Trent Richardson

Week Sixteen Analysis: Trent Richardson's six touchdowns in his last four games have masked the fact that he's run face-first into the rookie wall. Seven weeks ago he ran for a season-high 122 yards, and he's literally posted decreasing totals in each of the six games since, bottoming out—let's hope—at 28 yards against Washington last week. He's averaged just 3.0 yards per carry in his last five games, and he's also contributed decreasing receiving totals in five straight games—from 49 down to 4. Denver allows a paltry 3.6 yards per carry, they just held Ray Rice to 41 total yards, and they've only surrendered one touchdown to the position in their last six games. There's a lot to worry about here.

Week Fifteen Analysis: While I'm not legally allowed within 100 feet of Trent Richardson, there's nothing in my restraining order that says I can't talk about him on FantasyVictory.com. Richardson has now scored and/or topped 130 combo yards in six straight games, and he's averaged over 27 touches during that span. The heavy workload has offset the fact that he's averaged just 3.1 yards per carry in his last four games, and that he's posted decreasing rushing totals in five straight games. Washington is a neutral opponent that's allowed back-to-back 100-yard games, so Richardson should chip his way to another productive day.

Week Fourteen Analysis: Last week against Oakland, Trent Richardson's 23 touches and 95 combo yards were both the LOW-water marks in his last five games. That's what we call a high floor. Richardson also scored for the second consecutive week, and Sunday he'll face a Kansas City defense that ranks 25th against the run, and 22nd against opposing backs in the passing game. The Chiefs have surrendered just one touchdown to the position in their last six games, but during that span, they've feasted on six below-average starters who've averaged a collective 3.8 yards per carry on the season. Richardson is a lock for around 25 touches, which should result in a very productive day.

Week Thirteen Analysis: Trent Richardson is the epitome of a workhorse. He's averaged 31 touches in his last four games, while seeing his carries increase from 24, to 25, to 28, to 29. He's only scored twice in that four-game span, but his low-water mark has been 112 combo yards, and that came against a very strong Pittsburgh defense. Sunday he faces an Oakland defense that ranks bottom-10 against opposing backs in both rushing and receiving yards, and trails only Buffalo with 13 touchdowns allowed to the position. Last week the painfully ordinary BenJarvus Green-Ellis went for 138 yards and a score on 20 touches against the Raiders, so Richardson gets his highest ever ranking.

Week Twelve Analysis: In his last three games, Trent Richardson has been busier than a Washington State Doritos distributor. T-Rich has touched the ball 25, 31 and 34 times, and he's gone over 130 combo yards in each of the three contests. This week he'll clash with a Pittsburgh defense that gives up less than 3.9 yards per carry, and ranks No. 1 against opposing backs in receiving yards by a wide margin. Jamaal Charles and Ray Rice each managed over 90 combo yards against the Steelers the last two weeks, so while nothing will come easy for Richardson, he can be started with tempered expectations.

Week Eleven Analysis: After battling through a painful rib injury for a full month, Trent Richardson finally got a well-deserved bye last week. In his two games prior to the break, Richardson gutted out a whopping 56 touches for 270 combo yards and a score, and the refreshed rookie will look to pick up where he left off this week in Dallas. The Cowboys run defense has fallen off since an impressive first month of the season. They've given up six rushing scores in their last five games, and two straight opposing starters have eclipsed 100 combo yards. Look for Richardson to continue his impressive rookie campaign.

Week Nine Analysis: Trent Richardson is still dealing with the same painful rib injury that led to a fantasy flop two weeks ago, but last week he fought through it to score a touchdown and post an impressive 134 combo yards. With variables including the rib injury, Brandon Weeden's growing pains and inconsistent defensive attention, there hasn't been any rhyme or reason to Richardson's sporadic weekly box scores. He scored and topped 100 combo yards against Baltimore in the teams' first meeting, and the Ravens porous defense—it feels weird saying that—is giving up 156 combo yards and over a touchdown per game to opposing backs, so stick with your stud.

Week Eight Analysis: There are very few NFL backs as talented as Trent Richardson, as we saw when he totaled 145 yards and a pair of scores against Cincinnati back in Week 2. The flip side, of course, is that the inferior talent around him has allowed teams to stack the box without consequence. So Richardson was a double-edged sword to begin with, and now that he's dealing with a painful rib cartilage injury, he becomes a guy you're probably avoiding if at all possible. After an early exit last week, it looks like Richardson will at least start the game against San Diego's middle-tier run defense, but whether he'll finish is a roll of the dice.

Week Seven Analysis: Unfortunately, a painful rib cartilage injury resulted in a dreaded early exit for Trent Richardson against Cincinnati. Richardson was on fire in his four games prior to last week, scoring five times and averaging 107 combo yards. He's expected to tough it out Sunday in what might be the most fantasy friendly matchup of the week. The Colts' bottom-tier run defense was just trucked for 161 yards and three touchdowns by the deplorable Shonn Greene, who's on the opposite end of the talent spectrum from Richardson.

Week Six Analysis:Trent Richardson has earned every bit of his high draft choice status so far this year scoring in each of his last four games despite the Browns not featuring him in their offense.  In Week 2 Richardson had his best game of his young career, against these very same Bengals, averaging 5.7 yards-per-carry, with 145 total yards and two touchdowns. The Bengals have more tape on him now but similar stats are not out of the question, as they have given up multiple rushing touchdowns in four of their first five games of the year.

Week Five Analysis: While Brandon Weeden and a struggling offensive line have invited defenses to hold Trent Richardson under 50 rushing yards in three of four games, the rookie running back is getting it done through the air, and showing a nose for the end zone. T-Rich has scored four times in as many games, and over the last three weeks he's averaged 4.7 catches for 39 yards. Unfortunately, the Giants have allowed just one rushing score, and opposing starters have only averaged 12 receiving yards per game. This one should get out of hand early, so the deck is stacked against Richardson.

Week Four Analysis: While Trent Richardson managed to score his third touchdown of the season against the lowly Bills run defense, he's now failed to reach 40 rushing yards in two of three games. These kinds of games are a byproduct of a struggling offensive line and a nonexistent passing threat, and a trip to Baltimore certainly won't help matters. The Ravens have yet to allow a 100-yard rusher, and they're giving up just 3.4 yards per carry to opposing backs. Surprisingly, despite their dominant yardage numbers, Baltimore has already given up four rushing scores. This matchup suggests another low-yardage effort from Richardson, but he has a solid chance of scoring.

Week Three Analysis: After a miserable NFL debut, Trent Richardson looked like a supercharged bowling ball Sunday against Cincinnati. In addition to his touchdown and 109 yards on the ground, he added four catches for 36 yards and another score through the air. Perhaps the most encouraging takeaway for Richardson was that Brandon Weeden looked like he might actually figure it out before his Sizzler senior citizen discount kicks in. Buffalo's bottom-five fantasy run defense from last year has already had problems with Shonn Greene, Peyton Hillis and Shaun Draughn, and none of them could carry Richardson's jock strap. T-Rich is a fantastic play this week.

Week Two Analysis: It was an ugly debut for Trent Richardson against Philadelphia. He appeared to be a bit off his game, and a completely dysfunctional passing game simply made keying on the rookie far too easy for the Eagles. He managed just 44 total yards on 20 touches, and, sadly, when your quarterback can't play, fantasy owners are going to see that kind of line sometimes. Brandon Weeden played like a drunken Ryan Leaf (well, just Ryan Leaf) in his first game, and it's a safe bet that Richardson will receive this kind of defensive treatment all season. Like Philadelphia, Cincinnati is just a middling run defense, but the deck will be stacked against Richardson.

NEXT: #6 MAURICE JONES-DREW