Chargers RB Branden Oliver has been on the field for OTAs this week -- about 9 months after tearing his Achilles in a preseason game. "I feel great right now," he said. "I’m taking nothing for granted. I’m coming out and taking it one day at a time." QB Philip Rivers has liked what he's seen. "He looks good. He looks explosive. I know it’s early, but I think he really is a great complement to Melvin (Gordon)," Rivers said. Gordon is locked in as the Chargers' feature back. But Oliver has a good shot to capture the #2 spot on the depth chart. His competition is underwhelming: Kenneth Farrow, Andre Williams and Kenjon Barner.

The Chargers have claimed RB Andre Williams off waivers from the Giants. He's worth knowing about in an RB corps that recently lost Branden Oliver for the season, but Williams will still need Melvin Gordon and Danny Woodhead to go down before he'll become relevant. Even then, we're talking about a guy who failed to deliver for the Giants.

The Giants have waived 3rd-year RB Andre Williams. It's no surprise after he averaged 3.3 yards per carry and 2.8 yards per carry in his 1st 2 seasons. Shane Vereen, Paul Perkins, Orleans Darkwa and Bobby Rainey remain on the roster behind starter Rashad Jennings -- at least for now.

Giants insider James Kratch believes Andre Williams "appears to have all but won the backup running back job." That's behind lead runner Rashad Jennings. Shane Vereen remains locked in as New York's passing-down back. It's pretty remarkable that Williams is getting another shot after averaging 3.3 and 2.9 yards per carry, respectively, in his first 2 NFL seasons. He's mustered just 3.7 yards per carry on 15 totes this preseason. We're not interested in him in fantasy drafts. Rookie Paul Perkins could still make a run at Williams' spot on the depth chart this year.

Giants RB Andre Williams told NJ.com this week that he has shed about 10 pounds since the end of last season. "I like how I feel right now," he said. "I feel faster, stronger, more flexible and more explosive than I've ever been." That came after OC-turned-HC Ben McAdoo projected a "bounce-back year" for Williams at February's Scouting Combine. We're not buying it after Williams averaged 3.3 yards per rush as a rookie and then 2.9 last season. And now the Giants have added RB Paul Perkins (plus Bobby Rainey) to a backfield that already sported Rashad Jennings, Shane Vereen, Williams and Orleans Darkwa. That doesn't seem like a vote of confidence for Williams. We'll see what this summer says.

Giants HC Tom Coughlin suggested that he'll continue to deploy a RB-by-committee, despite RB Orleans Darkwa's strong Week 7 showing.  "We’re fortunate we have four guys that can play,” Coughlin said. “The four healthy guys, that’s a great thing, believe me.”  He added that Darkwa's role "depends on the plan and the type of game we expect and how we strategize."  Rashad Jennings currently leads the Giants with 71 carries, which ranks just 25th league-wide.  No Giants RB sits higher than 30th among RBs in PPR or non-PPR points.  It continues to be a situation best avoided.

RBs Rashad Jennings, Shane Vereen and Andre Williams all rotated in with the Giants' 1st-team offense in Friday night's preseason opener.  In 4 series, Rashad Jennings tallied 2 carries and 2 catches, Andre Williams carried twice and caught 1 ball, and Shane Vereen had 2 carries.  It looks like the Giants want all 3 guys involved this season.  That could make them tough to rely on in fantasy lineups.  

The Giants released their initial depth chart Monday, and it listed RB Rashad Jennings atop the depth chart at his position. That comes amid speculation that Shane Vereen and Andre Williams could be challenging the veteran's status. We certainly don't expect Jennings to operate as a workhorse. The key to watch for will be just how much of a committee this turns into -- specifically how much receiving and/or goal-line work remains for Jennings. The Giants backfield doesn't look particularly appetizing for fantasy in 2015.

ESPN Giants writer Dan Graziano says he didn't see RB Rashad Jennings take the field with the 1st team at all over the past 2 days, despite taking "a lot of reps" with the 2nd team. Graziano pointed out that RBs Andre Williams and Shane Vereen "got a bunch of the first-team work." He stopped short of indicating that this represents the Giants' depth chart. But Graziano said he knows that the Giants like what Williams has shown this offseason. He also opined that Jennings' volume of special-teams reps in practice seems to indicate that the team isn't just trying to limit the veteran RB's exposure. We'll keep an eye on this situation. But with the backfield muddled at best, we see little reason to chase Jennings at his current early-6th round ADP.

Giants insider Nick Powell believes RB Rashad Jennings will "carry the rushing load" this season.  That'd leave Shane Vereen in a pass-catching role and Andre Williams as a short-yardage back.  Powell points out, per Pro Football Focus, that Jennings had the 6th-lowest percentage of runs go for 2 yards or less last season.  His 3.8 yards per carry was partly a result of a Giants offensive line that finished 26th in PFF's run-blocking rankings.  But Jennings ranked just 30th among 42 qualifying RBs in Elusive Rating, which measures a runner's production beyond the blocking he receives.  If he's not better in 2015, Jennings figures to lose more work to Vereen and/or Williams.

Giants insider Jordan Raanan came away from spring practices believing that RB Shane Vereen is "not just going to be a third-down back."  We've heard similar sentiments from other members of the New York media.  Vereen is getting lots of work in passing situations, as expected, but has also been busy as a ball-carrier and in the red zone.  He never topped 96 carries in New England but could set a new career-high in 2015.  RB Rashad Jennings turned 30 in March, has never played a full 16-game season and averaged just 3.8 yards per carry last year.  RB Andre Williams mustered just 3.3 yards per carry as a rookie and offers nothing as a receiver.  "Get ready for a lot of Shane Vereen," Raanan adds.

Giants insider Dan Graziano expects RB Rashad Jennings to lead the 2015 backfield in touches.  "Based on the conversations I've had, I believe the Giants still want Rashad Jennings to get the early-down work and that they'll give it to him as long as he can stay healthy," Graziano writes.  Of course, staying healthy has been a problem for Jennings.  He's never played a full 16-game season and has missed 12 games over the past 3 seasons.  Graziano expects RB Shane Vereen to dominate 3rd-down work and RB Andre Williams to be "sprinkled in."  Jennings and Vereen are both going in the 7th round of June MFL10 drafts, which seems like fair price tags.

Giants LT Will Beatty tore his pectoral lifting weights on Wednesday.  He'll undergo surgery and is expected to miss 5-6 months.  That knocks him out for about the 1st half of the season.  It's a big blow to an offensive line that seemed to be trending upward.  Beatty ranked 14th among 84 OTs in Pro Football Focus' 2014 overall grades -- 10th in run blocking and 24th in pass blocking.  The G-Men used the 9th overall pick of this spring's draft on Ereck Flowers, who could be forced to replace Beatty at LT.  New York could also use 2013 1st-rounder Justin Pugh on the left side.

Free-agent RB Shane Vereen is expected to ink a deal with the Giants when the market officially opens at 4 pm ET today.  He heads from 1 crowded backfield to another.  The G-Men have Andre Williams as a between-the-tackles pounder and Rashad Jennings as a more well-rounded back.  Vereen figures to slide into a similar role as he played in New England as a pass-catching specialist.  It's a disappointing landing spot for a guy we were hoping to see get a bigger ball-carrying role.  That could still happen longer-term, though.  Jennings turns 30 later this month.

Giants RB Andre Williams (shoulder) is active for today’s game against the Eagles. It’s unclear exactly how touches will be divvied between Williams and RB Rashad Jennings, who is back from his ankle injury. Both guys are shaky Week 17 fantasy plays against a solid Philly run defense.

Giants RB Andre Williams (shoulder) is questionable for Sunday’s game against the Eagles. He’s expected to play but is facing a tough run defense and will be contending with the return of RB Rashad Jennings (probable, ankle). We don’t like either Giants RB in DFS this week.

Giants RB Rashad Jennings (ankle) is out for Sunday’s game against the Rams. That leaves Andre Williams as the feature back. But the rookie is averaging just 3.2 yards per carry this season and gets a defense allowing just 3.8. Williams is a low-upside RB3 for Week 16.

Giants RB Rashad Jennings (ankle) did not practice on Wednesday.  After being unable to stay on the field for the 2nd straight game last week, Jennings seems unlikely to play against the Rams this Sunday.  That'd leave Andre Williams as the feature back.  But the matchup would make him a weak RB3 or flex.