as the obvious handcuff option for Mendenhall, but you wouldn't want to start him against the Saints.

Panthers rookie running back Kenjon Barner, who had set a goal of playing this week, was unable to practice Wednesday as he continues to deal with a foot injury, reports the Charlotte Observer.

Rams running back Isaiah Pead finished Week 2 without much to show for Fantasy owners who took a gamble on him. Pead carried the ball once, caught two passes, and was targeted four times. 

With starter Daryl Richardson among the top 20 running backs in Fantasy points this season (in standard leagues; Richardson also has 10 receptions on the season, boosting his value in PPR formats), Pead owners can't really harp on the player ahead of him not doing his job. Pead did see action on 38 percent of snaps in Week 2 (Richardson saw 52 percent), but didn't have much to show for it. 

Pead may ultimately end up being just a handcuff for the Richardson owner, and not the Joique Bell-type supplement that his rooters hoped for. He's worth a gamble in a deeper league, just in case this changes, but if there are better options out there (Jacquizz Rodgers, Eddie Royal, maybe even Austin Pettis), he's worth dropping to get a possible contributor onto the roster. 

Rams running back Daryl Richardson took a promising Week 1 stat line (20 rushes for 63 yards) and saw it severely halted when the Rams went to a no-huddle in the second half in Week 2 (10 rushes for 35 yards), trying to play catch-up against the Falcons. 

While Richardson only has 16 total Fantasy points on the season, he does have 10 receptions -- sixth-most among running backs -- over the first two games (giving him a value boost in PPR leagues). Richardson ranks 20th in points among running backs in non-PPR formats, putting him comfortably inside the RB2 starting zone. 

Also working in favor of Richardson picking up the production a bit is the fact that the Rams have faced the Cardinals and Falcons in their first two games -- they boast the third and ninth-best run defenses in the NFL this season. The Cowboys are the 11th-best.

Richardson is still worth a start as your second running back -- his numbers may not look great but, relative to the rest of the field, he's been decent -- but you may have to cross your fingers if using him as a flex until he gets some more favorable matchups. 

Chargers running back Ryan Mathews heads into Week 3 at Tennessee without a rushing touchdown in 11 straight games dating back to last season. In fact, he has just two touchdowns (one rushing) in his last 15 games.

The Titans have allowed just one rushing touchdown to a running back in two games, but they did allow Houston running backs to total 172 rushing yards Week 2 and running backs are averaging 100 rushing yards per game against Tennessee. Running backs are also averaging 15 Fantasy points per week against Tennessee.

Mathews sits atop the running back depth chart for San Diego, but the Chargers don't use him as a workhorse back. He's averaged 16 touches through the first two games. Fantasy owners should look to Mathews as a No. 3 Fantasy running back or flex option Week 3.

Fantasy owners have been waiting for more than a year for Browns featured back Trent Richardson to begin living up to his promise. But several factors continue to hold him back and make him a questionable play Sunday in Minnesota.

Among them is the team's run blocking, which continues to be inconsistent. Another is his apparent hesitation to attack the rare holes opened up for him. Richardson managed a per-rush average of 3.6 last year and scored 11 touchdowns despite missing the preseason and playing throughout with broken ribs. He is healthy now, but is down to just 3.4 yards a carry with no scores.

The Vikings have been quite generous with opposing featured backs in 2013. They yielded 90 yards rushing and 101 receiving to Reggie Bush in Week 1. Matt Forte added 90 yards rushing and 11 receptions for 71 yards on Sunday. Richardson is capable of similar numbers, but has yet to show that he can reach his capabilities.

Richardson remains a viable Fantasy option against the Vikings. But one can only hope for that explosive performance that befits his talent. The dream for such a game fades with every mediocre week.