NFL Player News
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Ronnie Rivers RB | LAR
Rams' Ronnie Rivers: Leads backup offense Sunday
Rivers rushed for 48 yards on 12 carries while bringing in four of five targets for 34 receiving yards in Sunday's 30-25 loss to the Seahawks.
The Rams rested starter Kyren Williams for a Week 18 contest that had marginal playoff implications for Los Angeles. Actual spot-starter Blake Corum (forearm) recorded just three touches before exiting the contest and opening the door for Rivers to garner 16 touches in the narrow loss. With the former already ruled out for the entire playoff schedule, Rivers is lined up to serve as Williams' primary backup in next Monday's home playoff matchup against Minnesota.
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Hassan Haskins RB | LAC
Chargers' Hassan Haskins: Draws work late
Haskins rushed the ball 12 times for 33 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 34-20 loss to the Raiders.
J.K. Dobbins led the Chargers' backfield in the absence of Gus Edwards (ankle), but Haskins was used to run out the clock throughout the fourth quarter. Eight of his 12 carries came in the final nine minutes of game time, highlighted by a two-yard touchdown plunge -- his second trip to the end zone on the season. Haskins has played primarily on special teams, and that will likely remain the case in the wild-card round in a matchup against the Texans.
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Samaje Perine RB | CIN
Chiefs' Samaje Perine: Brief appearance in Week 18
Perine rushed the ball one time for one yard in Sunday's 38-0 loss to the Broncos. He added one reception on one target for 13 yards.
Perine drew both of his touches on one offensive possession in the second quarter, with Carson Steele otherwise handling the workload out of the backfield. Perine has served a minimal role in the Kansas City offense throughout the season, and that should continue during the team's postseason run.
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Carson Steele RB | PHI
Chiefs' Carson Steele: Picks up 27 yards in Week 18
Steele rushed the ball eight times for 25 yards in Sunday's 38-0 loss to the Broncos. He added two receptions on two targets for two yards.
The Chiefs sat Isiah Pacheco (coach's decision) while Samaje Perine drew only two touches, leaving most of the work out of the backfield to Steele. That didn't amount to much with all of Kansas City's top skill-position players sitting, as the team netted only 98 yards on offense while running just 33 plays. Steele has played primarily on special teams since Week 4, and that will almost certainly be his role throughout the team's postseason run.
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Aaron Jones RB | MIN
Vikings' Aaron Jones: Goes for 75 yards in Week 18
Jones rushed 10 times for 45 yards while catching five of six targets for 30 receiving yards in Sunday's 31-9 loss to the Lions.
Jones turned in moderate fantasy numbers despite his team wearing this one on the chin. The long-time Packer was able to set a new career high in rushing yards (1,138) in his first year playing with the Vikings. The 29-year-old also produced one of his better receiving seasons after recording 51 receptions and 423 yards in 17 starts with his new club. Jones will draw a favorable matchup in the wild-card round of the playoffs when the Vikings face the Rams' 22nd-ranked rush defense next Monday.
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Craig Reynolds RB | NE
Lions' Craig Reynolds: Eight carries in blowout win
Reynolds rushed the ball eight times for 39 yards while failing to reel in either of his targets in Sunday night's 31-9 win over the Vikings.
Reynolds continued in his role as the top backup at running back behind Jahmyr Gibbs in Week 18, turning eight carries into a season-high 39 yards on the ground. With the victory, the Lions secured a bye week to open the postseason, and it's possible that David Montgomery (knee) will be able to return to action in two weeks when Detroit plays in the NFC divisional round, which would push Reynolds back to No. 3 on the depth chart. Reynolds finished the 2024 regular season with 139 rushing yards on 31 carries while catching three of five targets for 40 yards over 17 games.
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Michael Carter RB | TEN
Cardinals' Michael Carter: Earns 21 touches in season finale
Carter racked up 17 carries for 43 yards and one touchdown and hauled in all four targets for 16 yards during Sunday's 47-24 victory versus the 49ers.
With James Conner (knee) and Trey Benson (ankle) on injured reserve, Carter was tasked with leading the Cardinals backfield Week 18, as he started and dominated touches among his position mates. With 21 touches overall, he outproduced DeeJay Dallas (two touches for 27 total yards) and Tony Jones (four carries for 55 yards and one TD), and Carter salvaged a poor per-touch performance with a four-yard score early in the fourth quarter. Carter ends the 2024 campaign with 35 rushes for 131 yards (3.7 YPC) and one TD to go with 11 catches (on 11 targets) for 57 yards in three appearances, all of which occurred Weeks 16-18 with Conner and Benson either banged-up or sidelined.
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Jahmyr Gibbs RB | DET
Lions' Jahmyr Gibbs: Clinches top seed with four TDs
Gibbs rushed 23 times for 139 yards and three touchdowns while catching all five of his targets for 31 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 31-9 win over the Vikings.
Gibbs scored all four of the touchdowns by either team in Detroit's convincing win, which capped the regular season by securing the top seed in the NFC for the Lions. The four touchdowns brought Gibbs' season total to a league-leading 20 (16 rushing, four receiving), which were accompanied by 1,929 scrimmage yards. He'll likely handle a heavy workload in the NFC divisional round following Detroit's bye in the wild-card round, even if the Lions get David Montgomery (knee) back for their playoff run.
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Audric Estime RB | NO
Broncos' Audric Estime: Lots of work in garbage time
Estime rushed the ball 12 times for 34 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 38-0 win over the Chiefs.
Estime logged double-digit carries for the second time in his rookie season, though he mostly worked behind both Jaleel McLaughlin and Javonte Williams. Of Estime's 12 carries, 10 came in the fourth quarter with the Broncos up by at least four scores. Barring a similar game script -- which would come as a shock -- in Denver's wild-card round matchup against the Bills, Estime isn't likely to play a significant role in the offense.
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Jaleel McLaughlin RB | DEN
Broncos' Jaleel McLaughlin: Remains leader of backfield
McLaughlin recorded 16 rushes for 39 yards in Sunday's 38-0 win over the Chiefs. He added two receptions on two targets for nine yards.
McLaughlin saw a season-high 16 carries despite getting only two rushing attempts in the fourth quarter of a blowout win. He did lack effectiveness by averaging just 2.4 yards per carry, with his longest gain going for just nine yards. While McLaughlin isn't likely to see a traditional workhorse role, all indications are that he is the top back in Denver's backfield heading into a wild-card round matchup against the Bills.