NFL Player News

Daryl Richardson's time has come. The second-to-last pick in the 2012 draft, from tiny Abilene Christian, will start for the Rams at tailback in Sunday's opener against Arizona.

"I'm just glad they took the opportunity to have me come up here and show what I can do. You've got to have confidence to believe in yourself," Richardson told the Associated Press. "If you believe, you can achieve anything."

Richardson showed terrific burst spelling Steven Jackson last season, averaging 4.8 yards on 97 carries. In three preseason games he ran nine times for 34 yards and caught four passes for 49 yards.

The Cardinals ranked 23rd in Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs last year. With Isaiah Pead suspended for the opener, Richardson should get the vast majority of carries. He'll be backed up by Zac Stacy, a strong short-yardage runner, and Benny Cunningham. Consider Richardson a strong flex option for Week 1.

Browns running back Trent Richardson is focused on a strong start to the season Week 1 against the Dolphins.

"You really want to set the tone," Richardson said, per the Beacon Journal. "I know people say it’s not about how you start, it’s how you finish. You still want to get off to a good start. You still want to win that season opener. You still want to go in and get guys’ confidence up and have high hopes for the whole season. It is very important to win this game."

Richardson said he expects to run outside the tackles more in 2013.

"It came time where they’d just run me on the inside," Richardson said of his rookie season. "It was like, ‘Can I get an outside zone play? Can I get a mid-zone play? Can I get out in space some?’ With that, I’m the type of person that never questions. I just do what I’m told and do what I’m asked, and I just go give it my all whatever it is.

"I know it’s going to be way different this year. So when that time comes to run outside zone, get in space or whatever it is, I’m going to be prepared and in shape and running full speed, 100 mph, whatever I’ve got to go. I’m going to be ready to go downhill."

Cardinals running back Ryan Williams, who dealt with knee problems in the preseason, is back at "full speed," coach Bruce Arians told the team's website. Williams will back up Rashard Mendenhall.

As expected, running back Lamar Miller is listed as the starter for Miami's opener at Cleveland, reports the Miami Herald. Miller, who had been battling plodder Daniel Thomas, apparently won the job with a solid effort in the third preseason game.

The Minnesota VikingsVikings signed seven players to their practice squad: running back Joe Banyard, guard Travis Bond, defensive tackle Everett Dawkins, tight end Chase Ford, offensive tackle Kevin Murphy and wideouts Rodney Smith and Adam Thielen.

Minnesota also claimed former Bears right tackle J'Marcus Webb off waivers and cut offensive lineman <player idref=.

The Bengals placed seven players on their practice squad: offensive tackle Reid Fragel, wideout Cobi Hamilton, running back <player idref=, center T.J. Johnson, cornerbacks Chris Lewis-Harris and Onterio McCalebb and linebacker J.K. Schaffer.

TheColts claimed tight end Jack Doyle off waivers from the Titans and waived running back Kerwynn Williams. In addition, Indianapolis signed six players to its practice squad: linebackers Daniel Adongo and Josh McNary, center Thomas Austin, quarterback Chandler Harnish, tight end Dominique Jones and cornerback Sheldon Price.

Updating a previous item, the Browns cut running back Brandon Jackson while claiming a pair of running backs off waivers, Dennis Johnson and Bobby Rainey, according to the Akron Beacon Journal .

The Browns claimed running back Bobby Rainey off waivers from the Ravens, and running back Dennis Johnson off waivers from the Texans. They'll add depth in Cleveland's backfield behind <player idref=, <player idref= and <player idref=.

Daryl Richardson is the Rams' starter at tailback, but it's unclear who's backing him up, reports the Post-Dispatch. Benny Cunningham and Zac Stacy impressed in the final preseason game, making Isaiah Pead no lock for the job when he returns from his suspension in Week 2, the report said.

Cunningham, an undrafted rookie from Middle Tennessee State, ran eight times for 76 yards against the Ravens. Stacy ran 11 times for just 37 yards, but "once again displayed a knack for gaining tough yards by burrowing his way across the goal line on a one-yard TD plunge in the second quarter," the report said. Pead gained 27 yards on seven carries but fumbled on a kickoff return.

"At face value, it looks like nothing more was settled at running back in the preseason other than the fact that Richardson is the starter," the paper said.