NFL Player News

Jets running backs Chris Ivory (shoulder), Chris Johnson (knee) and Bilal Powell (illness) are active for the game against the Dolphins after being listed as probable.

Andre Ellington has technically been one of the best 12 running backs in Fantasy this season, but you wouldn't know it by his recent performance. With just 12 yards on five carries Week 13 at Atlanta, he has averaged 25.3 yards on 13.0 carries in his last four games -- a stretch that almost directly coincides with the loss of quarterback Carson Palmer to a season-ending injury.

Of course, health hasn't been Ellington's ally either. He has contended with a foot injury all season, costing him valuable practice time as well as limiting his ability, and to make matters worse, he suffered a hip pointer Week 13 at Atlanta, leaving before the end of the first half.

So if you're keeping score at home, he was already hobbled and the No. 1 target for defenses with no threat of a passing game, and now he has a second injury that might keep him off the field altogether. I'd say regardless of his actual playing status, you might want to avoid Ellington for Week 14 against Kansas City.

And if he does miss the game, the Cardinals will turn to some combination of Marion Grice, Stepfan Taylor, Robert Hughes and Michael Bush in his place, so good luck sorting out that mess.

The Dolphins ruled these players inactive for Monday's game at the Jets: tight end Charles Clay (hamstring, knee), cornerbacks Jamar Taylor (shoulder) and Cortland Finnegan (ankle), linebacker Jonathan Freeny (hamstring), running back LaMichael James, offensive tackle Billy Turner and guard Nate Garner (illness).

Browns coach Mike Pettine told reporters during Monday's news conference that Terrance West has been "careless" with the football in recent weeks, reports the News-Herald.

West nearly lost a fumble in Week 12's win over Atlanta. He coughed up the ball twice Sunday against Buffalo, including one which resulted in a touchdown that gave the Bills a 14-3 lead in the third quarter. The Browns weren't able to overcome the second-half deficit and suffered a 26-10 loss to the Bills.

With Ben Tate out of the picture, West and Isaiah Crowell have been sharing the load the past two weeks. West has been unable to establish himself as the primary option. He has combined for 23 touches, carrying the ball 21 times for 94 yards over that span. He has not found the end zone since Week 10 against the Bengals.

Despite struggling throughout the season, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer expressed confidence in wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson Monday.

"I’m going to keep saying this over and over until somebody believes me: I am in this guy’s corner,” Zimmer said, per 1500espn.com.

Patterson was expected to play a large role in the Vikings’ offense this season, but has produced 30 receptions for 350 yards and one touchdown in 12 games.

Colts running back Trent Richardson had just eight carries for 12 yards on Sunday against the Redskins, but coach Chuck Pagano said he's not worried about him.

"Some days it's going to go like that," Pagano said. "[He] comes in and works his butt off. [He's] got to keep chopping wood. If you put the axe down, that tree will never come down."

Richardson is averaging 3.3 yards per carry with three touchdowns in 12 games this season. 

Colts running back Dan Herron has filled into Ahmad Bradshaw's role quite well since Bradshaw went down with a season-ending ankle injury. However, coach Chuck Pagano can't ignore Herron continuing to put the ball on the ground.

"There's nothing more important than protecting the football," Pagano said. Herron now has a fumble in each of the last two games. 

Herron has 20 carries for 153 yards and a touchdown in his past two games. 

The Colts head to Cleveland in Week 14. 

Vikings running back Jerick McKinnon is still dealing with a lower back injury, according to coach Mike Zimmer. McKinnon missed Week 13 against the Panthers due to the injury and Zimmer said Monday "We're still evaluating where he's at.''

McKinnon is averaging 4.8 yards per carry this year. 

Cardinals running back Andre Ellington is expected to miss practice on Wednesday with a hip pointer, coach Bruce Arians said Monday. 

There is still no time table on Ellington's return to action. He has rushed for 660 yards and three touchdowns this year. 

If you grabbed C.J. Anderson when fellow Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman went down in Week 10, joining Montee Ball on the sidelines, congratulations. You're the winner of this season's waiver wire lottery.

It took a while for him to make an impact, but after his second straight game with 160-plus rushing yards Week 13 at Kansas City, it's pretty clear now he's the most impactful of the players who went undrafted this year.

Apologies to Justin Forsett, who has been relevant longer but hasn't been the one-man wrecking crew Anderson has become. And it didn't just begin in Week 12, mind you. Anderson had 163 total yards, 90 rushing and 73 receiving, the week Hillman went down and 115 more, 29 rushing and 86 receiving, the following week. The most Hillman ever had was 138, and he was considered a fine waiver claim himself.

Most likely, the matchup had a little something to do with Anderson getting 32 carries in Week 13. The Chiefs rank first against the pass and 30th against the run. But even on those days he's not running so often, he's already proven he's a dynamic receiving option out of the backfield.

He's like the Broncos' version of Le'Veon Bell. And you'd never sit him, right?