NFL Player News

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.

The Texans have signed running back Jonathan Grimes to replace Ben Tate, whom they moved to IR with a rib injury. Grimes played with three different teams in 2012, including Houston. He rushed for 6 yards on two carries and caught two passes for 7 yards.

A knee ailment had Titans featured back Chris Johnson sidelined from practice on Wednesday, per ESPN.

The extent of the injury has not been revealed. Johnson needs to rush for 140 yards in the last two games combined to earn his sixth straight 1,000-yard season.

Chargers red-hot featured back Ryan Mathews was limited in Wednesday practice with a foot ailment, but is not threatened with inactivity for Sunday against Oakland, per the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Mathews has rushed for 230 yards on 58 carries with two touchdowns in his last two games combined.

Darren McFadden, who might now be a third-string running back for the Raiders, was back at practice Wednesday after missing five of the last six games with an ankle injury. McFadden returned briefly in Week 13 before reinjuring it.

McFadden lost his starting spot to Rashad Jennings earlier in the year and might have also fallen behind Marcel Reece. McFadden can benefit from some playing time and production with free agency looming.

Though he's been bailed out by a couple decent receiving performances, which have included a couple touchdowns, Titans running back Chris Johnson hasn't run the ball particularly well since his season-best 150-yard effort Week 9 at St. Louis, averaging 57.3 yards per game.

That stretch began Week 10 against the Jaguars, so you wouldn't think he'd be poised to rebound Week 16 at Jacksonville. But the matchup opens the door for him to do just that.

The Jaguars rank 30th against the run, allowing 131.9 yards per game, and have given up the 12th-most Fantasy points to running backs. They allowed a combined 147 yards on 30 carries to the Bills duo of Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller just last week.

Johnson loses some carries to Shonn Greene from time to time, but for the most part, he's on his own out there, which means he's the one running out the clock if the Titans find themselves up by two scores in the second half. Granted, the Jaguars haven't lost a game by two scores since Week 11 and actually beat the Titans in Week 10, but they're still one of the lesser teams in the NFL.

It's a favorable matchup or Johnson, and because he also plays a role in the passing game, you're not taking much of a risk by starting him. None of Jamey Eisenberg, Dave Richard or Nathan Zegura have him in their top 12 for this week, though.

Any pessimism over the availability of Colts running back Donald Brown for the Week 16 game at Kansas City has dissipated. He was a Wednesday practice participant after sustaining a stinger on Sunday.

Cardinals running back Andre Ellington finished Week 15 with 158 total yards, including seven gains of 10 or more yards. But he had two touchdowns snaked from him by Rashard Mendenhall, leaving his point total at 15 in standard leagues. 

Since Week 10 -- and excluding his Week 13 inactive -- Ellington has seen between 11 and 14 touches in every game. He has gained 60 or more yards in all but one of the five games in that span. In his last two, Ellington has scored an average of 13 Fantasy points in standard leagues, with double digits in both. 

While the Seahawks have been tough on opposing running backs lately (five straight games allowing 15 or fewer total Fantasy points to a team's running backs), Ellington should be able to do some damage in the pass-catching game. The Seahawks have allowed opposing running backs to accrue 50 receiving yards in three of the last six games. The haven't allowed a touchdown since Week 7, but have given up 38.1 receiving yards per game to running backs since then.

Ellington is still a backup, but is a decent option in a very deep (16-18 team) league. Think Montee Ball-ish. His owners know what they can expect from him, as he's been given consistent touches over a string of games. The Seahawks are a tough defense, but Ellington's ability to pass-catch gives him a minor boost in Week 16.