NFL Player News

A week after being a healthy scratch, Browns rookie running back Terrance West totaled just 8 rushing yards on five carries in a 24-6 loss Week 7 at Jacksonville. West was disappointed with his performance after he failed to convert on a pair of short-yardage situations in the second quarter.

"I should've got the first down. I was trying to go for the big play," West said, per the Akron Beacon Journal. "I know I got limited reps. So I know when I'm in the game, I'm trying to get that big play."

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said Monday running back Andre Ellington has sore ribs following Sunday's win at Oakland. However, he is not dealing with any structural damage.

Ellington rushed for 88 yards on 24 carries and added 72 receiving yards on six catches during a 24-13 win Week 7. Ellington has 393 rushing yards and is averaging 3.7 yards per carry through six games. He also has 260 receiving yards and two touchdowns (one rushing).

Dolphins offensive coordinator Bill Lazor told reporters on Monday that he liked what he saw from running back Daniel Thomas in Week 7 and indicated that he could be the clear cut backup to Lamar Miller moving forward, per the Palm Beach Post.

Although the team listed Damien Williams No. 2 on last week's depth chart, Thomas rushed for 25 yards on seven attempts. Williams only had one carry in a win over Chicago on Sunday.

In his first game replacing injured Broncos running back Montee Ball, Ronnie Hillman went up against a Jets defense that at the time ranked in the top five against the run ... and turned in the best individual rushing performance for any Bronco this season, picking up 100 yards on 24 carries. In his second game replacing the injured Ball Week 7 against the 49ers, Hillman went up against a defense that ranked seventh against the run ... and ran for 74 yards and two touchdowns.

If you're like me, you didn't start him for either game because you didn't trust someone so unproven with a matchup so difficult. And if you're like me, you don't need to be convinced anymore.

Going against a Chargers defense in Week 8 that ranks in the middle of the pack against the run, Hillman looks like a must-start in Fantasy provided that Ball isn't ready to return from his groin injury. And even if he is, it may not be a deal-breaker. None of Ball's four games were better than the two Hillman has had.

The Browns announced Monday they signed fullback Kiero Small to the active roster. To clear a roster spot, the team waived fullback Ray Agnew.

Fantasy owners don't have much cause to complain about Cardinals running back Andre Ellington, not after the all-around performance he had Week 7 at Oakland, leading the team not only in rushing with 88 yards on 24 carries but also receiving with 72 yards on six catches.

But of course, many will complain because he didn't meet the gold standard of Fantasy greatness: He didn't score a touchdown. Even worse, he could have scored a touchdown (and maybe two) if not for the presence of Stepfan Taylor, who scored one on a 2-yard catch in the first quarter and another on a 4-yard run in the third.

It's an unfortunate development, to be sure. The Cardinals ran four plays from inside the 5-yard line on two separate drives, and Taylor got the ball on all of them. But it's not entirely unexpected either. Ellington has always been seen as a big-play guy, not a grinder.

The good news is that Ellington's touches continue to rise. He went from 20 in Week 5 to 25 in Week 6 to 30 here in Week 7, so the Cardinals are using him as much as they promised coming into the year. And with his big-play ability, enough of those touches will end in the end zone to keep you satisfied.

And hey, now you know who to handcuff to him. You'll want to add Taylor if only for that purpose.

Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman rushed for 74 yards on 14 carries and scored two touchdowns while adding 29 yards on four receptions in his team's 42-17 blowout win over the 49ers in Week 7.

Hillman scored both of his touchdowns in the third quarter, avoiding would-be tacklers on a 37-yard score up the middle on his first score. He ran with authority on the second touchdown, plowing through a linebacker on a one-yard burst into the end zone. Hillman has strung together three impressive performances in October, and he's done enough to remain in the game plan once Montee Ball heals up, potentially even as the team's No. 1 back. The Broncos will square off with the Chargers on Thursday in Week 8.

Vikings wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson found the end zone for the first time since Week 1 Sunday, though that doesn't mean his Fantasy outlook has changed much.

The story in Week 7 remained the same as it has been for most of the season for Patterson, despite his touchdown. He scored on a 4-yard screen pass in the second quarter, one of just two receptions on the game for him. He had just 9 yards total in the game, and that isn't even his worst performance of the season.

Patterson has just 32 yards on six receptions over the last three games, and has been a total non-factor as a rusher as well. We entered the season with high hopes for Patterson, but he just hasn't looked up to it yet. At this point, Patterson is still best left at the end of your bench, just in case he does figure it out. 

Even though he rushed for 95 yards, Justin Forsett's performance Week 7 against the Falcons may seem a little underwhelming to Fantasy owners given that he was the CBSSports.com Start of the Week. After all, he didn't score a touchdown or catch a pass after contributing in both of those areas in previous weeks.

But even more encouraging than his actual production in Week 7 is the fact that he carried the ball 23 times, nearly three times as often as any other Ravens running back. That's a starter's workload, and by giving it to him, the Ravens confirmed once and for all that they see Forsett filling that role. It may have seemed like a given thanks to Forsett's production, but he actually had one fewer carry than Bernard Pierce in Week 6 and split the workload almost evenly with Pierce and Lorenzo Taliaferro in Week 5. Pierce did vulture a touchdown from Forsett in this one, but eight carries for 21 yards confirm he's now only second in the pecking order.

With this performance, Forsett only deserves more of your trust going forward, not less. Keep him active for what's actually a favorable matchup Week 8 at Cincinnati.

The Cowboys backup runners did little Week 7 against the Giants.

Lance Dunbar received three carries, gaining 16 yards. He was not targeted in the passing game. Joseph Randle gained 7 yards on two carries. He caught one pass for 14 yards. 

Both players will take on Washington Week 8.