NFL Player News

Boone appears set for a rotational depth role in Denver's backfield after the selection of Javonte Williams in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.

Boone initially seemed to be in the mix for the No. 2 role behind Melvin Gordon in Denver, at least after the team's decision to cut Phillip Lindsay, but Javonte Williams boasts the talent and draft capital to push for touches right away. On the bright side, coach Vic Fangio did say he hopes to make use of "[the Broncos'] three backs" -- Boone, Gordon and Williams -- and "get a nice flow and get a good understanding and philosophy of the system which we'll take from week to week to utilize all three of them." Even if such a rotation does come to fruition, Boone will no doubt be third in the pecking order. He'd likely need either Gordon or Williams to miss time in 2021 in order to be fantasy relevant.

The Jets claimed Walter on Thursday.

Walter, who was waived by San Francisco earlier this week, rejoins coach Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur in New York. His familiarity with the scheme could increase Walter's chances of earning a depth role with the Jets.

The 49ers waived Walter on Wednesday.

Walter had one carry for three yards and secured his lone target for 27 yards in four appearances last season. Back in 2019, he suited up for a single game for the Giants.

Harris and Sony Michel are poised to head the Patriots' backfield in 2021, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports.

Also in the mix are pass-catching back James White and fourth-round draft pick Rhamondre Stevenson, while Brandon Bolden and J.J. Taylor provide depth. From a fantasy perspective, Harris -- who finished 2020 with 137 carries for 691 yards (5.0 YPC) and two touchdowns profiles as the team's top option, but his minimal impact in the passing game hampers his utility in PPR formats. With Michel and Stevenson also in the early-down equation, Harris' week-to-week volume may fluctuate in 2021, with injuries and opponent-based game scripts also likely to emerge as important factors in determining how many touches he logs as the season rolls along.

Hill is in good position for Baltimore's No. 3 RB spot, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic.

The Ravens didn't sign any veteran running backs this offseason, nor did they use any of their eight draft picks on the position. That's probably a vote of confidence in J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards more so than Hill, but it nonetheless puts Hill in good position for the No. 3 spot, which might just be the same role he handled late last season after Mark Ingram fell out of favor. Between the final five weeks of the regular season and two playoff games, Hill saw three carries and two targets on 35 offensive snaps, mostly handling third downs. While it isn't a role that comes with any inherent fantasy value, Hill does find himself just one injury away from a shot at more work on the ground.

Felton could have to win a role in the return game to make Cleveland's regular-season roster, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.

Felton, who the Browns grabbed in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, is a running back/wide receiver combo who doesn't have a clear path to snaps in either role. It's possible that he eventually develops into a third-down or slot option, but as a rookie he could be relegated to the practice squad if he can't impress on special teams.

Gaskin remains atop Miami's backfield depth chart after the team waited until the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft to bring in competition, Cameron Wolfe of ESPN.com reports.

The Dolphins were widely considered one of the likeliest teams to invest high draft capital into a running back this year, but the team's decision to only add Gerrid Doaks with their final pick is a clear indication of confidence in Gaskin. A 2019 seventh-round pick himself, Gaskin played a near every-down role in the 10 games he was healthy last season, averaging a respectable 4.1 yards per carry despite playing behind one of the league's worst O-lines. Dynasty managers who bet on Gaskin this offseason should feel justified in patting themselves on the back, as the 24-year-old appears positioned to begin the 2021 campaign as the top option in a three-man committee, accompanied by Salvon Ahmed and veteran Malcolm Brown.

The Seahawks did not pick up the fifth-year option on Penny's rookie contract Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Penny has failed to live up to expectations since being selected in the first round of the 2018 Draft, and he was limited to just three appearances last season while recovering from a torn ACL. He figures to back up Chris Carson this season, and perhaps a bounce-back campaign from the San Diego State product will convince the Seahawks to retain him in the future, albeit at a lower price tag than Penny's fifth-year option would have entailed.

Perine (illness) could be the odd man out in the Jets' running back rotation this season, Connor Hughes of The Athletic reports.

Perine lacks the speed and quick cutting ability coveted by new offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, and the 2020 fourth-rounder is coming off a poor rookie season in which he produced just 3.6 yards per carry. New York once again used a fourth-round pick on a running back in 2021 to grab Michael Carter out of UNC, and the team also signed Tevin Coleman, who played for LaFleur in San Francisco. In order to maintain a roster spot in the crowded Jets backfield, Perine will have to beat out one or two of the aforementioned new additions or fellow holdovers Ty Johnson and Josh Adams, who both flashed more upside than Perine in limited action last season.

Second-round draft pick Javonte Williams has joined Gordon in the Broncos backfield, Ben Swanson of the team's official site reports.

The Broncos moved up five spots in the 2021 draft in order to select Williams. Per GM George Paton, Williams was "one of (the team's) favorite players in the draft" and the North Carolina product will help fill the void created by the offseason departure of Phillip Lindsay. At this stage, Gordon remains atop Denver's running back depth chart, but Williams, whose prospect profile is highlighted by his ability to run through defenders, is going to be hard to keep of the field. As a result, some form of a timeshare figures to develop once Williams gets acclimated to the pro game. Also on hand in the team's backfield are Mike Boone and Royce Freeman.