NFL Player News

Buccaneers running back Bobby Rainey came through in a big way for Fantasy owners in Week 14, totaling 18 Fantasy points as he rushed for 127 yards and one touchdown against the Bills. Now the question beckons: Do you leave Rainey in active lineups or bench him for Tampa's showdown with the 49ers Week 15?

Rainey has totaled at least 11 Fantasy points in three of his last five games. Though, it could be tough for him to get to double-digit Fantasy points in Week 15 since the 49ers have played well against the run.

For the season, running backs average just 15.6 Fantasy points per week against San Francisco, which is the ninth-lowest average. However, running backs have averaged just 83.3 rushing yards, 7.7 receiving yards and 10 Fantasy points per game in the last three weeks. Running backs have totaled nine rushing touchdowns in 13 games and just one in the last three games against San Francisco.

Rainey struggled Week 12 against the Lions and Week 13 against the Panthers, which are two teams that have good run defenses. Though, those games were on the road and this one will be at home. In his last three home games, Rainey is averaging 21 Fantasy points and 111.6 rushing yards per game.

It might not be the easiest matchup, but since Rainey does play well at home, he could be considered a No. 2 Fantasy running back Week 15.

Cowboys running back Joseph Randle rushed nine times for 54 yards and a touchdown against Chicago's league-worst run defense. Randle's longest run went 19 yards, and he scored on a 1-yard run with 11 seconds left. It was Randle's second touchdown.

Randle, who was not targeted in the passing game, will back up DeMarco Murray again Week 15 vs. Green Bay.

Normally trusted as a receiver out of the backfield when his team is trailing, Redskins backup running back Roy Helu contributed virtually nothing in a 45-10 loss to the Chiefs in Week 14. He was targeted four times but caught just one pass for 2 yards. He also ran once for 5 yards.

Alfred Morris wasn't stealing any of Helu's touches, though. The starting running back finished with just 12 carries for 31 yards.

The Redskins visit the Falcons in Week 15.

Tight end Sean McGrath, running back Cyrus Gray and wide receiver Junior Hemingway all made minor contributions for the Chiefs Week 14 at Washington. McGrath caught two passes for 20 yards. Gray ran three times for 8 yards. Hemingway caught one pass for 11 yards.

Of the three, McGrath is the most regular contributor on offense. He now has 23 catches on the season. He was targeted three times in Sunday's game.

Chiefs running back Knile Davis, who had gotten no more than three carries in a game since Week 3, had by far his most productive game of the season Week 14 at Washington. Playing the entire fourth quarter with his team up big, Davis ran 11 times for 30 yards and caught one pass for 17. He even scored the first rushing touchdown of his career on a 17-yard scamper.

Of course, of his 11 carries, none came in the first half. By the time Davis scored his touchdown, starter Jamaal Charles was resigned to playing a spectator role, content with his 151 yards on 19 carries in a blowout win.

Davis will continue to serve as Charles' backup Week 15 at Oakland.

Falcons backup running back Jacquizz Rodgers, who had just five touches in each of his previous two games, got double that Week 14 at Green Bay, but it didn't improve his productivity. He finished with seven carries for 14 yards and three catches for 33.

Rodgers became involved in the passing game only after the Falcons fell behind in the fourth quarter, catching all three of his passes on the team's final two drives. He has averaged just 1.8 catches in his last four games after averaging 5.2 in his previous six.

The Falcons host the Redskins in Week 15.

Cardinals RB Andre Ellington scored in his return Week 14.

Ellington missed Week 13 due to a knee injury, but was effective in his return. Ellington carried the ball 11 times for 46 yards. He also scored a late 6 yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Ellington again showed more big-play ability than Rashard Mendenhall, but Mendenhall continues to get more carries. Ellington averaged 4.2 yards per carry against Mendenhalls' 2.4 yards per carry. Ellington also caught two passes for 17 yards. He'll take on the Titans Week 15.

Rams running back Benny Cunningham had just two carries Week 14 against the Cardinals.

Cunningham finished with 9 yards. He also caught two passes for 16 yards. The team trailed most of the game, and was forced to abandon the run game early. Cunningham will look for more action against the Saints Week 15.

Chargers running back Ryan Mathews found the end zone during Sunday’s win over the Giants in Week 14.

After failing to cash it in from 1-yard out on his first two tries, Mathews plowed his way into the end zone on third down to extend the lead for the Chargers in the third quarter. He finished the game with 29 carries for 103 yards (3.6 yards per carry) and caught three passes for 32 yards in a 37-14 victory.

Mathews has scored a rushing touchdown in two of his last three games and has rushed for at least 100 yards in two of his last four games. He will look to keep rolling on short rest in week 15 against the Broncos in Denver Thursday night.

Buccaneers running back Bobby Rainey got his day started off right Sunday, rushing for a touchdown on the second play of the game in a Week 14 win over the Bills.

Rainey took his first carry 80 yards for a touchdown, his first since scoring twice in Week 11. He ended up doing little for the remainder of the game, but the early success helped him finish with 127 yards on 22 carries. He added three receptions for -4 yards, in the 27-6 win.

Rainey had just 98 yards in his previous two games, a big disappointment after he exploded four games ago. He now has two 100-plus yard games under his belt since becoming the starting running back, and will try to make it three in Week 15 against the 49ers.