NFL Player News

Raiders coach Jack Del Rio said running back Latavius Murray didn't play the final drive of Sunday's loss to the Bears because the team felt Roy Helu was a better option for the situation, ESPN.com reports.

Although Del Rio said Murray wasn't benched, it was pretty clear that the Raiders kept their workhorse off the field because of his mistakes and poor performance throughout the game.

Murray has otherwise been solid in a three-down role, so his pair of miscues (a lost fumble and bobbled pass) shouldn't have much impact on his workload, unless he makes similar mistakes in the coming weeks. Murray draws a dreadful Week 5 matchup with the dominant Broncos defense.

The Seahawks believe running back Fred Jackson suffered a high ankle sprain, John Boyle of the team's official site reports.

The diagnosis hasn't been confirmed, but if it is indeed a high ankle sprain, Jackson will likely be out for at least a week or two. He was having a nice game as the passing-down back against the Lions on Monday, gaining 54 yards on just five touches (two catches) in Marshawn Lynch's (hamstring) absence. Thomas Rawls is now the only healthy running back on Seattle's roster.

Cowboys running back Joseph Randle did not see a snap in the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss to the Saints after nearly fumbling at the goal line for the second consecutive week, The Dallas Morning News reports.

After being explicitly told not to try and jump over the pile and stretch the ball into the end zone on goal line carries, Randle did exactly that Sunday on a play that was initially ruled a fumble but was overturned on replay to award him the touchdown.

Lance Dunbar's season-ending injury will probably keep him in the backfield mix, but with Christine Michael now being worked in as well, Randle's hold on the starting job appears to be slipping.

Raiders running back Roy Helu had five carries for 22 yards and caught both of his targets for 13 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's Week 4 matchup against the Bears.

The Raiders have eased Helu back into action after a hamstring injury kept him out of the entire preseason and the first few weeks of the regular season. He looks to be the clear backup to Latavius Murray, and he'll likely see some solid time on third downs.

Helu has always been known as a good receiver out of the backfield, and he should be a nice boost to the Raiders' offense.

Buccaneers running back Bobby Rainey returned three kickoffs for a total of 92 yards and brought back two punts for a total of 15 yards in Sunday's 37-23 loss to the Panthers.

Rainey continues to acquit himself well on special teams and has especially excelled on kickoffs, where he ripped off a long return of 38 yards Sunday. He is currently third in the NFL in total kick return yardage and fifth in average per return. Rainey did not see a carry or target from scrimmage for the second consecutive week.

Lions running Ameer Abdullah rushed 13 times for 33 yards and caught two passes (on five targets) for 11 yards in Monday night's loss to the Seahawks.

Abdullah and the Lions' rush offense endured another rough performance Monday night, although a matchup against the Seahawks' swarming defense probably should have tempered expectations of Abdullah to begin with. While Detroit's running game will certainly need to improve in the coming weeks, Abdullah has done well to remain involved as a receiver out of the backfield recently. Along with fellow tailback Theo Riddick, Abdullah's five targets Monday trailed only star wideout Calvin Johnson, evidencing the Lions' desire to get their rookie touches in various ways.

Seahawks running back Thomas Rawls finished Monday night's game against the Lions with 48 rushing yards on 17 carries.

Rawls also caught one pass for a one yard loss Monday. After cracking over 100 rushing yards in Week 3, the undrafted rookie found little room to run in place of injured teammate Marshawn Lynch (hamstring) against an active Lions defensive front. While Lynch potentially returning for next weekend's game versus the Bengals would likely relegate Rawls to more peripheral role, the fact that Cincinnati is also the only team yet to allow a rushing touchdown could also restrict Rawls' Week 5 fantasy value.

Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak said Monday that running back Ronnie Hillman "has earned the right to get more carries," according to the Denver Post.

Kubiak did not that C.J. Anderson will remain the starter, but Hillman, who had 103 rushing yards and a touchdown Sunday against the Vikings, is slated for more early down work. Anderson has really struggled so far this season, failing to reach even 45 rushing yards in a game, giving Hillman a huge opportunity for playing time if he can keep breaking plays like the 72-yard touchdown he scored Sunday.

Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak said Monday that C.J. Anderson will remain the starting running back but he will continue to lose more touches to Ronnie Hillman, according to the Denver Post.

Anderson has really struggled so far this season, failing to rush for even 45 yards in a single game. Hillman hasn't exactly been lighting it up either, though he did score on a 72-yard run during Sunday's game against the Vikings to push him well ahead of Anderson in the rushing yards category. Hillman doesn't have the size to be an every-down back, which gives Anderson some job security, though with how much the Broncos have been using the pistol formation to give quarterback Peyton Manning time in the pocket, they may not have a need for a power back on most snaps.

Rams running back Benny Cunningham toted the ball twice for zero yards and caught a pair of passes for four yards in a 24-22 victory over the Cardinals on Sunday.

Cunningham averaged a single yard every time he touched the ball, although he still touched the ball more than fellow running back Tre Mason. Cunningham will continue to see the field on third down and catch a pass or two, but don't expect too much more than Sunday's output.