NFL Player News

Ekeler is expected to be sidelined 4-to-6 weeks due to a hamstring injury and a hyperextended knee, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that Ekeler's hamstring issue is a Grade 2 strain. The every-down back will seek a second medical opinion, but at this time it looks like he'll be placed on IR and remain sidelined until at least November. In the meantime, Joshua Kelley and Justin Jackson will handle the bulk of Los Angeles' carries.

Drake (chest) worked out without limitations Monday, indicating that he's cleared after an injury scare during Sunday's loss to the Panthers, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

The Cardinals believe Drake merely got the wind knocked out of him, so it appears he was held out as a precaution with the injury occurring in the fourth quarter. Drake is expected to be ready to play in Week 5's clash against the Jets. His performance through four weeks is a larger concern, as he's averaged 3.8 yards per carry and been targeted just five times.

Homer rushed four times for five yards and caught his lone target for a three-yard touchdown in Sunday's 31-23 win over the Dolphins.

Homer was in line for a heightened workload if Chris Carson (knee) sat out, but not only did Carson play, he showed no remnants of an injury. As a result, Homer played just 17 of 63 offensive snaps (27 percent), and rookie DeeJay Dallas nearly tied him in touches with two carries and two receptions for 23 total yards. Homer did come through with a score, but Dallas was arguably more effective during Sunday's contest. It's a small sample for the two backs, however, and both will likely be pushed to reserve roles if Carlos Hyde (shoulder) plays Week 5 against the Vikings.

Pollard carried the ball three times for 16 yards and a touchdown and caught one of two targets for 16 yards in Sunday's loss to the Browns.

The 32 scrimmage yards tied his season high, while the TD was his first of 2020. Ezekiel Elliott continues to see the bulk of the work in the Dallas backfield, but his recent difficulty holding onto the ball -- both in terms of dropped passes and fumbles -- could open the door for Pollard to get more touches going forward.

Ekeler is expected to land on IR after suffering a "serious" hamstring injury during Sunday's loss to the Buccaneers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Rapoport notes that the Chargers won't finalize any decisions until the full results of Ekeler's medical evaluation have been revealed, but at this point it would be surprising to see the do-it-all running back avoid a multi-game absence. Though Ekeler may need to spend more than the three-week minimum on IR, it looks like he's expected to make a return later during the regular season. In the meantime, Los Angeles will roll with Joshua Kelley and Justin Jackson out of the backfield, while Darius Bradwell is a likely candidate to be promoted from the practice squad.

Vaughn carried three times for four yards and brought in two of three targets for 22 yards and a touchdown in the Buccaneers' 38-31 win over the Chargers on Sunday.

The rookie logged the first five touches of his NFL career and emerged from the contest with a souvenir, as he scored the go-ahead touchdown for the Buccaneers on an early fourth-quarter nine-yard reception that he capped off by lowering his shoulder to get past the goal line. Vaughn played on 19 snaps overall (25 percent) with Leonard Fournette (ankle) sidelined for the contest and LeSean McCoy exiting Sunday's game early with an ankle injury of his own. With the Buccaneers on a short week ahead of a Thursday night road matchup against the Bears, it's possible Vaughn is called on to continue serving as Ronald Jones' primary backup for that contest.

The Browns' medical staff expects Chubb (knee) to miss roughly six weeks due to his MCL sprain, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Chubb has a history of serious knee injuries, so it's relieving to hear that he's avoided a season-ending issue after being forced out of Sunday's win over the Cowboys. Still, it now looks as though the Browns will be forced to roll with Kareem Hunt as the lead ball carrier until November. D'Ernest Johnson will be a candidate to mix in for backfield work in the meantime, and the team also could see fit to add another running back to the roster. Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports that Chubb won't need to undergo surgery to facilitate his recovery.

Coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that the results of Chubb's MRI revealed an MCL injury that will cause him to spend "several weeks" on IR, Jake Trotter of ESPN.com reports.

Chubb will be required to spend at least three weeks on injured reserve, though it sounds like the Browns could be without him for longer than that. In the meantime, Kareem Hunt will take over as the top man in Cleveland's backfield. D'Ernest Johnson, who translated 13 carries into 95 yards after Chubb was forced out of Sunday's win over the Cowboys, may also continue seeing increased touches.

McKinnon (ribs) rushed 14 times for 54 yards and a touchdown, adding 43 yards on seven receptions (eight targets) in Sunday's 25-20 loss to the Eagles.

McKinnon was dealing with a rib contusion stemming from last week's win over the Giants, but it clearly did not limit the tailback. The 28-year-old dominated the backfield touches, receiving 14 of 17 rushing attempts and eight of nine targets. It is unclear whether Raheem Mostert (knee) will be able to return against the Dolphins on Sunday, but if he remains sidelined, McKinnon will be a strong fantasy play as the starter in a soft matchup.

Sanders rushed 13 times for 46 yards and caught two passes (four targets) for 30 yards in Sunday's 25-20 win over the 49ers.

Sanders failed to reach 100 combined yards for the first time in his three starts this season. The 49ers' defense has been ravaged by injuries early on, but they remain stout against the run due to defensive line depth and talented linebackers. The positive news for Sanders' fantasy owners is that he continued to dominate the running back touches, with no other back receiving more than two carries or one reception. Another rough matchup looms in the form of the Steelers' vaunted defense Sunday, but Sanders' volume of touches should provide a high floor in terms of fantasy production.