NFL Player News

The Falcons received minor contributions from several role players in Week 11 against Carolina.

In the running game, Jacquizz Rodgers carried the ball twice for 4 yards and caught three passes for 8 yards. In the passing game, Levine Toilolo caught two of the four passes thrown his way for 23 yards. Patrick DiMarco came down with two receptions for 14 yards.

The roulette wheel that is the Browns backfield landed on Isaiah Crowell in Week 11, as Terrance West and Ben Tate took a back seat in a 23-7 loss to the Texans.

Crowell got the bulk of the work Sunday, as he picked up 14 of the team's 24 carries Sunday, while hauling in the only two passes the team's backs had in the game. He rushed for 61 yards and had 91 all-purpose yards overall, though he also lost a fumble, his second lost fumble of the season.

Crowell, the undrafted rookie, has been the team's best option this season out of the backfield, though he had been limited to reserve work prior to Sunday's game. He leads the team in yards per carry and touchdowns, and it will be interesting to see whether they continue to look his way more down the stretch.

At this point, the Browns' backfield is a nightmare for Fantasy owners, so hopefully they can settle one lead back moving forward. For now, each player has his value, but none make sense as starters. 

The Browns were a mess Sunday against Houston, but several players did make small contributuons to their offensive effort.

Among them was tight end Jim Dray, who filled in admirably for usual starter Jordan Cameron with two catches for 46 yards. Not so proficient was wideout Miles Austin, who dropped two critical passes, one of which he bobbled into an interception down the stretch. Miles finished with three catches for 31 yards.

Running back Terrance West added 12 yards on five carries while wideout Travis Benjamin and tight end Gary Barnidge pitched in with one catch each.

Running back Jonathan Grimes led a trio of Texans making minor contributions to a critical win Sunday in Cleveland.

Grimes pitched in with 54 yards on 13 carries to help his team. Also chipping in was wide receiver Damaris Johnson with five catches for 21 yards, as well as one run for six yards, and fellow wideout Keshawn Martin, who caught one passes for two yards.

Even on a day when the offense had trouble getting much going, Broncos running back C.J. Anderson was still productive in a 22-7 loss to the Rams in Week 11.

Anderson was the only running back to receive carries for the Broncos, who abandoned the ground game early on. He rushed for just 29 yards on nine carries, but showed his abilities as a pass-catcher, hauling in eight for 86 yards in the loss.

Anderson had 22 Fantasy points last week and followed that up with 10 Sunday in an off-day. The Broncos' offense is so effective, it's hard for the lead running back not to put up big Fantasy numbers. As long as Anderson is getting the bulk of the work, there is little reason for Fantasy owners not to have him in their starting lineup.  

Buccaneers running back Bobby Rainey got the start in Week 11 against the Redskins, but he quickly took a backseat to rookie Charles Sims in the 27-7 win.

Neither back was particularly effective in the win, but Rainey hardly got the chance to show what he could do. He finished the game with just 5 rushing yards on four carries, while Sims had 13 carries for 36 yards. The duo's struggles came against a Redskins defense that has allowed just one of their last four opponents to average more than 4 yards per carry on the ground.

Rainey has been productive when given the chance this season, but it looks like Sims might get the bulk of the work down the stretch. If you have to own one of the Bucs' backs, Sims looks like the one at this point. 

The Chiefs backup rushers did little Week 11.

De'Anthony Thomas carried the ball three times, gaining 22 yards. He also caught one pass for 10 yards. Knile Davis received five carries, but only gained 10 yards. He did, however, manage to plunge in a 4 yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Davis also caught one pass, gaining 8 yards. 

They'll take on the Raiders Week 12. 

The Rams received small contributions from a number of players during their upset defeat of Denver in Week 11.

The most significant came from running back Benny Cunningham, who caught all four passes thrown his way for 31 yards and added seven yards on two carries. Wideout Stedman Bailey added three receptions for 26 yards while wide receiver Tavon Austin pitched in with two carries for 11 yards and two catches for 10 yards. Lance Kendricks with two receptions for five yards.

Redskins running back Roy Helu made his presence felt in the passing game during a 27-7 loss Week 11 vs. Tampa Bay. Helu had a team-high 57 receiving yards and one touchdown on six catches.

Helu got most of his yards on a touchdown with 11 seconds left in the first half. Helu took a short screen pass and turned it up the field for a 30-yard score. It was his first receiving touchdown since his rookie season in 2011.

However, it wasn't all good news for Helu. He had trouble holding onto the football Sunday as well. He fumbled twice, but was only credited with one lost fumble. He was able to recover the other fumble.

Sunday was the first time this season Helu didn't record a carry. The Redskins are back in action Week 12 at San Francisco.

In an uncharacteristically meager offensive performance by the Broncos in St. Louis on Sunday, several skill position players provided small contributions.

Included were wide receiver Andre Caldwell and tight end Jacob Tamme, who managed 31 yards receiving apiece while Wes Welker added just 28 on four receptions. Running back Juwan Thompson chipped in with one catch for five yards.