NFL Player News

Buccaneers running back Charles Sims rushed for 38 yards on eight carries and also secured all three of his targets for 14 yards in Sunday's 26-19 victory over the Saints.

Sims had a refreshingly strong game on the ground, where he has often struggled to find running room in the past. Conversely, he was only a moderate factor in the passing game, which is usually his strong suit, but did successfully secure all three balls thrown his way.

Sims is clearly a key component of a diverse Bucs backfield that features a trio of running backs with different skill sets.

Buccaneers running back Doug Martin rushed for 78 yards on 21 carries and also secured both of his targets in the passing game for 20 yards in Sunday's 26-19 victory over the Saints. He also fumbled twice, losing both.

Martin's second fumble was costly for the moment, eventually leading to a fourth quarter 16-yard touchdown pass from Drew Brees to Willie Snead that cut the Bucs' lead to 23-19. Despite the turnovers, Martin ran hard and decisively on the afternoon and continues to rebound from the lackluster performances he has put forth over the last two seasons. He has a firm hold for the moment on the top running back role, but given that there is an established precedent of benching him for poor performance, Martin clearly will have to produce week in and week out and avoid turnovers to retain it.

Dolphins running back Damien Williams had two carries for five yards and caught two of three targets for 12 yards with a touchdown in Sunday's 23-20 loss at Jacksonville. While it wasn't a big statistical game, Williams took over for an injured Lamar Miller, who left the game in the second half with an ankle injury, and did not return.

Williams' touchdown came in the second quarter, before Miller exited the game, so he was seeing some meaningful snaps. In any event, Williams could be a hot pickup this week on the waiver wire, depending on the severity of Miller's ankle injury. He wouldn't have a great matchup next week, however, against the Bills

Chargers explosive rookie running back Melvin Gordon rushed for 88 yards on 16 carries and pitched in a 10-yard reception Sunday in Cincinnati.

Gordon racked up nearly two yards per carry more than he did in his debut against Detroit. Any notion that he is the every-down back in Sand Diego is quickly evaporating, however.

Though his 30 carries over the first two weeks eclipses his teammates' 25 total rushes, he is losing out to Danny Woodhead in passing situations, 13 targets to four.

Expect Gordon to continue to be the lead back in San Diego's stable, but it will be difficult for him to develop the same kind of chemistry in the passing game as Woodhead already has with Rivers.

Perhaps that will change, however, next Sunday at Minnesota.

Rams running back Benny Cunningham rushed once for zero yards and caught four passes on six targets for 27 receiving yards during Sunday's loss at Washington.

Tre Mason returned from his hamstring injury to start over Cunningham, but the former rushed just seven times for 26 yards while catching two passes for four receiving yards.

Cunningham was certainly more impressive in Week 1, when Mason was out, and his ability to catch passes out of the backfield may allow him to keep getting looks on third down, but with rookie Todd Gurley expected to make his NFL debut in Week 3, Cunningham's fantasy impact isn't likely to be nearly as high as it was in the regular-season opener.

Redskins running back Matt Jones rushed 19 times for 123 yards and two touchdowns, adding three catches on three targets for 23 receiving yards in Sunday's 24-10 win over the Rams.

Jones' first score was on a 39-yard run in the first quarter that helped set the tone for the Redskins, who did not have to rely on quarterback Kirk Cousins to move the ball. Because of his effectiveness throughout the game, Jones finished with one more rushing attempt than starter Alfred Morris, but he turned them into 64 more yards. Morris rushed for 123 yards in Week 1, so one solid performance for Jones isn't going to make him the starter, but it looks more and more likely that the two could evenly split the touches out of the backfield, which will limit their respective fantasy upsides.

Up next is a quick turnaround to face the Giants on Thursday.

Ravens running back Lorenzo Taliaferro (knee) is listed as active for Sunday's game against the Raiders.

Taliaferro is back in business in Week 2, presumably as the Ravens' No. 2 back, but his fantasy reliability is capped by the presence of starter Justin Forsett.

Chris Johnson is set to start Sunday as the featured back for the Cardinals, but he will split reps with David Johnson, per NFL Network, which is claiming that the team has created packages for both.

The latter took his one touch into the end zone on a 55-yard reception in his NFL debut last Sunday, but did not run the ball. He appears destined to get some carries in Chicago.

Cardinals running back Chris Johnson will start Sunday against the Bears on Sunday in place of the injured Andre Ellington (knee), according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Johnson was certainly the favorite to get the spot, with rookie David Johnson also likely to get an increase in touches, as head coach Bruce Arians strongly intimated that he was more comfortable starting a veteran over the rookie, particularly early in the season.

Ravens RB Lorenzo Taliaferro (knee) is probable for Sunday's game in Oakland, CSN Bay Area reports.

Taliaferro returned to practice last Friday, then logged full practices throughout the week, putting him on track to make his 2015 debut in Week 2 against the Raiders. He'll step back in as the Ravens' No. 2 running back, after easily beating out Javorius Allen for the job during training camp and the preseason.

Taliaferro's role may include goal-line and short-yardage work, and he should see extra carries when the Ravens go into clock-killing mode in the fourth quarter of multi-score victories.