Tag: Jeremy McNichols

Fantasy Football: 10 running backs to target on the waiver wire

Jeremy McNichols headlines this week’s list of running backs to target on the fantasy football waiver wire.

Happy Thanksgiving Week, football fans.

There are three games on deck this Thursday (Bears-Lions, Giants-Cowboys, Dolphins-Packers), plus a Black Friday game (Raiders-Chiefs).

With four games set to be played before Sunday even arrives, it will be important to set your fantasy football lineups early this week.

Drake Maye (21.7%) is a streaming option at quarterback, Devaughn Vele (1.7%) is emerging as a wide receiver sleeper and Taysom Hill (53%) remains a notable tight end in fantasy.

Today, though, we’re focusing on the running back position. We’ve put together a quick list of 10 running backs to consider on the fantasy football waiver wire going into Week 13.

Fantasy Football Running Back Waiver Wire Targets

1. RB Jeremy McNichols (1.2%): Brian Robinson suffered an ankle injury on Sunday and Austin Ekeler left the game with a concussion. McNichols is left as the next man up for the Commanders.

2. RB Ameer Abdullah (19.3%): Zamir White (quad) and Alexander Mattison (ankle) were held out on Sunday and Abdullah led Raiders running backs with 14 touches for 65 yards and a touchdown.

3. RB Jaleel McLaughlin (15.9%): The Broncos’ backfield will be hard to predict on a week-to-week basis, but McLaughlin led the team with 44 rushing yards on Sunday.

4. RB Tank Bigsby (33.4%): Coming off a bye, Bigsby should be rostered in more leagues in case the Jaguars lean on him down the stretch.

5. RB Roschon Johnson (17.3%): He has six touchdowns with the Bears this season and while chasing TDs is not ideal, Johnson appears to be one of Chicago’s top options at the goal line.

6-10. Handcuff running backs: Tyler Allgeier (41.6%), Braelon Allen (16.1%), Trey Benson (28.3%), Blake Corum (14.2%) and Ray Davis (12%).

Roster percentages for players listed in this article were sourced from ESPN. For more fantasy coverage, check out our fantasy football hub.

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Commanders RB Austin Ekeler suffers concussion vs. Cowboys

Commanders RB Austin Ekeler suffered a concussion vs. Cowboys.

The Washington Commanders may have lost more than the game in Sunday’s 34-26 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Not only did right tackle Andrew Wylie (concussion) and running back Brian Robinson Jr. (ankle) leave the game due to injuries, Washington lost its other top running back, Austin Ekeler, at the end of the game.

Ekeler suffered a brutal hit on the game’s final kickoff with nine seconds remaining. Ekeler lay motionless for a few minutes before getting up and walking off the field under his own power. Both Washington and Dallas players surrounded Ekeler, concerned for his well-being.

After the game, head coach Dan Quinn confirmed that Ekeler suffered a concussion.

“[GM Adam [Peters] and I just had a chance to visit with him now, so he’ll do more tests tonight, but it was a concussion,” Quinn said. 

This would be Ekeler’s second concussion of the season. He suffered the first one in Washington’s Week 3 win at Cincinnati and missed the following week’s win at Arizona.

The Commanders released running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. after activating rookie defensive end Javontae Jean-Baptiste from IT. Washington hopes to get Rodriguez back, but another team could claim the talented second-year back.

Washington could be without Robinson and Ekeler next week against Tennessee, so there will be another move at running back. Jeremy McNichols would step back into the starting role. McNichols has thrived when given opportunities this season.

Brian Robinson Jr. is out for the Commanders

No Brian Robinson today vs. Giants.

When ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted late Saturday that Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. was expected to play Sunday against the Giants, things appeared to be trending in the right direction.

However, Robinson reportedly worked out in front of head coach Dan Quinn and running backs coach Anthony Lynn, and the Commanders didn’t feel he looked right.

Mike Garofolo of the NFL Network posted the following video of Robinson working out.

It’s a tough blow for the Commanders because Robinson has enjoyed some of his best games against New York. He had 133 rushing yards in Week 2 against the Giants.

In anticipation of Robinson potentially being sidelined, Washington elevated second-year running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. from the practice squad. The Commanders will have a backfield trio of Austin Ekeler, Jeremy McNichols and Rodriguez.

Commanders RB Jeremy McNichols receives ridiculous fine from the NFL

McNichols was fined for this celebration.

Washington Commanders running back Jeremy McNichols first entered the NFL in 2017. Since his rookie season, McNichols has spent time on 10 different teams, including two stints with the Tennessee Titans. Despite appearing in three games for the San Francisco 49ers last season, McNichols hadn’t carried the football in an NFL game since 2021.

That all changed in Washington’s 42-14 win over the Arizona Cardinals last week. With Austin Ekeler out with an injury, McNichols, who made the 53-man roster as the team’s No. 3 running back, carried the ball eight times for 68 yards and two touchdowns. He played a pivotal role in Washington’s win.

However, there was one blemish on McNichols’ game last week. He was penalized 15 yards after one of his touchdowns for the “bow and arrow celebration.”

The NFL’s alleged reasoning for this is that it “mimics a violent act.”

Yeah, seriously.

As it turns out, McNichols’s punishment wasn’t over, as the NFL fined him $6,250.

There is some confusion here. Pat McAfee said last week that his NFL source said the bow and arrow celebration was “good to go.”

The NFL fined Bengals wide receiver Andre Iosivas for the same celebration in Week 2 and later rescinded the fine. So, why fine McNichols in the first place?

The No Fun League strikes again.

Commanders RB Austin Ekeler gives an injury update ahead of Week 5

Austin Ekeler gives an injury update.

Outside of quarterback Jayden Daniels, you could argue that running back Austin Ekeler was the Washington Commanders’ MVP through the first three weeks.

Ekeler made his presence felt as a runner, receiver, blocker and kick returner before suffering a concussion in last week’s win at Cincinnati. The Commanders immediately flew to Arizona to prepare for Week 4, while Ekeler came home to Virginia as a part of the NFL’s concussion protocol.

Washington ruled Ekeler out early last week.

In his absence, veteran Jeremy McNichols played as the Commanders’ change of pace to Brian Robinson Jr. Both played well. Robinson rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown, while McNichols had 68 yards rushing and two touchdowns.

However, Washington can’t wait to get Ekeler back. When will that be?

Ekeler joined “Grant and Danny” of 106.7 The Fan on Tuesday and said he’s on track to play Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.

“I’m continuing to complete the processes of concussion protocol and working my way through, but I’m feeling like myself, more with it today, so that’s all a good sign to hopefully getting back this week,” Ekeler said Tuesday via Lou DiPietro of Audacy.

“Tracking towards being able to play, and that’s a good sign, especially when you’re talking about your head. You want to make sure everything is how it’s supposed to be; it’s not like an ankle where you can put some tape on it, this is my brain I’m talking about, so I wanna make sure everything is feeling and reacting normal and is where it’s supposed to be, and things are definitely trending in that direction.”

Commanders vs. Cardinals Player of the Game: Jeremy McNichols

The Commanders defeated the Cardinals, and Jeremy McNichols stood out as a top performer in Week 4.

The Washington Commanders took on the Arizona Cardinals in the desert on Sunday and continued their winning ways, their 42-14 win taking the lead in the NFC East.

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The Commanders have looked like a different team this year with Jayden Daniels under center. The rookie out of LSU has taken to the next level of football in an uncanny fashion we haven’t seen in a long time.

Daniels’ streak of not allowing his team to punt was broken after 16 straight possessions, but the Commanders held on to win the game. One of the biggest reasons they came away with the win is thanks to running back Jeremy McNichols, who is this week’s Player of the Game.

McNichols stepped in for Austin Ekeler, who missed the game after suffering a concussion last week. Ekeler isn’t an easy player to replace, his speed, athleticism and field vision are unmatched. But McNichols was up to the task today, he understood the assignment.

Not only did he rush for 68 yards and two touchdowns, but he added a reception for six yards and some seriously on-point blocking for Daniels. Without McNichols stepping up today, this could have been a very different game, But, he did, and it wasn’t, and the Commanders now know they have another running back they can rely on.

Commanders sign running back Jeremy McNichols

The Commanders add another veteran to the running back room.

The Washington Commanders added to their backfield on Monday, signing veteran running back Jeremy McNichols.

McNichols, 28, was a fifth-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2017 NFL draft out of Boise State. McNichols was released during final cuts and signed to the 49ers’ practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster in November and released during San Francisco’s final cuts in 2018.

He split the 2018 season between the Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos and Tennessee Titans. He was again waived during Tennessee’s final roster cuts in 2019 and signed with the Chicago Bears. The Bears waived him in December, and he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars for the remainder of the season.

In 2020, McNichols returned to the Titans, where he’d remain for two seasons. He had brief stints on the offseason rosters of the Falcons and Steelers in 2022 before returning to San Francisco in 2023. He spent time on the 49ers’ practice squad and 53-man roster last season and was released in January.

McNichols has 90 rushing attempts for 364 yards and a touchdown in his NFL career. He has appeared in 37 career games and all but two of his rushing attempts came with the Titans. He also has 40 receptions for 295 yards and a touchdown.

Washington has starting running back Brian Robinson Jr. and 2023 sixth-round pick Chris Rodriguez Jr. returning in 2024. The Commanders also signed veteran Austin Ekeler to be more of Washington’s 1b to Robinson’s 1a in 2024.

McNichols’ connections to Washington are general manager Adam Peters and running backs coach Anthony Lynn.

RB promoted to 49ers active roster to complete series of roster moves

The #49ers on Thursday completed a series of roster moves that all tied together.

The 49ers on Thursday announced a couple of moves on the margins of their roster and practice squad. Running back Jeremy McNichols was promoted to the active roster, while defensive tackle Taylor Stallworth was officially added to the practice squad.

McNichols took the roster spot vacated by DT Kalia Davis, who was recently placed on IR with an ankle injury. The veteran RB was elevated from the practice squad for the team’s Week 14 game against the Seahawks, but he only contributed on six special teams snaps. He figures to continue helping on special teams when he’s active.

Stallworth’s addition was reported Thursday morning by his agent. The six-year veteran will give the 49ers some internal DT depth after injuries hit the position hard over the last couple weeks.

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49ers roster moves: 2 elevated from practice squad for Week 15

The 49ers brought up a DL and RB off the practice squad for Sunday:

The 49ers on Saturday made a couple roster moves for their Week 15 showdown with the Arizona Cardinals.

With injuries at running back and on the defensive line, San Francisco elevated RB Jeremy McNichols and DL T.Y. McGill from the practice squad. Both players will revert to the practice squad after Sunday’s game.

McNichols was up for Week 14 as well with RB Elijah Mitchell battling a knee injury. He’s a special teams contributor and emergency depth piece in the backfield.

McGill could see a significant role on the defensive line with Arik Armstead and Javon Hargrave both ruled out. Last season McGill played in nine games for the 49ers and posted eight tackles with two tackles for loss. He’ll be in the rotation alongside Javon Kinlaw and Kevin Givens.

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49ers add RB to practice squad, release TE Troy Fumagalli

Before hosting the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, the 49ers announced a move on the practice squad.

After moving to 3-0 with a win over the New York Giants on Thursday Night Football, the San Francisco 49ers are back in Santa Clara preparing for Week 4. Before hosting the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium, the 49ers made some changes to their practice squad.

On Tuesday, the 49ers announced they’ve signed running back Jeremy McNichols and released veteran tight end Troy Fumalgalli. 

Via @49ers on Twitter:

https://x.com/49ers/status/1706777644816388604?s=20

Since being drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft out of Boise State, McNichols has bounced around the NFL, including previously spending time with the 49ers in 2017.

McNichols has also had sports with the Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, Tennessee Titans, Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers. After spending only a week with the Steelers last season, McNichols landed on the injury reserve with a should injury.

McNichols was recently signed by the Niners during training camp, but was waived in late August.

This post originally appeared on Niners Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! 

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