We have the latest NFL injury updates on running backs listed on the injury report heading into Week 10. Who’s in, who’s out, and what’s the status of those who are game-time decisions? Let’s take a look across the league.
Are you looking for other positions? Check out our final Week 10 injury report, which covers every skill player at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and tight end.
Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville Jaguars
Tank Bigsby picked up an ankle injury in Week 8 and was limited for Jacksonville’s practices all week leading up to Week 9. He ended up playing on Sunday, but Bigsby was again limited for practice Wednesday and Thursday leading up to Week 10.
Fortunately, Bigsby practiced again on Friday and was removed from the Jaguars’ injury report. He doesn’t have an injury designation for Sunday’s game.
Bigsby had already begun stealing work from fellow Jaguars RB Travis Etienne Jr. before the latter suffered a hamstring injury and missed Weeks 7 and 8. Etienne returned for Week 9. His presence, plus Jacksonville’s negative game script against the Eagles, rendered both backs worthless in fantasy.
Among running backs with at least 75 carries this season, Bigsby ranks No. 1 in yards after contact per attempt (4.40) and No. 3 in explosive run rate (12.9%). He’s surpassed 100 rushing yards in two of the past five weeks, scoring two TDs in both century-mark efforts.
Jonathon Brooks, Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers activated second-round RB Jonathon Brooks from the non-football injury (NFI) list on Wednesday.
The Texas product is a year removed from tearing his ACL and could make his debut in Week 10. Brooks fully practiced all week, but head coach Dave Canales still said it’s only a “possibility” that the rookie will face the Giants in Germany on Sunday.
Had the Panthers not activated Brooks this week, he would’ve remained on the NFI list for the rest of the season. Chuba Hubbard has thrived as Carolina’s starting running back and earned a four-year extension this week.
Julius Chestnut, Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans running back Julius Chestnut is questionable for Week 10 with a foot injury. With Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears off the Titans’ injury report, Chestnut is not on the fantasy radar.
James Conner, Arizona Cardinals
James Conner has been a top-20 fantasy RB in each of the past three games, but the veteran Arizona Cardinals running back got banged up in the club’s Week 10 win over the Bears.
Conner was cleared for a concussion on Sunday, but he must have suffered a finger injury vs. Chicago. He was limited for practice Wednesday and Thursday.
A finger issue won’t be enough to keep Conner from facing the Jets in Week 10. However, New York isn’t an appetizing matchup for the veteran back. Gang Green ranks third-best in run defense efficiency and top-10 in fantasy points allowed to running backs.
Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars
While Etienne is still battling the hamstring injury that sidelined him in Weeks 7 and 8, the Jacksonville Jaguars RB returned to play in Week 9. He managed a limited pre-Week 10 practice on Wednesday and Thursday. After participating again on Friday, Etienne was officially removed from Jacksonville’s injury report. He’s good to go against the Vikings on Sunday.
Etienne managed just 24 rushing yards on three carries against the Eagles on Sunday, adding two catches for six yards. With both Etienne and Tank Bigsby receiving work in Jacksonville’s backfield, neither can be trusted in fantasy.
Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs
Kareem Hunt has been a workhorse for the Kansas City Chiefs since re-joining the club ahead of Week 4. However, Hunt popped up on the team’s Week 9 injury report with a quad issue and is dealing with the same ailment ahead of Week 10.
This doesn’t appear to be a severe problem. Hunt eventually moved to full practices last Thursday and Friday and was removed from K.C.’s injury report altogether. He’s following the same pattern this week, starting off as limited Wednesday before returning to full sessions on Thursday and Friday. Hunt will play in Week 10.
Hunt’s quad injury didn’t bother him against the Buccaneers on Monday night. He posted season highs with 27 carries and 106 rushing yards, scoring two total touchdowns while finishing as fantasy’s RB11.
Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bucky Irving was limited in practice both Wednesday and Thursday with his toe injury. That’s an improvement from the last two weeks, which saw Irving go DNP-DNP-limited in his practice progression.
Irving practiced again on Friday and was removed from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ injury report. He will suit up against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.
The rookie has taken a bit of a backseat in Buccaneers’ backfield amid his ailment. In Week 9 vs. the Kansas City Chiefs, Irving played 34.6% of the snaps, his lowest since Week 3. He did take the most carries (seven), though Rachaad White and Sean Tucker had three each to muddle the picture.
Irving is the lead back on clear run downs, and the Buccaneers have not had a favorable game script during their three-game losing streak. Unfortunately fantasy managers can’t really expect that to change on the road vs. the 49ers, so Irving will be touchdown-dependent again in Week 10.
Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
Alvin Kamara has been carrying an enormous burden for a challenged New Orleans Saints offense this season. Thus, it’s no surprise that the veteran running back has been a regular on the injury report this year with a litany of small ailments.
Ahead of Week 10, Kamara was a full participant on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday while dealing with a hand injury. The good news is that he shed the rib injury that had accompanied the hand on the practice report the past two weeks.
Kamara has had a workhorse season, taking 58% of the carries for the Saints in 2024. That’s the fifth-highest share of any player this season. The Atlanta Falcons have been stronger than you might expect against running backs, allowing the eighth-fewest PPR points per game. But Kamara is a must-start regardless.
Jordan Mason, San Francisco 49ers
Jordan Mason first suffered his right shoulder injury in Week 6 vs. the San Francisco 49ers. Even after the bye, Mason is still showing some ill effects from that injury.
After being listed as a full participant on Wednesday, Mason was limited in Thursday’s practice ahead of their Week 10 game vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Fortunately, Mason practiced again on Friday and was removed from the 49ers’ injury report.
Mason has shined as the lead back, ranking fourth in the NFL with 685 rushing yards. However, with Christian McCaffrey’s season debut approaching, his time as San Francisco’s RB1 is winding down.
Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
Christian McCaffrey was the consensus No. 1 overall player in fantasy football drafts this season. However, he hasn’t played in 2024 due to Achilles tendinitis. He was a surprise inactive in Week 1 and placed on IR in Week 2.
The banged-up San Francisco 49ers enjoyed a much-needed bye in Week 9 as McCaffrey continues to work toward a potential return. On Thursday, Kyle Shanahan officially delivered the word that he expected McCaffrey to make his season debut in Week 10 vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
While CMC is officially listed as questionable for Sunday’s game, he’s fully expected to suit up.
All looks good for the 49ers: Christian McCaffrey, Nick Bosa and Jordan Mason all moving well at practice pic.twitter.com/TuSyc5alM4
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) November 8, 2024
McCaffrey was officially limited on Wednesday and Thursday, suggesting the 49ers are ramping him back up. While it remains to be seen if CMC receives a full workload in his first game back, managers can’t risk not putting the NFL’s top fantasy player in their lineups.
Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans
Tony Pollard went in the wrong direction on Thursday, being downgraded to a DNP after being limited on Wednesday with his foot injury. Fortunately, he returned to practice on Friday and doesn’t have an injury designation for Week 10.
Pollard did not practice all of last week but still suited up and recorded a career-high 28 carries for 128 yards. The Tennessee Titans likely gave him Thursday off after his massive Week 9 workload.
Titans RB2 Tyjae Spears will return from a three-game absence this week, and head coach Brian Callahan has stressed the importance of reducing Pollard’s touch count. While both backs will see snaps against the Chargers on Sunday, Pollard remains the club’s clear 1A option.
Brian Robinson Jr., Washington Commanders
Brian Robinson Jr. was seemingly a go in Week 9 after being limited with a hamstring injury all week. However, pregame warmups did not go well, and Robinson was made inactive for the Washington Commanders’ win over the Giants.
Week 10 was a downgrade for Robinson. He was limited on Wednesday and Thursday but didn’t participate on Friday before officially being ruled out. Going from a game-time decision last week to being ruled out on Friday this week isn’t a good sign for Robinson’s recovery.
Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said the club was “really going to push it” with Robinson this week. However, it’s essential to consider that Washington has a short turnaround to a Week 11 Thursday night game in Philadelphia. That might have convinced the Commanders to save him for the more important game to decide first place in the NFC East.
Without Robinson, Washington had a three-headed committee in its backfield of Austin Ekeler (28 snaps), Jeremy McNichols (23), and Chris Rodriguez Jr. (20). Rodriguez is out of practice-squad elevations, so the Commanders will have to sign him to their active roster if they want him to play on Sunday.
Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans
Tyjae Spears has missed the Titans’ past three games with a hamstring injury but will return in Week 10. After being upgraded to a full practice on Thursday, Spears was formally removed from Tennessee’s injury report on Friday.
With Spears sidelined, fellow Titans RB Tony Pollard turned into a genuine workhorse. He’s played at least 80% of Tennessee’s snaps over the past three weeks. Despite being questionable with a foot injury in Week 9, Pollard set a career-high with 28 carries for 128 yards.
Still, head coach Brian Callahan has been adamant that Pollard needs to see fewer touches, which could allow for Spears to make an impact on Sunday.