NFL Player News

Ekeler recorded no carries and hauled in three of five targets for 19 yards Sunday in the Chargers' 41-28 divisional-round loss to the Patriots.

New England scored touchdowns on its first four possessions of the game, which effectively forced the Chargers to abandon the run. That left limited work available for top back Melvin Gordon (nine carries), while Ekeler's usage was restricted exclusively to passing downs. Though Ekeler made little impact in his final game of the 2018 season, it still was a relatively successful campaign for the second-year player. Over his 16 appearances (including two postseason contests), Ekeler was supremely efficient with 5.0 yards per carry and 9.5 yards per reception on 163 total touches.

Kamara rushed 16 times for 71 yards and brought in all four of his targets for 35 yards in the Saints' 20-14 divisional-round playoff win over the Eagles on Sunday. He also returned two kickoffs for 45 yards.

Kamara finished with a solid final line after a slow start, and his afternoon would have been even bigger had his third-quarter 46-yard touchdown reception on a pass from Taysom Hill not been nullified by penalty. The versatile back was able to find more running room as the game went on, with no carry more important than his 12-yard scamper off right guard on third down with 1:03 remaining in the game and the Eagles out of timeouts. With what is likely to be a shootout against the Rams on tap for next Sunday's NFC Championship Game, Kamara will undoubtedly be poised for a pivotal role in New Orleans' plan of attack.

Gordon rushed nine times for 15 yards and a touchdown while catching one of two targets for 11 yards in Sunday's 41-28 divisional-round loss to New England.

While Gordon didn't have an injury designation heading into this contest, it's fair to wonder whether the perpetually banged-up running back was truly healthy, considering he's battled recent injuries to both knees. The Chargers were forced to largely abandon the run after facing a 35-7 halftime deficit, but Gordon managed to find the end zone from one yard out late in the third quarter. Los Angeles picked up the fifth-year option on Gordon's rookie contract prior to this season, so he'll be back with the team for the 2019 campaign before potentially hitting free agency.

Anderson rushed for 123 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries during Saturday's 30-22 win against Dallas.

Anderson has been an absolute workhorse in three appearances for Los Angeles since Week 16, amassing 422 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 66 combined attempts against the Cardinals, 49ers and Cowboys. With Todd Gurley having just returned from a knee injury that forced him to sit out the Rams' last two games, Anderson was entrusted with 23 of 39 running back carries, dicing up a dominant Cowboys front seven for 5.3 yards per carry after it allowed just 3.8 yards per attempt during the regular season. Awaiting in the NFC Championship Game will be a challenging matchup for Anderson regardless of who prevails Sunday between the Eagles and Saints, as neither defense has allowed more than 97 rushing yards per game this year (both teams rank top seven in the category).

Elliott rushed 20 times for 47 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 30-22 loss to the Rams. He added two catches (five targets) for 19 yards.

Elliott couldn't get anything going against the Rams' stout front, as he was routinely being met with first contact behind the line of scrimmage. The star back was able to salvage his fantasy day with a touchdown from in close, but DFS owners were certainly hoping for a bigger output considering Elliott's price tag. Despite the poor finish, the 23-year-old proved yet again that he is one of the premier running backs in the game with 1,434 rushing yards and six touchdowns to go along with 77 receptions, 567 receiving yards and three more scores through the air during the regular season.

Williams ran for 129 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries and added 25 yards and five catches during Saturday's 31-13 win over the Colts. He was seen on the sideline having his feet and ankles taped up, but he stayed in through the Chiefs' final drive.

Sophomore sensation Patrick Mahomes will get a lot of the headlines heading into the AFC Championship Game, but Williams deserves a ton of the credit. Playing against a Colts team that was sporadic at best on offense, Williams wore Indy's defense down early. He sliced and diced for a 10-yard touchdown on the Chiefs' opening possession and easily converted a fourth and short on the very next drive. How he performs, particularly if the weather is a factor, in the AFC Championship Game will be a major factor as to whether the Chiefs will head to their first Super Bowl in 50 years. He averaged 4.2 yards per carry this season in limited opportunities against potential opponents New England and Los Angeles, scoring twice and adding 74 yards on six catches.

Mack won't return to Saturday's divisional-round game at Kansas City due to a hip injury, Andrew Walker of the Colts' official site reports.

The Colts rarely committed to the ground game after falling behind early, limiting Mack to nine carries for 46 yards. He'll enter the offseason as he did the regular season -- with an injury in tow. Expect the team to go into more detail about Mack's health in the aftermath of a likely loss.

Williams will start Saturday versus the Colts, Brooke Pryor of The Kansas City Star reports.

Spencer Ware gave it the old college try in effort to play for the first time since Week 14, but his hamstring didn't pass the requisite tests during a pregame warmup. With inactive status confirmed for Ware, Williams will work as the Chiefs' lead back, which previously translated to 48 touches for 322 yards and four TDs in three games to close out the regular season. Behind Williams, fellow running backs Darrel Williams and Charcandrick West will receive any reps that linger.

Gordon (knee) practiced in full Friday and doesn't have a designation for Sunday's divisional-round game at New England, Sam Fortier of The Athletic reports.

Gordon picked up a minor injury to his left knee during the Chargers' wild-card win in Baltimore but built up his practice reps from none Wednesday to all of them Friday, clearing him to suit up for this weekend's showdown. Considering he's been banged-up for a good portion of the season, he likely is in line for a similar workload from the past three games -- 15.3 touches per game -- while working in a timeshare with Austin Ekeler.

Zenner's strong finish to the 2018 season likely strengthened his position with the Lions, Mike O'Hara of the team's official site reports.

This is an understatement considering Zenner turned out to be everything head coach Matt Patricia could really ask for in a backup running back -- an effective runner (4.8 YPC on 55 attempts) whose ability on special teams can allow for more roster flexibility on gamedays. The question now is where Zenner will sign this offseason once he becomes an unrestricted free agent in March. Given the promise he showed down the stretch, it's possible Zenner will have a number of suitors for his services.