NFL Player News

If anything good came out of the Jets' 43-23 drubbing at the hands of the Bills in Week 8, it might just be that the team finally seems to be going away from a timeshare at running back.

Chris Johnson received just three carries in Sunday's game, the second time in three games he has recorded that total. His backfield mate Chris Ivory saw the majority of the work, rushing the ball 13 times for 43 yards and two touchdowns, giving him three over the last two weeks.

Ivory has been the more impressive runner for the Jets this season, but Fantasy owners have had to deal with concerns about his role throughout the season, with Johnson getting 10-plus carries on four separate occasions. However, Ivory has 46 more carries than Johnson over the last five games, and is clearly the top option.

Ivory makes for a solid Fantasy starter moving forward, while Johnson is little more than a reserve option at this point. Keep Ivory active in Week 9, even with a tough matchup against the Chiefs on the way.

The Vikings got several offensive contributions in their 19-13 overtime win at Tampa Bay. Among them, running back Matt Asiata caught four of five targets for 26 yards and rushed four times for 1 yard.

Wideout Charles Johnson caught two passes for 18 yards, and receiver Jarius Wright made two catches for 13 yards. They'll all face the Redskins in Week 9.

Seahawks backup runners Christine Michael and Robert Turbin did little Week 8 against the Panthers.

Michael was more productive on the ground, gaining 12 yards on four carries. He was not targeted in the passing game. Turbin only gained 10 yards on two carries, but did manage 32 receiving yards. 

Both players will look for more Week 9 against the Raiders. 

Amid a disappointing and frustrating season, Vikings wideout Cordarrelle Patterson showed his vast potential Week 8 at Tampa Bay. Patterson drew a game-high 12 targets and caught six passes for 86 yards, including this leaping sideline grab for 28 yards.

Patterson also had a 10-yard carry. After setting season highs in targets, catches and yards, Patterson will try to stay hot Week 9 against the Redskins.

Ravens running back Lorenzo Taliaferro rushed seven times for 27 yards and two touchdowns and added two catches for a team-high 42 receiving yards in his team's 27-24 loss to the Bengals in Week 8.

Taliaferro was able to take the ball up the middle on a first-and-goal from the 10-yard line to score his first touchdown late in the first quarter. His second score came on another first-and-goal in the fourth quarter, as he ran untouched on the left side for an eight-yard score. He had been held out of the end zone since scoring touchdowns in back-to-back games at the end of September but was a bigger part of the offense in Week 8 after Bernard Pierce was listed as a healthy inactive.

Taliaferro has rushed for 226 yards and four touchdowns on 51 carries while also catching four passes for 60 yards. He'll face the Steelers in Pittsburgh in Week 9.

Buccaneers running back Bobby Rainey ran eight times for 25 yards and caught all six of his targets for 41 yards in the Week 8 loss to Minnesota. Rainey became Tampa Bay's primary backfield option when Doug Martin suffered a third-quarter ankle injury.

Rainey visits the Browns in Week 9.

Vikings rookie running back Jerick McKinnon ran 16 times for 83 yards (5.2 ypc) in Sunday's overtime win at Tampa Bay, though he again failed to score. McKinnon caught his only target for minus-1 yard.

McKinnon should continue to dominate backfield touches Week 9 when Minnesota hosts Washington.

Running back Ahmad Bradshaw has been given the nod as the starter for the Colts against the Steelers on Sunday despite the active status of Trent Richardson.

It has been speculated that Richardson (hamstring) is active only due to the lack of available backs and that he will play sparingly, if at all.

Buccaneers running back Doug Martin left the game against the Vikings in the third quarter with an ankle injury and was deemed questionable to return. Martin ran 10 times for 27 yards (2.7 ypc) and caught two passes for minus-1 yard before getting hurt.

Cardinals running back Andre Ellington, who was probable with a foot injury, is active as expected for the game against the Eagles. Ellington has run for 393 yards and a touchdown and caught 25 passes for 260 yards and another score while not missing a game.