NFL Player News

The Broncos running back situation remained cloudy even after Thursday's season opener against the Ravens in Week 1, as none of their three backs stood out in a 49-27 win.

Ronnie Hillman was the second back to enter the game after starter Knowshon Moreno, but he failed to stand out much. Hillman was third on the team with four carries for 15 yards, though he showed a bit of playmaking skill in the passing game. He brought in both passes thrown his way for 27 yards, with a long reception of 17 yards.

Hillman was listed as the starter on the depth chart entering the week, but it is not clear if he will see a bigger role in Week 2 against the Giants. 

Vikings rookie wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson has been limited in practice by a back injury this week, but it is not expected to hamper him when he makes his NFL debut in Week 1 against the Lions Sunday.

Given Patterson's nonexistent track record, it is difficult to figure out what to expect from the 29th overall pick in this year's draft. The Lions weren't particularly good at stopping wide receivers last season, but they did manage to shut the Vikings down in two contests, holding them to 212 yards on 17 catches. That was done by a different receiving corps, but it was the same quarterback under center, as Patterson will be trying to haul in passes from Christian Ponder.

Patterson has a ton of upside, but the Vikings have not shown an explosive passing game in the recent past. Fantasy owners are tantalized by Patterson's potential, but should not be relying on him until he shows he can translate that to production. Consider him just a low-end flex option at best for Week 1. 

Vikings wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson did not appear to make much progress in practice Thursday, as he was limited yet again with a back injury. The extent of the injury is not known, however the team has given no indication that Patterson is expected to miss time in Week 1 against the Lions Sunday.  

As expected, the Broncos were without three players for Week 1's opener against the Ravens Thursday due to injury. C.J. Anderson and Joel Dreessen sat with knee injuries, while Champ Bailey was inactive with a foot issue. Guard Chris Kuper was also forced to miss kickoff with an ankle injury. 

Raiders coach Dennis Allen said running back Darren McFadden has "looked explosive" in practice leading up to Week 1 at Indianapolis.

"We all understand the significance of getting Darren going," Allen said, per The San Francisco Chronicle.

Doug Martin should be ready to roll against the Jets in Week 1. Fantasy owners are likely to start him regardless of the matchup, but you might be interested to know the Jets allowed 10-plus Fantasy points to running backs 12 times last season. Additionally, of those 12 times rushers had at least 15 points nine times and at least 20 points three times. If you're not starting Martin in Week 1, you either better have an amazing lineup or you're a die-hard Jets fan. 

Vikings wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson was limited in practice Wednesday, due to a back injury. It is not clear when he suffered the injury, but it does not appear to be an issue that should limit him in Week 1 against the Lions.

49ers running back LaMichael James was unable to practice Wednesday, as he continues to deal with a sprained MCL suffered in the preseason.

James suffered the injury in the team's preseason finale, and could end up missing up to three weeks. The 49ers play the Packers in Week 1 Sunday, and James has not yet been ruled out.

The Falcons' matchup Week 1 at New Orleans is a running back's dream, but backup Jacquizz Rodgers might as well sleep through it. Even when he had a definite role as the change of pace for Michael Turner last season, he was just a supplemental contributor in two games against the league's worst run defense, rushing 11 times for 72 yards and catching six passes for 29.

Now that the Falcons have a legitimate pass-catcher as their starting running back in Steven Jackson, Rodgers might not even see the field. He's the backup, yeah, but anything he can do, Jackson can do better.

Plus, he's coming off a disappointing season in which he averaged 3.0 yards per carry. Jamey Eisenberg and Dave Richard don't even have him among their top 48 running backs for this week, so in Fantasy, he's a handcuff option better left on the bench, if not the waiver wire.

With the first week of practice finished, the Broncos backfield situation is no clearer entering Week 1 against the Ravens than it was during the preseason.

Second-year running back Ronnie Hillman enters Thursday's game at the top of the depth chart, but he figures to share the workload with both Montee Ball and Knowshon Moreno. As the season goes on, we should get a better indication of how the coaching staff wants to use each back, but Hillman has to be considered a risky Fantasy starter for Week 1 until we get some clarity.

Hillman rushed for 83 yards in the teams' previous meeting in last season's playoffs, but he managed just 29 yards on 14 carries just five games earlier against Baltimore. None of our experts have Hillman ranked higher than No. 40 among running backs this week, making him a risky start as anything more than a flex option for Week 1.