NFL Player News

In our recent 12-team standard mock draft, Raiders running back Darren McFadden was selected in Round 3 at No. 34 overall. That's a great value pick based on his Average Draft Position on CBSSports.com.

McFadden's ADP is No. 29 overall, and he could be a steal in Round 3 -- if, of course, he stays healthy. McFadden has never played in more than 13 games in a season and missed 13 games the past two years.

But the Raiders are committed to McFadden by going back to a power rushing game, which suits his style of play. And the Raiders are lacking in weapons, which means McFadden is going to see plenty of touches.

It's always going to be a gamble with McFadden based on his injury concerns, but as we saw in 2010 when he had 1,600 total yards and 10 touchdowns, he can be a beast when healthy. I'd gamble on McFadden in Round 3, and you should also.

Chargers coach Mike McCoy continues to support running back Ryan Mathews coming into the season. Even though the team signed Danny Woodhead and brought back veteran Ronnie Brown, McCoy expects Mathews to play a prominent role, reports NFL.com.

McCoy said that the running back moves had "nothing to do" with Mathews' shortcomings. It was about building depth behind Mathews. McCoy's expectations for Mathews are clear: "To have a great year and be the guy."

Browns running back Trent Richardson has to stay healthy this season based on his expected workload under new coordinator Norv Turner, reports ESPN.

Turner, who has a lengthy history coaching running backs -- Emmitt Smith, Ricky Williams, Frank Gore and LaDainian Tomlinson during his career -- plans to rely on Richardson if he's healthy. Running backs under Turner average about 300 carries and 55 catches in a season.  

The Browns kept Richardson out of about half the OTA and minicamp practices because of a pulled muscle in a lower leg. Club doctors feared the injury might lead to a stress fracture, so they shut him down.

He is expected to be ready for the start of training camp.

Redskins running back Roy Helu could be a difference-maker this season if he's healthy, reports The Washington Times.

The report says Helu's speed and elusiveness on the second level set him apart from Alfred Morris. And a healthy Helu would reduce Morris’ physical burden after Morris carried 335 times last year.

Helu is a quality third-down back because of his good hands, his ability to gain yards after the catch and his adequate pass blocking. He improved his blitz recognition as his rookie season progressed in 2011.

But Helu's durability is a concern until he proves otherwise. Knee and toe problems have affected him in each of his first two seasons, and last season he played only the first three games. He was cleared to practice in June, and Helu proved he could sharply cut at the end of OTAs. 

The Broncos are expected to go into the season with a running back-by-committee approach, but Ronnie Hillman hopes to change that plan by the time the season begins.

"Come the opener, I want to be the guy back there," Hillman told the Denver Post Friday. "I can't lie. I want it to be me, and I'm pushing to be that guy."

The Broncos open training camp in two weeks and have little clarity on their running back depth chart. Hillman spent much of the team's offseason minicamps working as the No. 1 option, but rookie Montee Ball and veteran Knowshon Moreno are also looking to get touches.

"We're all just in there doing our thing," Hillman said. "Everybody wants to play. and I think all of us feel like we can play. I know it's about production, that I have to produce to be in there. That's how they'll decide: who's producing."

Hillman's weight was an issue in his first NFL season as he reportedly fell below 180 pounds by the playoffs, but he said he is back to 195. He rushed for 330 yards last season.

Patriots running back Brandon Bolden is dealing with a sprained ankle, reports ESPN.

The report says Bolden sprained his ankle last winter and was unable to run during any part of the team's offseason training program. Bolden suffered the ankle sprain while lifting weights on his own, when he didn't have his ankle planted correctly, a source familiar with the injury said. He is scheduled to meet with team trainers on Monday and believes his ankle has healed sufficiently, according to a source.

Bolden still attended the Patriots' program, but couldn't participate in drills. He is hoping to be ready for the start of training camp July 25. 

The Eagles have to make a decision on their backup running backs behind LeSean McCoy and Bryce Brown, reports the team's official website. The group includes Chris Polk, Felix Jones and Matthew Tucker, and the report is unsure how many the team will keep.

Polk has much to prove entering his second season after a rookie year spent on the sidelines. Polk has trimmed down this offseason to keep himself in better shape and will have every opportunity to prove himself throughout training camp.

Jones is the veteran of the Eagles' running backs after five seasons with the Cowboys and has been an explosive player during his career, rushing for an impressive 4.8 yards per carry. But Jones is coming off a 2012 season during which he posted a career-low 3.6 yards per carry and there is a real question as to how much he has left in the tank.

Tucker is an undrafted rookie out of TCU and does appear to provide a different dynamic as the biggest running back on the roster at 6-1, 227 pounds. Tucker will have to prove he can catch the ball and pass protect at the NFL level, but he will be an intriguing player to follow throughout the next month and beyond.

Patriots running back Brandon Bolden could be in line for a bigger role this season, reports ESPN.

The report says Bolden, an undrafted rookie last season, was blossoming prior to a Week 6 injury and looked like a reliable between-the-tackles runner with good contact strength and burst. An injury coupled with a four-game suspension relegated Bolden to a special-teams role upon his return, but, based on ability alone, he has what it takes to resume an offensive job.

Bolden may be called upon for bigger duties in 2013. He will likely open the season No. 3 on the depth chart at best behind Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen and could be competing with LeGarrette Blount for playing time.

Ravens running back Bernard Pierce has worked on a lot of things this offseason, including his speed and adding weight. He wants to improve on last year's positive rookie campaign when he ran for 532 yards and averaged 4.9 yards per carry, reports the Baltimore Sun.

Pierce took off once Jim Caldwell took over as offensive coordinator last year. During the seven games following Caldwell's promotion, including the playoffs, Pierce rushed for a total of 444 yards.

"I'm definitely proud of what I did," Pierce said. "I was able to help and contribute to that ring."

Although Pierce's workload is expected to increase this year after he averaged 6.75 carries per game as a rookie, the Ravens aren't planning to dramatically alter how they divide up the playing time. Ray Rice remains entrenched as the featured back.

The Rams are trying to find a starting running back among Daryl Richardson, Zac Stacy and Isaiah Pead, but CBSSports.com Senior NFL Columnist Clark Judge said Richardson is the favorite.

Judge reports that Richardson is the favorite "mostly because he's the only guy with a resume." As Jackson's understudy last season, he ran for 475 yards, averaged 4.8 yards per carry and demonstrated big-play capability.

The report says Pead could push him, and the Rams would like that. But he was a huge disappointment as a rookie, with only 10 carries. That's not what the Rams were expecting from their second-round pick, nor is this: Pead must serve a one-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

Look for Richardson and Pead to compete with Stacy in what could be a crowded, running-back-by-committee approach.