NFL Player News

Browns running back Trent Richardson has never gone more than two games in his young NFL career without scoring a touchdown. He hasn't scored in his last two games dating back to last season, so he seems due heading into Week 2 at Baltimore.

Richardson's last 100-yard rushing game came against Baltimore in Week 9 last season. Richardson performed well against the Ravens as a rookie, totaling 152 rushing yards, 88 receiving yards and one touchdown in two games. 

While Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning shred the Ravens' secondary for seven touchdowns Week 1, the Denver backfield managed just 67 rushing yards and averaged 3.2 yards per carry.

Browns coach Rob Chudzinski said Monday Richardson was held to 15 touches Week 1 against the Dolphins because Cleveland couldn't extend drives due to a poor third-down conversion rate (1 for 14). It sounds like the Browns could run Richardson early and often Week 2. If you own Richardson, then consider starting him in all Fantasy formats.

Though he's able to practice again after being suspended in Week 1 for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy, Rams running back Isaiah Pead hasn't been promised anything by coach Jeff Fisher, who said "we'll see" when asked Monday if Pead would play Week 2 at Atlanta, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Pead wasn't especially effective in the preseason, but he did lead the Rams with 26 carries for 86 yards. As a former second-round pick on a team still searching for a running game with Steven Jackson now out of the picture, he's a good bet to contribute in some capacity.

Most likely, he's not going overtake Daryl Richardson, who averaged just 3.2 yards on his 20 carries in Week 1, but the two could work in tandem. Unfortunately, a tandem role probably won't amount to much even against a Falcons defense that struggled against the run last season, allowing 123.2 yards per game and 4.8 yards per carry.

Until Pead proves his worth on offense, he's nothing more than a bench option in Fantasy.

Though second-year running back Daryl Richardson gained just 63 yards on 20 carries (to go along with 33 yards on five catches) in Week 1, the Rams seemed mostly pleased with his first go as Steven Jackson's replacement.

"He showed that he has matured since last year both in the ability to run the football and to pick up blitzes," quarterback Sam Bradford told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "I'm extremely proud of him, and I'm excited for what this year is gonna be for him."

That said, Richardson may not get the same workload Week 2 at Atlanta with former second-round pick Isaiah Pead due back from suspension. Coach Jeff Fisher hasn't said how he'll use Pead, if he uses him at all, but because Richardson didn't exactly separate himself from the pack in Week 1, you have think he's at risk of losing some touches.

And even if he doesn't, you can't assume he'll get another 20 carries. The Falcons have one of the league's most prolific offenses, and with Jackson gone, Bradford is the Rams' best bet for keeping pace. Because he'll be hard-pressed just to repeat last week's numbers, Richardson remains more of a flex option than a true starting running back in Fantasy.

Titans running back Chris Johnson prepares to face a familiar foe Week 2, as Tennessee makes the trip to face AFC South rival Houston. Johnson has averaged 89.3 rushing yards per game in 10 career games against Houston, eclipsing the 100-yard mark four times, including a 141-yard rushing performance last season at Houston.

Johnson averaged 2.8 yards per carry in a tough Week 1 win at Pittsburgh. He did carry the football 25 times, with Tennessee showing a committment to six-year veteran back and the run game.

Though his history against Houston is strong, Johnson could have trouble finding running lanes Sunday. Chargers running backs totaled 18 Fantasy points Week 1 against Houston, but had just 62 rushing yards and averaged 3.3 yards per carry.

While Johnson is a recommended Fantasy start Week 2, it's probably best to view him as more of a No. 2 running back.

Chargers running back Ryan Mathews equaled his 2012 touchdown total in the first 15 seconds this season, diving for a 14-yard scoring toss from Philip Rivers. But Mathews was unable to find running room against the Texans’ stout defense.

Mathews finished with 33 yards rushing on 13 carries (2.5-yard average) and two catches for 22 yards. He’ll play at Philadelphia in Week 2.

Redskins running back Roy Helu backed up Alfred Morris and did a nice job late in a game that saw Washington come back from 33-7 down for a 33-27 loss.

Helu saw just one carry in the Week 1 Monday night in Washington, but had an important catch for the Redskins during the comeback. Helu rushed for 5 yards and his lone grab went for 11. He saw two targets in the passing game from quarterback Robert Griffin III.

Helu will once again be nothing more than a seldom-used backup RB to Morris when the Redskins take the field Week 2 at Green Bay.

Rams " data-canon="St. Louis Rams" data-type="SPORTS_OBJECT_TEAM" id="shortcode0"> running back <player idref= Isaiah Pead will practice this week and might play Sunday after serving a one-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy. After St. Louis averaged 2.8 yards a carry against Arizona, the door is open for Pead to become a contributor in tandem with Daryl Richardson, reports ESPN.com.

"The opportunity appears to remain for Pead to claim the backup job and be involved in the offense on at least a semi-regular basis," the report said.

Coach Jeff Fisher called the Cardinals' defense stout against the run, but added "we are going to have to run the ball a little bit better as well."

Patriots running back Shane Vereen is expected to miss at least four weeks following surgery on his broken left wrist, a source told the Boston Herald. Vereen broke his wrist on the first play Sunday aaginst the Bills, but he still managed to just for 101 yards on 14 carries and total seven catches for 58 yards.

Vikings rookie receiver Cordarrelle Patterson played just five offensive snaps Week 1 against the Lions. While he was on the injury report with a back injury, coach Leslie Frazier said Monday the injury had no bearing on his playing time.

"He's healthy," Frazier said, per The Star Tribune. "We're going to try and get him a few more snaps. We've got to get a few more first downs so we can stay on the field a little bit longer with our offense. But we want to get him more snaps for sure."

Frazier added Patterson is up to speed on offense.

"Yeah, he is. Not an issue. Just a coach's decision," Frazier said.

Earlier I posted the background on Stevan Ridley's history in the games following a fumble. The Cliffs Notes: It ain't great, and the impact of Shane Vereen's big game could make it worse.

Well, chuck all that out the window following the FOX Sports report that Vereen will miss some time after breaking a bone in his hand at Buffalo in Week 1. The hot new running back for New England isn't going to play for at least a few weeks. 

That seemingly puts Ridley right back in the thick of the offense, though he'll never be an every-down back. Problem is that the only other kind of "passing downs" back the Patriots have is 31-year-old Leon Washington. His receiving track record (146 career catches) is way better than Ridley's (nine career catches), LeGarrette Blount (21 career catches) and Brandon Bolden (two career catches). 

Of course, the Patriots basically invented replacing a handoff with a short-area catch when they turned Wes Welker loose on the NFL. They certainly have the receivers to do that with in Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman, both of whom played a ton on Sunday. If they decide to skip having a pure "passing downs" back they could rotate their bigger backs as pass protectors and check-down candidates. The Patriots won't reveal what they're doing until their Week 2 game unfolds on Thursday night against the Jets. That's a problem.

Washington is a reserve running back. The deeper the PPR league, the more attractive he is. I wouldn't chase him down in a standard league unless it's as a band-aid for Vereen owners. Blount and Bolden, for now, shouldn't be owned. Vereen obviously should stick on the bench.

And as for Ridley owners, expect your guy to get another chance to lead the running back group right away.