NFL Player News

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. 

Fantasy owners know running back Bernard Pierce is ready and able to shoulder a larger role in the team's offense, but it is not yet clear how much responsibility the Ravens are willing to give him just yet. We should get a good idea of what the back's share will be like after Thursday, when the Ravens open their season in Denver.

Pierce cut into Ray Rice's workload pretty heavily as a rookie, racking up 532 yards on 108 carries, including at least eight carries in eight of the team's final 10 games, including playoffs. Even if he gets that kind of workload early this season, it might be tough to trust him against the Broncos in Week 1, however.

The Ravens were not keen on relying on Pierce too heavily when they faced the Broncos last season, as the only two games he did not carry the ball at least eight times in the final 10 games came against Denver. He was held to just 34 yards on 10 carries in two matchups. With uncertainty about his role, and a tough matchup, Pierce should be considered little more than a Fantasy reserve in most league for Week 1. 

The battle for the featured back spot in Miami went down to the wire. That doesn't bode well from a Fantasy standpoint for owners of winner Lamar Miller or backup Daniel Thomas. Barring an explosive start, Miller might not receive enough reps for the Dolphins to justify playing him.

Miller showed some potential in 2012 by averaging 4.9 yards in 51 carries. He thoroughly outplayed Thomas in the preseason as well, leading Joe Philbin to give Miller the nod in what he told the Miami Herald was a "very, very close" competition. Thomas claimed he was "cool" about the decision because he would be getting the same number of reps as Miller anyway. That also should lpush Fantasy owners away from Miller.

It would be wise to hold off on playing Miller until he proves he will be used extensively and effectively. Week 1 opponent Cleveland boasts a strong front seven against the run.

The Broncos released their Week 1 injury report for Thursday's season opener. Among the players listed as out are running back C.J. Anderson (knee) and tight end Joel Dreessen (knee).

Guard Chris Kuper is doubtful with an ankle injury. Offensive tackle Ryan Clady is probable with a shoulder injury. Backup quarterback Brock Osweiler (shoulder) and defensive end Robert Ayers (Achilles) are also probable.