NFL Player News

Pollard is slated to serve as the top backup to starting tailback Ezekiel Elliott in Sunday's game against the Giants, but the extent of the rookie's role in the Week 1 game plan is uncertain. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network relays that Elliott is expected to play around 20-to-25 snaps, while a source tells Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com that the veteran will handle a "normal" workload.

Even if Rapoport's report proves more accurate of the two, Elliott would still make for a solid universal lineup play in season-long formats, but Pollard's fantasy viability would vary more wildly based on Elliott's usage. If Elliott is on tap for a 20-to-25-snap role, Pollard might still have a path to around 10 touches, which would keep him on the radar in deeper leagues. If Raanan's prediction comes to pass, however, little work would likely be left over for Pollard, as Elliott never played fewer than 76.8 percent of Dallas' offensive snaps in any game in 2018. Rather than committing to a firm plan for Elliott's workload, it's possible the Cowboys assess his condition as the game unfolds before determining when or if to stagger or reduce his snap count.

Elliott is expected to receive around 20-to-25 snaps in Sunday's game against the Giants, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Meanwhile, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports that Elliott is expecting to handle a "normal" workload in Week 1.

Unless Elliott is getting the ball on nearly every snap he plays in Rapoport's projection, the two reports are seemingly at odds with one another with regard to the running back's projected workload. Though Rapoport notes that the Cowboys are satisfied with Elliott's conditioning after he logged only three practices this week following an extended holdout, the team reportedly wants to ease the 24-year-old back into the mix and avoid the soft-tissue injuries that can often crop up after a prolonged layoff. Of course, the Cowboys could end up loosening any restrictions if Elliott looks good as the game unfolds, a development that would align with Raanan's report. The lack of definitive word on a touch/snap count for Elliott makes him a riskier DFS option than normal while he's one of the higher-priced options at running back, but he still looks like a solid lineup option in season-long leagues even if he ends up ceding more work than usual to his backup, rookie Tony Pollard.

Sanders won't start Sunday's game against the Redskins, with the Eagles expected to go with veteran running back Jordan Howard, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Coach Doug Pederson is notorious for using all the running backs at his disposal, but he also confirmed earlier in the week that Sanders will have a role in his first NFL action. Aside from Howard and Sanders, the Eagles also have Darren Sproles and Corey Clement on the 53-man roster, meaning if one is inactive Sanders would have an easier path to touches.

Gordon's holdout has a chance to last until late November, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Per NFL rules, Gordon must report to the Chargers 30 days before the end of the regular season to ensure that his contract doesn't toll for this year and allows him to become an unrestricted free agent next offseason. In essence, he'll have to join his teammates Week 13 as they prepare for a Dec. 1 divisional matchup at Denver. Schefter's report comes on the heels of Ian Rapoport of NFL Network noting Gordon is expected to come back in a window that spans "Week 6 though Week 8," so this situation may be resolved well before the end of November.

Pollard may be in line for a more limited role than initially anticipated Sunday against the Giants with top back Ezekiel Elliott expected to handle a "normal" workload, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports.

Pollard's fantasy value took a major hit when Elliott inked a six-year, $90 million contract extension earlier this week, but the rookie was still expected to have a fairly prominent role in the Cowboys' Week 1 game plan since the veteran missed all of training camp and the preseason while holding out. Earlier reports suggested that Elliott would likely only be in line for around 20-to-25 snaps, but the Cowboys have seemingly been satisfied enough with his fitness after three practices to loosen the reins. Assuming Elliott does in fact handle his usual three-down duties for the Cowboys, Pollard may only be in line for a handful of touches as a change-of-pace back, which probably won't translate to enough volume to make the Memphis product a viable lineup option in most fantasy formats.

Elliott is expecting to handle a "normal" workload Sunday in the Cowboys' game against the Giants, a source tells Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com.

Despite missing all of training camp and the preseason before agreeing to a six-year, $90 million contract extension Wednesday, Elliott apparently feels as though his conditioning is up to par after logging three practices. Though prior reports suggested that the star running back would be in store for a limited slate of around 20-to-25 plays in Week 1, the Cowboys appear willing to loosen the reins on Elliott if he looks to be in good form early in the contest. If Elliott does in fact handle a normal workload -- which equated to about 25 touches per game in 2018 -- he would represent one of the higher-end Week 1 fantasy options at running back. It would also result in fewer snaps for rookie Tony Pollard, who had been poised to claim an every-down role for Dallas before Elliott put pen to paper on the new deal.

At this stage, Gordon -- who is looking for a new contract -- plans to report back to the Chargers "in the window that spans from Week 6 through Week 8," Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports.

The report notes that Gordon must return to the team by Week 10 in order to have this season count toward his free agency next year and he plans to do so. Heading into Week 1, however, there's been no reported progress toward the running back inking a new deal, so the Chargers will move forward for the time being with a backfield led by Austin Ekeler, with Justin Jackson also in the mix for touches.

Elliott was added to the Cowboys' 53-man roster Saturday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

This should come as no surprise considering the Cowboys gave every indication their star running back would be available for Week 1. How much playing time Elliott receives is another question entirely, as Jane Slater of NFL Network reported earlier in the week the 24-year-old would get approximately 20-to-25 snaps despite executive vice president Stephen Jones suggesting Elliott "came in in really good shape." Regardless, the 2016 first-round-pick figures to have some sort of role Sunday against the Giants.

Williams (foot) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Seahawks, Curtis Crabtree of Sports Radio 950 KJR Seattle reports.

Previous reports noted that Williams could be a week or two away from returning to action, which leaves Joe Mixon, Giovani Bernard and Samaje Perine to head the Bengals backfield Week 1, at a minimum.

McKinnon (knee) had surgery Tuesday, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

McKinnon hasn't provided details on the surgery, apart from stating that it doesn't directly involve the torn ACL and damaged meniscus that wiped out his 2018 campaign. He'll now miss another full season on injured reserve, but he hopes to make it back next offseason and stick around with the 49ers. Doing so likely would involve a pay cut from his scheduled $6.5 million base salary for 2020.