NFL Player News
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Ty Johnson RB | BUF
Bills' Ty Johnson: Gets seven touches in Week 15 win
Johnson turned four carries into 13 yards and caught three passes on as many targets for 15 yards during the Bills' 35-31 win over the Patriots on Sunday.
Johnson iced the game for the Bills with a two-yard rush late in the fourth quarter, which was enough to pick up the first down and seal the win. His seven touches were a season high, and while he worked ahead of Ray Davis (one catch on as many targets for 13 yards, along with no carries), it was James Cook who predictably served as the bell-cow running back in Sunday's win. Johnson will continue to operate as a change-of-pace back when spelling Cook, so the former doesn't carry much fantasy appeal into the Bills' Week 16 tilt against the Browns on Sunday, Dec. 21.
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Quinshon Judkins RB | CLE
Browns' Quinshon Judkins: Shut down by Bears
Judkins rushed the ball 12 times for 21 yards in Sunday's 31-3 loss to the Bears. He added three receptions on four targets for minus-4 yards.
Despite the muted number of rushing attempts, Judkins continued to lead the Browns' backfield. However, he found running room scarce, with his longest gain of the day going for only four yards. Judkins has now been held below 50 rushing yards in three of his last four games, all of which have been with Shedeur Sanders under center.
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Jaydon Blue RB | DAL
Cowboys' Jaydon Blue: Healthy scratch Week 15
Blue (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Vikings.
The rookie fifth-rounder hasn't played since Week 8 against the Broncos, and his absence will extend to six games after he was made inactive for Sunday night's contest. Blue is unlikely to play unless one of Javonte Williams or Malik Davis misses time.
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Ashton Jeanty RB | LV
Raiders' Ashton Jeanty: Limited opportunity in loss
Jeanty rushed nine times for 35 yards and brought in four of six targets for seven yards in the Raiders' 31-0 loss to the Eagles on Sunday.
Jeanty saw his rushing opportunity curtailed by game script, as the Eagles already held a 17-0 lead by halftime. The rookie first-round pick finished with the second-most receptions on the Raiders, who were being quarterbacked by backup Kenny Pickett. Jeanty's fantasy outlook remains perpetually capped by the team's circumstances on his side of the ball, and the outlook only gets more worrisome in Week 16 when Las Vegas travels to face an elite Texans defense.
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Rhamondre Stevenson RB | NE
Patriots' Rhamondre Stevenson: Efficient but outplayed by Henderson
Stevenson rushed six times for 50 yards and caught all three of his targets for 27 yards in Sunday's 35-31 loss to the Bills.
Stevenson played second fiddle to TreVeyon Henderson, who turned 14 carries and three targets into 161 scrimmage yards, including touchdown runs of 52 and 65 yards. Henderson has emerged as the clear No. 1 option in New England's backfield down the stretch, and this was only the third time that Stevenson reached the 50-yard threshold on the ground in 11 appearances this season. Stevenson will likely continue to cede most of the touches to Henderson in Week 16 against the Ravens.
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Dare Ogunbowale RB | HOU
Texans' Dare Ogunbowale: Gets eight touches in rout
Ogunbowale carried the ball five times for two yards and caught three of four targets for 32 yards in Sunday's 40-20 win over the Cardinals.
The veteran RB was expected to be used mostly on special teams as usual, but Woody Marks picked up an ankle injury in the first quarter and didn't see the field in the second half with the game well in hand. Jawhar Jordan, in his first career NFL action, wound up seeing the bulk of the backfield work in the second half, but Ogunbowale also nearly doubled his season touch total as he got significant work on offense as well. Either or both of Marks and Nick Chubb (ribs) could be back in Week 16 against the Raiders, but even if both remain sidelined, Ogunbowale would likely work behind Jordan once again.
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Jawhar Jordan RB | HOU
Texans' Jawhar Jordan: Tops century mark in rushing yards
Jordan carried the ball 15 times for 101 yards and caught both his targets for 17 yards in Sunday's 40-20 win over the Cardinals.
Nick Chubb (ribs) was inactive, and Woody Marks picked up an ankle injury in the first quarter and didn't return in the second half, which left Jordan to handle the bulk of the work in the backfield to close out the rout. The 2024 sixth-round pick took full advantage of the first action of his NFL career with an outstanding performance. The score was 23-7 at halftime, which may have contributed to the decision to shut down Marks, and it's not clear yet how much time Chubb might need to miss. At the very least, Jordan showed he can be relied upon if needed, which could come as soon as Week 16 against the Raiders.
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Kyle Monangai RB | CHI
Bears' Kyle Monangai: Held quiet on 11 carries
Monangai rushed the ball 11 times for 33 yards in Sunday's 31-3 win over the Browns. He wasn't able to catch either of his two targets.
Monangai split carries evenly with D'Andre Swift throughout the first half, accounting for eight of his 11 carries. However, Swift saw nine carries in the final two quarters as opposed to only three for Monangai. While he's still seen double-digit carries in five consecutive games, it appears clear that Swift remains the lead back in Chicago, meaning Monangai will be reliant on finding the end zone and rushing efficiency to put up viable fantasy performances. He didn't do either in Sunday's blowout win, leading to a disappointing stat line.
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Emari Demercado RB | ARI
Cardinals' Emari Demercado: Three touches in loss to Houston
Demercado carried the ball once for one yard and caught two of three targets for zero yards in Sunday's 40-20 loss to the Texans.
Bam Knight (ankle) left the game early and didn't return, but Demercado still didn't see a significant increase in his workload, as Michael Carter instead stepped into the No. 1 role. Demercado was returning from a three-game absence of his own due to an ankle injury, which may have contributed to his limited touches. If Knight remains sidelined in Week 16 against the Falcons, Demercado could be a little more involved.
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Michael Carter RB | ARI
Cardinals' Michael Carter: Leading rusher in Week 15 loss
Carter carried the ball 14 times for 56 yards and caught all four of his targets for 38 yards in Sunday's 40-20 loss to the Texans.
Bam Knight (ankle) was knocked out of the game early, leaving Carter to handle most of the work in the Arizona backfield, and he led the club in rushing yards while setting new season highs in touches, rushing yards and scrimmage yards. It's not clear if Knight will need to miss additional time, but Carter could be set for big volume once again in Week 16 against the Falcons. On the season, the fourth-year RB has 525 scrimmage yards and five total TDs in 12 games.