NFL Player News

Dallas rushed four times for 15 yards and caught all four of his targets for 23 yards in Sunday's 25-24 loss to the Bears. He also returned three kicks for 79 yards.

After working in a timeshare with Rashaad Penny last week and finding the end zone, the second-year back took a back seat to Penny on Sunday. Dallas ran ahead of Travis Homer, who was activated off the COVID-19 list Saturday, but it's possible Homer takes the No. 2 role once he gets a full week of practice under his belt. However, Penny looks like the clear-cut starter for the final two regular-season games either way. It's worth noting that head coach Pete Carroll made Alex Collins a healthy scratch this week, as it appears he's giving the younger running backs a chance to audition for a role in 2022.

Mack was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday.

Mack will need to clear the NFL's COVID-19 protocols before seeing action again, but with him being a healthy scratch in seven straight games, his absence should not affect any roles in the Colts' backfield.

Freeman had 12 carries for 34 yards in Sunday's 41-29 win over the Chargers.

Freeman returned to a significant role in Houston's backfield with David Johnson inactive due to a quadriceps injury. Freeman's seen decent touch volume in two of the last three weeks, but those opportunities are the result of injuries and COVID-19 issues for other backs. The Texans may want to give the 25-year-old running back some additional chances over the final two weeks of the season, with the intent of evaluating him for a potential role in 2022.

Felton returned four kickoffs for 83 yards and played four snaps on offense in Week 16's 24-22 loss to the Packers on Saturday.

Felton's playing time on offense took a hit with Jarvis Landry and Austin Hooper returning from the reserve/COVID-19 list, dropping him from a season-high 29 snaps against the Raiders in Week 15 to four against Green Bay. He did serve as the team's primary kick returner for a second straight game, however. He appears to have taken over the kick-return duties from fellow rookie Anthony Schwartz, who was active for the second consecutive game following a three-game absence due to a concussion.

Johnson had four carries for 58 yards and caught one of two targets for eight yards in Week 16's 24-22 loss to the Packers on Saturday.

Johnson's day included a huge 3rd-and-10 conversion on which he rushed 30 yards to the Green Bay five-yard line and set up the Browns' final score. He served as Nick Chubb's backup for the third consecutive game with Kareem Hunt sidelined by an ankle injury and placement on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Johnson's seen exactly five touches in all three games, and he has emerged as a competent backup with starter potential in his third NFL season. He'll never usurp the primary role from Chubb, but Johnson is averaging 5.5 yards per carry during his career and hasn't taken the number of hits that other running backs have absorbed over 47 career games.

Patterson took nine carries for 33 yards in Sunday's 56-14 loss to Dallas, playing 25 percent of snaps on offense.

The rookie got five of his nine carries in the fourth quarter, though both he and Jonathan Williams subbed in for Antonio Gibson at times before the game got completely out of hand. Gibson is playing through a toe injury and may not be at his best, but he still managed 58 total yards and a TD on only 37 percent of snaps. Any limitations over the final two weeks would set up Patterson and Williams for larger roles.

Sanders broke a bone in his hand Sunday and will need additional tests to see if he can play through the injury, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Sanders was removed from Sunday's win over the Giants in the second quarter and later left the stadium with a soft cast around his broken hand. Jordan Howard (stinger) also made an early exit, leaving Boston Scott and Kenneth Gainwell as the Eagles' healthy running backs. Scott would be the best bet for carries if both Sanders and Howard are out Week 17 against Washington.

Pollard rushed eight times for 34 yards and caught two of three targets for 16 yards in Sunday's 56-14 win over Washington.

Pollard split touches with Ezekiel Elliott as expected, but neither player registered double-digit carries after Dallas practically locked up the victory at halftime. The latter was the beneficiary of two trips to the end zone, giving Elliott the superior fantasy game. The good news for Pollard's fantasy managers was that the touches remained fairly even, keeping the home-run hitting tailback in startable range heading into an important matchup against the Cardinals next Sunday.

Gibson rushed six times for 29 yards and caught two of four targets for 29 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 56-14 blowout loss to the Cowboys.

Gibson is one of Washington's top producers, and he proved that by scoring one of just two scores his team could muster in a crushing divisional loss. The sinking Football Team hasn't been able to provide positive game scripts for its starting running back, resulting in an average of 31.3 rushing yards over his last three games. However, Gibson has managed to keep his fantasy value afloat with two scores over the last two weeks. Next week's opponent, the Philadelphia Eagles, aren't world beaters on defense, but it is worth noting that Gibson was held to a 15-26-1 rushing line when these two teams met in Week 15.

Elliott rushed nine times for 37 yards and a touchdown and caught his lone target for five yards and another score in Sunday's 56-14 win over Washington.

Elliott got the Cowboys on the board on the team's first drive of the game, and he chipped in another score in the first half before basically taking the second half off in a crooked matchup. The 26-year-old has seen his production dip in the second half of the season while battling injuries and losing some touches to Tony Pollard. Luckily for the tailback's fantasy managers, he has maintained value as a starter in standard formats by scoring four touchdowns over the last five weeks. Elliott and the rest of the Dallas offense should be plenty rested against the Cardinals next Sunday after cruising to the easy win in Week 16.