NFL Player News

The Dolphins have placed 10 players on their Friday injury report, but only running back Daniel Thomas (ankle) is questionable for the critical battle against the Jets. The others are probable, including quarterback Ryan Tannehill (knee). Brian Hartline (knee) and Marlon Moore (wrist).

The defensive probables are defensive backs Jamar Taylor (hamstring), Don Jones (elbow/abdomen) and Chris Clemons (knee/hamstring), linebacker Koa Misi (triceps) and tackles Jared Odrick (wrist) and Paul Soliai (ankle).

Falcons RB Jacquizz Rodgers and LB Sean Weatherspoon have been ruled out Week 17.

Rodgers has been unable to come back from a concussion. Weatherspoon is dealing with a knee injury, and has not practiced this week.

Vikings WR Cordarrelle Patterson is probable Week 17.

Patterson is dealing with a chest injury, but he's been able to practice in full Thursday and Friday. Patterson has scored in four straight games, and will be looking to make it a fifth Week 17.

Vikings running back Matt Asiata is probable Week 17.

Asiata is dealing with an ankle injury, but was able to fully participate in practice Friday. Adrian Peterson is doubtful and Toby Gerhart is out, so Asiata could see a big chunk of the workload Week 17.

Chargers featured back Ryan Mathews practiced Friday for the first time this week, the San Diego Union-Tribune has reported, but his ankle was heavily taped. He has yet to miss a game this season. His status for Sunday against Kansas City has yet to be clarified.

Titans running back Chris Johnson has his sights set on the 1,000-yard mark in Week 17, and he will be trying to reach the milestone against a team he has torched in the past. The Titans face the Texans this Sunday, in the season finale.

Johnson needs 50 yards on the ground this Sunday to get to 1,000 for the sixth time in six years. Given his track record against Houston, that seems likely; he has reached that total nine times in 11 career games against them, including on a 96-yard day in Week 2 this season.

The Texans have allowed 100-plus yards on the ground to running backs in six of the last season games, and are giving up 17.8 Fantasy points per game. Consider him a solid starting option for Week 17.   

Texans running back Jonathan Grimes is expected to step into the starting lineup in Week 17 against the Titans, thanks to a number of injuries in the team's backfield.

Grimes, an undrafted free-agent out of College of William & Mary,  enters the week with just 29 rushing yards to his name at the NFL level. He rushed the ball five times for 23 yards last week, in his first action of the season. Though he is a total unknown, Grimes may actually find some room to succeed this week, against a vulnerable Titans defense.

The Titans have allowed 19 touchdowns by opposing running backs this season, along with 151.3 all-purpose yards per game. As a result, they are surrendering 21.2 Fantasy points per game to running backs, the fourth-worst total in the league.

Grimes has no track record of success at the NFL, so starting him represents a total roll of the dice. Still, he might surprise given such a solid matchup. 

The Dolphins haven't gotten much from the running game recently, as Daniel Thomas and Lamar Miller combined for just 14 yards in Week 16. Neither player is likely to have much success in Week 17's finale against the Jets either, as New York rates out as one of the best teams in the league against the run.

The last time the Dolphins and Jets faced off, Thomas was out with an ankle injury, and Miller managed to rush for just 3.3 yards per carry on 22 attempts. That isn't atypical for Jets' opponents, who average just 3.2 yards per carry for the season. Opposing running backs are averaging just 13.3 Fantasy points per game against the Jets.

Neither Dolphins' running back has been particularly reliable this season. Miller is likely to get a bigger role than Thomas, but both are just low-end Fantasy options for Week 17.  

Cardinals running backs Andre Ellington and Rashard Mendenhall could have some issues in a difficult matchup against the 49ers at home in Week 17.

Ellington had 15 carries for 64 yards (4.3 yards per carry) in Week 16 against Seattle. He has 109 carries for 622 yards and three touchdowns on the ground this season. Mendenhall had 21 carries for 63 yards (3.0 yards per carry) against Seattle and has seen the bulk of the opportunities in the red zone. He has 207 carries for 640 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground this season.

Both running backs will tackle a stingy San Francisco defense that has allowed only 96.8 yards per game on the ground, which is the fifth fewest allowed this season. Opposing running backs have averaged 15.40 Fantasy points per game this season. Both running backs should be viewed as low-end options for Week 17.

Titans featured back Chris Johnson is open to restructuring his contract, which is set to pay him $8 million next season and has three years remaining. But he will not accept a pay cut, according to USA Today.

Johnson has struggled this year. He needs 50 yards Sunday against Houston to secure his sixth straight 1,000-yard season and 97 to avoid his career low.

"I know I am way better than trying to get 1,000 yards in my last game," he said. "But looking at the situation, is it a whole bunch of things that go into it. So I don't get too down on myself. I know when I get the ball and out in the right situation I can still do the same things."

Johnson is averaging a career-worst 3.8 YPC this season.