Matt Jones left Friday's preseason game against the Jets with a slight separation on his left AC joint, and the shoulder injury will cause him to miss some time, though head coach Jay Gruden is hopeful that he'll have his lead running back on the field soon. As long as there aren't any complications, is reasonable to expect that he'll be ready for Week 1, which gives him 21 days to recover. His current ADP is 66, and with Jones expected to have a sizable work load for Washington, he remains a solid target for fantasy teams that loaded up on wide receivers early in drafts.
Continuing on in a busy day of running back news:
- It's possible that Cowboys' rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott (hamstring) could make his first appearance in the team's third preseason game Thursday against the Seahawks. After suffering his injury on August 2, he missed 12 days before returning to individual drills, but he's expected to ramp things up this week, and if successful, he should be in the lineup. Fantasy owners haven't been scared off by his injury, as his ADP is currently at 12, but a big preseason performance could quickly drive that number up.
- Although Rick Stroud of WDAE reported that Martin sent out Saturday's preseason game with bruised ribs, it appears that this is mostly a precautionary move. The injury was previously unreported, and the Buccaneers will limit his practice time until he's completely healthy. Once the regular season begins, he'll be the lead back for the team while Charles Sims will take on some of the work as a change-of-pace option. He's currently being selected about 31 picks into fantasy drafts, and this injury should have little impact on his draft position.
- Sticking with NFC running backs, Ameer Abdullah (shoulder) has removed his red jersey at practice, meaning that he's likely getting ready to take contact. Despite missing the team's first two preseason games, the second-year player is expected to open the year as the Lions' leading back with Theo Riddick seeming to be the leading candidate to be the pass-catching specialist. Should Abdullah get some preseason work in to show his shoulder is fully healthy, he should be a bargain at his current ADP of 87 after rushing for 4.2 yards per carry in 2015.
- After performing very well in the preseason opener, Melvin Gordon was held to 18 rushing yards on six carries in the Chargers second preseason game against the Cardinals. He was able to pick up 12 yards on his first carry, but was shut down after that. Despite playing with the first-team offense, Danny Woodhead was still mixed in, especially when the team faced obvious passing situations. With an ADP of 71, Gordon's risk is being factored in, and he'll be given every opportunity to earn a significant role in his second season.
- In a bit of a surprise, the Bills released Karlos Williams after he began to regain some of the weight he lost since reporting to training camp significantly overweight. It wouldn't be at all shocking if a team quickly added him to their roster, as he was plenty productive, scoring 9 touchdowns in a part-time role as a rookie in 2015. However, he seems quite a ways from getting back into shape, and he also has a four-game suspension to serve for his violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy. Except for leagues that have deep benches, it wouldn't seem prudent to spend a pick on him in fantasy drafts.
- Sticking with the Bills, with Karlos Williams off the roster, Mike Gillislee, Reggie Bush and rookie Jonathan Williams will be competing for playing time behind starter LeSean McCoy. As of now, Gillislee would appear to be the favorite for early-down backup work, while Bush could easily serve as the top reserve on passing downs. Gillislee could be a sneaky upside pick as a possible handcuff after finishing the 2015 season on a high-note. He did suffer a potential head injury in Saturday's preseason game, so check his status before spending a draft pick on him.
- Alfred Morris made quite a statement as he tries to earn the backup running back role, as he's competing with Darren McFadden (elbow) for work behind Ezekiel Elliott (hamstring), as he posted 100 total yards and a touchdown in the preseason game against the Dolphins. The veteran ran with the first-team offense and did an excellent job trusting his dominant offensive live by taking what was given to him, and then earning extra yards once he got past the initial group of would-be tacklers. His fantasy value is unclear right now, but should Elliott suffer a regular-season injury, the Cowboys' backup should be a top-10 running back.
Finally, we close the day with a couple quarterback notes:
- The Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting that Eagles' rookie quarterback Carson Wentz was able to take snaps during practice while he recovers from a hairline fracture in his ribs. Although Sam Bradford is expected to open the season as the team's starter, the fact that Wentz is able to practice will help him to continue his development as he tries to adjust to NFL football. Although his ADP is at 167, he's likely more of an option if he finds his way onto the waiver wire during the season.
- Alfred Morris wasn't the only bright spot in Dallas, as rookie quarterback Dak Prescott had his second straight excellent preseason performance, as he completed 12-of-15 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns. While playing with the first-team offense, he connected for a score with Dez Bryant for the second week in a row. Obviously it's only preseason, but Prescott could possibly be a competent backup should Tony Romo suffer an injury. This is also potentially good news for Bryant, as it's now possible he could remain dominant if he has to play without Romo.