NFL Player News

Breida carried the ball five times for 16 yards and was not targeted in the passing game in Sunday's 25-23 victory over the Titans.

This was the second consecutive week that the 49ers' backup did not garner a target after receiving at least one in his previous 11 contests. The timeshare that was developing between Breida and Carlos Hyde earlier in the season has ground to a halt with the latter dominating the backfield touches during the club's three-game win streak. The speedy rookie did take over primary kick-return duties, racking up 65 yards on four attempts, so those in deeper leagues that award points for return yardage could take a look at Breida. For everyone else, he's nothing more than a handcuff for Hyde.

Ekeler (hand) will miss the rest of the season, Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times reports.

It isn't all that rare for someone to play with a broken hand, but it wouldn't make much sense for a running back, especially one like Ekeler who largely makes his living on passing downs. Branden Oliver will take over as the Chargers' No. 2 running back, potentially allowing Melvin Gordon to handle the majority of third-down work for the final two weeks of the season. Ekeler was impressive as an undrafted rookie in 14 games, taking 47 carries for 260 yards (5.5 average) and two touchdowns while catching 27 of 35 targets for 279 yards (8.0 per target) and another three scores. The efficient production should ensure that he enters training camp next year with a locked-in role spelling Gordon on passing downs. Ekeler should have plenty of time to recover before the start of the offseason program in April.

Henry rushed seven times for 19 yards and caught both of his targets for nine more yards in Sunday's 25-23 loss to San Francisco.

Henry saw nine touches to DeMarco Murray's 19, likely because their team trailed for most of this one and wanted the better pass-catching back on the field. While both running backs have five rushing touchdowns this season, Henry's average of 4.8 yards per carry is far superior to Murray's 3.6. With a playoff berth slipping away after consecutive losses to sub-.500 NFC West opponents, one can only hope Tennessee will turn to its most effective rusher more often after decreasing Henry's carry total in three consecutive weeks.

Vereen had an oddly symmetrical but unproductive day with five carries for 15 yards and five catches for 15 yards against the Eagles in Sunday's 34-29 loss.

Wayne Gallman has taken over as the Giants' leading runner and pass-catching back, so Vereen is left to chip in at the margins.

Jones rushed three times for 47 yards and brought in one of two targets for six yards in Sunday's 31-24 loss to the Panthers.

Jones' three rushing touches lagged considerably behind Jamaal Williams' 10 totes, but given Jones' success on a per-carry basis in two of the last three games, the division of labor between the two backs could start to slightly shift. Jones has proven to be the much more explosive of the two over the course of the season, with five rushes of over 20 yards -- including one over 40 -- and a pair of 100-yard efforts. The rookie will look to stake a greater claim to rushing opportunities against the Vikings in Week 16.

Williams rushed 10 times for 30 yards in Sunday's 31-24 loss to the Panthers.

Williams saw his role diminish with Aaron Rodgers' return from a collarbone injury, recording his lowest carry total since he became a starter in Week 9. The rookie has seen his rushing touches drop after each of the two games, and he's now averaged 3.4 yards or fewer in five of the last six contests overall. Williams' work in the passing game and his nose for the end zone have both helped make up for mediocre yardage totals in many of his starts, but neither factor came into play Sunday. Meanwhile, fellow first-year back Aaron Jones averaged an impressive 15.7 yards on his three totes, potentially earning himself a bigger workload in Week 16 against the Vikings.

Murray rushed 20 times for 76 yards and a touchdown while adding a 28-yard catch on his lone target in Sunday's 34-7 drubbing of the Bengals.

Murray got the scoring started with a one-yard plunge in the first quarter and was clearly the go-to rushing option over Jerick McKinnon (nine carries for 24 yards). While McKinnon made his mark with over 100 yards as a receiver, Murray remains the better bet for short-yardage scores. The former Oakland running back now has six rushing touchdowns in his past eight games.

Drake ran for 78 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries and added 35 yards on six catches during Sunday's 24-16 loss to Buffalo.

Drake provided Miami with its lone touchdown of the game midway through the fourth quarter when he burrowed through the Buffalo defense for a one-yard scoring run. Somewhere, opposing defensive coordinators are sitting in Jerry's living room with George, Elaine, and Kramer lamenting about how much they "Hate the Drake." The dynamic second-year back has now topped 100 total yards in three straight games after just one such outing during the first 12 weeks of the season. Look for him to continue to find room to run as the season winds to a close. Drake takes on a Kansas City defense that has averaged the seventh-most opponents yards per carry this season before a rematch against Buffalo in Week 17.

McKinnon rushed nine times for 24 yards and added seven catches for 114 yards on eight targets in Sunday's 34-7 win over the Bengals.

While McKinnon was outplayed by Latavius Murray on the ground, he led his team in catches and receiving yards. Both members of this running back duo have provided strong fantasy value since Dalvin Cook tore his ACL in Week 4, but it's a bit worrying that McKinnon hasn't topped 50 rushing yards in his past eight games.

Conner left Sunday's game against the Patriots in the fourth quarter with a knee injury, Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Conner handled a minuscule role behind Le'Veon Bell prior to his early exit, taking three carries for 13 yards. Fitzgerald Toussaint will finish out the contest as Bell's backup.