NFL Player News

Vaughn (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Eagles.

The 2023 sixth-round pick finds himself as the third man on the depth chart behind Rico Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott. Vaughn has not played in a game since Week 11 against Houston. He has 11 carries for 33 yards and no touchdowns this season.

Edwards-Helaire is listed as active Sunday versus the Raiders, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.

Edwards-Helaire joined the Saints' practice squad on Dec. 18, and after a week and a half in the program, he'll be available for his debut with his new organization after the team elevated him from the practice squad Saturday. With Alvin Kamara (groin) sidelined again and Jordan Mims a healthy scratch, Kendre Miller, Jamaal Williams and Edwards-Helaire will be the backfield options for New Orleans in Week 17.

Blackshear will start at running back in Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

With Chuba Hubbard (knee/calf) joining Jonathon Brooks (knee) and Miles Sanders (ankle) on injured reserve earlier in the week, Blackshear will be the next man up in the Carolina backfield, though he won't necessarily be tasked with handling Hubbard's three-down workhorse role. Since entering the NFL in 2022, Blackshear has seen the bulk of his action on special teams, where he's shined as a return man. However, the 5-foot-9, 190-pound Blackshear was an accomplished receiver in college, producing a 123-1,213-7 receiving line over five seasons between Rutgers and Virginia Tech. Blackshear should thus have some extra appeal as a lineup option or DFS play in PPR formats with the likelihood that Carolina keeps him involved in the passing game, though the Panthers may not ask the diminutive running back to take on heavy volume on the ground. Mike Boone and Velus Jones are also on hand as options out of the backfield and could carve out roles in the Week 17 game plan.

Brown, who is dealing with a right ankle sprain, has a chance to play next weekend against the Steelers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Brown was hurt during Saturday's 30-24 overtime win over the Broncos, but according to Rapoport, the running back's ankle injury is not considered major. Added context regarding Brown's Week 18 status will arrive once the Bengals resume practice, but in the event that he's limited or out versus Pittsburgh, Khalil Herbert would be next in line for work in Cincinnati's backfield.

Conner (knee), who exited Saturday's game against the Rams in the second quarter and was deemed questionable to return, never re-entered the contest despite wanting to retake the field, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports. Conner finished the defeat with four carries for four yards along with two receptions on three targets for four yards.

According to Arizona head coach Jonathan Gannon, Conner may have aggravated the knee injury he initially suffered last Sunday against Carolina by being "twisted up on" at the end of a carry early in the second quarter. After the Cardinals announced that the veteran running back was questionable to re-enter the contest, Conner spent much of the rest of the game with his helmet on along the sideline, and he was never formally ruled out, though he did get looked at by trainers. Gannon mentioned that the plan going into the game was for Conner to be "full go," and the head coach suggested that the talented tailback "wasn't healthy enough to go back in" after being pulled despite Conner's desire to do so. Arizona has already been eliminated from postseason contention, which could be a factor in Conner's status for the team's regular-season finale next weekend against San Francisco.

Williams rushed the ball 13 times for 56 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 13-9 win over the Cardinals. He added three receptions on three targets for 16 yards.

The Rams had a tough offensive night and ran only 54 plays while possessing the ball for just 23:05. That left Williams with unusually low volume, as his 13 carries were his fewest since Week 2. Nevertheless, he turned in an efficient performance, highlighted by his 16th touchdown of the season, which came on a one-yard plunge into the end zone late in the second quarter. He's now scored in five of his last six games. More will be revealed about Los Angeles' playoff status after Sunday's games, news that could dictate whether Williams sees a heavy workload in a potentially pivotal divisional Week 18 matchup against the Seahawks.

Carter rushed 13 times for 70 yards and brought in both targets for 11 yards in the Cardinals' 13-9 loss to the Rams on Saturday night.

The journeyman back unexpectedly was handed the reins of the Cardinals' ground attack after James Conner exited the game in the first half with a knee injury. With Trey Benson (ankle) inactive, Carter took over as the lead back and consistently put together productive runs while compiling his highest rushing yardage total since Week 9 of the 2022 season. If the Cardinals opt to shut Conner down for the regular-season finale against the 49ers, Carter should have a solid complementary role, at minimum, in that game assuming Benson is also active.

Estime rushed the ball nine times for 24 yards in Saturday's 30-24 overtime loss to the Bengals. He added one reception on one target for 13 yards.

Estime earned nine carries for the second consecutive week, finishing second narrowly behind Jaleel McLaughlin for touches out of the backfield. He had difficulty finding running room, as his longest rush went for just six yards, and he was held for two yards or fewer on four of his nine carries. While Estime seems to have established a role in the Denver offense, his fantasy appeal remains limited in the split backfield.

McLaughlin rushed the ball 10 times for 69 yards in Saturday's 30-24 overtime loss to the Bengals. He added two receptions on two targets for seven yards.

McLaughlin returned from a quadriceps injury that sidelined him in Week 16, and he narrowly led the Broncos' backfield in touches. While the split backfield continues to hold back his overall stat lines, McLaughlin was impressive with his opportunity by picking up at least 10 yards on four of his 10 carries. He appears to be the most trustworthy running back in the offense heading into a Week 18 matchup against the Chiefs, but his fantasy appeal remains limited due to the unpredictable division of touches.

Herbert rushed the ball four times for 23 yards in Saturday's 30-24 overtime win over the Broncos.

Chase Brown led the Bengals' backfield but suffered a sprained ankle late in the fourth quarter when he slid short of the end zone. That pushed Herbert into a substantial role in overtime, highlighted by a 13-yard rush to kick off Cincinnati's game-clinching drive. Herbert should lead the backfield in Week 18 against Pittsburgh if Brown is unable to suit up.