NFL Player News

Luepke caught both his targets for 18 yards in Sunday's win over the Browns.

The Cowboys list Luepke as a running back on their depth chart, but the second-year North Dakota State product usually lines up as a fullback. However, when Jake Ferguson (knee) left Sunday's game early, Luepke was deployed as an H-back and caught multiple passes for the first time in his career. While he's a long way from being the next Kyle Juszczyk, Luepke could continue to see a bigger role as a receiver while Ferguson is sidelined, putting him on the deep-league radar heading into a Week 2 clash with the Saints.

Patterson rushed four times for 13 yards during Sunday's 18-10 win over the Falcons.

Patterson was on the field for just nine offensive snaps during Sunday's Week 1 matchup, but he saw ample work when on the field and ultimately had more carries than fellow reserve running back Jaylen Warren. However, it seems likely that Patterson will remain the No. 3 option at running back since Warren was on the field for 21 offensive snaps, and his advantage in touch volume could simply have been a product of his greater familiarity with new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith's scheme. Patterson is also in line to serve as the Steelers' top kickoff returner in 2024, although he failed to get one he could take back in Week 1.

Hasty logged six special-teams snaps in the Patriots' 16-10 season-opening win over the Bengals on Sunday.

Though Hasty wasn't involved in the Patriots' Week 1 offensive game plan, he did return one kick for 27 yards in the contest. At this stage, Hasty is clearly behind Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson in the team's backfield pecking order, though if injuries hit down the road, he could move into a change-of-pace role.

Gibson carried seven times for 18 yards in the Patriots' 16-10 season-opening win over the Bengals on Sunday.

Per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, Gibson -- who headed into the weekend listed as questionable with a hip issue -- logged 14 of a possible 65 snaps on offense in the contest, while top back Rhamondre Stevenson was out there for 51 snaps en route to 25 carries for 120 yards and a TD. Though Gibson wasn't targeted by Jacoby Brissett in Week 1, the former Commander should see some involvement as a pass-catcher in the coming weeks. Gibson's fantasy ceiling figures to remain modest as long as Stevenson remains available, however.

McCaffrey (calf/Achilles) is listed as questionable ahead of Monday's game against the Jets, but he expects to play and handle something close to his normal workload, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Rapoport relays that McCaffrey expects to take on around 15 to 20 touches, which isn't far off the 21.9 combined carries and receptions per game that he averaged over his 19 regular-season and playoff appearances in 2023. McCaffrey won't be formally cleared until the 49ers release their inactive list approximately 90 minutes prior to Monday's 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff, but fantasy managers can feel comfortable locking him into their Week 1 lineups.

Ogunbowale caught his lone target for three yards in Sunday's 29-27 win over Indianapolis in Week 1.

Ogunbowale (13 snaps) and Dameon Pierce (nine) were the top backups to starter to Joe Mixon, who had a monster debut in Houston with 30 carries, 159 yards and a touchdown over 59 snaps. Behind Mixon, there was some uncertainty about the pecking order, but it looks like Cam Akers (inactive) is out for the moment and British Brooks played only on special teams.

Pierce had three carries for 16 yards in Sunday's 29-27 win over the Colts in Week 1.

There was little uncertainty that Pierce would back up Joe Mixon, but the disparity in their workloads was a little jarring. Mixon was on the field for 59 snaps compared to Pierce's nine, which was actually fewer than Dare Ogunbowale (13). However, Pierce and Mixon were the only running backs to carry the ball. As long as Mixon stays healthy, there may not be a path to much fantasy value for Pierce.

Strong had two carries for 10 yards and caught two of three targets for 20 yards in Sunday's 33-17 loss to Dallas in Week 1.

Strong, who played 18 snaps on offense, was the primary backup to Jerome Ford (57) while D'Onta Foreman was limited to just one snap. The distribution of backfield snaps was likely the result of the Browns falling behind early, as the Cowboys were ahead by three scores at halftime. Passing situations play to Strong's strengths more than Foreman's, but neither player is a serious threat to Ford's lead role while Nick Chubb (knee) remains out.

Foreman did not have a touch or target and played only one snap on offense in Sunday's 33-17 loss to the Cowboys in Week 1.

There had been some uncertainty as to how the backfield depth chart behind Jerome Ford (57 snaps) would shake out, and it didn't tilt toward Foreman in the season opener. Pierre Strong (18) was the primary backup behind Ford, but that could be due to the personnel packages used by the Browns after they fell behind early. In a closer contest, perhaps there would be a bigger role for Foreman, especially if Cleveland has a late lead and wants to grind down the clock.

Dowdle carried the ball eight times for 26 yards in Sunday's 33-17 win over the Browns. He added one reception for six yards.

Ezekiel Elliott was on the field first for Dallas, though he way gave way to Dowdle for the second possession, and the duo alternated for the rest of the game. Dowdle's statistical output was poor, though he did have the team's only double-digit gain on the ground from a running back on the day. The Cowboys will presumably be willing to shift the touch allocation to the more effective back at some point in the campaign, and Elliott appears to have the leg up after Week 1.