NFL Player News

During an interview with Sirius XM radio, Raiders interim coach Tony Sparano indicated that Latavius Murray could be the running back of the future, per Comcast SportsNet Bay Area. 

"Early in the season, it took us a while to figure that part of it out," Sparano said. "He's a guy that was hurt all year last year. Latavius has really come into his own, and I think he can handle the workload of being a No. 1 guy."

Murray has appeared in 14 games this season, rushing for 387 yards and two touchdowns on 72 attempts. He has rushed for 333 yards over the past four weeks and will look to end the season on a high note Sunday against Denver.

Oakland is 14-point underdog at Denver.

Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman was able to practice in full Wednesday for the first time since suffering a left foot injury on Nov. 9, ESPN.com reports.

"We've had a chance to watch him all week, participate and he's obviously further ahead than he was this time a week ago," head coach John Fox said after Wednesday's practice. "And the fact we're on grass, not on Astroturf, lot of variables, but I like what I see."

Hillman has been able to practice in a limited fashion during the last two weeks but hasn't been active on gameday since the injury occured. The Broncos are a 14-point favorite at home against the Raiders in Week 17.

Chargers running back Ryan Mathews (ankle) was unable to practice again Wednesday as the team prepared for Sunday's game at Kansas City. Mathews has missed two straight games and nine overall this year.

If Mathews can't play, Branden Oliver, Donald Brown and Ronnie Brown would share backfield duties. The Chargers are 3-point underdogs.

Falcons running back Steven Jackson, who left the Week 16 win at New Orleans with a quad injury, was unable to practice Wednesday, reports ESPN.com. Atlanta is preparing to host Carolina on Sunday with the NFC South title at stake.

If Jackson can't play, Jacquizz Rodgers and rookie Devonta Freeman would share the load. Rodgers received 12 touches and Freeman got eight against the Saints.

The Falcons are favored by 4 points at Vegas sportsbooks.

Chargers running back Ryan Mathews (ankle) and wide receiver Keenan Allen were unable to practice Tuesday, reports U-T San Diego.

Both players sat out Sunday's overtime win over San Francisco due to injuries and remain uncertain for Week 17 at Kansas City. On Monday coach Mike McCoy told reporters that there's a possibility Mathews can play Sunday. If Mathews is unable to play, Branden Oliver will get the start while Ronnie Brown and Donald Brown work as second and third stringers, respectively. Eddie Royal, Malcom Floyd and Dontrelle Inman will shoulder the load in the passing game if Allen can't play.

The Chargers opened as a 3-point road underdog. The line has now dropped to 2 1/2 points.

With Johnny Manziel (hamstring) sidelined for the season finale and Brian Hoyer's (shoulder, bicep) status up in the air, the Browns signed quarterback Tyler Thigpen, according to CBSSports.com Jason La Canfora on Tuesday.

The team announced the move, waiving fullback Ray Agnew and signed defensive lineman Christian Tupou to the practice squad.

If Hoyer is unable to play, the Browns could turn to Connor Shaw Week 17 against Baltimore. According to La Canfora, Thigpen will be the No. 2 quarterback if Hoyer can't play.

Thigpen played with the Browns in the preseason before getting cut on Aug. 12. He has not made an appearance since 2012 with the Bills, and has not made a start since 2010 with the Dolphins.

Broncos running back C.J. Anderson ran 18 times for 83 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown, and caught eight of 10 targets for 55 yards in Monday's loss to the Bengals.

It was Anderson's sixth score in the past five weeks. He averaged 4.6 yards per carry after failing to average 3.0 yards per carry the previous two games.

Anderson dominated backfield snaps Monday night. But with Ronnie Hillman expected to return Week 17 against Oakland, Anderson could cede some touches. Anderson has averaged 28.5 touches over the past two weeks.

Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman, who was questionable with a foot injury, is inactive at Cincinnati and will miss his sixth straight game. Running back C.J. Anderson, who was probable with an ankle injury, is active and will get another start.

Anderson has scored five touchdowns in the past four games while receiving at least 21 touches in each. Juwan Thompson (knee, ankle) also is active after being listed as questionable and will back up Anderson.

Mike Pettine has explained that Browns forgotten running back Terrance West and disappointing cornerback Justin Gilbert were not benched in Week 16 due to team rules violations.

He stated that both rookies had issues in practice and off the field, per the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram.

West has lost his job as the featured back while Gilbert, the team's No. 8 overall draft pick, has been bypassed by undrafted rookies such as K'Waun Williams and Pierre Desir while being accused of a poor work ethic.

Whether it was because he was limited in practice by a knee injury leading up to the game or because the Cardinals fell behind early and needed more of a pass blocker in the backfield, running back Kerwynn Williams, who had performed admirably the previous two weeks, totaling 175 yards on the ground, was hardly a factor Week 16 against Seattle, getting two carries for 4 yards.

Instead, Stepfan Taylor was the lead ball carrier. Of course, he wasn't so effective in the role, picking up 19 yards on 11 carries, but that's bound to happen for any running back going against the Seahawks. He did at least have 25 yards on two catches. Marion Grice and Robert Hughes also each got a carry, but they haven't been as much of a factor with Andre Ellington out.

Williams seems to be the best rusher of the group and the one you'd prefer to see get the carries in Fantasy, but if the Cardinals are that willing to abandon him when the score isn't in their favor, you can never feel confident playing him in Fantasy. Especially now that the Cardinals are down to their third quarterback, the score isn't going to be in their favor so often.

Week 17 at San Francisco should be a more competitive game, but given that the 49ers are tough against the run as well, you should probably pass on Williams for the season's final week.