NFL Player News

The Colts received several encouraging signs Friday at practice, specifically the participation of running back Donald Brown (neck), cornerback Greg Toler (groin) and wide receiver T.Y. Hilton (shoulder). All had been considered iffy for Sunday at Kansas City.

Their status for that game will be clearer when the team releases its injury list later in the day.

Patriots running back Shane Vereen will be seeking a bounce back performance heading into Sunday's road game against the Ravens in Week 16.

Just a week after tallying 12 receptions, Vereen saw his role shrink against the Dolphins in Week 15. He had two carries for 13 yards and three catches for eight yards in a 24-20 defeat in Miami. Baltimore limited Vereen to only 16 yards on four carries and two receptions for 22 yards in the playoffs last season.

With that said, Baltimore's defense looks completely different compared to last year, as they have allowed only 102.4 yards per game on the ground this season. The Ravens have allowed at least four receptions to running backs in five of the last seven games played. Opposing running backs have scored 13.14 Fantasy points per game this season.

Vereen's numbers should only go up from here after a mediocre game against Miami last week. Consider him a decent starting option, especially in PPR formats heading into Week 16.

The last time the Dolphins faced the Bills, in a Week 7 loss, the team was still trying to figure out exactly how they wanted to split the workload in the backfield. That week, it was Daniel Thomas getting the bigger share of the workload, finishing with 60 yards on 12 carries. Should Fantasy owners expect him to see a similar share in Week 16?

Thomas has played a solid role recently, scoring three times in the last four games. Unfortunately, he has also topped 10 carries just once in that span, as the team has proven more willing to get Lamar Miller involved in the offense.

Though both players have dealt with injuries recently, Thomas rushed the ball just five times in Week 15, with both active. Thomas seems entrenched as the change-of-pace back in Miami's offense, limiting his Fantasy utility to weeks when he finds the end zone. The Bills have allowed six touchdowns to running backs over the last five games, but Thomas' limited role makes him a risky play for Week 16. 

Titans top back Chris Johnson was back at practice Thursday on a limited basis after being sidelined Wednesday with a knee injury.

His status for Sunday against Jacksonville has yet to be determined. Johnson has been durable throughout his career, having missed just five games in seven years. He has started every game in 2013.

Raiders embattled running back Darren McFadden said Thursday he would like to return to the team next season, but offensive coordinator Greg Olson said that might require two productive games to end 2013, per the San Francisco Chronicle.

It might come as a surprise to some that McFadden is seeking to come back. He has fallen behind Rashad Jennings and perhaps Marcel Reece as the featured back and he is eligible for free agency.

McFadden returned to practice this week after missing more than a month with an ankle injury.

Cardinals running back Andre Ellington, who bruised his thigh in the win at Tennessee, practiced on a limited basis Wednesday. He's on track to play Sunday at Seattle.

Though he has scored a touchdown in back-to-back games and has shown a knack for making big plays, Vikings wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson could be in for a tough time Week 16 at Cincinnati. The Bengals rank seventh against the pass, allowing 219.6 yards per game, and have given up the 11th-fewest Fantasy points to wide receivers.

Patterson has proven to be risky regardless of the matchup. Though he scored a touchdown in an extremely favorable one last week against the Eagles, he had only 35 yards on five catches. Only twice this season has he exceeded 50 receiving yards in a game. It just so happens the best of those games came Week 14 at Baltimore, when he caught five passes for 141 yards.

With a more favorable matchup, maybe you roll the dice on Patterson with the Vikings' passing game performing so well in recent weeks, but with this one, it's too risky outside of points-per-reception leagues. It's not like he's the go-to guy Greg Jennings is.

Of the three CBSSports.com Fantasy Football analysts, Dave Richard is willing to rank Patterson 23rd among wide receivers for this week, but I'm inclined to agree with Jamey Eisenberg and Nathan Zegura, who rank him 31st and 35th, respectively.

With starting running back Adrian Peterson (foot) and backup running back Toby Gerhart (hamstring) both sidelined by injuries Week 15 against Philadelphia, Matt Asiata carried the load for the Vikings and made a surprising contribution in Fantasy, rushing for three touchdowns.

But come practice time Wednesday, he was the one on the sidelines with an ankle injury while Peterson and Gerhart both saw the field.

A Peterson return appears to be the most likely scenario for Week 16 at Cincinnati, so whichever of Gerhart and Asiata is active would simply be filling the backup role, with Gerhart getting priority. And if Peterson doesn't end up playing, you probably wouldn't want to start either, given the matchup. The Bengals rank fifth against the run, giving up 98.7 yards and 3.9 yards per carry, and have surrendered the fourth-fewest Fantasy points to running backs this season. The last time they allowed even 70 rushing yards to a player was in Week 9.

If you feel the need to handcuff Peterson, Gerhart is still the way to go. Despite the touchdowns, Asiata averaged just 1.7 yards per carry last week. If that's the best he could do against the Eagles, he doesn't stand a chance with this matchup.

Dolphins running back Daniel Thomas, who has scored in two straight games, did not practice Wednesday due to an ankle injury. Miami visits Buffalo on Sunday.

Colts running back Donald Brown bowed out early Week 15 vs. Houston because of a stinger, but he made it onto the practice field Wednesday, indicating he's got a strong chance to be on the field Week 16 at Kansas City. If that happens, Fantasy owners need to give strong consideration to putting Brown into active Fantasy lineups.

Despite the Chiefs being one of the better teams in the NFL this season, they have had their issues against the run, particularly as of late. In the last six games, running backs are averaging 117.2 rushing yards and 24 Fantasy points per week against Kansas City. Running backs have totaled eight touchdowns (six rushing) in that span.

There's obviously some concern Brown might suffer a setback Sunday or Trent Richardson could get more touches after he played well in Brown's absence last week. But Brown is a better running back in this offense and likely didn't lose his starter reps because he got banged up last week. If Brown is in the lineup Sunday, then he deserves consideration as a No. 3 Fantasy running back or flex option because of the matchup.