NFL Player News

The Dolphins said they were going to rotate running backs for Week 1 at Cleveland with Lamar Miller and Daniel Thomas, and they did. They just didn't do it with any success.

Miller had 10 carries for 3 yards and one catch for 7 yards on one target. And Thomas had eight carries for 14 yards and a touchdown and one catch for 5 yards on one target.

The Browns run defense is improved this eason, but this is a mess for the Dolphins. They need to establish one rusher -- it should be Miller -- and give that player the chance to get going.

The Dolphins play at the Colts in Week 2, and we hope Miller can do something to prove his worth. He should only be used as a flex option at best because right now you can't trust him. As for Thomas, the touchdown was nice, but he's not talented enough to be a featured option.

I still believe in Miller, but this Week 1 performance was extremely disappointing.

Buccaneers running back Doug Martin already has a touchdown under his belt after the first game of the season. Martin scored on a 5-yard run in the second quarter of the 18-17 loss at the Jets Sunday of Week 1. 

Martin led the way for the Bucs as he rushed 24 times for 65 yards and the touchdown. He averaged just 2.7 yards per carry in the game. Martin made two catches but went for just minus-1 yards. He was targeted six times overall by quarterback Josh Freeman.

Tampa Bay plays at home against the New Orleans Saints Week 2.  

Chiefs rookie running back Knile Davis came off the bench twice in the second half Week 1 at Jacksonville to replace the injured Jamaal Charles, who sustained a minor quadriceps injury in the third quarter. Davis totaled four carries for 12 yards and one catch for 5 yards.

Charles' injury isn't considered serious, so Davis will once again fill the role a backup role Week 2 vs. Dallas, if Charles is healthy enough to start.

Jets fullback Tommy Bohanon, wide receiver Clyde Gates and tight end Konrad Reuland each played their parts in the Week 1 comeback win over the Buccaneers Sunday. 

Bohanon finished with one catch for 21 yards to lead the way out of that trio. Gates caught one pass for 17 yards, but saw four targets from QB Geno Smith. Bohanon was targeted twice. Reuland caught one pass for 7 yards on his only target. 

The Jets play at New England in Week 2 and all three players will hope to make another impact. 

Patriots running back Stevan Ridley ruined Fantasy owners Sunday at Buffalo when he fumbled in the second quarter and never got back in the game. We hope Bill Belichick can forgive Ridley and give him another chance.

Ridley struggled with fumbles in 2012, and the Patriots won't tolerate him putting the ball on the ground. With Ridley out, Shane Vereen took off with 14 carries for 101 yards and seven catches for 58 yards.

We expect Ridley to get another chance in Week 2 against the Jets on Thursday night, but he can't continue to fumble. He should be considered a low-end No. 2 running back going into Week 2 with the uncertainty of his playing time, but hopefully he'll get back on the field and produce.

If you own both Ridley and Vereen then consider Vereen the better option in Week 2, and Vereen should be considered a starter in all leagues. But don't give up on Ridley just yet. He'll rebound, and Vereen's breakout campaign is now fully underway.

Titans running back Chris Johnson only averaged 2.8 yards per carry in the season opener at Pittsburgh Sunday. That said, the Titans managed to beat the Steelers 16-9 in the game.

Johnson rushed 25 times for a game-high 70 yards and did not score a touchdown. Jackie Battle scored on the ground behind him but managed just 21 yards on eight touches.

Johnson did not make a catch in the game and wasn't targeted by quarterback Jake Locker. The Titans play at Houston Week 2.

While there are no signs that Vikings wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson was hampered by his lingering back issue in Week 1 against the Lions Sunday, the rookie failed to make any sort of impression in his NFL debut.

Patterson was targeted just once in the game, hauling in a single pass for 10 yards. He was not much of a contributor in special teams either, finishing with 57 yards on two kickoff returns, in a 34-24 loss.  

Patterson will hope to be more involved in Week 2, when the Vikings take on the Bears in Chicago.

Browns featured back Trent Richardson found little running room and ran very little in a 23-10 defeat Sunday to visiting Miami. He managed just 47 yards rushing on 13 carries and added two catches for 30 yards.

Richardson ran just five times for 14 yards in the second half with no attempts in the fourth quarter. He had just 6 yards in his last four carries.

The Browns will play next Sunday at Baltimore, which showed a stout run defense along with a porous pass defense Thursday night in Denver.

Patriots running back Shane Vereen had his first career 100-yard rushing performance during a 23-21 win Week 1 at Buffalo. Vereen rushed for a team-high 101 yards on 14 carries, while adding seven catches (10 targets) for 58 yards.

Vereen, whose longest carry went 21 yards, saw an increase in reps after Stevan Ridley was benched following a second quarter fumble. Vereen had three carries for 31 yards and three catches for 29 yards in the first half. His best chance for a touchdown came on a 3rd-and-1 play late in the third quarter, but Vereen was stopped at the goal line.

"I think Shane stepped up, did a good job for us," coach Bill Belichick said at his postgame press conference. "We counted on him a lot, he came through on a lot of plays, that was a huge run he had at the end to get us in field goal range, keep the ball in bounds and force them to use another timeout, that was  good play and that was a smart play."

The Patriots host the Jets Week 2.

A touchdown saved what was otherwise a tough day for Raiders running back Darren McFadden. He totaled 66 yards on 17 carries and three grabs. He would have had a second score from 30 yards out had he kept two feet inbounds on a fourth-quarter catch in the back-right corner of the end zone. McFadden averaged 2.8 yards per carry. 

Next week, McFadden will play vs. the Jaguars. That should be a very nice matchup as the Jags' defense struggled against the Chiefs at home. Kansas City running backs totaled 97 yards on the ground and 34 yards through the air. He should be solid with a chance to be spectacular.