NFL Player News

Chargers featured back Ryan Mathews remains out after leaving the game Sunday against Kansas City with a hamstring injury. He did not participate in Wednesday practice.

He did, however, make an appearance for a charity event and showed no noticeable limp, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune, which added that Mike McCoy said Mathews' hamstring was fine.

Cardinals running back Andre Ellington has two games with 50 or more rushing yards in his last three. He has two touchdowns on the season and has one big game with over 100 yards (which occurred in Week 8, when Rashard Mendenhall was inactive).

Ellington has breakout potential, but with Mendenhall getting about 12 carries per game, Ellington is stuck on the slightly-bad side of a timeshare. A long run or two isn't out of the question, but Mendenhall looks like he'll be the one called on to score, while Ellington has just one rushing touchdown this season in a game which Mendenhall was active.

Week 13 brings a matchup against the Eagles, who are pretty much league average against the run. So going into the game expecting about 10 carries for 40-50 yards from Ellington seems reasonable. Throw in a handful of yards on two receptions (he's had two in each of the last five games), and you have a typical Ellington week. With byes now behind us, that may not be enough to get him into most starting lineups.

Darren McFadden, who has apparently lost his featured back status with the Raiders, has been deemed questionable for Thursday in Dallas with a hamstring problem that has kept him out for the last three games. He will see limited action behind Rashad Jennings if he is active.

Rams running back Benny Cunningham could be a sneaky play heading into Sunday's showdown at San Francisco in Week 13.

Cunningham stepped up in place of an injured Zac Stacy (head) and reached a new career high with 109 rushing yards on 13 carries and a touchdown. Fantasy owners will have to monitor Stacy's status in the next few days. If he does not pass a series of league-mandated tests, then Cunningham will likely get the starting nod on Sunday.

If he starts, Cunningham would be facing a San Francisco defense that has allowed 103.5 yards per game on the ground, which is the 12th fewest allowed in the league. Opposing running backs have scored 16.91 Fantasy points per game this season against the 49ers. Stacy owners should be rushing to scoop him up from the waiver wire. Consider Cunningham as a decent flex option for Week 13.

Raiders offensive coordinator Greg Olson said Tuesday the team intends to roll with "the hot hand" in running back Rashad Jennings, even though Darren McFadden is on track to return Thursday at Dallas (Week 13). Olson added, however, McFadden will get his touches in his return from a hamstring injury.

Dolphins rookie running back Mike Gillislee has been inactive all season waiting for his chance to get onto the gameday roster. Well, Gillislee is about to get his opportunity with running back Daniel Thomas sidelined by an ankle injury.

"It gave me an opportunity to grow and become a pro," Gillislee said of watching from the sidelines this year, per ESPN. "Just by me watching, it made me hungrier and ready to take advantage of this opportunity that I’ve been given."

It's uncertain what role Gillislee might play Sunday against the Jets, but the Dolphins have used a two-back system with Thomas and Lamar Miller, so Gillislee could be immediately thrown into the mix.

"I’ve been ready to go," Gillislee said about Sunday’s game. "I’m ready to go now. But until I put those pads on, that’s when I’m really ready."

Raiders coach Dennis Allen said following Tuesday's practice running back Darren McFadden, who has missed the last three games with a hamstring injury, is in line to play Thursday at Dallas (Week 13), according to CSN California.

Raiders running back Darren McFadden (hamstring) was able to practice Tuesday, which could be a sign he's ready to return Thursday (Week 13) at Dallas. McFadden has missed the last three games.

Will he play or won't he play Week 13 at Dallas? That is the question surrounding the status of Raiders running back Darren McFadden, who has been inactive the last three games with a hamstring injury.

Even if McFadden plays, another question about how many reps he gets on offense looms as well. You have to think with how effective Rashad Jennings has been in McFadden's absence that he will still be the featured back Thursday and Oakland will ease McFadden into the mix. It's a shame too since Week 13 would be an ideal time to start McFadden, if he was 100 percent.

Dallas has had trouble stopping running backs all season, but the Cowboys have been especially bad since Sean Lee hurt his hamstring Week 10. In the last two games against Dallas, running backs are averaging 223 rushing yards and 63 receiving yards per game. 

For the season, running backs average 22.6 Fantasy points per week, which is the highest average. Running backs also average 115.8 rushing yards and 58.3 receiving yards per game, while totaling 13 touchdowns (eight rushing) in 11 games.

If McFadden plays, you might be tempted to start him because of the matchup, but it's still a risky call because you don't know how many snaps he will get.

Dolphins running back Daniel Thomas might not be out for the rest of the season after all, according to USA Today. Though the initial report was Thomas isn't likely to play again this season after suffering a torn ligament in his left ankle Sunday, USA Today reports Thomas has a severe high ankle sprain, but he hopes to be back in a few weeks.