NFL Player News

Matt Jones led the Redskins with 20 rushing yards and a touchdown on 11 carries, and added one reception for 17 yards on two targets Sunday in Atlanta.

Jones and Alfred Morris saw the majority of the team's touches on the ground, but neither was able to find much running room against Atlanta's front seven. With Chris Thompson also seeing some playing time out of the backfield, it's hard to trust any of Washington's three running backs for consistent production.

Bills running back Dan Herron picked up 28 yards on nine carries Sunday against the Titans, but was not targeted in the passing game.

The newly acquired Herron led the Bills in carries, but failed to find much running room. This pedestrian performance doesn't bode well for Herron's chances of future production, especially with injured lead back LeSean McCoy (hamstring) possibly due back soon and Boobie Dixon on hand to split carries as it is.

Eagles running back Ryan Mathews rushed eight times for 73 yards and a touchdown and caught three passes on three targets for 23 yards Sunday against the Saints.

DeMarco Murray led the backfield by rushing 20 times for 83 yards and a score, while also catching seven passes on eight targets for 37 receiving yards, but Mathews was still able to grab two-yard touchdown. Mathews' usage continues to be relatively limited because of Murray, and while he could get a few goal-line touches here and there, his upside isn't nearly as high as it was when Murray was out.

Raiders featured back Latavius Murray (shoulder) is listed as active for the Sunday game against Denver.

Murray, who is coming off a 15-carry, 49-yard effort against the Bears, will thus take aim at a rugged Broncos defense that has surrendered an average of 90.2 rushing yards per game.

A knee injury has knocked Chiefs premier back Jamaal Charles out of the Sunday game against Chicago. He will not return.

Charles was unable to put pressure on his right leg as he left the field, so it appears he could miss some time.

Look for the team to update his status after the game, though for now the backfield is in the hands of Charcandrick West and Knile Davis.

Cardinals running back Andre Ellington (knee) is listed as active Sunday in Detroit.

He's poised to take over David Johnson's change-of-pace role behind Chris Johnson, though head coach Bruce Arians didn't clarify Ellington's potential workload in advance of the game. In any case, Ellington is making his long-awaited return after tending to a sprained PCL the last three weeks.

Draughn (back) is inactive Sunday against the Ravens.

Draughn didn't log any practice time this week due to a back ailment, so it's not too surprising to see him sit this one out. He'll join Robert Turbin (ankle) on the inactive list, leaving Isaiah Crowell and rookie Duke Johnson to lead the charge in the Cleveland backfield. Even when healthy, look for Draughn to be used in a limited basis in the Browns' offensive game plan.

Barner is inactive for Sunday's game against the Saints, ESPN's Adam Caplan reports.

With the Eagles' running back corps back to full health, Barner will be inactive for the third time in five games this season. The former Oregon standout ranks fourth on the depth chart behind DeMarco Murray, Ryan Mathews, and Darren Sproles.

Ravens running back Lorenzo Taliaferro (foot) is listed as inactive for the Week 5 game against Cleveland.

Taliaferro had been listed as probable for the contest after practicing on a limited basis both Thursday and Friday. He'll give way to Javorius Allen to be the primary backup to starter Justin Forsett. Fantasy owners hoping to vulture a goal line touch from Taliaferro should quickly execute their contingency plan.

Ed Werder of ESPN suggests that Cowboys running back Darren McFadden is a candidate to replace Lance Dunbar (who is now on IR) as the preferred backfield option in passing situations.

While that doesn't change the fact that Joseph Randle will remain the primary ball carrier, Dunbar did manage 21 catches for 215 yards in four games prior to suffering his season-ending injury. So if McFadden does end up absorbing some added work as a pass-catcher, it could result in a degree of added Fantasy value for him, notably in PPR formats.