Spiller had 10 carries for eight rushing yards and three catches on four targets for 25 receiving yards Sunday against the Lions.

Spiller struggled so much early that he was all but ignored from early in the second quarter to late in the third. Fred Jackson finished with the same number of carries but turned them into 49 rushing yards, while also catching seven passes on nine targets for 58 receiving yards. Spiller continues to have more big-play ability than Jackson, but the big plays just aren't happening, as he's now gone four straight games without a touchdown, while failing to reach even 70 rushing yards. Up next is a Week 6 matchup against a Patriots' defense that is excellent against the pass and poor against the run, but after this recent run of games, it's tough to expect big things from Spiller.

Spiller (chest) had 15 carries for 60 rushing yards and three catches on three targets for 24 receiving yards Sunday against the Texans.

Spiller finished with more than double the carries of Fred Jackson (15 to seven), but the latter accumulated 85 total yards versus the former's 84 thanks to 52 receiving yards (six catches on seven targets). The team seems content with giving Spiller a bigger share of the rushing load, but Jackson continues to show his worth through the passing game, while also getting goal-line carries when they arise. Spiller still has plenty of fantasy value, but his touchdowns appear to be dependent on longer plays.

Spiller (chest) is active Sunday at Houston, Joe Buscaglia of WGR 550 reports.

Spiller has handled a decent workload this season -- 14.3 touches per game -- meaning he should fare well against a Texans defense that has given up 5.2 YPC in 2014.

Spiller (chest) was able to practice on a full basis Friday and is listed as probable for Sunday's game in Houston, ESPN's Mike Rodak reports.

As with teammate EJ Manuel, Spiller's status was never in doubt for this one. What is always in doubt is his week-to-week usage, and we'll continue to track his opportunities vs. Fred Jackson, and to a lesser extent Boobie Dixon.

Spiller was added to the Bills' injury report Thursday as a full practice participant with a chest injury, ESPN's Mike Rodak reports.

That said, coach Doug Marrone noted that there is no concern at this stage that Spiller's Week 4 status will be impacted by the issue.

Spiller gained just 25 yards on 10 carries during Sunday's loss to the Chargers. He also caught all three of his targets for 37 yards.

Spiller was a monster in Week 2, but the Chargers weren't going to let that happen and he never really got much going. Fred Jackson only carried the ball six times, so that's a good development for Spiller owners, though Jackson was far more involved in the passing game, hauling in eight balls on 10 targets for 78 yards and a score. Spiller and the Bills take on the Texans next week, a defense that was chewed up by Rashad Jennings and the Giants this week.

Spiller had 12 carries for 69 rushing yards and one catch on one target for nine receiving yards, and he also returned a kickoff 102 yards for a touchdown Sunday against the Dolphins.

Head coach Doug Marrone has consistently talked about getting the ball into Spiller's hands more, which is why he was put on kickoff duties this season, but Spiller finished with the same number of carries as Fred Jackson on Sunday, with the latter turning those into 24 yards (11 of which came on a single play). It appears the two will continue to share carries, which obviously limits Spiller's fantasy upside.

Spiller had 15 carries for 53 yards and caught three passes for 11 yards with a touchdown in Sunday's overtime win at Chicago.

Spiller received eight more carries than Fred Jackson, but the oldest running back in the league was more productive on a per-play basis, averaging a healthy 8.7 YPC. Jackson also saw most of the goal line work, but that's probably what most fantasy owners expected. While it's not ideal that Spiller isn't used much in the red zone, it's encouraging that he led Buffalo's backfield with 18 touches.

Spiller will be the Bills' main kickoff returner to start the season in an effort to get him the ball about 20 times a game, BuffaloBills.com reports. When it comes to the risk of injury to such a valuable player, coach Doug Marrone said, "I look at it as how many guys have been injured returning the football compared to people injured with the ball being handed off to them. I don't view it as much of a risk as some people would. I could understand why people could see that because of the distance and the way people are running down the field. But again I don't look at it that way. As much as we can get our playmakers out there whether it be punt returns or kickoff returns we have to make sure we explore that."

Well, if you say you're going to find a way to get Spiller the ball more and you still want to use Fred Jackson on offense, this is one way to do it. While Spiller hasn't returned kicks in a regular season NFL game since 2011, he was a master at it at Clemson, averaging 27.7 yards per return with seven touchdowns. While kick returns aren't as potent an area since the NFL moved the kickoff line up to the 35, this news still gives Spiller a slight bump in value. And if the Bills are serious about him getting 20 touches a game - an effort that has failed before - that can only mean god things for such an athletic player.

Spiller finished the preseason with 21 rushes for 73 yards and a 3.5 average. He also caught four passes for 26 yards.

Most important, Spiller came through the preseason unscathed. The Bills have a pretty crowded backfield, but Spiller is by far the most athletic and has the potential that if he plays like he did two seasons ago - he wasn't healthy last season - the Bills will finally wise up and give him most of the carries between the 20's. The team has also said they plan to use just two carriers for most of the time, meaning Spiller and Fred Jackson will carry the mail while Bryce Brown and Booby Dixon will have limited roles. The one word of caution we have here is that Spiller is simply not a touchdown guy unless he breaks a long one. He's got just 12 rushing touchdowns over his four NFL seasons, and all three of his aforementioned teammates might be more suitable for carries inside the 10.

GM Doug Whaley indicated Wednesday that the Bills have not been contacted by any other teams about Spiller, the Buffalo News reports.

In reference to media speculation that the Bills may have been approached about Spiller's availability, Whaley noted "these rumors are news to me." Said speculation was presumably fueled by the fact that the running back is entering the final year of his contract and the Bills did add depth behind Spiller and Fred Jackson (Anthony Dixon and Bryce Brown) this offseason.

Spiller had one carry for two yards in Sunday's Hall of Fame Game against the Giants.

As expected, Spiller got the start and the first touch, while both he and Fred Jackson worked with the first-team offense. Though their focus was on the passing game in the first preseason contest, the Bills figure to do plenty of running once the regular season begins. After dealing with an ankle injury throughout last season, Spiller is thought to be 100 percent healthy.

The Bills' first training camp depth chart listed C.J. Spiller as the starting tailback over Fred Jackson.

Spiller did make ten "starts" to F-Jax's six last season, although Jackson finished with 253 touches compared to an injured Spiller's 235. Look for the pendulum to swing back toward a now-healthy Spiller in 2014. Jackson is still likely to open the season as a usable RB2/flex for as long as he stays upright. Spiller will be a high-ceiling, if volatile RB2 with weekly RB1 scoring upside.

CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora suggests the Bills could trade C.J. Spiller before the season.

It's hard to imagine because Spiller is Buffalo's best playmaker on a team very much in win-now mode. La Canfora's story also doesn't cite sources, hinting it's mere speculation. It's interesting nonetheless. Spiller is entering the final year of his contract, and the Bills seem unlikely to sign him long term. "A trade market for Spiller could well develop over the next month," La Canfora wrote of Spiller, who was not drafted by current Bills GM Doug Whaley. The Bills have Fred Jackson, Bryce Brown, and Anthony Dixon behind Spiller.

According to the Bills' official website, C.J. Spiller is likely to touch the ball 20 times per game "if the offense is operating at peak efficiency."

C.J. Spiller is expected to be part of the competition to be the Bills' kick returner this season.

Spiller hasn't returned a kick since 2011, and hasn't done it regularly since his 2010 rookie season when he averaged 23.0 yards per on 44 returns and brought one back to the house. With the Bills adding Bryce Brown and Anthony Dixon to their backfield in the offseason, it could allow them to get Spiller's game-breaking ability on the field more on special teams. Marquise Goodwin, T.J. Graham, Sammy Watkins, and Leodis McKelvin are also in the mix for return duties.

The offensive coaches "seem eager" to expand the way in which C.J. Spiller will be used this season.

The Bills tried slamming Spiller between the tackles far too often last season, failing to utilize his unique open-field ability. Expanding his usage creatively to include more screens, draws and pitches will go a long way toward a rebound season. So will a completely healed ankle. The Bills' official site named Spiller one of the team's top OTA performers, noting he was fully healthy while "bobbing and weaving through would-be tacklers" and is "back to cutting on a dime."

Bills.com's Chris Brown expects the team to "let the season play out" before entertaining an extension for C.J. Spiller.

Spiller is signed for $1,748,750 in 2014, and holds a $2,196,663 player option for 2015. After an injury-marred 2013, it's in Spiller's best interest to bet on himself this year, rather than sign a below-market deal. Adds Brown, "I am encouraged that offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett will diversify the ways in which he uses Spiller in the scope of the offense (this season)."

C.J. Spiller declared himself fully recovered from last year's high ankle sprain at Bills OTAs.

"I don't feel nothing, I feel great," he said. "This is the best I've felt since 2012 when I had that great year. The ankle feels wonderful." Spiller turns 27 before the season, and is eligible for free agency in 2015. The Bills seem to have scrapped the idea of utilizing Spiller as a bellcow, but he should still see 14-17 touches per game while being spelled by Fred Jackson and Bryce Brown.

WGR 550 Buffalo expects a "more defined and bigger role" for C.J. Spiller in 2014.

Spiller played 394 snaps in 2013, often at far less than 100 percent. Reporter Joe Buscaglia acknowledges that the Bills have likely given up on the idea of Spiller as a workhorse, but that OC Nathaniel Hackett now "understands where (Spiller) works best." For all the handwringing, Spiller still averaged 4.6 yards on his 202 carries last season, and caught 33 passes. He's a boom-or-bust RB2.