NFL Player News
-
Cam Akers RB | SEA
Seahawks' Cam Akers: Could get opportunity vs. Rams
Akers may be elevated to the active roster for Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the Rams as a result of Zach Charbonnet being lost for the remainder of the postseason due to a torn ACL, per Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic.
Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker took on the vast majority of the work out of Seattle's backfield during the regular season, joining forces in a near-even offensive snap split. However, Walker figures to now log more of a workhorse role with Charbonnet out of the picture. George Holani (hamstring) remains on IR, so backup duties behind Walker seem likely to fall to Akers and/or Velus Jones. Jones was elevated for Saturday's win over San Francisco and could get the first crack at backing up Walker, though Jones produced just 10 yards on six carries in that contest and has recorded a grand total of just seven carries for 43 yards over the past two regular seasons. Akers, meanwhile, hasn't logged a carry since Week 3 (when he was still with the Vikings), but he has much more experience than Jones and has seven career postseason games (including five starts) under his belt, over which he's posted a 118-432-2 rushing line and 11-127-0 receiving line.
-
Velus Jones Jr. RB | SEA
Seahawks' Velus Jones: May be headed for larger role
Jones could take on an elevated role in Seattle's backfield after Zach Charbonnet suffered an ACL tear in Saturday's divisional-round win over San Francisco, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports.
Charbonnet's postseason is over due to the injury, leaving Kenneth Walker alone atop the Seahawks' RB pecking order. The duo of Walker and Charbonnet consistently shared the backfield in a near-even split during the regular season, but chances are Walker will be tasked with taking a higher percentage of handoffs with Charbonnet out of the picture. Nonetheless, there's now an opportunity for another RB to make an impact as Walker's backup, and Jones certainly figures to be in the mix. He was elevated ahead of Saturday's victory and served as the team's third RB against the 49ers, carrying six times for 10 yards. It was just the second time this season that Jones logged any carries during a contest, but the only other healthy running back currently on Seattle's roster or practice squad is Cam Akers.
-
J.K. Dobbins RB | DEN
Broncos' J.K. Dobbins: Practice window to open
The Broncos are expected to designate Dobbins (foot) for return from IR in preparation for the AFC Championship Game against the Patriots on Sunday, Luca Evans of The Denver Post reports.
Dobbins may not officially take the practice field until Wednesday, but it appears the veteran running back has a legitimate chance to be cleared for a return to action in time for Sunday's playoff matchup. He was spotted working on a side field last Wednesday, which was his first on-field work of any kind since he suffered a left Lisfranc injury Week 10. Of course, Dobbins may have to prove he's capable of handling full practice reps before being cleared to return to the lineup. If Dobbins does manage to get back on the field in time to face New England, he'll rejoin RJ Harvey, Jaleel McLaughlin and Tyler Badie in a rushing attack that figures to be increasingly featured with Bo Nix (ankle) having suffered a season-ending injury in the divisional round, leaving Jarrett Stidham to start this weekend.
-
Brian Robinson Jr. RB | SF
49ers' Brian Robinson: Role marginalized in playoffs
Robinson had three carries for four yards and one reception for three yards in Saturday's 41-6 playoff loss to the Seahawks.
Robinson was able to get involved in the offensive game plan in the divisional round after garnering no touches across seven offensive snaps (12 percent) in San Francisco's wild-card win over the Eagles. The power back was traded to the 49ers last August and offered a true change of pace to Christian McCaffrey's electric running style. Robinson finished the regular season with a 92-400-2 rushing line while appearing in 17 contests behind McCaffrey. The 26-year-old Robinson will become an unrestricted free agent this offseason and should have no problem finding work after averaging 4.1 YPC across four seasons as a pro.
-
Zach Charbonnet RB | SEA
Seahawks' Zach Charbonnet: Reportedly recovering from ACL tear
Charbonnet likely suffered a season-ending ACL tear during Saturday's 41-6 NFC divisional-round win over the 49ers, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports.
Charbonnet rushed five times for 20 yards versus San Francisco before being forced out with a knee injury in the second quarter, paving the way for Kenneth Walker to take over as the unquestioned No. 1 backfield option for Seattle and rush 19 times for 116 yards and three scores. Head coach Mike Macdonald said Monday that Charbonnet's injury is significant, will require surgery and leaves him facing "a long road to come back," per Adam Schefter of ESPN. The timing of Charbonnet's injury will not only cause him to miss the remainder of the Seahawk's postseason run but likely the entire offseason and the beginning of the 2026 regular season. He led the team with 12 touchdowns (all rushing) across 16 regular-season appearances in 2025 and finished second on the team with 730 yards on 184 carries behind Walker. Those statistics all represent career-high marks for Charbonnet, and he additionally secured 20 of 24 targets for 144 yards.
-
Kenneth Walker III RB | SEA
Seahawks' Kenneth Walker: Alone atop backfield
Walker is positioned as the Seahawks' clear backfield leader after head coach Mike Macdonald said Monday that Zach Charbonnet (knee) suffered a season-ending injury during Saturday's divisional-round win over the 49ers, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Walker opened Saturday's 41-6 postseason win over San Francisco handling his usual backfield split with Charbonnet. After Charbonnet was forced out in the second quarter due to what's now been revealed as a significant knee injury that will require surgery, Walker stepped into an expanded role and finished the day with 19 carries for 116 yards and three touchdowns, while also securing all three of his targets for 29 yards. Practice-squad elevation Velus Jones rushed six times for 10 yards, and both he and Cam Akers will be candidates to join the active roster and provide depth behind Walker during the NFC Championship Game against the Rams on Sunday. With Charbonnet out for the playoffs, Walker appears locked in for a workhorse role this weekend.
-
Zach Charbonnet RB | SEA
Seahawks' Zach Charbonnet: Out for playoffs with knee injury
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said Monday that Charbonnet (knee) will miss the remainder of the postseason due to a significant injury suffered during Saturday's NFC divisional-round win over the 49ers, Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic reports.
Macdonald confirmed that Charbonnet's injury will require surgery, and, per Adam Schefter of ESPN, he said the running back will have "a long road to come back." Kenneth Walker, who rushed for 116 yards and three touchdowns versus San Francisco, will operate as Seattle's clear backfield leader beginning Sunday versus the Rams in the NFC Championship Game, while Cam Akers and Velus Jones will be candidates to come off the practice squad and contribute in depth roles.
-
Ray Davis RB | BUF
Bills' Ray Davis: Pair of grabs in loss to Denver
Davis secured both of his targets for 33 yards during Buffalo's 33-30 divisional-round overtime loss to the Broncos on Saturday.
Davis also recorded five kickoff returns for 130 yards versus Denver, but he didn't get a carry. The 2024 fourth-round pick earned first-team All-Pro honors as a kick returner in his sophomore season, but he took a step backward on offense, working behind both James Cook and Ty Johnson out of the backfield during the 2025 campaign. Across 17 regular-season appearances, Davis carried the ball 58 times for 275 yards and zero scores while also securing 10 of 13 targets for 86 yards. Of those totals, 151 of Davis' rushing yards came in a meaningless Week 18 win over the Jets in which Cook took a seat after the second offensive snap. Cook, Johnson and Davis all remain under contract with the Bills for 2026.
-
Blake Corum RB | LAR
Rams' Blake Corum: Falls out of favor Sunday
Corum rushed six times for 19 yards and did not receive a target in Sunday's 20-17 overtime win against the Bears.
Lead back Kyren Williams (21-87-2) stole the show on offense while Corum struggled to get off the ground in Sunday's playoff victory. Corum had registered double-digit carries in five of Los Angeles' previous six contests dating back to Week 14 of the regular season, so this unusual dip in usage may have been matchup-related. Given recent trends, it wouldn't be surprising to see Corum resume splitting backfield work with Williams as the Rams prepare to face the Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game next Sunday.
-
Kyle Monangai RB | CHI
Bears' Kyle Monangai: Inefficient with 13 carries Sunday
Monangai rushed 13 times for 36 yards while hauling in all four of his targets for 36 yards in Sunday's 20-17 overtime loss to the Rams in the divisional round.
Monangai struggled to gain traction in Sunday's snowy playoff loss (2.8 YPC), but his solid effort as a receiver helped buoy his fantasy score. D'Andre Swift (19-76-0) had the superior day on the ground, but neither back was able to hit pay dirt as Chicago's 2025 campaign comes to a close. The seventh-round rookie broke onto the scene as a change-of-pace back behind Swift to begin the year, carving out a significant role on offense while finishing the regular season with a 169-783-5 rushing line across 17 appearances. Swift and Monangai should continue working in tandem out of the gates in 2026, with the latter possessing tantalizing upside in fantasy for his upcoming sophomore season.