NFL Player News

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.

Questions about how the Broncos might specifically use rookie Montee Ball and Ronnie Hillman this season probably won't be answered until training camp wraps (and that's a best-case scenario), but I checked out a video on the Broncos' official team website that gets into the topic. 

Most notably, analyst Andrew Mason recalls how John Fox's running backs have been used in the past: as an interchangeable tandem. One plays one series, the other takes the next series and if one gets hot during a game he sees more reps. If both backs can do the same things then there's no need to replace one during a drive, keeping the offense in a no-huddle rhythm. Plus in the event a running back were to get hurt, the other would be prepared for every down and distance. 

Think about what happened last season when Willis McGahee went down. A lot of people thought Hillman would be "the guy" but it was Knowshon Moreno who stepped in. Why? Because he knew the pass protections better than Hillman and was an effective, experienced rusher too. 

If the Broncos continue to groom Ball and Hillman and are comfortable with both of them as pass protectors, it's very likely they'll rotate based on possessions and not down/distance during the course of a game. If one or both can't handle all of that, Moreno will jump into a decent spot.

All of this will only cause headaches for Fantasy owners since platooning reps not only limits potential but it also makes the running backs very unpredictable. If this scenario plays out I'm not sure I would spend a top-70 pick on a Broncos rusher. 

The Ravens are still planning to start Ray Rice at running back this season, but he's expected to lose carries to Bernard Pierce.

The Ravens' official team website reports that Rice will "get pushed by Pierce this season." The report says the two backs have different styles, so rotating them in and out of games will allow both to stay fresh and also mix up the looks for the defenses.

Rice had 257 carries to Pierce's 108 last year, but a strong showing from Pierce could balance out that distribution a little more.

Falcons backup running back Jacquizz Rodgers is not sure what his role will be this season with the addition of free agent Steven Jackson in Atlanta.

"When I get in the game, I'm going to try to make my plays and try to get my number called more often," Rodgers said in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I'll try to make every carry and every catch count."

Speaking with reporters following the Raiders' June minicamp, running back Darren McFadden seemed happy with the team's offensive progress and the O-line's updated blocking scheme. McFadden also said he's not focused so much on this year being a contract year for him as he knows "if I go out there and take care of my business on the field, everything is just to follow."

Where McFadden really made a statement is by telling the media that they have not seen the best of him yet. Through five seasons McFadden has 3,334 rush yards, 1,449 receiving yards and 23 total touchdowns but has missed at least three games every season including four last year. 

"You've seen a lot of glimpses," McFadden said, "but I can promise you that you haven't seen the best of (me) at all."