NFL Player News

While it is uncertain if running back Adrian Peterson will rejoin the Vikings roster this season, fullback Jerome Felton and running back Jerick McKinnon would welcome Peterson back to the team. The duo have stayed in touch with Peterson, who is away from the team while he deals with child abuse allegations.

"I think we’d be happy to have him back," McKinnon said, per ESPN. "He’s a leader on this team. He’s done a lot for this team, this organization, over the past years. I think it’d be good for the team, having his leadership back, and of course his ability and talent and everything he can do as well."

Felton said he has traded text messages with Peterson several times since he has been away from the team.

"He’s staying strong. He’s doing as good as he can, despite the circumstances. I just showed him my support," Felton said. "He’s one of the top five players in the world. That would be exciting if we could get him back."

The Ravens running game didn't stand a chance Week 9 at Pittsburgh, not with Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger throwing for six touchdown for a second straight game. Justin Forsett and Lorenzo Taliaferro split carries almost evenly, but because the Ravens were forced to pass for virtually the entire second half, they combined for just 16. Forsett had nine for 38 yards, and Taliaferro had seven for 21.

But what the two lacked as rushers they made up for as receivers. Forsett was actually the Ravens' leading receiver with 67 yards on five catches -- a skill he hadn't shown since averaging 4.6 catches in the Ravens' first five games. Taliaferro, though clearly more of a traditional runner, pitched in 34 yards on three catches.

In other words, the low rushing totals for Forsett and Taliaferro are nothing to worry about in Fantasy. Both still got theirs, just in a different form. And though Forsett may have ceded more touches to Taliaferro in this one, the distribution of playing time wasn't even close. Forsett played 73 percent of the Ravens' snaps and remains the preferred option of the two. Taliaferro played 23 percent and is still more of a handcuff option.

Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht said running back Charles Sims is very likely to make his season debut Week 10 against the Falcons, according to Tom Krasniqi of 620 WDAE. The rookie running back has been sidelined all season due to ankle surgery.

Ravens running back Lorenzo Taliaferro rushed for just 21 yards on seven carries while adding another 34 yards on three receptions in his team's 43-23 loss to the Steelers.

Taliaferro split carries almost evenly with starter Justin Forsett, though the rookie lost a fumble early in the second quarter and saw just one carry after the turnover as the Ravens fell behind by multiple scores by halftime. Taliaferro has been held to under 30 rushing yards in each of his last five games, but he's started to make an impact in the passing game, catching multiple passes in three of his last four. He'll face off with the Titans in Week 10.

Just one week removed from a two-touchdown game and just two weeks removed from a 20-carry game, Chris Ivory gained a measly 22 yards on eight carries Week 9 at Kansas City. Change-of-pace option Chris Johnson was better, gaining 69 yards on 11 carries and 32 on two catches, but he got his usual allotment of touches. If not for a couple big plays -- specifically, a 21-yard run in the second quarter and a 26-yard catch in the third, his performance would have been just as forgettable.

It's further evidence that you have no way to predict how either player will perform in a given week. For Ivory, it depends on both the score of the game (Week 7 was a rare close one for the Jets) and whether or not the Jets get inside the 5-yard line (which they rarely do). For Johnson, it depends whether or not he breaks a long one, which is especially unpredictable on a limited number of touches.

It's why I don't care to start either of running back in a standard 12-team league. In anything deeper, you may not have a choice, but Ivory and Johnson are just too unreliable for Week 10 against Pittsburgh.

Patriots running back Shane Vereen was limited Week 9, but still managed to find the end zone.

Vereen gained just 29 rushing yards on 11 carries. He received more of an even split with Jonas Gray after being marginalized last week, though it didn't really matter. Vereen did manage to make an impact in the passing game. He hauled in five receptions for 38 yards and a score. 

Vereen is on a bye Week 10.

Patriots running back Jonas Gray had a tough time reprising his role Week 9 against the Broncos. 

Gray gained just 33 yards on 12 carries. He averaged just 2.8 yards per carry during the contest. Gray was hardly a factor throughout the game even though the team got out to a big lead. He gained most of his yardage with about two minutes left, as the Patriots were trying to run out the clock. 

Gray is on a bye Week 10.

Broncos running backs Juwan Thompson and C.J. Anderson did little Week 9 against the Patriots.

Anderson actually managed to lead the club in rushing, but gained just 18 yards on the day. He did contribute in the passing game, hauling in three passes for 33 yards. Thompson gained just 6 yards on two carries. He caught one pass for 6 yards. 

They'll look for more Week 10 against the Raiders. 

Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman found a way to make an impact Week 9 against the Patriots.

Hillman did virtually nothing on the ground, gaining 16 yards on just 10 carries. Despite his struggles, Hillman managed to plunge across the goal line for a 1 yard score in the first quarter. He made an even bigger impact in the passing game. Hillman hauled in seven receptions for 47 yards. In the third quarter, he managed to score on a 15 yard pass from Peyton Manning. 

Hillman will look for more Week 10 against the Raiders. 

Patriots running back Jonas Gray is clearly going to see a solid role moving forward, though he didn't quite take advantage of that in Week 9 against the Broncos.

Gray, who rushed for 86 yards on 17 carries in his first big role last week, had just 33 yards on Sunday. He carried the ball 12 times to lead the team, and wasn't the only back to struggle, as Shane Vereen rushed for just 29 yards on his 11 carries.

With Vereen to see more work in the passing game, Gray's best chance to contribute moving forward will come with the Patriots up. He didn't take advantage of that enough Sunday, but showed he could in the team's previous game. He should have value as a low-end Fantasy option when the team returns from its Week 10 bye.