NFL Player News

Rams running back Benny Cunningham, inactive the past two games with an ankle injury, has "a pretty good chance" to return to practice this week, coach Jeff Fisher told reporters. Cunningham could be needed with starter Zac Stacy also dealing with an ankle injury.

Chargers running back Ryan Mathews heads into the Week 9 game in Washington looking for his third consecutive contest with at least 100 rushing yards. Considering San Diego is 6-1 when he rushed for over 100 yards, the Chargers will do their best to get him to that plateau against the Redskins Sunday.

Mathews should be able to reach the century mark against a rush defense that has been horrible on the season. The Redskins have allowed the third-most Fantasy points per game to RBs in the NFL this season entering Sunday's games. They have given up nine rushing touchdowns in seven games and another TD through the air to RBs.

The Redskins just allowed six catches, 89 yards and a score to Knowshon Moreno of the Broncos last week. Montee Ball scored on the ground against them. That came one week after Matt Forte rushed for 91 yards with three TDs versus Washington.

Mathews rushed for his first touchdown last week at Jacksonville and has 212 rushing yards in the last two games. Fantasy owners can consider Mathews a solid No. 2 Fantasy RB for the Week 9 game.

Dolphins running back Daniel Thomas was flying high in Week 7, carrying the ball 12 times for 60 yards and getting the starting nod over Lamar Thomas. Then Week 8 came around, and Thomas took a back seat, as Miller ran 18 times to Thomas' nine. 

While Thomas' sharp drop in carry percentage has to be disheartening for his owners, he's actually been a fairly solid option the last two weeks. He has 21 carries over the two games following Miami's bye -- as well as a 5.1 yards-per-carry average -- but he comes with significant risk, thanks to the yo-yo in playing time with Miller. 

His Week 9 opponent, the Bengals, aren't helping things. The Bengals have faced a few committees already this year -- holding the Jets' group to seven total Fantasy points in Week 8, the Bills to 14 in Week 6, and the Browns to 18 in Week 4. They've given up just three touchdowns to opposing running backs and haven't allowed any back to reach double digits (in standard formats) in Fantasy points since Week 4. 

Thomas has looked good the last two weeks, and with all the byes depleting the running back arsenals of most teams, he could be a solid, dependable 6-8 point option. Just know that there's risk here, before even factoring in a stout defensive opponent in Week 9, and plan accordingly. 

After playing in just two of the team's first eight games, 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said Tuesday he intends to get running back LaMichael James involved on offense in the second half.

"I want to get LaMichael in the mix. He is too good a football player not to be playing," Harbaugh said, per SFGate.com.

Raiders running back Darren McFadden accounted for multiple rushing touchdowns for the fifth time in his career Week 8 vs. Pittsburgh. He will look to keep the momentum going Week 9 against the Eagles.

No running back has managed multiple rushing touchdowns against Philadelphia. Though, running backs have totaled five rushing touchdowns in eight games.

After averaging 105 rushing yards in the first four games against the Eagles, running backs are averaging 70.5 rushing yards in the last four games. Finally, running backs are averaging 37.5 receiving yards and 14 Fantasy points per week, which is tied for the 10th-lowest average.

The Raiders' bye in Week 7 proved to be beneficial for McFadden. It allowed him to rest up after being hobbled by a hamstring injury earlier in the season, and coach Dennis Allen said McFadden looked "explosive" in practice. McFadden carried it over into Sunday's game and Fantasy owners surely hope he puts together another strong outing Week 9.

With six teams on byes Week 9, you better make sure you have McFadden in your Fantasy lineup.

Rams running back Daryl Richardson replaced the injured Zac Stacy late against the Seahawks and nearly was the hero. He ran four times for 22 yards on the final drive, but could not punch it in from 1 yard out on 3rd-and-goal.

Richardson finished with 39 yards on eight carries and caught an 8-yard pass. He'll play the Titans in Week 9.

Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner (ankle), running back Christine Michael (illness) and receiver Golden Tate (shoulder) are active against the Rams after being listed as probable on the injury report.

Wagner, who missed the previous two games, has 34 tackles and an interception in five games.

The Rams listed seven players as inactive for Monday's game against Seattle: quarterback Brady Quinn, running backs Isaiah Pead and Benny Cunningham (ankle), offensive linemen Barrett Jones and Mike Person, defensive tackle Matt Conrath and defensive end Gerald Rivers.

Pead is a healthy scratch and hasn't gotten a carry since Week 3.

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said Monday running back Rashard Mendenhall will likely "resume his role" once he returns from a toe injury. Though, Mendenhall will cut into Stepfan Taylor's playing time and not Andre Ellington, who rushed for 154 yards and one touchdown on 15 carries Week 8 vs. Atlanta.

Arians' plan was to get Ellington 15-20 touches Sunday. Arians said Ellington still needs to improve in pass protection.

The Vikings DST scored its fourth touchdown Week 8 thanks to explosive rookie Cordarrelle Patterson. He took the opening kickoff against Green Bay 109 yards for the score, tying for the longest return in NFL history.

After that it was all downhill for Minnesota, which did not force a punt or turnover. The Vikings were shredded for 464 total yards and 44 points, though the unit did get a pair of sacks.

The Vikings DST travels to Dallas in Week 9.