Washington Football Team quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is expected to miss the remainder of the 2021 campaign with a hip subluxation injury suffered in the season opener, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Fitzpatrick is still experiencing swelling and pain in the injured area, Rapoport adds. His last MRI reportedly showed improvement, but the quarterback can't begin rehabbing until he is free from pain and swelling.Washington signed Fitzpatrick to a one-year contract this past offseason. He played just 16 snaps in Week 1 before suffering the injury.Fitzpatrick, who turns 39 on Nov. 24, was reportedly expected to miss six-to-eight weeks when he first suffered the injury. Washington head coach Ron Rivera was coy about the passer's status this week, telling reporters he'd made some progress but that it wasn't "way up," according to Rapoport.Taylor Heinicke has made seven starts in Fitzpatrick's absence, throwing for 11 touchdowns against nine interceptions. The 28-year-old has won just two of those contests as Washington sits last in the NFC East at 2-6.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are placing Ben Roethlisberger on the COVID-19 reserve, and the quarterback won't play against the winless Detroit Lions on Sunday, Steelers director of communications Burt Lauten announced Saturday.Pittsburgh will likely turn to Mason Rudolph to start versus Detroit, with Dwayne Haskins serving as the backup.Roethlisberger recently said he's vaccinated against COVID-19, meaning he can return to the team facility after receiving two consecutive negative tests taken at least 24 hours apart. The Steelers face the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday Night Football in Week 11.The 39-year-old has completed 65.6% of his passes while tossing 10 touchdowns against four interceptions through eight appearances in 2021.Rudolph has yet to attempt a pass this year. The fourth-year field general is 5-4 as a starter over the last two seasons.Pittsburgh enters Sunday at 5-3 and on a four-game winning streak. The club currently sits second in the AFC North behind the 6-3 Baltimore Ravens.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Odell Beckham Jr. has no doubt that joining the Los Angeles Rams was the right decision for him."I took a lot of time in the decision-making, and it wasn't to build anticipation or nothing," the wide receiver said Saturday, according to ESPN's Lindsey Thiry."This is my life, and I feel like I've been through a lot. I'm at a point in my life where I'm ready to play football. And I've dedicated, I've sacrificed a lot to be here. It just happened that this felt right in my heart and in my soul."Beckham generated interest from several teams after becoming a free agent following his release from the Cleveland Browns on Monday. He then waited days before inking a one-year, incentive-laden deal with the Rams on Thursday.The 29-year-old was the second recent high-profile acquisition Los Angeles made, with the club also trading for linebacker Von Miller ahead of the Nov. 1 deadline."This is a tremendous team," Beckham added. "Have a great opportunity to do some great things, and I just want to be a part of it."Beckham released a farewell message to the Browns on Saturday as he prepares to make his debut with L.A. on Monday Night Football against the San Francisco 49ers."I want to thank the city of Cleveland for welcoming me with open arms," he said in a statement. "My goal was always to help bring a championship to the city of Cleveland from the first day I became a member of the Cleveland Browns."Through all the ups and downs, injuries, and rehab, I am forever grateful to have played in front of some of the greatest fans ever," he wrote.Beckham, a three-time Pro Bowler, will share targets with wideouts Cooper Kupp and Van Jefferson, tight end Tyler Higbee, among others. The Rams have one of the NFL's deepest group of pass-catchers, but the unit took a hit Saturday after wide receiver Robert Woods suffered a torn ACL.The 7-2 Rams, who acquired quarterback Matthew Stafford in the offseason, rank fifth in points and fourth in total yards so far this year."These guys, they flow," Beckham said. "It just feels right about the offense ... but I hope to find a groove and help this team find ways to win."Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tennessee Titans have placed wide receiver Julio Jones on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury, the team announced Saturday.As a result, the star wide receiver will miss at least three weeks.Jones, who joined the Titans from the Atlanta Falcons in an offseason trade, has already been sidelined for three contests this year because of a hamstring ailment. He wasn't listed on the injury report this week.The 32-year-old has only racked up 336 yards with no touchdowns on 21 receptions through six appearances in 2021.Tennessee will continue to rely on wide receiver A.J. Brown as its main weapon in the passing game. Additionally, the Titans' depth chart features wideouts Chester Rogers and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, while running back Jeremy McNichols ranks third on the team with 30 targets.Tennessee lost superstar running back Derrick Henry as well recently after he sustained a foot ailment that'll likely sideline him for the remainder of the 2021 campaign.The Titans also promoted wide receiver Dez Fitzpatrick to the active roster Saturday. Fitzpatrick, a fourth-round pick in this year's draft, has been on the practice squad since the beginning of the season.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Entering Week 10, just half a game separates first and last place in the AFC West. The NFL's tightest division takes center stage Sunday night when the 5-3 Las Vegas Raiders host the 5-4 Kansas City Chiefs.Here's how we're betting Chiefs-Raiders.C Jackson Cowart: Raiders +2.5When will the market stop blindly pricing the Chiefs as favorites? Kansas City has been favored in every game this year despite a 2-7 ATS record, and it scraped by the injury-riddled Giants and Jordan Love-led Packers in the last two weeks.The Raiders are more dangerous than either of those teams, and you could argue they've been better than the Chiefs, too. Las Vegas ranks fourth in the NFL in net yards per play (0.94) and has posted nearly identical marks to Kansas City in average yards (394.5 versus 393.3) and points (24.5 versus 24.6) with far fewer turnovers.The Raiders' defense, on the other hand, has been far superior to the Chiefs', which ranks dead last on opponent yards per play (6.3) and is among the league's worst against the rush and pass. Las Vegas has amassed 400-plus yards in each of its last three games and has the firepower to outlast its division rival in this one.Alex Moretto: Chiefs -2.5Am I a sucker for still believing? Maybe. But this is a terrific buy-low on the Chiefs who were hefty favorites in the lookahead. Yes, Kansas City has underperformed and isn't going to suddenly right the ship, but this is too big a discount for me to pass up.As bad as the Chiefs have looked offensively, I'm a firm believer in talent winning out in the end, and there's too much of it on this unit for it to not get into some sort of rhythm. I'm also lower on these Raiders than the market is. A hot start helped elevate their stock, and they're still riding that reputation despite running into all sorts of trouble on and off the field.The Raiders' schedule has been cake this year and they've still struggled, with their only truly impressive win coming in Week 1 against the Ravens. Losses to the Giants and Bears over the last four games don't exactly boost their resume, either.The Chiefs' poor ATS record dating back to last season has received a lot of attention over the past week, and we're seeing an over-correction in the market as a result. The Raiders played them well last year, but this is now a depleted roster that wasn't that good to begin with. The Chiefs make it three wins in a row Sunday night at Allegiant Stadium.Matt Russell: Chiefs -2.5Is this the bottom of the market for the Chiefs? Maybe we're trying to catch a falling knife here, but at -2.5, the next stop is the Raiders being favored, and for all the issues that Kansas City has had, we're not in a world where that's the case.It's easy to look back at both the success that the Raiders had against the Chiefs last year and Kansas City's horrific ATS record across the last season-and-a-half and proclaim the Raiders will win. However, when the line opened last Sunday, I couldn't believe we wouldn't get any value with Las Vegas.Throw in the (rightful) dismissal of another 2020 first-round pick and a thin secondary getting thinner, and this has to be the spot where the Chiefs show us more than they have this season.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones won't be fined for unnecessary roughness after he grabbed the ankle of Carolina Panthers pass-rusher Brian Burns in Week 9, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Jones was heavily criticized by many across the NFL for grabbing and twisting Burns' ankle after the defender stripped the signal-caller of the ball last week. Burns was down on the field after the play, but he returned to the game minutes later following further evaluation on his ankle.Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu recovered the fumble.Carolina linebacker Haason Reddick criticized Jones this week, calling the play "completely dirty."Jones didn't apologize to Burns, saying he thought the defender had the ball.Burns didn't buy Jones' explanation."I think it's some bull," the pass-rusher said Wednesday.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Green Bay Packers activated quarterback Aaron Rodgers from the COVID-19 list Saturday, clearing him to face Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks in Week 10.Rodgers spent 10 days in quarantine and missed one contest after testing positive for COVID-19. He participated in virtual meetings in the lead-up to the Seahawks game.Wilson is coming off an absence of his own due to finger surgery. He missed three games, and the Seahawks went 1-2 with Geno Smith at the helm.Rodgers revealed after testing positive that he never got the vaccine despite telling reporters in August that he was "immunized." He later claimed "full responsibility" for his misleading statement.The 37-year-old has thrown for 1,894 yards with 17 touchdowns and three interceptions this season, and the Packers are 7-1 in his starts. Jordan Love threw for 190 yards with a touchdown and an interception apiece versus the Kansas City Chiefs during a losing effort in Week 9.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Robert Woods is out for the remainder of the season after tearing his ACL in practice Friday, the team announced Saturday."You're sick for Robert ... He's epitomized everything that's been right about this place," Rams head coach Sean McVay said.He added: "You don't ever replace a player like (Woods), but it will certainly require a lot of guys to play better and really carry the torch because of everything you miss without him."The injury occurred on the same day the club signed free-agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.Woods didn't notice the severity of the injury immediately after going down in practice, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The nine-year veteran reportedly finished the session and met with the media before tests confirmed the seriousness of his ailment.Woods ranks second on the team with 45 receptions, 566 yards, and four touchdowns this season. Los Angles will now lean heavily on wideouts Cooper Kupp, Van Jefferson, and the newly acquired Beckham.The Rams recently released wideout DeSean Jackson, who was frustrated with a lack of playing time.Beckham, a three-time Pro Bowl receiver, will make his Rams debut against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football, sources told Schefter.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We got back to our winning ways last week with a 7-3 effort, moving to 55-37-1 at the halfway point of the season. But let's not waste any time patting ourselves on the back; here, we're looking for value in this week's markets.Matt Ryan under 289.5 passing yardsThe Cowboys' defensive coordinator is pretty familiar with Matt Ryan. After all, he was his head coach for six years. Dan Quinn should have a plan to limit the Falcons through the air, and they already do a pretty good job of limiting themselves on the ground. The one concern for this bet is Ryan having to throw the ball 40-plus times due to a negative game script. But this is a get-right matchup for the Cowboys, and that starts with their defense.Mike Evans touchdown (-105)This comes down to a lack of options for Tom Brady. With Antonio Brown and Rob Gronkowski still out, and Chris Godwin likely sidelined, Evans is the last reliable red-zone option. Plus, there's no one on Washington that matches his physicality.Najee Harris over 27.5 receiving yards We could have some weather issues in Pittsburgh, which isn't ideal for either quarterback. But with Harris searching for holes that aren't being created by the Steelers' offensive line, and with star receiver Chase Claypool out, Ben Roethlisberger will look to get Harris involved in the short passing game. Additionally, the Lions are giving up more than nine yards per catch to running backs.Mac Jones under 36.5 yards longest pass completionLost in the hand-wringing about the Browns missing Nick Chubb and Demetric Felton is that Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson are questionable for the Patriots as well. I'm not looking to rely on either of them to run on the Browns, which means Mac Jones will have to throw more than the Patriots would like. Against Cleveland, high volume equates to quick passes with Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney coming off the edge. Jones won't have time to take any deep shots.Adrian Peterson under 33.5 rushing yardsThe Titans have been congratulated all week on yet another nice win, but there's concern going forward. Adrian Peterson's 29 yards on 10 carries didn't show shades of Derrick Henry, and now the Titans will try to get some semblance of a running game against the Saints' defensive line. Tennessee should split the carries more evenly between Jeremy McNichols, D'onta Foreman, and the veteran Peterson. Even if the team doesn't, 34 yards for Peterson is unlikely.Josh Allen over 24.5 pass completionsThere should be no mercy at MetLife Stadium this Sunday, as the Bills need to get back on track offensively after a pair of shoddy performances that culminated in a horrific loss to the Jaguars. Now they get to face the Jets' defensive secondary, which just lost Marcus Maye for the season. Not a household name, his absence as the best of New York's defensive backs tells you all you need to know about the quality of that group. There's little reason for Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll to not have Allen throw it over and over, especially if Mike White can keep this game within shouting distance.Kirk Cousins over 267.5 passing yardsThe Vikings-Chargers game is setting up to be a shootout, with neither team having much of a chance to stop the other. So, we'll look to the shorter passing yards number here with Cousins, who'll have both Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen matched up against a series of second-string defensive backs. Plus, with Joey Bosa potentially less than 100% on Sunday, Cousins may have all the time in the world to hit this number.Christian McCaffrey over 39.5 receiving yardsIn 20 years of betting on sports, I've learned not to use words like "lock" or "stealing," but someone will have to explain to me why this number is so short. P.J. Walker will be looking to rely on McCaffrey, and the touch numbers should go up after the Panthers' most electric weapon returned unscathed last week.Jerry Jeudy over 61.5 receiving yardsWe cashed last week with Jeudy, and while the market has made an adjustment upward, we'll take another swing with the Broncos receiver in another plus matchup versus the Eagles' secondary. Denver has dual injuries to its starting offensive tackles, so the ball will be coming out of Teddy Bridgewater's gloved hands quickly to Jeudy in the slot.Patrick Mahomes over 285.5 passing yardsWe've reached a point in existence where Mahomes' passing yards total is lined lower than Derek Carr's. That's where the market is on the Chiefs. Whether or not Kansas City's turnaround starts Sunday night, Mahomes will either take advantage of a thin Raiders secondary with deep completions, or a back-and-forth shootout will force him into 40-plus pass attempts on his way to a 300-yard 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 © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL fined Chicago Bears edge rusher Cassius Marsh $5,972 for unsportsmanlike conduct stemming from his taunting penalty against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 9, sources told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Marsh was penalized 15 yards after sacking Ben Roethlisberger on a crucial third-down play in the fourth quarter. The 29-year-old made no overt gesture or remark to solicit the flag, leaving the Bears irate and the Monday Night Football broadcast crew in disbelief."I saw the player, after he made a big play, run toward the bench area of the Pittsburgh Steelers and posture in such a way that I felt he was taunting them," referee Tony Corrente explained after the game.Marsh plans to appeal the fine, according to Pelissero.Meanwhile, the NFL hasn't commented on Marsh's allegation that Corrente hip-checked him before sending the penalty marker flying into the air at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.Marsh was making his Bears debut after the team called him up from the practice squad as a fill-in for the injured Khalil Mack. Chicago lost 29-27.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Rams All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey may not be done pursuing superstars for his team."You never know. I'm trying to get (Los Angeles Chargers defensive back) Derwin (James) here next," Ramsey said Friday when asked if he's still working on attracting other players to join the Rams, according to Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times."I'm joking but ... I'm not," he added.Ramsey played a key role in recruiting Los Angeles' two major acquisitions over the last two weeks. The 27-year-old, who's close friends with wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and linebacker Von Miller, was in contact with the duo before they decided to join the Rams.Beckham signed a one-year pact with L.A. on Thursday, while Miller was traded from the Denver Broncos on Nov. 1 for second- and third-round picks."I want to be teammates with anybody who I feel is good," Ramsey said. "In certain instances this year, when I had a personal relationship with the two guys ... I just happen to be talking to them as we usually do, and figuring out maybe a possibility, and throwing it out there a little bit trying to see if they rocking with it or not, and then just trying to make it all happen."The Rams weren't among the main destinations linked to Beckham when he became a free agent Tuesday. However, Ramsey called Beckham on Thursday morning and used Rams receivers Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp and quarterback Matthew Stafford to make his final pitch, according to Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic.Ramsey began his NFL career with the Jacksonville Jaguars but requested a trade after three-plus seasons due to a contract dispute. James made a push for Ramsey at the time before the Jaguars sent him to the Rams as part of a blockbuster deal.Ramsey and James both played at Florida State but spent only one season together. Ramsey left the Seminoles as the fifth overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, while James was the No. 17 selection two years later.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Seattle Seahawks officially activated quarterback Russell Wilson from injured reserve Friday, confirming his availability for Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers.The move was expected after Wilson was medically cleared Monday to return. The eight-time Pro Bowler, who hasn't played since Week 5 due to a ruptured tendon in the middle finger of his throwing hand, said Thursday that he's "really close" to being 100%.Wilson, 32, posted a 72% completion rate with 10 touchdowns against one interception before being sidelined with the Seahawks sitting at 2-3.Veteran Geno Smith replaced Wilson for three games, winning one.The Seahawks also activated wide receiver Dee Eskridge from injured reserve Friday. The second-round rookie, who was Seattle's first pick in this year's draft, suffered a concussion in Week 1 and hasn't played since.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We stumbled to an 0-3 record against the spread in the craziest week of the NFL season. Let's hope common sense prevails in the Week 10 slate.Buccaneers (-9.5, 51.5) @ Washington, 1 p.m.At some point, we may have to fully give up on Washington, which entered the season with moderate hopes but has played like one of the league's worst teams. The club has posted an NFL-worst 1-7 ATS record, and it's slogged to a combined 33 points across its last three games amid injuries to top offensive players.Conversely, the Buccaneers lead the league in points per game (32.5) and per play (0.48) and have had two weeks to prepare for Washington's talented but ineffective defense. That extra time should help Tom Brady, who is a remarkable 12-2 ATS in his last 14 contests with an extra week to prepare.Pick: Buccaneers -9.5Saints @ Titans (-3, 43.5), 1 p.m.Injuries have torpedoed the appeal of what would otherwise be an exciting offensive matchup, as both teams enter this game without their all-world running back and other key contributors.The impact of the Titans' absences was obvious a week ago, as they managed just 194 total yards in their first game without Derrick Henry and were essentially gifted two touchdowns thanks to the defense's stellar play. If the defense performs like that again, it'll make life difficult for Saints backup quarterback Trevor Siemian, whose team scored just three points until a furious (yet unsuccessful) fourth-quarter rally.This time around, he'll be without superstar back Alvin Kamara, who leads the team in carries (146), targets (44), receptions (32), and touchdowns (seven) and has accounted for nearly a third of New Orleans' total yardage this season. The Saints' defense has been this team's saving grace with top-five marks by most metrics, and it should be able to limit the damage against an ill Ryan Tannehill and his banged-up supporting cast.Pick: Under 43.5Lions @ Steelers (-8.5, 42.5), 1 p.m.Through eight games, the Steelers have clearly been better than the Lions. But are they this much better? Pittsburgh ranks among the league's worst in PFF grades and net yards per play and barely escaped the lowly Bears in last week's 29-27 win.That's been the story of these Steelers all season long, as they simply don't have the offensive rhythm to blow out lesser opponents. All five of Pittsburgh's wins came by eight points or fewer, and this team is 2-6 ATS in its last eight contests giving 8.5 or more points dating back to 2018.Detroit was the recipient of a 38-point drubbing a week ago versus the Eagles, but it was just the fourth double-digit loss for this group amid its 0-8 start. If Pittsburgh plays down to its competition as it has all year, this one will stay within the number.Pick: Lions +8.5C 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.

The New Orleans Saints ruled out running back Alvin Kamara for Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans due to a knee injury, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.The four-time Pro Bowler didn't practice all week.Head coach Sean Payton described Kamara's ailment as "a knee injury that he's rehabbing (to return) as quickly as he can get back," according to ESPN's Mike Triplett.Payton noted that the star rusher dealt with soreness toward the late stages of last week's game against the Atlanta Falcons.Kamara leads the team with 530 rushing yards, seven total touchdowns, and 32 receptions.Mark Ingram is expected to receive the majority of carries in Kamara's absence. The three-time Pro Bowler has rushed for 70 yards on 15 attempts since rejoining the Saints via a trade from the Houston Texans.Ty Montgomery and Dwayne Washington are also expected to see some time in the backfield.Ingram needs just 22 rushing yards on Sunday to surpass Saints legend Deuce McAllister as the franchise's all-time leader.The Saints also ruled out left tackle Terron Armstead and defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Armstead previously missed two games due to an elbow issue, while Gardner-Johnson is wearing a walking boot on his right foot.The Saints will attempt to end the Titans' five-game winning streak.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden is suing the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell for allegedly leaking his emails in a "malicious and orchestrated campaign" in order to destroy his career and reputation, Gruden's attorney told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Gruden resigned last month after emails in which he made racist, homophobic, and misogynistic comments surfaced."There is no explanation or justification for why Gruden's emails were the only ones made public out of the 650,000 emails collected in the NFL's investigation of the Washington Football Team, or for why the emails were held for months before being released in the middle of the Raiders' season," Gruden's attorney said in a statement.The lawsuit, obtained by Pelissero, refers to the alleged ordeal as a "Soviet-style character assassination" with no warning or process.NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy called the allegations "entirely meritless" and said the league will vigorously defend itself against the claims.Gruden's emails spanned during his time with ESPN as a color analyst from 2009-2017. They were sent to former Washington executive Bruce Allen, among others.Gruden's resignation came in the midst of his fourth season with the Raiders. He was reportedly under a 10-year, $100-million deal with the club.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Unlike the last few weeks, the market has been quiet leading up to Week 10. There haven't been any wild swings in point spreads due to the absences of stars like Aaron Rodgers, Dak Prescott, and Baker Mayfield. This week's market moves have been considerably more subtle.Browns @ Patriots (-2.5, 45.5)The line for this game started where it is now, but it's taken a round trip. Sharp money pulled it toward the Browns, who were deemed to be the better team despite being an underdog, dropping the line down to Patriots -1. Able to take New England at home needing just to win, and with Cleveland missing Nick Chubb, bettors grabbed New England to push the line back to -2.5.Lions @ Steelers (-8.5, 42.5)On the surface, there's no more insignificant full-point move than going from +9.5 to +8.5, as games rarely land with a margin of nine. However, at Steelers -8.5, sportsbooks are open to having bettors tease Pittsburgh down under a field goal. Clearly, oddsmakers are willing to take on that risk after seeing the Steelers in prime time Monday night.Bills @ Jets (+12, 47.5)Mike White is out here moving lines! The latest Big Apple sensation gets the nod to start his third straight game. That was enough to see this number dip off of Bills -13, when it was presumed that Zach Wilson would return.While White has brought some excitement, it's hard to imagine that his presence would've been better than what Josh Johnson provided in relief against the Colts, and the Jets were still unable to cover double digits in that game. But the defense is the bigger issue here, as the Bills should be focused all week after losing to the Jaguars.Panthers @ Cardinals (-10.5, 44)The Cardinals went from -10 to -10.5 after Sam Darnold was ruled out. It's not a major move, which tells you all you need to know about Darnold's future in the league.Interestingly, Kyler Murray's return hasn't yet been confirmed, indicating that either oddsmakers are sure he'll be starting Sunday or Colt McCoy was effective enough that they don't care. Last week, the drop-off to McCoy was worth 8 points in the market. Should Murray not be able to go, it's hard to believe this line won't drop back into the single digits.Vikings @ Chargers (-3, 53.5)This game opened with the Chargers favored by 2.5 points, but Dalvin Cook's off-field issues and the Vikings' COVID-19 scare have bettors almost driving this line to -3.5. The public also poured in on the Bolts last week, with Los Angeles as a short road favorite, and was rewarded for it. But if the Vikings' core can go in L.A., getting a field goal with Minnesota might be a nice discount ticket to have.Seahawks @ Packers (-3.5, 49.5)This is the biggest mover of the week, and I'm not sure why. The Packers opened as 5.5-point favorites, but this has dipped to -3.5, and in some places -3, after it was confirmed Russell Wilson would be back. However, it was already widely expected he'd be returning.Rodgers will likely rejoin the Packers this week, and I expect that confirmation to send this spread back up above where it is now.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.

Cam Newton feels like he's on cloud nine after returning to the Carolina Panthers."Honestly, I'm still floating," Newton said Friday. "I feel like I'm going to say this a lot, (but) it's not about me. It's about being an additional piece to this team and that's how I plan on keeping it."Newton spent the first nine years of his career with the Panthers after they drafted him first overall in 2011. The veteran put together a 68-55-1 record in Carolina and guided the franchise to a Super Bowl appearance during his MVP year in 2015. The Panthers moved on from Newton after his injury-riddled 2019 campaign. He spent last season with the New England Patriots.Despite Newton and Carolina's past success together, he says the sole purpose of the reunion is to win football games."This ain't for no ploy, this ain't for no ticket sales, this ain't for no Cinderella story," Newton explained. "It's to win football games. That's pretty much what's on my heart and that's how I'm going about it."Head coach Matt Rhule said earlier Friday that Newton is unlikely to suit up for Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals as he gets up to speed, according to David Newton of ESPN. The 32-year-old, who signed a reported one-year deal worth up to $10 million, is set to eventually take the reins on a 4-5 Panthers team that sits a half-game out of the final NFC wild-card spot."I'm so excited to be back in Carolina and to be playing meaningful games," Newton noted.He added: "This second go-around, there's so much to be grateful for. The preparation is going to be extremely key, being that I'm so far behind."Newton threw 10 interceptions to eight touchdowns last season with the Patriots, though he also added 12 scores with his legs. New England released Newton prior to the 2021 campaign. He remained a free agent until he signed in Carolina."I feel like I'm home. I know I'm home," Newton said. "A person said to me yesterday: 'Happy to see you, Cam. Glad you came back to us.' And I'm like, 'Man, I'm glad y'all came after me.'"Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns will be down a pair of running backs Sunday.Nick Chubb and Demetric Felton won't play versus the New England Patriots, head coach Kevin Stefanski said, according to team reporter Andrew Gribble.Both tailbacks were placed on the Browns' COVID-19 list Tuesday after testing positive. Fellow running back John Kelly also remains on the reserve group, while Kareem Hunt is still on injured reserve with a calf issue.Chubb currently sits third in the NFL with 721 rushing yards. He's also recorded six touchdowns and six yards per carry. The two-time Pro Bowler rushed for 137 yards and two touchdowns in Cleveland's 41-16 win over the Bengals last week.D'Ernest Johnson is in line to make his second start of the season. The 25-year-old enjoyed a breakout performance last month, rushing for 146 yards and a touchdown in a win over the Denver Broncos.It's unclear who'll back up Johnson on Sunday. Cleveland does have Brian Hill and Dexter Williams on its practice squad.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray will be a game-time decision for Sunday's meeting with the Carolina Panthers, head coach Kliff Kingsbury announced Friday, according to ESPN's Josh Weinfuss.Murray is still dealing with an ankle injury that caused him to miss last week's contest. Kingsbury added he wants to see how the passer feels in the coming days before making a decision.The star signal-caller missed the first two practice sessions earlier this week but did participate in some capacity Friday.Colt McCoy would receive another start if Murray can't go Sunday. The 35-year-old threw for 249 yards and a touchdown in last week's victory over the San Francisco 49ers.Kingsbury has added that DeAndre Hopkins will also be a game-time decision for Sunday's matchup against the Panthers due to a hamstring injury, according to team reporter Darren Urban. Hopkins joined Murray on the sideline for last week's meeting with the 49ers.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles' Rams acquisition of wideout Odell Beckham Jr. on Thursday was something of a surprise. Until the last minute, the Rams weren't among the teams reportedly taking a run at Beckham, and their offense already seemed pretty stacked. The Rams enter Week 10 ranked second in the league in points scored and in DVOA, and third in expected points added per play. Quarterback Matthew Stafford leads in the league in Total QBR. They decided to keep stocking up on 2015 All-Pros anyway.Is this a good thing? Can the Rams make this work? Let's dive in.First of all, how do the Rams keep doing this given the constraints of the salary cap?L.A. definitely has a thing for expensive veterans, but it's stuffed a lot of incentives into Beckham's deal to make it work from a cap perspective. As of Thursday, the Rams had just $2.66 million in cap space, according to the NFLPA's database. Beckham's deal, per NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, has a base value of $1.25 million for the remainder of the season, but he can earn up to $3 million more in incentives based on "how they finish the regular season and postseason." So presumably Beckham will see a lot of that money if the Rams reach or win the Super Bowl. And any incentives he earns are applied to L.A.'s 2022 cap.So the Rams aren't paying him that much.Nope. Though he could potentially earn up to $4.25 million, which is what the Cleveland Browns would have had to pay him for the remainder of the season. He can still double dip to collect that amount from Cleveland by filing for termination pay, which vested veterans can do once in their careers. But this deal allows him to hedge against that to possibly file for termination pay later in his career, as Over the Cap's Jason Fitzgerald wrote.One other thing: It's notable that Rapoport said these are team incentives, rather than performance or play-time incentives. The actual contract language might reveal something different, but it seems as if the bulk of Beckham's pay is tied to how far the Rams go this season. Which might explain why he chose to go there. Though that L.A. weather can be pretty dang sweet, too. Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Getty ImagesOK, so why would the Rams want to do this?This is the million-dollar question. Beckham just turned 29, and his transcendent superstar days happened a long time ago. Yeah, he once averaged 96 catches for 1,374 yards and nearly 12 touchdowns in a three-season span, but that was five years ago. He was underwhelming - often injured and generally unreliable - during his two and a half seasons with the Browns. He also never seemed to click with quarterback Baker Mayfield, who tends to be more of a game-manager.Didn't the Rams just get rid of DeSean Jackson because he was unhappy?They did. Jackson was bummed about his playing time and how infrequently he had been targeted. They also have a rather well-stocked receiving corps with Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, and Van Jefferson, plus tight end Tyler Higbee. And Kupp is the clear No. 1 here: His 103 targets are the most in the league.Jackson's reaction to his role does not mean Beckham will feel the same way. Beckham has to know what he's getting into here.Are the Rams maybe playing a little bit of keep-away here, too?That's also possible. The Green Bay Packers were reportedly hot and heavy for Beckham, and no doubt the prospect of Beckham in that Aaron Rodgers-Davante Adams-Aaron Jones offense gave Rams coach Sean McVay plenty of nightmares.The Rams are a Super Bowl contender, but the NFC is top-heavy. L.A. is 7-2 but it trails the Arizona Cardinals by a game in the NFC West, and failing to win the division would mean being at best a No. 5 playoff seed, which would mean likely having to take to the road for the duration of the postseason. So, yeah, there's probably an element of subterfuge to this on L.A.'s part. And I'm sure they sold him on the difference between the weather in L.A. versus the weather in Green Bay, too. Ronald Martinez / Getty ImagesBut can Beckham fit in?McVay is - all together now - widely regarded for his play-calling acumen, so he presumably has a plan to work Beckham into the offense. Beckham can still be a downfield threat: His average depth of target this year is 14.3 yards, per PFF. And even though he had just seven catches on 13 intermediate-range targets (10 to 19 air yards) in six games this season with Cleveland, he'll now have Stafford tossing him the ball instead of Mayfield.Mayfield has attempted roughly the same percentage of intermediate-range throws (24%) as Stafford (23.7%), but Stafford has 45 completions to Mayfield's 33. Beckham can also potentially draw attention from defenses that can benefit the Rams' other pass catchers. That might be part of whatever master plan McVay has in mind here.Scheme-wise, might Beckham still have a chance to get the ball?Yes, actually. The Browns are a run-oriented offense, but one of the secrets to McVay's sauce is a willingness to throw on early downs. In fact, according to Ben Baldwin's database, L.A. throws on first and second down 60.2% of the time, the fourth-highest total in the league. The Browns' total is just 47.2%, which ranks 28th.So while Beckham is joining an established group of receivers, there also ought to be more opportunities for him to be targeted simply because the Rams like to throw it a lot more in what are typically rushing situations.Right, but how will he fit? Like, as a teammate and stuff.That's the other million-dollar question. If Beckham can be happy as a role player who's along for the ride toward a possible championship, the sky's the limit. It never hurts to have too many good football players.But the Rams definitely run the risk of spoiling a good thing. Take what former Rams safety John Johnson III, who joined the Browns this season, told The Akron Beacon-Journal.After first saying, "I don't know how that's going to work," Johnson added, "I just feel like they had a good thing going, like a complete offense. From being in L.A., I know for a fact the offense runs through Cooper Kupp. Even in the run game, the pass game, the screen game, it kind of runs through Cooper Kupp. Obviously, Odell's a big name. He's going to want that attention as well. So it'll be interesting." It will be interesting!Dom Cosentino is a senior features writer at theScore.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin will travel with the team but is still a game-time decision for their matchup against the Washington Football Team, head coach Bruce Arians told reporters, including the Tampa Bay Times' Joey Knight.Godwin did not participate in practice on Wednesday and Thursday due to a foot injury, but he was seen at the open portion of practice Friday.The 25-year-old has recorded 50 receptions for 660 yards and four touchdowns in eight games for the Buccaneers this season.Antonio Brown, Rob Gronkowski, and Rashard Robinson, who are still dealing with previous injuries, will not travel with the club.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer has said Trevor Lawrence will be good to go Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts despite dealing with an ankle injury, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Lawrence suffered a low ankle sprain during last week's win over the Buffalo Bills, and he exited briefly before returning and finishing the game. The rookie passer was a limited participant in practice Wednesday and Thursday.The No. 1 overall pick has completed 59.5% of his passes this season for eight touchdowns with nine interceptions.Meanwhile, running back James Robinson remains questionable due to a heel injury but has a good chance to play, Meyer added. Robinson missed last week's contest due to the ailment.The 23-year-old has put up 615 yards from scrimmage over seven games this year and has improved his yards per carry from 4.5 in 2020 to 5.5 in 2021.Jacksonville enters the bout against its divisional foe with a 2-6 record.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

John Harbaugh directed blame at himself for the Baltimore Ravens' shocking 22-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Thursday night."(The Dolphins) outcoached us, outplayed us, and won the football game," Harbaugh said postgame, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. "So, (the) bottom line is this falls squarely on me as the head coach."We were not prepared the way we need to be prepared. Our schemes weren't up to snuff. And we weren't prepared to execute the way we needed to. So, that's it. Not on one player. Our players played their hearts out. They worked hard all week. They did everything (they) could to be prepared and just weren't ready. That's on me."Lamar Jackson and the Ravens had no answers for a Miami defense that blitzed them at an unprecedented rate. Safeties Jevon Holland and Brandon Jones, in particular, blitzed more times than any defensive back in a game since 2016, according to Next Gen Stats.Baltimore's 10 points Thursday were a season low as the team felt the heat from the Dolphins' pressure. Meanwhile, Jackson only recorded 39 yards on the ground, his second-lowest total of the year."That's something they've done all year," Harbaugh said, according to team reporter Ryan Mink. "We worked on it all week. We didn't have a good enough plan for it, you know, as a group, and we didn't execute well with the plan we had."The loss dropped the Ravens to 6-3, while the Dolphins have won two in a row to move to 3-7.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, Stitcher, and Anchor.In this episode, Chris Meaney of FTN Network joins Boone to discuss the important fantasy questions heading into Week 10.

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 10.The final rankings will be released Sunday morning.Half PPR

SSSQ is a weekly look at under-the-radar fantasy players to consider starting and potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut.For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult our Week 10 rankings. You can also listen to the Week 10 preview episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast.StartDerek Carr, Raidersvs. Chiefs Ethan Miller / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Raiders will be looking to rebound from an upset loss to the Giants.Normally a matchup with the Chiefs wouldn't provide much relief, but Kansas City is having some struggles of its own; its defense is bottom five in Football Outsiders' defensive DVOA.Steve Spagnuolo's group is giving up the third-most fantasy points to quarterbacks, which bodes well for Carr, who threw for six touchdowns against the Chiefs in their two meetings last year.Carr can be started as a fringe QB1 for Week 10.Boone's projection: 283 passing yards, 3 passing TDs, INT, 4 rushing yardsOther QBs to start

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa helped the Miami Dolphins upset the Baltimore Ravens 22-10 on Thursday Night Football after replacing Jacoby Brissett in the third quarter.Brissett suffered a right knee injury that briefly forced him out of the contest. He was cleared to return minutes later, but Miami kept Tagovailoa on the field, according to Albert Breer of TheMMQB.Tagovailoa didn't start the game due to a fractured finger, serving as Brissett's backup for the second straight week.Brissett left the contest with Miami leading 6-3. He completed 11 of 23 pass attempts for 156 yards before sustaining the injury.Tagovailoa finished the evening with 158 yards on 8-for-13 passing. The second-year signal-caller also scored a rushing touchdown late in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.The Dolphins' defense had a strong outing versus the Ravens, sacking quarterback Lamar Jackson four times. Miami also scored a defensive touchdown on cornerback Xavien Howard's 49-yard fumble return.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Miami Dolphins stunned the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday Night Football, earning a 22-10 victory at Hard Rock Stadium.Miami cornerback Xavien Howard scored a 49-yard touchdown on a fumble return in the fourth quarter, and the Dolphins' defense dominated the Ravens' offense all night, sacking quarterback Lamar Jackson four times.More to come.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Rams aren't done adding superstars.Free-agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. agreed to join the Rams, the team announced Thursday.The two sides inked a one-year deal worth up to $4.25 million, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Los Angeles will reportedly give Beckham a $500,000 signing bonus and $750,000 in salary for the rest of the season, with the remaining $3 million on the deal tied to team-based incentives.The Cleveland Browns released Beckham last week, ending a tumultuous two-plus-season stint together. He went unclaimed on waivers Tuesday, hitting free agency for the first time in his career.Beckham generated interest from several teams after being cut, including the Green Bay Packers, who were finalists to sign him, according to NFL Network's Kim Jones.The New Orleans Saints, Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks, and New England Patriots also reportedly pursued the three-time Pro Bowler.Beckham is the second high-profile player to join the Rams over the last 10 days after the team acquired linebacker Von Miller from the Denver Broncos last week.The 29-year-old will join a star-studded receiving corps in L.A. that also features wide receivers Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, and Van Jefferson, and tight end Tyler Higbee. Kupp currently leads the league in receptions (74), yards (1,019), and touchdown catches (10).The Rams, who traded quarterback Jared Goff to the Detroit Lions for Matthew Stafford in the offseason, also began 2021 with veteran DeSean Jackson on the roster but released the three-time Pro Bowl wideout last week after failing to deal him at the deadline.Beckham joined the Browns in 2019 in a trade from the New York Giants. He was one of the NFL's most productive wideouts from 2014-18 in New York, but his numbers declined over three seasons in Cleveland.The former first-round pick has racked up just 17 catches for 232 yards with no touchdowns through six appearances in 2021. Beckham didn't play his first game this season until Week 3 due to a torn ACL.The 7-2 Rams face the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football in Week 10.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Russell Wilson is feeling almost as good as ever.In his first interview since being cleared to return from his finger injury, the Seattle Seahawks quarterback said Thursday that he's happy with how his recovery process developed, and he's nearly fully recovered."I'm not 100 percent yet, but I'm pretty dang close," said Wilson, who hasn't played since Week 5 due to a ruptured tendon in the middle finger of his throwing hand, according to Adam Maya of NFL.com."I don't need to wear a glove. The hand feels strong."Wilson returned to practice this week and is on track to play Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.The star signal-caller was expected to miss at least four weeks after being placed on injured reserve on Oct. 15. His initial recovery timetable had him sidelined for up to eight weeks."My whole mindset was to cut the time in half," he said. "I even beat my own plan by having amazing people."The Seahawks, who're coming off a bye, went 1-2 without Wilson. Seattle sits last in the NFC West at 3-5, but the team is only one game behind the Atlanta Falcons, the current No. 7 seed in the NFC playoff standings.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Miami Dolphins will start quarterback Jacoby Brissett against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday Night Football, sources told Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network.Brissett will replace Tua Tagovailoa, who continues to recover from a fractured finger. Tagovailoa will back up Brissett for the second straight week.The 28-year-old Brissett struggled during Miami's lackluster victory over the Houston Texans in Week 9, completing 26 of 43 passes for 244 yards and one touchdown against two interceptions. He's posted a 1-3 record as a starter this season after joining the Dolphins as a free agent in the offseason.Tagovailoa has struggled to stay healthy since being drafted fifth overall last year. The 23-year-old has already missed three games in 2021 due to a rib injury suffered in Week 2.The 2-7 Dolphins currently sit last in the AFC East.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Panthers are bringing back Cam Newton.Newton agreed to terms with the team that drafted him first overall in 2011, the Panthers announced Thursday. The deal is worth up to $10 million for the rest of the year and includes $4.5 million fully guaranteed and a $1.5-million roster bonus, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The signing comes after the club lost Sam Darnold for four-to-six weeks due to a shoulder injury.The 32-year-old Newton enjoyed plenty of success during his first stint in Carolina. His best showing came in the 2015 campaign when he threw for 35 touchdowns and ran in 10 additional scores to claim the league MVP award. His 2015 performance led to a Super Bowl appearance, but the Panthers fell to the Denver Broncos.Carolina head coach Matt Rhule expressed his willingness to add a passer Wednesday, telling reporters that the organization would explore "all options" following Darnold's injury.However, the Panthers were lacking in quarterback play even before Darnold went down - the signal-caller has thrown an NFL-leading 11 interceptions to seven touchdown passes.Darnold was in the midst of a troubling stretch following a 3-0 start to the year. He's lost five of his last six starts while completing four touchdown passes and 10 interceptions during that span. Darnold's slump culminated with a season-low 26.3 passer rating and three interceptions against the New England Patriots on Sunday.Rhule has repeatedly called for Darnold - who the franchise acquired in an offseason trade with the New York Jets - to step up amid Carolina's slide. The bench boss sidelined the third overall pick for P.J. Walker in a Week 7 loss to the New York Giants, but Darnold kept the starting job the following week.The Panthers have struggled to find an answer at the quarterback position since their initial decision to move on from Newton in 2019. They signed Teddy Bridgewater to a three-year, $63-million contract in 2020, but the team traded him after just one season following the acquisition of Darnold.Newton spent last season with the Patriots before they surprisingly released him ahead of the 2021 campaign. The former MVP averaged a career-low 177.1 passing yards per game with 10 interceptions to eight passing touchdowns during his lone year with New England. However, he did add 12 scores and 592 yards on the ground.The Panthers, who sit just a half-game back of the NFC's final wild-card spot at 4-5, are planning to start Walker at quarterback Sunday while Newton gets up to speed, Rhule said Thursday, according to The Associated Press' Steve Reed.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Monday night was a raucous time on Twitter. The masses gathered, and for the first time in history, all agreed on something: The officiating in the Bears-Steelers game was a disaster.On a night of chaos and confusion, Chicago fell just short of cashing the third leg of our round robin, and we have to take that as the cost of doing business. It was our sixth 2-3 outing of the season to go along with three winning weeks, and we are 24-21 overall on the moneyline.How it worksWe parlay five underdogs together in 10 different three-team parlays. Using every combination of a three-team parlay is called a round robin, so we're going to use a total of 1.1 units to make 11 different bets: 10 three-team parlays and one five-team parlay, each for .1 units. If three teams pull off the upset like in Week 8, you'll likely double your money. If four teams win, as they did in Week 3, you're connecting on four separate parlays and will be very pleased with the return. If all five teams win, as they did in Week 1, then it's back into the pool, swimming in gold doubloons like heirs to the McDuck fortune.Who to playSaints +130The Titans' defensive line worked over the Rams' offensive line last week, and it caused massive mistakes that led to 14 Tennessee points. Unlike Los Angeles, the Saints' strength comes from protection and a more conservative scheme. They won't give away points as the Rams did.The Titans will be required to generate offense on their own, which they didn't do last week despite the victory. Ryan Tannehill threw for just 147 yards and Adrian Peterson was way too involved in the run game. Now, they meet a Saints team that leads the league in rush defense.Everything we know about the NFL tells us that once a team starts getting talked about as a powerhouse, it's time to fade them. Keep in mind, it wasn't long ago that no one was giving the Titans a shot to beat the Bills at home on Monday Night Football. We'll trust Sean Payton again as an underdog to get the win. A Saints victory would be a more surprising result than it seems, given the short point spread.Lions +310With a handful of short underdogs, we need one big one to include in order to increase the potential payout.I went in-depth into why I think the Lions are live to beat the Steelers in my upset of the week, so you can get the analysis there. If last week showed us anything, it's that dismissing any potential upset is a fundamental mistake, let alone for a game that's not even lined above double digits.Vikings +140I've had this game circled on my board for a few weeks now. As much as I like what the Chargers have done this season, this is a prime spot to back the Vikings. Minnesota fans will tell you that they are traditionally live once all hope seems lost.The Vikings will be able to run the ball on the Chargers, as all teams do, but even more problematic for L.A. is its banged-up secondary charged with covering Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson. Both teams will score a ton here, but in a high variance game, backing the underdog here is the play.Eagles +130The Broncos are riding high after destroying the Cowboys, but that was more about Dallas not showing up after a big win. The true identity of Denver is a conservative offense with line injuries, facing an Eagles defensive front that will get pressure on Teddy Bridgewater.Offensively, this should look a lot like the Broncos' matchup with Washington from two weeks ago, with both teams struggling to score points. I expect Jalen Hurts to do enough on the ground to keep this game close, and with it likely coming down to a field goal, I'll take Philadelphia at plus-money to get back in the win column.49ers +170Even if you're with me on the Lions and Saints, I can see how you'd think this might be a bridge too far. No one was more disappointed in the 49ers last week than I was, but one of the worst things you can do as a bettor is automatically write off a team if they lost you money. Value is created by others irrationally selling. Without last week's catastrophe against the Cardinals, this game would likely be lined below the key number of -3.Many of the NFL's surprising results manifest due to matchups. We've seen how the Saints were able to win a good matchup against the Buccaneers and then lose a bad matchup to the Falcons. San Francisco has won four straight against the Rams, often as an underdog.If the 49ers can avoid fumbles amidst promising drives, as they repeatedly suffered last week, they will be live to beat a team they've owned the last two seasons.Here's how the odds shake down this week:PARLAYODDS (Approx.)DET+NO+MIN+2200DET+NO+PHI+2000DET+NO+SF+2400DET+MIN+PHI+2200DET+MIN+SF+2600DET+PHI+SF+2400NO+MIN+PHI+1300NO+MIN+SF+1400NO+PHI+SF+1300MIN+PHI+SF+1400DET+NO+MIN+PHI+SF+14000Who are your five underdogs for a football betting lottery ticket?Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians said he doesn't think tight end Rob Gronkowski will be able to play Sunday against the Washington Football Team."I doubt it," Arians said on Sirius XM NFL Radio. "We think next week is a better timeframe for him. We kind of pushed it with the New Orleans thing. I want him ready to go the whole distance when we're ready to go."Gronkowski returned to the lineup in Week 8 against the Saints after missing four games with a rib injury. However, he played just six snaps before exiting with back spasms.Arians estimates that the veteran will be back to "normal" in two-to-three weeks.The Bucs have looked to O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate during Gronkowski's absence. Veteran tight end Darren Fells also signed with the club's practice squad earlier this week.Gronkowski has grabbed four touchdowns over four games this season. The Bucs lead the NFC South with a 6-2 record.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

UConn has hired former NFL coach Jim L. Mora to be its next head coach, the program announced Thursday.Mora will serve as an assistant coach until Nov. 28 in order to get better acquainted with various duties, including recruiting. He will officially begin his tenure as head coach after the Huskies' last game this season."Jim is a proven winner, a man of integrity, and he possesses the experience and the energy to lead our football program back to success," said director of athletics David Benedict in a statement.Mora last coached in 2017 with UCLA and also spent time with the Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks. The soon-to-be head coach of the Huskies is "excited for the opportunity"."This program is loaded with potential, and I look forward to getting to know the student-athletes on the team and am eager to get to work," Mora said.The 59-year-old will succeed Randy Edsall, who stepped down as head coach in September.Mora went 46-30 during his time at UCLA, but he was fired after a string of disappointing seasons. The former Bruins coach began his tenure with a bowl game appearance in each of his first four seasons. However, he went 9-14 over his final two campaigns, leading to his departure.His time with the Falcons followed a similar arc. Mora led Atlanta to a playoff appearance in his first year with the franchise after posting an 11-5 record in 2004. He then failed to win more than eight games in either of his next two seasons, which resulted in the Falcons firing him following the 2006 campaign.Mora later spent one season as the Seahawks head coach in 2009, finishing with a 5-11 record. He has compiled a 31-33 mark in the NFL.UConn is currently in the midst of another disappointing season with a 1-8 record. The Huskies have not won more than three games in a campaign since 2015.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Odell Beckham Jr. is honing in on the Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, and New Orleans Saints as he gets ready to choose his next team, sources told Dianna Russini of ESPN.The three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver became a free agent Tuesday for the first time in his career after going unclaimed on waivers. Beckham began the season with the Cleveland Browns, who moved on from him amid off-field turmoil.Beckham is expected to take some time, and his decision is "a few days away," Kim Jones and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network report.The Packers, Chiefs, and Saints all have a need at wide receiver, though New Orleans is the only team where Beckham would be the clear-cut No. 1 option.WR depth chartsPackersChiefsSaintsWR1Davante AdamsTyreek HillMarquez CallawayWR2Marquez Valdes-ScantlingMecole HardmanTre'Quan SmithWR3Allen LazardByron PringleDeonte HarrisBeckham reportedly wants to finish the campaign on a contender. The 29-year-old has only appeared in one career playoff game, which came in 2016 when he played for the New York Giants."My hopes are up there pretty high," Davante Adams said Wednesday about Beckham potentially coming to Green Bay, per ESPN's Rob Demovsky. Adams added that he's been in touch with Beckham.Beckham was one of the NFL's most productive wideouts from 2014-2018 with the Giants, but his numbers declined over three seasons with the Browns. He had 17 catches for 232 yards in six appearances for Cleveland this year before the team waived him.The New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks have also been rumored to have some level of interest in Beckham.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The AFC North-leading Baltimore Ravens head to Hard Rock Stadium for a date with the Miami Dolphins on Thursday Night Football, looking to at least temporarily pull into the conference's top spot.Here's how we're betting Ravens-Dolphins:C Jackson Cowart: Ravens -7.5Laying this many points on the road is always a scary proposition, especially after what we saw last week. But don't let recent results cloud your judgment here.Road favorites of more than a touchdown are 34-21-2 ATS (61.8%) since 2018, while the Ravens are 4-2-1 ATS in that spot with a 12-6-2 ATS record in all games over that stretch when giving 7.5 or more points. They won 19 of those 20 contests outright and outscored their opponents by an average of 16.4 points, winning 14 of 20 by at least eight points. If there's a safe team to bet in this spot, it's Baltimore.I was high on the Dolphins entering the year but have seen absolutely nothing to convince me to bet them here. A home win over the Houston Texans does little to compel me to take the points this week, especially considering Miami turned it over an astounding five times and still eked out a win. That won't happen against the Ravens. Their offense was humming in Week 8, and they desperately need a win Thursday to keep their narrow lead in the AFC North.Alex Moretto: Lamar Jackson over 233.5 pass yardsI understand the reasoning behind the low total here - one Jackson has gone over in seven of his eight contests this season - but it doesn't mean I agree with it. Oddsmakers are expecting a positive game script for the heavily favored Ravens, resulting in fewer pass attempts for Jackson as the game progresses.I'm looking at this a different way, though. Look for the Dolphins to sell out to stop Jackson on the ground, forcing him to beat them through the air - the same approach Miami took in the last meeting. The Dolphins held Jackson to just six rushing yards in that game, but the quarterback managed 324 passing yards in a lopsided 59-10 win - John Harbaugh has never been shy about running up the score.Without Latavius Murray, the Ravens aren't going to be too run-heavy with their stable of old-timers in the backfield. Instead, they'll take to the air to attack a Dolphins defense that's allowed a league-high 41 plays of 20-plus yards. With Sammy Watkins back in the fold, Baltimore's top receiving trio will play together for the first time all season, and Jackson will make the most of it.Matt Russell: Ravens team total over 27.5I've already made Baltimore my cornerstone for teasers this week and gave out a trio of player props that interest me, all of which require a big offensive game from the Ravens.I'm less confident in the Baltimore defense here, and I'm allergic to laying over a touchdown on the road in the NFL. Whether the Dolphins push the Ravens to score or Lamar Jackson and Co. do so just for fun, I'll take the over on Baltimore's team total against a Miami defense that isn't nearly as good as its inflated metrics following a visit from the generous Texans on Sunday.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In the most unpredictable week of this NFL season, Tom Brady didn't take a snap. And he's the MVP favorite because of it.That's how dangerous Week 9 was for the award's top candidates, nearly all of whom saw their stock take a serious hit. The lone survivor was Brady, whose Tampa Bay Buccaneers were on a bye last week and avoided the carnage that swept through the NFL. As a result, the three-time MVP winner finds himself in pole position once again after a mostly blemish-free eight weeks of play:PLAYERODDSTom Brady+350Josh Allen+400Kyler Murray+650Matthew Stafford+800Lamar Jackson+1000Aaron Rodgers+1200Dak Prescott+1200Justin Herbert+1600Ryan Tannehill+3500Derek Carr+5000Patrick Mahomes+6500Joe Burrow+6500Teddy Bridgewater+8000Cooper Kupp+8000Russell Wilson+10000Jonathan Taylor+10000That isn't to say Brady hasn't earned his spot atop the oddsboard. The 44-year-old leads the NFL in passing touchdowns (25) and ranks second in yards (2,650). He's on pace to shatter the single-season yardage record (5,477) with an assist from the new 17-game schedule.Brady leapfrogged previous favorite Josh Allen, who easily had the worst week of the leading candidates. The Buffalo Bills quarterback was sacked four times and committed three turnovers - with two ending up in the hands of edge rusher Josh Allen - in Sunday's embarrassing 9-6 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Allen versus Allen showdown was mostly a fun sidebar, but it also drew plenty of attention to just how poorly the quarterback performed as the MVP front-runner.Things weren't much better down the ballot, either. Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford threw two interceptions to just one score in a prime-time loss to the Tennessee Titans. However, he still leads the NFL in QBR, which has predicted the MVP in nine of the 15 seasons with available data. Dak Prescott also lost steam with a blowout loss to the Denver Broncos, which followed a string of impressive performances for the Dallas Cowboys star.Those who didn't even play on Sunday - aside from Brady - were also hurt by the Week 9 madness. Early season favorite Kyler Murray missed his first game of the year and Arizona Cardinals backup Colt McCoy starred in a road upset win, while 2020 MVP Aaron Rodgers faced plenty of criticism due to his COVID-19-related absence in the Green Bay Packers' loss on Sunday.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.

We are rocking and rolling on Thursday nights through our first two editions of the player prop deep dive.We're going to channel the Talking Heads for this week's TNF matchup at Hard Rock Stadium. We're not talking about the heads who'll finally be touting Lamar Jackson as an MVP candidate on the pregame shows. Instead, we'll focus on the new wave rock band of the 1970s and '80s. Thankfully, watching the Ravens' new-wave offense against a vulnerable defense won't be a "Once in a Lifetime" experience. When their offense is clicking, Jackson leaves defenders asking themselves, "How did I get here?"Burning down the houseJackson's no "Psycho Killer," but he's made a habit of ripping out opponents' hearts when coach John Harbaugh puts the ball in his hands in high-leverage situations. Maybe you'll ask me to "Stop Making Sense," but it's Jackson's downfield weapons who should take advantage of the Dolphins since the quarterback will be the obvious focal point.Mark Andrews' production has dipped a little bit this season, causing his yardage prop to fall into a range that must be bet, especially against a Miami team allowing 12.2 yards per reception to opposing tight ends this season, including a 163-yard performance by Kyle Pitts. Look for Andrews to get open more than once beyond the linebacker level, with Jackson upping the opportunities for his favorite target, and it's feeling "the same as it ever was."Pick: Mark Andrews over 49.5 receiving yardsA TD that's definitely going to happenI'll forget that this subtitle is meant as sarcasm if we hit one more of these bets, and I'll be insisting that "This Must Be The Place" for TNF betting glory. That said, it won't be shocking if Jackson takes one in for a touchdown against the Dolphins.With Latavius Murray likely still out Thursday, the Ravens are missing the bruising goal-line back who would be ideal for Jackson to just handoff to. However, the signal-caller isn't shy with keeping the ball and finding his way for a score, especially in prime-time games. At the very least, he'll have an opportunity to score from in close, and, as always, he's a threat to take one into the blue (painted end zone) from distance.Pick: Lamar Jackson anytime touchdown +100A TD that won't happen ... but maybe it doesOur long-shot touchdown bet has been a "Road to Nowhere" the last two weeks, but it'll still end up profitable overall if we can score one by the end of the season.Like last week, we'll try a player who scored a touchdown the previous week at a big payout to do it again five days later. The Ravens ran a play for Patrick Ricard at the goal line last week, and he rewarded them with a nice catch for a touchdown. There were at least two other instances when he was the primary receiver on plays designed to get him the ball in space. Also, we just mentioned that Baltimore doesn't have a bruising 'back to take a carry at the 1-yard line, so Ricard could provide that option too.Pick: Patrick Ricard anytime touchdown +1200Matt 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.

Absolute carnage.Week 9 was a bloodbath for survivor pools with the Bills, Rams, Cowboys, Saints, and even 49ers losing as sizeable favorites. If you followed last week's column, you advanced courtesy of the Colts' win over the Jets on Thursday and were able to sit back and enjoy Sunday's chaos.On the surface, Week 10 looks easier to negotiate, but at this stage of the season, there's no such thing as safe. Let's map out the top choices:AWAYHOMEPICK (CR)JaguarsColts (-10.5)IND (9)PanthersCardinals (-10.5)ARI (9)BuccaneersWashington (+9.5)TB (9)FalconsCowboys (-9)DAL (8)RavensDolphins (+7.5)BAL (8)BillsJets (+13)BUF (7)LionsSteelers (-9)PIT (6)SeahawksPackers (-3.5)GB (3)BrownsPatriots (-1.5)NE (2)Rams49ers (+4)LAR (2)VikingsChargers (-2.5)MIN (1)SaintsTitans (-3)TEN (1)EaglesBroncos (-3)PHI (1)ChiefsRaiders (+2.5)LV (1)Confidence rating (CR) is the author's level of trust in picking the winner of each given gameColts (vs. Jaguars)I picked the Colts last week, but if you didn't, don't hesitate. Last week was essentially the Jaguars' season, and I'm expecting a significant letdown as they hit the road with Trevor Lawrence hobbled against a white-hot and rested Colts squad. It's really hard to imagine Jacksonville finding the same level of intensity again, and there's no way Urban Meyer had more than one rabbit in his hat.Cardinals (vs. Panthers)If you're considering the Cardinals, wait for clarity on the injury front. As good as Colt McCoy looked last week, don't pin your hopes on him against a feisty Panthers pass rush. Kyler Murray has to be back for this to be playable, and ideally at least one of DeAndre Hopkins or A.J. Green will return too. Without Murray, I'd bump this to about a six on the CR scale. P.J. Walker starting for the Panthers helps make the case for Arizona. Sam Darnold is easy to pick on, but Walker has looked terrible in limited mop-up duty, completing just 3 of 15 pass attempts this season.With Kyler and perhaps one of the starting wideouts, it's very difficult to see the Cardinals slipping up against the Walker-led Panthers.Buccaneers (@ Washington)Washington is at least a little scary as a home underdog - an offense with solid weapons that has success moving the ball. However, its red-zone success rate is putrid, and its inability to finish drives will be amplified by Tampa Bay's defense. It's also notable that the Buccaneers are getting healthy in the secondary, so the route to beat them over the past six weeks is quickly disappearing.The other case for taking the Bucs: When else are you going to do it? Next week's game against the Giants, who are on bye this week and getting everyone back on offense, is dangerous. After that, there's nothing appealing on their schedule until Week 17 against the Jets. Coming off the bye, Tampa's had two weeks to ruminate on losing to the Saints. Tom Brady and Co. take out their frustrations here.Ravens (@ Dolphins)There's uncertainty surrounding Tua Tagovailoa's status, and if Jacoby Brissett's under center, the Dolphins won't keep up with the Ravens - Miami gives up way too many big plays on defense and doesn't have the firepower to match when it falls behind. Tagovailoa at least gives me momentary pause; I'm higher on him than most, and he was really rounding into form before injuring his finger. A Tua start bumps this to a confidence rating of six or seven, at which point I'd probably save Baltimore for next week against the Bears.Cowboys (vs. Falcons)Unlike with the Buccaneers, there are some appealing spots to take the Cowboys in the future. They still play Washington twice, and they host the Raiders in Week 12, which is a really tough week for survivor purposes. That's reason enough to save Dallas, and while I believe this is a solid buy-low spot, I'm comfortable sitting this one out and waiting for the Cowboys to right the ship. I don't think the Falcons are very good, and they pose much less of a threat than the Broncos, but Atlanta's running hot. If you must, however, I'm OK with the Cowboys here.Bills (@ Jets)If our picks align, you can't use the Bills anyway, but there's legitimate cause for concern with this team. It starts with Josh Allen, whose 2020 season looks more like an outlier than a breakout as inconsistency and turnovers plague him again. This is a division game on the road, and there's a chance that Mike White - who balled out before getting hurt against the Colts - won't turn back into a frog anytime soon.Buffalo is set to host the Panthers, Falcons, and Jets later this season. If you still have the Bills, save them until we get some assurance.Avoid: Steelers (vs. Lions)The reason to pick the Steelers this week is that Detroit is a truly bad football team bereft of talent and loaded with injuries. But there are more reasons to stay away.While the Lions may be awful, they compete hard and they're wildly unpredictable. They were seconds away from beating both the Ravens and Vikings, and they held a fourth-quarter lead over the Rams at SoFi Stadium. This is also a terrible schedule spot for Pittsburgh: a short week with the Lions coming off their bye. And frankly, the Steelers - who needed late heroics to beat Geno Smith and Justin Fields at Heinz Field - aren't that good. I don't say this often, but Jared Goff is a step up (a small one, but still) from both of those quarterbacks, and at some point, Pittsburgh's luck will run out.Week 10 pick: BuccaneersAlex Moretto is theScore's supervising editor of sports betting. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brian Burns still has a gripe to pick with Mac Jones after hearing the New England Patriots quarterback explain how he ended up holding and twisting the defensive end's ankle."I think it's some bull," the Carolina Panthers star said Wednesday of the play. "His explanation for it - because he thought I had the ball - I don't think you could think a person has the ball; as soon as I sacked you, you grabbed my arm."And then everybody ran past us. But even if you thought I had the ball, it's not legal to trip somebody or to leg sweep somebody let alone twist ankle, whatever (you want to call it), it's not legal to do that."Jones grabbed Burns by the ankle Sunday after the pass-rusher stripped him in the pocket. The rookie passer said he thought Burns recovered the fumble, so he tried to tackle him the only way he could. The Florida State product sustained an injury on the play, and his status for Week 10 is up in the air as a result.

Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule announced Wednesday that quarterback Sam Darnold will miss four-to-six weeks due to a shoulder injury, according to The Athletic's Joe Person.Rhule added that the Panthers will explore "any and all options" in response to Darnold's absence. Tests reportedly revealed that the passer fractured the scapula in his right shoulder.Darnold's performance against the New England Patriots on Sunday marked a new low in what's been a string of disappointing performances. He completed under 50% of his passes for 172 yards with zero touchdowns to three interceptions. His 26.3 passer rating was also his lowest of the season.The former third overall pick led Carolina to a 3-0 start but has now lost five of his last six games. Darnold also hasn't thrown a touchdown pass since Week 6 but has been intercepted four times in that span.Rhule said he didn't want to get into hypotheticals when asked about the possibility of signing free-agent quarterback Cam Newton, according to ESPN's David Newton.Newton enjoyed nine years with the Panthers after being selected first overall in the 2011 draft. He was named league MVP after leading Carolina to a Super Bowl appearance during the 2015 campaign. The veteran spent last year with the Patriots before being released prior to the 2021 season.P.J. Walker is set to start with Darnold sidelined. Walker has completed just three of his 15 pass attempts for Carolina this season.The Panthers sit in last place in the NFC South at 4-5. They're set to take on the 8-1 Arizona Cardinals on the road Sunday.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Last week was chaotic for underdogs. It's possible we see a similar script in Week 10 with seven games lined above a full touchdown.We've got one game in our sights that could shock the football world.The spotThe place to start here is the schedule. The Steelers are coming off their 19th-straight Monday Night Football victory at home, winning a game that ended up being closer than expected given Pittsburgh's halftime lead. While they stay home for the short week, it's still a quick turnaround from prime time to a game on Sunday at 1 p.m.Meanwhile, the Lions come off a much-needed bye week for a team that was pretty beat up physically and emotionally. Detroit got run over by the Eagles before the week off but has had some valiant, tear-jerking efforts against top teams in the Rams, Ravens, and Packers.As we know, the Lions and their coach still care, so a couple of weeks to sit on their 0-8 start is more likely to produce motivation rather than the team quitting. Detroit's effort against the Rams to manufacture extra possessions showed me that they're willing to come into a game with a plan to do more than just line up and play. Having an extra week for the coaching staff to prepare should provide an opportunity to get a leg up on Pittsburgh.Lions offense vs. Steelers defenseGetting healthy in the trenches is critical for the Lions' success since their skill position weapons are in the bottom end of the league talent-wise. Even with center Frank Ragnow out for the rest of the season, Detroit's offensive line becomes a strength with Taylor Decker returning at left tackle and rookie Penei Sewell moving to right tackle. That is a big deal with T.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward, and Co. rushing Jared Goff.Justin Fields was able to test the Steelers' secondary in the second half on Monday after the NFL community was concerned with his readiness for a road test. The market doesn't like Goff all that much, either, but with added protection, he could be in line for a better game than most think.Lions defense vs. Steelers offenseAlthough teams have run heavily on the Lions as they preserve late leads, Detroit only allows 4.3 yards per carry, which is actually less than the Steelers allow to their opponents. As expected, Najee Harris is being frustrated behind the Steelers' offensive line. Harris has shown flashes of brilliance, but he has only topped 4.1 yards per carry in one game this season.The Lions' issue on defense has been that they are being dominated by opposing quarterbacks, allowing the best average quarterback rating in the NFL (112.7). However, the two times they've played sub-par offenses, they've held Fields and Jalen Hurts to quarterback ratings less than 90.For all his career accolades, Ben Roethlisberger is a below-average quarterback at this point. He's 26th in net yards per attempt, nestled in between Tua Tagovailoa and Sam Darnold.Even worse, while Detroit gets healthier this week, the Steelers appear to be without Chase Claypool. Pittsburgh's offense showed how inept it is without a healthy Claypool when he was banged up at the end of last season and when he missed the Week 4 loss at Green Bay.The Steelers dodged a brutal second-half collapse to the Bears after Claypool had to leave the game. They pulled out the win, but Pittsburgh is 54-70-1 under Mike Tomlin when favored by more than a field goal, including 0-6 this season with three outright losses.If I love the Lions to stay within the spread on Sunday, I have to at least like their chances relative to the moneyline at a big payout of +330. Since we're still flush with cash - up +7.9 units on our upset of the week picks - let's take a shot with Detroit to get its first win of the season in Pittsburgh.Pick: Lions +330Matt 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.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Carson Wentz intends to play against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, even if it means missing the birth of his baby.Wentz's wife is due to deliver the couple's second child any day now."I could get a call at any time," he said, according to The Athletic's Stephen Holder. But after having a discussion with his wife about a possible conflict between this weekend's game, Wentz noted that "I'm playing."With the Colts signal-caller intent on being active for Week 10, the decision aids the Philadelphia Eagles, who could receive a first-round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft if Wentz plays 75% of the team's snaps during the regular season. The conditional draft pick will remain a second-round selection if Wentz does not fulfill the percentage criteria.The 2017 Pro Bowler has passed for 2,198 yards, 17 touchdowns, and three interceptions while completing 63% of his pass attempts. Wentz has thrown more TDs through nine contests than he did in his final campaign with the Eagles in 2020.Indianapolis will aim to take advantage of a Jaguars defense that's allowing an average of 272 passing yards per game to opponents this season.Wentz and the Colts currently sit second in the AFC South with a 4-5 record.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman Dakota Dozier was hospitalized Tuesday with breathing difficulties stemming from COVID-19, ESPN's Courtney Cronin reports.Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer acknowledged Wednesday that a player required hospitalization because of the virus but didn't disclose his identity. Dozier, who is vaccinated, is now in stable condition, Zimmer said."It's serious stuff, so, I don't know," Zimmer told reporters. "Like 29 guys are getting tested because of close contact, including myself."Dozier went on the COVID-19 list Friday and is one of a handful of players Minnesota has on reserve. The Vikings are operating under intensive protocols, requiring daily testing and increased masking to prevent a potential spread.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns agreed to a three-year contract extension with guard Joel Bitonio, the team announced Wednesday.The extension is worth roughly $48 million, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The Browns inked Wyatt Teller to a new four-year, $56.8-million deal one day prior. Cleveland now has its entire starting offensive line under contract until the end of 2022.

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

The New York Jets will start Mike White at quarterback for their Week 10 meeting with the Buffalo Bills, head coach Robert Saleh announced Wednesday, according to ESPN's Rich Cimini.Rookie passer Zach Wilson will sit another week as he continues to recover from a knee injury. Wilson sprained his PCL in a Week 7 loss and was expected to miss two-to-four weeks.During an impressive first start, White led the Jets to an upset win against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 8 while throwing for 405 yards and three touchdowns. His second start ended prematurely after he exited last week's game versus the Indianapolis Colts with an injury.White's emergence has led to questions over the Jets' starting quarterback job. Robert Saleh has continued to be noncommittal on Wilson's role once he returns, telling reporters Wednesday that the decision is "day-to-day," according to Brian Costello of the New York Post."We'll see," Saleh said when asked if White would start in the future, per Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.Saleh added: "(Wilson is) trending in the right direction. We'll see how he practices this week and see how he feels."Wilson's struggled in his rookie campaign. The former second overall pick has tossed more interceptions (9) than touchdowns (4) and has a 63.5 passer rating.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A former girlfriend of Minnesota Vikings' Dalvin Cook filed a lawsuit Tuesday accusing the running back of assault, battery, and false imprisonment, according to a Dakota County District Court lawsuit obtained by Rochelle Olson and Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune.Gracelyn Trimble, a U.S. Army sergeant currently stationed in Italy, is accusing Cook of "giving (her) a concussion, leaving a scar on (her) face, and taking (her) through hell," according to the lawsuit. Trimble also claims that Cook held her hostage in his Inver Grove Heights home on Nov. 19, 2020.Trimble is reportedly seeking unspecified monetary damages. Trimble's representative engaged in settlement talks with Cook's lawyer, David Valentini, before filing the lawsuit, but an agreement wasn't reached, per Olson and Goessling.The 29-year-old claims in the lawsuit that she flew to Minnesota to break up with Cook and get her belongings from his home. Trimble said she entered through the garage and took a mace with her that she stored at the house.According to details from the lawsuit, Cook became angry when Trimble asked him to help gather her things. Trimble said Cook then "grabbed her arm, and slung her whole body over the couch, slamming her face into the coffee table and causing her lower forehead and the bridge of her nose to bust open."She attempted to spray mace at Cook, but he overpowered her, and the mace went into her eyes, according to the lawsuit. Trimble said Cook assaulted her again after she went to the shower. She claims that she then grabbed a gun from Cook's bedroom and called a friend before Cook overheard the call and beat her with a broomstick.Trimble later sought treatment for her injuries, telling medical staff she had been in an ATV accident, according to Olson and Goessling. Trimble said she suffered a concussion, several deep cuts, and bruises from the incident.However, Valentini responded to the lawsuit by saying Cook was the victim of domestic abuse, and Trimble is trying to "extort him for millions of dollars."The lawyer said Trimble illegally broke into Cook's residence and assaulted him and two houseguests. Valentini said Cook was defending himself, adding that Trimble used mace on him and held him hostage with a firearm for "several hours," according to The Associated Press' Dave Campbell. Valentini also said Trimble fell to the ground when Cook attempted to stop her from attacking one of his guests."While Mr. Cook and Sgt. Trimble had a short-term relationship over several months, she became emotionally abusive, physically aggressive and confrontational, and repeatedly attempted to provoke Mr. Cook," Valentini said.Neither Trimble nor Cook reportedly contacted police or filed a report with authorities about the incident. The two reportedly saw each other off and on before permanently breaking up in May.The Vikings released a statement, saying they "recently received notification from Dalvin Cook's legal representative regarding a situation that occurred between Dalvin and a female acquaintance in November 2020 and led to an ongoing dispute between the parties. Upon learning of this, we immediately notified the NFL. We are in the process of gathering more information and will withhold further comment at this time."Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL fined the Green Bay Packers $300,000 for violating the league's COVID-19 protocols, while quarterback Aaron Rodgers and wide receiver Allen Lazard were fined $14,650 each, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.The league reportedly punished Rodgers and Lazard for attending a maskless Halloween party. The Packers didn't sanction the event, but the NFL determined the club should have penalized both players, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.Rodgers and Lazard also had a few instances when they weren't wearing masks inside the facility, added Garafolo. The league reportedly found Green Bay was otherwise compliant with protocols.The Packers were told that future protocol violations could result in increased discipline, such as the loss of draft choices or change in draft-pick position.Rodgers missed Sunday's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs after testing positive for COVID-19. The reigning NFL MVP implied in August that he received his vaccination, saying he was "immunized" when asked if he'd gotten a shot.The quarterback said Tuesday that he takes "full responsibility" for misleading people about his status, but he stood by his remarks criticizing the league's protocols for unvaccinated players.Rodgers is eligible to return to the Packers on Saturday if he remains asymptomatic. The signal-caller said he expects to play Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks.Lazard, who is also unvaccinated, missed Week 8 after being deemed a close contact to wide receiver Davante Adams.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.