NFL Player News
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DeeJay Dallas RB | JAC
Seahawks' DeeJay Dallas: Suffers thigh bruise
Dallas picked up a thigh bruise in Sunday's 51-29 win over the Lions, John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site reports.
Dallas rushed once for one yard and returned a pair of kickoffs for 48 yards before getting injured. Rashaad Penny has dominated touches in Seattle's backfield lately and racked up 170 yards and two touchdowns on the ground in this one. If Dallas suits up for next week's season finale against Arizona, he'll likely split change-of-pace duties behind Penny with Travis Homer.
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D'Onta Foreman RB | CLE
Titans' D'Onta Foreman: Big bounceback effort
Foreman rushed the ball 26 times for 132 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 34-3 win over the Dolphins.
Foreman continued to handle the lead-back role for Tennessee, and he bounced back in a big way from a disappointing Week 16 performance. He benefited from a positive game script from a volume perspective to log a career-high 26 carries. Foreman also made the most of his opportunity by ripping off big gains of 35 and 14 yards in addition to notching a 21-yard touchdown late in the second quarter. Though the Titans use three backs, Foreman has managed to top 100 rushing yards in three of his last five games heading into a Week 18 matchup against the Texans.
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Jamaal Williams RB | NO
Lions' Jamaal Williams: Leads backfield
Williams ran for 22 yards and one touchdown on 11 carries and caught three passes for 22 yards on three targets against Seattle on Sunday.
Williams' usage was surprisingly high given the return of D'Andre Swift, who was believed to be fully cleared from a shoulder injury, but Swift saw only four carries and three targets. It's not clear whether Swift's shoulder or anything else influenced the game plan, but it's worth noting that Swift had more yardage on one carry (31) than Williams did on his 11. Williams faces his former Packers teammates in Week 18.
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D'Andre Swift RB | CHI
Lions' D'Andre Swift: Minimal activity
Swift ran for 32 yards on four carries and caught two passes for seven yards on three targets against Seattle on Sunday.
The Lions indicated that Swift was at full strength for this game, so his light usage behind Jamaal Williams (11 carries for 22 yards and one touchdown, three catches for 22 yards on three targets) was surprising if not dubious. Perhaps coach Dan Campbell wanted to limit Swift's exposure to contact in a meaningless game, or perhaps he was making a You Can't Make The Club In The Tub kind of point to Swift, who missed the prior four games with a shoulder injury, but Swift's fantasy investors are entitled to some level of indignation either way. Regardless of whatever reason Campbell might have had for Swift's lack of usage Sunday, it's safe to say that the Lions offense did not benefit from Swift's lack of touches. Detroit faces Green Bay in Week 18.
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Elijah Mitchell RB | PHI
49ers' Elijah Mitchell: Racks up 130 yards plus TD
Mitchell (knee) rushed 21 times for 119 yards and caught both of his targets for 11 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 23-7 win over Houston.
Mitchell returned from a three-game absence and did not skip a beat, producing his sixth 100-plus yard rushing game while collecting his sixth total touchdown of the season in the process. The talented rookie didn't show any residual effects from the knee or head injuries he recovered from, re-establishing himself as the 49ers' clear top back. Mitchell's fantasy managers should also be pleased with the heavy workload despite having a different style of quarterback under center. San Francisco's quarterback situation is unclear heading into the final week of the regular season, but Mitchell should remain a strong fantasy play no matter who starts under center against the Rams.
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Austin Ekeler RB | WAS
Chargers' Austin Ekeler: Tops century mark once more
Ekeler (illness) tallied 17 carries for 58 yards and one touchdown to go along with three receptions for 54 yards in Sunday's 34-13 win over the Broncos.
A week after testing positive for COVID-19 and subsequently missing the demoralizing loss to the Texans, Ekeler came right back and continued to build upon his touchdown streak, extending his consecutive games-scored total to seven. The emergence of Justin Jackson (60 total yards on 15 touches) should help the dynamic jack-of-all trades running back get a bit of rest throughout next week's game, but expect Ekeler to remain the Chargers' top weapon in the red zone.
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Rashaad Penny RB | CAR
Seahawks' Rashaad Penny: Breakout campaign continues
Penny ran for 170 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries and caught two passes for 15 yards on three targets against Detroit on Sunday.
The Lions defense is one of the league's most vulnerable, but Penny still ran in an impressive fashion. Particularly given the context of the prior four games, a span during which Penny ran for 346 yards and five touchdowns on 54 carries (6.4 YPC), it's safe to say that Penny is playing at a legitimately standout level at the moment. Not many running backs possess combine-tested sub-4.5 speed at over 220 pounds, so it makes sense that he would spring big plays like he has, especially after doing so consistently in college at San Diego State. It's uncertain whether his durability will continue to cooperate, but Penny should retain Seattle's lead rusher role when the Seahawks face Arizona in Week 18.
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Ke'Shawn Vaughn RB | SF
Buccaneers' Ke'Shawn Vaughn: Solid role in win
Vaughn rushed eight times for 31 yards and brought in two of three targets for 14 yards in the Buccaneers' 28-24 win over the Jets on Sunday.
Vaughn checked in second to Ronald Jones in carries, with the latter exiting the game early due to an ankle issue. The second-year back now has 15 carries over the last two games, and even though Scott Smith of the team's official site reports Vaughn suffered a rib injury himself during the contest, he's likely to see another solid workload if he suits up Week 18 against the Panthers if the Buccaneers opt to play it safe with Jones ahead of the postseason.