NFL Player News

Colts running backs Dan Herron and Trent Richardson were non-factors in the Week 16 loss at Dallas. Herron ran seven times for 3 yards, while Richardson rushed twice for 1 yard. Running back Zurlon Tipton  had one carry for minus-3 yards, leaving the team with an average of 0.1 yards per carry.

Herron did catch three of four targets for 37 yards, and Tipton caught all four of his targets for 23 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown. Richardson secured both his targets for 8 yards.

Look for Herron to lead the backfield Week 17 at Tennessee, and in the playoffs.

Cowboys backup running backs Joseph Randle and Lance Dunbar combined for 18 touches behind DeMarco Murray in Week 16, with Randle getting the bulk of the work. Randle ran 13 times for 37 yards and caught a 7-yard pass, while Dunbar rushed twice for 4 yards and caught two passes for 10 yards.

Randle lost his second fumble this year. Randle and Dunbar could get a substantial workload Week 17 at Washington if the Cowboys don't believe they can improve their playoff position.

Jets running backs Chris Johnson, Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell were able to combine for 100-plus rushing yards in a 17-16 defeat to the Patriots in Week 16.

Johnson and Ivory each had 10-plus carries, while Powell took five handoffs for 21 yards. Ivory led the way with 11 carries for 53 yards. Johnson carried the ball 10 times for 30 yards. He caught his lone target for a gain of 3 yards.

New York will face Miami in Week 17.

With LeGarrette Blount sidelined with a shoulder injury, Patriots running backs Shane Vereen and Brandon Bolden did most of the heavy lifting on the ground against the Jets in Week 16.

Bolden only carried the ball five times for 32 yards, averaging 6.4 yards per attempt. Vereen was more involved, as he rushed for 38 yards on six carries. He also caught one of two targets for 12 yards in a 30-14 victory.

New England will face Buffalo in Week 17.

Browns running back Terrance West didn't even touch the ball in Week 16 against the Panthers, as the coaching staff appears to have decided to ride Isaiah Crowell down the stretch.

West (153) still has more carries than Crowell, who is up to 144 after having 16 in Sunday's game. However, West has been less impressive throughout the season, and has been watching his role shrink lately, with single digits in carries in three of five games since the team cut Ben Tate. In that span, Crowell has carried the ball 66 times, compared to just 41 for West.

West was the more heralded of the two backs coming into their rookie seasons, but the third round pick has failed to impress. Crowell is easily the more valuable of the two for Week 17 against the Ravens, and should be viewed as the better option for keeper and Dynasty leagues as well.  

For a two-week stretch in his first stint replacing Ryan Mathews earlier this year, Chargers running back Branden Oliver looked like a legitimate standout in Fantasy, rushing for 100 yards in back-to-back games with some receiving yards to boot. But he faded in the weeks thereafter, making it easy for the Chargers to go back to Mathews when he returned from a shoulder injury in Week 11.

Unfortunately, in the two weeks since Mathews went down with what may be a season-ending ankle injury, Oliver hasn't regained his form from those two 100-yard games, averaging 39.5 rushing yards and 36.0 receiving yards.

One difference is that Donald Brown, who was second on the depth chart coming into the year, is healthy now and cutting into Oliver's production. The two actually had a combined 20 carries Week 16 at San Francisco, but Brown got seven of them. As much the issue, though, is that the Chargers aren't playing from ahead as often as they were earlier in the season. The turn actually began in Week 7, which was also when Oliver's production slipped.

Obviously, if you're still in the hunt for a championship in your league but have major issues at running back, you won't find too many players who are their team's primary ball carrier on waivers this time of year. But Oliver shouldn't be a priority for any Fantasy owner right now, whether or not Mathews returns for Week 17.

With Steven Jackson sidelined with a quad injury, Falcons running back Devonta Freeman and Jacquizz Rodgers each chipped on the ground during Sunday's 30-14 victory over the Saints in Week 16.

Freeman stepped up with a 31-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter. He registered 84 yards of total offense, with 36 yards and a score on six carries and three receptions for 48 yards. Rodgers took 11 handoffs for 29 yards and came down with one grab for 3 yards.

Atlanta will host Carolina in Week 16.

Vikings running back Matt Asiata continued to receive the bulk of the Vikings’ rushing carries during a 37-35 loss to the Dolphins Sunday.

Asiata received a team-high 16 carries and rushed for 58 yards. Asiata also received the goal line work, scoring rushing touchdowns from 1 and 5 yards. He also converted a two-point conversion attempt. Asiata also caught three receptions on four targets for 19 yards.

The two rushing touchdowns were the first time Asiata scored multiple touchdowns in a game since Nov. 2 and the third time this season Asiata was able to reach the end zone multiple times in a game.

The Vikings host the Bears in the season finale.

Patriots running back Jonas Gray had only six carries but made one of them count for six in his team's 17-16 victory over the Jets in Week 16.

Gray barreled his way into the end zone from 1-yard out in the fourth quarter to give his team the lead for good. He carried the ball six times for 5 yards and a score. He has 412 rushing yards this season.

The Patriots will end the regular season at home against the Bills.

The Buccaneers running game managed just 16 yards on 14 carries for Tampa Bay in the 20-3 loss to the Packers. Just a week after rushing for 96 yards, Doug Martin had 10 carries for 17 yards. Backup Charles Sims had four carries for -1 yards. 

Sims added three catches for 30 yards. 

The Buccaneers will finish their season in Week 17 against the Saints.