Running backs are going to be a little dinged up and miss practice this late in the season. And it’s going to happen, whether you like it or not. So here is a roundup of some of the top running backs making injury news on a Wednesday.

Heinz Field was littered with the remains of broken running backs on Monday night.

The Steelers were already down Willie Parker heading into their game against Baltimore, so losing Rashard Mendenhall for the season puts a serious dent into their backfield depth. The rookie fractured his left shoulder during the overtime win and was placed on injured reserve.

Wednesday was quarterback news out of Minnesota. Thursday was running back news. Yes, Adrian Peterson news.

In an effort to help you set the best lineup possible, NFL Network’s stats guru David Carabello and I have found 10 trends you might want to consider for Week 3.

The NFL is a copycat league, but this is starting to get ridiculous. Busted toes have become the new “West Coast offense” in the AFC West.

Here are some of the top names listed on the injury report for Week 1:

Reggie Brown, WR, Philadelphia (Doubtful): Brown (hamstring) is likely out for Week 1, so Hank Baskett and rookie DeSean Jackson will see more targets. Jackson is a nice sleeper candidate against St. Louis.

Joey Galloway, WR, Tampa Bay (Questionable): Galloway (groin) was limited in Friday’s practice but is still expected to start in Week 1. He owns the New Orleans Saints, so be sure to check his status on Sunday morning.

When NFL.com Sr. Associate Editor Andy Nesbitt told me he would pass on running backs in the first three rounds of his fantasy draft, I thought it was a perfect way to wrap up our draft coverage. This sort of strategy would have been laughed at in seasons past, but the fact that it worked shows how drastically the fantasy landscape has changed.

Rudi Johnson must have a thing for the feline species. After seven mostly productive seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, he now finds himself in Detroit as a member of the Lions. Fantasy football owners have to wonder whether Johnson’s value has nine lives.

All 32 NFL teams have cut their rosters down to 53 players, so it’s time to examine some of the moves that will have the greatest impact on fantasy football.

Cincinnati Bengals: The release of Rudi Johnson guarantees a starting role for Chris Perry, who now has value as a No. 3 fantasy back or flex starter. Based on his past proneness to injuries, however, it’s important to add Kenny Watson as a handcuff.

The backfield situation in Houston has become a bit more clear this week, as the team released Marcel Shipp and Darius Walker. That leaves Ahman Green, Chris Brown, Steve Slaton and Chris Taylor as the top options at the running back position.

The Cincinnati Bengals are shopping Rudi Johnson according to a published report. What does this mean for your fantasy cheat sheets?

Who needs LT? Well, probably your team. If you are fortunate enough to land Tomlinson in your draft, be sure to grab his backup. Darren Sproles likely will be the man, if last night’s game was any indication.