NFL Player News

Running back Donald Brown was released by the Chargers on Saturday, ESPN's Adam Caplan reports.

The Chargers would apparently like to re-sign Brown next week, but they needed an offensive lineman and Brown is not subject to waivers. Dreamius Smith is now the team's No. 4 running back.

Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (hamstring) is officially questionable for Monday's game.

This has looked like a likely game-time decision all week, and that will indeed be the case. Thomas Rawls will be the starter with Fred Jackson serving as the third-down back if Lynch does not play .

Lions running back Joique Bell (ankle) has been ruled out of Monday's game against the Seahawks, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.

Bell has been incredibly underwhelming thus far, averaging just 2.5 yards per touch and 1.1 yard per rush. Rookie Ameer Abdullah and third-down back Theo Riddick should get increased touches against a tough Seahawks rush defense Monday in Bell's absence.

Titans running back Bishop Sankey will be part of a running back-by-committee situation moving forward in Tennessee, the Tennessean reports.

In case it wasn't apparent from the Titans having a different leading rusher in each of their first three games, head coach Ken Whisenhunt confirmed the team is perfectly content feeding the hot hand rather than consistently featuring a single running back. As a result, Sankey, Dexter McCluster, Antonio Andrews and Terrance West should all continue to see touches moving forward, health permitting.

Rams running back Benny Cunningham (knee) is listed as probable for Sunday's game in Arizona, ESPN.com reports.

Cunningham was a late addition to the injury report for Friday, with a minor knee issue holding him out of practice. He's still expected to play, albeit in a limited role now that Todd Gurley and Tre Mason are both healthy. Cunningham won't see much work outside of obvious passing situations.

Lions running back Joique Bell (ankle) missed practice again on Friday and is in jeopardy of sitting out in Week 4, the Detroit Free Press reports.

Despite finding the end zone in Week 3, Bell has been downright unpleasant to watch thus far, averaging an abysmal 2.5 yards per touch and 1.1 yards per rush. He has been a starter in name only through three weeks, his 61 offensive snaps trailing the 86 rookie Ameer Abdullah has logged and narrowly leading third-down back Theo Riddick's 58. Though his size and physical running style make him Detroit's defacto goal-line back, his level of production shouldn't be missed by fantasy owners or the Lions if he is held out on Monday.

Despite his struggles to start the season, Broncos running back C.J. Anderson will remain the starter ahead of Ronnie Hillman and Juwan Thompson, according to the Denver Post.

Anderson has failed to rush for even 30 yards in a game this season, racking up 74 yards on 32 carries, but Hillman hasn't been much better, rushing for 88 yards on 28 carries.

Anderson reportedly had a good practice Friday, and while he'll draw the start Sunday against the Vikings, he'll continue to be on thin ice, particularly if Hillman is able to turn it around and outperform him.

Rams coach Jeff Fisher said he expects running back Todd Gurley to take on a larger workload in Sunday's game against the Cardinals, USA Today's Tom Pelissero reports.

"I think [Gurley] played 14 snaps [in Week 3]," Fisher said Friday. "I would expect him to play a lot more this week."

Gurley worked in tandem with Tre Mason and Benny Cunningham in last week's loss to the Steelers, gaining just nine yards on six carries and five yard on one reception. Though he'll likely continue to split snaps with his teammates, Gurley's workload should increase as the season moves on, starting with Sunday's tough matchup in Arizona. It probably won't be long before Gurley emerges as the clear lead back, but his upside may be capped by the shaky offense around him.

Raiders running back Taiwan Jones (foot) is listed as questionable for the Week 4 battle with Chicago.

Jones returned to a limited practice Friday, though his status is of more import to the backfield depth than it is to Fantasy owners, as long as top back Latavius Murray remains healthy.

Cardinals running back Andre Ellington is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Rams.

Ellington was limited throughout the week of practice, and while it won't be surprising if the third-year back suits up, head coach Bruce Arians said Chris Johnson will get the start. It thus seems Ellington will mostly be limited to passing-down work, if he does in fact play.

Between the late (4:25 PM ET) kickoff and limited role, Ellington doesn't hold much Week 4 appeal. His season-long value also appears to be in danger, as Johnson may hold on to the starting job.