NFL Player News
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Dylan Sampson RB | CLE
Browns' Dylan Sampson: Ready to play Sunday
Sampson (hand) is active for Sunday's game against the Steelers.
After sitting out the Browns' previous two games, Sampson took a questionable tag into Sunday following a trio of limited practices during Week 17 prep, but the rookie showed enough improvement to gain clearance for the penultimate game of the season. Sampson had typically handled a change-of-pace role over his previous 13 appearances, but the 21-year-old could be in store for his beefiest workload since Week 1 -- when he earned 20 touches (12 carries, eight receptions) -- after lead back Quinshon Judkins (ankle/fibula) suffered a season-ending injury in Week 16. Raheim Sanders and Trayveon Williams should still be involved out of the backfield Sunday to some degree, but Sampson likely profiles as the top fantasy option of the trio thanks largely to his talents as a pass catcher.
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Jaret Patterson RB | LAC
Chargers' Jaret Patterson: Used mostly as kick returner
Patterson turned his lone carry into one yard and logged 58 yards on two kickoff returns during the Chargers' 20-16 loss to the Texans on Saturday.
Even with Kimani Vidal (neck) inactive for Saturday's game, Patterson firmly operated as the Chargers' RB3 behind Omarion Hampton and Hassan Haskins (head). However, Patterson did get an opportunity as a kickoff returner due to the absences of Vidal and Derius Davis (ankle), and that could be Patterson's main path to playing time in the Chargers' Week 18 tilt against the Broncos.
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Nick Chubb RB | HOU
Texans' Nick Chubb: Minimal use in win
Chubb had one carry for one yard on five snaps in Saturday's 20-16 win over the Chargers in Week 17.
Chubb was impacted by the presence of Woody Marks (44 snaps), who returned to the lineup following a one-game absence due to an ankle injury. A playing time split that favored Marks is not surprising, but that Chubb finished behind Jawhar Jordan (11 snaps) is a more recent development, one that started Week 16. Chubb has just eight carries and one reception for a combined 46 yards from scrimmage over the last three games.
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Keaton Mitchell RB | LAC
Ravens' Keaton Mitchell: Earns 11 touches
Mitchell rushed the ball nine times for 31 yards in Saturday's 41-24 win over the Packers. He added two receptions on two targets for seven yards.
Derrick Henry headlined the Baltimore offense and dominated touches out of the backfield, though Mitchell continued to serve as the complementary back. Mitchell reached double-digit touches for the first time this season in a run-heavy game script for Baltimore, though it still wasn't a particularly noteworthy fantasy performance. He could get some additional opportunity in Week 18 if the Ravens are eliminated from playoff contention.
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Josh Jacobs RB | GB
Packers' Josh Jacobs: Minimal role in blowout loss
Jacobs rushed the ball four times for three yards in Saturday's 41-24 loss to the Ravens. He added one reception on one target for zero yards.
Jacobs appeared to be trending in a positive direction in his recovery from knee and ankle injuries after being removed from the injury report Thursday. However, his usage in Saturday's loss suggests he still isn't fully healthy, as he was limited to only five total touches -- the last of which came early in the third quarter. Game script likely also impacted Jacobs' usage, but the Packers could opt to rest him in Week 18, given that they have been eliminated from contention to win the NFC North but are still locked into a playoff position.
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Derrick Henry RB | BAL
Ravens' Derrick Henry: Carries Baltimore to victory
Henry rushed the ball 36 times for 216 yards and four touchdowns in Saturday's 41-24 win over the Packers.
The Ravens were likely to rely on their run game in the absence of Lamar Jackson (back), though his effectiveness combined with game script led to a particularly impressive showing. He set a new career high with 36 rushing attempts, and he also surpassed 200 rushing yards for the first time since Week 8 of the 2022 campaign, thanks to long rushes of 30 and 25 yards -- the latter of which went for a touchdown. Henry found the end zone three additional times, matching his career high of four touchdowns, with the previous performance coming in Week 14 of the 2018 season. His vintage showing kept the Ravens' playoff hopes alive and marked his fifth straight game with at least 100 yards from scrimmage.
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Jawhar Jordan RB | HOU
Texans' Jawhar Jordan: Keeps role in Houston's backfield
Jordan rushed the ball eight times for 36 yards in Saturday's 20-16 win over the Chargers.
Woody Marks returned from a one-game absence to retake the lead role in Houston's backfield, though Jordan usurped Nick Chubb for the complementary role. Jordan chipped in decent gains of 10 and nine yards with his opportunity and looks to be in position to contribute to Houston's postseason run.
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Woody Marks RB | HOU
Texans' Woody Marks: Handles 20 touches
Marks rushed the ball 19 times for 71 yards in Saturday's 20-16 win over the Chargers. He added one reception on two targets for four yards.
Marks regained his typical role after a one-game absence caused by an ankle injury, accounting for 19 of the 28 carries by Houston's backfield. As has often been the case, he wasn't particularly efficient with his opportunity, turning in a long gain of 19 yards but also having five of his rush attempts go for zero or negative yardage. While it was an uninspiring performance, Marks did manage at least 75 yards from scrimmage for the second time in his last three full games.
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Omarion Hampton RB | LAC
Chargers' Omarion Hampton: Hefty pass-catching role in loss
Hampton rushed 14 times for 29 yards and a touchdown and brought in all eight targets for 31 yards in the Chargers' 20-16 loss to the Texans on Saturday.
As his final line suggests, Hampton repeatedly ran into a proverbial brick wall against the Texans' nearly impenetrable front. However, the rookie finished with a team-high reception total while also co-leading the Chargers in targets, and he gave his day a serious boost by recording a five-yard touchdown run with just under four minutes remaining. Hampton's average of 2.1 yards per carry was a new career low, and he's stuck with another unenviable matchup in a Week 18 road clash against the Broncos.
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Hassan Haskins RB | LAC
Chargers' Hassan Haskins: Being evaluated for a head injury
Haskins (head) is questionable to return to Saturday's game against the Texans.
Haskins exited the game in the fourth quarter after sustaining a potential head injury. The running back accumulated one solo tackle on special teams before his exit.