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LeShun Daniels RB | NE
LeShun Daniels: Released from Chargers' practice squad
The Chargers released Daniels from their practice squad Monday.
Daniels found his way to the Chargers' practice squad last week after failing to secure a spot with the Patriots during camp. The undrafted rookie from Iowa will now be forced to look for a new opportunity.
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Matt Jones RB | WAS
Colts' Matt Jones: Inactive Monday
Jones will not participate in Monday's game against the Titans as the result of a coach's decision.
Jones, who was inactive last week with a knee issue, was able to log full practices throughout the week. Thus, given the full health of Frank Gore, Marlon Mack, and Robert Turbin, it is likely that Jones is just receiving a healthy scratch.
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Zach Zenner RB | NO
Lions' Zach Zenner: Lays goose egg in New Orleans
Zenner rushed once for zero yards and failed to catch his lone target during Sunday's 52-38 loss to the Saints.
With the Lions down big from the get-go, Zenner saw minimal playing time on offense Sunday and was largely contained to special teams. Since he wasn't able to steal any touchdowns away from starter Ameer Abdullah, Zenner's fantasy value was predictably non-existent. Zenner's situation won't get any better if Dwayne Washington (quad) is able to return after the Lions' bye in Week 7. In fact, Zenner could revert back to being a regular game-day inactive if Washington is able to prove his nagging injury is behind him.
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Latavius Murray RB | BUF
Vikings' Latavius Murray: Should stay involved
Vikings coach Mike Zimmer hinted that Murray will continue to have a significant role, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
The wide gulf between Murray's production and Jerick McKinnon's has led to some speculation that the former Raider could essentially fall out of the offensive game plan. The Vikings seemingly aren't quite ready to take that step, but Murray needs to improve quickly or else the team won't have much choice. He's gained only 80 yards on 30 touches (three catches) in two games since Dalvin Cook (knee) suffered a season-ending knee injury, while McKinnon has piled up 245 yards and three touchdowns on 43 touches (11 catches). However, McKinnon has fumbled three times the past three weeks, after making it through the first 45 games of his career without a single fumble. His robust production nonetheless figures to outweigh the statistical oddity when the team evaluates its backfield, particularly if McKinnon stays hot in Sunday's matchup with the Ravens. Anyway you slice it, Murray is in danger of seeing his role reduced in the coming weeks.
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Rob Kelley RB | NO
Redskins' Rob Kelley: Returning to practice
Kelley (ankle) will resume practicing this week.
Despite having a Week 5 bye to heal, Kelley failed to practice in any capacity last week. A return to the practice field doesn't ensure he'll be ready for Sunday's game in Philadelphia, but it's at least a step in the right direction. Kelley will have an extra day to get ready with the Redskins playing on Monday Night Football, facing an Eagles defense that has limited running backs to 2.9 yards per carry this season.
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Austin Ekeler RB | WAS
Chargers' Austin Ekeler: Little impact in win
Ekeler carried the ball once for one yard and also recorded one catch for eight yards in Sunday's 17-16 win over the Raiders.
It was the Melvin Gordon Show on Sunday, as the star running back ran rampant over the Raiders defense to the tune of 150 total yards and two touchdowns. As a result, Ekeler saw very little action, totaling just seven snaps on offense. So long as Branden Oliver (hamstring) remains out, Ekeler is the prime handcuff to Gordon.
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Jerick McKinnon RB | KC
Vikings' Jerick McKinnon: Struggling with fumbles
McKinnon has been struggling with ball security, fumbling three times (losing two) over the past three games, ESPN.com's Courtney Cronin reports. "I've had two contact fumbles and it's been eating me alive," McKinnon said. "I just have to deal with it. It's not a problem. I just have to fix it, and that's it. I've never had an issue with it. I just have to do better in those situations."
This would be more of a concern if not for the fact that McKinnon had previously never fumbled in his four-year career. He's vastly outproduced Latavius Murray in two games since Dalvin Cook (knee) went down for the season, piling up 164 rushing yards (5.1 per carry), 81 receiving yards (7.4 per catch) and three total touchdowns. Murray did get 16 touches on 33 snaps in Sunday's 23-10 win over the Packers, but his role likely will be reduced if McKinnon keeps piling up yards without losing any more fumbles. The Vikings face a slumping Baltimore run defense in Week 7, setting McKinnon up for another solid performance.
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Jacquizz Rodgers RB | NO
Buccaneers' Jacquizz Rodgers: Minimally involved again
Rodgers rushed just three times for one yard and brought in his only target for six yards in Sunday's 38-33 loss to the Cardinals.
The seven-year veteran was rendered irrelevant for the second time in as many contests since Doug Martin's return from suspension. Rodgers has logged just six carries and a pair of receptions over that span, although Sunday's reduced involvement was undeniably at least partly due to the fact the Bucs were playing catch-up for the entirety of the game. However, it appears clear that head coach Dirk Koetter sees Martin as his top back under normal circumstances, as the Week 5 division of labor in a competitive game versus the Patriots attests. Rodgers' value has therefore taken a significant hit until further notice.
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D'Onta Foreman RB | CLE
Texans' D'Onta Foreman: Leads team in rushing
Foreman rushed 12 times for a team-high 59 yards in Sunday's 33-17 win over the Browns.
Foreman nearly had his first NFL touchdown but was shoved out of bounds at the one-yard line after a 39-yard burst. Other than that big run, the rookie running back was held in check (1.8 YPC). In all three of Houston's wins this season, Foreman has notably logged double-digit carries. He's not yet ready to steal the top job from Lamar Miller, but the two could become a two-man backfield tandem over the final 10 games of the season. After a bye week, Foreman and the Texans are on the road to play the Seahawks, who currently rank 26th against the rush.
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Shane Vereen RB | NO
Giants' Shane Vereen: Quiet in team's first win
Vereen had one carry for four yards but did not receive a single target all game in Denver during Sunday night's 23-10 win.
With the Broncos favored by 13 points before kickoff, this figured to be a game flow favorable to Vereen, but the Giants not only had the lead all game, they ran effectively behind Orleans Darkwa. Vereen is still the team's third-down back, and the Giants still lack playmakers out wide, so he's likely to produce in games where the team finds itself at a deficit, and Sunday's performance notwithstanding, those games are coming.