49ers RB Shaun Draughn (knee) is "day to day," according to ESPN's Adam Caplan.  The Niners dumped RB Travaris Cadet for RB DuJuan Harris on Tuesday.  If Draughn can't play against the 49ers this weekend, Harris and Kendall Gaskins would likely share backfield duties.

49ers RB Shaun Draughn injured his knee in the 1st half of Sunday's game against the Bengals.  He's officially questionable to return.  Draughn's absence leaves the 'Niners with RBs Travaris Cadet and Kendall Gaskins.

Update: Draughn has been ruled out.

49ers RB Carlos Hyde (foot) is out for Sunday’s game against the Seahawks. Shaun Draughn will lead a committee backfield that will also include Kendall Gaskins and Travaris Cadet. It’s a situation to avoid in fantasy.

49ers RB Carlos Hyde (foot) remained sidelined on Thursday.  Insider Matt Maiocco confirms that Hyde is not expected to play against the Seahawks this weekend.  Shaun Draughn figures to lead a backfield-by-committee that will also include Kendall Gaskins and Travaris Cadet.  Avoid the situation in fantasy lineups.

ESPN's Mike Reiss considers James White the "top option" to replace Dion Lewis as the Patriots' passing-down back.  Reiss adds, though, that Brandon Bolden could "factor into the mix" and that free agent Travaris Cadet could be brought back.  It's a guessing game at this point, and 2 or 3 of those guys might end up filling the role over the final 8 weeks.  White should be your top target on the waiver wire this week, but consider him more of a flier than sure-fire help. 

Patriots RB Travaris Cadet is inactive for tonight's opener against the Steelers.  RB LeGarrette Blount is suspended, so Brandon Bolden, Dion Lewis and James White will handle backfield duties.  Our best guess is that Bolden will be the primary early-down back, Lewis will play in passing situations and White will mix in for a handful of touches.  That's just a guess, though.  Your best bet is to avoid Patriots RBs in fantasy lineups this week.

The Boston Globe's Karen Guregian considers RB Brandon Bolden the current favorite for pass-catching duties.  He's reportedly received the majority of the 1st-team work in 3 straight practices.  RB James White, meanwhile, has struggled "ever since the pads came on," per Guregian.  Bolden has mostly been a special-teamer for New England over the past 3 years but did catch 21 balls back in 2013.  We've now heard Bolden, White and Travaris Cadet mentioned as the favorite for the pass-catching role at different points this offseason.  This obviously remains a fluid situation, and none of the 3 is more than a late-round flyer for now.

Patriots RB James White is getting the "majority" of the 1st-team reps, according to insider Phil Perry.  White appears to have the early lead to replace Shane Vereen as New England's passing-down back.  He'll need to hold off Travaris Cadet and Dion Lewis for the gig over the next month.  If he can, White will be a prime sleeper for your PPR drafts.

NESN's Doug Kyed says Patriots RB James White has a clear path to a "defined role" in the 2015 offense. "Shane Vereen’s departure leaves the third-down role wide open, and White is the favorite to win that job," Kyed wrote Friday. White generated buzz last offseason after the Pats drafted him in Round 4, but then he touched the ball just 14 times all season while appearing in only 3 games. This year's backfield stands wide open behind LeGarrette Blount, though, after Vereen and Stevan Ridley left in free agency. White figures to see primary competition from Travaris Cadet for the 3rd-down role. Tyler Gaffney, Jonas Gray, Brandon Bolden and Dion Lewis -- plus FB James Develin -- round out the backfield on the offseason roster. Fantasy football owners should watch the competition with interest this summer. Vereen averaged 4.1 catches per game over the past 2 seasons, which projects to 66 over a full schedule.

The Patriots have signed RB Travaris Cadet, according to ESPN's Field Yates.  New Orleans surprisingly opted not to tender the restricted free agent, despite cutting Pierre Thomas.  Cadet could never carve out a consistent role in a crowded Saints backfield, but caught 38 balls for 296 yards and a score this past season.  He has a chance replace Shane Vereen as the pass-catching back in New England.  Vereen averaged 4.1 catches per game over the past 2 seasons.  Highlight Cadet as a sleeper in your PPR league.

Saints HC Sean Payton acknowledged this week that RB Darren Sproles is a "unique" talent the team (and league) can't replicate.  But he also said New Orleans expects RB Travaris Cadet to take on some of Sproles' old role -- primarily the pass-catching.  We don't expect Cadet to get anywhere near the 100-target threshold that Sproles surpassed in 2011 and 2012, or even reach the 89 of last season.  But there's plenty of room for Cadet to reach 40 catches if he performs the way Payton seems to expect.  Cadet looks like a potential later-round fantasy football sleeper, especially in PPR drafts.

Saints HC Sean Payton expects RB Travaris Cadet to take on "a little more of that role" that RB Darren Sproles has played the past 3 years.  Sproles averaged 63 carries and 77 catches per season with the Saints.  Cadet is unlikely to approach either of those numbers, though.  He's not as dynamic as Sproles and will be 4th in the pecking order behind Mark Ingram, Khiry Robinson and Pierre Thomas.  Cadet is worth monitoring this summer but is unlikely to be more than a late-round flier in PPR drafts.  Thomas is the better candidate to assume some of Sproles' production.