NFL Player News
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Kene Nwangwu RB | NYJ
Vikings' Kene Nwangwu: Minimal role in win
Nwangwu rushed two times for nine yards in Sunday's 27-19 win over the Saints.
Nwangwu's two rushing attempts were his first carries of the season, as Sunday's game was only his second appearance as a member of the active roster in the 2023 campaign. Though the veteran hasn't been a factor for the Vikings this season, he could see a slight increase in opportunities in Week 11 if starting running back Alexander Mattison misses time due to a concussion. With that said, Nwangwu would likely play behind Ty Chandler, who proved to be an effective option out of the backfield against the Saints. The 25-year-old Nwangwu will look to make the most of his opportunities if called upon to be the No. 2 back when the Vikings visit the Broncos in Week 11.
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Justice Hill RB | BAL
Ravens' Justice Hill: Handles two carries in loss
Hill rushed two times for seven yards and wasn't targeted in Sunday's 33-31 loss to the Browns.
Hill played just 14 of the Ravens' 54 offensive snaps Sunday, while Gus Edwards played 28 snaps and rookie Keaton Mitchell played 13 snaps in the contest. The veteran's two rushing attempts and seven yards were his lowest in both categories for the season, while Mitchell continued to show that he should earn more playing time as an explosive playmaker. Going forward, Hill could continue to cede snaps and touches to the rookie, further limiting his potential for consistent production. The 26-year-old will be difficult to trust for fantasy purposes when the Ravens host the Bengals in Week 11.
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Israel Abanikanda RB | DAL
Jets' Israel Abanikanda: Taking over as No. 3 back
Abanikanda now sits third on the Jets' depth chart at running back after the team waived Michael Carter on Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Carter had served as the Jets' third-down running back for most of the season, handling about a quarter of the team's snap on offense through the first nine games while playing behind Breece Hall and Dalvin Cook. While Carter's departure may open up a few extra snaps for Cook, it also paves the way for Abanikanda -- who has been inactive for all nine games to date -- to suit up for the first time in his NFL career. The rookie fifth-round pick out of Pittsburgh rushed for 1,431 yards and 20 touchdowns during his final season of college, but he saw limited involvement in the passing game (12-146-1 receiving line on 20 targets). Given that Hall and Cook are proven pass catchers, and Hall is a uniquely effective rusher, Abanikanda may not have a defined role in the game plan this Sunday at Buffalo.
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Michael Carter RB | TEN
Michael Carter: Cut loose by Jets
The Jets waived Carter on Tuesday, Ethan Greenberg of the team's official site reports.
Carter accounted for 964 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns over 14 games as a rookie in 2021, but his role has declined in the subsequent two seasons after the Jets drafted a franchise back in Breece Hall and then brought in a high-profile free agent in Dalvin Cook this offseason. While serving as the Jets' No. 3 option, Carter has eight carries for 38 yards to go with 15 catches for 48 yards over nine games in 2023. His lack of efficiency as the team's third-down back appears to be the impetus for the Jets to move on from him and open up opportunities for rookie fifth-round pick Israel Abanikanda, who had yet to make his NFL debut.
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Craig Reynolds RB | NE
Lions' Craig Reynolds: Returns to small offensive role
Reynolds logged three offensive snaps during Sunday's win over the Chargers.
With David Montgomery back in action, Reynolds returned to logging more than half of the available snaps on specials teams, just as he had when Montgomery was healthy early in the season. This arrangement presumably won't change as long as Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs stay healthy.
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Nick Chubb RB | HOU
Browns' Nick Chubb: Gets ACL repaired
The Browns announced Tuesday that Chubb underwent a successful surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee.
The procedure was Chubb's second since he suffered the season-ending knee injury in the Browns' 26-22 loss to the Steelers on Sept. 18. He had his first surgery Sept. 29 on his meniscus and MCL, but under the recommendation of doctors, he waited another six weeks before addressing the torn ACL. Chubb is without an official timeline to return to football activities, but the Browns previously relayed after the first surgery that the running back is expected to be available for game action at some point during the 2024 season. Jerome Ford has taken over as the Browns' primary option out of the backfield while Chubb has been sidelined, with Kareem Hunt and Pierre Strong serving as change-of-pace options behind Ford.
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Latavius Murray RB | BUF
Bills' Latavius Murray: Strong showing in tough loss
Murray carried nine times for 68 yards and a score while catching two balls on three targets for one yard in Monday's 24-22 loss to the Broncos.
The touchdown was Murray's first since Week 3, while the rushing yardage was a season high. He was the beneficiary of teammate James Cook's sudden fumbling issues Monday, and the 33-year-old Murray ran aggressively while bringing energy to a stagnant offense while Cook stood on the sideline in the doghouse. The younger RB redeemed himself later in the game and finished with 109 rushing yards, but the performance by Murray was probably enough to keep him comfortably in the No. 2 seat while Damien Harris is on IR (concussion) and Leonard Fournette remains on the practice squad.
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Cordarrelle Patterson RB | PIT
Falcons' Cordarrelle Patterson: Modest role in loss
Patterson rushed three times for 13 yards and caught both of his targets for seven yards during Sunday's 25-23 loss to Arizona.
Patterson's five offensive touches were the second most he's garnered this season and the most he's seen when both Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier are healthy. Atlanta leaned heavily on the run Sunday, as Taylor Heinicke (hamstring) and Desmond Ridder combined to throw for less than 100 yards during the loss. While Patterson's increased workload is something to note, the veteran still isn't handling a large enough role to warrant attention in standard fantasy leagues.
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Jaleel McLaughlin RB | DEN
Broncos' Jaleel McLaughlin: Eight touches in win
McLaughlin rushed six times for eight yards and caught both of his targets for four yards in Monday's 24-22 win over the Bills.
McLaughlin failed to get much going Monday, as the rookie struggled to find running room while playing just 11 of the Broncos' 75 offensive snaps. Meanwhile, starter Javonte Williams continued to see his role grow as the featured back, handling 21 rushing attempts and seeing four targets. With Williams operating as a workhorse, McLaughlin is unlikely to earn enough opportunities to maintain fantasy relevance. The 23-year-old does, however, hold value as a solid insurance policy if Williams were to miss time due to injury. McLaughlin and the Broncos are set to host the Vikings in Week 11.
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Devine Ozigbo RB | DET
Devine Ozigbo: Gets let go
Ozigbo was cut from the Lions' practice squad Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Ozigbo has bounced between the active roster and practice squad for Detroit since joining them in September. He saw action in three games, earning three carries for five yards and a catch on his lone target for an additional eight yards.