NFL Player News

Running backs Daniel Thomas (ankle) and Lamar Miller (pectoral) and quarterback Ryan Tannehill (thumb) are the only offensive players on the injury report released Friday by the Dolphins. Thomas is questionable for Sunday at Pittsburgh while the others are probable.

Vikings DE Jared Allen, RB Matt Asiata, DT Fred Evans, DT Sharrif Floyd, LB Chad Greenway, DE Everson Griffen and S Andrew Sendejo are probable Week 14 against the Ravens.

Allen has been limited by a finger injury, but was able to get through a full practice Friday. The other six players were also full participants in practice Friday.

Colts deposed featured back Trent Richardson took the high road when asked Thursday about losing his starting job to Donald Brown. He spoke about being sidelined Sunday against Tennessee.

"It was different when I went out there," he told the team website. "It was kind of like, 'This is a place in your life where you need to learn.' (I could) really see the offense and see how everything flows. I learned a lot about myself Sunday. It's a humbling job at the same time. Like I always tell people, 'The game's much bigger than me.'"

Richardson has averaged less than three yards a carry in five of the last six games. This exception was Sunday in his first non-start, when he rushed for 19 yards on five carries.

Raiders running back Darren McFadden remained out Thursday with an ankle injury. His absence had cornerback Taiwan Jones working in the backfield for the second straight day.

Titans running back Chris Johnson is looking at a strong matchup Week 14 against the Broncos.

Denver hasn't been able to contain opposing running backs, allowing them to score 18.33 Fantasy points per game. Given the explosiveness of the Denver's offense, most teams have had to abandon the running game early against the Broncos. But when teams have stuck with the run, it has led to scores. Denver has allowed 11 rushing touchdowns through 12 games this season. The Broncos have allowed a rushing touchdown in all but one game this season, so the scoring has been consistent.

Johnson has been a little more bust than boom this season, averaging over four yards per carry in just four games this year. He's been able to compensate by providing those big plays in the receiving game. The Broncos have also been below-average guarding running backs in the passing game, so Johnson may still see some action if his team is playing from behind. It's dangerous to predict anything from Johnson given his boom and bust style, but this does seem like a favorable matchup.

Judging by the numbers, the Redskins' matchup against Kansas City in Week 14 doesn't appear to be so unfavorable for the running game. The Chiefs rank 21st against the run, allowing 117.3 yards per game and 4.6 yards per carry.

But most of the damage was isolated to two games -- Week 3 at Philadelphia and Week 9 at Buffalo -- so don't get any ideas about Roy Helu making a big impact in a backup role to Alfred Morris.

Coach Mike Shanahan has made it clear that Helu is his preferred backfield option in obvious passing situations, so if the Redskins fall behind big, the backup could catch enough passes to make a relevant contribution in points-per-reception leagues. But he most likely won't be in a situation where he's helping the Redskins run out the clock, and he most likely won't find much running room even if he is.

Though he remained a fairly consistent part of the offense when Steven Jackson first returned from a hamstring injury in Week 8, Falcons backup running back Jacquizz Rodgers has seen his production decline with Jackson putting up better numbers the last two weeks. Rodgers had a combined five touches for 38 yards Week 12 against New Orleans and a combined five touches for 23 yards Week 13 at Buffalo -- both games in which the Falcons competed right up until the end.

In Week 14 at Green Bay, they'll be facing a team that ranks 26th against the run, allowing 125.9 yards per game, and has given up the ninth-most Fantasy points to running backs. The Packers allowed a combined 211 rushing yards to the Lions' Reggie Bush and Joique Bell last week, but the Falcons don't figure to pull away in this game quite like the Lions did, leaving fewer opportunities for their backup running back.

With Jackson likely to take advantage of the favorable matchup himself, Rodgers is a long shot to get more than a handful of carries in this one. In most cases, you'll want to keep him reserved in Fantasy.

Dennis Allen said Wednesday that oft-injured Raiders running back Darren McFadden has an ankle problem. He sustained his latest injury in the loss Thursday to Dallas.

McFadden has already missed four games this season, including the three before Thursday with a hamstring injury.

Colts running back Trent Richardson hit a season low in touches against the Titans in Week 13, with five carries for 19 yards and no receptions. Donald Brown, meanwhile set a season high, with 16 touches (and he scored a touchdown).

To make the situation even uglier for Richardson, the Colts have to face the Bengals this Sunday. Cincinnati hasn't allowed a running back to score since Week 4. So Richardson is in the unenviable position of not only facing the defense that has allowed the third-fewest Fantasy points per game to opposing running backs, but doing so as the clear backup. 

Richardson has seen his value slowly fade this season. He can be benched in most Fantasy formats. 

The good news for Colts running back Donald Brown: his 16 touches in Week 13 were a season high, and the game marked the second time in three with Brown getting 15 or more touches. Additionally, Trent Richardson was relegated to backup duty, and Brown scored his third touchdown in three games. 

The bad news: Fourteen carries are still kind of low for a starting running back (for Fantasy purposes, at least), and Brown is facing a Bengals defense in Week 14 that has been brutal on opposing running backs. The Bengals haven't allowed a running back to score a touchdown since Week 4. They've only given up three touchdowns on the season to running backs. And only Lamar Miller and Johnathan Franklin have run for over 100 yards. 

Brown has a bigger role on his team, which gives him a nice uptick in value. But his Week 14 situation makes Brown a tough start, even with his recent success in finding the end zone. He's a borderline flex play in deeper Fantasy formats.