NFL Player News

The Falcons got a bunch of contributions in their 43-37 loss at Green Bay. Running back Jacquizz Rodgers ran three times for 20 yards and caught a 14-yard pass. Wideout Harry Douglas caught two of three targets for 11 yards, including a 2-yard touchdown.

Rookie running back Devonta Freeman caught two passes for 10 yards, and receiver Eric Weems had a 5-yard touchdown reception. Fullback Patrick DiMarco had a 9-yard grab.

They'll all play the Steelers in Week 15.

The Raiders may have found a keeper in running back Latavius Murray, who got 23 carries to everyone else's eight Week 14 against San Francisco.

Of course, he gained fewer yards on those 23 carries than he did on four carries in Week 12, when he left with a concussion after two impressive touchdown runs, but against a 49ers defense that ranks seventh against the run, that's understandable. He's looking like a must-add at this stage of the season.

For more major takeaways from Week 14, be sure to check out my latest post to the Fantasy Football Today blog.

The Cardinals officially placed running back Andre Ellington on the injured reserve Monday after learning he would need surgery for a hernia. Ellington was also dealing with foot and hip injuries throughout the season. 

Ellington finishes the year with 201 attempts for 660 yards and three touchdowns. He also had 46 receptions for 395 yards and two touchdowns. 

Redskins running back Roy Helu is likely to be out a week with turf toe. Helu was injured in the second half of Week 14 against the Rams and did not return. 

Helu has 174 yards and a touchdown this year. 

So far in four games since ousting Ben Tate, the only clarity the Browns have offered with their backfield platoon of Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West is that it isn't going away. Even with Crowell limited in practice leading up to the game by a hip injury, the two split carries almost evenly Week 14 against Indianapolis, with Crowell rushing 14 times for 54 yards and a touchdown and West rushing 15 times for 54 yards.

It doesn't get any more even than that.

Both have had good games during that stretch, and both have had bad games. Crowell's good games have been a little better than Tate's, and he appears to be the safer bet for touchdowns. But he hasn't distinguished himself enough from West for me to endorse him on an every-week basis.

The way the Browns have used the two so far, if Crowell got off to a slow start one week, the Browns might just ditch him for West the rest of the way, including at the goal line. And vice versa.

It's a tricky situation for Fantasy purposes, which is why I'd prefer not to start either of them now that the bye weeks are over, if I could help it. They're worth owning, of course, but more to keep them out of your opponents' hands than anything else.

Chargers wide receiver Malcom Floyd caught three of his six targets for a team-high 54 yards and one touchdown in his team's 23-14 loss to the Patriots in Week 14.

Floyd made an excellent play on a slightly overthrown ball after beating his man early in the second quarter, hauling in a 15-yard touchdown to put the Chargers ahead for the first time Sunday. They would maintain that lead until the fourth quarter, where they surrendered 10 points and took the loss.

Running back Donald Brown and tight end Antonio Gates shared the team lead in receptions, with both players hauling in five passes. Brown gained 49 yards on six targets while Gates managed just 34 yards on eight targets. Eddie Royal caught just two of his five targets for 30 yards, while nominal No. 1 receiver Keenan Allen was held to three yards on two receptions.

The Chargers will certainly be looking for a better effort by the passing game in the team's Week 15 matchup with the Broncos.

Chargers running back Ryan Mathews rushed for 44 yards on 11 carries and caught one reception for four yards in his team's 23-14 loss to the Patriots in Week 14.

Mathews appeared to suffer a leg injury late in the first half on a play in which the defender that tackled him was called for tripping. He missed the team's first series of the second half but returned to the game before an injury was announced by the Chargers. Mathews has been given just 11 or 12 carries in five of his six games this season, limiting his overall upside. He'll look for a better showing in Week 15 against the Broncos.

Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount served as the team's primary rushing threat Sunday, picking up 66 yards on 20 carries and adding 11 yards on two receptions in his team's 23-14 win over the Chargers in Week 14.

Blount didn't find paydirt in the win but earned the vast majority of the carries, with Jonas Gray and Shane Vereen totaling three carries. Gray managed nine yards on two carries and wasn't a factor in the passing game. Vereen gained just one yard on his only carry but added three receptions for 30 yards in the passing game. Neither Gray or Vereen scored a touchdown. Blount figures to remain the team's primary ball-carrier heading into a Week 15 matchup with the Dolphins.

Several Chiefs contributed in the Week 14 loss at Arizona. Among them, running back De'Anthony Thomas rushed twice for 5 yards and made a 6-yard catch. Running back Knile Davis had a 4-yard carry and caught three passes for 3 yards.

Fullback Anthony Sherman caught two balls for 8 yards. They'll all face the Raiders in Week 15.

The Cardinals got a slew of offensive contributions in their 17-14 win over the visiting Chiefs. Wideout Jaron Brown caught two passes for 48 yards, including a 26-yard touchdown, and running back Robert Hughes had a 36-yard reception.

Tight end Rob Housler made a 20-yard grab, wideout Ted Ginn had an 8-yard catch and tight end John Carlson added a 1-yard reception. Rookie receiver John Brown was targeted four times without a catch.

They'll all visit the Rams on Thursday.