The Green Bay Packers activated star cornerback Jaire Alexander from injured reserve Wednesday, the team announced.It's still unclear whether Alexander - who hasn't played since Week 4 due to a shoulder injury - will be available to face the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. Wednesday was the deadline for Green Bay to move the Pro Bowl defender to the active roster after assigning him to return to practice on Dec. 8.Alexander's return would be a big boost to the Packers' secondary, which is coming off a four-interception performance against Baker Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns.Alexander has quickly established himself as one of the NFL's top corners since Green Bay drafted him 18th overall in 2018. The 24-year-old has averaged 62 tackles, 15 pass breakups, and two interceptions per 16 games played throughout his career.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Panthers are going back to Sam Darnold.Head coach Matt Rhule announced Wednesday that Darnold will start at quarterback over Cam Newton in Week 17 against the New Orleans Saints, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Darnold, who was traded from the New York Jets to the Panthers in the offseason, began the 2021 campaign as the starter but eventually lost the job due to his struggles and a shoulder injury that sidelined him for five games.The 24-year-old returned in last week's loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, tossing 190 yards on 15 of 32 passing while splitting offensive drives with Newton throughout the game.P.J. Walker (one start) and Newton (four) were the Panthers' starters while Darnold was sidelined.All three quarterbacks have struggled in 2021.QBRecordComp.%TD passesINTRateTD runsDarnold4-558.371170.85Newton0-554.84564.45Walker1-054.51356.50The 5-10 Panthers, who placed Walker on the COVID-19 reserve list on Wednesday, have already been eliminated from playoff contention.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If you've learned anything from our weekly foray into making valuable teaser bets, you know we look for two things: reliability and capturing key numbers. The latter is easy - it's a numbers-based mission and a somewhat basic one at that. It's the former that's getting more difficult.The Ravens and Bengals were set for an AFC North showdown lined at -2.5 that should have been a tightly contested tilt. Then it fell apart. Both Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley were forced to miss the game, while the Ravens' secondary suffered complete decimation. Joe Burrow took advantage, and a line move up to Bengals -7.5 ended up short. A perfectly good +8.5 teaser leg from early in the week proved unreliable.While the writing was on the wall for Baltimore before the game from a market standpoint, it was the opposite for the Chargers. You could steal a teaser leg of -2 early last week when Los Angeles was -8 on the road against the Texans. The game closed Chargers -12.5; bettors were effectively getting a 10.5-point teaser leg for the price of a 6-pointer. It didn't matter. Without Corey Linsley, Austin Ekeler, and Mike Williams, the offense struggled, and an already hapless defense couldn't scare Davis Mills without Joey Bosa.Fundamental reliability is at an all-time low. Valuable tease legs are one tweet away from being blown up, and even the good ones at kickoff might not work out that way.When the Colts announced Tuesday that Carson Wentz had entered COVID-19 protocols, the Indianapolis -1.5 teaser leg appeared to go away. On the plus side, with the line briefly reopening at Colts -2.5, the Raiders became an interesting tease piece at +8.5.I use the term "briefly" because it was reported shortly thereafter that the NFL would be altering its protocols, meaning an asymptomatic Wentz could be eligible to play Sunday. With a decent teaser leg either way, it's just a matter of playing the waiting game.Teaser basketFrom a numbers standpoint, not all teaser legs are created equal. The biggest mistake novice bettors make is teasing through zero; they're wasting valuable price points on a number the game probably won't land on: a tie. So, how can we maximize the six-point move? How can we get what we're paying for at -270 per leg?Let's look at the mathematically optimal plays available to pair with either the Colts -1.5 (with Wentz) or Raiders +8.5 (without Wentz) for Week 17:TEAMSPREADTEASER LEGBears-6PKBroncos+5.5+11.5Saints-6.5-0.5Seahawks-6.5-0.5Packers-6.5-0.5Paying -270 for the Bears to beat anyone seems fraught with peril. Speaking of the Raiders, the "Just Win, Baby" group also includes the Saints to beat the Panthers, the Seahawks to beat the Lions, and the Packers to beat the Vikings.None of those are particularly appealing at a -270 price. The Saints' offense hasn't looked great no matter who starts at quarterback. The Seahawks just lost to the Bears at home. The Vikings already beat the Packers this season and have the run game to do it again. In fact, I'd be more tempted to bet each underdog at +220 or better on the moneyline.Though it's not the most traditional teaser leg, I've included the Broncos with a tease up to +11.5 against the Chargers. Los Angeles hasn't shown an ability to blow out anyone, and Denver has already handled this opponent comfortably. I'd rather rely on the Broncos to stay close - even with Drew Lock at the helm - in pairing them with the Colts over anyone else.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 © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Vikings will be without one of their best weapons in the final stretch of the year.Minnesota has placed wide receiver Adam Thielen on injured reserve, ruling him out for at least the remainder of the regular season, the team announced Wednesday.The move comes hours after the veteran pass-catcher underwent surgery on his ankle, sources told Chad Graff of The Athletic.Thielen played in Sunday's loss to the Los Angeles Rams after a two-game absence but reportedly re-aggravated his ankle injury during the game.The 31-year-old has caught 67 passes for 726 yards and 10 touchdowns through 13 games this season.Thielen's availability for the postseason is unclear.The 7-8 Vikings enter Week 17 one game behind the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles for the No. 6 and No. 7 seed in the NFC, respectively.Minnesota visits the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football before hosting the Chicago Bears in Week 18.With Thielen sidelined, K.J. Osborn will be Kirk Cousins' No. 2 wide receiver behind two-time Pro Bowler Justin Jefferson.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Vikings have activated running back Dalvin Cook from the COVID-19 reserve list.Cook, who didn't play in Sunday's loss to the Los Angeles Rams, was initially expected to miss at least 10 days after testing positive Thursday. However, the NFL updated its protocols, reducing the isolation period for players from 10 to five days.The 26-year-old, who earned his third career Pro Bowl nod this season, will return in Week 17 against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football.Cook has rushed for 1,067 yards (4.7 per carry) and 6 touchdowns through 11 appearances in 2021.Minnesota is currently the first team outside the playoff picture in the NFC with a 7-8 record, one game behind the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Throughout a busy 2021 schedule, athletes treated fans to remarkable and awe-inspiring performances. With the year winding down, theScore looked back at an exciting 12 months and voted on its top 21 sportspeople.21-17 I 16-12 I 11-7 I 6-2 (Dec. 30) I No. 1 (Dec. 31)16. Alexia Putellas, Barcelona NurPhoto / NurPhoto / GettyAs the crown jewel of Barcelona's imperious women's team, Putellas completed a clean sweep of soccer's biggest individual awards in 2021. She was named UEFA's women's midfielder of the year and player of the year, and she ran away with the votes for the women's Ballon d'Or, beating teammate Jennifer Hermoso by more than 100 ballots. Putellas quarterbacked Barcelona's success in Spain's Primera Division and the Champions League, leading her team to titles in both competitions with 27 goals and 19 assists. In September, the 27-year-old scored a hat-trick in a scarcely believable four minutes.15. Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning Mark LoMoglio / National Hockey League / GettyIt's tough for a goaltender to have a better year than Vasilevskiy did in 2021. The Russian led the Lightning to their second straight Stanley Cup, taking home the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. He posted a .937 save percentage in 23 postseason contests and, amazingly, recorded a shutout in all four series-clinching games. Vasilevskiy set an NHL record for wins in one calendar year with 62. The 27-year-old also finished second in Vezina Trophy voting in 2020-21 as the league's top netminder and is among the favorites to win it this season.14. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers Rob Carr / Getty Images Sport / GettyIn 2021, this "Jeopardy!" guest host became the sixth NFL player to win a third MVP award. He later threw his 443rd career touchdown, taking the Packers record from Hall of Famer Brett Favre. He tossed 42 regular-season and playoff touchdowns to only five interceptions over the calendar year, further cementing himself as the most efficient touchdown thrower of all time. Who is Aaron Rodgers?13. Ashleigh Barty, WTA Simon M Bruty / Getty Images Sport / Getty2020 was a lost year for Ash Barty. The defending French Open champion took a hiatus following the pandemic-imposed cancelation of Indian Wells. Speculation regarding Barty's form then ran rampant when she returned for 2021. Despite a disappointing exit at the Australian Open, the world No.1 left no doubt as to how good a tennis player she is. Barty paid homage to Aussie legend Evonne Goolagong at Wimbledon with her Fila kit, going on to win the tournament exactly 50 years after her idol did for the first time. The 25-year-old won five titles, including big ones in Miami and Cincinnati, while topping the tour's prize money list and winning WTA player of the year.12. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets Dustin Bradford / Getty Images Sport / GettyJokic became the first NBA center since Shaquille O'Neal in 2000 and the sixth international player ever to win the MVP award. The Nuggets star posted career highs in points (26.4 per game), rebounds (10.8), and assists (8.3) in 2020-21, joining Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook as the only players in league history to average at least 26 points, 10 boards, and eight dimes over a single season. He also finished second in the Association in triple-doubles (16) and third in assists (599). In a campaign marred by injuries across the league following the shortest offseason in its history, Jokic appeared in all 72 regular-season contests.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Indianapolis Colts have placed quarterback Carson Wentz on the COVID-19 list.Wentz, who's unvaccinated, still has an opportunity to play Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders after the NFL modified its COVID-19 protocol Tuesday.Under the new rules, regardless of vaccination status, players who test positive can stop isolating after five days if they haven't had a fever in the last 24 hours and any other symptoms they experienced have resolved or improved. The previous protocol required unvaccinated players to isolate for 10 days following a positive COVID-19 test.Wentz is 9-6 under center this campaign. The 29-year-old has completed 62.8% of his passes while tossing 25 touchdowns against six interceptions.With the veteran signal-caller potentially out, next in line to start is rookie Sam Ehlinger, who the Colts drafted in the sixth round in April. The Texas product has yet to attempt a regular-season pass in the NFL.Indianapolis is also discussing calling retired quarterback Philip Rivers, according to The Athletic's Zak Keefer.Rivers posted an 11-5 record with the team last year before announcing his retirement in the offseason.Sunday's matchup between the Colts and Raiders has significant playoff implications for both teams. Indy's currently the No. 5 seed in the AFC, while Las Vegas is 8-7 and in the hunt for the conference's No. 7 seed.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL and NFLPA agreed Monday to modify COVID-19 protocols in accordance with updated CDC guidelines, the league said in a memo, according to Mike Garofalo of NFL Network.Under the new protocols, regardless of vaccination status, players who test positive can stop isolating after five days if they haven't had a fever in the last 24 hours and any other symptoms they experienced have resolved or improved.Players who clear the five-day isolation period have to wear a KN-95 or N-95 mask at all times, except during practice and games, for another five days after returning.The previous protocol required unvaccinated players to isolate for 10 days after testing positive.Vaccinated players can still "test out" of isolation ahead of the five-day mark, either with two negative test results of any type from around the same time, or a PCR test with a cycle threshold (CT) value suggesting they are no longer contagious and a negative rapid test.Individuals will be subject to a 90-day testing holiday counting from the date of their positive test.The league is also implementing further precautions in the midst of a surge in positive cases. All players and staff must wear masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status. Meetings will now be restricted to outdoors or large indoor spaces.The NFL and NFLPA previously eliminated weekly testing for asymptomatic vaccinated players, with the exception of teams in intensive protocols.The NFL is the first professional sports organization to align with the CDC's quarantine recommendations.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.theScore's Justin Boone was first overall in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition in 2019 and has finished among the top seven each of the last seven years. Follow the links below to see his rankings for Week 17.Updated rankings (including Standard and PPR) will be released Thursday, with the final version coming down Sunday morning.Half PPR

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians announced Tuesday he tested positive for COVID-19.Arians, who's currently isolating at home, said he's only experienced "mild symptoms to this point.""I look forward to rejoining the team and being back in the facility as soon as I can test back in," the 69-year-old coach added.Assistant head coach/run game coordinator Harold Goodwin will serve as interim coach in Arians' absence.The Buccaneers have been dealing with numerous COVID-related absences recently. They placed cornerbacks Jamel Dean and Sean Murphy-Bunting on the reserve group Tuesday and added receiver Mike Evans to the list Monday. Wide receiver coach Kevin Garver also tested positive for the virus.Tampa Bay has also been hit with multiple injuries. Running back Leonard Fournette and linebacker Lavonte David are among the starters who've been placed on injured reserve this month.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Jacksonville Jaguars' search for a new head coach is already underway.Jacksonville asked the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for permission to interview offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich and defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The Jaguars also requested an interview with Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, according to Schefter.Additionally, Jacksonville plans to speak to Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, and Super Bowl-winning former Philadelphia Eagles coach Doug Pederson, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.The Jaguars parted ways with head coach Urban Meyer earlier in December. The college football legend joined the AFC South club in January but was fired after only 13 games amid several controversies.Leftwich, 41, has been on the Buccaneers' sideline since 2019. The former quarterback played the first four seasons of his career for the Jaguars after being drafted seventh overall in 2003.Jacksonville will work to put together a new coaching staff to aid the development of quarterback Trevor Lawrence. The 2021 first overall pick was one of the most coveted college prospects in NFL history but has struggled as a rookie, passing for only nine touchdowns against a league-high 14 interceptions.The 2-13 Jaguars are currently the favorites to land the No. 1 pick in the draft for the second straight year.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Throughout December, we've written stories about records, spotlighting a fresh or overlooked angle behind sports' biggest milestone chases. Read Part 1 about Steph Curry, Part 2 about Alex Ovechkin, and Part 3 about Miguel Cabrera.Derrick Henry is on the mend - just not in time to revitalize his season.Henry was on pace to amass 465 carries in 2021 before he broke his foot in Week 8. That would have smashed Larry Johnson's single-season NFL record, which is 416. Leave it to Henry to upend conventional football thinking when it comes to the workload of a running back.The position has been minimized in the playbook since the Kansas City Chiefs let Johnson run rampant in 2006. Henry bucks the trend, though. Lightning fast and with unique strength, he racked up 1,000 yards rushing after contact last season and, on 378 attempts, ran for more than 2,000 yards total. At just 27 years old, NFL Network analyst Peter Schrager argued in October he already merits Hall of Fame consideration."What he's doing this season might be his coup de grace," Schrager said on the "Dan Patrick Show" at the time. Wesley Hitt / Getty ImagesThis isn't anything new for those who followed Henry through grassroots football. At Yulee High School north of Jacksonville, he ran for 12,124 yards in 48 games over four seasons - a national record. Speaking to Yahoo! Sports in 2020, various high school peers compared Henry to a brick wall, a four-wheeler, a freight train, and a "good-sized" tree. Good luck tackling that.The 2015 Heisman Trophy winner and national champion at Alabama, Henry slipped to 45th overall in the 2016 draft, second among running backs to Ohio State's Ezekiel Elliott. The Tennessee Titans profited from everyone's oversight. Henry cleared 1,000 yards rushing in 2018 and his accomplishments since then are legion.

The Miami Dolphins pushed their winning streak to seven games and ascended to the third wild card spot in the AFC with a 20-3 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football.Miami is the first team in NFL history to win seven in a row and lose seven in a row in the same season, according to ESPN's Field Yates.More to come.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll is optimistic his team will return to prominence without tearing down the roster for a rebuild."Not one reason at all am I thinking that we have to restart this whole thing and create a new philosophy and a new approach and all that," he told local radio Monday, according to the Seattle Times' Bob Condotta. "I don't think that. I think we've got the essence of what we need."The Seahawks were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 16 and will miss the postseason for only the third time in Carroll's 12-year tenure. Once loaded with talent at virtually every position, Seattle's depth has thinned out considerably in recent years, contributing to the down season."What I do know is that we've got a way of doing business and we have operated for a long time with a real consistent approach and connection and communication and all of that," said Carroll, who has the final say on personnel decisions.He added, "You can count on us to figure it out and to make the choices and the decisions that have to be done, coming from a philosophical foundation that we have and have established over a long period of time. That's really what I'm trying to get across."The Seahawks figure to encounter plenty of Russell Wilson rumors in the coming months after he was involved in heavy trade speculation last offseason.Seattle will take a 5-10 mark into the penultimate week of the regular season and is guaranteed to finish with a losing record for the first time since 2011.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Every Monday during the season, theScore's Justin Boone runs down the recommended waiver wire pickups.Roster percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. Free Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are set off a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 50% of leagues are considered.Quarterbacks Ezra Shaw / Getty Images Sport / GettyTrey Lance, 49ersNext UpRosteredFABvs. HOU12%$49Jimmy Garoppolo reportedly suffered a chipped bone and torn ligament in his right thumb Thursday, which puts his availability for Week 17 in doubt.While no one wants to see players injured, fantasy managers have been eagerly waiting for Lance to get his opportunity, and this could be it.The rookie's fantasy upside was on full display when he stepped in for Jimmy G earlier this season and posted over 35 fantasy points in six quarters thanks to 130 rushing yards.We'll know more about Garoppolo's status on Wednesday, but until then, Lance needs to be rostered by any fantasy team that doesn't have a top-five option at the position.Streaming options (if healthy): Taysom Hill vs. CAR (42% rostered), Justin Fields vs. NYG (23% rostered)Streaming options: Tua Tagovailoa at TEN (41% rostered), Carson Wentz vs. LV (48% rostered)Risky streaming options: Taylor Heinicke vs. PHI (25% rostered), Mac Jones vs. JAX (33% rostered), Davis Mills at SF (3% rostered), Zach Wilson vs. TB (8% rostered), Ben Roethlisberger vs. CLE (30% rostered), Baker Mayfield at PIT (27% rostered), Jared Goff at SEA (7% rostered)Running backs Simon Bruty / Sports Illustrated / GettyDarrel Williams, ChiefsNext UpRosteredFABat CIN60%$100If you're looking for the next Justin Jackson-esque performance from a backup running back-turned-temporary starter, Williams is your best bet.Clyde Edwards-Helaire will likely be held out this week after injuring his collarbone Sunday.The good news for the Chiefs is that Williams has proved he can produce when given more volume.In fact, he's gone over 80 yards from scrimmage in five of his last nine outings, including this past week when he turned 14 touches into 85 yards.Williams will be a volume-based RB2 for the fantasy championship week and could be the extra piece that helps you secure a title.Boston Scott/Jordan Howard, EaglesNext UpRosteredFABat WAS15%/16%$100/$100Miles Sanders is out indefinitely with a broken hand, leaving the Eagles' running back room a mess heading into Week 17.Howard left Sunday's game with a stinger, but head coach Nick Sirianni is hopeful the running back will be able to suit up against Washington.If he's sidelined, Scott would handle the bulk of the backfield touches with Kenneth Gainwell (11% rostered) serving as the complementary back. Scott has been given at least 12 touches in four games this year and has come away with double-digit fantasy points each time.Even if Howard does play, Scott will still be heavily involved in Philly's game plan, which has featured multiple backs more times than not.Both players should be rostered until we know more about Howard's status later in the week.Jamaal Williams is over the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.Flex options: Rex Burkhead at SF (14% rostered), Dare Ogunbowale at NE (1% rostered), Ke'Shawn Vaughn at NYJ (1% rostered)Flex options (if healthy): Rhamondre Stevenson vs. JAX (56% rostered)Risky flex options: Derrick Gore at CIN (2% rostered), Devontae Booker at CHI (23% rostered), Tevin Coleman vs. TB (18% rostered), Duke Johnson at TEN (11% rostered), Mark Ingram vs. CAR (47% rostered)Dart-throw flex options: Jaret Patterson vs. PHI (7% rostered), D'Ernest Johnson at PIT (16% rostered), Craig Reynolds at SEA (21% rostered), Brandon Bolden vs. JAX (16% rostered), Kenneth Gainwell at WAS (11% rostered), DeeJay Dallas vs. DET (2% rostered), Ryquell Armstead at NE (0% rostered)Wide receivers Maddie Malhotra / Getty Images Sport / GettyIsaiah McKenzie, BillsNext UpRosteredFABvs. ATL1%$49McKenzie took over slot receiver duties last week from Cole Beasley who landed on the COVID-19 list.The transition was seamless as McKenzie tied or improved upon Beasley's season highs in several categories, including catches (11), receiving yards (125), and touchdowns (one). He also did it against the Patriots' defense.Next up are the Falcons, one of the top five easiest matchups for fantasy wideouts.You can feel confident starting McKenzie as a WR3/flex this week.K.J. Osborn, VikingsNext UpRosteredFABat GB34%$39Adam Thielen appeared to aggravate his ankle injury Sunday, so it wouldn't be surprising to see him miss more time.Osborn has gone to work with Thielen sitting out the better part of the last month, posting at least 47 yards and a touchdown in three of the past four outings.If Thielen is inactive, Osborn will once again be a boom-or-bust WR3/flex option for fantasy managers in need of help at receiver.Elijah Moore and Marvin Jones are above or close to the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.Flex options: Rashod Bateman vs. LAR (37% rostered), Robby Anderson at NO (37% rostered), Braxton Berrios vs. TB (6% rostered)Flex options (if healthy): Marquez Valdes-Scantling vs. MIN (40% rostered), Kadarius Toney at CHI (22% rostered)Risky flex options: Marquez Callaway vs. CAR (27% rostered), Kendrick Bourne vs. JAX (27% rostered), Kenny Golladay at CHI (49% rostered), Allen Lazard vs. MIN (24% rostered), Laquon Treadwell at NE (4% rostered), Byron Pringle at CIN (2% rostered)Risky flex options (if healthy): Breshad Perriman at NYJ (2% rostered), Jamison Crowder vs. TB (25% rostered), Josh Reynolds at SEA (13% rostered)Dart-throw flex options: Donovan Peoples-Jones at PIT (13% rostered), Nico Collins at SF (2% rostered), Zay Jones at IND (1% rostered), Mecole Hardman at CIN (34% rostered), Tavon Austin at NE (0% rostered), T.Y. Hilton vs. LV (18% rostered), DeSean Jackson at IND (5% rostered), Tim Patrick at LAC (22% rostered), Chris Conley at SF (0% rostered), Antoine Wesley at DAL (0% rostered)Tight ends Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyCole Kmet, BearsNext UpRosteredFABvs. NYG34%$29Kmet is making a strong case to be viewed as a low-end TE1 in fantasy.The 22-year-old has gone over 40 yards in seven of his past 10 contests and has at least five targets in nine of those games.That kind of consistent volume is enough to make him a reliable streamer and possibly a TE1 in Week 17 and beyond.Risky streamer options: Gerald Everett vs. DET (42% rostered), CJ Uzomah vs. KC (23% rostered), Tyler Conklin at GB (42% rostered), Mo Alie-Cox vs. LV (2% rostered), Foster Moreau at IND (22% rostered)Dart-throw streamer options: Evan Engram at CHI (31% rostered), Brevin Jordan at SF (1% rostered), James O'Shaughnessy at NE (3% rostered), Cameron Brate at NYJ (3% rostered)DefensesWeek 17 streamersTeamNext UpRosteredColtsvs. LV55%Brownsat PIT39%Bearsvs. NYG16%Titansvs. MIA41%Seahawksvs. DET50%Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Rams will place running back Darrell Henderson on injured reserve but could unveil Cam Akers in Week 17, head coach Sean McVay said Monday, according to Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times.Henderson sustained an MCL injury in Sunday's win over the Minnesota Vikings. He's expected to miss three-to-five weeks.Akers entered 2021 expected to lead the Rams' backfield but tore his Achilles in July. He emerged as L.A.'s featured tailback down the stretch last season, finishing with 625 rushing yards and two touchdowns.The Rams have divided most of the carries this season among Henderson and Sony Michel. The two have combined for 1,416 yards and eight touchdowns while averaging over 4.4 yards per rush.L.A. will meet the Baltimore Ravens in Week 17 before closing out the regular season versus the San Francisco 49ers. The Rams have already clinched a playoff spot.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Entering November, the Chiefs had a losing record and looked closer to missing the playoffs than winning the Super Bowl. But after a perfect 8-0 run since then, they enter January with the shortest title odds (+350) any team has seen all season at theScore Bet.The Chiefs nudged past the Packers (+450), who had wrestled front-runner status away from the defending champion Buccaneers (+650) ahead of Week 16.TEAMODDSKansas City Chiefs+350Green Bay Packers+450Tampa Bay Buccaneers+650Buffalo Bills+850Los Angeles Rams+900Dallas Cowboys+1000New England Patriots+1200Indianapolis Colts+1600Tennessee Titans+1600Arizona Cardinals+1900Cincinnati Bengals+2500San Francisco 49ers+3000Los Angeles Chargers+4500Baltimore Ravens+5000Philadelphia Eagles+6000Cleveland Browns+10000Las Vegas Raiders+10000New Orleans Saints+10000Miami Dolphins+15000Pittsburgh Steelers+15000Minnesota Vikings+15000Denver Broncos+25000Atlanta Falcons+50000Washington Football Team+50000Kansas City proved it deserves the top spot with a 36-10 win over the Steelers despite missing three starters - including Travis Kelce - and losing leading rusher Clyde Edwards-Helaire (collarbone) early in the contest.The Chiefs scored points on each of their first four possessions and forced three turnovers in a dominant showing. They extended their winning run to eight games, with an average point differential of 16.3, which is by far the league's highest over that stretch.Patrick Mahomes and Co. have finally rediscovered their offensive magic, scoring the third-most points per game (29.1) of any team since the start of November. Yet the key has been the team's resurgent defense, which leads the NFL in points allowed per contest (12.9) and total turnovers forced (21) in that period.They've been fortunate in a few of those wins - catching the Packers without Aaron Rodgers in Week 9 and the Cowboys without many of their offensive stars in Week 11. Still, their opponents combined for a 65-54-1 record (54.6%) in those eight weeks. Crucially, Kansas City has the inside track for the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the postseason.Since Mahomes took over in 2018, the Chiefs are 5-1 at home in the postseason and 6-2 overall, and this season is shaping up to be an awful lot like AFC title seasons of years past. In a season without any truly dominant teams, this group may be as close as we can get - even if it comes at a steep price.C Jackson Cowart is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on Twitter (@CJacksonCowart) or email him at cjackson.cowart@thescore.com.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has a chipped bone and torn ligament in his right thumb, making his status uncertain for Week 17, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Head coach Kyle Shanahan said Garoppolo will be re-evaluated Wednesday to determine his availability for Sunday's game against the Houston Texans, according to Rapoport.Garoppolo sustained the injury in the second quarter of Thursday's loss to the Tennessee Titans. He reportedly missed practice Monday.The 30-year-old passed for 322 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in the defeat. Garoppolo has thrown for 3,494 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions while completing 68% of his pass attempts this season.Garoppolo's absence would open the door for backup Trey Lance to start in Week 17. The rookie had "the best consecutive four weeks of practice since we've had him," Shanahan said Monday, according to The Athletic's Matt Barrows.Lance's last start came in a Week 5 loss against the Arizona Cardinals. He finished the contest with 192 passing yards and one interception, along with 89 rushing yards.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers placed wide receiver Mike Evans on the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday, the team announced.Evans missed Tampa Bay's 32-6 win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday with a hamstring injury. His status for the Buccaneers' upcoming matchup against the New York Jets is uncertain.On Monday, Tampa Bay also announced that wide receivers coach Kevin Garver tested positive and activated wideout Breshad Perriman from the reserve group.Bucs linebacker Lavonte David and running back Leonard Fournette are already on injured reserve. The club will likely be without edge rusher Shaq Barrett for the rest of the regular season as well after he suffered a mild ACL and MCL sprain in Week 16.Evans is second on the Buccaneers with 899 receiving yards to go along with 11 touchdowns. Fellow receiver Chris Godwin is out for the season after suffering an ACL injury against the New Orleans Saints earlier in December.If Evans is unable to play, it will likely mean more snaps for Cyril Grayson, Scotty Miller, and Perriman behind Antonio Brown.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Matt Nagy doesn't appear to be going anywhere just yet.The Chicago Bears head coach said Monday that he's operating under the assumption he'll coach the final two games of the season, according to Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune.Concerns over Nagy's job security have followed him for most of the campaign and have been amplified by the NFL's new hiring rule. Clubs are now allowed to interview candidates over the final two weeks of the season if the coach has been fired or has been informed they won't be retained.However, dismissing Nagy before the end of the year would be an unprecedented move for a Bears franchise that's never fired a coach during the season.Nagy's stock has dropped significantly since he was named NFL Coach of the Year during his debut campaign in 2018. He posted 8-8 records in each of his last two seasons and has the Bears at 5-10 this campaign.The 43-year-old has been criticized for his handling of the quarterback position this season - specifically the development of rookie Justin Fields.The Bears have started three different passers in 2021, including Nick Foles, who led them to a dramatic win over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday in place of the injured Fields.Chicago is 33-30 under Nagy in the regular season, with an 0-2 postseason record.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

An MRI revealed Kansas City Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire's collarbone injury isn't a season-ending issue and there's no structural damage, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Edwards-Helaire should return to action shortly, added Rapoport.The running back was hurt in the third quarter of Sunday's 36-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.The second-year pro missed five games earlier in the season with an MCL sprain. However, he still leads the Chiefs with 517 rushing yards.If Edwards-Helaire is forced to miss game time, Darrel Williams and Derrick Gore will lead Kansas City's backfield.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Eagles running back Miles Sanders will miss Sunday's game against the Washington Football Team due to a broken hand, but he won't be placed on injured reserve, head coach Nick Sirianni announced Monday, according to Reuben Frank of NBC Sports Philadelphia."(We're) hopeful we can get him back at some point this season," said Sirianni.Sanders was unable to finish Sunday's win over the New York Giants due to the hand injury and left the stadium in a soft cast, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The 24-year-old recorded seven carries for 45 yards before exiting.Meanwhile, Jordan Howard underwent an MRI after suffering a stinger against the Giants. Sirianni said the Eagles are hopeful the veteran will be ready to go for Week 17.The Eagles have leaned on Sanders heavily throughout their recent three-game win streak. Sanders rushed for 296 yards over that stretch and 120-plus yards in each of the last two games before Sunday's contest.Boston Scott and Kenneth Gainwell will lead the backfield if Howard joins Sanders on the sidelines.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Shaquil Barrett will miss the remainder of the regular season after suffering a mild ACL and MCL sprain during Sunday's win over the Carolina Panthers, head coach Bruce Arians announced, according to The Athletic's Greg Auman.Barrett should be back for the playoffs, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The 29-year-old joins a growing list of Buccaneers dealing with injuries. Jason Pierre-Paul and Mike Evans both missed Sunday's contest, while the team reportedly does not expect Leonard Fournette and Lavonte David to return before the postseason. Tampa Bay also lost Chris Godwin for the campaign last week due to a torn ACL.Barrett has started all 15 games for the Buccaneers this season, recording three forced fumbles, one interception, and a team-high 10 sacks.Tampa Bay will turn to first-round rookie Joe Tryon-Shoyinka in Barrett's absence. Tryon-Shoyinka has registered four sacks across 15 appearances this campaign.The Bucs clinched the NFC South with the victory over the Panthers. At 11-4, Tampa Bay holds the No. 4 seed in the conference and will finish the regular season against the New York Jets and Carolina.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Football Team suffered one of its most embarrassing losses in recent memory on Sunday night to the Dallas Cowboys, and a sideline altercation between defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne was a low point for the NFC East club.Dallas had just scored its third straight touchdown early in the second quarter when the two Washington teammates appeared to be arguing on benches.Payne then jabbed a finger into the side of Allen's head. Allen stood up and took a swing at Payne, forcing Washington players and coaches to separate the two defensive linemen several times.

NFL Playoff Picture is a weekly look at the teams jockeying to secure their shot to make it to Super Bowl LVI.AFCSeedTeamDivisionRecord1Chiefs (y)West11-42TitansSouth10-53BengalsNorth9-64BillsEast9-65ColtsSouth9-66PatriotsEast9-67RavensNorth8-7x = clinched playoff berth

The New Orleans Saints are down to fourth-string quarterback Ian Book, who's set to make his NFL debut Monday against the Miami Dolphins in a massive game for both teams' wild-card hopes.Here's how we're betting Dolphins-Saints:C Jackson Cowart: Under 37.5Totals below 40 used to be commonplace in the NFL before the offensive boom of the mid-2010s. So when you see a game priced this low, it's worth pouncing. Since 2017, the under is a stellar 13-4 with a total below 38, which includes a 7-1 run in the last eight instances.It's the first time we've seen such a low number this season, but it's certainly deserved - particularly because of the hosts. The Saints have allowed a combined nine points over the last two weeks and own the No. 4 defense per DVOA, but their offense has been suspect even before losing their top three QB options to injury and the COVID-19 reserve list.That leaves Book to make his first career start in prime time, and the rookie will have his hands full against the Dolphins' swarming defense. Miami has recorded a league-leading 25 sacks during its six-game winning streak, including a season-high six sacks a week ago. Points will be at a premium in this one.Alex Moretto: Dolphins -3It's hard to know how to value an unknown commodity in this league, but Sean Payton may have helped us out a bit. Book was fourth in line to start games for the Saints this season, not getting anywhere close to seeing the field until the team's hand was forced. It doesn't instill confidence in Book ahead of a tough matchup with a blitz-happy defense.On the other side of the ball, the Saints are playing great defense, but the Dolphins' offense is a very underrated unit. Tua Tagovailoa doesn't get anywhere near the credit he deserves for the success he's found running an offense with a bad offensive line and minimal weapons. He'll have DeVante Parker and Jaylen Waddle available for this one - a rarity this season - while Myles Gaskin and Duke Johnson could form quite the interesting tandem out of the backfield.Brian Flores has done a really nice job rallying the Dolphins from a miserable first half of the season. This team is playing excellent football on both sides and lucks out a bit here getting to feast on Book, so expect Miami to win a seventh straight and move into a tie for the final wild-card spot.Matt Russell: Dolphins -3The value quickly got sucked out of this one, didn't it? Dolphins +3 was going to be one of my best bets of the week, and I was ready to bet the moneyline at +140 as well. Then COVID-19 hit the Saints' quarterback room, and now Book gets the start in New Orleans.The former Notre Dame record holder isn't ready for NFL defenses, and it will look worse than when Book had to step up against the likes of Clemson and Alabama in college. If he was a legitimate candidate to start for the Saints, he already would have in lieu of Trevor Siemian.The Dolphins will dial up all of the blitzes they've used to get back into the playoff race in the last two months. Miami will leave the Saints rookie confused and will read him like ... a book.Meanwhile, Tagovailoa works a more conservative, quick drop-back offense than even Tom Brady, and the Dolphins won't need much scoring to stretch a lead Monday night.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire suffered a collarbone injury in the third quarter of Sunday's 36-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers and didn't return.The Chiefs downgraded him from questionable to out him while up 30-3 early in the fourth quarter.The second-year back amassed 27 yards and one touchdown on nine carries before exiting the game. He also caught one pass.Edwards-Helaire entered Week 16 with a team-high 490 yards on the ground through nine games in 2021. He previously missed five contests due to an MCL sprain.Kansas City's star safety Tyrann Mathieu also went down with a quad injury and was ruled out minutes later.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Las Vegas Raiders defeated the Denver Broncos 17-13 on Sunday, allowing the Dallas Cowboys to clinch their first NFC East title since 2018 before their Sunday Night Football meeting with the Washington Football Team.Las Vegas' victory sealed Dallas' strength-of-victory tiebreaker over the Philadelphia Eagles.No team has won the NFC East in back-to-back years since Philly did it in 2003 and '04. Washington finished first last season at 7-9.

Head coach Matt Rhule defended his rebuilding program Sunday after the Carolina Panthers lost for the 10th time in their last 12 games."I believe it's 1000% working, I just know no one can see it and I apologize," the second-year head coach told reporters, courtesy of WCNC's Nick Carboni.The Panthers were on the receiving end of a 32-6 beatdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 16, resulting in their fifth consecutive defeat. Carolina began the season with three straight wins but has since tumbled out of the playoff picture.The Panthers hired Rhule in 2020 after he earned a reputation at the college level as an elite program builder. He went 5-11 in his debut campaign in Carolina and is now 10-21 with two games left in the season.The 46-year-old likened the Panthers' progress to the ascension of Grammy-winning rapper and Roc Nation agency founder Jay-Z."As I tell our team all the time, it took Jay-Z seven years," he said. "He had to start his own agency to become famous, to become an overnight sensation. It takes time."The Panthers will close out their schedule on the road against the New Orleans Saints and Buccaneers.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson overtook Odell Beckham Jr. to break the NFL record for most receiving yards by a player in their first two seasons.Beckham, currently a member of the Los Angeles Rams, set the previous record by racking up 2,755 yards through 27 games with the New York Giants in 2014 and 2015. Jefferson eclipsed that mark in the third quarter of Sunday's game against the Rams in his 31st NFL appearance.The 22-year-old entered Week 16 just 21 yards shy of the record.Jefferson broke out during his first pro year in 2020, setting a rookie record with 1,400 yards. The former first-round pick also caught seven touchdowns on 88 receptions.He entered Sunday's game with 89 receptions for 1,335 yards and nine scores in 2021.The LSU product has earned Pro Bowl nods in each of his first two NFL campaigns.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots running back Damien Harris is active for Sunday's contest against the Buffalo Bills, the team announced.Sunday's divisional bout marks Harris' first game since injuring his hamstring in a Week 13 meeting with the Bills.Harris put together a strong performance in the Patriots' previous matchup against Buffalo, scoring a 64-yard rushing touchdown while compiling 111 rushing yards on 10 carries.The 24-year-old's return comes at a much-needed time for New England after rookie rusher Rhamondre Stevenson landed on the COVID-19 list Saturday.Harris and Stevenson have combined to form a strong rushing attack for the Patriots' offense. The latter has rushed for 465 yards on the ground, while Harris has tallied a team-leading 754 yards and nine touchdowns.The Week 16 rematch between the Patriots and Bills could go a long way in determining the AFC playoff picture. New England holds the AFC East lead at 9-5 while Buffalo is 8-6.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce will not play in Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers after failing to clear COVID-19 protocols, the team announced.There was hope that Kelce could return after wide receiver Tyreek Hill cleared protocols Saturday.Kelce, 32, was among the Chiefs players to land on the COVID-19 list earlier this week.Blake Bell and Noah Gray are expected to fill in at tight end.Kelce is in the midst of another strong season, recording 83 receptions and 1,066 receiving yards with seven touchdowns.The Chiefs will also be without linebacker Nick Bolton and offensive lineman Lucas Niang for their meeting with the Steelers.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans won't play Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, but he has a chance to return during the regular season, a source told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.Evans' hamstring injury isn't severe and he's considered week-to-week, added Fowler.With fellow Pro Bowl wideout Chris Godwin out for the season with a torn ACL, the Buccaneers' passing attack will run through Evans once he returns as they attempt to defend their Super Bowl title.Tampa Bay will also get a boost Sunday with the return of Antonio Brown from suspension.Evans is first on the team in touchdown receptions (11), second in receiving yards (899), and third in catches (64).Tampa Bay can clinch the NFC South with a win or a tie over the Panthers, or with a New Orleans Saints lose or tie versus the Miami Dolphins on Monday.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.theScore's Justin Boone was first overall in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition in 2019 and has finished among the top seven each of the last seven years. Follow the links below to see his rankings for Week 16.Half PPR

The New York Giants plan to bring back head coach Joe Judge and quarterback Daniel Jones for the 2022 season, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.As previously reported, general manager Dave Gettleman is expected to step down after four seasons, Schefter added.Should New York's new general manager want a hire his own head coach, team ownership will reportedly "convey its preference to keep Judge," writes Schefter.The 4-10 Giants are in the midst of their second losing season in two years under Judge and have only made one playoff appearance (2016) since winning the Super Bowl in 2011.Jones, 24, is out for the remainder of the season after suffering a back injury.Jake Fromm is apparently set to take over from Mike Glennon and make his first NFL start Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles.Jones has been inconsistent and turnover-prone in three seasons as a starter after New York drafted him sixth overall in 2019. He completed 64.3% of his passes for 2,428 yards and 10 touchdowns against seven interceptions in 11 starts this season.The Giants must decide this offseason whether to pick up Jones' fifth-year option or allow him to enter 2022 on the final year of his deal.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Rams running back Cam Akers is on the verge of completing one of the NFL's most impressive recoveries in recent memory.The Rams activated Akers off injured reserve Saturday - just five months after he tore his Achilles in July. While he's not expected to contribute over L.A.'s final three regular-season games, general manager Les Snead is optimistic about the running back's chances of playing in the postseason."If you watched him do stuff with the performance staff (Thursday), you would think he could carry the ball 40 times on Sunday," Snead told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. "The plan is to implement him back into practice settings and make sure he can make football moves, rather than just observing. And from there, it's how that Achilles recovers. We'll be smart about it."Asked about Akers playing in the postseason, Snead said: "That's our vision. He's really day-to-day now. Based on everything he's done now and how he's looked, I would take that bet."Dealing with an injury that typically sidelines players for an entire season, Akers has managed to slash his recovery time by a large margin. Snead praised the 22-year-old's remarkable work ethic during rehab."He just worked his ass off," Snead said. "He really worked, and he's got some genetic gifts. All of the sudden, he was a week ahead. Then four weeks ahead. Then a month ahead. All pretty amazing."Akers, who rushed for 625 yards as a rookie in 2020, would add another dimension to a stout Rams backfield that already includes Darrell Henderson and Sony Michel.L.A. is 10-4 but could take the NFC West lead with a victory Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts left tackle Eric Fisher didn't return versus the Arizona Cardinals after suffering a knee injury in the first half, according to the Indianapolis Star's Joel A. Erickson.The Colts also lost tight end Jack Doyle, who was ruled out with knee and ankle injuries in the opening half.Fisher and right tackle Braden Smith were the only regulars up front starting against Arizona. Guards Quenton Nelson and Mark Glowinski are on the COVID-19 list, while center Ryan Kelly is mourning the death of his infant daughter.Fisher missed the beginning of the season while recovering from an Achilles injury he suffered last season with the Kansas City Chiefs. He's rounded back into form after some initial struggles with the Colts.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner is inactive Saturday against the Indianapolis Colts because of a heel injury.Rookie wide receiver Rondale Moore is also out of the lineup with an ankle injury.Conner was listed as questionable for the Christmas matchup after missing three straight practices. He's rushed for 14 touchdowns on the season - his first with the Cardinals - and trails the Colts' Jonathan Taylor by three for the league lead.The Cardinals have dealt with several injuries on offense recently, with quarterback Kyler Murray and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins among those to miss games. Hopkins isn't expected to have a shot at returning until the NFC title game due to a knee injury.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Chargers will face the Houston Texans on Sunday without wide receiver Mike Williams and running back Austin Ekeler due to COVID-19 protocols.Williams landed on the COVID-19 list Saturday for the second time in three weeks, according to ESPN's Field Yates. His first stint was short enough that he didn't miss a game. Ekeler announced he tested positive for the virus.Williams has 964 yards and seven touchdowns on the season, trailing only Keenan Allen for the team lead in receiving yards. Ekeler has 789 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, and he ranks third on the team in receiving with 558 yards and seven more touchdowns.The Chargers head into Week 16 at 8-6, good for one of the three available wild card spots in the AFC.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Baltimore Ravens placed quarterback Tyler Huntley on the COVID-19 reserve list ahead of Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals, they announced Saturday.Huntley was previously listed as questionable for Sunday after missing Friday's practice with what was then deemed a non-COVID illness.The 23-year-old took over under center following Lamar Jackson's ankle injury two weeks ago against the Cleveland Browns. Huntley threw for 215 yards and a pair of touchdowns while rushing for 73 yards and two scores in Baltimore's loss to Green Bay last week.The Ravens' Week 16 quarterback situation has evolved quickly. Jackson, who was listed as questionable Friday, isn't traveling to Cincinnati as he hasn't made enough progress rehabbing his ankle; practice-squad passer Chris Streveler is also on the COVID reserve list. That's left third-stringer Josh Johnson - who Baltimore signed to the practice squad two weeks ago and was the only quarterback at Friday's practice - as Sunday's starter. It'll be the 35-year-old's first NFL start since 2018.Backing up Johnson will be rookie Kenji Bahar, who was activated from the practice squad. Bahar, a Baltimore native, spent time on the Ravens' roster this summer as an undrafted free agent and has yet to appear in a game. He's one of nine practice-squad players the Ravens activated as COVID replacements.While the team still has nine players on the COVID-19 list, wide receiver Sammy Watkins was activated Saturday and is eligible to play against the Bengals. Baltimore also activated outside linebacker Daelin Hayes from injured reserve.Special teams coach T.J. Weist is also not traveling to Cincinnati, the team said. Randy Brown will handle Weist's duties Sunday.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs wideout Tyreek Hill has cleared COVID-19 protocols and has no injury designation ahead of Sunday's contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team announced Saturday.However, Travis Kelce reportedly remains on the COVID list, though he "has a shot to play" on Sunday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.The Chiefs expect to have an answer on Kelce's availability Sunday morning, Schefter notes. He's apparently set to take multiple COVID tests in the meantime.Hill has totaled 1,178 yards and nine touchdowns on 102 catches over 14 games this season.The Chiefs sit atop the AFC West with a 10-4 record and enter Sunday's contest on a seven-game winning streak.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The scenario is simple for the Dallas Cowboys: They'll clinch their first NFC East title since 2018 with a win or a Philadelphia Eagles loss Sunday. The situation is much more desperate for the Washington Football Team. Washington trails three teams for the final wild-card spot and essentially needs to win out to reach the postseason.Here's how we're betting Washington-Dallas:C Jackson Cowart: Cowboys -10They've gone under the radar amid the craziness of the last few weeks, but the Cowboys are quietly making their case as one of the NFL's best teams. Dallas ranks second in DVOA and is the only team in the league to rank in the top 10 in offense (eighth), defense (third), and special teams (fourth) after last week's dominant 21-6 win over the Giants.That victory came a week after the Cowboys' 27-20 win over Washington, which may tempt you to take the points in the rematch. Yet that contest wasn't as close as the final score would suggest. Dallas outgained its division rival by nearly 100 yards, was more efficient on third down, and committed two fewer turnovers, but a late pick-6 for Washington distracted from the Cowboys' early 24-0 lead.Washington will also be relying on Taylor Heinicke to turn things around after his substandard showing two weeks ago. He finished 11-for-25 for 122 yards, one touchdown, and one interception before leaving with an injury. Heinicke has thrown a pick in each of his last three games; if he's sloppy Sunday, this game won't be close.Alex Moretto: Washington +10This is as good a time as any to sell high on the Cowboys, who've largely benefitted from an easy schedule. As well as they're playing defensively, they're being a tad overrated in the market thanks to said schedule, as well as a bit of turnover luck. Dallas has managed 12 takeaways in the last three weeks, which isn't sustainable.On offense, the Cowboys have done little to justify laying double digits, especially against a divisional opponent that's seeing them for a second time in three weeks. Washington has played much better over the last six weeks and will get a lot of guys off the COVID list for this one, including Heinicke.The familiarity between these teams bodes well for those taking the points with such a big spread, as does the desperation Washington will play with here - its playoff hopes are essentially done with a loss. Expect Washington to have a better game plan to attack this Dallas defense than in the first meeting in Week 14, while there's no reason to believe Dak Prescott and this Cowboys offense will suddenly snap out of their funk.Matt Russell: Washington +10When these teams met three weeks ago, the line shot up that Sunday morning from Cowboys -4.5 to -7. While I was on Dallas at the early number, I might've taken Washington, and lost, if I wasn't already committed.The Cowboys' defense was at full strength for the first time all season that day, and it showed. Dallas swarmed Taylor Heinicke, who had his worst game as a professional before being knocked out of it entirely. If the Cowboys can replicate that, they're capable of covering this big of a number. However, I think that's a lot to ask.It's especially tough when the offense isn't firing on all cylinders. The Cowboys were content to settle for field goals against the Giants last week and took advantage of the short fields they were given in Washington, but we're still waiting for them to consistently convert long drives. Without Tyron Smith, a key cog in protecting Dak Prescott, I don't expect that to start Sunday night.With the expectation that Washington will get back many of the players it was without Tuesday in Philadelphia, look for the team to give the Cowboys all they can handle with its best effort in weeks.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the Hawaii Bowl's cancellation, December 24th is the first day without a football game - either NFL or NCAAF - since December 15, ending a run of eight consecutive days of football with a total of 31 games to bet on!Understandably so, our appetites will be high as sports return on the 25th following a brief pause, so let's dive into the NFL's two-game slate and see what looks appealing.Here are our favorite plays for the NFL's Christmas Day doubleheader:C Jackson Cowart: Browns team total under 19.5I'm fading this Browns offense until it gives me a reason not to. Yes, several COVID-related incidents tanked this unit in last week's 14-point effort, but this group has been inefficient for a while now.Including Tuesday's dud, Cleveland has scored 17 points or fewer in eight of its last 11 games, largely due to lousy QB play. That won't change this week - Baker Mayfield still has to clear protocols before Saturday after coming off an extended quarantine and taking zero snaps in practice.Some of Mayfield's teammates may still be in protocols, too, but even a fully healthy Browns offense would struggle to put up points on its shortest rest of the season against a fully rested Packers defense. I'm simply not buying any momentum for this group in an absolutely brutal spot on Christmas Day.Alex Moretto: Cardinals -1We're getting a clear discount on the Cardinals, given the circumstances ahead of Week 16. I'm not saying you should feel great betting Arizona amid this downturn, especially against a Colts team significantly on the upswing, but you should at least feel great about the price you're betting at. The line adjustment here has been drastic after Indianapolis beat the Patriots and the Cardinals lost to the Lions, with Arizona moving to -1 from -3.5, and I can't pass up this price.I also like this matchup for the Cardinals. While I worry about their run defense against Jonathan Taylor's excellence, the Colts are seriously shorthanded on the offensive line with starters Quenton Nelson, Ryan Kelly, and Mark Glowinski out. Offensively, I like Arizona to find success against an Indianapolis defense that plays a ton of zone, playing right into Kyler Murray's hands. Murray's numbers are much better against the zone, while his legs will also play a big part with the Colts ranking just 24th in pass rush win rate and the Cardinals getting center Rodney Hudson back for this one.Indianapolis has enjoyed some turnover luck lately, contributing to this strong run of results, but I'm expecting regression to hit. The Colts are 0-5 this campaign when they either tie or lose the turnover battle. Takeaways have been a strong suit of this team - Indianapolis leads the league in turnover differential - but there's certainly some luck involved with that. The Colts turned it over just once against New England despite Carson Wentz having 25% of his passes graded as turnover-worthy.The Cardinals are equally opportunistic, ranking bottom five in giveaways and seventh in takeaways. Arizona will punish any Wentz mistakes on the road here in a hostile environment, and Murray can make more plays through the air and on the ground than Mac Jones was able to as the Cards snap a two-game losing skid with a big win on Christmas Day.Matt Russell: Cardinals ML (-115)This week is the only moment this season where Arizona would be considered a pick'em at home to Indianapolis.I have been bearish on the Cardinals all campaign long, rating them lower than virtually any other ratings or power rankings source you can find. Those very same ratings still make the club a 2.7-point favorite at home on Saturday, but since the Colts had a highly regarded win over the Patriots in Week 15 while Detroit stunned Arizona, we've seen a massive perception shift alter this number.The matchup could be better - the Cards' run defense is pretty suspect - but I can't pass up on a number advantage like this, especially since Arizona will be at full attention for this one while Indianapolis might be riding a little too high for its own good following that big win.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Orleans Saints tried a Hail Mary on Christmas, but it went unanswered.In a desperate attempt to add quarterback depth for Monday's game against the Miami Dolphins, the Saints tried to lure franchise icon Drew Brees out of retirement, according to Jeff Duncan of the New Orleans Times-Picayune.Brees spoke to head coach Sean Payton this week while vacationing with his family in Hawaii and seriously considered a return to the point that he threw some passes to test his arm, sources told Duncan. However, he ultimately declined the offer, in part because he wasn't confident he could get up to game speed on short notice. Brees also didn't want to return if he wasn't guaranteed to start Monday night, according to Duncan.The 42-year-old retired this past March after throwing for 80,358 yards across 20 NFL seasons, 15 of those coming in New Orleans. He's now working as an analyst at NBC.Brees wasn't the only recently retired signal-caller who spoke to the Saints this week. New Orleans also contacted Philip Rivers, who's now coaching high school football in Alabama, and longtime backup Josh McCown, whose last game appearance was in 2019, Duncan reports.The Saints were left scrambling for a quarterback after they placed both Taysom Hill and Trevor Siemian on the COVID-19 list Thursday. Hill and Siemian had split time under center following Jameis Winston's season-ending injury in Week 8. Rookie Ian Book will reportedly start Monday's game, with Blake Bortles - who New Orleans signed Friday - backing him up.Despite all the quarterback uncertainty, the Saints are still within reach of the final NFC wild-card spot heading into Week 16.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

At this point, it's difficult to predict who's going to play, let alone how someone will play. That said, last week's 7-3 record brings us to 90-63-1 on the season. With limited options on the board, let's hold our breath and hope circumstances don't drastically change for any of our Week 16 plays.Marcedes Lewis anytime touchdown (+650)We're hoping for a Marcedes this Christmas. Even though this bet is more likely than a Benz in the driveway, we'll probably lose it. That said, Lewis has had multiple receptions just short of the goal line and missed end-zone targets ever since Robert Tonyan suffered a torn ACL. Let's see if the Packers' jolly big man can gift us a touchdown.Nick Chubb over 16.5 yard longest rushIf you're looking for something more conservative, the Browns will be driving their midsized sedan down the field. Let's bet on Chubb to pop one for a decent chunk of yardage against a mediocre Packers run defense.Christian Kirk over 58.5 receiving yardsLike a reliable Christmas gift for dad, when it works once, you go back to it. Last week, we played Kirk to go over his receiving yards total on the premise that he'd see an uptick in targets without DeAndre Hopkins. Do a season-high 12 targets qualify? Kirk also caught nine balls for 94 yards. There's no reason not to run it back this week, as it's a better bet than dad liking the new tie you bought him.Tee Higgins over 64.5 receiving yardsWith the Ravens' quarterback uncertainty, there's less to choose from in this prop market than at the local mall on Christmas Eve. So, we'll look to the Bengals for a bet. Baltimore became keenly aware of Ja'Marr Chase when he torched the Ravens in their first meeting. Instead, we'll turn to Tee Higgins, who had 15 targets against Baltimore in that game.Mac Jones under 224.5 passing yardsJones famously had a silent night in Buffalo three weeks ago. Even with the weather expected to be a little more pass friendly, I'll bet the Patriots try to keep the ball on the ground again. The Bills will also do a better job of ball control, meaning Jones won't have the opportunity to rack up yards.Kyle Pitts anytime touchdown (+150)Pitts only has one touchdown this season, yet he leads the Falcons in receiving by 292 yards. That doesn't add up. Look for Arthur Smith to put an end-zone target or two in Pitts' stocking against the Lions this week.James Robinson anytime touchdown (-115)We're handing out anytime touchdowns like the creepy-looking Grinch giving back the presents he stole.While the Jaguars haven't played much better since getting rid of Urban Meyer, at least we know Robinson will get the appropriate usage in a very winnable game for Jacksonville.Mike Williams anytime touchdown (+115)The real reason there are so many anytime touchdowns on our card is the utter lack of options on Christmas Day in the time of COVID. The Chargers are without their goal-line wrecking ball in Houston, but at least they have their big red-zone target in Williams.Matthew Stafford under 280.5 receiving yardsThe Vikings should have an elaborate book on Stafford since he's faced them 21 times in his career. With a must-win home game for Minnesota and a relatively clean injury report for its defense, let's see if Mike Zimmer's group can step up and slow down the Rams' offense.Dak Prescott under 278.5 passing yardsPrescott couldn't have had an easier game script during the Cowboys' visit to Washington, and even he could only accumulate 211 yards while throwing it 39 times. With Washington healthier than the version we saw Tuesday, I'll fade Dak to light up the scoreboard Sunday night.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 © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Indianapolis Colts are headed into Saturday's much-anticipated matchup against the Arizona Cardinals without three starting offensive linemen.Indianapolis placed All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson on the COVID-19 reserve Friday, ruling him out for Week 16.Nelson's status for next week's contest versus the Las Vegas Raiders on Jan. 3 is also uncertain, according to CBS Sports' Mike Chappell.The Colts had already ruled out starting center Ryan Kelly due to personal reasons and guard Mark Glowinski, who's also on the COVID-19 list.

The Cleveland Browns activated quarterback Baker Mayfield from the COVID-19 list Friday, the team announced.The move puts Mayfield on track to start Saturday's game against the Green Bay Packers.Cleveland also activated backup quarterback Case Keenum and wide receiver Jarvis Landry, among other players.Mayfield missed Monday's 16-14 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders after testing positive. Third-stringer Nick Mullens took over under center for Cleveland, tossing 147 yards and one touchdown on 20-of-30 passing.The 26-year-old Mayfield, who's 6-6 in 2021, has completed 62.8% of his passes while throwing for 2,603 yards and 13 touchdowns against seven interceptions through 12 appearances this year.The 7-7 Browns are still in the playoff mix despite sitting last in the AFC North. A victory versus the Packers, the NFC's No. 1 seed, would improve Cleveland's postseason chances from 15% to 36%, according to FiveThirtyEight.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Baltimore Ravens are heading into their most important game of the season with a big question mark at quarterback.Baltimore has listed Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley as questionable for Sunday's meeting with the Cincinnati Bengals.Jackson hasn't practiced for two weeks after suffering an ankle injury during his side's loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week 14.Huntley, who replaced Jackson in last week's loss to the Green Bay Packers, missed practice Friday due to a non-COVID-19 illness. He was a full participant Wednesday and Thursday.The 23-year-old Huntley, who's 1-1 as a starter in 2021, is still expected to start against the Bengals, NFL Network's Aditi Kinkhabwala reports.Veteran Josh Johnson was the only signal-caller available for Baltimore on Friday with quarterback Chris Streveler, who's on the team's practice squad, currently on the COVID-19 list.The Ravens and Bengals enter Week 16 with the same 8-6 record, but Cincy currently leads the AFC North since the team holds the head-to-head tiebreaker after beating Baltimore 41-17 in their first meeting this season.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nick Foles will start the Chicago Bears' Week 16 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, head coach Matt Nagy announced Friday, according to Brad Biggs of The Chicago Tribune.Justin Fields, who missed practice Thursday and Friday with an ankle injury, will be a game-time decision to dress as the backup, Nagy added. The team is already without veteran quarterback Andy Dalton due to a left hand/groin injury.The Bears will have to promote quarterback Ryan Willis from the practice squad if Fields can't suit up, Biggs notes. Willis signed with the club late last week and has never taken an NFL snap.Sunday's contest will mark Foles' first start of the 2021 campaign. He started seven games for Chicago last season, winning just two and throwing for 10 touchdowns to eight interceptions.Fields is in the midst of a bumpy rookie season. He won the starting job from Dalton in Week 3 but has struggled with consistency. The No. 11 overall pick has completed under 60% of his passes for seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He's also been sacked 36 times.The 4-10 Bears are looking for their first win since Week 12.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.