Despite being listed as questionable all week due to a rib injury, Browns running back Trent Richardson turned in the best game of his NFL career on Sunday afternoon to help power a narrow victory over the Chargers.
Richardson set new career highs with 24 carries and 122 rushing yards, and was the unquestioned star in a slow-paced game where neither the Browns nor the Chargers could pass for more than 150 yards. The 5'9, 230-pound back also scored the day's only touchdown with a 26-yard scamper in the first quarter, and managed to haul in a pass for the seventh consecutive week.
Expected to be spelled by backup Montario Hardesty more than usual entering the day, Richardson's strong performance represented a significant sigh of relief for fantasy owners after a frustrating Week 7. Hardesty carried the ball just three times for three yards, meaning that Richardson's owners can now keep him in their lineup with confidence going forward. The Browns will square off with Baltimore in Week 9, and Richardson could be poised for another big day against a depleted Ravens defense.