It's a was a rookie year full of injuries for Browns running back Trent Richardson. Knee, finger, chest, ankle -- he injured 'em all. But it were the fractured ribs that Richardson sustained on Oct. 14 versus the Bengals that really encumbered him, and he has been told by doctors that they won't heal completely for at least another three to four weeks.
"My ribs were broken, and it's tough playing like that," Richardson told the team's official web site. "It's real tough playing like that, and I'm the type of guy that when anything is hurting and I feel like I can play, I play. I played the whole season like that. ... I feel that if my legs aren't broken, I can run."
Richardson also said his ribs don't allow him to lie flat or on his side and force him to sleep standing up.
As for 2013, Richardson said "It's going to be one of the biggest years y'all have seen for a running back."
Fantasy Analysis:
After a clunker on Oct. 21, one week after breaking his ribs, Richardson actually strung together two of his best games. But as the season wore down, he understandably wore down. Yet, he still took on quite a workload, and he should be fine in time for offseason workouts. It's way too early to know if Richardson is truly injury-prone or just unlucky. He should be an early second-round pick in fantasy drafts next year, and the Browns' next head coach would be wise to center his offense around Richardson.
