NFL Player News

Brightwell failed to record an offensive snap in Sunday's 44-20 loss to the Cowboys.

Brightwell's 16 special teams snaps represented his only action in Week 5. The rookie's lack of usage in the running game was surprising considering teammate Saquon Barkley exited the game in the first quarter with an ankle injury. Instead, it was Devontae Booker and Elijhaa Penny who carried the load after Barkley's departure. Booker, the team's No. 2 back, rushed 16 times while Penny, listed as a fullback, finished the game with just one carry. Brightwell could see a modest bump to his usage on offense with Barkley sidelined again, but it appears New York doesn't view the 23-year-old as a go-to option out of the backfield. The Giants take on the Rams in Week 6, and Brightwell should remain off the fantasy radar for that contest.

Mostert will undergo surgery Tuesday to address chipped cartilage in his left knee, David Lombardi of The Athletic reports.

Mostert announced Sept. 14 that he would require a season-ending knee procedure, but he had to wait around a month for doctors to find the correct donor components needed for the operation. Assuming the surgery goes as planned, Mostert is expected to be back to full health ahead of the 2022 season. The 29-year-old running back is set to become a free agent this spring.

Hines had four carries for 18 yards and no receptions on one target in Monday's loss to Baltimore.

Hines played 26 snaps (38 percent of offensive plays) which is about his average workload, but he had fewer touches than Marlon Mack. Hines was hindered by a sore shoulder in practice, but it doesn't sound like the injury was a factor in his workload. While he may get more work when the Colts are playing from behind, it's been worrisome he's had such little involvement the past two weeks (four touches last week) and Mack has become more involved.

Mack had five carries for 47 yards and one reception for seven yards on two targets in Monday's loss to Baltimore.

Mack played just 10 snaps on offense with both Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Hines healthy. Last week, head coach Frank Reich said he ideally would give Mack five carries a week, which seems odd given his spot on the depth chart and with him demanding a trade two weeks ago. Still, it looks like he may continue to see a steady, but small, role in the offense, usage which could be intended to showcase him for a team in need of backfield help.

The Chiefs placed Edwards-Helaire (knee) on injured reserve Tuesday.

After he was diagnosed with an MCL sprain of his left knee following his departure from Sunday's loss to the Bills, Edwards-Helaire was generally expected to require at least a couple weeks of recovery time. The Chiefs' decision to move the second-year back to IR means that he'll officially be out for at least the next three games, with Kansas City's Week 9 contest versus Green Bay representing Edwards-Helaire's earliest possible return date. While Edwards-Helaire is on the mend, Darrel Williams and Jerick McKinnon are expected to lead the Kansas City backfield, though it's unclear how the snaps and touches might be divvied up among the two.

Running backs coach Tony Dews indicated Tuesday that Evans (knee) took part in practice last week, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

Evans was designated to return from injured reserve last Wednesday and apparently got in some practice immediately. His 21-day window to be evaluated in practice has thus begun, by the end of which the team must decide to either activate him or keep him on injured reserve for the rest of the season. Assuming he returns, Evans figures to join the conversation alongside Jeremy McNichols for backup duties to Derrick Henry.

McKinnon ran once for two yards and caught both of his targets for 13 yards Sunday against the Bills.

McKinnon entered the equation a bit more Sunday after Clyde Edwards-Helaire left the contest due to a knee injury that turned out to be an MCL sprain. With CEH potentially missing multiple weeks due to the injury, McKinnon figures to slot in as the primary backup for Darrel Williams in that span. However, the Chiefs could also elect to add a running back from another club, which could dilute the backfield totes further.

Ahmed logged two carries for five yards and secured two of three targets for 16 yards during Sunday's loss to the Buccaneers.

Miami's rushing attack was shut down by Tampa Bay's stout defensive front, but that didn't stop Myles Gaskin from accumulating 10 targets and two touchdowns through the air. Though Ahmed didn't turn in nearly as productive a fantasy day, he did appear to work ahead of Malcolm Brown (no touches) for the first time all season.

Gainwell rushed twice for 16 yards and caught one of his three targets for eight yards in Sunday's 21-18 win over the Panthers.

Coming off the biggest game of his young career, this certainly qualifies as a disappointing result for Gainwell. The Eagles did hardly any running in the first half though and only ended up with 22 carries total for the game -- nine of which belonged to Jalen Hurts. The rookie now has a tough matchup against Tampa Bay on Thursday night.

Williams rushed four times for six yards and caught both his targets for 15 yards in Monday night's 31-25 overtime win against the Colts.

After being inactive in Week 4, Williams was the second tailback to enter the game for Baltimore but didn't get his first touch until after both starter Latavius Murray and fellow backup Devonta Freeman has gotten theirs. Although the three split snaps over the course of the contest, when a big deficit required Baltimore to pass the ball more, Williams wasn't able to take advantage. Fortunately, neither Murray nor Freeman topped 35 scrimmage yards either, leaving the Ravens' backfield picture muddled. Given Williams' role reduction since the first couple games of the season, as well as the practice-squad presence of Le'Veon Bell, Williams' fantasy value is precarious ahead of a Week 6 matchup versus the Chargers.