NFL Player News

Ollison picked up 41 rushing yards and a touchdown on eight carries during Thursday's 34-27 loss to Miami.

Ollison got his name back in the mix for Atlanta's No. 2 running back job with a strong performance against Miami, taking advantage of a matchup with the NFL's 31st-ranked rush defense from a season ago. To become a more balanced, every-down back he will strive to improve upon his elusiveness and agility, but as currently constructed, the big-bodied Ollison is an interesting fit for Dirk Koetter's offensive scheme. Ito Smith has not received the requisite number of touches this preseason (eight total) to get an updated fantasy appraisal, but Ollison is doing what he can to build a case for himself as the potential No. 2, if not at least the team's No. 3 guy.

Penny rushed six times for 15 yards and brought in one of two targets for 27 yards in the Seahawks' 22-14 preseason win over the Broncos on Thursday.

Penny has been drawing positive reviews for a slimmer physique and the resulting increase in quickness and speed during training camp. He was able to flash some of it on his one catch, with the 2018 first-round pick taking a short pass from Geno Smith 27 yards up the left side of the field on Seattle's first possession. Penny was able to get first-team work with Chris Carson sitting out the contest for precautionary reasons, and he'll look to continue making a case to eat into the latter's touches during the Seahawks' second exhibition, Aug. 18 against the Vikings.

Ekeler rushed five times for 40 yards and brought in all three targets for 29 yards in the Chargers' 17-13 preseason loss to the Cardinals on Thursday. He also lost a fumble.

Ekeler's first official 2019 audition as the lead back in the wake of Melvin Gordon's ongoing holdout had only one blemish, a lost fumble that short-circuited the Chargers' first drive at the Cardinals' two-yard line. The third-year back otherwise shined through both the ground and air, flashing his signature skills with the ball in his hands. The extent of Ekeler's role this coming season naturally depends on Gordon's status, but the Western State product did inspire confidence in his ability to help keep the run game afloat Thursday, his one miscue notwithstanding.

Sanders carried the ball three times for three yards in Thursday's preseason loss to the Titans.

The Eagles deployed a true backfield committee in their preseason opener, with five different RBs getting either three or four carries, but Sanders may have been the least impressive of the bunch. The rookie still has plenty of upside given his athleticism and the investment the team made in him as a second-round pick, but Sanders will need to show more than this if he wants to overtake Jordan Howard at the top of the depth chart.

Edmonds rushed twice for four yards in the Cardinals' 17-13 preseason win over the Chargers on Thursday.

Despite the fact he'd been working with the first team the majority of training camp thus far, Edmonds saw minimal action Thursday. The 2018 fourth-round pick came in on the Cardinals' second series after David Johnson started the contest, but he was unable to find much running room on his pair of carries. Edmonds enjoyed a fairly solid rookie season considering the sub-par offensive cast around him, as he garnered 311 total yards from scrimmage on 80 total touches. He'll likely see a boost in carries during the Cardinals' second preseason game against the Raiders next Thursday.

McNichols rushed the ball eight times for 44 yards in the team's first preseason game against the Eagles.

McNichols gained 37 of his 44 yards on one rush early in the second quarter, when he made a nice cutback move to burst through the line. He continued to weave through the open field to turn in the team's longest rush of the contest. The former Buc was listed as the fourth-string back on the team's first unofficial depth chart but was the second RB on the field in the preseason opener with Derrick Henry (calf) and David Fluellen (ankle) not in uniform, though McNichols could make the team due to his strong potential as a receiver out of the backfield.

Higdon rushed eight times for 37 yards in Thursday's 28-26 preseason opening loss to the Packers.

Higdon finished with two more carries and 13 more yards than fellow undrafted rookie Damarea Crockett, but Crockett also had a touchdown while Higdon failed to find the end zone. It's unlikely more than one of these two running backs makes the roster, especially with the Texans trading for Duke Johnson earlier Thursday, so Higdon will have his work cut out for him throughout the remainder of the preseason.

Artis-Payne rushed five times for eight yards and caught both his targets for 30 yards in Thursday night's 23-13 preseason win over the Bears.

Artis-Payne started at tailback for the Panthers and registered a 17-yard reception on the team's second offensive play. He then hauled in a 13-yarder on the second play of Carolina's second drive, but otherwise was held in check. The veteran was replaced by Elijah Holyfield in the second quarter, and although the rookie would score two touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving) while featuring until the end of the game, he also lost a fumble. That performance left a mixed impression as Holyfield aims to move up the depth chart, and the incumbent second-stringer Artis-Payne should get more time to show his stuff in next week's meeting with the Bills.

Drake registered 12 rushing yards on four carries during Thursday's 34-27 win against the Falcons.

Drake ripped off a nine-yard rush on the game's very first play from scrimmage, but managed just three yards on his subsequent three carries before being pulled. It wasn't exactly an inspiring 2019 debut for the 25-year-old back, but given the context of the game and the fact that he only received four offensive touches, there's no change in his value as result of this performance. Drake is evidently a home-run hitter as a rusher (11 rushes of 20-plus yards on 253 carries the past two seasons), but what was most noteworthy last year was his uptick in receiving. In 2018, Drake eclipsed previous career highs in receptions (32), receiving yards (239) and TDs (one) by counts of 21, 238 and four, respectively

Williams rushed eight times for 24 yards and brought in five of six targets for 33 yards in the Colts' 24-16 preseason loss to the Bills on Thursday.

Williams gave a solid accounting of himself with plenty of work beginning late in the first quarter and going through the third. The 2016 fifth-round pick is battling for a backup role after having only played three games since the end of his rookie campaign, and Thursday's effort was certainly a good start for Williams in making a case for himself. However, he has plenty of quality competition for a roster spot, as incumbent Jordan Wilkins and fellow newcomers D'Onta Foreman and Spencer Ware (PUP-ankle) are all vying for complementary early-down work behind Marlon Mack.