Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo agreed to a restructured one-year contract to remain with the San Francisco 49ers, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The new deal is worth $6.5 million in base salary with performance incentives that could lift his earnings to nearly $16 million in 2022, according to Schefter. The contract also includes no-trade and no-tag clauses, ensuring the veteran passer can hit free agency in 2023.Garoppolo appeared to be on his way out of San Francisco following the 2021 campaign and was the subject of trade speculation for much of the offseason. However, his March shoulder surgery halted any interest from teams.General manager John Lynch insisted that the 49ers did not plan to cut the signal-caller.Prior to the new deal, Garoppolo was set to count for $26.9 million against the team's salary cap. He was entering the final year of a five-year, $137.5-million contract.The 49ers were expected to turn the offense over to second-year quarterback Trey Lance. Garoppolo provides plenty of experience, having led the team to a Super Bowl appearance. He owns a 31-14 record as a starter.Garoppolo passed for 3,810 yards and 20 touchdowns while completing 68.3% of his pass attempts in 2021.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Miami Dolphins announced Monday that they released veteran running back Sony Michel.Michel signed a one-year deal worth up to $1.75 million with Miami as a free agent in May.The 27-year-old halfback won his second career Super Bowl title after the New England Patriots traded him to the Los Angles Rams ahead of the 2021 campaign. He rushed for 845 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 4.1 yards per carry last season. He also added 21 receptions for 128 yards and one score.New England drafted Michel in the first round in 2018. He spent his first three seasons with the Patriots, tallying 2,2292 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns.Miami's running back depth chart now features Chase Edmonds, Raheem Mostert, and Myles Gaskin ahead of Tuesday's deadline to finalize 53-man rosters.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2022 Fantasy Football Draft Kit 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 biggest takeaways from the final week of preseason games.

The football that Tom Brady used to throw what was briefly believed to be the final touchdown pass of his career is back on the auction block.The ball was tossed into the stands after Brady connected with Mike Evans on a 55-yard touchdown pass during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' NFC divisional-round loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Jan. 23, 2022. Brady announced his retirement from the NFL on Feb. 1, 2022, only to reverse his decision 40 days later.Brady's "final" touchdown ball was auctioned off by Lelands for $518,000 just one day before the quarterback announced he was coming out of retirement. The sale was subsequently voided and the ball remained with Lelands, which is once again auctioning it off."Though the perspective has changed, this remains a magnificent piece nonetheless," the auction listing reads. "For 40 days, this stood as one of the most significant game-used footballs in history: the final touchdown ball of Tom Brady's career."Bidding on the ball is currently at $25,000 with 19 days remaining.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

At least 12 teams have made trade inquiries about Minnesota Vikings running back Alexander Mattison, a source told Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press.Mattison is entering the final year of his contract and is reportedly unwilling to re-sign in Minnesota because he wants to start.Three-time Pro Bowler Dalvin Cook, who is signed through the 2025 season, is cemented as the Vikings' top running back.The NFC North club would need a third- or fourth-round pick to consider trading Mattison, a source told Tomasson.The 24-year-old Mattison spent the last three seasons as Cook's primary backup, producing 400-yard campaigns each year. He also started six games over the past two seasons in relief of an injured Cook, rushing for over 90 yards in four of them.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2022 Fantasy Football Draft Kit and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Brian Robinson shot multiple timesWe'll get to the biggest takeaways from the final week of preseason games in a moment, but it's impossible not to first discuss the situation of rookie running back Brian Robinson.The Washington Commanders third-rounder is in stable condition after being shot multiple times during an attempted robbery. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported that at least two bullets struck Robinson in the lower body.Fortunately, the injuries aren't life-threatening and the surgery went well. Commanders head coach Ron Rivera provided a positive outlook after visiting with Robinson.This all comes after a strong training camp and preseason that saw the 23-year-old back rise up Washington's depth chart. We were likely heading toward a committee approach with Robinson, Antonio Gibson, and J.D. McKissic all getting touches, but the rookie had positioned himself to be the lead back and arguably the most valuable fantasy option of the bunch.The 23-year-old will now focus on his recovery, and we wish him all the best as he works his way back to full health. We've yet to get a timeline on how long that could take, so we'll wait for more information before projecting when he might return.While Robinson's sidelined, Gibson will likely step back into the starting role with McKissic handling the bulk of the passing-down work. This might also lead to Washington keeping one of the ball carriers who was on the roster bubble, like Jonathan Williams or Jaret Patterson.Either way, the important thing is Robinson survived.Instant impressions from preseason Week 3Target Elijah Mitchell in drafts - There've been conflicting reports about San Francisco's backfield depth chart, and the final preseason outing didn't solve things. With their offensive line struggling, none of the 49ers' backup running backs made a strong case to steal work from Mitchell, who averaged the 19th-most fantasy points among RBs in 2021. Mitchell has returned to practice after missing time with a hamstring injury and should be ready to roll for Week 1. You can get him right now in the sixth round as the 23rd back off the board. A healthy Jeff Wilson seems like the favorite for the No. 2 role, and third-rounder Ty Davis-Price should be a lock for the roster. It's hard to tell whether the praise general manager John Lynch heaped on Trey Sermon was a sign of his future with the team or an attempt to generate a trade market.Montgomery still the man - Despite plenty of offseason speculation that the Bears would deploy more of a committee this season, incumbent starter David Montgomery played 20 of 22 snaps with the starting offense, according to Nathan Jahnke of PFF. Backup Khalil Herbert showed last year he can be an immediate fantasy starter when Montgomery misses time, but Herbert might not have as much flex value as we thought when the new coaching staff took over.Take shots on Chiefs RBs at ADP - Clyde Edwards-Helaire has a hold on the starting job in Kansas City entering his third NFL campaign, with veteran Jerick McKinnon set to contribute as a third-down option. Seventh-round rookie Isiah Pacheco and veteran Ronald Jones went toe-to-toe this week for the No. 3 job and both performed well, with Pacheco racking up 52 yards from scrimmage on 10 attempts and Jones 47 yards and a score on nine touches. While some have suggested RoJo might get cut, it's possible the team carries four backs into the season. If Jones does get cut, he won't have trouble finding a new home.Ty Montgomery's injury could unlock Stevenson - Though Bill Belichick suggested Montgomery might be able to practice this week after he was carted off with an ankle injury, we've learned not to trust the coach's optimism. If Montgomery misses time early in the year, it'll go a long way toward helping Rhamondre Stevenson's fantasy value since he'll pick up some of the passing-down snaps. Damien Harris remains the starter, but his upside is limited by a lack of a pass-catching role. It took 15 touchdowns last season for Harris to finish as the RB15 in fppg. Banking on a repeat performance in that category is risky, especially with Stevenson pushing for more work. Stevenson has the higher fantasy ceiling, but it'll likely take a Harris injury for him to reach it.Draft Dameon Pierce within reason - The fantasy community is falling over themselves to select Pierce in drafts. The fourth-rounder's ADP has risen 16 spots over the last week into the seventh round. It certainly helped that he looked explosive again while delivering a 6-37-1 stat line in the last action before the regular season. The Texans' offensive line is also coming together to propel the rushing attack. However, let's remember what we cautioned about last week - Houston faces the fourth-toughest fantasy schedule for running backs in 2022. Pierce will also give up passing-down work to Rex Burkhead and Marlon Mack, which could happen often on a team with a projected win total of 4.5 games. The rookie deserves to be among the top-30 fantasy backs drafted, but his ceiling could be capped this year.Breece Hall making a move - Despite some people overreacting to Michael Carter playing as the Jets' No. 1 running back the last couple of games, Carter and Hall split time with the first-team offense this past week. Looking ahead, Carter should remain a big part of the Jets' game plan early in the year as they get Hall up to speed on all aspects of their playbook. But make no mistake, Hall will be the better fantasy option in 2022 and beyond. He's one of the few dead-zone RBs you should be willing to roll the dice on.Chase Romeo Doubs' upside - The Packers' fourth-round rookie wideout has positioned himself to be a factor this year after a strong camp and preseason. Though Allen Lazard remains the No. 1 receiver in Green Bay, Doubs will push veterans Sammy Watkins and Randall Cobb for targets. Second-round rookie Christian Watson was a raw prospect to begin with, and injuries have set back his acclimation to the pros. He's unlikely to command a significant volume early in the season, or perhaps at all.Justin Fields is legit - Even with a bad offensive line and an incomplete arsenal of weapons, Fields is showing he has the talent to lift this offense on his own. The sophomore passer completed 14 of 16 attempts this week for 156 yards and three touchdowns while adding another 11 yards on the ground. He's worth a flier as a late-round fantasy target.Don't sleep on Jameis Winston - It's been a quiet August for Winston due to a foot injury that kept him sidelined for the last couple of weeks. But he returned for the final preseason contest and was nearly perfect, leading the Saints to a touchdown on his lone drive by completing all four of his attempts for 59 yards. With the ample weapons in New Orleans this year, Winston could be a sneaky fantasy option.Mostert healthy ... for now - We had concerns the oft-injured Raheem Mostert might not be ready for Week 1, but he appeared to be 100% when he hit the afterburners on this 26-yard run. Starter Chase Edmonds wasn't playing, so Mostert saw most of the snaps with the first-team offense. While Edmonds will still see the most touches, Mostert could provide a dangerous change of pace for however long he can stay off the trainer's table.Kelley is the Chargers' backup RB to roster - Larry Rountree got the start this week with Austin Ekeler held out and Isaiah Spiller nursing an ankle injury. However, Rountree was outplayed again by Joshua Kelley, who's running as well as he ever has in the NFL. He rushed six times for 40 yards in the third preseason game, and he hurdled a defender during this 15-yard run. For now, Kelley is the backup rusher to roster on the Chargers. He should see some work spelling Ekeler while playing in a potent attack behind a quality offensive line.Geno Smith beats out Drew Lock in Seattle - There were no winners in the Seahawks' quarterback competition. Smith got the nod after Lock imploded with three interceptions this past week. The result is what we've been expecting for a while - an offense that'll be severely limited by its quarterback play. That doesn't mean you should shy away from the Seahawks' skill position players entirely, but don't draft them unless you're getting a discount.Avoid Mike Gesicki and Noah Fant - Both tight ends would normally offer extreme fantasy upside in the right passing attack, but if the preseason was any indication, they could see their workloads reduced this season. Fant has been splitting time with Will Dissly, and Gesicki has been outsnapped by Durham Smythe. The Dolphins and Seahawks also have two quality receivers on each of their rosters who'll command plenty of targets, pushing their tight ends down the pecking order. There are better late-round fantasy tight ends to invest in.Jakobi Meyers dinged up - With rookie Tyquan Thornton already slated to miss around two months due to injury, it'll be even more important to monitor Meyers' status after he spent time in the blue medical tent during Week 3's game. There's been no indication the injury is anything serious, but keep an eye out for updates. Meyers and DeVante Parker are the only Patriots receivers worth investing in for redraft leagues.Treylon Burks' time is coming - The first-rounder still needs to earn the trust of his coaches after it was suggested that he showed up to camp out of shape and subsequently missed practice time. But Burks is on the rise up the depth chart after a three-catch, 33-yard, one-touchdown performance in the final preseason contest. He's still behind Robert Woods, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, and rookie slot receiver Kyle Philips, but Burks will be a factor sooner rather than later. It just might take a few weeks into the season before he spreads his wings.Malik Willis has potential - Despite falling in the draft and posting a couple of uneven performances in his previous preseason outings, Willis started to look more comfortable this past week. He completed 15 of 23 attempts for 131 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. More importantly for fantasy, he rushed for 79 yards, including a beautiful 50-yard scramble. When his opportunity comes - which might not be this year unless Ryan Tannehill gets hurt - fantasy managers need to be ready.Desmond Ridder will get his chance - Marcus Mariota is the unquestioned starter heading into Week 1, but Ridder has shown enough to warrant an opportunity at some point. Don't worry about the two interceptions the rookie threw this past week - the more important takeaway has been his overall command of the offense and willingness to push the ball downfield. Once the Falcons are out of the playoff hunt, expect Ridder to get starts down the stretch.Monitor the Browns' RBs on cutdown day - D'Ernest Johnson played in this past week's game, while Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, and Jerome Ford did not. It's hard to speculate what that means. The reality is anything is on the table. Hunt has been rumoured to be a trade candidate, and Johnson could be traded or on the roster bubble. Either way, these are all backs that are intriguing for fantasy, so be ready to react when the team makes a move one way or another.Eno Benjamin and Darrel Williams share snaps - Sadly, we didn't get any separation in the competition to be James Conner's immediate backup. In fact, it was quite the opposite. Both players were involved with the starting offense this past week. Benjamin is still the favorite to get work behind Conner, but if Conner went down with an injury, it'd likely result in a timeshare between Benjamin and Williams. That's assuming Williams isn’t a surprise cut, which was thrown out there by Doug Kyed of PFF.Falcons' backup RB battle - We should get more info on the Falcons' running back depth chart after cutdown day. For now, it's clear that Cordarrelle Patterson is leading the way with Damien Williams behind him. Both veterans sat out the Week 3 game, while rookie Tyler Allgeier got the start. You can expect the fifth-rounder grinder to earn more snaps/touches as the year goes on, but Williams will have more value early in the season.Mike Davis might have fantasy value - Here we go again. After the 29-year-old back failed to deliver with his opportunity in Atlanta last year, he's found himself in another situation that could result in volume. The Ravens placed Gus Edwards on the physically unable to perform list, meaning he'll miss at least the first four games. J.K. Dobbins, who's also coming back from a torn ACL, is no lock to be available for Week 1, either. That could lead to a lot of touches for Davis in the opening weeks. If his preseason usage is any indication, Davis is the clear No. 3 on the depth chart in Baltimore's backfield. And before you dismiss it, just remember a 29-year-old Devonta Freeman had several quality fantasy outings as the Ravens' starter last year.Take a late-round flier on Parris Campbell - Yes, we've seen this story before, and it always ends with Campbell on injured reserve. But the 25-year-old is entering the season healthy and is settled in as the Colts' No. 2 wideout. Campbell got work ahead of rookie teammate Alec Pierce in two-receiver sets this week, and his connection with Matt Ryan has been well-documented throughout the offseason and training camp. Campbell still remains a long shot to become a consistent fantasy starter, but his talent has never been in question.Other preseason standouts who caught my eye this week - Commanders QB Sam Howell, Dolphins QB Skylar Thompson, Saints RB Mark Ingram, Vikings RB Ty Chandler, Cardinals RB Keaontay Ingram, Broncos RB Mike Boone, Seahawks RB DeeJay Dallas, Patriots, RB Kevin Harris, Rams WR Lance McCutcheon, Panthers WR Shi Smith, Ravens WR Demarcus Robinson, Packers WR Samori Toure.Previous takeaways

As we approach the season's kickoff on Sept. 8, it's time to examine a macro-market that reflects every team's core goal: to make the playoffs. Barring unforeseeable practice injuries and suspensions, NFL teams are what they are from a personnel standpoint. To help define value, we'll look at three bets on either side: a favorite in the market, a team with less than a 50% chance, and a long shot (+350 or longer).Make/Miss NFL playoffs oddsTEAMMAKEMISSArizona Cardinals+120-150Atlanta Falcons+800-1400Baltimore Ravens-170+135Buffalo Bills-600+400Carolina Panthers+400-600Chicago Bears+400-600Cincinnati Bengals-150+120Cleveland Browns+170-220Dallas Cowboys-240+180Denver Broncos-150+120Detroit Lions+400-600Green Bay Packers-450+300Houston Texans+1500-4000Indianapolis Colts-175+140Jacksonville Jaguars+450-700Kansas City Chiefs-230+180Las Vegas Raiders+170-220Los Angeles Chargers-160+130Los Angeles Rams-280+210Miami Dolphins+140-170Minnesota Vikings-120-110New England Patriots+160-210New Orleans Saints+115-145New York Giants+220-300New York Jets+800-1400Philadelphia Eagles-175+135Pittsburgh Steelers+320-450San Francisco 49ers-210+160Seattle Seahawks+475-800Tampa Bay Buccaneers-550+380Tennessee Titans+105-135Washington Commanders+150-200Best bet: To make the playoffsFavorite: Colts (-175)If we're going to pay the juice for a team to make the playoffs, we want to back a clear-cut favorite to win its division. The Colts are -125 to take the AFC South, which is an implied win probability of 55.6%. At -175 (63.6% win probability) to make the playoffs, it's assumed that if the Colts can't top the Titans, Jaguars, and Texans, then they probably aren't good enough to earn a wild-card berth, either. That's not an unfair assessment, but with such a short disparity between the two prices, it's worth having the wild-card backup plan to win this bet.Underdog: Browns (+170)With the Browns looking likely to play 11 games with Jacoby Brissett at the helm, the market has cratered on their prospects this season. But Cleveland's roster is good enough - and the early schedule is soft enough - that the team could be hovering around .500 when Deshaun Watson returns with six games left; a 10-win season isn't out of the question, and as competitive as the AFC is, a 10-7 record was good enough to make the playoffs last year. At a significant plus-money price, a bet on the Browns being in the mix come Week 18 is a shot worth taking.Long shot: Panthers (+400)Speaking of the Browns, a healthy Baker Mayfield was good enough to lead Cleveland to the playoffs just two seasons ago. For the Panthers, a healthy Christian McCaffrey would radically change an offense that has missed him for much of the last two seasons - two seasons in which Carolina also battled below-average quarterback play.We'll presume that existing trends will continue this year in the shallow NFC, where some surprising teams have earned playoff berths with nine wins or fewer in recent years. The Panthers can finish second in the NFC South, at which point they'd likely be competing with the non-division winners in the NFC East and NFC North for two of the three wild-card berths. At 4-1, Carolina's upside is worth gambling on.Best bet: To miss the playoffsFavorite: Cardinals (-150)The NFC wild-card math alluded to above assumes only two NFC West teams make the playoffs this season after the division had three postseason clubs a year ago. The Cardinals are the odd team out this year, as we pick up where the second half of last season left off: fading Kliff Kingsbury.The Cardinals gave themselves a 7-0 head start in 2021, but without DeAndre Hopkins for the first six games of this campaign, Kyler Murray and the offense won't have the same success converting third downs or drawing pass interference penalties to extend drives. The -150 price assumes a 60% win probability; we have Arizona closer to a 66% chance of missing this year's playoffs.Underdog: Cowboys (+180)The Cowboys received a significant blow last week when Tyron Smith suffered a potentially season-ending injury. Any Smith absence has historically led to a significant drop in the Cowboys' offensive efficiency, and Dallas did little to add depth to an offensive line that already suffered some key losses. Amid concerns about the defense's ability to create as many turnovers - and return touchdowns - as it did last season, this year's roster may be grossly overvalued. At +180, this is the best way to fade Dallas in 2022.Long shot: Bills (+400)By definition, we have to pick a really good team to miss the playoffs here, and that's far more likely to happen in the AFC. Just choose seven teams from the conference that are likely to make the playoffs, then consider the clubs that didn't make that list. A good team will miss out. If the Dolphins or Patriots can steal the division, the Bills' schedule is tough enough to make 11 wins a difficult target. A 10-win campaign might result in a wild-card tiebreaker, at which point it would be nice to hold a +400 ticket on Buffalo.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.

Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. is in stable condition after being shot multiple times as the victim in an apparent carjacking attempt, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter."We have been made aware that Brian Robinson Jr. was the victim of an attempted armed robbery or carjacking in Washington, D.C.," the Commanders said in a statement. "He sustained non-life-threatening injuries and is currently being treated at the hospital, where team officials are on-site with him. We ask that you please respect Brian's privacy at this time. "The 23-year-old was struck in the glute and lower leg, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Commanders head coach Ron Rivera said Monday that doctors are optimistic about Robinson's recovery and potential return this season, according to John Keim of ESPN.Rivera also released a statement after visiting Robinson in the hospital.

The Miami Dolphins are signing free-agent pass-rusher Trey Flowers to a one-year contract worth $2.1 million, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Flowers, a seven-year veteran, played the first four seasons of his NFL career for the New England Patriots, winning two Super Bowls with Miami's AFC East rival.His strong play over that stretch - he recorded 21 sacks in 46 games - earned him a five-year, $90-million contract with the Detroit Lions in 2019.Flowers remained an impact player in his first season with the Lions, recording seven sacks while starting all but one contest. However, injury issues limited him to just 14 games over the next two years combined. Detroit released the 29-year-old in March to save over $10 million in cap space.Flowers will provide some added depth for an edge-rush group led by fellow free-agent signing Melvin Ingram and 2021 first-round pick Jaelan Phillips.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Here, theScore evaluates 10 notable names who could be released or traded ahead of the NFL's Tuesday 4 p.m. ET deadline to cut rosters down to 53 players.Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, 49ersNo player has been the subject of more trade speculation this offseason than Garoppolo, but all that talk has come to nothing so far. The San Francisco 49ers signal-caller's future is even murkier than it was at the end of last season after nearly every potential suitor solidified its quarterback room while Garoppolo recovered from shoulder surgery. San Francisco has said it's willing to pay Garoppolo's salary rather than cut him, but it's likely a bluff to keep his trade market alive. Keeping Garoppolo will only undermine Trey Lance's position if the youngster struggles. At this stage, Garoppolo would do well to push for his release and position himself as the go-to option for the first contender to lose its starter.Kareem Hunt, RB, Browns Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyHunt and the Cleveland Browns are in a standoff. The running back - who's in the final year of his contract - requested a trade in the absence of an extension, but the Browns are unwilling to grant it. As one of the best second options in the NFL - 1,406 yards and 13 touchdowns in three seasons behind Nick Chubb - the 27-year-old would presumably have suitors, even if the acquiring team would need to immediately hand him a new deal. But that's why Cleveland badly wants to keep him. With Deshaun Watson missing the first 11 games, the Browns will rely on their two-headed backfield more than ever. Will either side blink ahead of the season?Mike Gesicki, TE, DolphinsIt's rare for a franchise-tagged player to be the subject of trade rumors, but Gesicki's early struggles in Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel's offense have led to speculation about his future. Gesicki lined up out wide or in the slot for 85% of offensive snaps last year, compared to just 12% as a tight end, according to PFF's Ryan Smith. But McDaniel wants his tight end more in the traditional do-it-all mold of George Kittle. However, Gesicki's blocking ability isn't up to par. McDaniel quickly shut down talk of trading Geiscki, but the poor fit might lead teams in need of pass-catching to test Miami's resilience.Robert Quinn, DE, Bears Stephen Maturen / Getty Images Sport / GettyQuinn doesn't want to leave the Chicago Bears after leaping from team to team over the second half of his career, but the rebuilding NFC North club could still look to move the pass-rusher after apparently receiving interest in him earlier in the offseason. Quinn's value will likely never be higher after recording a franchise-record 18.5 sacks. But after trading Khalil Mack, letting Quinn go would leave Chicago with one of the league's worst pass-rushing units. A contender could make a late push for Quinn, but if a trade is to happen, a midseason move is perhaps more likely.Kendrick Bourne, WR, PatriotsAt the start of the offseason, Bourne's place with the New England Patriots was secure. He was coming off a 55-catch, 800-yard (both second on the team) debut season in New England and had a team-friendly contract. But Bourne struggled in training camp and is apparently not a fan of the new offense. He ran with the second-team unit and got ejected for fighting during joint practices with the Carolina Panthers before mysteriously being held out of the preseason matchup. Bourne's relatively cheap contract means he almost certainly won't be cut, but a trade isn't inconceivable if he has gotten on Bill Belichick's bad side.Mason Rudolph, QB, Steelers Steven Ryan / Getty Images Sport / GettyMitchell Trubisky is expected to win the Pittsburgh Steelers' starting job, while rookie Kenny Pickett looks set to challenge the veteran at some point this season after a strong preseason. That has left Rudolph surplus to requirements after four years in Pittsburgh. Teams are reportedly interested in the 27-year-old, and the Steelers would consider a deal "for the right price." Rudolph would improve the depth chart of a few teams, and Pittsburgh could recoup some value after signing him to a one-year, $5-million extension last year.Chuck Clark, S, RavensClark confirmed Friday that he requested a trade after the Baltimore Ravens drafted safety Kyle Hamilton 14th overall. The Ravens had also made one big addition to their secondary earlier in the offseason, signing Marcus Williams to a five-year, $70-million contract. Clark - who has two years but no guaranteed money left on his contract - insists he's now "locked-in" for the season, but his admission might spark interest from other teams.Darius Slayton, WR, Giants Rob Carr / Getty Images Sport / GettySlayton was a surprise gem for the New York Giants over his first two seasons after being taken in the fifth round in 2019. But following back-to-back 700-yard campaigns, Slayton had just 339 yards in 2021 while struggling with injuries. Kenny Golladay, rookie Wan'Dale Robinson, and Kadarius Toney are all ahead of Slayton, and Sterling Shepard will be as well once healthy. With little experience on special teams, it makes sense to either cut or trade Slayton in favor of keeping the likes of C.J. Board and Collin Johnson, who better suit the No. 5 receiver role.Denzel Mims, WR, JetsMims called for a fresh start in the NFL on Thursday. He's in desperate need of one after a poor first two seasons in the league and falling even further down the New York Jets' pecking order following the addition of first-round rookie Garrett Wilson. Mims' agent said New York has refused to cut him, but the club should be able to find a trade partner willing to take a low-risk bet on the 2020 second-round pick.Alex Leatherwood, OL, Raiders Chris Unger / Getty Images Sport / GettyLeatherwood failed to live up to expectations after the Las Vegas Raiders drafted him 17th overall in 2021, and he's now facing a fight to remain on the team. He was moved from right tackle to guard after struggling early as a rookie. The former Alabama standout was given the chance to fight for his more natural position this offseason but quickly fell down the depth chart. While it would be bold to trade or even cut Leatherwood after just one year, the Raiders' new regime has no ties to him.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold is expected to miss four-to-six weeks due to a high ankle sprain, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The 25-year-old will seek a second opinion on his diagnosis, Rapoport adds.Darnold suffered the injury in the Panthers' preseason finale against the Buffalo Bills on Friday when C.J. Brewer landed on him. Darnold was carted off the field before being ruled out for the remainder of the contest."We're not sure we have the exact length," head coach Matt Rhule said Saturday, according to team reporter Augusta Stone. "We've sent images to specialists to try to gauge it. But again, that does look like a significant injury that could take some time."The USC product completed 5-of-11 pass attempts for 49 yards to go along with a rushing touchdown before leaving the game.The former third overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft is in his second season with the Panthers after they acquired him in a trade with the New York Jets in April 2021. He started 11 of 12 games last season and sported a 4-7 record as a starter.Carolina recently named Baker Mayfield their starting quarterback ahead of the regular season. Darnold's injury provides an opportunity for PJ Walker to remain on the roster. The Panthers lost rookie passer Matt Corral to a Lisfranc foot injury in their second preseason game.Additionally, kicker Zane Gonzalez sustained a groin injury that is considered "significant" and could keep him out "long term," according to Rhule.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith will be the team's starter for Week 1 following a competition with Drew Lock, head coach Pete Carroll announced Friday following the team's preseason finale.Carroll said Smith "earned" the job while Lock "ran out of time" to beat out the veteran after missing the second preseason game due to COVID-19.Seattle will face its former quarterback, Russell Wilson, in a Monday night opener against the Denver Broncos.Lock struggled during Friday's loss to the Dallas Cowboys in a final attempt to win the top job, throwing one touchdown and three interceptions. Smith, meanwhile, played just one series, leading the Seahawks to a field goal.Smith entered the battle as the favorite after spending the last two campaigns backing up Wilson. He performed well in three starts in 2021 while Wilson was injured, passing for 702 yards and five scores against one pick.This will be Smith's first full-time starting role since his first two seasons in the NFL with the New York Jets.The 31-year-old started 29 games over 2013-14 but couldn't establish himself as New York's franchise quarterback, throwing 25 touchdowns against 34 interceptions.Seattle acquired Lock from the Broncos as part of the blockbuster deal that sent Wilson to Denver.The 25-year-old started 21 games for the AFC West club after the team took him in the second round of the 2019 draft. But Lock struggled with turnovers and accuracy with the Broncos, finishing his time in Denver with 4,740 yards and 25 touchdowns against 20 interceptions.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph is receiving trade interest ahead of Tuesday's cutdown day, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.With Rudolph seemingly the odd man out in Pittsburgh following the offseason additions of Mitchell Trubisky and rookie Kenny Pickett, the Steelers reportedly could be tempted to move the veteran "for the right price."Trubisky is expected to enter the regular season as Pittsburgh's starter, while Pickett has impressed enough during the preseason to solidify the No. 2 spot.Rudolph spent the first four years of his career in Pittsburgh after being drafted in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He's made 10 starts (eight of which came in 2019) and seven further appearances with the Steelers, throwing for 2,366 yards and 16 touchdowns against 11 interceptions.The 27-year-old was once seen as a potential successor to Ben Roethlisberger, but his inconsistent play led Pittsburgh to sign Trubisky in free agency and draft Pickett with the No. 20 overall pick.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Jets are open to offers for wide receiver Denzel Mims and plan to grant his trade request, sources told SNY's Connor Hughes.On Thursday, Mims informed the Jets he would like to be traded due to frustration over a lack of opportunities amid a crowded receiving corps."We feel at this point a trade is our only option since the Jets have repeatedly told us they will not be releasing him," Mims' agent Ron Slavin said in a statement to Hughes. "(Jets general manager) Joe Douglas has always done right by Denzel, and we trust that he will make every effort to find him a new home where he can be a contributor."The Carolina Panthers called the Jets to inquire about Mims, league sources told The Athletic's Joe Person. Mims played under Panthers head coach Matt Rhule during his collegiate career at Baylor.While New York is open to parting with the third-year wideout, a deal will only get done if the franchise feels it's for equal value, according to Hughes.Mims has struggled to carve out a role in his two seasons with the Jets. He's started 11 of his 20 career games but has tallied just 31 receptions for 490 yards. After displaying some promise in his rookie campaign, the 24-year-old caught just eight receptions for 133 yards in 2021.Corey Davis and Elijah Moore currently lead New York's receiving group. Mims rounds out a depth chart that also features 2022 first-round selection Garrett Wilson alongside Braxton Berrios and Jeff Smith.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

No season-long player market sees its odds shift as drastically before the campaign starts as the Offensive Rookie of the Year (OROY) does, which makes sense for a plethora of reasons:

The Defensive Rookie of the Year market has shifted toward pass-rushers who put up impact counting stats such as sacks - much like its "uncle" market, the Defensive Player of the Year. Unlike its "cousin" market - the Offensive Rookie of the Year - the DROY oddsboard hasn't shifted much from where it stood shortly after the NFL draft in April.Few are expecting a rookie defensive player to stand out in minimal preseason action or a team to unleash a special player with a special usage plan the way the Dallas Cowboys did with Micah Parsons last year. We won't know if we'll see such a player until the season begins, so we'll have to act accordingly if we do.More than in any other market, the best advice here is to be patient. Reviewing how teams use their new players can still provide value a few weeks into the season. A defensive back can play significant snaps in numerous games but may not find the ball in their hands until later in the season. A front-seven defensive player might accumulate pressures or tackles but fail to garner media and betting attention because they don't record sacks early.Having followed the oddsboard over the offseason, we know it doesn't react in the same way as the offensive version, which is a good thing for bettors in a market that reopens after each week of play.Defensive Rookie of the Year oddsPLAYERODDSAidan Hutchinson+550Kayvon Thibodeaux+550Kyle Hamilton+800Travon Walker+800Quay Walker+800Ahmad Gardner+1200Derek Stingley+1200Jermaine Johnson+1200Jordan Davis+1300Devin Lloyd+1500George Karlaftis+2000Kaiir Elam+2000Nakobe Dean+2000Trent McDuffie+2500Devonte Wyatt+3000Daxton Hill+4000Drake Jackson+4000Roger McCreary+4000Sam Williams+4000Arnold Ebiketie+5000Boye Mafe+5000Logan Hall+5000Odds available on theScore Bet, players not listed above available at 60-1 or longerAidan Hutchinson is still the favorite, as nothing has changed about his role in the Detroit Lions' defense. Sacks, pressures, and general havoc are expected from the Michigan product, an expectation the market shares. Should he come out hot this season and dominate offensive linemen, we'll entertain the idea of betting Hutchinson, even at a shorter price. Until then, we'll look down the board for long shots to make a minimal investment on.Best betsDevin Lloyd (+1500)Lloyd is still primed for a tackle-consuming role with the Jaguars' defense, but his odds have lengthened after missing Jacksonville's first two games with a lingering hamstring injury. Lloyd is back practicing at full strength and should be up to speed for Week 1. With first overall pick Travon Walker setting a defensive edge and working with Josh Allen to cause backfield havoc, Lloyd won't be rushing the passer as a primary role. His tackle count will be noticed later in the season. If the two favorites struggle to rack up the sacks, Lloyd's consistent production may be rewarded.George Karlaftis (+2000)Karlaftis is one of the few rookies to make a headline or two in preseason game action. He got a sack in each of the first two games and received glowing reviews for his technique in rushing the passer. The Purdue product slipped down the draft, and that's been mirrored on the oddsboard. However, whether it's a high volume of snaps or prime situational plays on third downs, Karlaftis should have more than an average number of opportunities for the coveted sack with the Kansas City Chiefs frequently playing from ahead. If he can approach double-digit sacks in that role for Kansas City, he could cash DROY tickets at a big price.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 Jets wide receiver Denzel Mims has requested a trade, his agent announced Thursday.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady will start Saturday's preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts, head coach Todd Bowles announced Thursday, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.Brady returned to the team earlier this week after missing 11 days of training camp for personal reasons.Bowles added that all healthy players will get playing time against the Colts, signaling that the Bucs will treat their preseason finale as a true dress rehearsal for the regular season.Brady, 45, is entering his third year with the team after going back on his decision to retire at the beginning of the offseason.He won a Super Bowl in his first season in Tampa Bay. The seven-time champ followed that up by leading all quarterbacks in 2021 with a career-high 5,316 yards and 43 touchdowns.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2022 Fantasy Football Draft Kit 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, Rich Hribar of Sharp Football Analysis joins Boone to discuss their favorite players to target at the end of drafts.

Dallas Cowboys left tackle Tyron Smith suffered an avulsion fracture in his knee at practice Wednesday evening, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Smith will reportedly require surgery as the hamstring tendon in the back of his knee tore off the bone. He's expected to be out until at least December.Smith suffered the ailment while trying to block Leighton Vander Esch on a running play, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter and Todd Archer.An eight-time Pro Bowler, Smith has been one of the NFL's best left tackles throughout his career but has struggled with durability. The 31-year-old hasn't played a full season since 2015. He missed six games in 2021 due to an ankle injury and COVID-19.The Cowboys have a number of internal options to replace Smith, though none are established starters. First-round rookie Tyler Smith, who's played left guard this preseason, and second-year lineman Josh Ball are the most likely candidates to fill in at left tackle. Aviante Collins and Matt Waletzko are also options.Veteran Eric Fisher is the most notable left tackle still available in free agency.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Cleveland Browns center and current NFLPA president JC Tretter announced his retirement from the NFL after eight seasons Thursday.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2022 Fantasy Football Draft Kit 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 2022 rankings.Half PPR

The Miami Dolphins have brought up tight end Mike Gesicki in potential trade discussions with other teams, a source told PFF's Doug Kyed.Gesicki is set to play on a fully guaranteed franchise tag worth $10.9 million in the 2022 season.The playmaking pass-catcher is entering his fifth campaign with the Dolphins following back-to-back 700-yard receiving campaigns.Gesicki is adjusting to a new offensive scheme under rookie head coach Mike McDaniel that will require him to do more blocking than in past seasons.The veteran played with both the starters and backups during the Dolphins' preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders, citing a desire for additional reps as he transitions to a traditional in-line tight end."I need all the reps I can get. … I've played receiver the past three or four years. I'm playing tight end now," he said, according to NFL.com's Kevin Patra. "And any reps I can get live out there blocking, putting my hands on another guy … I can use."If Miami decides to part ways with Gesicki, it could promote Durham Smythe or Hunter Long up the depth chart.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We looked at the NFL through an optimistic lens when we tried to find value in the team to score the most points - a market that's difficult to guess in retrospect. While it was tricky to remember which was the highest-scoring team in 2021, it's far easier to recall the team at the bottom of the list. The Jacksonville Jaguars were full value for their last-place finish in 2021, scoring just 253 points in an offensive horror show.The basic logic that we used to determine who will score a lot in the coming season can be applied here in reverse. Like the Jaguars in their (pathetic) prime, we want teams that manage to avoid scoring touchdowns and rarely get near the end zone, and when they do, they kick (and miss) field goals or turn the ball over.As with most NFL betting markets, there are minimal secrets. Unlike the market for most points, the game situation has little effect on a team scoring at league-low rates. If you're bad, you're trailing and need to score. Unlike good teams that will take their foot off the gas late, the bad teams still try. Since their motivation to score remains constant, pure ineptitude is of the utmost importance, and oddsmakers know what's most likely to be a gruesome offensive outfit.Fewest points scored oddsTEAMODDSTexans+550Falcons+600Bears+600Seahawks+750Panthers+1000Jets+1000Steelers+1200Giants+1500Lions+1600Jaguars+2000Patriots+2000Commanders+2000Saints+2500Dolphins+4000Vikings+4000Titans+4000Colts+5000Raiders+5000Eagles+600049ers+6000Cardinals+7500Ravens+7500Bengals+7500Browns+7500Broncos+7500Packers+7500Cowboys+10000Chiefs+15000Chargers+15000Rams+15000Buccaneers+15000Bills+20000(Odds source: theScore Bet)We discussed the karmic negativity of sprinkling on a handful of good-team long shots in our preview of the worst record market, but the difference is that those teams could hypothetically score a lot early and still lose before their big-name quarterback suffers an injury. We need teams that are bad from the start. The Giants gave the Jaguars everything they could handle at the offensive bottom of the league in 2021, showing how depressingly competitive the fewest points market can be.Best betsSeahawks (+750)We talked about Russell Wilson's outstanding red-zone conversion rate when we broke down the most points market. So it should come as no surprise that Wilson's departure bodes poorly for a Seahawks offense that had the fifth-fewest red-zone trips last season and was in the bottom half of the league even when Wilson was healthy in 2020.A minimal volume of opportunities and a probably less-than-average conversion rate from a quarterback room that hosts Geno Smith, Drew Lock, and Jacob Eason is a bad recipe for points. Include the punt-first attitude of head chef Pete Carroll and Seattle could be looking at a season where it converts around 50% of just three red-zone trips per game. That modest projection results in 179 points before field goals and non-offensive touchdowns.Seattle would still need 75 more points to hit the Jags' league low from 2021, but the Seahawks' defense created just two touchdowns last season, and they were 31st in total field goals with 17. That's 65 points added before explosive plays, and don't expect whoever the Seahawks start at quarterback to create many touchdowns of 20-plus yards.Jaguars (+2000)The aforementioned Jaguars were pulled down the oddsboard on the presumption they'll have a more organized locker room after the Urban Meyer train wreck. But it's hard to convince me there's only a 5% chance that Jacksonville will be just as bad offensively this year.The Jags made token adjustments to their offensive line, overpaying Brandon Scherff at guard and re-upping mediocre left tackle Cam Robinson. Receiver additions Christian Kirk and Zay Jones don't move the needle for me. These arrivals, along with a healthy Travis Etienne and better coordination from Doug Pederson and his staff, might bump them up from last season's 2.3 red-zone trips per game and increase their conversion rate beyond 50%, but even 10% increases in each category equate to just 24 touchdowns.Will Trevor Lawrence and the defense create enough explosive plays to augment that 165-point base contribution? At 20-1, for a minimal investment, I'll dare them to escape from the basement.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.

Before we look at the odds for the NFL's highest-scoring team, a quick exercise: Without looking, who led the league in points scored last season?Hint #1: They weren't one of the favorites last campaign, and they aren't the favorites this year.Hint #2: They finished in the middle of the league in 2020, for a very good reason.Hint #3: They had just the fifth-most offensive touchdowns per game, getting unusual scoring support from their defense/special teams.Most points scoredTEAM ODDSBills+650Chiefs+1000Chargers+1000Rams+1000Buccaneers+1000Cowboys+1500Ravens+1600Bengals+1600Packers+1600Cardinals+1800Browns+1800Broncos+1800Eagles+1800Colts+200049ers+2000Raiders+2500Dolphins+2500Vikings+2500Titans+2500Patriots+4000Saints+4000Lions+5000Jaguars+5000Commanders+5000Giants+6000Jets+6000Steelers+6000Panthers+7500Seahawks+7500Falcons+10000Bears+10000Texans+10000The Cowboys led the NFL in points scored last season thanks to nine return touchdowns, helping them surpass the Buccaneers, Bills, and Chiefs - all of whom have shorter odds than Dallas coming into 2022. Those scores, plus the return of Dak Prescott, led to a season total of 530 points. Looking back at recent history, 500-plus total points should lead the league.Non-offensive touchdowns are notoriously difficult to predict year-to-year, let alone game-to-game. The best we can do to handicap this market is to look at the basics - how do teams score points? In the simplest terms imaginable, touchdowns are better than field goals, and the closer you are to the end zone, the more likely you are to score a touchdown. Duh, right?Well, the underlying metrics are what give us our own hint for who'll score the most points. Efficient offenses get into the red zone at a high frequency, and when they do, they convert those possessions into touchdowns at a high rate. As a result, we'll look for teams who'll increase both their volume of red-zone attempts and efficiency in 2022.Best betsChargers (+1000)In 2021, the Chargers had four red-zone trips per game in September and October but finished the season with 4.4. Their almost five red-zone trips per game in the back half of the campaign suggest big things for Justin Herbert's second season under Brandon Staley. L.A. converted those chances at the NFL's eighth-highest rate, so there's possible room for improvement for a team that saw pre-snap penalties, sacks, and turnovers frequently derail drives.If the Chargers can create 4.6 red-zone opportunities per game, and convert those at a 67% rate, that would provide a base of 366 points. That's before we account for things that are more difficult to project - explosive offensive touchdowns (which Herbert is extremely capable of), the randomness of non-offensive scores, and field goals.Staley's aggressive attitude on fourth down, when successful, allows the Chargers to extend possessions that other teams don't. When they're unsuccessful on fourth-down gambles, their offense is forced to play more urgently. Both results boost offensive volume. Plus, playing in a highly competitive division means more contests that'll come down to late-game scoring.Broncos (+1800)The Broncos also play in the AFC West, so they'll have the same urgency in those hotly contested games. Their red-zone metrics last season are completely useless thanks to the acquisition of their new star quarterback. Prior to Russell Wilson's injury, the Seahawks converted touchdowns at an almost 77% rate in the red zone. Their 2020 efficiency stood at 73.7%. Clearly, Wilson is a wizard from close to the goal line. The Seahawks' issue was that they didn't get inside the 20 all that often.Under new head coach Nathaniel Hackett, a more aggressive offensive strategy than what Wilson suffered through under Pete Carroll should result in the Broncos getting more than the league-average 3.3 red-zone trips per game. Anything over four red-zone attempts per contest, converted at Wilson's usual rate, could put enough points on the board before factoring in long touchdowns, non-offensive scores, and field goals.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.

Los Angeles Chargers cornerback J.C. Jackson underwent ankle surgery and will miss approximately two-to-four weeks, the team announced Tuesday.Jackson signed a five-year, $82.5-million contract with the Chargers this offseason.The 26-year-old went undrafted in 2018 but managed to earn a roster spot with the New England Patriots, where he spent the first four seasons of his pro career.Noted for his ability to snag interceptions, Jackson worked his way into New England's defensive back rotation and tallied 25 picks. He racked up 58 tackles, 23 passes defended, and eight interceptions in 2021 to earn his first Pro Bowl nod.Jackson was among the notable acquisitions on defense, which also include Khalil Mack and Kyle Van Noy. He is projected to start at cornerback alongside Asante Samuel Jr. Los Angeles' depth chart at the position also features Michael Davis, Tevaughn Campbell, and Bryce Callahan.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's the preseason for everyone. The idea is to get some early reps without extending yourself or getting hurt. That applies to players on the field and bettors in the sportsbook. With three weeks of tuneups on the schedule, we'll proceed with extreme caution while stretching ourselves out. Remember: These games don't count, but the bets definitely do.As part of our preseason betting, we're reminded of the special experience that is betting on football. Forget about predictive metrics and reading the market's overadjustments - we also get to practice the feeling of swallowing bad beats and the shock of the unforeseeable play.Week 2's lesson was to avoid getting too high after an early sweep. The Commanders got within the number in the second half at Kansas City, but the Chiefs punched one in late to cover. Then the Cowboys got not one, but two special teams touchdowns to carry their game over the total despite predictably weak offensive efficiency for both them and the Chargers.Overall, a 5-3 week moves our preseason record to 11-6 for +5.3 units, which we'll put back into play for the final dress rehearsals before the season.Best spread betLions (+4.5) over SteelersIt's the NFL, so no team is short of attention, but with "Hard Knocks" cameras and production crews around 24-7, Dan Campbell's squad isn't about to take it easy in any games. Of course, that doesn't guarantee victory, but it ensures competitiveness right to the very end, which is when their first two games were decided.The Steelers' trio of quarterbacks has played well so far this preseason, and while the Lions' backup duo of David Blough and Tim Boyle isn't scaring anyone, Detroit will still seek success in the trenches. The Lions ran for 5.3 yards per carry against the Colts, whereas the Steelers had just 14 rushes for 24 yards against the Jaguars.Campbell will keep grinding on his guys to establish a feeling of success going into a rare season in which there's actually hope in Detroit. Meanwhile, the Steelers will continue to use this time for experimentation, so hoping they cover a decent-sized spread is a bit too much to ask for.Underdog moneyline betBills (+220) over PanthersYes, Josh Allen has probably seen his last preseason game snap, but he wasn't the only one out there for Saturday's decimation of the Broncos. Case Keenum and Matt Barkley completed 23 of 26 passes for 257 yards, and five different running backs combined for over 200 yards and four touchdowns. Even if the Bills' two favorite tailbacks sit out, there are still three guys that can do work.The Panthers announced what we already knew Monday: Baker Mayfield will start Week 1. He'll likely sit out this game, and with Matt Corral out for the season, that leaves a lot for PJ Walker, especially if Sam Darnold doesn't play again.At +220 on the moneyline, I just don't understand how bad - or disinterested - the Bills would possibly need to be to warrant that kind of a price, so we'll take our chances with the best team in the league being the biggest underdog on the board.Best total betSeahawks / Cowboys under 40 pointsMaybe I'm a fool for thinking that KaVontae Turpin won't take multiple kicks to the house this week, but the Cowboys were under five yards per play again last week. I'm definitely not seeing things when I found that the Seahawks' passing game barely exceeded a 50% completion percentage against the Bears at home.With Dak Prescott on the sideline, the Cowboys have an excuse for not being good on offense. The Seahawks don't. In any case, neither team should crack 20 points without something weird happening.Best teaser legsChargers +7.5 / Eagles +8.5 (-120)We've hit seven of eight of our standard Stanford-Wong teaser legs - teasing up short spreads over a touchdown in games with low totals - with the Cowboys' failure to muster 10 points in a 17-7 loss at Denver in their first preseason game the only blemish.The Chargers and Saints have a total of 36.5, and the Eagles and Dolphins sit at 38.5 expected points. With an implication of a 20-17 style of game, each point is worth that much more, so teasing the underdog up over a touchdown is the right strategy in two games that could either way.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.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2022 Fantasy Football Draft Kit 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 biggest takeaways from the second week of preseason games.

Cincinnati Bengals safety Jessie Bates signed his franchise tag after returning to the team's facility Tuesday, the club announced.Bates will be placed on the exempt/commissioner's permission list. Cincinnati will have a roster exemption for two weeks, although Bates can be activated at any time. The Bengals are set to take part in joint practices with the Los Angeles Rams this week.The 25-year-old defender didn't sign his franchise tag or report for the start of training camp after negotiations on a contract extension failed. He wasn't fined for missing training camp because he didn't sign his tender.Bates is set to earn $12.91 million playing under the tag during the 2022 season. Cincinnati's star defensive back previously informed the club of his lack of desire to play under the franchise tender.The Wake Forest product was a foundational piece of a Bengals defense that made it to the Super Bowl last season. The 2018 second-round pick recorded 88 tackles, three tackles for loss, and one interception in 2021. He picked up six passes defended and two interceptions in the postseason.Rookie Dax Hill filled in for Bates during the team's first two preseason matchups.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2022 Fantasy Football Draft Kit and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.*If anything noteworthy happens in the Monday night matchup between the Falcons and Jets, we'll add it below.Bills' offense is scary, Singletary startsIf you're the type of fantasy player who only wants to invest in high-scoring offenses, the Bills gave you more than enough reason this week to put them at the top of your list.Buffalo found the end zone on each of its first six series in a win over the Broncos - starting with a six-play, 70-yard drive orchestrated by Josh Allen, who connected on all three of his passes for 45 yards and a score.Gabriel Davis was on the receiving end of that touchdown and finished his day with two catches for 47 yards. Stefon Diggs (2-33-0) and Isaiah McKenzie (1-10-0) also got in on the action during the brief appearance by the starters. All three warrant strong consideration at their respective ADPs.In the backfield, meanwhile, it was the Devin Singletary show early. The 24-year-old was on the field for all 10 of the first-team offense's plays, according to Pro Football Focus' Nathan Jahnke. Singletary racked up 43 yards from scrimmage on five touches in that span, including an 18-yard scamper.The arrival of second-rounder James Cook has put a dent in Singletary's fantasy value, causing people to forget that the veteran averaged the fifth-most fantasy points among all running backs over the final five games of the 2021 season.The rookie also looked good against the Broncos with 50 yards on five touches of his own, though he played behind both Singletary and Zack Moss.If Singletary maintains this kind of hold on the starting job, he'll be a value at his current ADP of RB36 in the ninth round - the same round in which Cook is being drafted. Both players are worth gambling on in that range.RB depth-chart changesWith so many updates coming out of the second week of preseason games, we'll quickly recap some of the more notable changes to backfields around the league.Robinson taking over in Washington - We covered Antonio Gibson's fumbling issues in last week's preseason roundup. Since then, Gibson has sometimes found himself practicing with the backup units and on special teams. That trend continued in Washington's second preseason outing, during which third-round rookie Brian Robinson got the start. Robinson currently deserves to be the first Commanders running back selected in fantasy drafts, but he could be limited to an early-down role; Washington's backfield is shaping up to be a committee with passing-down specialist J.D. McKissic also in the mix.Chiefs heading toward RBBC? - Clyde Edwards-Helaire remains the starter in Kansas City, but he split snaps evenly this week with rookie Isiah Pacheco and veteran Jerick McKinnon. That could become a frustrating scenario if it continues into the regular season. Fortunately, their affordable ADPs make each of the Chiefs' backs fairly low-risk investments - with CEH going at the Round 7-8 turn while Pacheco and McKinnon are late-round targets. It also appears Ronald Jones' best chance at fantasy relevance this year is to get cut and sign with a new squad.Clarity in the Raiders' backfield - Josh Jacobs and Ameer Abdullah sat out Vegas' second exhibition contest, making it seem as though their roles are set as the early-down and passing-down backs, respectively. Rookie Zamir White will push to be the third man in a potential committee or, at worst, Jacobs' immediate backup; the Raiders are expected to release veteran Kenyan Drake, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Jacobs comes with far more volatility this year in Josh McDaniels' system, capping his upside. Managers are better off throwing a late-round dart at White or even Abdullah in PPR formats.Pierce already a starter? - After an impressive performance in his preseason debut, fourth-round rookie Dameon Pierce was held out of the Texans' second game. That positions him to be Houston's opening-day starter, with Marlon Mack and Rex Burkhead likely working in on obvious passing downs. The news has driven Pierce's ADP up dramatically to inside the top 100. He's still worth targeting in that range, but be wary if he continues to climb. The Texans face the fourth-toughest RB fantasy schedule and could be trailing more often than not.49ers' crowded backfield - It's still unclear what San Francisco's RB depth chart will look like come Week 1. The 49ers are holding starter Elijah Mitchell out of the preseason due to a hamstring injury, and veteran backup Jeff Wilson hasn't played yet, either. In their absence, rookie Tyrion Davis-Price has performed well as a powerful straight-line runner who can complement Mitchell. The real battle, from our perspective, will come down to 2021 third-round pick Trey Sermon, this year's UDFA standout Jordan Mason, and third-year runner JaMycal Hasty. Mason deserves the nod based on the results so far, but we've been burned trying to predict Kyle Shanahan's running back plans before.Scott plays over Gainwell - While we still view Kenneth Gainwell as the back to roster behind Miles Sanders in Philadelphia, it's worth noting Boston Scott played a full drive before his sophomore teammate rotated in for a full drive of his own this week. None of the Eagles' backs project to be a workhorse, and with Sanders still out with a hamstring injury, Philadelphia could add reinforcements with a late signing or even a trade. Either way, we need to monitor the situation - this offense should be one of the NFL's more dangerous units in 2022.Perine holding off Evans - Entering the offseason, there was hope that Chris Evans would supplant Samaje Perine as a more explosive backup option behind Joe Mixon. That hasn't happened so far. The Bengals rested Perine this week while Evans played, but the latter didn't have much of an impact with 10 yards from scrimmage on eight touches. There's still time for Evans to make a move during the season, but it looks like Perine is the backup to roster in Cincinnati for now.Kelley well ahead of Spiller - If playing behind Joshua Kelley and Larry Rountree wasn't bad enough, rookie Isaiah Spiller is now week-to-week with an ankle injury. That solidifies Kelley as the Chargers' No. 2 back for the time being, though his value is capped by the likelihood of a committee if Austin Ekeler gets hurt.Snell still Steelers' No. 2 RB - The report by Dale Lolley of DK Pittsburgh Sports suggesting UDFA Jaylen Warren had seized the second-string job in the Steelers' backfield turned out to be premature. Benny Snell played first this week and got most of the snaps with starters. While Snell is clearly a limited back, Warren and Anthony McFarland Jr. might not be the answer, either. Pittsburgh has already brought in some veterans for tryouts, and it wouldn't be surprising to see the team sign someone else to back up Najee Harris.Rookie receiver updatesPickens a locked-in starter - George Pickens may not have made another highlight-reel catch this week, but he did play the second-most snaps among Steelers receivers - behind Diontae Johnson but ahead of teammate Chase Claypool. We've ranked Pickens above Claypool for a few weeks now and project him to be the better fantasy asset in 2022 and beyond.Dotson deserves more love - Jahan Dotson isn't getting the same fantasy buzz as some of his rookie counterparts on this list - despite many Commanders beat writers singing his praises all offseason. Here's what we know: Dotson is a first-round pick who is a guaranteed starter in Washington and has consistently flashed his playmaking ability in practice. He had two catches for 23 yards in this week's preseason game, and there's plenty more where that came from. His 12th-round ADP of WR63 is difficult to understand at this point. Take the discount.Burks still proving himself - While some first-rounders aren't getting enough hype for their efforts, others have a long way to go before becoming trusted fantasy options. Treylon Burks has been slowly working his way up the Titans' depth chart after reportedly showing up to OTAs out of shape. Through two preseason outings, he has just one catch for four yards and has made appearances in the fourth quarter of both games. If you want to blame it on tough love for a rookie, consider fifth-round slot receiver Kyle Philips, who's getting time with Tennessee's starters. Don't give up on Burks yet, but understand his fantasy contributions might not come in the opening month of the season. In the meantime, players like Robert Woods and Austin Hooper should be moving up draft boards.Doubs can't stop scoring - Another week, another touchdown for Romeo Doubs. He's now up to six catches for 69 yards and two scores in two preseason contests with Green Bay. His impressive performances have raised the bar, according to Aaron Rodgers. "The standard for him is not going to be maybe the standard for a normal rookie that we've had here in the past," Rodgers told reporters this week. "He's going to be expected to play based on his performance in camp." Before vaulting him up your fantasy depth chart, just know the Packers will likely spread the ball around more this year, utilizing veterans Allen Lazard, Sammy Watkins, and Randall Cobb, as well as second-round rookie Christian Watson once he's up to speed.Bell's time is coming - Following the news of Deshaun Watson's 11-game suspension, the Browns' passing attack isn't one fantasy managers are going out of their way to draft. Still, it's worth noting that third-round wideout David Bell returned after missing time with a foot injury and saw his first preseason action this week. The result was three receptions and 46 yards, but the bigger takeaway was the way he found the soft spots in the Eagles' zone. Now healthy, Bell should climb the depth chart and earn a starting role sooner rather than later.Thornton out eight weeks - Some bad news: A collarbone injury has stifled rookie Tyquan Thornton's momentum and is expected to sideline him for the next two months. This does open up the Patriots' receiver depth chart somewhat, with DeVante Parker, Jakobi Meyers, Nelson Agholor, and Kendrick Bourne the top remaining options vying for targets.Instant impressionsEdmonds the man in Miami - If you've been following our offseason coverage, Chase Edmonds running as the Dolphins' clear lead back shouldn't be a shock. We highlighted him as a sleeper before his ADP rose, and we had to include him in our updated breakout column. He made his preseason debut with his new club this week and ran well ahead of the next-closest back Sony Michel, posting 24 yards from scrimmage on five touches. He continues to be an incredible value as the RB27 in the eighth round.Kirk a volume hog? - Christian Kirk made his preseason debut for the Jaguars and promptly commanded eight targets, catching five of them for 54 yards. We don't want to overreact to a small sample in an exhibition game, but it's definitely possible Kirk will be a focal point in Jacksonville's offense given the financial commitment the team made to him. He'll be rising a few spots in our next rankings update.Palmer shines before concussion protocol - Josh Palmer cranked out a three-catch, 75-yard, one-touchdown performance against the Cowboys this week but landed in concussion protocol. Still third on the Chargers' depth chart, Palmer has a path to spiked weeks playing with Justin Herbert. He's also one Mike Williams or Keenan Allen injury from being a weekly fantasy starter.Collins could make an impact - Nico Collins is the unquestioned No. 2 receiver in Houston after a strong offseason. The 23-year-old carried that momentum into his first preseason game of the year, delivering a 4-48-1 stat line. If Davis Mills can give the Texans adequate quarterback play in 2022, Collins could be poised for a breakout campaign.Bizarre usage for Albert O, Fant - While many of the players mentioned in this article are being highlighted for positive performances, we're discussing Albert Okwuegbunam and Noah Fant because we're not sure how their respective coaching staffs will deploy them in 2022. With most of the Broncos' starters sitting out, Albert O has played two weeks in a row. Combine that with the offseason buzz around rookie tight end Greg Dulcich, and there's cause for concern. Fant, meanwhile, has been splitting reps with teammate Will Dissly and played deeper into this week's preseason game than would be expected for a starter. We'll continue to monitor both players, but they'll be moving down the rankings in the meantime.Likely impresses again - We're running out of positive things to say about Isaiah Likely. He followed up last week's four-catch, 44-yard outing with an eight-reception, 100-yard, one-touchdown line this week. The rookie is stuck behind an elite fantasy tight end in Mark Andrews, but the Ravens lack a proven No. 2 receiver and could give Likely more action this year as another playmaker in the passing game. Still, he seems like a better dynasty stash than a redraft option.Pickett making a push - Despite some early reports that Kenny Pickett was struggling in practice, the Steelers rookie has performed well in two preseason appearances, completing 86% of his passes for 171 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. He's also added 12 yards with his legs. Both Pickett and projected Week 1 starter Mitch Trubisky offer a mobility that Ben Roethlisberger lacked late in his career. It'll be interesting to see how offensive coordinator Matt Canada incorporates it into the attack - and who the quarterbacks favor in the Steelers' loaded pass-catching corps.Other preseason standouts who caught my eye this week - Eagles QB Gardner Minshew, Ravens QB Tyler Huntley, Dolphins QB Skylar Thompson, Cardinals RB Keaontay Ingram, 49ers WR Danny Gray, Chiefs WR Justin Watson, Buccaneers WR Tyler Johnson, Dolphins WR Erik Ezukanma, Rams WR Lance McCutcheon, Patriots WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey, Colts WR Michael Strachan, Cowboys TE Jake Ferguson.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants rookie pass-rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux is expected to miss three-to-four weeks after suffering an MCL sprain in Sunday's preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The Giants are hopeful that he can recover on the short end of the expected timeline and be cleared to play in their regular-season opener against the Tennessee Titans on Sept. 11, according to Schefter.Thibodeaux was hurt on a low block from Bengals tight end Thaddeus Moss. He was able to walk off under his own power before being taken to the locker room and ruled out for the rest of the game.Selected with the No. 5 overall pick after a stellar run at Oregon, the 21-year-old is expected to provide a much-needed boost to the Giants' pass rush as a rookie.Thibodeaux recorded 19 sacks and 35.5 tackles for loss across three seasons in Eugene, capping off his college career with consensus All-American honors as a junior in 2021.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baker Mayfield is officially QB1 in Carolina.The former No. 1 overall pick, acquired in a July trade with the Cleveland Browns, will start Week 1 after beating out Sam Darnold in training camp, the Panthers announced Monday.Mayfield's first start will come against his former team, as Carolina hosts Cleveland to kick off its 2022 season Sept. 11.Mayfield appeared to be on the verge of establishing himself as a franchise player after he led the Browns to an 11-5 record in 2020. But after throwing for 3,563 yards, 28 touchdowns, and just eight interceptions, various injuries caused Mayfield to take a major step back in 2021. Cleveland opted to go in a different direction by trading for Deshaun Watson.Darnold, another fellow 2018 first-rounder, will now be relegated to a backup role in the Panthers' quarterback room. The 25-year-old struggled in 11 starts last year after arriving in a trade with the New York Jets, completing less than 60% of his passes for 2,527 yards, nine touchdowns, and 13 interceptions.Veteran signal-caller P.J. Walker will round out the quarterback group. Third-round rookie Matt Corral is expected to miss the entire 2022 season due to a Lisfranc injury.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2022 Fantasy Football Draft Kit and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.More in this series

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2022 Fantasy Football Draft Kit and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.More in this series

Arizona Cardinals defensive end J.J. Watt won't play in the team's final two preseason games after testing positive for COVID-19, the club announced Sunday.The five-time All-Pro defender will miss the Cardinals' contests against the Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans.Watt played in seven games last season after sustaining a shoulder injury against his former club, the Houston Texans. He was placed on injured reserve after undergoing surgery but was activated before Arizona's wild-card matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.Watt, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, signed a two-year, $28-million contract with the Cardinals following his release from Houston in February 2021.Watt recorded 16 tackles, five tackles for loss, and one sack during 2021. The 2017 Walter Payton Man of Year is nearly four seasons removed from recording 18 tackles for loss, 16 sacks, and a league-leading seven forced fumbles as a member of the Texans in 2018.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady is expected to return to the team this upcoming week, head coach Todd Bowles said Sunday, according to Greg Auman of The Athletic.Bowles said on Aug. 11 that Brady wouldn't be back until after Saturday's preseason game against the Tennessee Titans.The head coach didn't give a specific date for Brady's return. However, the 45-year-old is expected to report to the team Monday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Bowles added that the star signal-caller's participation in next Saturday's final preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts will depend on how practice goes.Speculation about Brady's absence ramped up Thursday when Bowles said he didn't have a firm timetable for the quarterback's return.Most notably, a theory originating from Reddit that claimed Brady left the Bucs to take part in Fox's hit show "The Masked Singer" went viral.Following a brief retirement this offseason, Brady is set to play in his 23rd NFL season.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Bears linebacker Roquan Smith plans to play out his contract after previously requesting a trade amid extension negotiations."Negotiations are over right now," Smith said, according to team reporter Larry Mayer. "I'm just going to bet on myself like I've always done."Smith returned to practice Saturday for the first time since the start of training camp, joining his teammates in a non-contact workout. He previously took part in the team's offseason program but was placed on the physically unable to perform list at the start of camp. The Bears activated him from the PUP list on Aug. 10.Earlier in August, Smith released a statement indicating his desire for the franchise to trade him. In the letter, the star defender shared that he believed the Bears' new leadership "doesn't value me" since extension conversations began in April.New general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus reportedly offered Smith a backloaded contract that wouldn't have made him the highest-paid player at the position. Poles also revealed his intentions were "to sign Roquan to this team."The 2018 first-round selection is entering the fifth and final year of his rookie deal, and he's set to earn $9.7 million this season before possibly becoming a free agent in 2023.Smith tallied a career-high 163 tackles along with 12 tackles for loss and three sacks in 2021.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Panthers quarterback Matt Corral sustained a Lisfranc foot injury that is likely season-ending, head coach Matt Rhule told reporters Saturday, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Corral appeared to suffer the injury after being stepped on during the Panthers' preseason game against the New England Patriots on Friday. He missed the final two series of the contest to undergo X-rays.The rookie passer left the contest having completed nine of his 15 pass attempts for 58 yards in the Panthers' eventual 20-10 loss to the Patriots."I know Matt's a battler, so this year of development, he's going to have to grind, both taking care of his foot and all the things he needs to do as a quarterback," Rhule said, according to team reporter Darin Gantt. "Hopefully, someday, he'll look back and say it was a blessing, but I hate it for him right now."The Ole Miss product wasn't expected to contribute immediately on offense, with the Panthers' passing depth chart featuring both Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold. However, with Corral likely out for a significant amount of time, PJ Walker could serve as an insurance policy at the position in the regular season.Corral was a third-round selection of the Panthers in the 2022 NFL Draft.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Free-agent wide receiver Demarcus Robinson is set to sign with the Baltimore Ravens, his agents told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Robinson met with the Ravens on Friday and agreed in principle to join the team, Rapoport adds.The 27-year-old spent much of the offseason with the Las Vegas Raiders before falling into the club's first batch of roster cuts earlier this week.A fourth-round pick in the 2016 draft, Robinson had spent his entire career with the Kansas City Chiefs up until this offseason. His best performance came in 2020 when he put up a career-high 45 receptions and 466 yards. Robinson caught 25 passes for 264 yards with three touchdowns last campaign.Robinson joins a Ravens receiver room that lacks notable depth and experience. Former 2021 first-round wideout Rashod Bateman leads the group after the team traded Marquise Brown earlier this year. Behind Bateman are Devin Duvernay, James Proche, and Tylan Wallace, among others.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer is returning to college football as a member of Fox's "Big Noon Kickoff" cast, the network announced Friday.Meyer, 58, worked on the show in 2019 and 2020 prior to becoming Jaguars head coach.Jacksonville parted with the longtime college coach in December after he became embroiled in multiple controversies, including an allegation that he kicked former kicker Josh Lambo during a practice. The Jaguars went 2-11 before Meyer's ouster. He later called his tenure in the NFL "the worst experience I've had in my professional lifetime."Meyer won three national championships during his 17 seasons as a collegiate coach - two with Florida and one with Ohio State. His head coaching career began with stops at Bowling Green and Utah.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2022 Fantasy Football Draft Kit 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 opens up the fantasy mailbag to answer your questions heading into drafts.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2022 Fantasy Football Draft Kit and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.theScore staff took part in a 12-team, 12-round mock fantasy draft to offer some insight on what to watch for in each round.This is a half PPR scoring league with the following roster spots: QB, RB, RB, WR, WR, WR, TE, FLEX, BN, BN, BN, BN. We omitted defenders and kickers, as they're normally selected in the final two rounds.Draft participants: David P. Woods, Donald Higney, Jack Browne, Daniel Valente, Ian Dalley, Navin Vaswani, Dane Belbeck, Brandon Wile, Justin Boone, Sean O'Leary, Gordon Brunt, Taylor Rohaly.Round 1PickPlayerTeam1Christian McCaffrey (RB1)Woods2Jonathan Taylor (RB2)Higney3Justin Jefferson (WR1)Browne4Cooper Kupp (WR2)Valente5Austin Ekeler (RB3)Dalley6Ja'Marr Chase (WR3)Vaswani7Dalvin Cook (RB4)Belbeck8Derrick Henry (RB5)Wile9D'Andre Swift (RB6)Boone10Najee Harris (RB7)O'Leary11Joe Mixon (RB8)Brunt12Saquon Barkley (RB9)RohalyRound 1: The first round sticks very close to average draft position, but it's nice to see Saquon Barkley sneak into the 12th spot. The reports coming out of Giants practices about the 25-year-old back have been absolutely glowing. The hope is that the arrival of new offensive-minded head coach Brian Daboll, combined with a healthy offseason, could propel Barkley back to his previously elite fantasy status.My pick: No surprise for me here. When the first round is as chalky as this and my selection is outside of the top six picks, D'Andre Swift often ends up on my team. We don't have enough room to run through the reasons why Swift is on the verge of a monster fantasy season, but fortunately, you can read about him in my list of seven players who will lead you to a fantasy title.Round 2PickPlayerTeam13Stefon Diggs (WR4)Rohaly14Travis Kelce (TE1)Brunt15Davante Adams (WR5)O'Leary16CeeDee Lamb (WR6)Boone17Aaron Jones (RB10)Wile18Deebo Samuel (WR7)Belbeck19Alvin Kamara (RB11)Vaswani20Nick Chubb (RB12)Dalley21Tyreek Hill (WR8)Valente22Michael Pittman (WR9)Browne23Leonard Fournette (RB13)Higney24Tee Higgins (WR10)WoodsRound 2: With the news that his potential suspension will likely be delayed until next season, Alvin Kamara continues to move up draft boards. If he does avoid a ban this year, he's a great value in the middle of the second round.Team Browne - run by our resident Colts fan and NFL editor Jack Browne - reaches for Michael Pittman at 2.10. That's about one round earlier than his spot in my top 200, but you can make an argument Pittman is poised to take another step forward with Matt Ryan now at the helm in Indianapolis. The young wideout posted an 88-1,082-6 line in 2021 and will be the focal point of the passing attack once again. With a clear tier drop after the first eight receivers, we'll give Team Browne a pass for what would normally be seen as a homer pick.My pick: In the final instalment of our draft strategy series, we outlined why CeeDee Lamb should be one of the players you target early in the second round. He was drafted to be the Cowboys' future No. 1 wideout, and his volume is about to spike after the departure of Amari Cooper, as well as the injuries to Michael Gallup and James Washington. A top-five fantasy finish is well within Lamb's range of outcomes this year.Round 3PickPlayerTeam25A.J. Brown (WR11)Woods26Mike Evans (WR12)Higney27Kyle Pitts (TE2)Browne28Travis Etienne (RB14)Valente29Mark Andrews (TE3)Dalley30James Conner (RB15)Vaswani31Mike Williams (WR13)Belbeck32Keenan Allen (WR14)Wile33Javonte Williams (RB16)Boone34Josh Allen (QB1)O'Leary35DJ Moore (WR15)Brunt36Ezekiel Elliott (RB17)RohalyRound 3: Nothing egregious in the third frame - our drafters have clearly gotten a better feel for the early rounds over the course of all our mocks.A.J. Brown is trying to push his way into the second round on the back of the reports he's been peppered with targets from Jalen Hurts in practice. It's hardly stunning to hear the Eagles are planning to use their prized offseason acquisition early and often. Fantasy managers should prepare themselves for a rebound year from Brown.My pick: While we strongly considered D.J. Moore at 3.09, the running back cliff was approaching - causing us to scoop up Javonte Williams as our overqualified RB2. After vowing to battle for the lead back role in Denver this offseason, veteran Melvin Gordon recently admitted the team wants to feature his younger running mate. Williams saw the majority of the snaps in six of his final seven games after the Broncos' bye last year, and he was the RB14 in fantasy points per game during that stretch. Any more of a shift in Williams' favor could vault him into the low-end fantasy RB1 ranks.Round 4PickPlayerTeam37Courtland Sutton (WR16)Rohaly38Allen Robinson (WR17)Brunt39Breece Hall (RB18)O'Leary40Terry McLaurin (WR18)Boone41Jaylen Waddle (WR19)Wile42Marquise Brown (WR20)Belbeck43Diontae Johnson (WR21)Vaswani44Jerry Jeudy (WR22)Dalley45JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR23)Valente46Rashod Bateman (WR24)Browne47Gabriel Davis (WR25)Higney48J.K. Dobbins (RB19)WoodsRound 4: As we discussed in the wide receiver preview episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, there are a ton of intriguing fantasy wideouts available from Round 4 to Round 7. That explains why 10 of the 12 picks in this frame were receivers - each of whom could be a difference-maker in 2022. Make sure you come away with at least a couple pass-catchers in this range.My pick: Not wanting to be left out of the wideout party, we snagged Terry McLaurin. The Commanders' top target has spent his three seasons in Washington catching the majority of his passes from the likes of Taylor Heinicke, Dwayne Haskins, Alex Smith, Kyle Allen, and Case Keenum. Despite that, he's still averaged 1,030 yards per year. We're not suggesting Carson Wentz will solve the team's issues at quarterback, but he should be a slight upgrade who can help McLaurin finish as a top-20 fantasy wideout.Round 5PickPlayerTeam49Lamar Jackson (QB2)Woods50Darren Waller (TE4)Higney51Cam Akers (RB20)Browne52Patrick Mahomes (QB3)Valente53Darnell Mooney (WR26)Dalley54Brandin Cooks (WR27)Vaswani55George Kittle (TE5)Belbeck56D.K. Metcalf (WR28)Wile57Chris Godwin (WR29)Boone58Michael Thomas (WR30)O'Leary59David Montgomery (RB21)Brunt60Elijah Moore (WR31)RohalyRound 5: Receivers take up half the fifth round - as they should. Players like Darnell Mooney, Brandin Cooks, Chris Godwin, Michael Thomas, DK Metcalf, and Elijah Moore represent far better value than the running backs, quarterbacks, and tight ends that go off the board in this area of the draft.My pick: With all the positive reports about Chris Godwin's recovery from a late-season ACL tear, we're willing to take a chance on him recapturing something close to his previous form. Even if Godwin plays limited snaps or is held out in the first few weeks, he can provide us with another top-20 WR producer once healthy.Round 6PickPlayerTeam61Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR32)Rohaly62Adam Thielen (WR33)Brunt63Elijah Mitchell (RB22)O'Leary64Brandon Aiyuk (WR34)Boone65Justin Herbert (QB4)Wile66Kyler Murray (QB5)Belbeck67Dalton Schultz (TE6)Vaswani68Amari Cooper (WR35)Dalley69Allen Lazard (WR36)Valente70Jalen Hurts (QB6)Browne71Josh Jacobs (RB23)Higney72DeVonta Smith (WR37)WoodsRound 6: Team Belbeck is on a very interesting (and color-coordinated) hero-RB build. After kicking things off with Dalvin Cook in the first, it took three quality receivers in Deebo Samuel, Mike Williams, and Marquise Brown before selecting a tight end in George Kittle and a quarterback in Kyler Murray. The team now features a stud back, two high-end receivers, an explosive WR3 paired with his quarterback, and a potentially elite tight end. Outside of my own, Team Belbeck has my favorite roster so far.My pick: Brandon Aiyuk continues his rise up the ADP charts thanks to one of the most talked about training camp performances of any player league-wide. The 24-year-old has put up WR2 fantasy stats for the majority of his two NFL campaigns and is about to enjoy an upgrade to a more talented quarterback who's willing to push the ball downfield. That makes Aiyuk a perfect flex option for our lineup.Round 7PickPlayerTeam73Christian Kirk (WR38)Woods74Drake London (WR39)Higney75George Pickens (WR40)Browne76Miles Sanders (RB24)Valente77DeAndre Hopkins (WR41)Dalley78AJ Dillon (RB25)Vaswani79Chase Edmonds (RB26)Belbeck80Antonio Gibson (RB27)Wile81Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB28)Boone82Robert Woods (WR42)O'Leary83Joe Burrow (QB7)Brunt84Tony Pollard (RB29)RohalyRound 7: The receiver well hasn't dried up yet, but the final few players from that enticing group we highlighted earlier are trickling out in the seventh round. That's a sign to pivot back to drafting running backs or even a starting quarterback in the next couple rounds.While the hype surrounding Steelers rookie George Pickens seems warranted, this is the earliest we've seen him go in any draft. Even with his ADP rising 24 spots over the last week, he's still going off the board outside the top 100 picks on average. I thought my ranking of 97th overall in my top 200 was bold, but he's taken 75th here. You have to think Team Browne could have waited another round to pull the trigger.My pick: With a fairly balanced build entering the seventh round, we're free to go in any direction we want. Taking a player like Clyde Edwards-Helaire as our RB3 at this point could be considered a luxury pick. With so much buzz about seventh-round rookie backup Isiah Pacheco, people might be sleeping on the Chiefs' starter. The 23-year-old averaged 10.7 fantasy points per game last year, but if you removed Week 5 when he was injured and only played 26% of the snaps, his per-game totals improve to 11.6 - which would've made him the RB24 in half PPR. We'll gladly take him as the RB28 in this draft.Round 8PickPlayerTeam85Russell Wilson (QB8)Rohaly86Tyler Lockett (WR43)Brunt87Hunter Renfrow (WR44)O'Leary88Trey Lance (QB9)Boone89T.J. Hockenson (TE7)Wile90Rhamondre Stevenson (RB30)Belbeck91Tom Brady (QB10)Vaswani92Cordarrelle Patterson (RB31)Dalley93Kadarius Toney (WR45)Valente94Rashaad Penny (RB32)Browne95Chris Olave (WR46)Higney96Dallas Goedert (TE8)WoodsRound 8: If you plan to wait on running back, make a note of the ball carriers who were selected in this round. Rhamondre Stevenson will likely assume a larger pass-catching role with James White retired and may even overtake starter Damien Harris for the lead back job. Cordarrelle Patterson was a top-20 fantasy back in 2021 and projects to be a major part of the Falcons' offense again this year. Meanwhile, Rashaad Penny's stock is on the rise after rookie Kenneth Walker underwent a procedure the Seahawks are being extremely vague about. Without a timeline for Walker's return, Penny will be unchallenged as the top back in Seattle. All three of these running backs could turn into week-winning plays during the season.My pick: If forced to choose one player who I don't want to leave drafts without this year, it'd be Trey Lance. For the last few seasons, fantasy managers have been gifted a series of breakout quarterbacks, like Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, and Hurts. This year, Lance will join that list. Between his rushing ability, outstanding supporting cast, and a proven scheme, the sophomore QB will ignite the 49ers' attack.Round 9PickPlayerTeam97Rondale Moore (WR47)Woods98Kareem Hunt (RB33)Higney99Skyy Moore (WR48)Browne100Dawson Knox (TE9)Valente101Dak Prescott (QB11)Dalley102Dameon Pierce (RB34)Vaswani103Treylon Burks (WR49)Belbeck104Marquez Valdes-Scantling (WR50)Wile105James Cook (RB35)Boone106Damien Harris (RB36)O'Leary107Devin Singletary (RB37)Brunt108Darrell Henderson (RB38)RohalyRound 9: We're one of only three teams without a tight end at this point in the draft, and the other two are behind us in the order, meaning they'll have two picks each before we'll be back on the clock in the 10th round. But that's OK. We have a late-round tight end in mind.My pick: Instead, we take an upside running back in rookie James Cook. Clearly the Bills have a plan to deploy a pass-catching RB this year, since they made attempts to sign J.D. McKissic and Chase Edmonds in the offseason. Cook will fill that role, and if he earns the trust of the coaching staff, he could become an explosive weapon for Allen.Round 10PickPlayerTeam109Zach Ertz (TE10)Rohaly110Kenneth Gainwell (RB39)Brunt111Romeo Doubs (WR51)O'Leary112Khalil Herbert (RB40)Boone113James Robinson (RB41)Wile114Brian Robinson Jr. (RB42)Belbeck115Kenneth Walker (RB43)Vaswani116Melvin Gordon (RB44)Dalley117Jalen Tolbert (WR52)Valente118Alexander Mattison (RB45)Browne119Chase Claypool (WR53)Higney120Isaiah Spiller (RB46)WoodsRound 10: Team Belbeck has executed its draft plan to perfection. Following that strong hero-RB start, it's filled out its running back depth chart with the Dolphins' lead back Chase Edmonds and a pair of young ball carriers who have a shot at big roles in 2022: Stevenson and Brian Robinson.My pick: We're adding to our RB depth as well. The fantasy community is coming around on Khalil Herbert after the Bears' coaching staff suggested he'll be more involved this season. That could turn him into a flex option who also offers RB1 upside if David Montgomery gets hurt. In his three relief starts last year, Herbert racked up 269 rushing yards, 44 receiving yards, nine receptions, and a touchdown. He's more than capable of handling the job if given the chance and should be viewed alongside other high-end fantasy backups.Round 11PickPlayerTeam121Rachaad White (RB47)Woods122Garrett Wilson (WR54)Higney123Nyheim Hines (RB48)Browne124Isiah Pacheco (RB49)Valente125Tyler Boyd (WR55)Dalley126Jahan Dotson (WR56)Vaswani127Julio Jones (WR57)Belbeck128Michael Carter (RB50)Wile129Cole Kmet (TE11)Boone130Pat Freiermuth (TE12)O'Leary131Isaiah McKenzie (WR58)Brunt132Tyler Allgeier (RB51)RohalyRound 11: Team Browne left itself thin at running back with Cam Akers (still working his way back from last year's Achilles tear), Penny (talented but often injured), and Alexander Mattison (a top backup who doesn't offer much unless Cook is sidelined). The Nyheim Hines pick this round helps give Browne a stopgap option in case one of Akers or Penny struggles or isn't available. Colts head coach Frank Reich told reporters in May: "If I was a fantasy owner, I'd consider drafting Nyheim."My pick: With only one tight end-needy team left and our late-round target still on the board, we decided to finally make the pick. Much like his teammate Mooney, Cole Kmet is about to see an increase in volume this season. He finished inside the top 12 tight ends in receptions and yards last year. With an uptick in targets and some better luck around the red zone, Kmet should challenge for mid- to low-end TE1 numbers.Round 12PickPlayerTeam133Jamaal Williams (RB52)Rohaly134Wan'Dale Robinson (WR59)Brunt135Zamir White (RB53)O'Leary136K.J. Osborn (WR60)Boone137Eno Benjamin (RB54)Wile138D'Onta Foreman (RB55)Belbeck139DeVante Parker (WR61)Vaswani140Marlon Mack (RB56)Dalley141Nico Collins (WR62)Valente142Russell Gage (WR63)Browne143Aaron Rodgers (QB12)Higney144Tyrion Davis-Price (RB57)WoodsRound 12: Team Higney recognized it was the only squad without a starting quarterback, which allowed it to calmly focus on other positions for a few rounds before selecting Aaron Rodgers. Getting Rodgers three rounds after the 11th QB off the board - Dak Prescott - makes for incredible value.My pick: We finish things off with some depth at receiver in K.J. Osborn. While he required Adam Thielen to get hurt in order to make an impact last year, Osborn should see opportunity of his own with the new coaching staff and its pass-heavy approach. And if Thielen - who'll be 32 when the season kicks off - ends up on the trainer's table again, Osborn could be a top-30 fantasy wideout like he was over the final six games of 2021.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2022 Fantasy Football Draft Kit 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 2022 rankings.Half PPR

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson will serve an 11-game suspension and pay a $5-million fine after the NFL and players' association reached a settlement, the league announced Thursday.He will also be required to undergo evaluation and treatment. The fine will be combined with donations from the NFL and Browns to support the prevention of sexual misconduct and assault.Watson was originally handed a six-game ban under the NFL's personal conduct policy following numerous allegations of sexual assault and sexual misconduct.However, the league challenged the ruling imposed by disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson, arguing it wanted a year-long suspension. Commissioner Roger Goodell appointed former New Jersey Attorney General Peter C. Harvey to rule on the appeal.Instead, the NFL and players' union finalized the settlement prior to Harvey's decision.Watson will be eligible to return against the Houston Texans, his former team, in Week 13. Jacoby Brissett is in line to start for Cleveland during Watson's ban.The NFL spent over a year probing 24 lawsuits and 10 criminal complaints that accused Watson of lewd and coercive behavior toward women during massages while with the Texans.Watson settled 23 of the 24 lawsuits filed by the women. Grand juries in Texas declined to indict Watson on criminal charges in March.The 26-year-old expressed remorse for his actions for the first time prior to Friday's preseason opener, apologizing "to all the women I have impacted." He struggled in his first game since January 2021, completing just one of five pass attempts.Watson again apologized in a statement posted online Thursday, saying he takes "accountability for the decisions" he's made.However, when talking to reporters shortly after, the quarterback insisted he's innocent."I've always been able to stand on my innocence and always said I never assaulted or disrespected anyone, but at the same point, I have to continue to push forward with my life and career," Watson said, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.When asked why he's apologizing if he's innocent, Watson responded: "For everybody that was affected by this situation. There were a lot of people that were triggered."Browns owner Jimmy Haslam reiterated his support for Watson in a press conference, saying he'd "absolutely" make the trade for the quarterback again today."Is he never supposed to play again? Is he never supposed to be part of society?" said Haslam, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Head coach Kevin Stefanski said Watson, who can continue to practice until Aug. 30, will sit out the remaining two preseason games.Cleveland acquired Watson from the Texans in March and signed him to a fully guaranteed $230-million contract.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2022 Fantasy Football Draft Kit and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.theScore's Justin Boone breaks down the best ways to approach your draft depending on where you're selecting in the order.Draft position

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2022 Fantasy Football Draft Kit and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.theScore's Justin Boone breaks down the best ways to approach your draft depending on where you're selecting in the order.Draft position

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2022 Fantasy Football Draft Kit and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.theScore's Justin Boone breaks down the best ways to approach your draft depending on where you're selecting in the order.Draft position

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2022 Fantasy Football Draft Kit 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 goes over his favorite players to select in each round of this year's fantasy drafts.

The Green Bay Packers' wide receivers were ordered to meet with the team's quarterbacks and members of the offensive coaching staff Wednesday morning, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky.The meeting came after quarterback Aaron Rodgers ripped the young receiving group for a lack of consistency Tuesday, criticizing them for "a lot of drops" and "a lot of bad route decisions." However, Rodgers reportedly wasn't the one who decided to have the meeting.Seventh-round rookie Samori Toure said Wednesday that the young wideouts were given advice and reminded of the franchise's prestigious past during the session."Basically, letting us know that the Green Bay receiving corps has always been held to a super-high standard," Toure said. "All the legends who have been through here. It's just about us carrying on that standard and stepping up."Fourth-rounder Romeo Doubs added that Rodgers explained to the wideouts what he likes based on specific concepts or looks he gets at the line of scrimmage."He just wants us to see what he sees, so then that way we can be able to react faster, play faster, and just be able to dominate and continue to be who we are," Doubs said.Doubs also acknowledged the benefit of being able to lean on veteran wideouts Randall Cobb and Allen Lazard through the process.Drops plagued Green Bay during Friday's preseason opener against the San Francisco 49ers and Tuesday's practice, prompting Rodgers to air his grievances publicly.The Packers are expecting contributions from their young receiving corps after trading All-Pro wideout Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders in March.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots got into a practice brawl Wednesday that injured a fan.Patriots defensive lineman Deatrich Wise Jr. took Panthers star Christian McCaffrey to the ground while the back was already out of bounds, according to ESPN's David Newton and Mike Reiss. McCaffrey took exception to the hit and spiked the ball at Wise, causing a melee that led to the defensive lineman falling on a fan.