NFL Player News

Blackshear rushed five times for 13 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 42-21 loss to the Bengals. He also caught all four of his targets for 40 yards.

Blackshear, a rookie from Virginia Tech, scored the first touchdown of his career with a two-yard rush late in the fourth quarter. Although the blowout nature of Sunday's game resulted in Blackshear getting more involved, it was nonetheless his best performance as a pro. In playing four more offensive snaps than fellow tailback Spencer Brown, Blackshear's usage could be interesting to monitor in Week 10's Thursday night game versus the Falcons, when Chuba Hubbard (ankle) may remain sidelined behind starter D'Onta Foreman.

The 49ers designated Mitchell (knee) to return from IR on Monday, Josh Dubow of The Associated Press reports.

Mitchell sprained his MCL during the season opener and has been on IR since. Jeff Wilson replaced him at first, but the 49ers since have traded Wilson to the Dolphins after acquiring Christian McCaffrey from the Panthers. With the move, Mitchell can practice ahead of Week 10, opening a 21-day window for the running back to be added to the active roster. However, it doesn't sound like Mitchell will remain sidelined for much longer, as Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reported last week that Mitchell has been eyeing a return to action against the Chargers in Week 10. Regardless, when Mitchell eventually is activated, it's possible he'll be limited at first, and even when he's back to full speed, he'll operate as the No. 2 back behind McCaffrey.

Strong was on the field for 18 special-teams snaps in Sunday's 26-3 win over the Colts.

Though fellow RB Damien Harris (illness) was inactive, Strong didn't log any snaps on offense Sunday, while J.J. Taylor served as Rhamondre Stevenson's top backup in the contest. Strong remains off the fantasy radar for now, having recorded just one carry for five yards through seven games.

Akers rushed five times for two yards in Sunday's 16-13 loss to the Buccaneers.

Akers came into his first game since Week 5 averaging just 3.0 yards per carry, and despite facing a subpar run defense, the third-year back actually managed to lower that year-to-date YPC while taking the field for 11 offensive snaps. Darrell Henderson maintained his lead back status with a respectable 56 yards rushing, including a 23-yard scamper, and Malcolm Brown was also effective with his limited touches. Akers has been in limbo for the Rams in recent weeks after asking for a trade, and Sunday's dismal performance doesn't suggest he'll have any fantasy utility when the Cardinals come to town in Week 10.

Ford (ankle) was designated to return from injured reserve Monday.

The Browns now have a 21-day window to either activate Ford or leave him on IR for the remainder of the season. The running back has been out since suffering a left ankle injury in Week 4 versus the Falcons and would likely slide back into a prominent role as a return specialist for Cleveland once healthy.

Williams had zero rushing attempts but reeled in his only target for two yards during Sunday's 20-17 loss versus the Chargers.

With Cordarrelle Patterson back from IR, Williams saw his role reduced even more, garnering just three offensive snaps. When he's in the game, the converted defensive back is a pass-catching threat, but as long as Patterson, Tyler Allgeier and Caleb Huntley are healthy, Williams' fantasy potential is severely limited.

White lost a yard on his only carry during Sunday's 27-20 loss to the Jaguars.

White's lone carry came on his only offensive snap of the day, while starter Josh Jacobs finished the contest with 20 touches for 87 total yards. Ameer Abdullah continues to work behind Jacobs on passing downs, leaving very little opportunity for White to see the field.

Abdullah caught one of three targets for eight yards in Sunday's 27-20 loss to the Jaguars. He also returned two kickoffs for 21 yards.

Abdullah has beat out fellow backup Brandon Bolden for the pass-down role out of the Raiders' backfield since the team's Week 6 bye, but it hasn't translated to much fantasy relevance for Abdullah behind workhorse Josh Jacobs. Abdullah figures to see a similar level of involvement against the Colts in Week 10.

Bolden took his only carry for five yards in Sunday's 27-20 loss to the Jaguars.

Bolden was not targeted in the passing game, while fellow backup Ameer Abdullah caught one of three targets for eight yards. The former has logged just five total offensive snaps in three contests since the Raiders' bye in Week 6, so Bolden carries very little fantasy appeal into Las Vegas' upcoming tilt against the Colts.

Jones (ankle) received negative X-ray results Monday and "should be able to play this week," according to a source familiar with the situation, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

The news comes as a relief for a Packers team that also saw Romeo Doubs (ankle) and Christian Watson (concussion) depart during Sunday's divisional loss to the Lions and can ill afford to lose more playmakers on offense. It's too early to say whether Jones will return to action Week 10 against the Cowboys before seeing what he's able to do in practice, but it's encouraging that he has a chance to suit up at all. If Jones sits or has his snaps limited Sunday, AJ Dillon would handle an increased role.