NFL Player News

Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak said Monday that running back Ronnie Hillman "has earned the right to get more carries," according to the Denver Post.

Kubiak did not that C.J. Anderson will remain the starter, but Hillman, who had 103 rushing yards and a touchdown Sunday against the Vikings, is slated for more early down work. Anderson has really struggled so far this season, failing to reach even 45 rushing yards in a game, giving Hillman a huge opportunity for playing time if he can keep breaking plays like the 72-yard touchdown he scored Sunday.

Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak said Monday that C.J. Anderson will remain the starting running back but he will continue to lose more touches to Ronnie Hillman, according to the Denver Post.

Anderson has really struggled so far this season, failing to rush for even 45 yards in a single game. Hillman hasn't exactly been lighting it up either, though he did score on a 72-yard run during Sunday's game against the Vikings to push him well ahead of Anderson in the rushing yards category. Hillman doesn't have the size to be an every-down back, which gives Anderson some job security, though with how much the Broncos have been using the pistol formation to give quarterback Peyton Manning time in the pocket, they may not have a need for a power back on most snaps.

Rams running back Benny Cunningham toted the ball twice for zero yards and caught a pair of passes for four yards in a 24-22 victory over the Cardinals on Sunday.

Cunningham averaged a single yard every time he touched the ball, although he still touched the ball more than fellow running back Tre Mason. Cunningham will continue to see the field on third down and catch a pass or two, but don't expect too much more than Sunday's output.

Lions running back Ameer Abdullah will start Monday's game at Seattle, the Detroit Free Press reports.

Typical starting running back Joique Bell is tending to the lingering effects of offseason knee surgery, which will hand Abdullah his first opportunity to head the Lions' backfield. On the season, Abdullah has been hit-or-miss with his carries, taking 21 for 82 yards and one touchdown. He's also augmented his line with seven receptions (on 10 targets) for 72 yards and a touchdown, but he could find tough sledding against the Seahawks, one of the most-staunch defenses in the league.

Though the Texans didn't conduct a formal practice Monday, if they had, running back Jonathan Grimes (knee) would have been a non-participant, the Houston Chronicle reports.

After sitting out Sunday's game against the Falcons, Grimes is iffy for Thursday's contest against the Colts, though with Arian Foster back in action now, Grimes' fantasy utility is currently limited.

Chiefs running back Knile Davis didn't touch the ball Sunday against the Bengals.

Davis didn't even see the field offensively for the Chiefs on Sunday, with workhorse Jamaal Charles taking 79 percent of the snaps. It's the second straight week that he's gone without an offensive snap, and it appears Davis will see little-to-no action unless Charles gets hurt.

Vikings wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson had one reception for nine yards and was targeted three times in Sunday's loss at Denver.

With Charles Johnson out with a rib injury and Jarius Wright limited with a hand injury, Patterson had an opportunity to get a larger role Sunday. However, he was bypassed by both Stefon Diggs (10 targets) and Adam Thielen (8 targets) on the depth chart. Patterson will primarily work as the kick returner with a very limited role on offense.

The Chargers have re-signed running back Donald Brown.

The Chargers let Brown go this past Saturday in order to add an offensive lineman for Week 4's game, but he was quickly brought back Monday to bolster the team's backfield depth in advance of next Monday night's contest against the Steelers.

According to Bruce Arians, Cardinals running back Andre Ellington (knee) was almost healthy enough to play Sunday against the Rams.

Ellington practiced on a limited basis leading into Week 4, but the relative health of both Chris and David Johnson spurred Arians to exercise caution with his presumed No. 1 running back. If he continues to progress this week, Ellington should take the field Sunday at Detroit, but his workload would be contingent upon the state of his knee.

Chargers running back Branden Oliver did not record a single touch in the defeat of Cleveland on Sunday.

The San Diego running game is clearly a two-man show with Melvin Gordon and Danny Woodhead taking the meaningful snaps. Consider Oliver nothing more than insurance.