The start of Week 4 showed the difference between good market ratings and the standings. Despite the fact that the 1-2 Bengals were playing the 3-0 Dolphins, Cincinnati closed as 4-point favorites, suggesting the team is viewed as at least Miami's equal.As we continue into Week 4, not getting caught up in what the standings say will be paramount in keeping the season profitable.BET TYPELAST WEEKSEASON (units)ATS trio1-2 (-1.2)5-4 (+0.6)ML upset+22-1 (+2.9)Totals+11-2 (-1.2)Teasers+12-1 (+0.8)TOTAL+2.8+3.1Best bets ATSSaints +3 (+100)Andy Dalton in, Michael Thomas out - what could possibly go wrong? I don't see Dalton as a big downgrade over a hampered Jameis Winston, and the Saints have enough other weapons with the emergence of Rookie of the Year candidate Chris Olave.Kevin O'Connell flew his Vikings team to London late in the week, whereas Dennis Allen got his club settled in England early. The Saints' secondary can copycat the Lions' and Eagles' ability to shut down Justin Jefferson, and their defensive line will torment Kirk Cousins. So, now that we're getting a full field goal, there's value in backing New Orleans.Ravens +3 (+100)We try not to double down on the round-robin underdog moneyline parlay, but we're still seeing a little too much credit assigned to the Bills. Their health issues in the secondary will get more of a test this week given they'll have to keep an eye on what's going on in the Ravens' backfield.The Bills will score through the air, but Baltimore's front seven can contain anything Buffalo tries to do on the ground. This game might come down to a field goal as the line suggests, and the Ravens' special teams are more reliable, especially in potentially sketchy weather.Buccaneers PK (+100)The Buccaneers' receivers kept fumbling the ball. Tampa Bay's defense kept giving Tom Brady a chance to get back in last week's game, but Breshad Perriman and Russell Gage had key fumbles on either side of halftime. So, while all the attention goes to the failed two-point conversion, it shouldn't have come to that.The Chiefs were lackluster offensively for a second straight week, but bettors will always overlook that for Kansas City. With no fear of the run game, the Bucs' defense slows Patrick Mahomes. Plus, Brady has at least one reliable target with Mike Evans back, freeing up the rest of the group to succeed Sunday night.Moneyline upset of the weekOur defined parameter for this section is underdogs paying at least +150.Seahawks +170Geno Smith's 77.5% completion percentage and 4:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio since his first start last season suggest he's not the reason to fade the Seahawks. With the most yards per play allowed against, Seattle's defense is. However, Jared Goff will be missing both Amon-Ra St. Brown and D'Andre Swift, arguably the Lions' two biggest difference-makers offensively.The Seahawks will test Detroit's defense - which has given up five rushing yards per game - with Rashaad Penny and Kenneth Walker, who we'd expect to get more run. If that creates one-on-ones for DK Metcalf against the Lions' secondary, Seattle can steal this game.Best total betCardinals / Panthers over 43.5This is a game about matchups. The total is low because neither team has shown much offensively. However, the game script for this tightly lined matchup shapes up as a back-and-forth affair similar to the Panthers' first contest of the season against the Browns.Kyler Murray can create offense against a Carolina team that gave up 426 yards last week better than Jacoby Brissett, Daniel Jones, or Jameis Winston. And even if Christian McCaffrey can't play, the Panthers will still contribute points against a soft Cardinals defense, making an over on such a low total a reasonable expectation.Best 6-point teaserEagles -0.5 / Broncos +8.5 (-120)Normally, we like to put our optimal favorite in the ATS section, but since the Eagles are my would-be survivor pick in Week 4, we'll tease them down from -6.5 to -0.5. You're not getting amazing value on Philadelphia since its moneyline is around -280, which suggests a 73.7% win probability. However, that's a fair price for me in a game that might expose the Jaguars as merely improved but not outstanding.I really just want to use an Eagles moneyline bet to get the Broncos up to +8.5. Bettors appear repulsed by Denver's offense after watching it in prime time in two out of three weeks. As he did in Seattle, Russell Wilson will constantly find himself playing close games. Daring the 0-3 Raiders to win by this margin is the best use of a teaser this week.Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there’s a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Steelers offense is off to a rough start, averaging 272.7 yards per game to rank 31st in the league.On Friday, running back Najee Harris commented on what the Steelers' issues are on offense."Play-calling and all of that is fine. It's just us executing," Harris said.Harris later pushed back on the criticism the Steelers are receiving in the media."I see (on) social media (and) all that how bad they talk about our O line. But it's not. It's me. We need to just stop focusing on them and focus on me rather. So that's one thing I do want to address."You guys come in here and ask questions to all the receivers and all the guys, Mitch, about what's not working. That's not how you build. It's not how you get better. You guys are breaking us up," Harris added.Harris is averaging 3.2 yards per carry through three games with only 128 total rushing yards.The Steelers are off to a 1-2 start and will look to even their record on Sunday against the New York Jets.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cleveland Browns pass-rusher Myles Garrett said Friday that he expects to be a game-time decision for Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons, according to ESPN's Jake Trotter.Garrett suffered a shoulder and biceps strain as well as minor lacerations in a one-car accident following Monday's practice. He cleared concussion protocol after undergoing a medical evaluation Tuesday.The defensive end wants to play but said the coaches and training staff will make the decision."That's just my competitive spirit and my nature," Garrett said. "Physically, we have to assess that, going up to the game. ... That's a decision we'll make a little closer to game time."The 26-year-old was officially listed as questionable for the Week 4 game.Garrett also spoke about his accident for the first time, saying he was "definitely grateful to be here."

Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey is listed as questionable for Week 4 against the Arizona Cardinals due to a thigh injury.McCaffrey returned to practice Friday as a limited participant after sitting out the previous two days.Panthers head coach Matt Rhule said Friday that he's "very hopeful" McCaffrey will be good to go for Sunday.Carolina's star running back is coming off back-to-back 100-yard rushing games for the first time since 2019.The Panthers got their first win of the season last week against the New Orleans Saints. McCaffrey shouldered the load as he was responsible for over 35% of his team's yards on offense.Carolina is struggling to get anything going in the passing game. The club sits 31st in total passing yards, averaging 161 yards per contest.If McCaffrey can't play Sunday, D'Onta Foreman and Chuba Hubbard are expected to be the featured running backs.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

SSSQ is a weekly look at under-appreciated fantasy players to consider starting and potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut.For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult our Week 4 rankings. You can also listen to the Week 4 preview episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast.StartTom Brady, Buccaneersvs. Chiefs Cooper Neill / Getty Images Sport / GettyIt's rare to see Brady featured in the start section, but doubts might be creeping in for his managers after three straight games with fewer than 15 fantasy points. Fortunately, Brady's subpar fantasy performances are easily explainable, and his situation is about to change for the better.The Buccaneers have dealt with a variety of injuries to their offensive line and receiving corps, as well as a suspension for Mike Evans that caused him to miss last week's game.Evans will return to action for their Sunday night showdown with the Chiefs and could be joined by wideout Julio Jones and left tackle Donovan Smith, who are both back to limited practices. And though Chris Godwin is unlikely to play in Week 4, he'll be active soon, too.The cavalry is coming at the right time, as Brady prepares to go toe-to-toe with Patrick Mahomes. Plus, Kansas City's defense is allowing the ninth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season.Brady will be a solid top-12 option on what should be an emotional night for Tampa Bay in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.Boone's projection: 312 passing yards, 3 passing TDsOther QBs to start

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.theScore's Justin Boone was first overall in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition in 2019 and finished among the top seven each of his last seven years in the contest. Follow the links below to see his rankings for Week 4.The final rankings will be released Sunday morning.Half PPR

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is active for Thursday night's game against the Cincinnati Bengals despite back and ankle injuries, the team announced.Tagovailoa was originally listed as questionable but said Tuesday he was hoping to play. The signal-caller suffered the injuries in last Sunday's win over the Buffalo Bills.The 24-year-old admitted the back issue could severely limit him."I would say everything," Tagovailoa said when asked how the injury affects him on the field. "Having to twist to hand the ball off, having to toss the ball, having to throw the ball. Every aspect of it."The quarterback was checked for a concussion after taking a big hit and stumbling back to his feet against Buffalo. He cleared the concussion protocol and returned after only three plays to lead Miami to victory.He said postgame that the back injury caused his stumble. His quick return was controversial and caused the NFL Players Association to start an investigation into the Dolphins' handling of the concussion check.The NFL said Wednesday that every indication is that the Dolphins followed the protocol.Tagovailoa is among the early MVP front-runners after throwing for 925 yards and eight touchdowns against two interceptions during Miami's 3-0 start to the campaign.Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and left tackle Terron Armstead are also active for Week 4.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Saquon Barkley not only looks like one of the NFL's most dominant running backs again this season - he hasn't felt this good in a long time.The New York Giants star, who put on a show as a freshman in 2018 but wasn't able to replicate that success in the following years, said Thursday the plays he's made through this season's first three games remind him of his best days in the NFL."Yeah, not to be arrogant but when you see plays like when I went back and watched film on the touchdown run I had on Monday, making that jump cut inside a hole, making those two guys miss and finding a way to score, those are plays where it just puts a smile on your face when you're like, 'That is the guy I know,'" Barkley said, according to ESPN's Jordan Raanan.Barkley took the league by storm after the Giants drafted him second overall in 2018. He rushed for 1,307 yards and caught 721 that year, good for an NFL-high 2,028 scrimmage yards. The Penn State product also amassed 15 total touchdowns while appearing in all 16 games en route to winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year award.But Barkley struggled to stay healthy the following years. He missed three games in 2019 with an ankle injury before being sidelined for most of the 2020 campaign due to a torn ACL. An ankle ailment then forced him to sit out four games last season.However, Barkley is off to a hot start to the 2022 campaign. The 25-year-old leads all running backs in snaps played, and he's racked up 317 yards (six per carry) as well as two touchdowns on the ground. His 408 scrimmage yards also top the league this year."That is the guy who was always there," Barkley added. "He was there last year to be completely honest. I just had a hard time finding a way to bring him out. That is coming with a mental disconnect, loss in confidence, and just human nature. It happens. You're going to have your ups and downs in life, but you have to find a way not to waver and trust yourself. Continue to trust the process and find belief in yourself again. I feel like I'm starting to do that."Barkley has a good opportunity to keep his momentum going in Week 4 as the 2-1 Giants host the Chicago Bears, who've allowed the second-most rushing yards in 2022.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' home matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night won't be moved amid the fallout from Hurricane Ian, the team announced Thursday.The NFL was considering shifting the game from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa to the Minnesota Vikings' U.S. Bank Stadium, but after consulting with local and state agencies, the Buccaneers said they've decided the contest will go ahead as scheduled."Our thoughts and prayers remain with the many thousands in the Southwest Florida region who have been severely impacted by Hurricane Ian," the team said in a statement. "We are also very thankful that the Tampa Bay area was spared the most damaging consequences of this powerful storm."The NFC South club practiced at the Miami Dolphins' facility this week ahead of the storm's landfall on Florida's west coast. The league said Wednesday that it was hopeful the game wouldn't need to be moved.The Buccaneers (2-1) and Chiefs (2-1) are looking to bounce back in prime time after both suffered their first losses of the season in Week 3. Tampa Bay fell to the Green Bay Packers, while Kansas City was upset by the Indianapolis Colts.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Michael Pierce decided Thursday to undergo season-ending surgery to repair his torn bicep, per team reporter Clifton Brown.Head coach John Harbaugh spoke to reporters Wednesday and indicated that season-ending surgery was one of Pierce's options, as was playing through the injury and having the surgery after the season concluded.This is Pierce's second stint with the Ravens. Before going down with the injury in a Week 3 win over the New England Patriots, Pierce had played 51% of Baltimore's defensive snaps in Week 1 and 49% in Week 2, accumulating six tackles, a quarterback hit, and a forced fumble.Rookie third-round selection Travis Jones is likely to see an increase in playing time with Pierce out. Jones, who was making his NFL debut against the Patriots, played 29% of the snaps after Pierce went down. Calais Campbell, Justin Madubuike, Brent Urban, and Broderick Washington are the other defensive linemen currently on the roster.The Ravens host the 2-1 Buffalo Bills this week, who are second in the league in total offense with 441.3 yards per game.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Few expected Jalen Hurts to become an unquestioned starter in the NFL when the Philadelphia Eagles drafted him in 2020, let alone blossom into an MVP candidate in just his second full-time season at the helm.But former Eagles coach Doug Pederson, who'll return to Philadelphia for the first time with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, knew Hurts was a future star."He's going to defy all odds," Pederson said Wednesday, according to Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia. "That's just the way his career has been built. He's overcome adversity everywhere he's been, at Alabama and Oklahoma."Just not surprised. Not surprised that he's playing this well, and he's playing and really utilizing the guys around him to help him get these wins that they're piling up."Pederson gave Hurts his first shot in the NFL, starting him four times as a rookie over a struggling Carson Wentz. While the signal-caller initially dealt with consistency issues, particularly as a passer, he flashed enough potential for the Eagles to hand him the reins for 2021.After a solid campaign last season, Hurts has taken a huge leap through the first three weeks of this season. He has thrown for 916 yards and four touchdowns against one interception while adding 167 yards and three scores on the ground.His improvements as a passer have come following the arrival of A.J. Brown -whom the Eagles acquired from the Tennessee Titans for a first-round pick - and amid a sophomore jump from DeVonta Smith.After seeing his leadership skills up close as a rookie, Pederson isn't surprised Hurts has taken full control of the new-look Eagles offense."He was the same way," Pederson said. "He was a sponge. He wants to learn; he wants to get better. He's a professional, and he takes it serious. Those are the things that you want in your quarterback, out of the leader of your team. So there's no surprise that he's still doing that."Pederson was hired by the Jaguars this offseason after a year away from football following his exit from Philadelphia.The AFC South club enters the Week 4 matchup with a surprising 2-1 record following blowout wins over the Los Angeles Chargers and Indianapolis Colts over the last two weeks.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Las Vegas Raiders acquired All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams from the Green Bay Packers in the offseason to pair with former college teammate Derek Carr, but production and wins have been hard to come by so far.Adams said Wednesday he isn't overly concerned with the production because he's "not doing this thing for stats at the end of the day," according to ESPN's Paul Gutierrez. The receiver is also aware of the adjustments that defenses are making after his Raiders debut against the Los Angeles Chargers, in which he logged 17 targets, 10 receptions, 141 yards, and one touchdown."Nobody gets played (defensively) like how I get played in the National Football League. Obviously, we played professional ball together - Aaron (Rodgers) and I - longer than what me and Derek have, so it kind of was a little bit more gradual than what this was," Adams said. "(Derek and I) jumped straight into the fire, had a few one-on-one opportunities in the first week and got 17 targets. So now, people are changing it up, obviously, and we've got to change some stuff up, too."Since that opening-weekend explosion, Adams has a combined 17 targets, seven receptions, 48 yards, and two touchdowns in two games.Adams' "perfect world" would be plenty of single-high safety coverage, but he knows "it's going to be a lot more cloud (coverage) and double-teams." Other receiving options on the team, like Mack Hollins, have been shouldering the load while defenses try to take away Adams and tight end Darren Waller. Hollins put up eight receptions for 158 yards and a touchdown against the Titans in Week 3, with the yardage accounting for about 16% of Hollins' total production over the last five years.Head coach Josh McDaniels acknowledged that it's been a process for the Fresno State products, Adams and Carr, to get on the same page. McDaniels also said there's "a responsibility to help those two guys continue to be productive as well. So, we're all in it together."When Carr was asked if he was overcorrecting his ball distribution, he shook his head, saying, "I'm going to listen to Josh (McDaniels) and my progressions and what he's telling me in the game."While production is one concern, winning is the more significant issue for the Raiders. Vegas is the only 0-3 team after three weeks of play (the Houston Texans are also winless at 0-2-1). Carr acknowledged that "it takes time," but the 0-3 start has left the Raiders with very little time to get back on track in the AFC.The Raiders will attempt to get in the win column against the 2-1 Denver Broncos in Week 4.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Things almost got the right amount of uncomfortable last week as the Dolphins and Jaguars won outright, but another "close but no cigar" week means we're down two units on this gambit through three weeks despite a good 6-8-1 underdog moneyline record. An 11-4-1 record against the spread has eased the pain so far this season.With this year's schedule, we were playing massive underdogs two weeks ago, hoping to hit just three. Now with the league tightening from top to bottom, 14 of the 16 games are lined under six points. We're actually trying to win all five this week!How it worksWe parlay five underdogs together - whom we bet against the spread - in 10 different three-team parlays. Using every combination of a three-team parlay is called a round robin, so we're going to use a total of 1.1 units to make 11 different bets: 10 three-team parlays and one five-team parlay, each for .1 units. You'll likely double your money if three teams pull off the upset. If four teams win, you're connecting on four separate parlays and will be very pleased with the return. If all five teams win, as they did for us in Week 1 last season, you'll be diving into a gold doubloon silo like a young Scrooge McDuck.Who to playRavens +135Given the Ravens' struggles in their secondary at the start of the season and the injuries to the Bills' back end, we can assume this could get wild for the two early favorites for MVP. With hurricanes tormenting the Southeast, it may be wet and wild, with rain potentially a factor in Baltimore. The Ravens' ground game and special teams may end up being the difference-makers. Given that we're getting a price on what should be a toss-up game that's dropped from +4 to +3 on the point spread, we'll play the Ravens as short 'dogs.Bears +145This is the low-rent version of the game above. It also has two mobile quarterbacks, except neither strike fear in the hearts of defenders with their arm. So there'll be a lot of running in this game, with Saquon Barkley looking to be explosive against a weak Bears run defense and Chicago aiming to gash the even worse Giants run defense. After two wins to start the season got the New York faithful fired up, it wouldn't be surprising to see the G-Men fall twice in one week.Jets +150Zach Wilson is set to make his season debut. His youth and athleticism add new variables to the equation for the Jets. New York will move him around and out of the pocket, which should mask the line issues after another offensive tackle went down this week. The Steelers have just two sacks since T.J. Watt got hurt in Week 1. With more viable targets than Wilson had in his rookie year, and the Jets comfortable with a high-passing volume, they can score enough to outpace the struggling Steelers offense.Seahawks +180The Seahawks scored just enough in Week 1 against a tough Broncos defense but couldn't move the ball on the road against an even tougher 49ers unit in Week 2. Last week, they had offensive success in a losing cause to the Falcons - who have given up 6.0 yards per play. Now they face the Lions' defense, who've given up 5.8 yards per play. The Lions are renowned for backdoor covers against the spread, but in a rare role as decent-sized favorites, they could suffer that fate in reverse. And if they're not careful - with a key weapon in D'Andre Swift potentially out - they might get upset.Titans +150The theme of the RR MLP this week is grabbing the 'dog in a toss-up game. We were on the Colts' win over the Chiefs last week, but if we're being honest, that was more of a fluke than most would care to admit.The Titans picked up a mandatory win over the Raiders last week and got Derrick Henry going by throwing him the football, creating safe throws for Ryan Tannehill. Neither defense has been remotely imposing, but Matt Ryan looks ready to give the ball up at any point, and we'll bet the Titans can do more with his mistakes than Kansas City did.Here's how the odds look this week:PARLAYODDS (Approx.)BAL+CHI+NYJ+1400BAL+CHI+SEA+1600BAL+CHI+TEN+1500BAL+NYJ+SEA+1600BAL+NYJ+TEN+1500BAL+SEA+TEN+1600CHI+NYJ+SEA+1650CHI+NYJ+TEN+1500CHI+SEA+TEN+1700NYJ+SEA+TEN+1700BAL+CHI+NYJ+SEA+TEN+11000Who are your five underdogs for a football betting lottery ticket?Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there’s a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Last season, we rock and rolled our way to the Super Bowl with music-themed Thursday Night Football player props, joyfully celebrating the start of a new NFL week. This year, we'll use an episode from "Must See TV" cornerstone "Seinfeld" each week to remind us that betting is supposed to be fun, even when an absurd series of events leads to a losing bet."Fruit's a gamble; I know that going in."The first episode of the second season of "Seinfeld" introduces the characters' trials and tribulations with dating. Thirty years after the episodes aired, the themes still ring true, as humans have the same things in common now as they did then. Remembering that the characters on the field this Thursday night are human is the basis for a sensible handicap, while also knowing that trying to figure out how those humans are going to respond can be as difficult as picking out the right cantaloupe at the grocery store."The Ex-Girlfriend"Midway through the episode, Jerry does a stand-up joke about wanting to be in the smallest room possible when receiving medical attention. "You don't want them doing anything to you that makes other doctors go, 'I have to see this! Are they really going to do that to them?'" Having to go on the road four days after their defense played 90 plays in the South Florida heat, the Dolphins might feel like they're involved in some sort of experimental treatment under the TNF spotlight.On paper, the Bengals being favored by over a field goal doesn't make sense, but the Dolphins are, as Jerry and Kramer say, "flesh and blood!" To take advantage of the wear and tear on Miami, the Bengals should turn to their bruising back, Joe Mixon.You don't put the ball in the air to take advantage of a tired team; you use your offensive line to lean on them, push them down the field, and force the defense to tackle. It's been a struggle so far for Mixon on a yards-per-play basis - which is why this total is relatively low. However, that can be explained away by him facing three defenses in the top half of the league in yards per play allowed thus far.Mixon was rested late in the second half against the Jets, with Zac Taylor understanding the short week ahead. Given the struggles the Bengals have had protecting Joe Burrow, they'll want to stabilize the offense via the run game and will have success doing so against the banged-up Dolphins.Pick: Joe Mixon over 65.5 rushing yards (-110)A TD that's definitely going to happenWe're not going to be the guy on the highway that Jerry talks about who can't stop changing lanes. We're sticking with riding Mixon for our obvious anytime touchdown.Like Jerry's love interest Marlene might say, we've seen the Bengals' act at the goal line - "It's just so much fluff." They've tried too hard to have Burrow throw it to their fleet of receivers, ignoring Mixon, who's yet to score a touchdown this season after 16 total scores last year.The Bengals have zero rushing touchdowns through three games, but they can get one on Thursday night, especially if the tired Dolphins want to get off the field, finding a break in the action to say "alright then."Pick: Joe Mixon anytime touchdown (-110)A TD that probably won't happen ... but maybe it doesWhen we look for a long-shot touchdown scorer, all we ask for is one target in the end zone to decide the bet right then and there. Like a Band-Aid: one motion, right off! Mitch Trubisky (+550) had one chance to score for us last week, and he did it.We'll give another Mitchell a call this week, looking for the Bengals tight end to get a look near the end zone. Mitchell Wilcox has seen his snap share go from 2% to 27% to 57% in three games this season. If the Bengals are running well, a play-action shot to the second tight end might result in Wilcox getting his name called like he's in a doctors' waiting room, only to have to go wait in a smaller room.Pick: Mitchell Wilcox anytime touchdown (+600)How to bet: The first two bets should be single-unit wagers - to win a unit on minus prices and more than a unit on a plus-money bet. The last wager should be smaller, trying to win back your standard unit size.Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there’s a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore NFL insider Jordan Schultz and football editors Jack Browne, Caio Miari, Daniel Valente, and Dan Wilkins make their weekly predictions for every game on the NFL calendar.Last weekSchultzBrowneMiariValenteWilkins10-610-611-56-109-7Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson is medically cleared to play in Week 4, head coach Robert Saleh announced Wednesday.Wilson is expected to start Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers barring any setbacks.The 23-year-old has yet to play this season due to a knee injury. He underwent surgery after suffering a meniscus tear and bone bruise in the preseason opener."I'm full go. I'm going to play ball how I can," Wilson said Wednesday, according to ESPN's Rich Cimini. "If somebody comes up, (I'll) make somebody miss, get out on the edge, extend plays when I need to, hang in the pocket. I'm playing exactly how I should be."Joe Flacco replaced Wilson through the first three games of the year, completing 58.7% of his passes for 901 yards and five touchdowns against three interceptions. The Jets went 1-2 and their offense ranks 20th in the NFL with 17.3 points per game.Wilson, whom New York drafted second overall in 2021, completed 55.6% of his pass attempts while tossing nine touchdowns to 11 interceptions in 13 games as a rookie.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Miami Dolphins officially listed quarterback Tua Tagovailoa as questionable for Thursday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals, according to Adam Beasley of Pro Football Network.Tagovailoa's been battling back and ankle injuries this week. He would've been a limited participant Wednesday if the team had held a full practice instead of a walkthrough.The 24-year-old said Tuesday that he was hoping to face Cincy, adding that his back injury is his biggest issue.Tagovailoa briefly left Sunday's win over the Buffalo Bills to be checked for a concussion after taking a big hit in the second quarter and stumbling after he got to his feet. He returned to the contest following halftime. Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said postgame that Tagovailoa's back injury caused him to stumble.Tagovailoa is off to a hot start to the 2022 campaign. He's completed 71.3% of his passes for 925 yards and eight touchdowns against two interceptions in the first three weeks while helping the Dolphins post a 3-0 record.Miami, the only remaining undefeated team in the AFC, also rosters quarterbacks Teddy Bridgewater and seventh-round rookie Skylar Thompson.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Chargers can't catch a break.Pro Bowl pass-rusher Joey Bosa will be placed on injured reserve with a groin injury, head coach Brandon Staley announced Wednesday, according to The Athletic's Daniel Propper.Bosa will undergo surgery but is expected to return this season. Players placed on injured reserve must remain sidelined for at least four weeks.The star defender left Sunday's loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars after being hurt in the first quarter. Staley said Monday that Bosa was considered week-to-week.The 27-year-old is an instrumental piece of Los Angeles' defense. Bosa, who led the team with 10.5 sacks last year, racked up six tackles, 1.5 sacks, four quarterback hits, and one forced fumble through the first two games this year.The Ohio State product ranks seventh in the NFL with 59.5 sacks since entering the league as the third overall pick in 2016.With Bosa sidelined, veteran Kyle Van Noy will likely start on the edge opposite Khalil Mack, who leads L.A. with four sacks this campaign. Second-year defender Chris Rumph II is also expected to see more snaps.Injuries have already been a big factor for the 1-2 Chargers in 2022. The team recently lost top offensive tackle Rashawn Slater to a season-ending biceps injury, and quarterback Justin Herbert has been dealing with a ribs ailment.Additionally, wide receiver Keenan Allen, cornerback J.C. Jackson, and center Corey Linsley all missed Week 3 due to injuries.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on iTunes, Spotify, Google, Stitcher, and Anchor.In this episode, Dwain McFarland of Fantasy Life joins Boone to discuss the biggest fantasy questions entering Week 4:

MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and the Rookie of the Year awards get more publicity. In the season-long statistical betting markets, yardage gets all the attention. But it's time to look at touchdowns - the on-field money-makers - and the three different markets we have to choose from.Each type of touchdown presents a different challenge. This early, the preseason favorites haven't gone anywhere, while the surprise volume scorers from the first three weeks have moved up the board. However, with more than 80% of the season left to play, the current touchdown totals mostly aren't a meaningful gauge of where they'll be three months from now.Most passing touchdownsPLAYER ODDSJosh Allen+350Patrick Mahomes+350Lamar Jackson+550Tua Tagovailoa+1000Joe Burrow+1300Justin Herbert+1300Carson Wentz+1800Derek Carr+2000Kirk Cousins+2000Matthew Stafford+2000Tom Brady+2000Trevor Lawrence+2000Aaron Rodgers+2500Jameis Winston+2500Russell Wilson+2500Odds available on theScore Bet, players not listed above available at 30-1 or longerLamar Jackson leads the category with 10 passing touchdowns, which is his best three-game stretch since his 2019 MVP season. Jackson's touchdown pass percentage of 11.4% is 3.4% clear of Josh Allen's second-best rate, indicating it might not be sustainable. The return of J.K. Dobbins, plus Jackson's ability to score on his own, could take away from Jackson's total, even during an MVP-level season.Knowing that the season-long leader will need close to 50 touchdowns, how far back is too far back? Joe Burrow, Derek Carr, and Trevor Lawrence have six touchdowns each. Being four touchdowns behind might seem like a lot, but with 14 games left, that's just an extra 0.29 touchdowns per game the rest of the way, and that's without factoring in who might sit in Week 18.Burrow's price of 13-1 makes him the least interesting member of that trio. Between Lawrence and Carr, the Raiders quarterback has just a 4.9% touchdown percentage, which is actually a good thing. Given the volume with which Las Vegas throws the football - particularly around the goal line - that mark should increase to an above-average level.Pick: Derek Carr (+2000)Most receiving touchdownsPLAYER ODDSCooper Kupp+475Stefon Diggs+475Davante Adams+700Ja'Marr Chase+1000Justin Jefferson+1000Travis Kelce+1000Jaylen Waddle+1500Mike Evans+1500Michael Thomas+1500Tyreek Hill+1500Tee Higgins+1800Allen Robinson+2000CeeDee Lamb+2000Gabe Davis+2000Mark Andrews+2000Odds available on theScore Bet, players not listed above available at 25-1 or longerWe just mentioned that Jackson's passing touchdown pace will likely regress to a more normal rate. However, the calculus should be different for receiving touchdowns, since 16 scores have been good enough to lead the league since 2007. At slightly under one touchdown per game, the pool of players who can have a big season in this category is much larger. Even if Jackson finishes with 40 touchdowns, Mark Andrews could end up with 16 of them.Andrews has 31 overall targets - just four fewer than Cooper Kupp, Ja'Marr Chase, and Stefon Diggs. Meanwhile, comparing end-zone threats at the tight end position, Travis Kelce's odds payout is half of Andrews' - who has better metrics across the board so far.The Ravens scored long touchdowns in Week 1, removing some red-zone opportunities for Andrews. Since then, with drives closer to the goal line, Andrews has been on the end of three scores.Pick: Mark Andrews (+2000)Most rushing touchdownsPLAYER ODDSNick Chubb+320Derrick Henry+550Jonathan Taylor+550Jamaal Williams+750Dalvin Cook+1000Jalen Hurts+1000James Robinson+1500Saquon Barkley+1500Joe Mixon+1800Damien Harris+2000Lamar Jackson+2000Odds available on theScore Bet, players not listed above available at 25-1 or longerHere's what we know: The Bears love to run the football.Here's what we think: Khalil Herbert might be the best running back on the team.Here's what we know: Herbert's rush yards over expectation is better than David Montgomery's (plus-2.93 to minus-0.14). Herbert's rushing EPA/carry is plus-0.32 to Montgomery's minus-0.16. Herbert already has three touchdowns, so if he takes over the primary tailback role, it's not too late for him to compete for most rushing touchdowns.Here's what we think: If the Bears realize this, Herbert could get the greater share of carries, particularly by the goal line, and maintain his touchdown-per-game pace. With high-profile running backs struggling early, a long shot could steal the touchdowns category. Why couldn't it be a player from a team that doesn't trust its quarterback in the red zone?Pick: Khalil Herbert (+15000)Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there’s a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If you dug into the teaser basket last week, one type of value-based teaser play did decidedly better than the other. Touchdown favorites teased down to a pick'em suffered three losses: the Chargers, Chiefs, and Bills. Of course, since market of entry timing matters, it's worth mentioning that all three saw their odds shorten out of teaser range, falling below -6 on the point spread.Meanwhile, the "tease up" category of teams going from under a field goal to over a touchdown went 5-0. The caveat is that each of those teams won outright, so they didn't need to be teased anyway.Some games don't have a teaser-worthy point spread. For example, the Bengals are 4-point favorites at home to the Dolphins on Thursday. Teasing Cincinnati would see the spread go through zero, which is wasting valuable price points around the improbable chance of a tie. Teasing Miami up to +10.5 would be appealing as it'd get the key numbers up to around a touchdown, but you're already winning on 3- and 4-point margins at a -110 price. Getting +6, +7, or +8 over a long sample size isn't worth the price hike.Let's use the short point spread in the Browns-Falcons game as an example of the value of teasing a favorite down.ALT. SPREADODDSFalcons +2.5-125Falcons +3.5-175Falcons +4.5-190Falcons +5.5-205Falcons +6.5-250Falcons +7.5-300You can see how the pricing significantly jumps once you move across the key number of +3, showing the importance of capturing that number in NFL betting. But more importantly, the Falcons' alternative spread (+7.5) is priced at -300, which is obviously a much larger price than getting Atlanta +7.5 with our teaser leg at -270.To get a good deal on the Falcons (+7.5), we must pair them with another line and win both to cash the ticket. Fortunately, we can choose that other leg from our weekly "teaser basket" using what we know about key numbers.Teaser basketLet's look at the mathematically-optimal plays available for Week 4:TEAMSPREADTEASER LEGEagles-6.5-0.5Falcons+1.5+7.5Cardinals+2+8Broncos+2.5+8.5Buccaneers+2.5+8.5Rams+2.5+8.5The Eagles are the only team in the touchdown-favorite role this week, but if you think the Jaguars are for real, you might shy away from paying -270 on Philadelphia to win outright.Five more games fit into our favorite type of teaser. After three straight covers to start the season, you have to decide whether the previous value has dried up on Atlanta. If a 1.5-point spread is too low, then +7.5 (-270) might be a shaky bet.I'd be more willing to bet against the Panthers winning a game by a significant margin. Even though they did so last week, a dive into the box score reveals that Carolina's win over the Saints was misleading.For all their offensive struggles to start the season, the Broncos and Buccaneers both have stingy defenses and future Hall of Fame quarterbacks that won't turn the ball over excessively. That breeds a close game, no matter the opponent.The 49ers aren't in the home underdog role that they have been recently against the Rams, and they've suffered significant injuries, most notably to left tackle Trent Williams. If not for that, you might be wary of a Rams teaser leg, given the success San Francisco has had against Sean McVay.Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Bills signed free-agent cornerback Xavier Rhodes, the team announced Wednesday.The three-time Pro Bowler will begin on the Bills' practice squad, a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.The former All-Pro defensive back reportedly visited the franchise earlier Tuesday.Buffalo brings in the veteran amid numerous injuries on its depth chart at corner. Starter Tre'Davious White remains on injured reserve for at least another week. Rookie Christian Benford sustained a broken hand in the team's loss to the Miami Dolphins this past Sunday. The Bills also held Dane Jackson out of their recent contest due to head and neck issues suffered in Week 2.The club also lost safety Micah Hyde to a season-ending neck injury.Rhodes brings nearly a decade of experience to Buffalo. The Florida State product spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Minnesota Vikings. The 2013 first-round pick found success within Minnesota's defensive scheme, employing his 6-foot-1, 218-pound frame against the opposition.The Miami native spent the past two seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. He tallied 13 starts, 39 tackles, seven passes defended, and one interception in 2021.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.In an effort to help you find trades that could improve your fantasy team, we present the Trade Value Chart.You can use this chart to compare players and build realistic trade offers. Values are based on 12-team leagues.Follow the links below to see the trade values and rest of season rankings for each position.Trade Values

Cleveland Browns star pass-rusher Myles Garrett suffered a shoulder and biceps strain as well as minor lacerations in a one-car accident following Monday's practice, the team announced Tuesday.Garrett didn't suffer any fractures and cleared concussion protocol after undergoing a medical evaluation on Tuesday. He was released from the hospital the same day he had his injuries treated."First - and most importantly - we are thankful that Myles, his passenger, and no other parties were seriously injured in the single-car accident yesterday," the Browns said in a statement.Garrett is considered fortunate after his Porsche appeared to have flipped several times before stopping at the side of a rural road. The two-time All-Pro defender and an unidentified female passenger were wearing their seatbelts.Both of the car's occupants were taken to a local hospital, but the passenger's condition has not been revealed.Ohio State Highway Patrol doesn't suspect drug-impaired driving as a factor in the incident. The crash remains under investigation.The team will evaluate Garrett's status for Sunday's matchup against the Atlanta Falcons as the week goes on. The three-time Pro Bowler has tallied seven tackles, four tackles for loss, and three sacks through the first three games of the season.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.theScore's Justin Boone was first overall in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition in 2019 and finished among the top seven each of his last seven years in the contest. Follow the links below to see his rankings for Week 4.Updated rankings (including Standard and PPR) will be released Thursday, with the final version coming down Sunday morning.Half PPR

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa hopes to play in his team's Thursday Night Football contest against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 4 despite back and ankle injuries."That's the plan," Tagovailoa said Tuesday, according to Pro Football Network's Adam H. Beasley. "Doing everything I can to get back out there. Hopefully, I can get out there and play."Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said Tagovailoa would have been listed as limited and questionable if the team held a full practice Tuesday instead of a walkthrough.The quarterback said his back injury was the biggest issue."I would say everything," Tagovailoa said when asked how the injury affects him on the field, according to Pro Football Talk's Josh Alper. "Having to twist to hand the ball off, having to toss the ball, having to throw the ball. Every aspect of it."Tagovailoa briefly left Sunday's win over the Buffalo Bills to be checked for a concussion. He took a big hit from Bills linebacker Matt Milano and stumbled after getting to his feet, prompting concerns about a head injury.But the 24-year-old cleared the concussion protocol and returned to lead Miami to victory after missing just three plays. The NFL Players Association subsequently initiated an investigation into the Dolphins' handling of Tagovailoa's concussion check.McDaniel clarified postgame that Tagovailoa was instead dealing with back and ankle ailments. The signal-caller said the back injury caused his stumble.Teddy Bridgewater is in line to start for Miami if Tagovailoa can't play. The Dolphins are looking to remain undefeated in Week 4.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle D.J. Reader suffered a knee injury in the team's win over the New York Jets and will miss an extended period of time, a source told Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer.He's expected to be out for a "month-plus," reports NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.Reader left the game against the Jets late in the second quarter and did not return.The 28-year-old signed a four-year, $53-million contract in April 2020. Reader has 10 tackles and one tackle for loss in three games this season.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on iTunes, Spotify, Google, Stitcher, and Anchor.In this episode, Boone discusses his level of concern for 12 players who are off to slow starts this season.

When the pandemic shut down sports for months in 2020, some people cultivated yeast for bread-making. I tried to learn about the stock market, and I noticed finance media sounded a lot like sports media. Knowing the similarities between investing in companies and investing in teams, we're using this space to assign theoretical stock prices to teams.If you think a company is underpriced, you buy its stock. If you think its value has peaked, you sell. That's the mindset we're trying to have for betting the NFL, and recognizing how teams are mispriced has been a very valuable - and profitable - tool.How ratings workWe look at the betting market's assessment of each team based on the closing lines from the previous week's games and then we estimate what each club is capable of going forward. The "rating" column is an educated guess at the oddsmakers' rating to create a point spread before their most recent game. The number itself represents the percentage chance that a team beats an average opponent on a neutral field.The range column is my evaluation of each team's potential after seeing them play this past week. Obviously, clubs don't perform at the same level every week - the players are human, after all. They play within a range. It's our job as handicappers to predict how they'll perform based on things like the situation, on-field matchups, and roster/injury issues. The earlier it is in the season, the wider a team's range may be.Rating before Week 3 kickoffTEAMRATINGRANGEBills8060-85Chiefs7260-8549ers6745-75Packers6555-70Buccaneers6560-80Eagles6540-75Rams6455-75Chargers6255-85Ravens6150-75Bengals5850-75Dolphins5740-70Vikings5645-75Broncos5450-75Saints5440-70Raiders5440-65Patriots4840-60Colts4745-65Browns4740-70Cardinals4630-60Cowboys4430-70Lions4320-50Panthers4130-50Giants4125-55Titans4040-60Commanders4030-50Jaguars3920-50Steelers3835-60Bears3720-45Falcons3520-50Texans3320-40Jets3320-40Seahawks3020-40Notable Week 3 resultsThe Bills were rated highly before their destruction of the Titans. They crushed them, and then they got rated even higher. That's tough to sustain, and it created value in Miami last week. Meanwhile, Tennessee's virtual stock price went way down, creating value on them last week.The gap between Buffalo and the next-best team should tighten this week, but who should be second? Another win and cover by the Eagles should get them closer to the top. The Buccaneers went from -3 on open to -1 on close against Green Bay, indicating a rating drop due to a rough injury report. The same goes for the Chargers. Los Angeles had more issues than just Justin Herbert's ribcage and only saw its prospects get dimmer after losing Rashawn Slater and Joey Bosa for the season. Look for their rating to fall next week after the closing numbers come in for their matchup with the Texans on Sunday.The 49ers' rating went up after they beat the Seahawks and got George Kittle back, plus there was perhaps some more short-term confidence in Jimmy Garoppolo than Trey Lance. Sunday night suggests that might have been misplaced. Meanwhile, a week of Nathaniel Hackett mockery pulled down the Broncos' rating, but they didn't do much to disprove the theory that they're slightly above average.The Vikings' fall seems large, but it's really an admission that they got too much credit for their Week 1 win over Green Bay. Similarly, the Steelers rose going into Thursday Night Football, which might have been an acknowledgment of an overreaction to their loss of T.J. Watt before their Week 2 game against the Patriots. Both Minnesota and Pittsburgh are probably rated fairly now.The Colts were as high as 7-point underdogs last week, but the market realized that was far too low. The Browns' loss to the Jets had people selling before they beat Pittsburgh, showing that Cleveland might be the toughest team to rate on a weekly basis.For every team that plummets too far, like the Cowboys into Week 2 and the Titans into Week 3, there's a team like the Commanders, who fell down the ratings after losing to Detroit and did nothing to change that Sunday against the Eagles.Oddsmakers tried to move the Lions up before Week 2 against the Commanders, but the market bet Washington. One dominant Detroit win later, the market relented, agreeing with oddsmakers' initial rating of the Lions.The Falcons continue to rise as the scrappy underdog we predicted they'd be in the preseason, while the Seahawks nestle into the last spot. As expected, the Cowboys moved way up after beating the Bengals. A win against the Giants indicates the low 40s seem like a good spot for Dallas with Cooper Rush at quarterback.Lastly, you'll note a gap around 50, which is more an indication of the up-and-down nature of weekly ratings than anything else. That area is probably tighter than last week's closing lines indicate.Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there’s a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard will miss the remainder of the season after tearing his ACL in Monday's loss to the Dallas Cowboys, head coach Brian Daboll announced Tuesday, according to ESPN's Jordan Raanan.Shepard suffered the non-contact injury late in the fourth quarter, and initial tests prompted fears that the 29-year-old was facing a long-term absence.

The Arizona Cardinals struggled again to put up first-half points in their loss to the Los Angeles Rams, and head coach Kliff Kingsbury said postgame they need to find a way to get off to better starts."We've got to figure that out," said Kingsbury. "Especially when you play the world champs; go three and out, blocked punt, that's a tough way to start the game."Kingsbury added: "It's all of us. Coaches, players, play-calling. I don't know if we're trying too hard to call the perfect play and do too much. But it's been one thing after another, and we've got to get it figured out."Arizona has only scored 13 first-half points through three games, which is tied for 29th in the NFL.The Cardinals were missing key players on offense against the Rams. Wide receiver Rondale Moore sat out his third straight game with a hamstring injury, while wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins won't be back until Week 7 for violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policy.Quarterback Kyler Murray echoed Kingsbury's comments about starting slow."That's not winning football," Murray said. "We are making it tough on ourselves. You see the rest of the game is competitive, but in the first quarter, we can't make shit happen, can't get anything going. It's just bad football."The Cardinals are off to a 1-2 start and will look to even up their record against the Carolina Panthers in Week 4.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore's NFL Power Rankings take a weekly spin around the league to assess where every team stands.1. Philadelphia Eagles (3-0) Scott Taetsch / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 5At a time when a few of the league's elite teams have begun to slip, the Eagles have looked nearly flawless. Jalen Hurts' continued growth - and emergence as the early MVP front-runner - has been the leading factor in Philly going from ascending team to legit Super Bowl candidate.2. Miami Dolphins (3-0)Previous Rank: 6Miami continues to prove itself as a legitimate contender, following up last week's epic comeback with a gutsy win over divisional rival Buffalo. Tua Tagovailoa came back down to earth after producing video game numbers against the Ravens.3. Buffalo Bills (2-1)Previous Rank: 1The Bills' struggle in the South Florida sun ultimately led to their first defeat of the regular season. Buffalo is going to need to find some help in a secondary that is still missing Tre'Davious White and won't have Micah Hyde for the remainder of the campaign.4. Kansas City Chiefs (2-1)Previous Rank: 2Multiple mishaps resulted in Kansas City's first loss of the season. Patrick Mahomes & Co. looked mortal, scoring two touchdowns among the Chiefs' four trips to the red zone.5. Green Bay Packers (2-1) Douglas P. DeFelice / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 8Green Bay has done well to bounce back from a disappointing Week 1 loss. Sunday's win over Tampa Bay confirms this team is still very much in the upper echelon of the NFL - only this time, it's the defense leading the way.6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1)Previous Rank: 3There's only so much Tom Brady can do with so many receivers out of the lineup. At full strength, however, there aren't many better rosters in the league.7. Los Angeles Rams (2-1)Previous Rank: 7The Rams have won two straight, but the offense needs to find its rhythm if this team is planning on defending its Super Bowl title.8. Baltimore Ravens (2-1)Previous Rank: 9Contract extension discussions - or lack thereof - are clearly not impacting Lamar Jackson's play. The former MVP has ascended to another level, passing for 218 yards and rushing for 107 with five total TDs against the Patriots.9. Minnesota Vikings (2-1)Previous Rank: 11A dramatic comeback win over the division-rival Lions has the Vikings back in business. Getting Justin Jefferson more involved is a must for this team to make good on its potential.10. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1) Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 25Is the NFL ready to consider the Jaguars true contenders? Concerns regarding Trevor Lawrence's capabilities should subside after he tallied five touchdowns to zero interceptions in impressive back-to-back victories.11. Los Angeles Chargers (1-2)Previous Rank: 4It's been a miserable couple of weeks for the Chargers, who followed up a loss to the Chiefs with a thrashing from the Jags. L.A. could certainly help an ailing Justin Herbert by improving a league-worst rushing attack that is averaging 2.6 yards per carry and 59 yards per contest.12. Dallas Cowboys (2-1)Previous Rank: 13Two straight wins without Dak Prescott is a testament to how much talent there is elsewhere on this roster. The Cowboys could be primed for a run when their quarterback returns.13. Cincinnati Bengals (1-2)Previous Rank: 15Cincinnati finally successfully protected Joe Burrow and ultimately won its first game of a young season. After gifting four interceptions to the opposition in Week 1, the Bengals passer has tossed six TDs despite being sacked 15 times through three weeks.14. Denver Broncos (2-1)Previous Rank: 14It's been a bumpy ride for Broncos Nation and Russell Wilson this season. However, Denver's defense has been cooking, limiting the opposition to a measly 12 points per contest.15. San Francisco 49ers (1-2) AAron Ontiveroz/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images / Denver Post / GettyPrevious Rank: 10Jimmy Garoppolo being there to step in after Trey Lance's injury has the potential to save the 49ers' campaign. But the offense will continue to struggle until the quarterback finds his rhythm.16. Indianapolis Colts (1-1-1)Previous Rank: 27Matt Ryan came through with a game-winning drive, and the defense followed by intercepting Patrick Mahomes to seal a Week 3 victory. The win snapped a four-game winless streak for the Colts that dated back to last season.17. New Orleans Saints (1-2)Previous Rank: 12The Saints have some real problems on offense in the post-Sean Payton era. Getting shut out for three quarters en route to a loss against Carolina is a major concern.18. Detroit Lions (1-2)Previous Rank: 17Detroit continues to trend upward as an organization. Not being able to finish last week's game against the Vikings may be a sign that the Lions are still another step or two away from playoff-contender status.19. New York Giants (2-1)Previous Rank: 18The Giants' 2-0 start was likely more about an easy schedule than anything else, but this team is finally heading in the right direction after five difficult seasons.20. Cleveland Browns (2-1) Nick Cammett / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 23A balanced attack of Nick Chubb and Jacoby Brissett proved to be the perfect remedy following a late-game collapse last week. Amari Cooper has come as advertised, recording 101 yards and a touchdown in each of his past two outings.21. Arizona Cardinals (1-2)Previous Rank: 16Kyler Murray's ability to put the team on his back gives the Cardinals a fairly high ceiling. The problem is the rest of the roster gives them a low floor.22. Tennessee Titans (1-2)Previous Rank: 26Derrick Henry found his rhythm this past Sunday after a quiet start to the season, recording 143 scrimmage yards and a score. Whether Tennessee can continue the momentum in its first divisional matchup remains uncertain.23. New England Patriots (1-2)Previous Rank: 20Questions regarding the offensive play-calling were raised before the season. Many are now criticizing Mac Jones' decision-making after a three-interception performance. Adding to the misery, the starting passer suffered a high-ankle sprain during last week's loss.24. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-2)Previous Rank: 21Mike Tomlin isn't ready to insert Kenny Pickett into the starting lineup. While many wait for Pickett to get his chance, the good news is George Pickens is starting to make the flash plays that elevated him to stardom during the preseason.25. Washington Commanders (1-2) Scott Taetsch / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 24The Eagles sacked Carson Wentz nine times while blowing out the Commanders. It could be a long year in Washington.26. Las Vegas Raiders (0-3)Previous Rank: 19The Raiders' roster was expected to be much better than their record illustrates. Outside of Davante Adams, who has scored in each game, the team has underwhelmed.27. Atlanta Falcons (1-2)Previous Rank: 29The Falcons have a long way to go, but Drake London quickly emerging as a No. 1 receiver is a positive sign for the rebuild. Getting Kyle Pitts more involved could make this offense tough to stop.28. Chicago Bears (2-1)Previous Rank: 31Are the Bears better than we all thought? A last-minute victory over the Texans isn't enough for us to buy that, but wins are wins. We'll learn who this team really is over the next few weeks.29. New York Jets (1-2)Previous Rank: 22The good news is Zach Wilson could be making his way back after missing three games. The defense has displayed some positive strides, but the Jets remain a work in progress.30. Carolina Panthers (1-2) Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious Rank: 32Until the Panthers reel off a few impressive wins, we'll consider them beating the Saints as one of those weird results you get in division games every year. Carolina has some major issues - and they start at quarterback.31. Seattle Seahawks (1-2)Previous Rank: 28The Seahawks have come crashing down to earth after an emotional win over Russell Wilson and the Broncos in their season opener. Seattle's defense will have trouble keeping opponents out of the end zone this year.32. Houston Texans (0-2-1)Previous Rank: 30The young roster has fought hard in every contest but can't find a way to notch that elusive victory. The Texans have to wonder if Davis Mills has hit his ceiling in his second year.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott won't play in his team's Week 4 clash with the Washington Commanders, but he's hopeful his absence won't continue past that."Nah, probably not," Prescott said Monday when asked if he'll play against Washington, according to Lorenzo Reyes of USA Today. "But Week 5 against the (Los Angeles) Rams? That's the one I'm looking at."Prescott, 29, underwent surgery after sustaining a fracture near his thumb in Dallas' season-opening loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was reportedly given a recovery timetable of four-to-six weeks.Though the Cowboys have won both games without their starter - thanks in part to backup quarterback Cooper Rush - Prescott is itching to return to action."Some people are OK with (sitting out), but I'm not built that way," Prescott said. "It's ... killing me not being out there with my guys. It's so hard, but I also know I got to be patient."Prescott said he had his single stitch removed at AT&T Stadium before Monday night's 23-13 win over the New York Giants. His hand had no visible signs of swelling, according to Reyes.Rush, a former undrafted free agent, completed 21 of 31 passes for 215 yards and one touchdown as Dallas rallied to top New York.The Cowboys trail the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Every Monday during the season, theScore's Justin Boone runs down the recommended waiver wire pickups.Roster percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. Free Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are based on a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 50% of leagues are considered.Quarterbacks Nic Antaya / Getty Images Sport / GettyJared Goff, LionsNext UpRosteredFABvs. SEA45%$1Goff makes a second straight appearance as the top quarterback streamer following a strong start in a frisky Lions offense.While he owes a lot of his production to the talent around him, Goff is the QB11 in average fantasy points per contest so far.Detroit's weak defense continues to put the team in high-scoring affairs, and Week 4's matchup with the Seahawks should be no different. The game has one of the largest projected point totals of the week at 50, with the Lions favored at home.It's still early in the season, but Seattle is near the bottom of the league in Football Outsiders' pass defense DVOA. Expect Goff to take advantage and post another streamer-worthy fantasy outing.Zach Wilson, JetsNext UpRosteredFABat PIT6%$1Wilson is nearing a return from the knee injury that kept him on the sidelines for the first few weeks of the season. When he steps back under center, an increasingly dangerous set of skill position players will surround the 23-year-old.Garrett Wilson, Elijah Moore, and Corey Davis make up a strong and ascending receiving corps. Tyler Conklin has the third-most fantasy points among tight ends through two weeks. And backfield duo Michael Carter and Breece Hall are both competent pass-catchers.Though we still don't know whether Wilson deserved to be the second overall pick in last year's NFL draft, it might not matter for fantasy. Joe Flacco has delivered big numbers with this group at times, despite a propensity to dink and dunk in the short game. Wilson will push the ball downfield more and give his playmakers a chance to excel.Stash him on your bench and wait to see how he performs when he finally suits up.Trevor Lawrence is just above the 50% rostered mark but would be the top pickup at quarterback if available.Risky streaming options: Jameis Winston vs. MIN (42% rostered), Marcus Mariota vs. CLE (22% rostered)Dart-throw streaming options: Geno Smith at DET (9% rostered), Jacoby Brissett at ATL (4% rostered), Matt Ryan vs. TEN (33% rostered), Jimmy Garoppolo vs. LAR (36% rostered), Daniel Jones vs. CHI (23% rostered), Ryan Tannehill at IND (16% rostered)2QB/Superflex considerations only: Mitch Trubisky vs. NYJ (6% rostered), Baker Mayfield vs. ARI (15% rostered), Davis Mills vs. LAC (5% rostered), Cooper Rush vs. WAS (3% rostered), Brian Hoyer at GB (0% rostered)Long-term stash: Kenny Pickett (4% rostered)Running backs Quinn Harris / Getty Images Sport / GettyKhalil Herbert, BearsNext UpRosteredFABat NYG49%$39Herbert being available in over half of fantasy leagues is surprising given what we've seen from him in his brief pro career and how the Bears' new coaching staff talked him up throughout the summer.The former sixth-round pick is one of the top backup running backs in the NFL - something that was proven in the four games he played more than 50% of the snaps in 2021. In those appearances, Herbert averaged 97 yards from scrimmage per contest.We've also heard rumblings that people in the organization felt Herbert was a better fit for the team's new offense.When knee and ankle injuries forced David Montgomery to exit this week's game, no one should have been surprised by Herbert's dominance against a soft Texans run defense. He finished the contest with 169 total yards and two touchdowns.Herbert's next three opponents are all middle of the pack or plus matchups for the Bears' rushing attack. And while Chicago head coach Matt Eberlus is calling Montgomery day-to-day, it seems far more likely he could miss at least a game or two.This could be an audition for Herbert to carve out a bigger role and perhaps emerge as the Bears' long-term option at the position. Consider Herbert a top-15 fantasy back for however long Montgomery is out.Samaje Perine, BengalsNext UpRosteredFABvs. MIA6%$5Joe Mixon left Sunday's game with an ankle injury, and Perine performed well as his replacement in the fourth quarter. Head coach Zac Taylor said Mixon could have returned to the contest and will be ready for action when the Bengals face the Dolphins on Thursday night.Teams often lighten the load on starting running backs when on a short week. It's hard to imagine Cincinnati not taking that approach after Mixon suffered a mild injury just four days prior.Perine is one of the few No. 2 running backs who remains available on the vast majority of fantasy waiver wires. He's one injury away from getting into the Bengals' starting lineup but should also provide flex value while seeing a slightly increased workload this week.Alexander Mattison, Kenneth Walker, and Brian Robinson are just above the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.High-upside backups like Rachaad White (30% rostered) and Isiah Pacheco (23% rostered) should be rostered in most leagues.Risky flex options: Mark Ingram vs. MIN (26% rostered), Jerick McKinnon at TB (7% rostered), J.D. McKissic at DAL (26% rostered)Dart-throw flex options: Sony Michel at HOU (4% rostered), Rex Burkhead vs. LAC (26% rostered), Dontrell Hilliard at IND (19% rostered), Tyler Allgeier vs. CLE (15% rostered), Brandon Bolden vs. DEN (1% rostered), Craig Reynolds vs. SEA (0% rostered), Kenneth Gainwell vs. JAX (40% rostered)Other backups to consider: Jaylen Warren vs. NYJ (9% rostered), Jordan Mason vs. LAR (6% rostered), James Cook at BAL (40% rostered), Darrel Williams at CAR (24% rostered), Zack Moss at BAL (12% rostered), Zamir White vs. DEN (10% rostered), D'Onta Foreman vs. ARI (6% rostered), Marlon Mack vs. LAR (5% rostered)Long-shot stashes: Boston Scott vs. JAX (3% rostered), Justice Hill vs. BUF (0% rostered), Chris Evans vs. MIA (1% rostered), Matt Breida vs. CHI (1% rostered), Hassan Haskins at IND (1% rostered), Trestan Ebner at NYG (0% rostered), DeeJay Dallas at DET (0% rostered)Injured-reserve stashes: Gus Edwards (12% rostered), Damien Williams (1% rostered)Wide receivers Wesley Hitt / Getty Images Sport / GettyTreylon Burks, TitansNext UpRosteredFABat IND45%$14Rookie receivers have routinely been featured in this section over the first few weeks of the season, and that trend continues.Burks is on the verge of a massive breakout, and you're running out of time to get him on your roster before he captures the spotlight.While his stat line dipped from 55 yards in Week 1 to 47 yards in Week 2 to just one catch for 13 yards this week, the underlying metrics are far more promising.The first-rounder's snap percentage has risen each game, going from 37% in the opener to 45% in Week 2 to 69% Sunday. Burks also ran the most routes of any Titans receiver in Week 3, according to Pro Football Focus.His time is coming. Whether he's still available on your waiver wire or you have to swing a trade to get him, you should be actively trying to do that over the next few days.Romeo Doubs/Christian Watson, PackersNext UpRosteredFABvs. NE25%/9%$12/$3With Sammy Watkins and Watson sidelined in Week 3, Doubs moved to a leading role and played 89% of the Packers' snaps. He caught all eight of his targets in the game for 73 yards and a score.A performance like that can go a long way toward earning the trust of your future Hall of Fame quarterback.With Watkins on injured reserve and Watson dealing with a hamstring issue, Doubs will continue to start and establish himself as a playmaking threat Aaron Rodgers desperately needs.That makes Doubs a priority target this week. But savvy fantasy managers will also try to stash Watson as a longer-term investment for the second half of the season.Jakobi Meyers and Tyler Boyd are just above the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.Flex options: Zay Jones at PHI (10% rostered), Isaiah McKenzie at BAL (41% rostered), Russell Gage vs. KC (42% rostered), Marquez Valdes-Scantling at TB (34% rostered), DeVante Parker at GB (25% rostered), Greg Dortch at CAR (17% rostered)Risky flex options: Marquez Callaway vs. MIN (0% rostered), KJ Osborn at NO (6% rostered), Josh Palmer at HOU (27% rostered, Nico Collins vs. LAC (24% rostered), Robbie Anderson vs. ARI (28% rostered), Nelson Agholor at GB (13% rostered), Donovan Peoples-Jones at ATL (11% rostered)Risky flex options (if healthy): Michael Gallup vs. WAS (36% rostered), Rondale Moore at CAR (17% rostered)Dart-throw flex options: Josh Reynolds vs. SEA (0% rostered), DJ Chark vs. SEA (44% rostered), Corey Davis at PIT (30% rostered), Marvin Jones at PHI (5% rostered), Breshad Perriman vs. KC (3% rostered), Noah Brown vs. WAS (19% rostered), Mack Hollins vs. DEN (2% rostered), Ben Skowronek at SF (0% rostered), Richie James Jr. vs. CHI (3% rostered), DeAndre Carter at HOU (5% rostered)Dart-throw flex options (if healthy): Tre'Quan Smith vs. MIN (0% rostered)Long-term rookie stashes: George Pickens vs. NYJ (40% rostered), Alec Pierce vs. TEN (4% rostered), Wan'Dale Robinson vs. CHI (4% rostered)Long-shot stashes: Ashton Dulin vs. TEN (1% rostered), KJ Hamler at LV (2% rostered), Laviska Shenault Jr. vs. ARI (1% rostered)Injured-reserve stashes: Jameson Williams (25% rostered), Tyquan Thornton (1% rostered), Odell Beckham Jr. (8% rostered)Tight ends Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyRobert Tonyan, PackersNext UpRosteredFABvs. NE29%$4As his return from a torn ACL continues, Tonyan's playing time began to rise this week. After seeing the field on just over 35% of the snaps in the first two games, the Packers tight end got in 58% of the time in Week 3.It was also his busiest day through the air, with seven targets thrown his way en route to six receptions and 37 yards.Tonyan hasn't found the end zone yet, but we know he can be a major red-zone threat after his 11-touchdown campaign in 2020.If things continue on this path and he remains healthy, Tonyan will be in the low-end TE1 conversation the rest of the season.David Njoku and Irv Smith Jr. are just above the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.Risky streamer options: Logan Thomas at DAL (37% rostered), Tyler Conklin at PIT (21% rostered)Dart-throw streamer options: Hayden Hurst vs. MIA (22% rostered), Evan Engram at PHI (26% rostered), Cameron Brate vs. KC (4% rostered), Juwan Johnson vs. MIN (2% rostered)Long-term rookie stashes: Isaiah Likely at NE (5% rostered)DefensesWeek 4 streamersTeamNext UpRosteredColtsvs. TEN35%Giantsvs. CHI11%Brownsat ATL49%Vikingsat NO19%Titansat IND10%Favorable upcoming schedules: Vikings (19% rostered), Dolphins (15% rostered)Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tests confirmed Monday that New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones suffered a "pretty severe" high ankle sprain in Sunday's loss to the Baltimore Ravens, sources told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Jones will likely miss multiple games, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.A high ankle sprain of this caliber would typically require some players to undergo surgery, Schefter adds, but the Patriots and Jones are reportedly still working through their options on that front.The second-year passer hopped off the field and was in clear pain while being helped to the locker room late versus the Ravens. X-rays on Jones' ankle reportedly came back negative.Jones has completed 66% of his passes for 786 yards and two touchdowns against a league-high five interceptions this season. The 2021 No. 15 pick helped New England reach the playoffs after posting a 10-7 record as a rookie.The 1-2 Patriots, who visit the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, also roster quarterbacks Brian Hoyer and fourth-round rookie Bailey Zappe.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Chargers left tackle Rashawn Slater is believed to be lost for the rest of the season due to a biceps injury, head coach Brandon Staley said Monday, according to Fernando Ramirez of The Sporting Tribune.Staley added that star pass-rusher Joey Bosa is week-to-week with a significant groin injury, per ESPN's Lindsey Thiry.Slater reportedly ruptured his biceps tendon in Sunday's loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, a source told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Bosa also exited the game and didn't return.The Chargers have been bit by the injury bug in recent weeks. Star quarterback Justin Herbert is playing through fractured rib cartilage, while wide receiver Keenan Allen and cornerback J.C. Jackson missed Week 3 due to hamstring and ankle injuries, respectively.Additionally, receiver Jalen Guyton is also out for the season after suffering a torn ACL, Staley noted. Guyton has caught two passes for 64 yards this season, including a 54-yard catch from Herbert on Sunday.The 13th pick in last year's draft, Slater made the Pro Bowl during his rookie season. He's also started 19 games for the team.Veteran Storm Norton will likely fill in at left tackle for Slater.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on iTunes, Spotify, Google, Stitcher, and Anchor.In this episode, Boone discusses the latest injuries and goes over the top players available on the waiver wire.

Left tackle Trent Williams will miss "some time" due to a high ankle sprain, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN.Shanahan added that Williams could miss four-to-six weeks, but that won't be confirmed until his swelling decreases.The veteran tackle suffered the injury after Broncos defensive lineman landed on his leg in the third quarter of the team's Sunday Night Football loss.Colton McKivitz played the majority of the snaps at left tackle following Williams' exit, but Jaylon Moore briefly filled in initially. A fifth-round pick in 2020, McKivitz has started four games for the 49ers over his career.A nine-time Pro Bowler, Williams has been a key cog on the 49ers' offensive line for the last three seasons. He's made 32 starts for the team and earned his first All-Pro nod in 2021.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL announced Monday that it'll replace the annual Pro Bowl game with a flag football contest and week-long competitions that'll give players a chance to showcase their football and non-football skills.Here are several ideas the league should consider as it tries to revive the Pro Bowl:Let fans call plays Christian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / GettyFans already have the power to vote players into the Pro Bowl, but why stop there? With the NFL pivoting to a flag football contest instead of a regulated game that felt anything but authentic, there's even more room for fan involvement. This year's Pro Bowl should allow opportunities for fans to call plays.The Fan Controlled Football league has been utilizing this feature since its inception. Now it's time for the NFL to follow suit. After all, who can forget the feeling of being a "Monday Morning Quarterback" and debating the play calls made on game day. With fans involved in play-calling, perhaps these supporters can finally get an answer to whether they could call better plays than their NFL coach counterparts.Swap defense with offenseHow fun would it be if we had football's best wide receivers trying to cover the sport's top cornerbacks? Is there a single football fan who wouldn't want to watch Micah Parsons playing tight end against Derrick Henry at linebacker?Swapping the defense with the offense would definitely make things more interesting. Players want to have fun during the Pro Bowl weekend after a long NFL season, but the traditional All-Star Game didn't get the job done because players weren't allowed to play at full speed. They were never motivated to be on the field because they didn't actually play football. Letting players choose which position they play in a friendly flag football matchup not only would change that narrative, but would also capture the fans' imagination in the weeks leading to the event.How far can QBs throw Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyWhy did the NFL ditch this competition in the first place? In the early 2000s, the Pro Bowl featured a "QB Challenge," which tested quarterbacks' accuracy, agility, and arm strength. It's time to bring it back!We often debate which passer has the NFL's strongest arm, and Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen have even said they're willing to make a friendly throwing competition happen. No position gets more attention than quarterback, and the league has seen several young signal-callers emerge as superstars in recent years. Having the likes of Mahomes, Allen, Justin Herbert, and Matthew Stafford, among others, testing their arm strength in head-to-head matchups would be must-watch TV.Legends vs. ProsAs soon as the NFL announced that the Pro Bowl will be altered, ex-wide receiver Chad Johnson proposed a flag football game between former and current players. That's a great idea.A Legends versus Pros flag football game is a win-win move for the NFL and its players. That matchup would catch everyone's attention around the league while making the Pro Bowl event more attractive for football's biggest stars. Just imagine a team featuring the likes of Johnson, Terrell Owens, Deion Sanders, and Jerry Rice playing against a squad rostering Davante Adams, Justin Jefferson, Jalen Ramsey, and Lamar Jackson, among other superstars. It'd be a dream come true for NFL fans.Kickers' trick-shot challenges Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyBasketball already has the 3-point challenge. Soccer also has the crossbar challenge, where players attempt to strike the crossbar as many times as possible. If the NFL were to combine two challenges together and add its own twist, we could be treated to an entertaining trick-shot field-goal challenge.There are an endless amount of tricks that we can imagine. Maybe a kicker curves a field goal from an insane angle, or someone decides to recreate the infamous "Double Doink." We're sure Evan McPherson could entertain the masses if he's willing to recreate some of his epic trick shot kicks, too.Non-football skills While the Pro Bowl is presented as a showcase of the NFL's most talented athletes, at its core, the trip has always been about fun. And what's more fun than seeing some of our favorite gridiron stars compete in a series of non-football-related events? Jason Kelce might be on to something when he advocated for events like a hot dog eating competition, pingpong, or a classic chug-off.There's no reason to isolate the Pro Bowl to only football-specific events. The participants' talents are already been on display during the season. But it's hard to ignore the appeal of seeing stars show off their inhumane strength in an arm wrestling competition or players competing to settle the age-old debate of who has the fastest chug in the NFL. Though, on second thought, perhaps the latter competition is better split by player position group if David Bakhtiari is in attendance.How would you improve the Pro Bowl? Let us know your best ideas in the comments below.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel was noncommittal about whether quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will play on Thursday night against the Cincinnati Bengals."He's feeling sore. ... We are acquiring information right now as far as the exact imaging," McDaniel told reporters Monday.McDaniel added that it's Tagovailoa's back and ankle that are causing him problems.Tagovailoa left Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills late in the second quarter after taking a hit from Bills linebacker Matt Milano.The Dolphins quarterback stumbled after getting up, sparking fear that he suffered a head injury. However, McDaniel said Tagovailoa isn't in concussion protocol, as his injured back caused him to fall."There are certain things I'm sensitive to. I have been called emotional from time to time, and one of those things is player health. ... Tua was pretty annoyed with me in the game because he knew what hurt and didn't understand why people kept talking to him about (a potential head injury)," McDaniel said.McDaniel added that if it were a head issue, the third-year quarterback wouldn't have re-entered the game.Backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater entered the game for only three plays before Tagovailoa returned.The Dolphins are off to a 3-0 start for the first time since 2018. Tagovailoa is second in the NFL in passing yards, trailing only Bills quarterback Josh Allen.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Detroit Lions running back D'Andre Swift suffered a shoulder sprain in Sunday's loss to the Minnesota Vikings, a source told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Swift isn't expected to undergo surgery, but he could miss some time, Pelissero adds.Lions head coach Dan Campbell confirmed Monday that Swift has a shoulder injury, according to Colton Pouncy of The Athletic."We'll see where he's at. It could be an issue," Campbell said.

Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle Jason Peters will be active for Monday night's game against the New York Giants, a source told Jordan Schultz, theScore's NFL insider.It'll be Peters' season debut after joining the Cowboys' practice squad on Sept. 5. He'll play left guard on Monday Night Football.Dallas announced Monday afternoon that Peters has been elevated to the active roster from the practice squad.

The NFL is replacing the Pro Bowl with weeklong skills competitions and a flag football game, The Associated Press has learned.The new event will replace the full-contact showcase started in 1951. It will be renamed “The Pro Bowl Games” and will feature AFC and NFC players showcasing their football and non-football skills in challenges over several days. The 2023 Games will be held in Las Vegas, and the flag football game at Allegiant Stadium is Sunday, Feb. 5.Peyton Manning and his Omaha Productions company will help shape programming and promote the event’s content throughout the week. Manning, a 14-time Pro Bowl pick during his Hall of Fame career, will provide his perspective and will also be a part of the coaching staff for flag game.“The Pro Bowl is something that we’ve been looking at for a while, really continuing to evolve,” NFL executive Peter O’Reilly told The Associated Press. “Coming out of last year’s game, we really made the decision based on a lot of internal conversations, getting feedback from GMs and coaches, getting a lot of feedback from players. We think there’s a real opportunity to do something wholly different here and move away from the traditional tackle football game. We decided the goal is to celebrate 88 of the biggest stars in the NFL in a really positive, fun, yet competitive way.“The feedback very directly from guys who had been in the Pro Bowl recently was to keep the construct of the week, make sure you’re having that multi-day element. It was overwhelmingly positive both from players as well as from clubs.”The Pro Bowl debuted in January of 1951 in Los Angeles and stayed there for 21 seasons before the game moved to different cities from 1972-80. Hawaii hosted from 1980-2009, and the game has had several homes in the years since, including Miami, Phoenix, Orlando and Las Vegas.Quality of play in the Pro Bowl has often been criticized. Players, understandably concerned about getting hurt, treat it as an exhibition more than competition. A flag football game could increase competition while avoiding potential injuries resulting from tackling, blocking and hitting.The NFL has a major interest in flag football. The league partnered with the International Federation of American Football to bring flag football to The World Games in July with an eye on the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.“You tap into all the stuff that feels great about Pro Bowl week, the skills, the helmets off, the engagement and then culminate that, keeping the AFC-NFC construct, in something that’s really important, which is flag football and that opportunity to have the best athletes in the NFL out there playing this game that is so much about the future of our sport,” said O’Reilly, the league’s executive vice president, club business and league events. “It’s been an evolution, but coming out of Las Vegas last year, we really focused on how do we reinvent and celebrate our all-stars even better.”The league plans to announce the new format on Monday.“The Pro Bowl has always been a time to step back and celebrate the game of football with teammates, fans and family,” Manning told the AP. “I’m thankful I can continue to be part of the week as all of us at Omaha Productions work with the NFL to reimagine The Pro Bowl Games. Making Sunday’s game a flag football game is great to see. Youth football has been extremely important to me, and knowing NFL FLAG will help grow this sport, I hope boys and girls can see themselves playing the same game as the best players in the world.”Fan voting will still help determine the AFC and NFC team rosters. Tom Brady has the most invitations to the Pro Bowl with 15. Four players got 14 invites, including Manning. The East-West Shrine Bowl will be held at Allegiant Stadium on Thursday, Feb. 2.___Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter at https://twitter.com/robmaaddi___More AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFLCopyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Each Monday, we'll finish off the week that was in the NFL with a look at value spots in the remaining game under one condition: you promise not to chase. Whether Sunday provided a boost to the accounts or left a little to be desired, Monday Night Football provides an opportunity to show responsibility in your betting, as there will always be another wild Sunday to get lost in.It's not exactly the early '90s, even if Micah Parsons is starting to get comparisons to Lawrence Taylor, which I'm sure thrills the New York die-hards. However, with the Cowboys' win last week and the Giants' 2-0 start, at least we're getting this game when there's something to get excited about for both NFC East rivals.Cowboys @ Giants (-1, 39)Both defenses have done a nice job of keeping opponents out of the end zone, giving up just one touchdown in each of their games, which is why this total is as low as it is. Given the Cowboys have played the Buccaneers and Bengals, that's pretty impressive. Meanwhile, the Giants have held up against the Titans and Panthers just long enough to edge each team at the end of games.The line opened Giants -2.5, but we've seen it dip down to around PK over the course of the week, in part due to Cooper Rush's solid showing last week. He's got it done on the road before, subbing in for Dak Prescott in prime time last year, and all the against-the-spread trends show Daniel Jones doesn't get it done at MetLife Stadium.The Cowboys will continue to lean on their run game and defense. Since the Giants have given up 4.9 yards per carry this season, after finishing 23rd in that category last season, and Jones can be a turnover waiting to happen, we'll lean with the Cowboys' strategy prevailing.Pick: Cowboys ML -105Tony Pollard over 59.5 total rush + receiving yards (-115)As frustrating as it can be to watch Ezekiel Elliott as the focus of the Cowboys' offense, at least they've shown a desire to get Pollard the ball. He's a big play waiting to happen, but we just don't know if that will be in the run or pass game. So let's take the over on combined yards from scrimmage and not have to worry about forward or backward tosses.Noah Brown over 3.5 receptions (+110) / anytime touchdown (+225)The Giants' wide receiver usage is a mess, so most valuations in their prop markets are a guess at best. However, the Cowboys have a couple of moving pieces that create opportunities in their passing game.Michael Gallup's expected return has discounted Brown, but he'll still get plenty of snaps. Gallup won't be ready for a full workload, and Brown has good chemistry with Rush, as evidenced by his five catches on five targets last week. Brown is a big body in the red zone as well, and if Dalton Schultz can't go, he'll be the guy Rush trusts in one-on-ones. Brown is also worth a taste for an anytime touchdown.Jake Ferguson anytime touchdown (+500)Ferguson went from playing on 16% of the snaps in Week 1 to 56% in Week 2, and it wasn't all because of Schultz's injury, which happened late in the game. If Schultz can't play, Ferguson gets on the field more and will be the recipient of any plays targeting the tight end near the goal line.First touchdown scorer: Noah Brown +1100 / Jake Ferguson +3000In games with low totals, if you're going to bet on an anytime touchdown, you might as well get frisky and put a fraction of a unit on the first touchdown. If there aren't expected to be many scores, "any" score has a better chance than normal of being the first score.Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there’s a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their significance moving forward.Eagles lighting it up Scott Taetsch / Getty Images Sport / GettyJalen Hurts was a popular MVP bet over the summer for obvious reasons. Considering the odds that were available relative to some of the league's premier quarterbacks, there are far worse wagers you could make than gambling on a dual-threat leader of an ascending team.But did anybody really see this kind of development as a passer coming? Hurts once again lit it up through the air as the Eagles moved to 3-0 with a win over the Commanders, completing 22 of 35 attempts for 340 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. That's a three-game total of 916 yards, putting him on an early pace for over 5,190.Not bad for someone who, upon entering the league as a second-round pick in 2020, faced questions of whether he would ever become a reliable player from the pocket. And he may only be getting started.Some impressive roster-building from Howie Roseman and the Eagles' front office has afforded Hurts perhaps the best imaginable situation to foster the growth we've seen.A.J. Brown has been everything the Eagles could have wanted, already making the price tag of a first-round pick look hilariously cheap. DeVonta Smith's breakout season continued Sunday with the best performance of his young career, as he racked up a game-high eight catches for 169 yards and one score. Having to deal with a duo of this caliber on the outside, while also accounting for a strong run game led by arguably the NFL's premier offensive line, has to be a nightmare for opponents.Oh, and the defense? Nine sacks to spoil Carson Wentz's dreams of a successful revenge game.The ceiling for Philly is clear - it doesn't exist. The Eagles have gone from all the Wentz drama to legitimate Super Bowl contenders in under two years. Incredible.Dolphins' defense doing its part Megan Briggs / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe big story coming out of last week's action was Tua Tagovailoa and two impossible-to-defend receivers leading an absolute wagon of an offense in Miami. Naturally, that led us to expect a shootout with the Super Bowl favorite Bills on Sunday.It didn't quite play out that way, but prevailing in a low-scoring affair is all the more impressive for the Dolphins. Josh Allen's 400 yards looks like a big day on the surface until you consider the bloated total came on on a career-high 63 passes. His measly 6.3 yards per attempt pretty much sums up just how relentless Miami's defense was throughout.As much as the offense would love to light up the scoreboard on a regular basis, that's not a realistic expectation. The defense at the very least providing a suitable complement was always going to be imperative for this team to emerge as a contender. Putting the clamps on a top-three quarterback demonstrates the potential for a hell of a lot more.The Dolphins aren't just firmly in the mix among the many playoff-caliber teams in the AFC, they're making an increasingly strong case to be considered as one of the best of the bunch.Miami so quickly rising to contention, while also maintaining such a bright future, presents a fascinating opportunity to look back at one of the offseason's more underrated stories. The plan, heading in, was reportedly to bring a Sean Payton-Tom Brady duo to South Beach. Three games into the Mike McDaniel era, it's safe to assume Dolphins fans are pleased with the way things worked out.How 'bout the Jags? Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyThe Jaguars heading out to the West Coast and absolutely taking it to the Chargers probably isn't something any of us were expecting. As we digest the weekend's most shocking result, perhaps we should warm up to the idea of Jacksonville returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2017.It's early, but how can you not love what we've seen from the Jaguars in the first year under Doug Pederson? Trevor Lawrence is beginning to show real signs of the generational talent he was considered to be coming out of Clemson. As we touched on last week, it's probably safe to put that difficult rookie season squarely on Urban Meyer's shoulders.A franchise quarterback is, of course, the most important piece of the puzzle. And all indications are that the Jaguars finally have one. But he's not the only piece leading the turnaround. Pederson remains one of the league's most underrated offensive minds, and he's putting those chops on full display with a roster that most of us weren't too eager to believe in.Christian Kirk and Zay Jones have quickly begun to justify the Jaguars' perceived overpays in free agency. The pair of veteran receivers are seemingly perfect fits with both Lawrence and Pederson, and the young quarterback is justifiably feeding them with all the targets they can handle.The defense has been even more impressive. Shutting out the Colts was cool and all, but stifling Justin Herbert and the Chargers in a 38-10 win was the real statement. Travon Walker and Devin Lloyd joining Josh Allen gives the unit a real foundation of young talent, and much like the offense, a pair of big-money additions in Foyesade Oluokun and Folorunso Fatukasi are already making us forget about their lofty price tags.Jacksonville leads the AFC South at 2-1. That gives the club a one-game lead over the rest of the division, but at this early stage, it hasn't been nearly that close.Night, Raiders Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images Sport / GettyDropping to 0-3 with a loss to the previously winless Titans is about all we need to see from the Raiders. It didn't take very long for a supposed playoff contender to clear up the AFC race by bowing out.It was easy to get excited about Las Vegas' prospects after an aggressive offseason. In short: A team that earned the No. 5 seed in last year's playoffs against all odds then added Davante Adams, Chandler Jones, and what appeared to be major coaching upgrades - Josh McDaniels has always been one of the game's most respected offensive minds, and the defense seemed certain to improve under Patrick Graham.Perhaps Derek Carr needs time to master McDaniels' system. But time isn't something you're afforded in the NFL, especially after signing a three-year, $120.5-million extension. There are certainly other issues with the offense (namely, pass protection) but the reality is that, rather than taking his game to another level with McDaniels' guidance, Carr seems to have taken a step back.So even with arguably the best receiver on the planet joining Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow, the offense is somehow worse than it was last year. And for as much as things may look different on the defensive side with Graham's multiple system replacing Gus Bradley's antiquated Cover 3 approach, the results are no better.The takeaway here is that the Rams are the exception to the rule when it comes to competing with a top-heavy roster. As exciting as it may have been to add the superstars they did, the Raiders bizarrely failed to adequately address their weaknesses on the offensive line, the interior defensive front, and in the secondary.Las Vegas gets the Broncos at home and the Chiefs on the road heading into the Week 6 bye. There's a real chance this team is 0-5 to start the McDaniels era. At that point, if not already, Carr's extension oddly not having any guaranteed money beyond this year will become extremely noteworthy.Rams need OBJ Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe defending champs are 2-1 and sitting alone atop the NFC West standings. Most teams would happily take that, but you just know it's eating at Sean McVay that his offense isn't quite clicking the way he'd like.After a season-opening loss to the Bills that wasn't all that competitive, the Rams nearly blew a 28-3 lead against the Falcons. This week, they managed just 20 points in their victory over the Cardinals. The sky isn't falling here, but the standard is higher for a team with championship aspirations.When the Rams signed Allen Robinson to a three-year, $46.5-million contract in free agency, it was only fair to assume he was Odell Beckham Jr.'s replacement. Paying three top receivers would be tough for any club, let alone an L.A. team that regularly works so tight to the cap. But it increasingly feels like we haven't seen the last of Odell in blue and gold.McVay and the Rams have never been shy about making it known they want Beckham back. Whether they could make it work contract-wise is another question. The interest, however, was always there. And it certainly appeared to be mutual.Beckham's return makes all the more sense now when you consider how much Robinson has struggled to replace his production. Through three games, Robinson has managed just eight catches for 88 yards. For reference, his 12 targets are one fewer than Ben Skowronek's 13, which is second only to Cooper Kupp's 35 among receivers.When healthy, Beckham would open things up for all other playmakers, Robinson included. Money will remain an important factor, but having seen that Robinson alone isn't enough to keep the offense humming at last year's level, you can expect the Rams to soon do whatever necessary to keep another team from swooping in and stealing Beckham away.Quick slantsChiefs get deserving loss Justin Casterline / Getty Images Sport / GettyPatrick Mahomes admitted postgame that his argument with OC Eric Bieniemy heading into halftime, caught on camera by the broadcast, centered around the quarterback wanting the offense to have more urgency to score before the break. There were other costly mistakes from the Chiefs, but a potential field goal in that situation proved to be the difference in their 20-17 loss to the Colts. When you get conservative with Mahomes as your quarterback, you deserve to lose.Packers winning differentlyFor as long as most of us can remember, the Packers have gone as far as Aaron Rodgers has taken them. The future Hall of Famer will undoubtedly still have plenty of influence on their season, but the offense isn't quite the high-powered attack it used to be. Green Bay is going to depend on the defense more than it has in any year since the 2010 Super Bowl campaign. As we saw in a 14-12 win over Tom Brady and the Bucs, that unit seems up to the task.Okudah rounding into formFor the most recent example of needing patience with young players, look no further than Jeff Okudah. The former Ohio State star's first two seasons at the professional level didn't exactly go as planned, with injuries and subpar play leaving him competing for a starting job in training camp this year. Three games in, he looks a lot like the player everyone expected when the Lions selected him at No. 3. His latest work: helping limit Justin Jefferson to three catches for 14 yards.Saints missing PaytonContinuity was a big selling point for Dennis Allen as the new head coach of the Saints. In theory, the defense would keep doing its thing under his watch, and longtime OC Pete Carmichael would continue to run Sean Payton's offense. The latter part hasn't quite worked out as planned, even with the healthy returns of Jameis Winston and Michael Thomas. Getting shutout in the first three quarters before ultimately falling to the lowly Panthers is all the evidence we need to understand that taking Payton's system and running with it is far easier said than done.Olave breaking out Grant Halverson / Getty Images Sport / GettyOne thing the Saints are doing right offensively is getting the ball to their first-round rookie receiver. After just three targets in the opener, Chris Olave has seen 13 passes thrown his way in back-to-back games. On this occasion, he turned those opportunities into nine catches for 147 yards. It seems we have a new WR1 in New Orleans.Bears win despite FieldsJust as everyone predicted, the Bears are 2-1. The latest win came Sunday against the Texans, so it wasn't exactly a statement game, but the real takeaway is that it came despite an awful 106-yard, two-interception performance from Justin Fields. We know Chicago needs to do a better job of surrounding its young quarterback with playmakers, but these kinds of showings won't help the new regime commit to him long term.Herbert deserves a lead jobSo how did the Bears win with such a terrible display from Fields? Khalil Herbert, who stepped into the feature role after an early injury to David Montgomery, was the star of the show. The second-year back took his 20 carries for 157 yards and two touchdowns. The numbers are impressive, no doubt, but it's really just more of what Herbert has always done in his limited opportunity. As free agency looms for Montgomery, it appears a potential successor is already waiting in the wings.AFC West starting slowAfter all the time we spent talking about how loaded the AFC West is, here's where each team stands through 3 games:

San Francisco 49ers left tackle Trent Williams likely suffered a high ankle injury sprain in Sunday night's loss to the Denver Broncos, head coach Kyle Shanahan announced, according to David Lombardi of The Athletic.Williams was injured in the third quarter when a Broncos defensive lineman fell into his leg awkwardly. The Pro Bowl left tackle walked to the locker room under his own power but was unable to return.

The New York Jets expect doctors to clear quarterback Zach Wilson by next week, head coach Robert Saleh said following the team's 27-12 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, according to ESPN's Rich Cimini.Clearing Wilson would put him in position to play against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 4.Wilson underwent surgery after suffering a meniscus tear and bone bruise during the preseason. Jets head coach Robert Saleh announced Sept. 7 that Wilson would miss at least the first three games of the regular season.New York opted not to place Wilson on injured reserve, which would've sidelined him until at least Week 5.The 23-year-old Wilson is looking to bounce back this year after struggling as a rookie in 2021. The former No. 2 pick completed just 55.6% of his passes for nine touchdowns against 11 interceptions in 13 games last season.Veteran Joe Flacco started the first three games of the 2022 campaign for the Jets.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert started Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.Herbert was originally listed as questionable due to a rib injury and was a game-time decision. He considered receiving a painkilling injection in his fractured rib cartilage before the contest to try to play, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. The passer was hurt on a fourth-quarter hit in Week 2's matchup versus the Kansas City Chiefs.The 24-year-old Herbert received a painkilling injection in order to practice Thursday, but the results were mixed, sources told ESPN's Chris Mortensen.The Chargers' medical team "encouraged" Herbert to take the "long view" when deciding whether to play in Week 3, reports Mortensen.

Green Bay Packers left tackle David Bakhtiari is active for the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and will make his season debut Sunday, the team announced.Bakhtiari tore his ACL in December 2020 and played just one game last season.The issue lingered throughout the offseason, requiring another surgery and ultimately forcing the veteran offensive lineman to miss the first two games of the campaign.Former undrafted free agent Yosh Nijman started in place of Bakhtiari for Green Bay's first two games.The 31-year-old's return represents a significant boost for a Packers offense still adjusting to losing star wide receiver Davante Adams. Bakhtiari earned five straight All-Pro nods prior to 2021.Veteran wideout Randall Cobb, who was listed as questionable for Sunday due to an illness, is also active.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.