Murphy carried eight times for 33 yards and caught his only target for an additional yard during Sunday's 27-6 win over the Vikings.

EDGE Analysis

With LeSean McCoy (ribs) out, Murphy moved into the No. 2 spot on the depth chart and set a new season high in touches. He led the team with an average of 4.1 yards per carry, though Chris Ivory and quarterback Josh Allen accounted for 95 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Murphy has fared relatively well when given the chance this season, but he still faces an uphill battle for touches out of the backfield. His role will diminish once McCoy returns to action, which could come as soon as next week against the Packers.

Murphy could be in line for an expanded role Week 3 with LeSean McCoy (ribs) inactive, though Mike Rodak of ESPN.com reports that Chris Ivory will draw the start.

EDGE Analysis

Murphy has checked in at No. 2 overall among Buffalo running backs in terms of snap count through the first two weeks, logging exactly 23 snaps in each of the first two games. He's carried the ball just nine times, however, largely representing an afterthought in the team's offensive game plan under rookie quarterback Josh Allen. While veteran Chris Ivory will start this week in the absence of McCoy, Murphy has the edge in both snap count and rushing attempts, though it's worth noting that Ivory found the end zone Week 2 against the Chargers. Despite the increased opportunity, Murphy and Ivory are both low-end fantasy plays due to the likely timeshare and a tough matchup against the Vikings. Minnesota has allowed 94.0 rushing yards/game (with an extra 10 minutes of overtime) through the season's first two weeks, but has yet to allow an opposing rusher to score a touchdown.

Murphy rushed three times for six yards and caught just one of five targets for seven yards during Sunday's loss to the Chargers.

EDGE Analysis

Murphy had seemingly passed Chris Ivory for No. 2 duties and even though he got three carries to Ivory's two, it was Ivory who got the goal-line plunge for Buffalo's only rushing score, while the former Jaguar was also involved in the passing game just like Murphy. There will be some guesswork involved if starter LeSean McCoy misses some time to a rib injury suffered Sunday, though the early word is Shady will try to play through the issue.

Murphy ran for 31 yards on six carries during Sunday's 47-3 loss to the Ravens.

EDGE Analysis

It was a solid, but unspectacular, season debut for Murphy. How much stock do you put into a game that was over so early? One thing to look out for is this: both quarterbacks need a security blanket. That might mean that Shady McCoy gets more involved in the passing game and his backup gets more carries as he rests up. Monitor Buffalo's depth chart.

Murphy seems to have surpassed Chris Ivory as the No. 2 running back on the depth chart, Joe Buscaglia of WKBW.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Throughout training camp and the preseason, Buffalo running backs ran through drills in the same order they were listed on the depth chart. While Ivory was that No. 2 guy into drills behind LeSean McCoy for the vast majority of the offseason, Murphy assumed that responsibility in practice both Monday and Wednesday. If a changing of the guard has truly taken place -- which wouldn't be a surprise given Murphy's impressive preseason -- Ivory would no longer be the preferred handcuff to McCoy, who's at risk of a potential suspension while his off-the-field legal concerns unfold.

Murphy rushed 11 times for 58 yards and caught both of his targets for seven more in Sunday's 26-13 preseason loss to the Bengals.

EDGE Analysis

Murphy hasn't previously made much of a name for himself since being selected in the seventh round of the 2015 draft by the Saints, but he's pretty much a lock to make Buffalo's roster and looked excellent once again in this one. If LeSean McCoy's (hip/groin) recovery spills into the regular season, Murphy's primary competition for touches would be injury-prone veteran Chris Ivory.

Murphy gained 39 yards on four carries and 39 yards on one punt return in Friday's preseason game against the Browns.

EDGE Analysis

He did drop his only target but otherwise had a fantastic night. ESPN.com's Mike Rodak believes Murphy could push Chris Ivory for the No. 2 running back job, and WKBW's Joe Buscaglia thinks the 26-year-old has already earned his spot on the 53-man roster. Murphy will try to strengthen his case next Sunday against the Bengals.

Murphy carried seven times for 35 yards and caught four passes for 30 yards in Thursday's preseason opener, scoring one of the Bills' three touchdowns on a seven-yard run.

EDGE Analysis

The Bills seem set at the top two running back spots between veterans LeSean McCoy and Chris Ivory, but the coaching staff has been raving about Murphy -- who signed with the Bills last November -- for much of the summer and he has a legit chance to beat out Travaris Cadet and Taiwan Jones for the No. 3 spot. All three have abilities in the return game, which might end up being the deciding factor in who the Bills keep entering the regular season.

Murphy's teammate LeSean McCoy (ankle) is active for Sunday's playoff game in Jacksonville.

EDGE Analysis

McCoy is far from 100 percent, so there's still a chance he can't gut it through the entire game and a number of carries and short catches end up falling to Murphy, who totaled 48 yards from scrimmage in Week 17. However, given that Mike Tolbert is also in the mix and that McCoy plans to give it a full go, Murphy's role is more likely to be minimal.

Murphy is poised for a larger workload Sunday at Jacksonville with LeSean McCoy's (ankle) status up in the air, Sal Maiorana of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Murphy has spent less than two months in the Bills organization, but his promotion to the 53-man roster before Week 17 could soon pay significant dividends. Granted, McCoy is considered a "game-time decision" due to his ankle injury, per Adam Schefter of ESPN, but the multiple Pro Bowler missed Wednesday's practice. After McCoy was knocked out Week 17, Murphy proceeded to split work with Mike Tolbert, both of whom received seven carries and two targets by the end of the game.