NFL Player News

Broncos running back C.J. Anderson (knee) returned to practice Wednesday after sitting out Week 1. Wednesday was also the first time he was in pads since injuring his MCL in training camp.

In Week 1 Ronnie Hillman played the fewest snaps, 15, among the Broncos' three-man running back committee. Hillman ran four times for 15 yards and caught both his targets for 27 yards.

Hillman, who played just two snaps before halftime, sits behind Knowshon Moreno and Montee Ball in the pecking order. Hillman is nothing more than a sheer desperation play Sunday at the Giants.

The Ravens have signed former Chiefs running back Shaun Draughn, ESPN is reporting. Draughn earned his first significant NFL playing time with Kansas City in 2012 and ran for 239 yards with a 3.9 per-rush average. He displayed some versatility with 24 receptions for 158 yards, but was among the team's last cuts this preseason.

There remains no featured back on the Broncos, John Fox told the Denver Post. He said that Knowshon Moreno, Ronnie Hillman and Montee Ball will all play Sunday against the New York Giants.

The trio combined for 21 carries in Week 1, spending most of their time blocking for quarterback Peyton Manning or watching from the sideline as he fired seven touchdown passes to bury the Ravens. Moreno received the most carries with nine.

The sharing of reps won't change in Week 2. "All three played Thursday, and all three will play Sunday," Fox said.

Rams running back Daryl Richardson finished the opener against the Cardinals, but "he did spend some time being looked at by Rams' medical personnel on the sideline," reports ESPN.com. It's a situation worth monitoring, the report said.

Richardson, who left the game briefly and got his toe wrapped, rushed 20 times for 63 yards and caught five passes for 33 yards.

With the news that Shane Vereen will miss the next eight weeks following a wrist injury suffered in Week 1, Fantasy owners have to make the call on either keeping him on the bench or cutting him for someone who will actually play. 

Depending on the size of your bench and whether or not you have space specifically for players on IR, the time has come to say goodbye to Vereen. 

The earliest Vereen can play again for the Patriots is Week 11. I spoke to people at the NFL who confirmed he is ineligible to practice for six weeks and ineligible to play in a game for eight weeks as per the rules for players placed on short-term Injured Reserve. When Vereen is eligible to come back, the Patriots will be on bye. Hence the 10-game layoff. I can't justify keeping a player on my bench that long unless I have the room. 

Running backs I'm aiming for off waivers immediately to replace him include (in order) Joique Bell, Bilal Powell, Isaiah Pead, Knowshon Moreno and then LeGarrette Blount, the backup running back in New England. None of these guys quite have the potential of Vereen but at least they'll play and potentially give me a fix at Flex for a few weeks until a better replacement is found. 

Vereen is already off my rosters in 10- and 12-person formats with six bench spots or fewer. However, I have set my mobile device's calendar to remind me to put in a claim for him on October 30, the night before Week 9 kicks off. I won't mind picking him up and waiting for him then. 

Patriots running back Shane Vereen will miss the next eight weeks after being placed on injured reserve/designated for return for his wrist injury, which leaves Fantasy owners in a tough position. The earliest we'll likely see Vereen is Week 11 since New England has a bye in Week 10.

In shallow leagues, you should cut Vereen and hope to get him back probably in Week 9 if he's healthy and practicing without a setback. Vereen is good, as we saw in Week 1 with 159 total yards against the Bills, but he's not worth tying up a roster spot when you have limited bench space.

It goes without saying that you should stash Vereen if you have an IR spot, and owners in deeper leagues should keep him if possible. He could be a valuable addition to a playoff run because when he's back the Patriots will use him, especially if Stevan Ridley continues to fumble.

This is tough news for Fantasy owners who had high expectations for Vereen as a breakout player. We can only hope that his wrist heals in time, and then he can contribute to a Fantasy championship with a late-season flurry.

The Patriots announced Tuesday running back Shane Vereen (wrist) was placed on injured reserve/designated for return. He can't practice for six weeks or play for eight weeks.

Ravens running back Bernard Pierce had a quiet 2013 debut, averaging 2.4 yards per carry in a Week 1 loss at Denver. He will look to increase his output Week 2 vs. Cleveland.

Pierce had good success against the Browns as a rookie in 2012. He managed just 13 carries, but he averaged 5.7 yards per carry and had one touchdown in two games.

Dolphins running backs Lamar Miller and Daniel Thomas struggled Week 1 against Cleveland, totaling 17 rushing yards on 18 carries. Though, Pierce and Ray Rice should have better success against Cleveland in Week 2.

Although Pierce is enjoying increased reps on offense, Rice is still the lead back. Pierce is nothing more than a flex option for deeper Fantasy formats Week 2.

Playing behind the newly acquired Steven Jackson for the first time, Falcons running back Jacquizz Rodgers had a grand total of three touches for 2 yards in Week 1. His role doesn't figure to change that much against the Rams in Week 2.

While Rodgers was a necessary pass-catching complement to Michael Turner in his first two years in the league, Jackson can handle that role himself -- and did quite admirably in Week 1, catching five passes for 45 yards.

Maybe if the Falcons build up a big lead -- which seems unlikely after the Rams scored 27 against the Cardinals in Week 1 -- Rodgers can get some touches late, but other than as a handcuff option for Jackson, Fantasy owners should want no part of him.