NFL Player News

Nwangwu (leg) rushed seven times for 41 yards and caught both of his targets for 18 yards in Sunday's 26-20 preseason loss to the Raiders.

Nwangwu looked crisp in his return from a minor soft-tissue injury to his leg, flashing the explosiveness that he displayed as a rookie returner last season (two kick-return touchdowns). The 24-year-old figures to have a lock on the kickoff return job in Minnesota, but he has carried over his excellent YPC totals -- albeit in smaller sample sizes -- from his time at Iowa State (5.9 YPC in his final two seasons). Nwangwu probably won't see enough playing time with the talented one-two combo of Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison ahead of him on the Vikings' running back depth chart, but there appears to be potential future fantasy goodness within this young athlete, should the opportunity arise for him to see enough touches on a per-week basis at some point this year (or with another club in the future). As for 2022, Nwangwu will have to fend off Ty Chandler (five carries for 50 yards Sunday) to keep his spot at third on the depth chart heading into the regular season.

Warren rushed six times for 34 yards while securing four of five targets for 30 yards and a touchdown during the Steelers' 32-25 preseason win over the Seahawks on Saturday.

Although Anthony McFarland started Saturday's preseason opener, Warren led the team in touches and topped 60 yards from scrimmage while also reaching the end zone. Warren has generated plenty of buzz over the first few weeks of training camp and certainly appears to be in the competition for backfield work behind starter Najee Harris with just under a month remaining until the start of the regular season.

McFarland rushed seven times for 56 yards during the Steelers' 32-25 preseason win over the Seahawks on Saturday.

McFarland made some big plays early in training camp and drew the start during Saturday's preseason opener since Najee Harris and Benny Snell (knee) didn't take the field. McFarland was on the field for 25 percent of Pittsburgh's offensive snaps and led the team in rushing yards while also returning kicks. Snell, McFarland and Jaylen Warren are competing for backfield work behind Harris ahead of the regular season.

White started Sunday's preseason game against the Vikings -- with Josh Jacobs being a healthy scratch -- rushing five times for 13 yards and catching two of three targets for four yards.

White wasn't able to replicate his strong showing from the Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 4 (75 total yards), but his status as the starter bodes well for his prospects of moving up the depth chart as a rookie. With Jacobs looking healthy for the start of the regular season, White's best-case scenario might end up being a change-of-pace/third-down role where he gets to flash his big-play ability with a handful of touches each week. For fantasy purposes, there might not be enough volume for the fourth-round pick to be a viable option early on, but he's a name to monitor, should he carve out a larger role. A clearer picture of the backfield depth chart may emerge during the Raiders' third preseason game at Miami on Saturday.

Drake rushed four times for 15 yards and caught both of his targets for 17 yards in Sunday's 26-20 preseason win over the Vikings.

Starter Josh Jacobs (rest) and veteran backup Ameer Abdullah (rest) were both held out of this contest after getting heavy work in the Hall of Fame Game last week, so rookie Zamir White started and split work with Drake. The latter looked sharp with his six touches in head coach Josh McDaniels' new offense. Drake will duke it out with the aforementioned running back options this preseason to determine the pecking order behind Jacobs. So far, it doesn't look great for the 29-year-old.

Mattison started Sunday's preseason game against the Raiders in place of Dalvin Cook (rest), finishing with three carries for eight yards and no targets in the passing game.

Cook was just being rested for the preseason game, so fantasy managers don't need to read too much into Mattison starting this contest. The fourth-year back has proven to be a reliable fantasy asset when asked to fill in for the oft-injured Cook in the past, but Mattison's role nearly vanishes when the Vikings' star is at full strength.

Penny, who is dealing with a minor groin injury, didn't play in Saturday's preseason opener against the Steelers, Gregg Bell of the Seattle News-Tribune reports.

With Penny sitting this one out, 2022 second-rounder Kenneth Walker drew the start at running back for Seattle, while Travis Homer, DeeJay Dallas and Darwin Thompson also logged carries. For now, consider Penny day-to-day ahead of Thursday night's contest against the Bears.

Williams' (foot) status for Friday's preseason game against the Texans has yet to be determined.

The Rams activated Williams from the PUP list last Monday, but he didn't appear in the preseason opener. Initially, Los Angeles didn't expect the running back to return to full practices until Week 3 of the preseason, so it's possible they'll opt to keep him sidelined from game action until then. Regardless, it doesn't appear like he suffered a setback, so there shouldn't be too much concern if he misses another exhibition contest.

Foreman rushed three times for five yards in Saturday's 23-21 preseason win over the Commanders.

Foreman entered the game behind Chuba Hubbard, who started at running back with Christian McCaffrey sitting out. Although Hubbard only carried four times for 11 yards, his competition with Foreman to serve as McCaffrey's primary backup should be worth monitoring during the preseason.

Hubbard rushed four times for 11 yards in Saturday's 23-21 preseason win over the Commanders.

Hubbard started the contest with Christian McCaffrey sitting out. Although he didn't play for long, it's notable Hubbard worked ahead of D'Onta Foreman, whose signing this offseason gives Hubbard fresh competition to back up McCaffrey. With Foreman finishing Saturday with three carries for five yards, Carolina's second-string running back competition should remain worth tracking over the exhibition slate.