NFL Player News

Raiders running back Latavius Murray found a way to make an impact despite a poor day on the ground.

Murray carried the ball 10 times for 37 yards. His longest run of the day went for just eight yards. While he wasn't much of a threat on the ground, Murray did have a nice game in the air. He led the club with four catches for 60 yards. He caught all four of his targets.

Murray got some run as the team's primary ball-carrier near the end of the season. Aside from a ridiculous game Week 12, where he gained 112 yards on just four carries, he failed to really establish himself as a future starter. Murray finished the year with 424 rushing yards on 82 attempts. 

Cardinals running back Kerwynn Williams led the team in rushing again Week 17 against the 49ers.

Williams carried the ball 17 times for 67 yards. He averaged 3.9 yards per attempt. Williams was not a threat in the passing game. While he did receive one target, Williams failed to come up with the catch. It was the third straight game in which Williams received at least 15 carries. 

Williams will take on the Panthers in the playoffs next week. Carolina is favored by -4.5 points.

With Steven Jackson (quad) sidelined, Falcons running backs Jacquizz Rodgers and rookie Devonta Freeman shouldered the load in the running game Sunday against Carolina.

Rodgers took nine carries for a team-high 44 yards and turned seven targets into three receptions for 19 yards. Freeman carried the ball only six times for 13 yards. He also added two catches for 3 yards in a 34-3 defeat, eliminating Atlanta from playoff contention.

Chargers running back Branden Oliver had 14 carries for 71 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 19-7 loss to the Chiefs. 

Oliver got a goal line carry early in the second quarter and plunged into the end zone from one yard out. His longest carry of the day went for 18 yards.

Oliver finishes his rookie campaign with 582 yards and three touchdowns on 160 carries. His most significant playing time coming when starting running back Ryan Mathews was injured.

Colts running back Dan Herron ran 10 times for 35 yards and caught three passes for 31 yards Week 17 against the Titans, and he didn't play in the second half as starters rested. Trent Richardson rushed six times for 11 yards and had a 9-yard catch.

No. 3 running back Zurlon Tipton added 21 yards on nine carries and caught both his targets for 45 yards.

Look for Herron to keep dominating backfield snaps when Indy plays the Bengals or Steelers in the playoffs.

Vikings running back Matt Asiata had 19 carries for 91 yards in Minnesota's 13-9 win over the Bears Sunday. It was a career high for the third year running back, who's previous high was 78 yards in Week 4 against Atlanta.

Asiata finishes the year with 570 yards and nine touchdowns on 164 carries. He is also third in the league with those nine touchdown runs.

Asiata will be a restricted free agent this offseason.

Browns rookie running back Terrance West returned to his hometown of Baltimore on Sunday and performed well. He finished with 94 yards on 18 carries and scored the team's lone touchdown.

West added two receptions for 12 yards.

The Buccaneers lost their sixth straight game Sunday against the Saints, but don't blame featured back Doug Martin, who finished the year strong.

Martin rushed for a season-high 108 yards - his second game of 96 or more in the last three - on 19 attempts. Among his carries was a 45-yard jaunt in which he showed a fine combination of deception and power.

The Broncos will have both Peyton Manning and Emmanuel Sanders Week 17 against the Raiders. 

Manning came into the contest listed as probable due to a thigh injury. He was never really expected to miss the contest. Sanders was listed as questionable with a hip issue. He was a limited participant in practice all week.

The team will also have nearly all of their probable players. That means C.J. Anderson, Lamin Barrow, David Bruton Jr., Ryan Clady, Chris Clark, Ronnie Hillman, Will Montgomery, Manny Ramirez, Jacob Tamme, Demaryius Thomas, Julius Thomas, Kayvon Webster and Derek Wolfe will all attempt to play. 

The Broncos have listed S T.J. Ward, RB Juwan Thompson, LB Brandon Marshall , OL Paul Cornick, OL Michael Schofield, TE Dominique Jones and DT Mitch Unrein as inactive Week 17 against the Raiders. 

Marshall was the only player ruled out prior to Sunday. Both Cornick and Ward were listed as questionable. Cornick is dealing with a toe injury. Ward has a neck issue. Thompson was actually listed as probable, but will not play. He has both hip and knee injuries. Unrein was also listed as probable. He's dealing with an illness. The other two players listed are healthy scratches.