NFL Player News

Ravens running back Bernard Pierce remained limited in practice on Friday with a thigh injury and has been deemed questionable for the game Sunday against the visiting Browns.

Pierce will hope for a bounce-back performance if he does play after managing a per-rush average of just 2.4 in the Week 1 loss to Denver.

Buccaneers running back Doug Martin could be primed for a big performance heading into Week 2 at home against the Saints.

Martin found the end zone and rushed for 65 yards on 24 carries in Week 1 against the Jets. He’ll face a New Orleans defense that allowed 88 rushing yards, including 77 to Steven Jackson and the Falcons last week.

Martin totaled 100 yards of offense last time he faced the Saints at home. He rushed for 85 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries and caught three passes for 37 yards in Week 7 of last season. That said, he has only rushed for 101 yards and racked up only 56 receiving yards combined in two career games against the Saints.

The Saints were dead last in 2012 against the run, so we expect Martin to have a big day on the ground. There’s not many running backs in Fantasy that have a better matchup than Martin. Consider him a must-start option heading into Week 2 at home.

The Patriots did not have the services of running back Brandon Bolden for Week 2 against the Jets Thursday, due to a knee injury. Bolden was not in uniform for the matchup. 

Dolphins running back Daniel Thomas managed to salvage a poor performance in Week 1 against the Browns by finding the end zone. Will he be so lucky in Week 2 against the Colts?

The Colts struggled as a team with defending the run last season, allowing the fourth-most rushing yards in the league. However, they were better than expected at defending the end zone, allowing 14 rushing touchdowns, the 11th-most in the league. That could make it difficult for Thomas to find the end zone, and it is hard to see what Fantasy value he has if he isn't vulturing touchdowns.  

Thomas is worth owning for Fantasy purposes given the Dolphins' seeming lack of trust in Lamar Miller, however that is not enough to make him worth a look on a weekly basis. Fantasy owners should not consider starting Thomas outside of deeper formats in Week 2.

Rams running back Daryl Richardson (foot) returned to practice Thursday after sitting out Wednesday. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports Richardson "got a fair amount of work" as the team prepares for Week 2 at Atlanta.

Panthers coach Ron Rivera said Thursday he was encouraged after watching running back Kenjon Barner, who has already been ruled out for Week 2 with a foot injury, run in practice.

Browns featured back Trent Richardson expressed disappointment Thursday when asked about his lack of reps in the loss Sunday to Miami. Richardson had four carries in the first six plays, but just nine the rest of the game and none in a fourth quarter that began with the Browns trailing only 13-10.

"I just don't think [the Dolphins] stopped the running game," he told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "I think we stopped it ourselves ... I guess coach had another game plan and it went that way. I just thought we were going to run the ball. I thought it was going to be a real good day. I just knew that if we could run the ball on any team, I feel like it's going to be a fight down to the finish and we're going to win."

Richardson and his offensive line looked out of sync after a strong start. He managed just 21 yards on nine carries after the first possession.

Offensive coordinator Norv Turner said Thursday that he hopes to get Richardson more than 20 carries Sunday in Baltimore.

Chargers running back Ryan Mathews didn't have the most impressive of Week 1 performances, rushing 13 times for 33 yards and catching two passes for 22 yards and a touchdown. While it all added up to 11 points in standard leagues -- good for a spot in the top 10 of Week 1 running back scoring -- it's risky to look at this as a good thing, as he won't be scoring touchdowns (and getting those six points) every week. 

Mathews should benefit from a Week 2 date against the Eagles, who will execute their offense at a lightning-fast pace and offer the Chargers plenty of chances to rack up Fantasy stats. The question here, though, is about playing time -- Ronnie Brown had seven touches in Week 1 to Mathews' 15. And Danny Woodhead will likely have a role in the offense, as well. Mathews was second on the team in receptions in Week 1, but that's not going to matter much to his owners if all that takes is catching two passes. 

Mathews hasn't done enough yet to merit standing as a solid RB2 just yet. But with his potential in this new Chargers system, he can be started as a flex in most leagues. It's a new world order with running backs this season, and just hitting double digits in points may be enough to be a top-12 back most weeks. 

Browns featured back Trent Richardson received 13 rushing attempts in the loss to Miami on Sunday, including just five in the second half and none in the fourth quarter, which began with his team trailing only 13-10.

His lack of reps drew criticism and might explain why offensive coordinator Norv Turner told the Akron Beacon Journal on Thursday that he wants to see Richardson get more than 20 carries Sunday in Baltimore.

Richardson carried the ball on four of the team's first six plays for 26 yards but managed just nine carries for 21 yards the rest of the way.

Although Vikings rookie wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson saw his first five kick-return attempts Week 1 against the Lions result in touchbacks, Patterson finally got his hands on a kickoff eight yards deep in the end zone and returned it 30 yards. Patterson said the coaching staff has no problems with him taking chances on kickoffs.

"My coach [Mike Priefer] feels comfortable with me, whether I catch it eight or nine yards deep, he told me just bring it out," Patterson said, per The Star Tribune. "He expects me to do good things."