News:Venric Mark had 13 carries for 56 yards and two receptions for three yards in Northwestern's win over Mississippi State in the Gator Bowl.
Analysis:Venric Mark was largely bottled up in the win as Northwestern surprisingly had more success in the air. Mark finished the season with 1366 yards rushing with 12 touchdowns. He also scored two touchdowns on punt returns with a 18.7 punt return average. He should return for his senior season and will be a top fantasy pick with nearly all key players (7 of 11 starters) on the Northwestern offense set to return.
News:Venric Mark carried the ball 18 times for 127 yards and one touchdown against Illinois on Saturday.
Analysis:Venric Mark continues to be the lead back on the ground and putting up numbers despite sharing carries with quarterback Kain Colter.
News:Venric Mark (upper body) is expected to play against Illinois on Saturday, ESPN reports.
Analysis:Venric Mark couldn't finish Saturday's game against Michigan State, leaving during the first half. He'll be an advised start if he is indeed active against the Illini.
News:Venric Mark left Saturday's game against Michigan State in the first half with an "upper extremity" injury and will not return, the Chicago Tribune reports.
Analysis: He left last week's game with an apparent arm or shoulder injury, although the injury was never disclosed, so this could be an aggravation of that injury. He had just six carries for eight yards before departing.
News:Venric Mark (undisclosed) practiced Tuesday and is probable for Saturday's game against Michigan State, ESPN reports.
Analysis: It's a very tough matchup for Venric Mark, but his owners still need to start him in Big Ten-only leagues at the very least. We're sold on Mark as one of the nation's elite runners, and he's been close to matchup-proof all year.
News:Venric Mark suffered an undisclosed injury late in Saturday's loss to Michigan and missed playing time in overtime, the Chicago Tribune reports.
Analysis: He suffered an apparent arm injury, but the severity isn't known.
Northwestern's Mark Runs For 104 Yards Against Michigan.
News:Venric Mark carried the ball 23 times for 104 yards and a touchdown against Michigan on Saturday.
Analysis:Venric Mark has topped the 100-yard mark in seven games this season despite sharing the running duties with quarterback Kain Colter. Even with a tough matchup against Michigan State next week, Mark should get enough carries to put up decent numbers.
News:Venric Mark and Northwestern take on Michigan's 44th ranked run defense after their bye.
Analysis: Michigan's run defense is allowing an average of 143.22 yards, and Venric Mark should receive enough carries to do some damage. Expect the Wildcats to go run heavy with their struggles in the passing game coupled with the fact that Michigan has the nations 12th ranked pass efficiency defense.
News:Venric Mark carried the ball 16 times for 162 yards against Iowa on Saturday.
Analysis:Venric Mark also caught two passes for 11 yards in the game. The Junior couldn't find the endzone, but he did top the century mark for the sixth time this season.
News:Venric Mark, who left Saturday's loss to Nebraska with an undisclosed injury, is expected to play this week against Iowa, FOX Sports reports.
Analysis:Venric Mark didn't return in Saturday's game after taking a hard hit, but was able to walk off the field. It seems unlikely he suffered a concussion if he's expected to play this early in the week.
Northwestern's Mark Leaves With Undisclosed Injury
News:Venric Mark had 16 carries for 117 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown, in Saturday's loss to Nebraska. However, he left late in the second half with an undisclosed injury, the Chicago Tribune reports.
Analysis:Venric Mark took a hard hit at one point in the game and was shaken up, but was able to walk off the field. He was mostly contained by Nebraska other than one big run (15 carries for 38 yards).
Northwestern's Mark Has a Strong Showing Against Gophers
News:Venric Mark carried the ball 20 times for 182 yards and two touchdowns against Minnesota on Saturday.
Analysis:Venric Mark remains a key component to the Northwestern offense, and has a good matchup next week against a Nebraska team that is allowing 189 yards per game on the ground.
News:Venric Mark carried the ball 13 times for 72 yards and a touchdown against Penn State on Saturday. He also returned a punt 75 yards for a touchdown.
Analysis:Venric Mark returned a punt for a touchdown for the second time this season. He remains a key part of the offense, and has scored in five of six games this season.
Northwestern's Mark Sets Career High In Rushing Yards
News:Venric Mark ran the ball 29 times for 139 yards and 1 touchdown against Indiana on Saturday.
Analysis:Venric Mark carried the ball more than any other back, and continued to be productive. He should continue to see a touches come his way as Northwestern tries to stay undefeated as they move deeper into Big Ten play.
News:Venric Mark (lower body) carried the ball 16 times for 117 yards and three touchdowns in Northwestern's win against South Dakota on Saturday.
Analysis:Venric Mark returned and ran well after leaving last week's game with a lower body injury. He continues to be the centerpiece of the offense and the Wildcats will continue to lean on him for offensive production as they enter Big Ten play against Indiana next week.
News:Venric Mark (lower body) is probable for Saturday's game against South Dakota, ESPN reports.
Analysis:Venric Mark figures to be efficient against South Dakota, but he might not be a great fantasy option since Northwestern might race to a big lead and call off the dogs early.
News:Venric Mark (lower body) is expected to practice Tuesday, Chicago Tribune writer Teddy Greenstein reports.
Analysis: Mike Trumpy may have gotten his foot in the door for the Northwestern running game with his strong showing against Boston College in Venric Mark's place Saturday, as the 2011 starter (pre-injury) ran for 106 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. But Mark had the Northwestern running game working at a very high level before his injury, so we would imagine he'll be reinstalled as Northwestern's top runner once he's at all healthy, which could occur as soon as this week. Still, Trumpy figures to get more work than he did in the first two weeks, when he totaled just eight carries.
News:Venric Mark left Northwestern's game against BC in the third quarter with a lower body injury, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Analysis:Venric Mark did not return to the game. If he is healthy, he is the leader of the Northwestern ground attack, but his playing status will not be clear until later in the week.
News:Venric Mark ran the ball 24 times for 123 yards and one touchdown in the Wildcats' win against Vanderbilt on Saturday. He also caught one pass for 14 yards.
Analysis:Venric Mark is the most consistent part of the Northwestern offense and adds an extra dimension as the kick returner. With Northwestern's passing game questionable, the rushing game has been carrying the offense, and Mark is the center of the rushing attack.
News:Venric Mark ran the ball 14 times for 82 yards, he also caught two passes for 16 yards and one touchdown and returned a punt 82 yards for a touchdown.
Analysis: The punt return touchdown was a nice addition to the otherwise average day for Venric Mark. If he can continue to find the end zone, he will continue to be a fantasy asset.
News:Venric Mark is listed as Northwestern's starting running back on the depth chart this week against Syracuse.
Analysis: He'll likely split carries with Treyvon Green and Mike Trumpy. However, Trumpy is coming back from a torn ACL and Green dealt with an injury in training camp. Venric Mark could see the bulk of carries in the first game and he'll also be a factor in the return game.
News: Treyvon Green, Mike Trumpy and Venric Mark could all get significant carries this season, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Analysis: Trump is returning from a torn ACL, so Venric Mark could be a bigger factor early in the season. It's unlikely any of the backs emerge as a primary runner, however. Still, Mark is very versatile and should be a factor as a returner and also could be used as a receiver.
