NFL Player News
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Jaydon Blue RB | DAL
Cowboys' Jaydon Blue: Not playing Week 16
Blue (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Chargers, Joe Hoyt of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Blue has not played since Week 8, and that trend will continue Sunday as the Cowboys go with Javonte Williams and Malik Davis as the two active running backs. The Cowboys were eliminated from playoff contention following the Eagles' 29-18 win over the Commanders on Saturday, so it's possible that Blue gets some run time during the final two games of the regular season.
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Hunter Luepke RB | DAL
Cowboys' Hunter Luepke: Clears concussion protocol
Luepke (concussion) is active for Sunday's game against the Chargers.
Luepke increased his practice participation over the course of Week 16 prep, and he has progressed enough to clear the league's concussion protocol and be available for Sunday's home tilt. The third-year fullback turned five touches into 30 yards during the Cowboys' Week 15 loss to the Vikings before leaving the game after sustaining a concussion.
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Dameon Pierce RB | KC
Chiefs' Dameon Pierce: Inactive for Week 16
Pierce (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Titans, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.
Pierce was signed to the Chiefs' active roster Saturday but will not suit up for Sunday's road tilt, as Kansas City rolls with a three-man backfield in Kareem Hunt, Isiah Pacheco and Brashard Smith. Pierce's next opportunity to play is Christmas Day against the Broncos.
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Tank Bigsby RB | PHI
Eagles' Tank Bigsby: Gets into end zone Saturday
Bigsby logged four rushes for 37 yards and a touchdown Saturday in a 29-18 Week 16 win over Washington.
As usual, Saquon Barkley was a workhorse for the Eagles, posting a 21-132-1 line as a rusher. That left just eight offensive snaps for Bigsby, but he made the most of those opportunities, especially when he ripped off a 22-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter to effectively seal the win for Philadelphia. The touchdown was the first of the campaign for Bigsby, who has averaged a robust 6.6 yards on 40 carries this season but isn't likely to be a viable fantasy play as long as Barkley as healthy.
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Jeremy McNichols RB | WAS
Commanders' Jeremy McNichols: Logs three touches in Week 16 loss
McNichols finished Saturday's loss to Philadelphia with one carry for three yards and two catches (on three targets) for nine yards.
McNichols posted a season-high 10 touches versus the Giants in Week 15, but that increased workload was largely due to the absence of No. 1 RB Chris Rodriguez. With both Rodriguez and No. 2 tailback Jacory Croskey-Merritt in action Saturday, McNichols went back to his usual minor role, though he did get more offensive snaps (15) than Croskey-Merritt (11). As long as at least one of the two running backs ahead of him on the depth chart is healthy, McNichols figures to be mostly a non-factor in fantasy.
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Woody Marks RB | HOU
Texans' Woody Marks: Planning to play Sunday
Marks, who is officially questionable for Sunday's Week 16 matchup against the Raiders due to an ankle injury, is planning to suit up, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Marks didn't finish last Sunday's win over Arizona after hurting his ankle early in the second quarter. He didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday this week but got in a limited session Friday to give himself a chance of playing Sunday. It sounds like Marks is going to try to take the field, though his final status probably won't be shared until the Texans release their list of inactives about 90 minutes prior to the 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff. Should Marks need to sit out, Houston's backfield work could be split between veteran tailback Nick Chubb (ribs) and rookie Jawhar Jordan.
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Emanuel Wilson RB | GB
Packers' Emanuel Wilson: Highly efficient in OT loss
Wilson rushed 14 times for 82 yards and recovered a fumble in the Packers' 22-16 overtime loss to the Bears on Saturday night.
Wilson was effective throughout the night, and after Josh Jacobs lost a fumble at the Bears' three-yard line in the third quarter, the former handled the rest of Green Bay's non-quarterback rushing opportunities. Wilson's rushing yardage total was his second highest of the season, and he may have earned himself a bigger workload in next Saturday night's home showdown against the Ravens even if Jacobs is healthy enough to play through his knee and ankle injuries.
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Kyle Monangai RB | CHI
Bears' Kyle Monangai: Totals 93 yards
Monangai rushed the ball nine times for 50 yards in Saturday's 22-16 overtime win over the Packers. He added three receptions on four targets for 43 yards.
Monangai was modestly out-touched by D'Andre Swift, but the rookie was the more productive in Saturday's comeback win. Monangai delivered a few particularly impactful plays, highlighted by a 34-yard catch and run on a screen pass to set up a field goal for the Bears. His longest rushes went for 13 and 11 yards, the latter of which converted a third down and set up Caleb Williams' game-winning throw. Monangai has double-digit touches in six consecutive games while splitting the backfield with Swift, and the former has reached 90 yards from scrimmage twice in that span.
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Nick Chubb RB | HOU
Texans' Nick Chubb: In line to suit up Sunday
Chubb (ribs), who is officially questionable for Sunday's game against Las Vegas, is likely to play, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Chubb missed Houston's win over Arizona last Sunday, but his absence doesn't look as though it will extend beyond that one game. His likely ability to play against the Raiders could carry significantly more weight if Woody Marks (ankle) -- who is also listed as questionable -- is unable to suit up. If Marks doesn't play, Chubb could work as the Texans' lead back, though Jawhar Jordan may have earned a sizable role of his own after a 15-carry, 101-yard performance in his NFL debut last Sunday. Even if Marks manages to take the field, Chubb and Jordan could factor into the game plan more than usual given the former's ankle issue, as well as a potential blowout script versus the 2-12 Raiders.
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D'Andre Swift RB | CHI
Bears' D'Andre Swift: Quiet showing in OT win
Swift rushed the ball 13 times for 58 yards in Saturday's 22-16 overtime win over the Packers. He added two receptions on two targets for 12 yards.
Swift maintained a modest edge as the Bears' lead back, totaling 15 touches to 12 for Kyle Monangai. The former's longest gain from scrimmage went for only nine yards, though he still managed a relatively efficient performance in a tough matchup. The Bears were forced into an atypically pass-heavy offensive approach, which led to modest individual numbers in the rushing game and Swift's lowest yardage output since Week 12.