The Associated Press calls Isaiah Pead and Zac Stacy the "top candidates" to start Sunday's game against the Jaguars.

Isaiah Pead confirmed that his Week 4 scratch was a coach's decision.

The Rams are sticking to the story that Pead was a healthy scratch because they wanted to use Tavon Austin in the backfield. Austin ended up with no carries, while Benny Cunningham got four carries as Daryl Richardson's backup. "I knew about it. We had a private conversation and there was an understanding, said Pead. "It's over and I'm attacking the week, like I try to do every week." We still suspect there was some off-field discipline going on here. Don't be surprised if Pead is active against the Jags this week.

Coach Jeff Fisher stated Friday the Rams deactivated Isaiah Pead Thursday night against the 49ers because they wanted to use Tavon Austin in the backfield more.

"We had intended on using Tavon out of the backfield," were Fisher's words. We're still not sure this is the full story; Zac Stacy was active and doesn't play on special teams. Pead doesn't play on special teams, either. It seems like there was a disciplinary measure that Fisher isn't revealing. Fisher did allow Pead has had "a couple moments" the past few weeks, though he declined to offer details. Pead is barely worth hanging onto in 12-team leagues.

Isaiah Pead is inactive for Week 4 against the 49ers.

Pead wasn't on this week's injury report, so unless he suffered an injury in pre-game warmups, he's a healthy scratch. It's an extremely surprising move after Daryl Richardson's foot limited him to just two snaps in Sunday's loss. The Rams must be satisfied with Richardson's health, and highly dissatisfied with his supposed backup. D-Rich will be backed up by Benny Cunningham, while Zac Stacy is inactive after being a healthy scratch in Weeks 2 and 3. Richardson is still little more than a middling FLEX option against San Francisco's solid, but banged up, run defense. Also inactive for the Rams are OT Rodger Saffold, DE William Hayes, OT Mike Person, OL Barrett Jones, OL Brandon Washington and TE Mike McNeill.

Isaiah Pead led the Rams with 42 snaps played in Sunday's loss to the Cowboys.

Daryl Richardson started the game, but left after two snaps when he aggravated his foot injury. That left Pead and Benny Cunningham (22 snaps) to carry the load. With Richardson's Week 4 status unclear, Pead is going to be a strong fantasy add. He could keep the starting job going forward with Richardson failing to impress as a runner even before his injury. However, Pead will have a tough task in Week 4 as the Niners come to town steaming after their embarrassing home loss to the Colts.

Isaiah Pead rushed for 20 yards on six carries and caught seven passes for 43 yards in Sunday's Week 3 loss to the Cowboys.

With Daryl Richardson leaving after one snap due to a re-aggravation of his foot injury, Pead led the backfield with his 13 touches. Benny Cunningham saw five touches. Pead had a long run of 11 yards, but he wasn't overly impressive as a runner. However, he did look like a natural pass catcher. Sam Bradford loves checking down to his running backs. Richardson's status for Thursday night's Week 4 game against the 49ers is up in the air, so Pead may be in line for the start. It's a brutal matchup. He'd be no more than a flex option.

Isaiah Pead played on 30-of-77 snaps in Sunday's loss to the Falcons.

Pead's three touches were deceiving. He was on the field a ton as the Rams attempted a comeback, leaving starter Daryl Richardson with a relatively meager 39 snaps. Considering Richardson is averaging just 3.26 YPC on the year, it's not crazy to think the Rams will eventually look to form some kind of committee. Pead is worth a stash.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch suggests Isaiah Pead could get a significant work in Sunday's game against the Falcons.

Daryl Richardson averaged just 3.15 YPC last week and is nursing a sore foot. Pead is worth stashing on benches before rosters lock today just in case he comes right off suspension and forces his way into a committee. The talent gap between Pead and Richardson is not wide.

Rams RB Isaiah Pead reclaimed the No. 2 spot on the depth chart after returning from his one-week suspension Tuesday.

Coach Jeff Fisher was noncommittal when asked if Pead would get work Sunday against the Falcons, but he almost certainly will after Daryl Richardson turned in a mediocre Week 1 performance. D-Rich should still carry the mail, but we'd expect Pead to get looks in both the run and pass game. For now, he's merely a handcuff for re-draft purposes, but that could change.

Isaiah Pead will resume practicing Wednesday.

Pead's one-game suspension is over and he'll begin his quest to push feature back Daryl Richardson for snaps. Coach Jeff Fisher said, "we'll see" when asked if Pead will play in Week 2. The second-year back is still a stash in deeper leagues as his talent level at least rivals Richardson's.

Coach Jeff Fisher downplayed Isaiah Pead's two preseason fumbles.

Pead is suspended for Week 1, but will enter Week 2 as unproved Daryl Richardson's direct backup. "Hopefully we'll get [the fumbles] behind him, but I'm not going to be hesitant to play him because he's put two balls on the ground in preseason," Fisher said. The talent gap between Richardson and Pead is not wide. Pead is worth stashing in most formats.

Suspended RB Isaiah Pead rushed seven times for 27 yards and caught two passes for 16 yards in St. Louis' preseason finale.

He also fumbled the opening kickoff. Pead finishes the preseason with 86 yards on 26 carries (3.31 YPC). Although the per-play effectiveness needs to improve and he's had ball security woes, Pead has sewn up the Rams' No. 2 tailback job with solid pass protection and big-play flashes off the bench. He's Daryl Richardson's handcuff. Zac Stacy and Benny Cunningham are fighting for scraps. Pead will return from his suspension in Week 2.

Isaiah Pead has lost the starting running back job to Daryl Richardson.

Coach Jeff Fisher confirmed that Pead's one-game suspension has nothing to do with the decision to name Richardson the starter. Through two preseason games, Pead has rushed 14 times for 37 yards (2.64 YPC) despite operating mostly behind the first-team offensive line and lost a crucial fumble. He's also been "indecisive" as a kick returner. Pead has turned into a weak fantasy flier that will only be usable if Richardson faceplants or gets injured.

Isaiah Pead started Saturday's preseason game against the Packers, but failed to make an impact, rushing nine times for just 14 yards.

He added one catch for 10 yards. St. Louis' line cleared few running lanes, while a botched blocking assignment contributed to a six-yard loss on Pead's fourth carry. But all in all, Pead appeared to be running a gear slower than Daryl Richardson, and struggled with his reads. He's a more-talented athlete than D-Rich, but less intelligent football player. We'd expect Richardson to operate as the lead back in next week's regular season dress rehearsal, and for things to stay that way once Pead returns from his one-game suspension in Week 2. It's quite possible Pead will come into fantasy value this season, but it's unlikely to be early on.

Rams OC Brian Schottenheimer says Isaiah Pead has "done some amazing things in training camp."

"He's made play after play, so again, try to get him some more reps," said Schottenheimer. "Obviously he's still a young player. You've got to teach him. But build on the great things he's doing out here on the practice field and carry that over to the field." Pead will get some first-team reps in Saturday's preseason game against the Packers, but appears well behind Daryl Richardson in the battle for No. 1 duties. Pead needs to put together some (really) good film over the next two weeks.

Isaiah Pead rushed for 18 yards on three carries in Thursday night's preseason opener against the Browns.

Daryl Richardson started the game and was in for the first five offensive plays, before Pead came in on the sixth play at Cleveland's 26-yard line. Pead took a carry around the left edge and lost a fumble on his first carry. His final two carries were fine, but the fumble was a crippler for the offense. Pead also looked indecisive on his kickoff returns. He's still behind Richardson.

Coach Jeff Fisher says he hasn't "ruled anybody out" of the Rams' running back competition.

Fisher anointed Daryl Richardson as his de facto starter on Tuesday, but mostly because "he played significantly more last year than anybody." It's still a competition that must be won on the field, though we now believe Richardson is the favorite over Isaiah Pead and rookie Zac Stacy after Pead previously seemed to have the momentum. We'll get our first look at how things will shake out Thursday evening, where the Rams will take on the Browns.

An examination of Isaiah Pead's rookie-year touches and college tape revealed Pead to be an aggressive inside runner with explosive lateral movement.

A link to Evan Silva's tape study of Pead can be found at the link below. Silva observed that Pead lacked Daryl Richardson's explosion and perimeter speed, but is more dangerous when sprung to the second and third levels because he makes defenders miss, whereas Richardson is more "straight-linish." Pead showed some similarities to LeSean McCoy with shiftiness and big-play ability. Larger concerns were pass catching, pass protection, and a lack of physicality.

Rams RB Isaiah Pead says his primary offseason focus was on pass protection.

The Rams are expected to implement a shotgun-based spread offense, and their primary back must pass protect efficiently next to Sam Bradford in the 'gun. "Body position," Pead explained. "I'm not the biggest guy, so I need every inch. Body position is the number one thing I need, and the physical part will take care of itself. You've got to be a willing blocker." The Rams continue to leave the door open for an RBBC or feature back, depending on what happens in camp. Pead was suspended for Week 1, but will be eligible for Week 2.

Isaiah Pead's one-game suspension stems from a July 2012 arrest for possession of two ounces of marijuana.

The details of Pead's one-game ban initially went undisclosed as neither the NFL nor its players is under any obligation to explain suspensions. Coach Jeff Fisher has publicly supported Pead, who is almost a year removed from the violation and insists he's in a better place "mentally" after a lost rookie year.