NFL Player News

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.

Buccaneers running back Doug Martin enjoyed having fullback Erik Lorig back in the lineup Sunday. Martin ran for 144 yards against the Saints, the second-highest total of his young career, while averaging 5.0 yards per carry.

When Lorig missed the opener with a calf injury, Martin struggled.

“The running game was amazing," Martin told the team's website after the loss to New Orleans. "The line did an awesome job staying on their guys and getting a push off the line of scrimmage. You have to give a lot of credit to Erik Lorig, he came back, his first game from injury. He also did a good job, and [so did] the receivers blocking downfield.”

If anything happened to Cardinals starting running back Rashard Mendenhall, it sounds like coach Bruce Arians wouldn't hesitate giving backup running back Andre Ellington more work. On Monday, Arians said he views Ellington as more than a third-down, change-of-pace back.

"This kid can carry the load," Arians said, per the team's official website.

Ellington averaged 5.0 yards per carry and scored a receiving touchdown Week 2 vs. Detroit.

Panthers rookie running back Kenjon Barner (foot) said Monday he's hopeful to play Week 3 vs. N.Y. Giants after missing the first two games, per the Charlotte Observer. Barner hasn't run during practice yet.

Vikings coach Leslie Frazier didn't seem happy rookie receiver Cordarrelle Patterson played only six snaps Week 2 at Chicago, according to the Star Tribune. Frazier said that issue will be "rectified" heading into Week 3 vs. Cleveland.

The rookie receiver has just three catches for 24 yards through two games.

"He definitely deserves to be on the field more," Frazier said. "He's shown that in the few snaps he's gotten in these first two ball games. Hopefully, everything being equal, that should not be a part of the conversation next week. We want to get him on the field. He's one of our explosive players for sure. We see what he does when he gets the ball in his hands. We've got to find a way to get him on the field."

Browns featured back Trent Richardson averaged just 3.6 yards per carry in 2012 and 3.4 this season. His longest run in Baltimore on Sunday was nine yards. But it's not from a lack of effort, according to Rob Chudzinski.

"I think Trent's been playing extremely hard," he told the Akron Beacon Journal. "We've just to to keep giving him touches and opportunities."

The Browns offensive line has struggled mightily this year in both run and pass blocking.

The Dolphins finally used their running backs the right way Sunday at Indianapolis in Week 2. Lamar Miller was the star, and Daniel Thomas played in a supporting role.

Miller had 14 carries for 69 yards and a touchdown and two catches for 6 yards. Thomas, meanwhile, was held to eight carries for 30 yards and one catch for 10 yards.

Thomas isn't going away. The Dolphins like him in pass protection and short-yardage situations. But Miller is a difference maker and needs to lead Miami in carries.

The Dolphins play at home against Atlanta in Week 3, and Miller has the chance for a repeat performance from this week. This was definitely a step in the right direction for Miller after a quiet preseason and bad Week 1 outing (no Fantasy points) against the Browns.

Thomas, on the other hand, isn't a recommended Fantasy option in most formats. He's just not going to touch the ball enough to produce at a high level, especially when Miller is on top of his game.

Titans running back Chris Johnson had another game Sunday in Week 2 at Houston with a lot of work and not a lot to show for it. He finished the game with 25 carries for 96 yards and one catch for 1 yard.

This is now consecutive games with 25 carries, but he has just 166 yards despite all that work. The good news is the Titans remain committed to running the ball with 50 carries through two weeks. The bad news is Johnson might not get much relief going forward.

He has a favorable matchup in Week 3 against San Diego, but after that Johnson faces tough defenses in the Jets in Week 4, Kansas City in Week 5, at Seattle in Week 6 and San Francisco in Week 7.

You're obviously starting Johnson in all leagues based on how much he'll touch the ball and his potential for the big play. But it might not be much easier going forward, outside of Week 3 against the Chargers, because those are some tough matchups ahead.

Buccaneers running back Doug Martin turned in an impressive performance at home against the Saints in Week 2.

After being held to only 65 yards on the ground last week, Martin bounced back with 144 yards on 29 carries, averaging 5.0 yards per carry in a 16-14 defeat. He was targeted once and was held without a catch in the passing game.

Martin already has 53 carries for 209 yards and a touchdown through his first two games. He will look to keep things going Week 3 at New England. The Patriots allowed 129 yards rushing to the Jets in Week 2.