NFL Player News

Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune relayed Monday that "there is hope" that Gordon -- who suffered a knee injury Sunday against the Dolphins -- avoided ligament damage.

Gordon has an MRI on tap, but with the Chargers 4-10 it's not hard to imagine the team shutting him down if the news on his knee is less than stellar. In such a scenario, Donald Brown would be in line for expanded work down the stretch in tandem with Danny Woodhead.

Jones left Sunday's game in the second half due to a hip contunsion, the Washington Post reports.

Jones rushed 10 times for 28 yards. Check back later in the week for more info on the severity. Alfred Morris would be in line for more touches if Jones misses any time.

Mathews had 11 carries for 58 yards and one catch (on two targets) for three yards in Sunday's 40-17 loss to the Cardinals.

Mathews did have a couple of nice carries along the way, but his night was ultimately defined by a soft fumble and failed fourth-down conversion. He mostly split work with Darren Sproles, as DeMarco Murray got just two carries (for three yards) and wasn't targeted. Sproles also had a rough night, gaining just nine yards on six carries and 16 yards on three receptions (four targets). There's some chance Murray could be more involved in Week 16 against the Redskins, but it's increasingly evident that the Eagles are better off leaning on the Mathews-Sproles combination. Even if he won't admit it, head coach Chip Kelly seems to have arrived at the same conclusion, making Mathews the clear favorite to lead the Eagles in Week 16 carries.

Artis-Pane carried 14 times for 59 yards and caught both of his targets for another 34 yards in Sunday's win over the Giants.

The rookie played well in his first extended look of the season as a fill-in for the injured Jonathan Stewart, averaging nearly six yards per touch as the primary back. Stewart should be considered questionable for Week 16 with a foot injury, although the Panthers are unlikely to insert him back into a game until the issue is completely resolved. Another start for Artis-Pane and a matchup against a vulnerable Falcons run defense would make him an intriguing play, should Stewart sit again.

Draughn (knee) did not return to Sunday's game against the Bengals.

Initially deemed questionable to return, Draughn was later ruled out for good, finishing his day with nine carries for 38 yards and one catch for four yards on two targets. He'd been playing nearly all of the offensive snaps, and the 49ers chose to replace him with a a mixture of Travis Cadet and Kendall Gaskins. If Draughn can't play in Week 16 against the Lions, former rugby player Jarryd Hayne could get a promotion from the practice squad, though he'd still be unlikely to get more than a handful of touches. There's also some chance Mike Davis (hand) will return from short-term injured reserve for Week 16 or 17.

Vereen carried four times for 29 yards in Sunday's loss to the Panthers. He also snagged eight of 10 targets for 43 yards and a touchdown.

The game flow Sunday played out perfectly for Vereen, as the Giants fell behind big and turned to the pass-catching back to help climb out of the hole. Vereen has flashed at times this season, but his specific role in the offense limits his usage and upside from week to week. The flow of the game will likely dictate his role once again in Week 16 against the Vikings.

Murray gained 78 yards on 21 carries and secured one of two targets for two yards in Sunday's 30-20 loss to the Packers.

The second-year tailback had a solid afternoon on a wet track at the O.co Coliseum, although his carries were reduced late in the game with the Raiders in catch-up mode. Murray's 3.7 yards per carry was actually his second-best figure in that category over the last five weeks, a span that had seen him average less than two yards per tote in one contest and under three yards in two others. Now at 956 rushing yards on the season, Murray should easily surpass the 1,000-yard mark against a generous Chargers rush defense in Week 16. In doing so, he will be the franchise's first back to achieve the milestone since Darren McFadden tallied 1,157 yards in 2010.

West carried a team-high seven times for 35 yards and caught both targets for another 11 yards in Sunday's loss to the Chiefs.

The second-year back was the busiest member of the Baltimore backfield Sunday, as Buck Allen was benched after fumbling for the second straight week. The Ravens abandoned the run for the most part after going down big on the scoreboard, but West's average of five yards per carry was impressive versus a stout Chiefs run defense. Allen should get another chance to shoulder the load, but West could see an expanded role next week versus Pittsburgh.

Anderson rushed four times for 14 yards and caught one pass on three targets for six receiving yards Sunday against the Steelers.

Ronnie Hillman dominated the touches out of the backfield, and while he wasn't overly successful (14 carries for 48 yards), it wasn't bad enough to get Anderson more touches. It's clear Hillman is the main runner right now, which severely caps Anderson's fantasy upside.

Hillman rushed 14 times for 48 yards but lost a fumble during Sunday's loss to the Steelers.

While the performance was hardly productive, Hillman saw significantly more action than C.J. Anderson, who rushed four times for 14 yards and caught one pass for six receiving yards. The Broncos did most of their damage through the air, as quarterback Brock Osweiler passed for 296 yards and three touchdowns, while also rushing for a score. Hillman continues to be the starter in Denver, but he's failed to reach even 60 rushing yards in four consecutive games. Up next is a Week 16 home game against the Bengals, who have allowed the third-fewest rushing touchdowns this season.