The Los Angeles Chargers and star safety Derwin James agreed to a record four-year extension worth $76.4 million, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The reported deal will make James the highest-paid safety in the NFL with an annual average salary of $19.13 million. He will also receive $42 million guaranteed and $29 million in the first year of the contract, both records at his position, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The Chargers announced Wednesday that they had signed James to a multi-year contract.James was set to earn $9 million this season in the final year of his rookie deal. Pittsburgh Steelers standout Minkah Fitzpatrick previously topped the safety market with a salary of $18.25 million.The 26-year-old has been staging a "hold-in" while looking for an extension, participating only in walk-through sessions and sitting out padded practices at training camp.Chargers head coach Brandon Staley said Tuesday he wasn't concerned about James getting up to speed for the start of the season."I don't worry about Derwin," Staley said, according to Elliott Teaford of the Los Angeles Daily News. "Derwin has given us no reason to worry. It would be one thing if he wasn't here, but we see him every day."He's in the best shape of his life. This is the first time in a while he's had a full offseason with nothing to prohibit him from training. He feels great, so that gives us a lot of confidence."The 17th overall pick in the 2018 draft starred as a rookie, earning first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors before struggling with injuries over the next two seasons. He missed 11 games in 2019 due to a foot injury and all of the 2020 campaign because of a knee injury.But James bounced back last year. He racked up 117 tackles, two interceptions, three forced fumbles, and two sacks in 15 appearances to earn his second first-team All-Pro nomination.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, don't extend yourself, and don't get hurt. This applies to both players on the field and bettors in the sportsbook. With three weeks of tuneups on the schedule, we'll proceed with extreme caution while we stretch ourselves out. Remember, these games don't count, but the bets definitely do.A robust start to preseason betting saw us go 6-3 (+3.1 units) in Week 1, and it could have been even better. Our best result from a closing line value standpoint - Chiefs +3.5 (closed -1) - lost, while we had a teaser busted because the Cowboys could muster only 10 points against the Broncos.There are just four games to work with on Thursday and Friday as we use point spreads, underdog moneylines, totals, and six-point teasers to find value bets.Best spread betTexans (-3) over RamsThis one opened with the Rams favored, and sometimes a point-spread move tells you everything you need to know about a preseason game. Sean McVay has never cared about the scoreboard in these games, even though the Rams sometimes win them. If this was the regular season, there would be a two-touchdown swing on the point spread, but the Texans' status as favorites here indicates Lovie Smith cares about winning.Davis Mills, Jeff Driskel, and a willing running game with Dameon Pierce and Royce Freeman give Houston a lead, and L.A. doesn't get the same explosiveness from Bryce Perkins that it did late against the Chargers last week.Underdog moneyline betBears (+160) over SeahawksWhat did the Seahawks do to deserve being favored by more than a field goal in the coin-flip games of the preseason? It didn't matter which of their three quarterbacks the Steelers used; they all lit up Seattle's defense. This is a chance for Justin Fields and the Bears' offense to gain the confidence they couldn't have earned in last week's lazy win against the Chiefs.Either way, we're getting +160 in a game between two equally bad teams, and it's possible Matt Eberflus has more upside to work with this week. This is a buy-low opportunity on Chicago.Best total betSaints/Packers under 40 pointsWeek 1 of the preseason was an "over" festival, with points coming at a perplexingly high rate. One theory is that an increase in the depth of quality players in the league, offensive style evolution, and rule changes favoring scoring form a combination impervious to mediocre quarterback play.It may also just be sample-size variance. If that's the case, league-wide oddsmaker adjustments of a touchdown or more from last week to this week are an overreaction.Maybe Jameis Winston plays one drive and leads the Saints to a touchdown, but Andy Dalton just did that last week; New Orleans never saw the end zone again, scoring six points total after Ian Book took over.It's doubtful Aaron Rodgers plays this week, which means more Jordan Love and Danny Etling for the Packers. Those two combined for three touchdowns last week, which seems like the production ceiling for them. It appears unlikely that either team cracks 20 points, so this is where we may capitalize on the total overreaction.Best teaser legsPatriots +8 / Colts +8Ok, we're cheating the format a bit with the Colts hosting the Lions in an early game on Saturday. But it's the preseason, and rules are a loose concept at best.While the totals aren't last-week low, 40.5 points in New England and 39.5 in Indianapolis would still suggest a Stanford Wong teaser up over a touchdown on the Patriots and Colts if this was the regular season. Preseason or not, capturing key numbers in low-scoring matchups is still the name of this particular game.Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Last year, the Cincinnati Bengals became the eighth team in the last seven seasons to go from worst to first in their division. Beyond even that, they reached the Super Bowl for the first time since 1989.As we turn our attention to the upcoming season, we'll rank the chances of each last-place finisher from 2021 winning its division in 2022.8. Seattle Seahawks2021 record: 7-10Notable additionsFree agency/tradesDraftQB Drew LockOT Charles CrossTE Noah FantDE Boye MafeLB Uchenna NwosuRB Kenneth WalkerDL Shelby HarrisOL Austin BlytheIt's hard to believe the Seahawks have any chance of winning the NFC West for two reasons. First, not only did Seattle trade Russell Wilson - who posted a 104-53-1 regular-season record across 10 seasons with the club - but the Seahawks also didn't put much effort into replacing the perennial playoff quarterback. Geno Smith, who's only started five games since 2016, looks in line to start Week 1 over Lock, who was unimpressive in Denver.Second, Seattle competes in a division with three playoff teams from last year. That includes the reigning Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams, who lost Von Miller but added Allen Robinson and Bobby Wagner. Even though the San Francisco 49ers are starting a young quarterback and the Arizona Cardinals lost DeAndre Hopkins for the first six games due to suspension, both clubs have more potential than the Seahawks.7. New York Jets Mitchell Leff / Getty Images Sport / Getty2021 record: 4-13Notable additionsFree agencyDraftG Laken TomlinsonWR Garrett WilsonTE C.J. UzomahCB Ahmad GardnerCB D.J. ReedDE Jermaine JohnsonS Jordan WhiteheadRB Breece HallOT Duane BrownIt was easy to get excited about the Jets after the draft. New York improved its offensive line, running game, and receiver room in an excellent offseason. The team also addressed its main needs defensively, and the secondary should be solid if the newcomers, especially Gardner, live up to the hype. Everything seemed ready for quarterback Zach Wilson to make a big leap after struggling as the second overall pick last year.What's the problem, then? Well, injuries have hurt the Jets lately. Offensive tackle Mekhi Becton recently suffered a season-ending knee ailment. Signing Brown following Becton's injury was a solid move, but then Zach Wilson sustained a knee ailment that's expected to sideline him for two-to-four weeks. Unless the Jets acquire a new starter, they're in line to start Joe Flacco in Week 1. Even when Wilson returns, will he be fully healthy?To make things even harder, the AFC East will likely be one of the NFL's top divisions, with the Buffalo Bills entering the season as legit Super Bowl contenders. The New England Patriots also made the playoffs in 2021, and the Miami Dolphins are red-hot after making offseason splashes, including trading for Tyreek Hill.6. Carolina Panthers2021 record: 5-12Notable additionsFree agency/tradesDraftQB Baker MayfieldOT Ikem EkwonuG Austin CorbettQB Matt CorralS Xavier WoodsDL Matt IoannidisC Bradley BozemanWe have to give the Panthers credit for addressing their main needs in the offseason. Though Carolina didn't make any big free-agent moves, it improved its team on both sides of the ball. Granted, the defense has room for improvement, but it ranked second in yards last year and returned its main stars. The offense, which rosters an improved offensive line, also features talented weapons, assuming running back Christian McCaffrey stays healthy. That means whether or not Carolina records its first winning season since 2017 comes down to the quarterback position.The Panthers have a higher ceiling with Mayfield under center over Sam Darnold. But even if Mayfield plays as he did in 2020 when he guided the Browns to the divisional round, it'll be tough for the Panthers to end their six-year division title drought. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers remain the best team in the NFC South with Tom Brady at quarterback. If anyone is to leapfrog the Bucs, it'd more likely be the New Orleans Saints, who made solid moves and got key starters back from injury. At least Carolina is steps ahead of the Atlanta Falcons as the third-best team in this group.5. Detroit Lions2021 record: 3-13-1Notable additionsFree agencyDraftWR DJ CharkDE Aidan HutchinsonS DeShon ElliottWR Jameson WilliamsCB Mike HughesDE Josh PaschalThe Lions last won their division in 1993 when it was still called the NFC Central, but they should move a little closer to the North title in their second year with coach Dan Campbell. Detroit enters the season with a solid offensive floor due to its underrated offensive line and an explosive group of skill-position players, featuring running back D'Andre Swift as well as receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Chark. Williams is the team's most talented pass-catcher, but the 12th overall pick won't play right away as he rehabs from a torn ACL.That said, it's hard to envision Detroit's ceiling being high enough to contend in the division with Jared Goff at quarterback. Plus, the defense is coming off two rough seasons. Drafting Hutchinson was a great move, but we can't assume he'll immediately fix all of the team's problems.If those issues weren't enough, the Lions would have to dethrone Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers - who've won the NFC North three straight times - to claim the division. Yes, Green Bay lost receiver Davante Adams, and its offensive line isn't fully healthy. But Detroit - as well as the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears - likely needs a subpar campaign from the reigning back-to-back MVP to have a real shot at winning the North. Good luck with that.4. New York Giants Maddie Meyer / Getty Images Sport / Getty2021 record: 4-13Notable additionsFree agencyDraftOL Jon FelicianoDE Kayvon ThibodeauxQB Tyrod TaylorOT Evan NealOL Mark GlowinskiWR Wan'Dale RobinsonThe Giants are kicking off a new era with Brian Daboll, their third head coach since 2019. Daboll's top priority is turning around Daniel Jones' career like he did Josh Allen's as Buffalo's offensive coordinator. However, the 25-year-old Jones - who's tossed only 21 touchdowns since 2020 - has shown little signs that he has enough untapped upside to reach the level of an MVP candidate.At least Jones' supporting cast should be better. New York's 31st-ranked scoring offense from the last two seasons will see the likes of Saquon Barkley and Kenny Golladay fully healthy again, and the club added top prospects to its offensive line and defense in Neal and Thibodeaux, respectively.History and the Giants' slate are also on their side. New York has the easiest strength of schedule in 2022 based on projected win totals. Plus, four NFC East teams since 2015 have gone from worst to first in a division that hasn't had a repeat champion since 2004.Granted, the Giants aren't the East's best team on paper. But the Dallas Cowboys lost talent this year, and the Washington Commanders can't be trusted with Carson Wentz at quarterback. The Philadelphia Eagles got better, though it remains to be seen if quarterback Jalen Hurts can take the team to the next level. The Giants might have a chance of winning a potentially open NFC East if Daboll proves he's the right coach for the club.3. Denver Broncos2021 record: 7-10Notable additionsFree agency/tradesDraftQB Russell WilsonLB Nik BonittoDE Randy GregoryDT D.J. JonesCB K'Waun WilliamsDenver's expectations are sky-high, and it's easy to understand why. The Broncos, who boasted a top-10 defense in 2021, found the answer to their biggest problem - quarterback - by acquiring Wilson. And despite wideout Tim Patrick's season-ending injury at camp, Denver still rosters Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy at wide receiver, as well as running backs Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon. So, why aren't the Broncos ranked even higher on this list?The main reason is the AFC West. Denver would probably be first here if it wasn't in football's toughest division. Still, if Wilson performs at his best, the Broncos will be able to compete against any division rival. Winning the AFC West is a different story, though, as the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, and Las Vegas Raiders all look like playoff contenders. And Kansas City's won six straight division titles.Also, even though parting ways with head coach Vic Fangio was the right move, it remains to be seen whether the Broncos' defensive unit will be just as solid without him. Including Fangio's time as a coordinator in Chicago, his defenses have ranked in the top 10 in scoring in four of the last five seasons. Though Denver rosters one of the NFL's premier secondaries, its front seven has questions. First-year coach Nathaniel Hackett, a former offensive coordinator, is the Broncos' new sideline boss, while the defense will be coordinated by ex-Rams assistant Ejiro Evero.2. Jacksonville Jaguars2021 record: 3-14Notable additionsFree agencyDraftWR Christian KirkLB Travon WalkerWR Zay JonesLB Devin LloydG Brandon ScherffC Luke FortnerTE Evan EngramCB Darious WilliamsLB Foye OluokunDT Folorunso FatukasiEven if we question what the Jaguars paid for their free agents, there's no doubt Jacksonville improved its roster. More importantly, the team replaced Urban Meyer with Doug Pederson. Pederson, who won Super Bowl LII with the Eagles, has helped quarterbacks throughout his career, and he'll be a key factor in Trevor Lawrence's development.The 2021 first overall pick struggled with only 12 touchdown passes to 17 interceptions as a rookie, but the arrivals of Kirk, Jones, Engram, and Scherff, combined with running back Travis Etienne's return from injury, should put the Jaguars' offense in a strong position to bounce back.Then there's the AFC South, where the Houston Texans seem harmless and the Tennessee Titans have more questions than last year. The Indianapolis Colts got better with quarterback Matt Ryan's arrival, but Indy still isn't as dangerous as other favorites such as the Bills, Chiefs, and Packers. If Lawrence lives up to the hype in Year 2, and Jacksonville's 2022 rookie class steps up, the Jaguars will have a legit shot at winning the AFC South.1. Baltimore Ravens Scott Taetsch / Getty Images Sport / Getty2021 record: 8-9Notable additionsFree agencyDraftS Marcus WilliamsS Kyle HamiltonOT Morgan MosesC Tyler LinderbaumDT Michael PierceLB David OjaboThe Ravens won eight of their first 12 games last year and were in the driver's seat in the AFC North before Lamar Jackson suffered a season-ending injury. Baltimore lost all five games without Jackson - including the Week 14 contest in which the quarterback sustained the ailment - opening the door for the Bengals to clinch the division with a 10-7 record, the lowest number of wins among division champions last year.Jackson wasn't the only Ravens player sidelined; Baltimore had seven starters suffer season-ending injuries in the season's first nine weeks, including left tackle Ronnie Stanley, cornerback Marcus Peters, and running backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards. And don't forget about Pro Bowl corner Marlon Humphrey, who was ruled out for the year after Week 13.Though Baltimore took a hit at wide receiver by not acquiring an established wideout after trading Marquise Brown, getting healthier alone should again make the Ravens one of the AFC's most competitive teams. They also improved their secondary and offensive line.Though the AFC North is always competitive, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns have questions at quarterback. Pittsburgh is looking for a new starter among Mitch Trubisky, Mason Rudolph, and Kenny Pickett, while Deshaun Watson could be suspended for more than six games. The Bengals will likely offer a tough challenge to the Ravens - they scored 82 points in two games versus Baltimore in 2021. But again, the Ravens didn't have some of their most important players in those contests. That narrative could - and should - change with Baltimore healthy again in 2022.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed veteran defensive end Carl Nassib, the team announced.It's a one-year deal, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Nassib spent the last two seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders. He racked up 21 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and one forced fumble across 13 games in 2021.The 29-year-old previously played for the Bucs from 2018-19. He'll reunite with head coach Todd Bowles, who was Tampa Bay's defensive coordinator in 2019. Nassib enjoyed the most productive seasons of his career with the Buccaneers, amassing 63 tackles, 12.5 sacks, and 25 quarterback hits.The Penn State product provides much-need depth for the Bucs, who didn't re-sign veteran Jason Pierre-Paul this offseason. Pass-rushers Shaq Barrett and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka are expected to start for Tampa Bay in 2022, with fourth-year defender Anthony Nelson being part of the rotation.Nassib played his first two NFL seasons on the Cleveland Browns after being drafted in the third round in 2016.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock won't play Thursday's game against the Chicago Bears after testing positive for COVID-19, the team announced Tuesday.Lock was set to make his first start this preseason after Geno Smith began last week's contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Lock threw for 102 yards and two touchdowns on 11-for-15 passing versus Pittsburgh, while Smith completed 10 of his 15 attempts for 101 yards.The two entered training camp competing for the Seahawks' starting job, which became vacant after the team traded Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos in the offseason. Seattle head coach Pete Carroll wanted to give each quarterback a chance to start in the first two weeks of preseason."Geno's still the No. 1 guy, he's holding onto his spot at this point," Carroll said Tuesday, according to John Boyle of Seahawks.com. "I really like what Drew has shown us. You look at his passer rating and some of the stuff he did (against the Steelers), he did a great job. Both of our guys can play. That's what we do know, they both can play."Lock joined Seattle this year as part of the Wilson trade after three unimpressive seasons in Denver.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Seahawks rookie running back Kenneth Walker III missed practice Tuesday due to a "hernia issue," head coach Pete Carroll said, according to ESPN's Brady Henderson.Carroll is hopeful Walker will be available to play in Week 1 against the Denver Broncos on Sept. 12."We've just got to make sure that he's OK by the opener is what we're shooting for," the coach said.Walker registered six touches for 30 yards in Saturday's preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.Seattle drafted the Michigan State product in the second round this year as the second running back off the board. The 21-year-old is expected to be an important part of the team's offense while sharing snaps with Rashaad Penny, who enters the season as the No. 1 back after rushing for 671 yards and six touchdowns in the final five games of last season.The Seahawks, who lost Chris Carson to retirement this offseason, also roster running backs Travis Homer and DeeJay Dallas, among others.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Aaron Rodgers isn't happy with what he's seen from the Green Bay Packers' young pass-catchers lately."The young guys, especially young receivers, we've got to be way more consistent," the quarterback said Tuesday, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky. "A lot of drops, a lot of bad route decisions, running the wrong route. We've got to get better in that area."The Packers had drop issues in their preseason opener Friday against the San Francisco 49ers, and those struggles remained during the team's joint practice with the New Orleans Saints. Rookie wide receiver Romeo Doubs dropped what Rodgers described as his best throw of Tuesday's practice."(The regular season is) coming up. ... We're going to play our best guys when the season starts," Rodgers said. "And whoever those guys are, those guys are going to get the reps. It's the guys I trust the most and the guys the coaches trust the most. A lot of it is just the simple responsibility in the offense."He added: "You keep dropping the ball, you're not going to be out there. It's going to be the most reliable guys that are out there. The preparation and the job responsibility is most important. There's going to be physical mistakes, like we've talked about, but if you're going out there and dropping the ball and somebody else behind you is in the right spot all the time and catching the ball, that guy's going to play."Doubs, who's stood out at practice due to his impressive catches, caught a 33-yard touchdown against the 49ers last week, though he also had two drops.The Packers, who traded All-Pro receiver Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders in March, were criticized for not drafting a wideout with one of their two first-round picks this year. Green Bay eventually did add to the position, selecting Christian Watson (second round), Doubs (fourth round), and Samori Toure (seventh round). Watson has yet to participate in 11-on-11 practices as he recovers from a knee injury.Green Bay's wide receiver depth chart is headlined by veterans Allen Lazard, Sammy Watkins, and Randall Cobb.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Quarterback Tyrod Taylor may receive a share of the New York Giants' first-team reps in practice, though that won't change Daniel Jones' status as the starter, head coach Brian Daboll said Tuesday, according to ESPN's Jordan Raanan."I have full confidence in Daniel, and I have full confidence in Tyrod in what his role is," Daboll said. "Each day we sit there and evaluate the guys, but will (Taylor) get a few reps here or there? He might."Daboll said the decision is "absolutely not" due to Jones' performance on the field."I learned from a pretty good coach a while ago - usually, he doesn't tell those guys when he throws them in, because that is what the backup job's role is," Daboll said.He added: "You have to go in in a split second and prepare as if you're the starter. Fourth play of the game something happens, you're in, and you have to be ready to go. I don't think we'll necessarily tell those guys when it will happen."Jones has taken the majority of first-team reps in training camp. He started the Giants' 23-21 preseason win against the New England Patriots but didn't notch a touchdown or interception. Taylor followed him, throwing for 129 yards and a score.The 2022 campaign is set to be a pivotal one for Jones after New York declined the fifth-year option on his rookie contract in April. Jones has struggled to cement his spot as the Giants' long-term quarterback since being drafted sixth overall in the 2019 draft. He missed six games last year with a neck injury and has yet to reach a 90 passer rating in any of his three seasons.Taylor, who signed with New York in the offseason, started 53 games over his career. The Giants will be his fifth team over the last six seasons.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson's arthroscopic knee surgery was a success, a source told ESPN's Rich Cimini.The 23-year-old has a chance to play in Week 1, but the Jets won't play him until he's 100% healthy, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Wilson was initially given a two-to-four-week timeline after suffering a torn meniscus and a bone bruise in New York's preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. But he could have been out longer if his meniscus had required a full repair rather than trimming during Tuesday's procedure.Jets backup Joe Flacco is set to start against his former team on Sept. 11 if Wilson isn't ready for New York's regular-season opener against the Baltimore Ravens.Wilson is looking to bounce back from an underwhelming rookie campaign that saw him throw for 2,334 yards and nine touchdowns against 11 interceptions. The 2021 No. 2 pick missed four games because of a sprained PCL in the same knee on which he recently underwent surgery.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In a memo sent Monday, the NFL Management Council cautioned teams about a non-certified agent making contact on Chicago Bears linebacker Roquan Smith's behalf, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.The league warned that any interaction with a player under contract or his camp without permission from his team is considered tampering, Pelissero adds.The memo, which ESPN's Courtney Cronin obtained, states that "a person by the name of Saint Omni" is reaching out to clubs under the guise of representing Smith. However, Omni is prohibited from "negotiating player contracts or discussing potential trades" and advising any negotiation for any player, according to the memo.Smith requested a trade out of Chicago last week due to failed contract talks between the two sides. The linebacker claimed the Bears' brass "has been trying to take advantage" of him since negotiations opened in April. Drafted eighth overall in 2018, Smith was recently activated off the PUP list but hasn't taken the field in training camp or the preseason.General manager Ryan Poles, whom the team hired in the offseason, expressed disappointment with the trade request and maintained that he intends to sign Smith.Smith does not have an agent and hasn't received permission from the Bears to seek trade partners.The NFL's warning comes after it stripped the Miami Dolphins of their 2023 first-round pick and their 2024 third-rounder for previously tampering with Tom Brady and former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton. Miami owner Stephen Ross was also fined $1.5 million and suspended through Oct. 17 as additional punishment.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles are sending wide receiver J.J. Arcega-Whiteside to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for defensive back Ugo Amadi, the Eagles announced Monday.A second-round pick in 2019, Arcega-Whiteside will receive an opportunity for a fresh start after a disappointing stay in Philadelphia. The 25-year-old recorded 16 receptions for 290 yards with one touchdown over three seasons. He appeared in 16 games last season with two starts but only mustered 36 yards on two catches.The Stanford product was working to become a tight end this offseason, but the Seahawks plan to use him as a receiver, according to Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times.Arcega-Whiteside will compete for a role in a Seattle receiving group that's headlined by DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Behind them are Freddie Swain, Dee Eskridge, and Marquise Goodwin, among others.Amadi was rumored to be part of Seattle's first batch of roster cuts before being traded to the Eagles. Teams are required to trim their rosters to 85 players by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday.The defensive back made seven starts for the Seahawks in 2021, recording one interception and one forced fumble. He's played in 47 games since being taken in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.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 first week of preseason games.

With the 2022 season quickly approaching, it's time to judge the NFL's eight divisions and sort them from easiest to hardest to win.8. NFC North Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images Sport / GettyAaron Rodgers may claim to own the Chicago Bears, but he also wouldn't be wrong to suggest that his Green Bay Packers own the entire NFC North.Team NFC North titles since 2011Packers8Vikings2Bears1Lions0Green Bay has been king in the division for years, and that doesn't seem likely to change in 2022. Despite losing one of the game's top receivers in Davante Adams, the Packers should remain on course with Rodgers and Matt LaFleur running the offense.The Minnesota Vikings are perhaps the Packers' closest challengers, thanks to Justin Jefferson, Dalvin Cook, and a solid defense. However, they're stuck in good-but-not-great territory with Kirk Cousins. The Detroit Lions are reshaping their culture under Dan Campbell, but their competitive window is still far from its arrival date. And the Bears showed their hand in the offseason by not bringing in any legitimate playmakers for Justin Fields. Until those three clubs take an additional step, Rodgers and his pals will continue to govern the NFC North.7. AFC SouthThe reality for the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars is that the AFC South will likely come down to a two-way dogfight between the Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts. At least it should be a good duel.The Colts took a step up after ditching Carson Wentz and landing Matt Ryan, while the Titans lost some horsepower after parting ways with star receiver A.J. Brown rather than meeting his contract demands. Which of the two clubs is further ahead in the chase for a divisional crown is open for argument, but they're separated by the slimmest of margins.If there's any consolation for the Texans and Jaguars, it's that they should both be tougher outs in 2022 than they were last year. Led by promising passers in Trevor Lawrence and Davis Mills, the two teams likely won't be easy pickings for their rivals anymore, although 2022 may still be too early to expect a real push for the AFC South title.6. NFC SouthThe Tampa Bay Buccaneers initially put their home atop the division for sale this offseason. It didn't last long on the market, though, as Tom Brady returned to his NFC South lair for at least one more year. Brady won't have Rob Gronkowski or Pro Bowl center Ryan Jensen this time around, but the Bucs have equipped him with shiny new toys in Russell Gage and Julio Jones.The New Orleans Saints will be plotting to crash Brady's return party. New Orleans has been a thorn in Tampa Bay's side, winning all four of their regular-season meetings since 2020. Dennis Allen's team looks even stronger now with the anticipated return of All-Pro receiver Michael Thomas and additions such as Tyrann Mathieu and Marcus Maye.Not much can be said of the Atlanta Falcons' aspirations after they had their wings plucked following the departure of Ryan. Meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers continue to be directionless with their endless hobby of collecting project passers in the hopes that one sticks. The Panthers' chances may come down to if Baker Mayfield proves to be their winning lottery ticket.5. AFC East Boston Globe / Boston Globe / GettyWhen all the dust settled, the top three teams in the AFC East all finished with a winning record last season. While the Buffalo Bills remain the team to beat, the division could be tougher than it's been in a long time, due in large part to the positive steps the Miami Dolphins took this offseason.The Dolphins, who won eight of their last nine to cap the 2021 campaign, added the likes of Tyreek Hill and Terron Armstead, as well as new head coach Mike McDaniel. Those additions could be the key to unlocking Tua Tagovailoa's true potential.Meanwhile, the New York Jets had a monster draft and were projected to improve before Zach Wilson suffered a knee injury in their preseason opener. The Jets' success may boil down to how fast he can get back on the field and whether he can take another step. Wilson is going to have his work cut out for him if he intends to end New York's days of being division minnows.And then there's the New England Patriots. The biggest constant in the NFL, the Patriots are going to put up a fight no matter who Bill Belichick has under center or calling plays. Belichick's longtime offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels departed for a head coaching gig, leaving a big question mark in the offense and around Mac Jones' development. However, the man in the hoodie has already navigated the worst in the two years since Brady left for Tampa Bay. With a playoff appearance in 2021, the Patriots' next step is challenging the Bills, and they're more than prepared to give their rivals a worthy scrap.Buffalo will remain a step ahead as long as Josh Allen remains elite, but it's the state of the division's other signal-callers that will make the AFC East a must-watch. With Tagovailoa receiving more support and Jones banking another year of experience, it likely won't be a walk in the park for the Bills.4. NFC EastHistory tells us that no matter how each of the NFC East teams shapes up on paper, the division will be a battleground where the unpredictable can happen. A different winner has emerged in each of the last three seasons, while no team has repeated as champions since 2004, the longest active streak in the NFL.Can the Dallas Cowboys break the streak after comfortably winning the division last year? Mike McCarthy's squad certainly has a shot, though momentum has shifted in favor of their archrivals: the Philadelphia Eagles. While many are avoiding comparisons to the ill-fated "Dream Team" of 2011, the Eagles feature an all-star cast headlined by Brown. The former Titans wideout could be the decisive addition that elevates Jalen Hurts and Philly to the top of the NFC East.Don't count out the Washington Commanders or New York Giants, either. The Commanders won seven games last season with Taylor Heinicke as their primary passer. If Wentz can limit his mistakes - a big if - then Washington could make noise with its strong defense.The Giants have been the division's forgotten side, but if Brian Daboll can find a way to make good on Daniel Jones' potential - another big if - they may be the wild card. There's a lot that needs to go right in Washington and New York, but as the past has shown, the NFC East has typically been the land of surprise where anything can happen.3. NFC WestWelcome to the Wild West. The division features the reigning Super Bowl champions, the dynamic Kyler Murray-led Arizona Cardinals, and a fresh gunslinger in San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance. Watching from afar are the Seattle Seahawks, who won't have the firepower to get involved in this showdown after trading away franchise passer Russell Wilson.Even with the usually competitive Seahawks taking a backseat, the NFC West clubs will give fans some exciting battles. Murray was on an MVP pace before getting injured last year, and with a lucrative new contract signed, the young passer comes into this season determined to improve on his 2021 performance.Meanwhile, the talk of the Bay Area is all about Lance, another dual-threat quarterback. The club managed to get to the NFC Championship Game with Jimmy Garoppolo under center, so there's no telling what the team's limit could be if Kyle Shanahan can incorporate Lance's athleticism into the offense. That should put the Los Angeles Rams and the rest of the division on notice.Last but not least, there isn't much that needs to be said about the Rams' consistency. Their gigantic Super Bowl rings make them the division's big targets, but that shouldn't be a new feeling. The Rams - who've been in win-now mode for the last few seasons - continued adding to their deep roster with the signing of Pro Bowl receiver Allen Robinson. Los Angeles may be the most complete team in the division, but the Cardinals' and 49ers' exciting rosters make the NFC West must-watch football.2. AFC North Patrick Smith / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe AFC North was the toughest division in football last season as only two games separated first and last place. Known for its intense rivalries and physical style of football, the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Cleveland Browns fought a war of attrition in 2021. That shouldn't change this year, as the four clubs are set to participate in another last-man-standing contest.There've been noteworthy changes all over the division, especially with last year's winner and runner-up. Cincinnati went on a Cinderella run to a Super Bowl appearance despite its shockingly bad offensive line. Now that the unit has improved, Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase should have even more opportunities to torch defenses. The Steelers dragged an over-the-hill Ben Roethlisberger to a playoff appearance but now hope Mitch Trubisky or rookie Kenny Pickett can bring more mobility to the quarterback position. However, Pittsburgh could be in line for regression after going 8-2-1 in games decided by eight points or less last season.Basic probability says the Ravens are due better luck after dealing with more injuries to key players than any other team last season. John Harbaugh's club should be right back in the mix after adding key pieces and depth to its roster over the offseason. It's hard to feel confident about the Browns bouncing back at the moment. There's no doubting their talented roster, but they'll likely have to roll with Jacoby Brissett due to Deshaun Watson's uncertain future, which will surely impact their offense's productivity.1. AFC WestThere really should be no surprise that the AFC West finishes our ranking as the NFL's toughest division. Not only is it realistic that all four teams can make the postseason in 2022, but any of the West clubs would also likely have no problem competing for a division title in any of the conference's other divisions. Perhaps we're better off giving the division a more appropriate name: the AFC Best.Look no further than the quarterback position for why the AFC West reigns supreme. The Kansas City Chiefs were able to throw their power around with Patrick Mahomes in recent years, but times have now changed. Justin Herbert is entering Year 3 with the Los Angeles Chargers and has already become one of the NFL's top passers. Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr has been quietly consistent for a while and is now reunited with All-Pro wideout Adams.But the signal-caller who's really put the division on notice has to be the Denver Broncos' new leader under center: Russell Wilson. For the first time since Peyton Manning donned the jersey, the Broncos have a legitimate quarterback who can win them games through the air. With 17 combined Pro Bowls between the passers, every inner-division matchup has the potential to be remarkable.The talent level continues to match up evenly at other positions, too. There's no Hill, but the Chiefs brought in JuJu Smith-Schuster and still have Travis Kelce. Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, and Adams round out the division's receiving group. The Chargers must be commended for their work on defense, too, after the arrivals of J.C. Jackson and former Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack. With all four teams oozing with star power, there'll surely be no shortage of fireworks coming from the NFL's most loaded division.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was happy with rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett's performance in Saturday's preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks."He moved his group. He played situational football. He played with a competitive spirit. A lot of good things to build on from a first performance," Tomlin said after Pittsburgh's 32-25 victory, according to Steelers Depot's Matthew Marczi.Pittsburgh made Pickett the first quarterback drafted this year with the 20th overall selection. The 24-year-old went 13-for-15 passing with 95 yards and two touchdowns Saturday, including a game-winning 24-yard TD pass to receiver Tyler Vaughns with three seconds remaining.Pickett, who also added 16 yards on three rushing attempts, started the second half for the Steelers after Mitchell Trubisky and Mason Rudolph played in the first two quarters. The three are competing for the starting quarterback job, which became vacant when Ben Roethlisberger retired in January.Trubisky played only two drives against Seattle, throwing for 63 yards and one touchdown on 4-for-7 passing. Meanwhile, Rudolph completed 9 of 15 pass attempts for 93 yards and one TD."I could say the same thing about all three, to be honest with you," Tomlin said. "They moved their units. They did the informal things associated with the position from a leadership and communication standpoint. They were engaged. It was a good first time out for all three."Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson plans to pause contract extension talks if a deal isn't reached by the start of the regular season."We're coming up to it. It's coming up," Jackson said when asked about a hard deadline Saturday, according to ESPN's Jamison Hensley. "The season's coming up. We're going to be good for the season."Jackson added that it was "for sure" fair to say he wants clarity on his contract status by Week 1.The 25-year-old doesn't have an agent and is representing himself in talks with the Ravens. He's currently set to earn $23.016 million in 2022 under the fifth-year option on his rookie deal.Jackson previously shut down speculation in June that he could look to force an exit from Baltimore, saying he expects to spend his entire career with the AFC North club. He also confirmed negotiations were underway with the Ravens.Talks between Jackson and Baltimore have seemingly been complicated by an ever-shifting quarterback contract landscape.First, Green Bay Packers star Aaron Rodgers reset the top of the market with an extension worth $50 million per season. The Cleveland Browns then gave Deshaun Watson a fully-guaranteed $230-million deal. Most recently, Arizona Cardinals signal-caller Kyler Murray earned the second-highest annual salary ($46.1 million) and guaranteed money figures ($160 million).Despite the lack of movement in talks with the former MVP, Ravens coach John Harbaugh believes a deal will get done in a matter of time."I'm very confident that it will get done when it gets done," Harbaugh said. "You can't really rush it. I don't think either side wants to rush anything; both sides want to be happy when it's all said and done, and probably both sides (will be) unhappy when it's all said and done, to some degree, right? That's kind of how it works."Jackson missed five games last season and struggled to perform to his usual standards. He threw 13 interceptions and produced just 18 total touchdowns, a significant decline from his MVP-winning production in 2019 (36 passing scores against nine interceptions).Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson is expected to miss two-to-four weeks after suffering a meniscus tear and a bone bruise in Friday's preseason opener, sources told Brian Costello of The New York Post.Wilson will undergo arthroscopic surgery, which will determine exactly how much time the quarterback will miss, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. His meniscus only requires a trim rather than a full repair, added Costello.The sophomore signal-caller sustained the non-contact injury during a scramble in a win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson will undergo an MRI after suffering a non-contact right knee injury in Friday's 24-21 preseason victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, according to head coach Robert Saleh.Saleh noted that Wilson's ACL is "supposed to be intact" based on initial tests, but he will await the MRI to confirm, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. Early results indicate that the signal-caller may have injured his PCL, the same injury he dealt with last season, a source told ESPN's Rich Cimini.Wilson headed to the locker room in the first quarter after going down awkwardly on a scramble. He didn't return.

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

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss Sunday's preseason opener against the Las Vegas Raiders, the team announced Friday.The Vikings sent Cousins home from training camp Thursday with an illness but were unsure of the nature.While the NFL has paused its COVID-19 protocols, players and staff are still required to follow CDC guidelines to isolate for five days following a positive test.Cousins tested positive during the 2021 season and missed one game. He also sat out five days of last year's training camp as an unvaccinated close contact.Backup signal-callers Kellen Mond and Sean Mannion will lead Minnesota's offense against the Raiders.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Commanders president Jason Wright wasn't happy with the questions Scott Abraham of 7News DC asked quarterback Carson Wentz in a recent interview.Wright criticized Abraham on Friday, calling his interview "pompous" and "unprofessional.""Thankfully, Carson demonstrated grace and class in response to this pompous, unprofessional mess," Wright tweeted. "I recognize you have made a living on childlike provocation, but it needs to be called out. Don't expect special access, and good luck building rapport with the guys, (Scott Abraham)."Abraham shared part of his interview with Wentz on Thursday."Real talk here, Carson: It's been well-documented Philly didn't want you, (and) Indy didn't want you. Do you think this is your last chance to prove you can be a starting quarterback in the NFL?" Abraham asked.

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 10-team, 12-round mock 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: Matthew Washington, Jack Browne, David P. Woods, Justin Boone, Brandon Wile, Navin Vaswani, Ian Dalley, Taylor Rohaly, Dustin Saracini, Caitlyn Holroyd.Round 1PickPlayerTeam1Jonathan Taylor (RB1)Washington2Christian McCaffrey (RB2)Browne3Justin Jefferson (WR1)Woods4Austin Ekeler (RB3)Boone5Cooper Kupp (WR2)Wile6Dalvin Cook (RB4)Vaswani7Derrick Henry (RB5)Dalley8Ja'Marr Chase (WR3)Rohaly9Najee Harris (RB6)Saracini10Stefon Diggs (WR4)HolroydRound 1: This is about what you should expect an opening round to look like in a 10-team half PPR league this season. Seeing Justin Jefferson go above Cooper Kupp is the only real surprise. However, you can make an argument for it given the new pass-heavy scheme Jefferson will benefit from in Minnesota and Matthew Stafford's lingering elbow issues putting a sliver of doubt into Kupp's outlook.My pick: Austin Ekeler was an obvious selection at fourth overall. The Chargers star tied for the league lead in total touchdowns last year with 20 and finished as the RB3 in average fantasy points per game. He's also getting even more reinforcements up front in the form of first-round guard Zion Johnson. The Bolts' line came in eighth in our recent Offensive Line Rankings.Round 2PickPlayerTeam11Joe Mixon (RB7)Holroyd12Davante Adams (WR5)Saracini13D'Andre Swift (RB8)Rohaly14Travis Kelce (TE1)Dalley15Saquon Barkley (RB9)Vaswani16Aaron Jones (RB10)Wile17CeeDee Lamb (WR6)Boone18Deebo Samuel (WR7)Woods19Nick Chubb (RB11)Browne20Tyreek Hill (WR8)WashingtonRound 2: In a 10-team league, there are no bad options in the second round. Several backs like D'Andre Swift, Joe Mixon, Saquon Barkley, and Aaron Jones could easily return first-round value. It wouldn't be surprising to see them push for top-five running back numbers.My pick: CeeDee Lamb has superstar traits and will now get the volume to reach the next level in fantasy. With Amari Cooper's departure, as well as injuries to Michael Gallup and James Washington, Lamb's only real target competition will come from tight end Dalton Schultz. A career year is on the way for the 23-year-old wideout; he might lead the lead in targets.Round 3PickPlayerTeam21Alvin Kamara (RB12)Washington22Mike Evans (WR9)Browne23A.J. Brown (WR10)Woods24Mark Andrews (TE2)Boone25Leonard Fournette (RB13)Wile26Tee Higgins (WR11)Vaswani27Javonte Williams (RB14)Dalley28Courtland Sutton (WR12)Rohaly29Jaylen Waddle (WR13)Saracini30Michael Pittman (WR14)HolroydRound 3: We're still early enough in the draft that there aren't any egregious picks to discuss. Alvin Kamara continues to be a risk worth taking at the Round 2-3 turn, with his legal troubles likely to remain unresolved until next year. Javonte Williams could also turn out to be a steal in this range if he can separate from Melvin Gordon, who's dealing with a foot injury.My pick: Mark Andrews was my third-round pick during our 10-team mock in July, and he once again lands on my team. The value of having an elite tight end in your lineup is undeniable. Andrews was the top-scoring player at his position last season, averaging 17.7 fantasy points per game. That was 1.3 points more than Travis Kelce each week, and 3.4 points more than third-place finisher Rob Gronkowski.Round 431 James Conner (RB15)Holroyd32Terry McLaurin (WR15)Saracini33Breece Hall (RB16)Rohaly34Josh Allen (QB1)Dalley35DJ Moore (WR16)Vaswani36Mike Williams (WR17)Wile37Travis Etienne (RB17)Boone38Kyle Pitts (TE3)Woods39Keenan Allen (WR18)Browne40Ezekiel Elliott (RB18)WashingtonRound 4: We're starting to get a feel for the different builds managers are going with through four frames. Most teams remain fairly balanced, but Team Woods has passed on running backs thus far. Instead, he's locked down three stud receivers in Jefferson, Deebo Samuel, and A.J. Brown, as well as promising young tight end Kyle Pitts. While few teams can match that kind of firepower at those positions, we'll see if he can put his roster over the top by finding competent running back options in the mid-to-late rounds.My pick: While my plan was to go receiver in this round, none of my targets were left on the board. So, I pivoted to an upside running back option in Travis Etienne. We highlighted the former first-round pick as a breakout candidate this year after he missed his rookie season due to injury. News out of OTAs and training camp has been positive, suggesting he's regained his speed and explosiveness and is ready to make a major impact in Year 2. If you're worried about James Robinson being ahead of schedule in his recovery from a torn Achilles, don't be. Etienne profiles as a Kamara-style back who can excel on fewer touches thanks to his pass-catching skills and big-play ability.Round 5PickPlayerTeam41Allen Robinson (WR19)Washington42JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR20)Browne43Gabriel Davis (WR21)Woods44Darnell Mooney (WR22)Boone45Diontae Johnson (WR23)Wile46Brandin Cooks (WR24)Vaswani47D.K. Metcalf (WR25)Dalley48George Kittle (TE4)Rohaly49Cam Akers (RB19)Saracini50Marquise Brown (WR26)HolroydRound 5: Receivers dominated the fifth round, as they should. It's a topic we covered on theScore Fantasy Football Podcast during our 2022 WR preview episode. With the combination of young breakout talents and upside veterans in new situations, the middle rounds are filled with quality fantasy wideouts.My pick: With Diontae Johnson, D.K. Metcalf, Brandin Cooks, and Darnell Mooney available, we were left with a very difficult decision. Johnson is dealing with a hip flexor, uncertainty at quarterback, and increased target competition with the arrival of George Pickens. Metcalf has significant touchdown upside, but Geno Smith and Drew Lock combine for the league's worst quarterback room. It ultimately came down to Cooks or Mooney, and we went with the ascending player who should see another target spike in a barren Bears passing attack. It's one of the reasons why Mooney landed on our list of seven players who will lead you to a fantasy title in 2022.Round 6PickPlayerTeam51Darren Waller (TE5)Holroyd52Patrick Mahomes (QB2)Saracini53Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR27)Rohaly54Jerry Jeudy (WR28)Dalley55Justin Herbert (QB3)Vaswani56Lamar Jackson (QB4)Wile57Rashod Bateman (WR29)Boone58Chris Godwin (WR30)Woods59Michael Thomas (WR31)Browne60Kyler Murray (QB5)WashingtonRound 6: Quarterbacks were an enticing buy in the sixth round, as Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, Lamar Jackson, and Kyler Murray found teams. While I don't often spend up on a quarterback in single-QB formats, this isn't a bad price to pay for a top-five fantasy passer.My pick: With two running backs and an elite tight end already on our roster, we continued to stockpile young receivers on the verge of breakouts. Despite dealing with injuries early and playing without Lamar Jackson down the stretch, Rashod Bateman flashed his No. 1 receiver potential as a rookie. We now have the clear top-two targets in what should be a very concentrated Ravens passing attack.Round 7PickPlayerTeam61Elijah Moore (WR32)Washington62J.K. Dobbins (RB20)Browne63Elijah Mitchell (RB21)Woods64Adam Thielen (WR33)Boone65David Montgomery (RB22)Wile66Drake London (WR34)Vaswani67Amari Cooper (WR35)Dalley68Brandon Aiyuk (WR36)Rohaly69Antonio Gibson (RB23)Saracini70Hunter Renfrow (WR37)HolroydRound 7: Team Woods takes its first running back in the seventh round and gets a good one in Elijah Mitchell. While there are concerns about the 49ers using more of a committee backfield in an effort to reduce the risk of injury, the beat writers have made it clear that Mitchell stands alone atop the depth chart. As a rookie, he was the RB19 in average fantasy points per game and will have an excellent chance to finish in that area once again.My pick: With all of the young talent on our roster, we decided to select a high-scoring veteran as a safety net. Even though Adam Thielen has missed time two of the past three seasons, he's been a top-12 receiver in fantasy points per game four of the last five years. When he's active, he should be in your lineup. We'll gladly take his production until the wheels fall off.Round 8PickPlayerTeam71Allen Lazard (WR38)Holroyd72DeAndre Hopkins (WR39)Saracini73Joe Burrow (QB6)Rohaly74Kadarius Toney (WR40)Dalley75AJ Dillon (RB24)Vaswani76Dalton Schultz (TE6)Wile77Treylon Burks (WR41)Boone78Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB25)Woods79DeVonta Smith (WR42)Browne80Chris Olave (WR43)WashingtonRound 8: Team Woods found another running back value in the eighth round with Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Though he hasn't performed up to the first-round draft capital the Chiefs spent to get him, CEH is still only 23 years old. Kansas City has a premier quarterback and top-five offensive line that should give its young running back every chance to succeed. And if the latest reports out of training camp are to be believed, Ronald Jones might be on the roster bubble, leaving Jerick McKinnon and rookie Isiah Pacheco as the only touch competition in the backfield.My pick: We were back at it with another young receiver in the eighth round, this time snagging rookie Treylon Burks. As we've learned in recent years, you can often find value by buying first-year wideouts who are the subject of negative reports during OTAs. Burks may have shown up a little out of shape and missed some practice time, but he's been garnering positive reviews in training camp and should eventually emerge as a starter in a Titans offense that desperately needs playmakers in the passing game.Round 9PickPlayerTeam81T.J. Hockenson (TE7)Washington82Jalen Hurts (QB7)Browne83Trey Lance (QB8)Woods84Russell Wilson (QB9)Boone85Tyler Lockett (WR44)Wile86Josh Jacobs (RB26)Vaswani87Christian Kirk (WR45)Dalley88Tyler Boyd (WR46)Rohaly89Chase Edmonds (RB27)Saracini90Miles Sanders (RB28)HolroydRound 9: The hate on Tyler Lockett is going too far. While no one should be rushing to invest in the Seahawks' passing attack, Lockett is guaranteed to finish higher than WR44. We're talking about a player who's finished as a top-20 fantasy receiver each of the last four years. Even with a massive downgrade at quarterback, Lockett is still a fantasy WR3 at worst.My pick: After waiting on quarterbacks, a mini-run developed at the start of the ninth round, leading me to select Russell Wilson. The truth is my three most rostered quarterbacks this season were taken this round - Wilson, Jalen Hurts, and Trey Lance. Each one finds himself in an improved situation this year, with Wilson landing in a well-stocked Broncos offense, Hurts getting a true No. 1 receiver in A.J. Brown, and Lance finally being named the full-time starter in a stacked 49ers attack.Round 10PickPlayerTeam91Tom Brady (QB10)Holroyd92Julio Jones (WR47)Saracini93Cordarrelle Patterson (RB29)Rohaly94Kareem Hunt (RB30)Dalley95Tony Pollard (RB31)Vaswani96Rashaad Penny (RB32)Wile97Rhamondre Stevenson (RB33)Boone98Damien Harris (RB34)Woods99Skyy Moore (WR48)Browne100Robert Woods (WR49)WashingtonRound 10: Receivers command the most attention in the middle rounds, but at this point in the draft, running backs carry the most upside. Players like Cordarrelle Patterson, Rashaad Penny, and Damien Harris project to be the lead backs in their offenses to start the year, offering superb value in the double-digit rounds. Meanwhile, Kareem Hunt, Tony Pollard, and Rhamondre Stevenson are all one injury away from fantasy RB1 status.My pick: We chose to take Stevenson over Harris since the latter had his name thrown around as a possible trade candidate. With Stevenson's pass-catching ability, he could provide the Patriots with a more all-around skill set. Harris has been limited to early-down duty, and his fantasy production is heavily linked to touchdown scoring. At this stage, we'd rather roster a player with a path to being a difference-maker over one with a capped ceiling.Round 11PickPlayerTeam101Rondale Moore (WR50)Washington102Dallas Goedert (TE8)Browne103Darrell Henderson (RB35)Woods104Kenneth Walker (RB36)Boone105Devin Singletary (RB37)Wile106James Cook (RB38)Vaswani107Melvin Gordon (RB39)Dalley108Rachaad White (RB40)Rohaly109Zach Ertz (TE9)Saracini110Marquez Valdes-Scantling (WR51)HolroydRound 11: Another running back gauntlet develops in the 11th round with six consecutive ball carriers going off the board. Rookies James Cook and Kenneth Walker have an opportunity to play themselves into the lead back role, while Darrell Henderson, Melvin Gordon, and Rachaad White would all need an injury to reach their high-end outcomes. Like Harris in the last round, Devin Singletary has a limited fantasy projection due to Cook's pass-catching role and Josh Allen's goal-line presence.My pick: For the second straight round, we were in on the running back fire sale. Walker might be behind Rashaad Penny on the depth chart right now, but it's only a matter of time before the second-round rookie overtakes the fragile veteran. While Penny's strong final month in 2021 is fresh in the minds of fantasy managers, he's also a player who spent the prior three-and-a-half years struggling to stay on the field. Plus, he's currently dealing with a groin injury.Round 12PickPlayerTeam111Isaiah Spiller (RB41)Holroyd112Mecole Hardman (WR52)Saracini113Jakobi Meyers (WR53)Rohaly114Russell Gage (WR54)Dalley115Dawson Knox (TE10)Vaswani116Garrett Wilson (WR55)Wile117Dameon Pierce (RB42)Boone118Kenneth Gainwell (RB43)Woods119Michael Gallup (WR56)Browne120Jamaal Williams (RB44)WashingtonRound 12: Let's check back in on Team Woods and his search for mid-to-late-round running backs. After avoiding the position for the first six rounds, his final roster has Elijah Mitchell, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Damien Harris, Darrell Henderson, and Kenneth Gainwell. That's more than enough producers to get by with early in the season while also having the high-end backups like Henderson and Gainwell who could emerge as the season progresses.My pick: The Texans have one of the NFL's few wide-open backfields this season, and according to multiple beat writers, fourth-round rookie Dameon Pierce is making a strong case to be the lead back in camp. Whether he can earn that role by Week 1 remains to be seen, but he should get his shot to usurp veterans Marlon Mack and Rex Burkhead at some point. That's a low-risk bet to make in the 12th round.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, Patrick Daugherty of NBC Sports joins Boone to discuss how to approach tight ends in this year's fantasy drafts.

Tennessee Titans quarterback Malik Willis turned heads during his preseason debut, but head coach Mike Vrabel believes the rookie still has a long way to go as he transitions to the NFL."He needs to try to throw the ball when guys are open, be more decisive," Vrabel said after Tennessee's 23-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday, according to NFL.com's Kevin Patra."We'll evaluate that, see if there's a timing issue or what's going on. Wanted to get him out there, see how he responds. There were some good plays and obviously some plays we're gonna have to look at the timing on the release and if we're making the right decisions."Willis, whom the Titans drafted in the third round, completed six of 11 pass attempts for 107 yards with no touchdowns versus Baltimore. The 23-year-old, who was sacked twice, put his arm strength on display by hitting a 48-yard pass to wide receiver Racey McMath.

When placing bets on teams to remain undefeated the longest, keep in mind that the Cardinals were the final undefeated team last season, while the Steelers were 11-0 in 2020. Neither team could win a playoff game, so early-season success and postseason success aren't inextricably related.When it comes to this market, the board looks a little bit different from overall expectations. Like playing in a survivor pool, you aren't necessarily trying to survive, you're trying to win, even if that means you're out early.Last undefeated teamTEAM ODDSChargers+700Rams+750Bills+800Buccaneers+800Packers+90049ers+1100Broncos+1200Eagles+1400Colts+1600Chiefs+1800Bengals+1800Vikings+2000Ravens+2000Cowboys+2500Saints+2800Browns+3000Titans+3000Cardinals+3500Patriots+4000Raiders+4000Dolphins+5000Commanders+6000Jaguars+8000Lions+8000Panthers+15000Steelers+15000Giants+15000Bears+20000Seahawks+20000Texans+25000Jets+25000Falcons+50000Los Angeles Chargers (+700)The choice of favorite certainly speaks to the uniqueness of this market. It's not about who the best team is, nor is it about who's most likely to win in Week 1 or even Week 2. The Chargers are favorites because of their schedule after their visit to the Chiefs on Thursday Night Football to start the season's second week.Stealing a page from our offseason preview, here is the Chargers' schedule from Weeks 3-9:WEEK OPP. PROJ. SPREAD3JAX-104@HOU-85@CLE-86DEN-37SEA-8.58BYEN/A9@ATL-6.5Using the current moneyline prices, Los Angeles is +270 to begin the season 2-0. If they can survive a tough two games in five days, there's a good chance the Chargers start 5-0. Then their moneyline odds project to multiply as follows:OPPONENTMONEYLINEUNDEFEATED ODDSJaguars-600+330Texans-425+430Browns-400+575If you think 5-0 would be good enough to make the Chargers the last undefeated team, then a bet at +700 before they take on the Broncos in a tightly lined game is the way to play it value-wise. Even if there's another team at 5-0, needing a win at home over Denver - followed by the rest of L.A.'s first-half slate - isn't a bad backup plan.The oddsmakers' hintThe other most notable element in this market is the placement of a team's bye week. Months of research have concluded that NFL teams cannot, in fact, lose during their bye week - it's the Bingo free space of this market!Unfortunately for bettors, the list of teams on their bye during Week 6 - the first week that teams can have a bye - is uninspiring:

New England Patriots assistants Matt Patricia and Joe Judge shared offensive play-calling duties in the team's 23-21 preseason loss to the New York Giants.Patricia appeared to call plays while veteran quarterback Brian Hoyer was in the game, and Judge took over once rookie Bailey Zappe entered the contest.Head coach Bill Belichick - who has been tightlipped over who will handle the responsibility - explained he "thought it would be a good opportunity" for the assistants to share the role in Thursday's contest, according to Mass Live News' Chris Mason.However, Belichick declined to say whether he has decided on an official play-caller."We’re going through a process. Just like everything else on this team," Belichick told reporters, including The Providence Journal's Mark Daniels.Belichick elected not to name an official offensive coordinator for the 2022 campaign. Josh McDaniels previously held the offensive coordinator role from 2012-21 before taking the Las Vegas Raiders' head coaching job earlier this year. Patricia was tabbed as senior football advisor/offensive line coach, while Judge was given the title of offensive assistant/quarterbacks coach.The Patriots put up 308 yards of offense in their preseason opener against the Giants. Zappe threw one touchdown and an interception, while Hoyer completed five of his eight passes with a passing score of his own.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In our team-by-team previews published during the July lull, we looked at what's changed for each franchise and where they stand in the most significant betting markets. In some cases, we might be buying, and in others, we'll sell. We've already addressed sneaky candidates for most wins, but sadly, there are plenty of contenders for worst record this season, and as uncomfortable as it is to say, almost every team is just one early-season injury away from total catastrophe.Fewest winsTEAMODDSTexans+275Falcons+400Seahawks+750Jets+850Bears+1000Jaguars+1100Lions+1200Panthers+1200Giants+1400Steelers+1800Commanders+2500Browns+3500Cardinals+3500Saints+4000Patriots+4000Raiders+4000Titans+5000Vikings+5000Dolphins+500049ers+10000Eagles+10000Colts+10000Cowboys+10000Bengals+10000Chargers+15000Chiefs+15000Broncos+15000Ravens+20000Buccaneers+25000Rams+25000Packers+25000Bills+25000The Texans are the favorites here. The expectation is more of the same from an organization that's suffered a steep descent in recent years in conjunction with optimism about the Lions and Jaguars who finished with fewer wins than Houston last year.With a game added to the schedule last year, a fair number for fewest wins is probably three, but both Jacksonville and Detroit found victory in Week 18 last season just to get there. A 2-15 season seems like a disaster, especially since even the lowly Texans are lined at 4.5 wins. However, it can be a matter of circumstances in a collision sport like football, which creates two angles worth exploring in this market.Chicago Bears (+1000)The first category would make George Thorogood proud, as we look for someone atop the board to be "Bad To The Bone." The Bears have brought in a defensive-minded head coach to a team that's seen a turnover in veteran talent and its best player, Roquan Smith, request a trade before its first preseason game.Matt Eberflus might be a good head coach, but we aren't likely to see that translate to results this year. The offense is in the hands of Luke Getsy. If you're not familiar with his oeuvre, he was the quarterbacks coach in Green Bay - a team with a starter who probably didn't need much help. Maybe Getsy can immediately unlock Justin Fields, but the second-year signal-caller won't have much help at the skilled positions or the offensive line.Green Bay Packers (+25000)

The turf at Soldier Field is already causing problems for Bears kicker Cairo Santos ahead of Chicago's first preseason game."Especially Week 1, our first game of the season - I've seen better," Santos said at practice Tuesday, according to Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times. "It's just what we have to deal with. The less of a problem you make it in your mind, it helps you overcome it and just go."Bears players and opponents have long criticized Soldier Field's turf conditions, leading the stadium to switch sod providers in 2018. Santos spent the offseason training at poorly maintained public parks in Florida in order to simulate the surface."I was going to a turf field at a high school, which was perfect," Santos said. "It was almost like, 'OK. I'm getting too comfortable.' So in my neighborhood, there's a soccer field, and the grass is Bermuda grass. It's real long. I was like, 'OK. This is more like it.'"The ball flies different. It's not super even all the time. . . . It's important to put yourself in that situation."Santos has performed well in his last two seasons with the Bears. He set a franchise record in 2020 by converting 93.3% of his field-goal attempts and made 86.7% of them last season.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We bridged the NFL offseason with our team-by-team looks at what's changed for each franchise and where each team stands in the most significant betting markets, but as we shift our focus to the numerous season-long betting options, we'll save some of those popular bets for later.Instead of betting Super Bowl or conference champions, the most-wins market measures a team's regular-season strength without having to rely on the one-game bounces of the playoffs.Most winsTEAM ODDSBills+450Buccaneers+500Packers+650Rams+750Chiefs+800Chargers+800Colts+1600Broncos+1600Cowboys+1600Ravens+160049ers+1600Browns+1800Eagles+1800Bengals+2000Vikings+4000Dolphins+4000Patriots+5000Cardinals+5000Titans+5000Raiders+5000Saints+6000Commanders+6500Falcons+10000Giants+10000Steelers+10000Lions+15000Bears+15000Panthers+20000Seahawks+20000Jets+20000Jaguars+20000Texans+25000By its very nature, this is a different market than team win totals. You can predict a team like the Dolphins will exceed their expectation of nine wins, have them clear that total by three wins, and still finish second or worse in league-wide victories.The 2014 season was the last time that 12 wins were good enough to lead the NFL, and five teams tied with that total in a 16-game season. Last year, the Packers and Buccaneers each had 13 victories in the league's first 17-game season. Who can reach 13 wins or better this year, and what is their likelihood relative to their odds?Baltimore Ravens +1600One quasi-cheat sheet for this market is the MVP market. The quarterback for the team that wins the most games will get the lion's share of credit. The signal-callers of the top four teams on the board are all available at significantly better payouts in that market than their teams are here.Lamar Jackson is 20-1 (4.8% win probability) to win MVP, which leaves a difference of just 1.1% from the Ravens having the best record. Compare that to Josh Allen's MVP (+700) candidacy relative to the Bills' odds for best record and there's an implied win-probability gap of better than 5%, indicating there's value in backing the Ravens as a team (especially since Jackson could lose out in voting to someone whose team posts a similar record).Given its unbalanced nature, the schedule matters. Baltimore's toughest game - on the road at Tampa Bay - is also its shortest rest spot. While that doesn't bode well for the Ravens' chances of winning that game, it may effectively burn two theoretical losses in one. They're only projected as underdogs in two other games (@CLE, @CIN).We're getting this price because of what happened to Baltimore last season, but there's reason to believe the Ravens can regain their form from the previous two campaigns (14 and 11 wins). If they do, they'll be live for a decent payout come January.Minnesota Vikings +4000Speaking of payouts, that's why you should grab the Vikings in this market. Minnesota is listed at this price for two reasons: Kirk Cousins and the Green Bay Packers.With former Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell taking over from Mike Zimmer, and ample talent at his disposal, this season should provide Cousins with every opportunity for a big season. Meanwhile, the two games against the Packers present both a perceived obstacle and Minnesota's chance to blow through its ceiling.The Vikings are just 2-point underdogs in Week 1 to Green Bay and are projected to be 5.5-point underdogs in the return matchup at Lambeau Field - a place where they've had success recently. The Vikings are around 6-1 to sweep Green Bay, but I'd rather have 40-1 on this ticket, especially since their only other role as significant 'dogs comes in Buffalo in Week 10.With so many quality teams in the AFC, there's reason to believe they'll hand one another more losses than their team power rating would normally suggest. The same could be true in the NFC West, at which point the Vikings would just need a median win-total season (11.5) from Tampa Bay to find themselves atop the league.The Vikings lost so many games in recent years because of excessive conservatism and being on the wrong end of high-leverage plays. Better in-game coaching and a more aggressive mindset could flip two or more games from losses to wins, even with a mediocre defense.At 40-1, we want to bet on the unknown as long as there's potential, and that's worth a modest shot on Minnesota.Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns will consider trading for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo if Deshaun Watson's six-game suspension becomes significantly longer upon appeal, sources told Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com.NFL disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson issued Watson a six-game suspension last week following numerous allegations of sexual assault and sexual misconduct. The league has appealed the decision.Commissioner Roger Goodell, who's pushed for Watson to be suspended for at least a year, appointed former New Jersey Attorney General Peter C. Harvey to hear the league's appeal of the suspension.Jacoby Brissett is next on the Browns' quarterback depth chart behind Watson. On Aug. 1, two days before the NFL appealed Watson's ban, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said Cleveland planned to start Brissett in the first six games of the 2022 season.The 29-year-old started five games for the Miami Dolphins last season, posting a 2-3 record.The San Francisco 49ers named Trey Lance their starting quarterback this year and have been looking for a trade partner for Garoppolo. The 30-year-old was expected to be dealt earlier in the offseason, but shoulder surgery left the passer in limbo. He's already been cleared to practice without restrictions.Garoppolo passed for 20 touchdowns to 12 interceptions during the regular season while starting 15 games for San Francisco in 2021.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Jets are signing free-agent offensive tackle Duane Brown to a two-year, $22-million deal, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.New York sought reinforcements along the offensive line following Mekhi Becton's potentially season-ending knee injury suffered earlier this week.Brown, who will turn 37 at the end of the month, initially visited the Jets during their green and white scrimmage at MetLife Stadium on Saturday.The 2012 All-Pro started all 17 games last season with the Seattle Seahawks and earned his fifth career Pro Bowl nod. He started all 70 contests during his five years with the franchise.Brown began his career with the Houston Texans who drafted him in the first round in 2008. He started in all 133 games with the Texans over 10 years before his trade to Seattle in October 2017.Brown could be an option for the Jets at left tackle, which would allow George Fant to move to right tackle, where he played in 2020.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Orleans Saints rookie offensive tackle Trevor Penning doesn't plan to change his style of play despite getting kicked out of practice last week after multiple altercations with teammates."Nothing's nice about football. You've got to be mean," Penning said Thursday, according to ESPN's Katherine Terrell. "You want the guy across from you to hate your guts. If the guy hates you, you're doing your job.”Penning and defensive tackle Malcolm Roach were kicked out of last Wednesday's practice after a confrontation between them led to a fight involving several players, Terrell notes.That was the third consecutive practice in which Penning was involved in an altercation with a teammate, following friction with safety J.T. Gray and 2021 first-round defensive end Payton Turner. Penning and Turner reportedly threw punches last Monday before their fight was broken up.

Tom Brady won't be with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers until after their Aug. 20 preseason game against the Tennessee Titans, head coach Todd Bowles announced Thursday, according to Greg Auman of The Athletic.The quarterback is stepping away to deal with personal matters, added Bowles, who said this was discussed before training camp began. The 58-year-old coach didn't reveal the specific reasons for Brady's absence.Bowles said he has a "pretty high" level of confidence Brady will play in Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys, per Auman."He'll come back even more focused. That's the least of our concerns," Bucs general manager Jason Licht said Thursday, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.Brady, 45, is entering his third season with Tampa Bay. He announced his retirement from football in February but changed his mind and returned to the club 40 days later. The seven-time Super Bowl champion led the NFL in completions, passing yards, and touchdowns last year.The Bucs kick off their preseason schedule against the Miami Dolphins on Aug. 13.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Longtime New England Patriots running back James White announced his retirement Thursday.The 30-year-old hangs up his cleats with eight NFL seasons and three Super Bowl titles under his belt."New England will be in my heart forever," White tweeted. "Thank you for unwavering support over the years. I am forever grateful. This chapter has been one that I will cherish. I look forward to what is next."The Patriots put White on the physically unable to perform list on July 21 due to a hip injury. He had inked a two-year, $2.5-million deal to return to New England in March.White established himself as one of the NFL's premier pass-catching running backs after being drafted in the fourth round in 2014. The Wisconsin product caught a career-high 87 passes for 751 yards and seven touchdowns in 2018. He also rushed for 425 yards and five scores that year.White's most memorable moment in the NFL came against the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI. White, who walked off Atlanta with a touchdown in overtime, set multiple individual Super Bowl records that night, including most receptions (14) and points scored (20). He finished the big game with 14 catches for 110 yards and one touchdown to go along with 29 yards and two scores on six rushing attempts.Additionally, White is tied with Darren Sproles for the most receptions in a playoff game (15).The Patriots won Super Bowl XLIX over the Seattle Seahawks during White's rookie season, though he was inactive during the playoffs. He was also part of the team's Super Bowl LIII victory over the Los Angeles Rams.Several players on the roster could take over as New England's receiving back in 2022, including Ty Montgomery, Rhamondre Stevenson, and fourth-round rookie Pierre Strong.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, JJ Zachariason of LateRound.com joins Boone to discuss how to approach wide receivers in this year's fantasy drafts.

It's the preseason for everyone. The idea is to get some early reps, don't extend yourself, and don't get hurt. This applies to both players on the field and bettors in the sportsbook. With three weeks of tuneups on the schedule, we'll proceed with extreme caution while we stretch ourselves out. Remember, these games don't count, but the bets definitely do.There are nine dress rehearsals from early afternoon Saturday until Sunday night. With point spread bets, moneyline underdogs, totals, and teasers in hand, it's time to practice for your own version of the NFL grind.Best spread betChiefs (+3.5) over BearsPatrick Mahomes won't be breaking a sweat, but Andy Reid still will. Because of that, and with six decent running back options, Chad Henne can put together a touchdown drive or two. That might be more than we can say for anyone on the Bears against the Chiefs' starters.With 11 rookies on Kansas City's defensive depth chart, you can bet they'll get every opportunity to stop whatever Trevor Siemian and Nathan Peterman can muster offensively after Justin Fields departs. The Bears' motivation to win is reflected in the line, but they won't do it by this margin.Steelers (-3) over SeahawksMitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett, and Mason Rudolph. Those names won't get anyone excited about the Steelers' playoff chances, but that's not a bad trio for a preseason game.The Seahawks will have Drew Lock, Geno Smith, and Jacob Eason running the preseason offense. They'll do so with minimal surrounding talent for most of the game and a conservative plan, even by Pete Carroll's standards.Underdog moneyline betPanthers (+130) over CommandersExpect Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold to play a lot before Matt Corral comes in and does Matt Corral things - scrambling and creating explosive plays - against a vanilla defense.Although this moneyline price is due to the regular-season power ratings, Ron Rivera knows he doesn't need a win. However, Matt Rhule could use any available good vibes as he's the favorite to be the first coach fired. We'll take the plus-money in a coin-flip game.Best total betRams / Chargers over 30.0Even if neither Matthew Stafford nor Justin Herbert sees a snap, backups John Wolford and Chase Daniel can run enough of an offense to collectively clear 30 points. But if that fails, Easton Stick - a veteran of the Chargers' system - and the athletic Bryce Perkins can put up late points to bail us out on the over.Best teaser legsColts +7.5 / Cowboys +8.5 (-120)Like we did for the Thursday-Friday contests, we'll keep it simple in the teaser game. The Colts and Bills are lined for just 34 points, while Cowboys-Broncos is supposed to be 50/50 to clear 31. With every point hard to come by, and the games' point spreads a coin flip, why not tease the Colts and Cowboys up over a touchdown and let the chips fall where they may?Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns announced Wednesday that they plan to play most of their starters in Friday's preseason opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars, including quarterback Deshaun Watson.Watson hasn't played since suiting up for his last game with the Houston Texans in Week 17 of the 2020 season.NFL disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson imposed a six-game suspension on Watson last week following numerous allegations of sexual assault and sexual misconduct. The league has since appealed Robinson's punishment, with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell pushing for a year-long suspension of the quarterback.Goodell recently appointed former New Jersey Attorney General Peter C. Harvey to hear the league's appeal of the Watson suspension. If Harvey implements a one-year ban before Friday, the signal-caller won't play against the Jaguars, Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio notes.Twenty-four lawsuits and 10 criminal complaints accused Watson of lewd and coercive behavior while receiving massages from women from March 2020 to March 2021. He settled 20 of 24 civil lawsuits in June and three of the remaining four shortly before Robinson's ruling.The 26-year-old requested a trade from the Texans in January 2021 before any of the allegations surfaced. Watson was eligible to play last season while the NFL monitored developments in the civil and criminal complaints but was a healthy scratch for all 17 games.Cleveland and Jacksonville face off at 7 p.m. ET at TIAA Bank Stadium.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Bears linebacker Roquan Smith has requested a trade after failing to come to terms on a new contract extension.Smith said the team's new leadership "doesn't value me" and "has been trying to take advantage of me" since talks began in April. He added that forcing an exit "is deeply painful" as he wanted to play in Chicago for his entire career.

The Detroit Lions will have a new player wearing No. 9 this season.Rookie wide receiver Jameson Williams revealed Wednesday on his Instagram story that he'll be sporting a No. 9 jersey in Detroit. He'll be the first Lions player to wear the number since Matthew Stafford was traded to the Los Angeles Rams last year. Williams had initially agreed to wear No. 18 but decided to switch to a single-digit number, according to ESPN's Eric Woodyard. He reportedly reached out to Stafford via text to inform the quarterback of his decision to switch to No. 9.Stafford wore No. 9 during his 12 seasons in Detroit, where he set franchise records for passing yards and touchdowns.Williams, the 12th overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, is still recovering from a torn ACL he suffered in January during the College Football National Championship Game. There's no timetable for his return.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Many around the NFL thought the joint practice between the Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Wednesday would be awkward after the Dolphins were penalized last week for tampering with quarterback Tom Brady.But Miami head coach Mike McDaniel didn't see any issues with that."For me, nothing happened," McDaniel said before Wednesday's practice, according to Adam H. Beasley of Pro Football Network. "Everyone else is making it awkward. It doesn't occupy a single iota of space with anybody. It's hard enough to be good in this league. We're, as the Miami Dolphins, all of our energy is very coordinated and only has to do with us getting better. Everything else would be an opportunity cost that we're not willing to expend."The NFL stripped the Dolphins of their 2023 first-round pick and their 2024 third-rounder for violating the league's integrity of the game policy. Dolphins owner Stephen Ross was also suspended through Oct. 17 and fined $1.5 million as a result of the investigation.The NFL concluded that Miami tampered with Brady while he was under contract with the New England Patriots in 2019-20 and after his first season with Tampa Bay in 2021. The Dolphins also violated league rules by communicating with former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton in January 2022.Brady reportedly had plans to become a minority owner of the Dolphins after briefly retiring this offseason. Miami apparently also wanted to add the seven-time Super Bowl champion as the starting quarterback with Payton on the sideline, but those plans fell through after Brian Flores filed a civil lawsuit against the team.Tua Tagovailoa, who's entering his third season with Miami, said he had a great conversation with Brady during their joint practice."I was able to talk to Tom," Tagovailoa said. "We were talking on the side for a good bit. He was asking how the offseason was. We were talking a little about golf at the same time. For the most part, 23 years playing, that's a long time. That's a lot of knowledge. I was asking him some things. He gave me some good insight. I'm going to keep that between me and Tom."Tagovailoa has a make-or-break campaign ahead of him in 2022 as he has yet to live up to being the fifth overall pick in 2020. The 24-year-old completed 67.8% of his passes for 2,653 yards and 16 touchdowns against 10 interceptions across 13 appearances last season.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.Skill-position stars might power fantasy football, but offensive lines are the driving force behind most week-winning efforts.So as you prepare for your fantasy drafts, it's crucial to consider how O-lines across the league have changed this offseason, and how that will impact the players they're blocking for and protecting.We've ranked all 32 offensive lines, taking into account past performances, roster upgrades, overall depth, and the very underrated element of continuity.Starting lineups are projections and will be updated throughout the preseason.Offensive Line Rankings

With Amazon Prime becoming the exclusive home of Thursday Night Football in 2023, the NFL wants to take on a new holiday tradition.The league plans to broadcast a game on Black Friday, which is known as one of the biggest shopping days of the year, sources told John Ourand of the Sports Business Journal.The NFL could also hold off on adding the holiday game until 2024, but most indications point to next season as the target window, Ourand reports. The new holiday game will then become an annual staple of the regular-season calendar moving forward.Conversations around a Black Friday matchup gained steam after Amazon purchased the broadcast rights to Thursday Night Football last year. Franchise owners also signed off on allowing the league office to schedule two more teams for a second short-week game, according to NBC Sports' Peter King.The single contest will cost between $70 million and $100 million in addition to the $1 billion per year that Amazon pays annually for broadcasting TNF, according to King.The NFL recently expanded its Thanksgiving Day slate to three games after previously holding double-headers that often featured the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's preseason for everyone. The idea is to get some early reps, not extend yourself, learn the playbook, and definitely don't get hurt. That doesn't just apply to the players on the field - it also applies to those in the sportsbook. With three weeks of tune-ups on the schedule to get fully stretched out, we'll proceed with extreme caution since the games don't count right now - but the bets definitely do.We'll start with a slate of seven games on Thursday and Friday evening, with an eye on using point spreads, underdog moneylines, totals, and six-point teasers.Best spread bet49ers (-2.5) over PackersThe word is already out that Aaron Rodgers won't see the field in this one, but I don't think the oddsmakers have made enough of an adjustment here. Sure, Jordan Love will see a ton of action, but will he be out there longer than Trey Lance? If not, we can rely on the 49ers' avalanche of running backs and quality tight ends to make life easier on Nate Sudfeld and Brock Purdy in the second half.There's enough depth on defense for San Francisco to gain a lead, keep it, and win by more than a field goal. And the Niners will be at home, which gives a team slightly more motivation to make hundreds of fans happy.Underdog moneyline betTitans (+165) over RavensIf neither veteran starting quarterback sees a snap - and they shouldn't - this game should come down to a second half entirely made up of snaps from players down the roster. For the Ravens, that means Brett Hundley and Oregon rookie Anthony Brown - who had little answer for the Utah Utes' defense the last time he was in an NFL stadium.You'll quickly note that Baltimore has a 20-game preseason win streak. I would kindly respond that, while impressive, it means absolutely nothing on Thursday night. In fact, that streak only boosts the value of anyone playing Baltimore. Given the Ravens' incredulous injury history last year, John Harbaugh has to err on the side of caution.As for the Titans, they've got Logan Woodside, who's been in the organization for three years and should have a handle on the offense, and third-round project Malik Willis, who should get special attention to the very end of the game. With every minute more valuable to Tennessee than to Baltimore, a moneyline bet at much better than even-money is the play.Best total betJets/Eagles over 35.5 pointsWith such low scoring totals, it's not going to take much for a contest to go over, and we'll continue to look at the quarterback depth chart to guide us. Second-year Jets signal-caller Zach Wilson should see more time than the average QB, and when he comes out, it's Mike White's time to shine!Jalen Hurts should see a few series as part of his development, and he's got Gardner Minshew ready to get the home crowd riled up when he's done. Look for Carson Strong to put together a drive late that hopefully won't go over the total.Best teaser legsPatriots +8 / Cardinals +8.5 (-120)It's the preseason, and the first game at that, so we'll never get the market certainty we hope for when betting teasers. But we do have games with low totals - an assumption that points will be hard to come by and are, therefore, more valuable. We also have a couple of games that enable a teaser leg to cross key numbers.The Patriots and Giants have a total lined at 33.5, and that's somehow higher than Cardinals-Bengals (31.5). Oddsmakers clearly aren't worried the favorite will score a ton of points, so why wouldn't we take a stab at two coin-flip games getting over a touchdown for -120?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 Rams head coach Sean McVay announced Tuesday that he agreed to a contract extension earlier this offseason.McVay said he was holding off on the announcement until general manager Les Snead completed his deal, although that agreement has yet to be reached."It is something that we've been taken care of, but it is very important for Les and I to kind of have that represented as we're a partnership and a pair," McVay said, according to ESPN's Sarah Barshop."We wanted to be able to announce that when both of us (got our deals) done," McVay added. "Mine is done. Les is in the process of that."The terms of McVay's extension haven't been announced.McVay became the youngest coach to win a Super Bowl earlier this year at the age of 36 when his Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals.The head coach is the latest member of the Rams to be rewarded with a new contract. Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp and star quarterback Matthew Stafford also received new extensions, while Aaron Donald earned a raise.McVay has transformed the Rams into a powerhouse since being hired in 2017. He's won 10-plus games in four of his five seasons while compiling a 55-26 record.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Tuesday the league is pushing for a year-long suspension of Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson due to evidence of "egregious'' and "predatory behavior.""We've seen the evidence. (Disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson) was very clear about the evidence ... there (were) multiple violations here, and they were egregious, and it was predatory behavior," Goodell said, according to NFL Network's James Palmer. "Those are things that we always felt were important for us to address in a way that's responsible."The league officially appealed Robinson's six-game suspension of Watson last week. The discipline case will be handled by former New Jersey Attorney General Peter C. Harvey."Either party could certainly challenge and appeal that, and that was something that we thought was our right to do, as well as the NFLPA," Goodell explained. "So, we decided it was the right thing to do."Robinson wrote in her report that Watson violated the NFL's personal conduct policy on three counts: sexual assault, conduct posing a genuine danger to the safety and well-being of another person, and conduct that undermines or puts at risk the integrity of the NFL.Twenty-four lawsuits and 10 criminal complaints accused Watson of lewd and coercive behavior while receiving massages from women. The cited incidents occurred between March 2020 and March 2021.Grand juries in Texas declined to indict Watson on criminal charges in March. He settled 20 of 24 civil lawsuits in June before settling three of the remaining four shortly before Robinson's ruling.The Browns acquired Watson from the Houston Texans earlier this offseason. They then signed him to a five-year contract worth a record $230 million guaranteed.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's been four years since Aaron Rodgers' last preseason appearance in 2018. If the Green Bay Packers quarterback does take part in any exhibition action this year, it won't be a brief appearance."I definitely don't see any benefit to playing one series," Rodgers said, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky. "If we're going to play, we should play ... a quarter, a couple of series, two-to-three series. Just suiting up for four plays, to me, is a waste."Coach Matt LaFleur has already scratched Rodgers for the first two preseason games, though he hasn't decided if the passer will participate in the team's final exhibition contest.The Packers are in the midst of a transition at wide receiver after losing Davante Adams, while their offensive line has been struck with injuries to starters David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins.Rodgers acknowledged the risk-versus-reward factor that comes with starters attempting to develop chemistry in exhibition play."I think it's kind of a no-win situation to the outside of the building," Rodgers said. "If somebody gets hurt, (it's), 'I can't believe they played our guys.' But if we go out and have a stinker, (it's), 'I can't believe they didn't play them.'"He continued: "You've just got to do what's best for the squad, and Matt's going to do that. He's going to lean on the leaders of the football team, and if he feels like we need to go out and play, we'll go out and play. But I don't want to just go out and play three plays. That, to me, is a waste of time."Green Bay's preseason preparation was called into question last year following a 38-3 defeat to the New Orleans Saints in its 2021 opener. The Packers are 2-1 in Week 1s since 2019, though both their victories came by nine points or less.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Orleans Saints have avoided a scare after quarterback Jameis Winston went down with a foot injury in practice Monday."He's doing well and feels fine," a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. "So nothing to really worry about."Winston felt discomfort in his foot while participating in seven-on-seven drills before exiting to the training room."He tweaked his foot a little bit," head coach Dennis Allen said.The Saints signal-caller is expected to miss a few days of practice and won't play in the team's preseason opener against the Houston Texans on Saturday, according to Jeff Duncan of The Times-Picayune.The former Pro Bowler is working his way back from a torn ACL in his left knee that cost him all but seven games last season. Winston has gradually increased his workload as he continues to rehab.The 2015 first overall pick signed a two-year, $28-million extension in March and is projected to be New Orleans' starting signal-caller to begin the 2022 campaign.Winston led the Saints to a 5-2 record as a starter last season. He tallied 1,170 yards, 14 touchdowns, and three interceptions. He's a few years removed from passing for a league-leading 5,109 to go along with 33 scores in his final year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2019.If Winston were to miss some time, the Saints could turn to veterans Andy Dalton or Ian Book.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cleveland Browns star running back Nick Chubb can't imagine playing without teammate Kareem Hunt."I think it's really important (to have Hunt on the team)," Chubb said Monday on NFL Network. "He's my best friend, on and off the field. He's a great person to be around. I couldn't imagine playing without him. I want him to be here, whatever they got to do to keep him here. I want to play with Kareem."Chubb's comments come a day after Hunt reportedly requested a trade. Hunt, who's entering the last season of a two-year, $12-million extension he signed in 2020, is looking for a new contract with Cleveland. He didn't participate in team drills for consecutive days last week but rejoined activities Sunday. Cleveland apparently has no intention of moving Hunt.Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said Sunday the reported trade request isn't distracting the team.Chubb and Hunt form arguably the NFL's best duo of running backs. Chubb, the team's leading back, has taken the league by storm since being drafted in the second round in 2018, averaging at least five yards per carry in four straight campaigns. The 26-year-old, who inked a three-year, $36-million extension in 2021, rushed for 1,259 yards and eight touchdowns last year despite missing three games.Meanwhile, injuries limited Hunt to only 78 carries for 386 yards and five touchdowns in eight appearances last season. The 27-year-old previously racked up 1,145 scrimmage yards and 11 scores while playing all 16 games for the Browns in 2020.Hunt led the NFL with 1,327 rushing yards as a rookie in 2017 for the Kansas City Chiefs, who drafted him in the third round. He signed with the Browns as a free agent in 2019.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Baltimore Ravens and All-Pro kicker Justin Tucker agreed to a four-year contract extension through the 2027 season, the team announced Monday.While the team didn't disclose the details of the deal, Tucker will regain sole possession of the NFL's highest-paid kicker honor with a $24-million extension that includes $17.5 million guaranteed and an $11.5-million signing bonus, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell recently inked a deal reportedly worth $5 million per season to briefly tie with Tucker - who had two years left on his previous deal - atop the kicker market.Tucker is the most accurate kicker in NFL history, with a 91.1% field-goal percentage across 11 seasons.The 32-year-old continued to bolster his Hall of Fame-worthy resume in 2021, setting the NFL record for the longest field goal with a 66-yard bomb as time expired to beat the Detroit Lions in Week 3.He also made a league-best 94.6% of his field-goal attempts (35 of 37), all 32 of his extra-point kicks, and was perfect on his six tries over 50 yards.While Tucker is on course to be enshrined in Canton one day, he's focused on maintaining his record-breaking standards."I really try not to think about that stuff. I really try to make it a point to take it one kick at a time," Tucker said."That's something that I heard from my agent coming out of college, and it's some of the best advice I've ever gotten, right next to my grandfather when I was trying out for the high school varsity team at Westlake (HS) in Austin; he said, 'Justin, just kick the damn ball.'"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