NFL Player News

Panthers RB Kenjon Barner, S Robert Lester and CB Melvin White are considered probable for Week 7 against the Rams.

Both Barner and Lester were able to practice in full all week. White was limited during Thursday's practice with concussion symptoms. 

I'm just as disappointed in Andre Ellington's Week 7 game as you might be. His lack of involvement is what really bugs me -- why did the Cardinals decide to give Alfonso Smith more work on passing downs? And why are they sticking with Rashard Mendenhall so much? 

But it's not like Ellington didn't have his chances. Very late in the third quarter he was open on a wheel route in the end zone and got a hand on Palmer's pass that was just too far for him. He was also targeted on a pass in the end zone a few plays later but a Seattle defender tipped it. The annoying factor I didn't see coming was that Smith took many passing down snaps away from Ellington late in the game (they seemed to be on a rotation). Ellington had two catches on five targets; Smith had four catches on four targets. 

The snap breakdown still favored Ellington with 41 pct. of the snaps compared to 32 pct. for Mendenhall and 28 pct. for Smith. With Mendenhall averaging 1.7 yards per carry in the game and 2.9 on the season, it still feels like it's just a matter of time before Ellington (and maybe Smith) start to really take over the Cardinals backfield. 

Redskins running back Roy Helu was expected to see more work in the offense heading into the Week 6 Sunday night loss at Dallas. While that did happen as Helu totaled 77 yards of offense, most of that came with the game already out of hand.

Helu has 88 yards rushing on 20 carries with one touchdown in five games. He's firmly behind Alfred Morris on the depth chart. That said, the Redskins have few other offensive weapons and Helu's speed and pass-catching ability could become coveted more and more down the line.

The Chicago Bears have struggled against the run this season. Brandon Jacobs of the Giants just scored twice against them last week and worked 22 carries into 106 yards. Chicago has allowed 100 yards a TD to a RB in two of the last three games.

Still, as far as Week 7 at home against Chicago goes, we still aren't expecting much from Helu. He's just not a central focus of Robert Griffin III and the offense at this time. He has value as a low-end flex in most Fantasy leagues but that is about it.

Cardinals running back Andre Ellington failed to find much room to succeed in Week 7 against the Seahawks, a 34-22 loss on Thursday.

Ellington rushed for just 3 yards on three carries, and found little success in the passing game as well. Ellington finished with 10 yards through the air on two catches, matching his lowest all-purpose yardage total of the season.

 Ellington will try to look for better luck in Week 8, when the Cardinals face the Falcons. 

The Cardinals featured a lengthy injury report for Week 7 against the Seahawks, but most of their wounded were able to take the field Thursday. Among those listed on the injury report, only linebacker Kenny Demens (hamstring) and wide receiver Brittan Golden (hamstring) were included among the inactives.

They were joined by tight end D.C. Jefferson, quarterback Ryan Lindley, linebacker Dontay Moch, guard Earl Watford and running back Ryan Williams. 

Patriots running back Brandon Bolden has eight receptions over his last two games, and five carries in each. But the Pats face off against a tough Jets run defense in Week 7, and with Stevan Ridley having a big Week 6, Bolden's value may plateau. 

Bolden has marginal value in PPR leagues, where he can act as a pass-catching complement to Ridley, but his ceiling in standard leagues may be about 3-4 Fantasy points. The Jets have only allowed one opposing back to ring up more than 25 receiving yards this season (Fred Jackson in Week 3). 

In deeper leagues, Bolden may be worth a start. But in formats of 14 or fewer teams, he's probably best left on the bench. 

Panthers coach Ron Rivera said rookie running back Kenjon Barner (foot) is expected to play Week 7 vs. St. Louis. Barner sat out Week 6 after making his season debut Week 5.

Titans running back Chris Johnson has one more tough matchup before things look up for him. Unfortunately, that matchup is this week against the 49ers.

Fantasy owners should again consider sitting Johnson in Week 7 against San Francisco. But he might never leave your lineup again after the Titans bye in Week 8.

When the Titans return to action, Johnson will face St. Louis, Jacksonville, Indianapolis, Oakland, Indianapolis and Denver in the following six games. It should be a dream finish for Johnson, but use caution with him this week.

He has gone from at least 19 carries in each of the first three games to 22 total carries the past two weeks. His catches have improved with seven the previous two games, but he's still searching for his first rushing touchdown.

The 49ers have allowed a running back to score double digits in Fantasy points in each of the past two games, but Johnson's unlikely to reach that mark based on his overall production to date.

His time is coming so be patient, and he will be a must-start option again in two weeks. For now, consider putting him on your bench.

Cardinals running back Andre Ellington has seen a nice upswing in Fantasy points the last three weeks, going from four points in Week 4 to eight in Week 5 to 14 in Week 6 (when he scored his first rushing touchdown of the season). 

Ellington has yet to receive double digit carries, but he did have a career-high five receptions in Week 6, along with 56 rushing yards. 

The problem with Ellington is that starter Rashard Mendenhall isn't going anywhere. He gets his 15-17 carries per game, and Ellington remains a complement. 

Ellington also has a tough matchup in Week 7, going up against a Seahawks team that has allowed the third-fewest Fantasy points per game to opposing running backs. But the Seahawks have allowed four receptions and 28 receiving yards per game to backs, so they aren't wholly immune to the pass-catching ways of players like Ellington. 

If better options exist, you may want to start them. Ellington has some value in PPR, but it's in the neighborhood of Chris Ogbonnaya. His value is still limited by Mendenhall's steady role in the offense.  

As expected, Cowboys rookie running back Joseph Randle is getting the first-team reps in Wednesday's practice, reports ESPN.com. Randle is expected to start at Philadelphia with DeMarco Murray (knee) probably out.