NFL Player News

Barner returned three kickoffs for 67 yards and ran back four punts for 32 yards in the Buccaneers' 31-27 win over the Falcons on Sunday.

The veteran played all but one of his 24 snaps on special teams, pulling double duty on returns and doing a solid job on both kickoffs and punts. Barner is expected to handle each role for the last two regular-season games, and presumably, in the postseason. However, Barner isn't expected to see any appreciable action from scrimmage unless multiple injuries strike the running backs corps.

Penny rushed twice for six yards in Sunday's 20-15 win over Washington.

After more than a year of recovery from a torn ACL, Penny made his return to the field Sunday and got his feet wet with just six snaps. The Seahawks likely will see how his body responds to the contact before ramping up his workload. The 2018 first-round pick isn't expected to take on major responsibility this year, but perhaps he can usurp Carlos Hyde as Seattle's No. 2 back by the start of the playoffs. He'll look to build on his recent progress next week against the Rams.

Edwards-Helaire (hip/ankle) is expected to miss the Chiefs' final two games of the regular season, even though X-rays conducted after Sunday's 32-29 win over the Saints came back negative for a fracture, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Edwards-Helaire was helped off the field during the fourth quarter of Sunday's game, finishing with 14 carries for 79 yards and one catch for four yards on 45 percent of offensive snaps. The team expects him to be out for at least a week or two, but the likelihood of the Chiefs earning a first-round bye improves Edwards-Helaire's odds of avoiding any absences during the playoffs. Le'Veon Bell figures to lead the K.C. backfield while the rookie is sidelined, with Darrel Williams and Darwin Thompson also candidates to get some work.

Johnson had four carries for 24 yards and returned one kickoff for 16 yards in Sunday's 20-6 win over the Giants.

Johnson had his first carries since Week 8, finishing the game on the Browns' final drive rather than risk injury to either Nick Chubb or Kareem Hunt. Since Chubb returned from an injury following a Week 9 bye, Johnson's been relegated to kick return duty.

Chubb rushed 15 times for 50 yards and a touchdown while catching both of his targets for 18 yards in Sunday's 20-6 win over the Giants.

Chubb punched in a one-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to salvage what would have been a mediocre outing in a favorable matchup (the Giants entered ranking 20th in points allowed to opposing running backs). It was the first time the star back was held under 4.0 yards per carry in a game this season (3.3), which is not surprising given that he entered the contest with a league-best mark of 5.9 yards per tote. The fact that Sunday's modest output is considered a down performance is a great indicator of the elite level Chubb has been performing at in 2020. The 24-year-old will look to break the 1,000-yard mark in rushing yards (his next start will only be his 11th of the season) when the Browns take on the AFC version of New York's football club Sunday.

Evans carried the ball eight times for 30 yards in Week 15 against the Lions. He added two receptions for 27 yards and a touchdown.

Evans was active for the first time since Week 5 after battling a hamstring injury that placed him on injured reserve. He was the only back besides Derrick Henry to earn a touch on the week, though he didn't get an offensive touch until early in the fourth quarter. Regarded as a strong pass-catching back coming out of Appalachian State, Evans excelled in that role to record his first professional touchdown.

Kamara carried the ball 11 times for 54 yards and caught three of six targets for 40 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 32-29 loss to Kansas City.

With Drew Brees back under center instead of Taysom Hill, the Saints' offensive scheme returned to normal, and Kamara hauled in his first receiving TD since Week 10 -- Brees' last appearance before injuring his ribs. No matter who's been at QB, Kamara has been productive, topping 90 combined yards in three straight games, and he's now reached 1,500 scrimmage yards on the season for the third time in his career. Kamara will look to keep rolling in Week 16's clash with a Vikings defense that just surrendered 162 yards and two touchdowns to David Montgomery.

Sanders carried 17 times for 64 yards and caught one of two targets for an additional 26 yards during Sunday's 33-26 loss to the Cardinals.

Sanders averaged just 3.8 yards per carry as his long gain for the day went for only 10 yards. He turned one of his targets into a 26-yard reception, but fantasy managers were likely left wanting more as it wound up being his only contribution of the day in that phase. Sanders was coming off his best all-around performance of the season in a win over the Saints, but he's now been held under 4.0 yards per carry three times in the last four games. Perhaps next Sunday's meeting with a beatable Cowboys run defense can help Sanders get back on track.

Edmonds carried 11 times for 47 yards while catching three of five targets for 19 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's 33-26 win over the Eagles.

Coming off a minor ankle injury, Edmonds easily out-rushed Kenyan Drake, who managed just 26 yards on 10 carries. He also garnered more targets, receptions and receiving yards while scoring his fifth touchdown of the year on a six-yard grab in the first quarter. Edmonds' superior playmaking ability in this one could earn him a few more touches next Saturday against the 49ers, but the two backs are likely to split the workload somewhat evenly.

Drake carried 10 times for 26 yards and caught both his targets for an additional 14 yards during Sunday's 33-26 win over the Eagles.

Drake managed just 2.6 yards per carry as his long gain went for just eight yards. He caught both passes thrown his way but didn't break off any big gains in that department either as he finished with just 40 scrimmage yards. Meanwhile, Chase Edmonds came through with 66 yards and a touchdown on 14 touches and split time with Drake on the most crucial drives in the second half. Drake had scored five touchdowns in the four games heading into this one and will look to bounce back next Saturday against the 49ers.