NFL Player News

Cardinals running back Andre Ellington, who was listed as questionable on Friday's injury report, is inactive for Week 13 at Philadelphia. Ellington missed practice Friday with a knee injury.

Rashard Mendenhall figures to get more work with Ellington sidelined, though Stepfan Taylor could also contribute.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (shoulder), wide receiver Danny Amendola (groin) and running back Shane Vereen (wrist) were all cleared to play Week 13 at Houston. All three players were listed as probable after practicing in full all week.

The Colts have demoted running back Trent Richardson in favor of Donald Brown, a source has confirmed to ESPN, which is reporting that the former will not start Sunday against Tennessee.

Richardson is averaging 2.9 YPC this season. He arrived in Indianapolis in a Week 3 trade that brought him from Cleveland for a 2014 first-round pick. He has yet to rush for more than 60 yards in a game.

The last time Titans running back Chris Johnson faced the Colts in Week 11 he was a star. He's hoping for similar success at Indianapolis in Week 13 for the rematch.

Johnson had 17 carries for 86 yards and two touchdowns against the Colts in the first meeting. He is one of nine running backs to score double digits in Fantasy points against Indianapolis, including three in a row. Only the Jaguars in Week 4 and the Texans in Week 9 have failed to have a running back reach double digits in Fantasy points.

Johnson has been up and down of late. In Week 9 and 11 he scored at least 20 Fantasy points in a standard league, but in Week 10 and 12 he scored seven points or less.

We hope this pattern holds up because then Johnson is due for a big week in this matchup. He should be considered a must-start Fantasy option in all leagues, and I like him as a Top 10 running back this week.

Colts running back Trent Richardson again has a favorable matchup in Week 13 against the Titans. But it's too risky for Fantasy owners to count on him based on his overall level of play.

Richardson only has one game this season with double digits in Fantasy points, which was Week 4. That was also the last time he scored a touchdown.

He just faced the Titans in Week 11 at Tennessee and finished with eight carries for 22 yards and five catches for 31 yards. He has not had more than 22 rushing yards in a game in his past four outings.

Tennessee has allowed 10 running backs to reach double digits in Fantasy points, including one in each of the past eight games. But that should benefit Donald Brown more than Richardson since Brown has been the better Fantasy option for the Colts.

Keep Richardson reserved in the majority of leagues, and hopefully he will string together a good game or two before the end of the season to salvage this disappointing campaign.

Cardinals running back Ryan Williams has been inactive for each game this season, and it doesn't look like his role is going to increase moving forward. A knee injury during training camp pushed Williams down the depth chart early on, and running backs coach Stump Mitchell thinks that is the reason Williams hasn't seen the field.

"Had he been able to [practice], he may have had the opportunity to be up," Mitchell told ESPN.com Saturday. "If he's up he has the opportunity to be in the ball games. He'll have that opportunity again next year."

Williams has played in just five games since being a second round pick in 2011, as a result of knee issues. He was surpassed by Andre Ellington, but still believes in his ability to be a to be a contributor down the road.

"Just like [coach Bruce Arians] said at the beginning of the season, everybody has a role on this team," Williams said. "And I think I figured my role out, and that's it, I'm just going to continue to work hard. Be the best player I can be for this team. Point blank."

Colts running back Donald Brown is hoping for a repeat performance against the Titans in Week 13 like he had at Tennessee in Week 11. We hope he can do it again.

Brown was awesome against the Titans in their first meeting when he had 14 carries for 80 yards and two touchdowns and one catch for 14 yards. He continues to outplay teammate Trent Richardson, and he could take advantage of this juicy matchup again in the rematch.

Tennessee has allowed 10 running backs to reach double digits in Fantasy points, including one in each of the past eight games. The problem is which Brown will show up. After facing Tennessee, he was limited to two carries for 1 yard and one catch for minus-2 yards against the Cardinals in Week 12.

But we like Brown's chances to shine this week, and he's worth using as a low-end No. 2 running back or flex in all scoring formats. The matchup should allow him plenty of chances to succeed.

Vikings running back Matt Asiata (shoulder) and quarterback Joe Webb (concussion) are both probable for Week 13 against the Bears, after getting through the week in practice. 

The Chargers have designated eight players as probable for the game Sunday against the Bengals, including running back Ryan Mathews and tight end Antonio Gates, both of whom are nursing hamstring injuries.

The others are wide receiver Seyi Ajirotutu (hamstring), tackle D.J. Fluker (knee), defensive ends Corey Liuget (shin) and Lawrence Guy (toe), center Nick Hardwick (neck) and long snapper Mike Windt (ankle).

Three key skill position players are listed by the Patriots as probable for their Week 13 clash against the Texans. They are wideout Danny Amendola (groin), quarterback Tom Brady (shoulder) and running back Shane Vereen (wrist).

Their other probables are linebacker Brandon Spikes (knee) and wide receiver Matthew Slater (wrist).