NFL Player News

Titans running back Chris Johnson likes what he sees from the upgraded offensive line the team has put in front of him this season, and he feels like he could become the first player in league history to post a pair of 2,000-yard rushing seasons.

The National Football Post reports the Titans signed Andy Levitre, arguably the premier guard in free agency, and drafted Alabama's Chance Warmack in the first round. Levitre has missed some time while he recovers from offseason knee surgery, but is making good progress.

"It looks like, besides (mauling) people at the line of scrimmage," Johnson said, "those guys can get up the field."

Raiders running back Darren McFadden might need a big year in 2013 if he wants to get paid, reports Joel Corry, a former sports agent who writes for CBSSports.com.

McFadden has been unable to reach his potential because he has been plagued by injuries during his five seasons in Oakland. He hasn't played 16 games in any season and has missed 23 games during his NFL career.

McFadden was ineffective last year in the zone blocking scheme implemented by offensive coordinator Greg Knapp, who was fired after the season. The power blocking scheme under new coordinator Greg Olson could help McFadden return to his 2010 form, when he rushed for 1,157 yards -- his only 1,000-yard rushing season -- and was sixth in the NFL with 1,664 yards from scrimmage.

The Raiders are expected to have more than $50 million of cap room in 2014, so they could carry McFadden's $11.586 million franchise tag number if necessary.

Cowboys rookie running back Joseph Randle said the cast on his injured thumb will be coming off soon, reports FOX Sports.

Randle said the cast would have been off already, but the doctor went on vacation. Randle missed all of the team's offseason workouts with two surgeries on his thumb. 

Randle is competing to be the No. 2 running back in Dallas behind DeMarco Murray.

Seahawks rookie running back Christine Michael is making a good impression, reports the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

The report says Michael impressed Seattle's coaching staff despite nursing a sore hamstring early on during OTA workouts and in minicamps. His style fits with the Seahawks -- he is hard-nosed, tough and explosive like current starter Marshawn Lynch.

Michael is expected to challenge Robert Turbin for the No. 2 job behind Lynch this season.

Redskins running back Roy Helu attributed his series of leg injuries to tight muscles in his lower body, reports the team's official website.

Following a regimen known as dry needling, he was able to release some of the tension known as trigger points, which in turn relaxed and strengthened his muscles.

"I've seen great results from that," he said. "I still have time to recover over these next few weeks. I still need more motion in the toe, but to be out there doing my job is fun."

During OTAs and minicamp, Helu practiced with teammates for the first time since September and said that he felt physically and psychologically refreshed.

"I feel good. I feel I've gotten to the point that I can compete at a high level, and I'm thankful for that," he said. "I'm out there running a lot of plays without pain. I guess that's the best measurement."

Helu is expected to compete with Evan Royster and a pair of rookie running backs in Jawan Jamison and Chris Thompson for the No. 2 job behind Alfred Morris.

Ravens backup running back Bernard Pierce was reportedly carjacked but not hurt in a Sunday evening incident in Philadelphia, according to CBS affiliate KYW-TV. Pierce was robbed at gunpoint and his BMW was stolen. He was not hurt in the incident.

Pierce is expected to aid Ray Rice in the rushing duties for the Ravens this season. 

Ravens star running back Ray Rice isn't worried about losing playing time and carries to backup Bernard Pierce. A report on the official team website suggested there will be a change in how the backs are used in 2013, but Rice figures he'll still see the carries when it counts.

"Sharing touches aren't something that bother me because I know, when it comes down to crucial situations, I'll be in the game," Rice told NFL Network. "There's not one running back that takes it all. There's a few -- Adrian Peterson and a few other guys -- but Bernard's a great backup, and he's a great runner."

Pierce saw a slight bump in playing time once Jim Caldwell took over the playcalling duties last season, playing roughly 30 percent of the time or more in five of seven games including postseason work. 

Vikings rookie receiver Cordarrelle Patterson has drawn comparisons to Randy Moss, according to his former position coach at the University of Tennessee.

"I don't want people misinterpreting me as saying Cordarrelle is better or will be better than Randy Moss," Volunteers receivers coach Charlie Baggett said in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. "When it comes to everything else that's needed to be an elite NFL receiver, he has a long way to go to reach Randy. But he definitely has that ability. He really does."

Is Bernard Pierce a legitimate threat to Ray Rice's statistical production?

Last season Pierce saw more than 30 percent of the snaps in a game just twice over 20 matchups, and one of them was in a meaningless Week 17 game at Cincinnati where Rice played a handful of reps. But both of those came with Jim Caldwell as the Ravens' offensive coordinator. In addition to that data acquired via ProFootballFocus.com, Pierce played between 20 and 30 percent of the snaps three times under Caldwell and less than 20 percent of the time twice under Caldwell. It's especially worth noting Pierce played nearly 30 percent of the time in both the AFC title game and Super Bowl XLVII. 

But even if Pierce snatches enough to leave Rice with just about 70 percent of the workload on a weekly basis, it doesn't mean the superstar is going to stink. In five games last season where Rice had 70.3 percent of the snaps or fewer (throwing out that meaningless Week 17 game), he averaged 15.0 Fantasy points per (standard scoring) and delivered at least 10 Fantasy points every single time. In the 14 games where he played more often than 70.3 percent he averaged less -- barely -- with 13.4 Fantasy points per game including nine contests with at least 10 Fantasy points. Either way, Rice delivered. 

That suggests Rice can withstand losing 30 percent of the work and still be a very effective Fantasy rusher. Let's not forget that Rice is the more elusive back of the two and has been productive and consistent year after year; the Ravens have no reason to relax his reps (he had 341 carries including the postseason). I could see his stats dipping a smidge if he's not playing quite as much, but he's still a capable No. 1 Fantasy running back. Pierce is a dynamite handcuff and reserve running back worth eyeballing in Round 9. 

So Raiders running back Darren McFadden said after the June minicamp that this could be his best year yet. He might be right.

The Raiders have refocused their offensive scheme to put McFadden back in a system he likes with a power rushing attack. And with a lack of weapons on offense -- Carson Palmer, Darrius Heyward-Bey and Brandon Myers left with no significant upgrades -- McFadden is going to see plenty of touches.

But the key for McFadden, as always, is health. He missed four games last season with an ankle injury and has yet to play in more than 13 games in any season of his career. When you draft him, you do so with the expectation he's going to sit out a portion of the season for some sort of ailment.

Still, based on where McFadden will be drafted in most formats -- figure on Round 3 at the earliest or even Round 4 -- he's worth the risk. If he plays 13 games he will post top 15 stats among Fantasy running backs because he's done it before (see 2010).

We'll just all keep our fingers crossed that McFadden doesn't get hurt because then he will live up to his latest proclamation of having the best season of his career.