NFL Player News

Ekeler carried the ball just four times for five yards and caught all eight of his targets for 48 yards in Sunday's 38-10 thrashing at the hands of the Jaguars.

The Chargers attempted just 11 designed runs as consecutive turnovers to begin the second quarter completely threw out the typical game plan. Sunday marked the first time since 2019 that Ekeler saw fewer than five carries in a game in which he was healthy throughout. It's hard to imagine such imbalance in future weeks, but it's clear the Chargers have focused on giving the star running back less carries in an effort to save him throughout the season. More opportunities both on the ground and through the air should be available in a Week 4 matchup against the Texans.

Coach Matt Eberflus said Montgomery (knee/ankle) is day-to-day after exiting early in Sunday's 23-20 win over the Texans, Courtney Cronin of ESPN reports.

Eberflus described Montgomery's day-to-day label as a positive development after he was deemed doubtful to return during the game. Khalil Herbert rushed for 157 yards and two touchdowns after replacing Montgomery, so Herbert has likely earned a more significant portion of the workload in Chicago's run-heavy offense moving forward even if Montgomery's ready to return as soon as Week 4 against the Giants.

Conner carried the ball 13 times for 39 yards and caught three of five targets for 18 yards in Sunday's 20-12 loss to the Rams.

For the third straight game, Conner failed to gain much yardage, and his 57 scrimmage yards were actually a season high. The former Steeler remains entrenched at the top of the Cardinals depth chart -- backups Eno Benjamin and Darrel Williams combined for only eight touches and 30 yards Sunday -- but he might need to get back into the end zone to make a fantasy impact in Week 4 against the Panthers.

Williams carried the ball 20 times for 87 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 28-24 loss to the Vikings. He added two receptions for 20 yards.

D'Andre Swift suffered an apparent left arm injury during the game, which allowed Williams to dominate touches against the Vikings. He took full advantage, gashing the defense for four gains of 10 or more yards on the ground -- including a 13-yard scamper to the end zone late in the third quarter. Williams was commanding a significant share of the workload out of Detroit's backfield in the first two weeks of the season, but he could be in for another 20-carry workload in Week 4 against Seattle if Swift remains limited.

Harris rushed 11 times for 41 yards and a touchdown while securing two of three targets for five yards in the Patriots' 37-26 loss to the Ravens on Sunday.

Harris saw backfield mate Rhamondre Stevenson turn in a much more efficient performance with a 12-73-1 line on the ground, but the former did contribute a two-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter. Harris was the busier and more productive of the two backs while taking 15 carries for 71 yards and a score in Week 2 against the Steelers, however, so it remains to be seen if the backfield pecking order will revert back to that arrangement in a tough Week 4 road matchup versus the Packers.

Stevenson rushed 12 times for 73 yards and a touchdown and secured four of five targets for 28 yards in the Patriots' 37-26 loss to the Ravens on Sunday.

Stevenson had logged a modest 17 combined carries over the first two games, but he outpaced Damien Harris by one rush attempt Sunday and was impressively efficient. Stevenson also paid his first visit to the end zone this season with a one-yard run early in the fourth quarter and produced season-high numbers across the board in the passing game, making it a fruitful fantasy performance overall. It remains to be seen if Stevenson will once again serve as the primary back in a Week 4 road date with the Packers, however, as Harris naturally figures to remain a prominent week-to-week factor in the ground attack as well.

Pierce carried the ball 20 times for 80 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 23-20 loss to the Bears. He added two receptions for 21 yards.

Pierce served as the Texans' lead back for the second consecutive week, as he out-touched Rex Burkhead 21-7. He tallied new career highs in attempts and yards while also plunging into the end zone from one yard away for his first career touchdown. Pierce will be challenged to consistently put up big performances due to the Texans' poor offense, but he has established himself as the preferred option in the team's backfield.

Ebner rushed seven times for 23 yards in the Bears' 23-20 win over the Texans on Sunday.

Ebner saw second-string running back duties when David Montgomery left the game with an ankle injury. Despite profiling as a strong receiving back, with Justin Fields throwing just 17 passes, Ebner had one target. If Montgomery misses time, Ebner will likely resume the the No. 2 role, giving him increased fantasy value.

Akers carried the ball 12 times for 61 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 20-12 win over the Cardinals.

After taking a back seat to Darrell Henderson in the Rams' opener and splitting the workload fairly evenly in Week 2, Akers appeared to be the team's clear lead back in this one, as Henderson managed only 17 yards on four carries. Akers looked impressive on a 14-yard TD run late in the third quarter for Los Angeles' final points, but he then coughed up a fumble at the goal line in the fourth quarter. That turnover could open the door for Henderson to get more involved again in Week 4 against the 49ers.

Patterson rushed 17 times for 141 yards and one touchdown while hauling in his only target for 12 yards during Sunday's 27-23 victory over the Seahawks.

Patterson had four rushes of over 10 yards, including a 17-yard touchdown to give the Falcons a 17-10 lead in the second quarter. He notched a 40-yard rush and an 18-yard gain on back-to-back plays to set up a Drake London touchdown at the end of the third quarter. After a quiet outing in Week 2, Patterson exploded for his second 100-plus yard performance over the first three games of the season. His lack of involvement in the passing game compared to last year remains a bit of a concern, but Patterson appears to be a focal point in Atlanta's revamped offense, which has scored at least 25 points in each game this season.