Jonathan Taylor dominated Colts backfield work last season, ranking second league wide in opportunity share (carries plus targets, adjusted for games missed) and fifth in carries despite missing three full contests. But Indy needs a better backup plan than last year's Trey Sermon-Tyler Goodson combo. And fifth-round rookie DJ Giddens looks like the early leader to replace that pair. According to ESPN's Stephen Holder, though, Giddens also looks like a candidate to siphon some receiving work even when Taylor's healthy.

The Colts selected Kansas State RB DJ Giddens with the 151st pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Giddens initially played behind current Cowboy Deuce Vaughn. Come 2023, he broke out with 1,226 rushing yards and 10 TDs -- plus 29 receptions -- across 13 games. Last fall, Giddens’ advanced metrics improved alongside a career-high 1,343 rushing yards (12 games). He particularly popped with 6.6 YPC and 4.16 yards after contact per attempt, per Pro Football Focus. The 212-pounder also brings plus vision and patience along with a relatively clean injury history. Now, his receiving looked fairly raw on tape, as he struggled with drops in ‘24. And like most rookies, he’s unrefined as a pass protector. Still, the size, production, and rush efficiency signal a potential impact in the NFL.

Bengals RB Chase Brown (ankle) is inactive for tonight’s game vs. the Steelers. He tried to suit up, but warmups didn’t go well. RBs Khalil Herbert, Trayveon Williams, and Kendall Milton are active for Cincinnati tonight. Neither Williams nor Milton has a single offensive touch this season. Herbert has eight carries and one target over his seven games as a Bengal. Herbert will likely handle most of the backfield work tonight, but we’re also expecting Cincinnati to go even pass-heavier without Brown.

Bengals RB Chase Brown will "work out pre-game while attempting to play" tonight against the Steelers, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Brown missed the team's three official practices of the week but did participate in a Friday walkthrough. We'll see about his status for the game, but Brown looks risky for fantasy use even if active. If he sits, then Khalil Herbert could be a sneaky RB2.

Bengals RB Chase Brown (ankle) is listed as questionable for Saturday's game vs. the Steelers. He didn't practice all week, but HC Zac Taylor labeled him a game-time decision on Thursday. We'll look for further updates on Brown and get Cincinnati's inactives around 6:30 pm ET on Saturday. Khalil Herbert will operate as Cincinnati's lead back if Brown is unable to play.

Bengals RB Chase Brown (ankle) missed his second straight practice on Wednesday. Reportedly dealing with a high-ankle sprain, he's in legitimate question for Saturday's game vs. the Steelers. Brown's absence would leave Khalil Herbert as Cincinnati's lead back. We'll get Cincinnati's final injury report on Thursday afternoon.

Insider Jordan Schultz reports that Bengals RB Chase Brown has been diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain after a Sunday MRI. "Brown is determined to try to play in Cincinnati’s must-win Week 18 game against Pittsburgh, but his availability will depend on how he progresses throughout the week," Schultz adds. High-ankle sprains typically cost RBs multiple weeks, so we'd consider Brown very iffy for Week 18. And he'd be operating at far less than 100% if he does suit up. We'll keep you posted on his status throughout the coming week.

Bengals RB Chase Brown sprained his ankle late in the fourth quarter for the Bengals game against the Broncos. Brown was attempting to slide short of the goal line and landed awkwardly when two Broncos made contact.

Bengals RB Chase Brown continued to dominate backfield work in Sunday night's loss to the Chargers. He handled all 22 of the team's RB carries and all 7 backfield targets. Brown rushed for 86 yards (3.9 per carry) while ranking third on the team in targets, receptions (5), and receiving yards (57). Khalil Herbert played just 4 snaps and ran 3 routes (to Brown's 33).

Bengals RB Chase Brown racked up 22 touches in Thursday night's loss to the Ravens. He predictably struggled to get much going on the ground against a stout run defense, averaging just 3.2 yards across his 13 carries. But he popped in a one-yard TD in the first quarter and was busy in the passing game all night. Brown's 11 targets, nine catches, and 52 receiving yards all ranked second on the team to only WR Ja'Marr Chase. Brown lost a key fumble in the third quarter that helped get the Ravens back into the game. And he was pulled on most third and longs for pass protection reasons. But the Bengals continued to lean heavily on Brown in all other situations.

Bengals RB Khalil Herbert is expected to play vs. the Ravens tonight, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Herbert joined the team just two days ago, so we'd be surprised if he mixed in for more than a handful of carries against Baltimore. He's not a viable option in season-long leagues. Chase Brown should remain the Bengals' clear lead back -- and a strong fantasy start, despite the tough matchup.

The Bengals are trading a seventh-round pick to the Bears for RB Khalil Herbert. It's much-needed depth for a Cincinnati squad that just lost RB Zack Moss to a neck injury. He's out "indefinitely," according to HC Zac Taylor.

Update: Moss is expected to miss the rest of the regular season, according to NFL Network.

Bears RB Roschon Johnson is a healthy scratch for today's opener vs. the Titans. That leaves RBs D'Andre Swift, Khalil Herbert, and Travis Homer dressed for Chicago. We'll see what the workload split looks like under new OC Shane Waldron, but Swift is the only viable Week 1 fantasy play. We'd expect Johnson to work into the backfield mix if Swift or Herbert miss time this season, but he's droppable in shallow fantasy leagues.

The Bears have agreed to a three-year deal with RB D'Andre Swift, according to multiple reports. Chicago will pay Swift $24 million over that span, with $15.3 million of that guaranteed. That should position Swift as the backfield leader for at least the next two seasons -- assuming he stays healthy, of course. Swift opened his lone Philly season barely playing behind Kenneth Gainwell but then exploded when Gainwell missed Week 2. Swift worked as the lead back the rest of the way, averaging a career-high 41.3 carries per game but a career-low 2.4 receptions per contest. He should immediately step ahead of Bears incumbents Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson as both a runner and receiver. If the QB shift to Caleb Williams comes to fruition, then Swift would gain target upside over what Philly presented (or what Justin Fields would present). Swift has been a solid-to-good value in early best ball drafting. Expect his ADP to rise now that he has found starter money on the market. Swift's RB31 position in Underdog Fantasy to date gives him plenty of room to move up the board and still be worth targeting. Check our RB rankings to see where he lands.

Bears RB Khalil Herbert (back, personal) is active for today’s game vs. the Packers. He was added to the injury report on Thursday and then sidelined on Friday – although it’s unclear if the back or personal issue kept him out. RB D’Onta Foreman is a healthy scratch again today, suggesting little concern about Herbert’s status.

Bears RB Khalil Herbert (back, personal) is expected to play vs. the Packers today, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Herbert was added to the injury report on Thursday and then sidelined on Friday, so he comes with elevated risk in Week 18 fantasy lineups. We'll see whether RB D'Onta Foreman is active for this one after missing the last two games.

Bears RB Khalil Herbert (back, personal) is questionable for this weekend’s game vs. the Packers. He was added to the injury report on Thursday and then sidelined on Friday. Herbert’s absence would presumably leave Chicago’s backfield to Roschon Johnson and D’Onta Foreman, who has not played the past two weeks.

Bears RB D'Onta Foreman is a surprise inactive for today's game vs. the Falcons. He missed last week's game due to a personal issue but was left off the final injury report this week. Chicago will again roll with RBs Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson today. Herbert tallied 20 carries and two targets to Johnson's nine carries and three targets last week.