NFL Player News

Reynolds rushed six times for 24 yards while catching three of three targets for 68 yards during Sunday's 29-0 loss to New England.

Reynolds was more efficient on the ground than the box score implies, considering he was dropped for a seven-yard loss at one point, and he ultimately performed well as a change-of-pace option behind Jamaal Williams in the absence of D'Andre Swift (shoulder). However, the Lions didn't spend much time in Patriots territory, leaving no realistic scoring opportunities for anyone in the Detroit backfield. With Swift expected to return to the field after a Week 6 bye, Reynolds should revert to his No. 3 role in Week 7 against Dallas.

Warren rushed five times for 24 yards while securing four of five targets for 39 yards during the Steelers' 38-3 loss to Buffalo on Sunday.

Warren was on the field for a season-high 51 percent of the Steelers' offensive snaps Sunday, and he outpaced starter Najee Harris by one snap on offense. However, it's worth noting that most of Warren's production came in the fourth quarter, when the game was well out of reach. The undrafted rookie's efficiency was encouraging, but he should continue to see a lesser role when the Steelers are in closer games.

Dallas rushed once for four yards and caught his lone target for six yards in Sunday's 39-32 loss to the Saints.

Rashaad Penny left the game with a leg injury in the first half and didn't return. Rookie Kenneth Walker ended up leading the backfield with 30 offensive snaps, which he turned into eight carries for 88 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, Dallas handled just 10 snaps. Penny is expected to miss the rest of the season, so Dallas should have an expanded role moving forward, especially in passing situations. However, Travis Homer (ribs) can return in Week 7 and may operate as the No. 2 back behind Walker.

Williams rushed three times for 11 yards and one touchdown while catching both of his targets for 10 yards during Sunday's 21-15 loss to Tampa Bay.

Williams, who played defensive back during his rookie campaign, was converted to running back this offseason. He garnered a small reserve role through the first four weeks, totaling six touches for 51 yards, but with Cordarrelle Patterson (knee) sidelined, Williams saw an expanded role in Week 5 and secured his first career NFL touchdown. Despite the score, he is still firmly behind rookie fifth-round pick Tyler Allgeier and Caleb Huntley on the depth chart. However, Williams does appear to have the most versatility out of the trio, so he could continue to steal snaps in a third-down role. All of Atlanta's running backs face another stiff test against the 49ers in Week 6.

Drake rushed four times for 26 yards and caught his lone target for one yard in Sunday's 19-17 win over the Bengals.

Drake was back on the active roster following Justice Hill's (ankle) injury last week against Buffalo. The early-season acquisition leapfrogged fellow veteran Mike Davis to serve as J.K. Dobbins' (eight carries for 44 yards) primary backup. It was interesting to note that it was Drake, and not Dobbins, who was used as the primary back on Baltimore's game-winning drive in the final two minutes of action. Barring an undisclosed injury, this may have simply been a matchup play by the Ravens' coaching staff. Dobbins is still the preferred fantasy rushing option (not named Lamar Jackson) heading into next Sunday's matchup with the Giants.

Dobbins (chest) rushed eight times for 44 yards and was not targeted in the passing game in Sunday's 19-17 win over Cincinnati.

Dobbins saw his usage inexplicably halved coming off of his strongest game of the season last week. The 2020 second-round pick missed Wednesday's practice with a chest injury before being fully cleared later in the week, and there were no post-game reports of any aggravation to either his chest or surgically repaired knee. While this could be written off as a strategic decision, it doesn't explain why recent free-agent addition Kenyan Drake seemed to take over as the primary back in the fourth quarter and the entire final game-winning drive. Dobbins' fantasy managers are hoping for more than eight touches against the Giants next Sunday.

Mixon rushed 14 times for 78 yards and corralled all three of his targets for 10 yards in Sunday's 19-17 loss to Baltimore.

The Bengals seemed to forget that Mixon was active in the first quarter, giving their lead back just one carry in the period before eventually getting him rolling in the second half. The 25-year-old finished with his most efficient game as a rusher (5.6 yards per carry) this season despite the lower usage, as he entered Sunday's contest with an ugly mark of 2.7 YPC through four weeks. Mixon will look to carry this positive momentum into next Sunday's tilt against the Saints, who have allowed 130.0 rushing yards per game to opposing running backs through five games.

Brightwell rushed twice for five yards and scored a touchdown in a 27-22 win over the Packers on Sunday. He also returned three kickoffs for 56 yards.

When Saquon Barkley briefly departed with a shoulder injury during a Giants drive that ran from the end of the third quarter through the beginning of the fourth, both Brightwell and Matt Breida got to see more time than usual on the field. Brightwell logged two carries during the drive and helped New York tie the score 20-20 with a two-yard run into the end zone. With just four carries and no receiving targets through five weeks, it's clear that Brightwell isn't going to be asked to do much aside from returning kickoffs as long as the two running backs ahead of him are healthy.

Breida rushed four times for 14 yards and corralled both of his targets for 13 yards in Sunday's 27-22 win over Green Bay in Week 5.

Breida didn't get his first touch until near the end of the first half, gaining three yards on a handoff from fellow running back Saquon Barkley to push the Giants down to the two-yard line. He saw more opportunity near the end of the third quarter and into the fourth after Barkley temporarily departed with a shoulder issue, and Breida turned his first catch of the campaign into a 13-yard gain on a drive that ended with a Gary Brightwell rushing touchdown. Breida continued in the contest on New York's next drive and added a 10-yard rush, though Barkley soon returned and ended the possession with a rushing touchdown. Breida finished the contest with a season-high yardage total, but it's clear that his role will continue to be minor as long as Barkley is able to take the field.

Akers carried the ball 13 times for 33 yards and failed to catch his only target in Sunday's 22-10 loss to the Cowboys.

The modest rushing total actually led the Rams, and if there was a silver lining for Akers it was that he was the only running back on the team to get a carry on the afternoon, as all of Darrell Henderson's touches came as a receiver. Akers hasn't exactly locked up the No. 1 job in the backfield, but he could be poised for a breakout in Week 6 against a Panthers defense that just got gashed for 199 scrimmage yards and three TDs by the 49ers duo of Jeff Wilson and Tevin Coleman.