NFL Player News

Running back Bobby Rainey got his first touches as a Buccaneer in Week 10 vs. Miami, and he capitalized. The 26-year-old Western Kentucky product ran eight times for 45 yards and his first career touchdown and added an 11-yard catch.

When Mike James fractured his ankle on the opening drive, Tampa Bay turned to Brian Leonard and Rainey, who was claimed off waivers three weeks ago. Rainey broke off a 31-yard run early in the fourth quarter, scoring the winning touchdown from 1 yard out on the same drive. 

Rainey, who's much quicker than Leonard, will be an intriguing waiver add in Fantasy leagues heading into Week 11 vs. Atlanta.

The Dolphins listed these players as inactive for Monday's game at Tampa Bay: cornerback Dimitri Patterson (groin), linebacker Koa Misi (knee), guards David Arkin and Dallas Thomas, right tackle Jonathan Martin, quarterback Pat Devlin and running back Mike Gillislee. 

Patriots running back Shane Vereen, who's eligible to play next Monday at Carolina, could be eased back into the lineup, reports Masslive.com. Vereen hurt his wrist in the Week 1 win over Buffalo and has not played since, though he's returned to practice.

"He definitely did make a big impact in Game 1," offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said on a conference call. "I don't know if we can ask him to do that right off the bat in his first game back, whenever that is. We'll look forward to having him back. He is a really good kid, a great teammate and a good football player that can help us. So, we're looking forward to that."

Vereen ran 14 times for 101 yards and caught seven passes for 58 yards in the opener.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Monday running backs Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce will "get a large number of carries" moving forward, but added whoever is playing better will get more carries during a game. Harbaugh went on to say Rice's struggles have been related to the hip flexor injury he has dealt with for most of the season.

Despite receiving fewer touches, Cardinals running back Andre Ellington led the club in rushing yards Week 10 against the Texans. 

Ellington picked up 55 yards on 11 attempts, finishing with a solid 5.0 yards per attempts. Ellington mostly split time with Rashard Mendenhall, switching off during offensive series early in the game. Ellington even took a few direct snaps, which could hint at how much Arizona wants to get the ball in his hands. Perhaps another encouraging sign for Ellington is that the team also used him when they were trying to run out the clock in the fourth quarter. He also caught two passes for 18 yards.

Ellington will take on the Jaguars Week 11. 

With the Seahawks leading 33-10 late in the fourth quarter, running back Christine Michael got on the field for only the second time this season Week 10 at Atlanta, handling the ball just about every play on the team's final drive. He finished with eight carries for 33 yards and would have had even better numbers if he didn't have a 25-yard run negated by a holding penalty.

Michael is behind not only Marshawn Lynch, but Robert Turbin on the depth chart.

Fullback Bruce Miller and wideout Kyle Williams both contributed one catch for the 49ers in their loss Sunday to Carolina. Miller gained 10 yards on his first-half snag while Williams went got five on his, also before intermission.

Running back Kendall Hunter added 8 yards on three attempts in the ground game. LaMichael James was stopped for a 1-yard loss in his only carry.

Though he isn't playing as big of a role in the running game with Steven Jackson back in the lineup, Falcons running back Jacquizz Rodgers continues to give quarterback Matt Ryan a reliable target underneath when the Falcons are playing from behind.

After catching six passes for 25 yards in a 34-10 loss at the Panthers in Week 9, he had five for 28 in a 33-10 loss against the Seahawks in Week 10. He also led the team in rushing, finding a hole seemingly every time he gave Jackson a breather to finish with 31 yards on three carries.

Of Rodgers' five catches, three came in the second half, when the Falcons were passing virtually every play. His seven targets were second only to Harry Douglas' eight.

The Falcons visit the Buccaneers in Week 11.

Colts fullback Stanley Havili, running back Dan Herron, wide receiver Griff Whalen, wide receiver LaVon Brazill and wide receiver David Reed all made it onto the stat sheet during a 38-8 loss Week 10 vs. St. Louis.

Havili had one carry for 1 yard, while adding three catches for 25 yards.

Herron had one carry for no gain and one catch for 57 yards. In fact, Herron almost scored on his 57-yard catch-and-run, but he was pulled down at the 3-yard line late in the fourth quarter.

Whalen had three catches for 36 yards. His longest catch went 25 yards and he was targeted five times.

Brazill had one catch for 11 yards, despite five targets. Brazill was targeted multiple times in the end zone. He was targeted on a 53-yard pass from Andrew Luck in the first half, but the pass was too far in front of Brazill in the end zone. Brazill was targeted three times by quarterback Matt Hasselbeck when the Colts got down to the Rams' 3-yard line. The last target near the goal line, however, was intercepted.

Reed initially had a 4-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, but the play was reversed to a 2-yard catch after it was ruled Reed stepped out of bounds before scoring.

The Colts are back in action Week 11 at Tennessee.

Chargers running back Ryan Mathews managed to get into the end zone Week 10 against the Broncos.

Mathews was able to plunge in on a late fourth quarter touchdown after Danny Woodhead was stopped short of a goal line on a pass reception. Mathews and Woodhead split time as usual, but Mathews should have had a much better game. He had a 39 yard run erased by a holding penalty early in the game, and seemed to injure himself on that play. The team never announced an injury, but Mathews stood on the sideline for a while before returning to the game. He finished the game with 14 carries for 59 yards. He also caught one pass for 2 yards.

He'll take on the Dolphins Week 11.