Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold is set to miss several weeks due to a fractured scapula in his right shoulder, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.P.J. Walker will start for the Panthers in Darnold's absence. Carolina goes on the road to face the Arizona Cardinals in Week 10 and hosts the Washington Football Team in Week 11.Darnold was initially believed to be day-to-day after suffering the injury in Sunday's loss to the New England Patriots.The 2018 third overall pick started strong in his first season in Carolina following an offseason trade from the New York Jets. But he has struggled mightily over the last five games, four of which were losses.Darnold completed just 51.9% of his passes for 797 yards and two touchdowns against eight interceptions in those five games. He also took 11 sacks and fumbled twice, losing one.The quarterback threw three interceptions in the 24-6 loss to the Patriots. Panthers head coach Matt Rhule gave a blunt assessment of Darnold's play after the game, saying "we can't keep throwing the ball up in the air."Darnold also downplayed wide receiver Robby Anderson's sideline outburst toward him.The Panthers benched the signal-caller late in the Week 7 loss to the New York Giants. Walker, a former XFL standout, took over from Darnold but completed just three of his 14 pass attempts for 33 yards.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is a free agent after clearing waivers Tuesday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo.The former Cleveland Browns wideout becomes a free agent for the first time in his career.The New England Patriots have been in touch with Beckham's camp, a source told Jeff Howe of The Athletic.Meanwhile, the Seattle Seahawks reportedly have a strong interest in Beckham, who sees the NFC West club as his preferred landing spot.Beckham is expected to take some time and assess the best possible situation for him with several options available, a source told NFL reporter Josina Anderson. Players such as Von Miller, Justin Jefferson, and Darius Slay have pitched the star receiver on potentially joining their respective franchises.Although the Browns removed the final two years of Beckham's deal before placing him on waivers Monday, any team that claimed Beckham would've had to pay his $7.2-million salary for the rest of the season.Cleveland still owes the 29-year-old $4.25 million in termination pay under the terms of a settlement agreement, per MMQB's Albert Breer.The Browns released Beckham after the three-time Pro Bowler had an apparent disagreement with the team's front office and quarterback Baker Mayfield.Beckham's relationship with the Browns seemingly reached a crossroads last week when his father, Odell Beckham Sr., shared a video on social media of Mayfield either missing on throws to Beckham or not looking in the receiver's direction.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.theScore's Justin Boone was first overall in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition in 2019 and has finished among the top seven each of the last seven years. Follow the links below to see his rankings for Week 10.Updated rankings (including Standard and PPR) will be released Thursday, with the final version coming down Sunday morning.Half PPR

A late QB change doomed one of our three picks in Week 9, but we still managed a 2-1 record in the most unpredictable week of the season. Can we build upon that in Week 10 with a trio of unders?Saints @ Titans (-3, 44.5), 1 p.m. ETIf these two teams were at full strength, perhaps the over would be a more intriguing play. But injuries have forced both clubs to rely on their defenses, which have risen to the challenge in recent weeks.The Titans scored 28 points in their statement win Sunday over the Rams despite mustering just 194 yards of total offense, as two errant throws by Matthew Stafford directly resulted in a pair of Tennessee touchdowns. This unit's relentless pressure will be an issue for Trevor Siemian, who led his team to just three points through the first three quarters of last week's game before a fruitless comeback attempt.Conversely, despite an off showing against the Falcons, the Saints' defense is still a top-five unit by most metrics and should have an answer for the wounded Titans attack. This is a "first to 21" type of affair, so take advantage.Pick: Under 44.5Browns @ Patriots (-1.5, 45.5), 1 p.m.Sometimes looks can be deceiving. Yes, the Browns scored 41 points a week ago in a blowout win over the Bengals, but they also benefitted from three 60-plus-yard touchdowns (pass, run, interception return) after scoring one such play through their first eight games combined.Before Sunday's outburst, Cleveland scored 17 or fewer points in three consecutive contests, and its offense still managed just 14 first downs a week ago and converted 3-of-9 third-down attempts. The Patriots' defense is allowing the fourth-fewest first downs per game (18.8) and ranks fourth in scoring defense (18.9 PPG) after smothering the Panthers a week ago.The X-factor is this New England offense, which dropped 54 points two weeks ago but has otherwise averaged 22 points per game and scored fewer than 30 points in each of its other eight contests. If we see that version of the Patriots' offense Sunday, the Browns will be hard-pressed to carry this one over.Pick: Under 45.5Panthers @ Cardinals (-10, 44.5), 4:05 p.m.If you've been following from the beginning, you know that we identified the Panthers early as a cash cow for the under, especially once the team lost Christian McCaffrey. Sure enough, Carolina is 7-2 to the under this season and scored just six points in McCaffrey's return Sunday, which was marred by yet another turnover-laden day from Sam Darnold.He's unlikely to fare much better against a Cardinals defense that ranks third in takeaways (17) and has quietly held six of its last seven opponents to 20 points or less. Arizona has managed more than 31 points just twice in those seven games, and it faces a stiff test against the Panthers, who have allowed the NFL's fewest yards per drive (23.8) and fourth-fewest points per drive (1.64).Pick: Under 44.5C 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.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers took responsibility Tuesday for indicating he was vaccinated against COVID-19 before the season."I misled some people about my status, which I take full responsibility of for those comments," he said on "The Pat McAfee Show."When asked in August if he was vaccinated, Rodgers told reporters, "Yeah, I've been immunized." Rodgers sat out Week 9 against the Kansas City Chiefs while in an extended quarantine, which the NFL mandates for unvaccinated players who test positive for COVID-19.The three-time MVP is eligible to return to the Packers' facility as early as Saturday, one day before Green Bay faces the Seattle Seahawks. He expects to play barring any health setbacks and is ready to return his focus to football."I'm an athlete, I'm not an activist, so I'm going to get back to doing what I do best and that's playing ball," Rodgers said. "I shared my opinion. It wasn't one that was come to frivolously - it involved a lot of study and what I felt was in my best interest for my body."Rodgers also said he gets why his his vaccination status is such a polarizing topic."I understand that people are suffering and this has been a really difficult time for the last two years on so many people," he said. "I think we all know individuals who have lost their lives personally, people who have lost their businesses, their livelihoods, (whose) way of life has been altered completely, and I empathize with those things."Rodgers expressed dismay about the NFL's COVID-19 protocols a week ago, saying the league's policies were designed to "shame" unvaccinated players.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Every Monday during the season, theScore's Justin Boone runs down the recommended waiver wire pickups.Roster percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. Free Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are set off a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 50% of leagues are considered.Quarterbacks Joe Sargent / Getty Images Sport / GettyBen Roethlisberger, SteelersNext UpRosteredFABvs. DET27%$1It's odd to recommend a Week 10 streaming option who hasn't even finished his Week 9 game yet, but here we are.The selection of available passers is limited, and Roethlisberger will be the top quarterback to target off waivers as long as he emerges from Monday night's battle with the Bears unscathed.Before heading into their Week 9 bye, the Lions ranked 28th in Football Outsiders' pass defense DVOA and gave up three-touchdown performances to Matthew Stafford and Joe Burrow in two of their last three outings. Jalen Hurts likely could have done the same, but the Eagles opted to rush for four touchdowns instead.Roethlisberger and the Steelers' offense should have no problem moving the ball against Detroit, leading to lots of scoring opportunities. That makes him a safe play for those in need of a one-week replacement.Streaming options: Teddy Bridgewater vs. PHI (28% rostered), Taylor Heinicke vs. TB (9% rostered), Baker Mayfield at NE (37% rostered), Taysom Hill at TEN (18% rostered),Streaming options (if healthy): Tua Tagovailoa vs. BAL (33% rostered)Risky streaming options: Mac Jones vs. CLE (30% rostered), Jimmy Garoppolo vs. LAR (28% rostered), Trevor Lawrence at IND (38% rostered), Trevor Siemian at TEN (5% rostered)Bye week stashes: Justin Fields (26% rostered), Tyrod Taylor (15% rostered)Long-term stashes: Trey Lance (18% rostered)2QB/Superflex long-term stashes: Cam Newton (1% rostered)Running backs Simon Bruty / Sports Illustrated / GettyDevonta Freeman, RavensNext UpRosteredFABat MIA20%$12Latavius Murray was expected to return from an ankle injury following the Ravens' Week 8 bye. However, Murray didn't even practice last week, and that trend continued Monday ahead of Baltimore's Thursday night game with the Dolphins.The result will be another start for Freeman, who has quietly climbed to the clear lead spot in the Ravens' backfield. What was once a full-blown committee has turned into a starring role for the 29-year-old.Freeman has recorded touchdowns in each of the last three games and set season highs in yards from scrimmage (83) and snap share (58.2%) Sunday.With the Ravens heading to Miami as 7.5-point favorites, Freeman will be a fantasy RB2 in what should be a very positive game script.Alex Collins/Rashaad Penny, SeahawksNext UpRosteredFABat GB43%/10%$7/$1Pete Carroll suggested Chris Carson would attempt to practice leading up to Week 10. It's notable since Carson has been sidelined for over a month with a neck issue that could threaten his season.Unfortunately, we also know Carroll can be overly optimistic, and there's no guarantee Carson gets cleared to return.Given the uncertainty, Collins and Penny should both be considered adds if they're still available in your league.Collins has been the frontman in the Seahawks' RBBC. Although he's consistently led the backfield in carries, Collins lacks involvement in the passing game. That limits his fantasy upside and makes him a touchdown-dependent flex most weeks.Penny's production has been almost non-existent, and he's purely a bench stash in hopes that he can benefit from the bye and earn a bigger role moving forward.Jordan Howard, EaglesNext UpRosteredFABat DEN13%$7Figuring out the Eagles' backfield has been a tricky endeavor the last few weeks. With Miles Sanders on injured reserve, Nick Sirianni has largely leaned on veterans Boston Scott and Howard to power their attack.After rolling over the Lions in Week 8, Philly's backs got another friendly matchup against the Chargers' weak run defense. Only this time, Howard led the way with 17 carries to Scott's 10.Scott out-snapped his teammate (25-23), and rookie Kenneth Gainwell vultured a touchdown, but Howard was the most productive overall by totaling 71 rushing yards and a score on the day.That led to at least one beat writer calling for Howard to be a permanent part of the offense, even after Sanders returns from IR.Regardless, we know Howard will have at least one more chance to prove himself before Sanders is eligible to be activated. Consider him a flex option for Week 10, and we'll reassess next week.With Nick Chubb testing positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday and Kareem Hunt still on injured reserve, D'Ernest Johnson (40% rostered) should be rostered in all leagues.High-upside backups like Alexander Mattison (47% rostered) and Sony Michel (35% rostered) should be rostered in most leagues.Flex options: Mark Ingram at TEN (38% rostered), Ty Johnson vs. BUF (12% rostered)Risky flex options: Carlos Hyde at IND (34% rostered), Brandon Bolden vs. CLE (10% rostered), D'Onta Foreman vs. NO (1% rostered), Eno Benjamin vs. CAR (0% rostered), Giovani Bernard at WAS (10% rostered),Risky flex options (if healthy): Rhamondre Stevenson vs. CLE (6% rostered)Dart-throw flex options: Le'Veon Bell at MIA (5% rostered), Salvon Ahemd vs. BAL (6% rostered), Kenneth Gainwell at DEN (40% rostered), Derrick Gore at LV (37% rostered), JaMycal Hasty vs. LAR (2% rostered), Jeff Wilson vs. LAR (31% rostered), Travis Homer at GB (0% rostered)Other backups to roster: Ronald Jones at WAS (21% rostered), Samaje Perine on Bye (11% rostered), Jaret Patterson vs. TB (2% rostered), Justin Jackson vs. MIN (2% rostered), J.J. Taylor vs. CLE (0% rostered), Ameer Abdullah at ARI (0% rostered)Wide receivers Todd Olszewski / Getty Images Sport / GettyRashod Bateman, RavensNext UpRosteredFABat MIA36%$14This is Bateman's third week getting a section of his own, which makes him an early candidate to be the next Tim Patrick - someone who keeps producing but a player who fantasy managers just don't want to roster.The Ravens' first-round pick has now appeared in three games, turning in stat lines of 4-29-0, 3-80-0, and 5-52-0. He's seen at least three targets in every game, including a season-high eight passes thrown his way Sunday.

Former NBA point guard Deron Williams and longtime NFL running back Frank Gore will meet in a boxing match Dec. 18 on the Jake Paul-Tommy Fury undercard in Tampa, Showtime announced Tuesday.It was announced last week that Williams would compete at the event. Gore was reported as a potential opponent.The fight will be contested at 215 pounds and consist of four three-minute rounds, according to MMA reporter Ariel Helwani. It'll be sanctioned as a professional bout and will kick off the pay-per-view portion of the card.Williams, a three-time NBA All-Star with the Utah Jazz and Brooklyn Nets, has trained in mixed martial arts and boxing for years. He owns a stake in Fortis MMA, a top MMA gym located in Dallas.The 37-year-old also played with the Dallas Mavericks and Cleveland Cavaliers before retiring from basketball in 2017.Gore, 38, told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport in September that he'd recently been training in boxing and was trying to schedule a fight. He's a five-time Pro Bowler who spent 16 years in the NFL, most of which came with the San Francisco 49ers. He ranks third all time in rushing yards with 16,000. Gore most recently played in 2020 with the New York Jets.The Dec. 18 event will be headlined by an eight-round bout between Paul and Fury. Paul is an internet celebrity who began boxing in 2020, while Fury is an up-and-coming boxer with seven pro bouts. He's also the half-brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. The fight will air on Showtime pay-per-view.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It was the greatest teaser leg ever. Until it wasn't.The 49ers opened as +2.5 underdogs last week and slowly began their journey to -5.5 favorites. For much of the early week, you could tease San Francisco up to over a touchdown. With the Cardinals' obvious injury issues, the 49ers (as underdogs) were a clear cornerstone for any 6-point teaser.When they closed as near touchdown favorites, those who grabbed the +8.5/+8/+7.5/+7 had the deal of the century, effectively getting a 14-point teaser for a price of just -270. Then it went south. The 49ers no-showed their biggest game of the year and couldn't even get their early bettors home through the back door.There are times when that -270 price becomes more valuable than just betting a moneyline or an alternative spread on its own. Beating a big market move is certainly one of those times. Getting that generous spread home as a winner is a more difficult task.Not all teaser legs are created equal. The biggest mistake novice bettors make is teasing through zero because they're wasting valuable price points on a number the game probably won't land on: a tie. So, how can we maximize the six-point move? How can we get what we're paying for at -270 per leg? Let's use the Thursday night game between the Ravens and Dolphins as an example.SPREADODDSBAL -7.5-110BAL -7-138BAL -6.5-145BAL -6-163BAL -5.5-175BAL -5-175BAL -4.5-188BAL -4-200BAL -3.5-205BAL -3-270The alternative spread gives you the Ravens -3 at -270. Would you rather that, or the -1.5 that a teaser leg provides at the same price? What about -1.5 -270 versus the Ravens' moneyline of -380?The answers are obvious, but we'll need some options to pair with BAL -1.5, which is why we turn to the teaser basket for the best options to capture as many key numbers as possible.Teaser basketLet's look at the mathematically optimal plays available for Week 10:TEAMSPREADTEASER LEGRavens-7.5-1.5Browns+1+7Vikings+2.5+8.5Eagles+2.5+8.5Raiders+2.5+8.5Which one do you not like? By now, you probably know that teasing a team up from a short 'dog up over a touchdown is my favorite use of a teaser. The Browns have taken early money, but they can still be teased to +7. The Patriots' style doesn't lend itself to a blowout. Speaking of styles, all the Vikings do is play close games. The same can be said of the Broncos and Eagles. Finally, we've seen nothing from the Chiefs to convince us that getting 8.5 points with the Raiders at home on a Sunday night is a bad idea.Skip betting the Ravens to cover a two-score spread on Thursday, but use them as this week's cornerstone game. Mix and match them with the other legs in the basket. How many combinations should you play? That's up to you and your risk tolerance in Week 10.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.

Cleveland Browns running backs Nick Chubb and Demetric Felton tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Both players are vaccinated, leaving their status for Sunday's game against the New England Patriots in question, Schefter adds. Each player would need to submit negative tests 24 hours apart to play.After John Kelly, Chubb and Felton have become the latest tailbacks Cleveland has placed on reserve. Pro Bowl runner Kareem Hunt remains on injured reserve with a calf injury.Chubb rushed for 137 yards and two touchdowns in the Browns' 41-16 win over their AFC North rivals, the Cincinnati Bengals. The two-time Pro Bowler has rushed for 721 yards and six touchdowns while averaging six yards per carry in seven appearances this season.Meanwhile, the club has primarily featured Felton on special teams as a punt returner.D'Ernest Johnson remains the only healthy rusher on the roster ahead of Sunday's contest.Chubb's status could play a vital role against the Patriots, who allow 108.9 yards per game this campaign. Cleveland enters the meeting with the NFL's second-most efficient ground game, averaging 160.2 rushing yards per contest.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin remains a proponent of the NFL's increased emphasis against taunting despite the surrounding controversy."We're trying to clean our game up," he said Tuesday, per ESPN's Brooke Pryor. "We embrace the responsibility of being the role models that we are. … We understand people at a lower level watch us and mimic what we do."While taunting calls have been scrutinized all season, they became a massive talking point after the Steelers benefited from a questionable flag against the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football.Tomlin sits on the NFL's competition committee, which pushed for officials to enforce taunting penalties more strictly in 2021.The Steelers haven't been flagged once for taunting this season, while the Bears have had three such calls go against them, according to NFLPenalties.com.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Bears edge rusher Cassius Marsh accused referee Tony Corrente of hip-checking him before throwing a controversial taunting flag on Monday Night Football."On my way to the sideline, I got hip-checked by the ref and it's pretty clear," Marsh told reporters postgame. "If I were to do that to a ref or even touch the ref, you know, we'd get kicked out of the game, possibly suspended and fined. So, I just think that that was incredibly inappropriate."Marsh made contact with Corrente while running off the field after recording a pivotal third-down sack with under four minutes remaining versus the Pittsburgh Steelers. Corrente appeared to be reaching into his uniform for the flag when they bumped into one another.

The NFL's elite players and coaches are beginning to solidify their respective cases for the league's top individual awards midway through the 2021 season.Here's a current look at the best five candidates for the main honors:Coach of the Year5. Matt LaFleur, Packers Christian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Packers reeled off seven straight wins before Aaron Rodgers tested positive for COVID-19. Unlike other clubs that scored big-time performances without their stars, LaFleur's team struggled mightily in Jordan Love's first start, putting up just seven points in a loss. One defeat shouldn't overshadow a great run, though, as LaFleur once again has Green Bay in the conversation for the NFC's strongest club.4. Sean Payton, SaintsThe Saints are one of several clubs in the upper midfield of the NFL standings. But what separates them from the pack is the man in charge. No coach has extracted more from less than Payton has from the 5-3 Saints. New Orleans has a tough road ahead and won't have Jameis Winston or Michael Thomas. But Payton's ability to keep his team competitive despite a lack of star power shouldn't be brushed aside.3. Sean McVay, RamsA letdown performance on Sunday Night Football has soured McVay's chances of landing this honor, but he still holds third place on the podium. The Rams rank top 10 in both points scored and points allowed, and with Von Miller in the fold, McVay and Co. have all the pieces to make another run at a Super Bowl.2. Mike Vrabel, TitansThere's no hotter team in the NFL than Vrabel's Titans. After a shocking Week 4 loss to the Jets, Tennesee has won five in a row and is running through anyone in its way. It hasn't been a cakewalk either; the Titans' last four wins have come against the Bills, Chiefs, Colts, and Rams. Their latest triumph was a cruise-control road victory over L.A. without Derrick Henry, which only bolstered the argument that Vrabel may be the league's most underrated head coach.1. Kliff Kingsbury, Cardinals Chris Coduto / Getty Images Sport / GettyKingsbury has done an impeccable job coaching the Cardinals this season. His most impressive performance may have occurred Sunday when Arizona easily disposed of the 49ers without Kyler Murray, DeAndre Hopkins, or A.J. Green. Don't forget: The 8-1 Cardinals are one goal-line miscommunication from a perfect record. That's a testament not only to Murray's star power but also to the man orchestrating the Cardinals' high-octane attack.Offensive Rookie of the Year5. Jaylen Waddle, DolphinsWaddle isn't getting much attention this season with the Dolphins mostly struggling, but his numbers speak for themselves. The Alabama product leads Miami in targets and receptions, and he's totaled 56 catches - tops among rookies - for 496 yards and three touchdowns. He also ranks top 10 among NFL wideouts with a 71.8% catch rate.4. Kyle Pitts, FalconsIt's no coincidence the Falcons' offense is at its best when Pitts is involved. The 2021 fourth overall pick had a slow start and didn't top 75 receiving yards in any of his first four NFL games. But he's averaged 89 yards per contest in his last four appearances, helping Atlanta win three games in that span.3. Mac Jones, Patriots Grant Halverson / Getty Images Sport / GettyJones may not be among the league's most entertaining passers due to his inconsistency as a deep thrower, but his short- and mid-range games have been solid enough for the Patriots. Granted, excellent performances from New England's defense have taken some pressure off Jones and mitigated most of his rookie mistakes. Still, the first-round passer has completed 68% of his throws (ninth-best among all quarterbacks), is 5-4 as a starter, and has helped the Patriots win three straight.2. Najee Harris, SteelersThe Steelers' offense has been one of the least productive units in the NFL this season, but it would be even worse if not for Harris, who leads all rookies in touches and scrimmage yards per game. Though the first-round running back is averaging under 4 yards per carry behind Pittsburgh's subpar offensive line, his playmaking ability as a catcher has been vital for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.1. Ja'Marr Chase, BengalsChase is coming off arguably the worst performance of his NFL career, yet the race for Offensive Rookie of the Year still isn't close. The Bengals' first-round wideout is among the best players in the league this season, ranking top five in receiving yards (835), yards per reception (19), and touchdown catches (seven). Chase has only 81 receiving yards over his last two games after posting a whopping 201 yards in Week 7, but he's still in a league of his own among rookies.Defensive Rookie of the Year5. Nick Bolton, ChiefsA new contender for Defensive Rookie of the Year has emerged in the form of Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton, who earned Rookie of the Month honors in October. No performance was as impressive as his Week 7 showing against the Titans: He became the first player in Chiefs history to record 15 combined tackles and four tackles for a loss in a single game. Kansas City's defense has been far from great, but the second-round pick has been a bright spot.4. Azeez Ojulari, Giants Jim McIsaac / Getty Images Sport / GettyOjulari cooled off after recording a sack in each of the Giants' first three games of 2021, but a 2.5-sack performance in Week 7 has reignited his campaign. Though the Georgia product has been streaky over the second quarter of the season, he still leads all rookies with 5.5 sacks.3. Patrick Surtain, BroncosThe Broncos parted ways with Von Miller after he led their defense for a decade, but Surtain may be a candidate to lead the unit for the next decade. Denver inserted the No. 9 overall pick into the starting lineup in Week 2, and Surtain hasn't looked back. Another strong performance Sunday against the Cowboys helped solidify his rise to the top three.2. Asante Samuel Jr., ChargersSamuel missed Week 9 due to a concussion but still holds the midseason No. 2 spot. The Chargers cornerback has looked like a total pro, with his two interceptions tying for both the team and rookie lead. Forty-six players heard their names called before Samuel, yet only a handful have made the transition to the NFL look as easy as he has.1. Micah Parsons, CowboysParsons still leads the pack in his charge for Defensive Rookie of the Year. The uber-athletic linebacker enjoyed another fine performance Sunday, totaling 2.5 sacks and three tackles for a loss against the Broncos. The Cowboys' defense has made serious strides in 2021, and Parsons has been one of its driving forces.Defensive Player of the Year5. Darius Leonard, Colts Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyLeonard believes he should be in the discussion for Defensive Player of the Year, and the numbers support his case. The 26-year-old is tied for the league lead with four forced fumbles and has three fumble recoveries and two interceptions. Leonard is the heartbeat of a Colts defense that's recorded at least one takeaway in every game this campaign. A linebacker hasn't won this award since Luke Kuechly in 2013. If there's anyone who can end that streak, it's Leonard.4. Maxx Crosby, RaidersCrosby has slipped a few positions since the early rankings, but that's due more to other players' performances than to his stellar play. "Mad Maxx" has done laps around opposing offensive linemen; he entered last week leading the league with 47 pressures, according to PFF. He's also notched five quarterback hits in three games this season. Quarterbacks are keeping an eye on Crosby, and the NFL's award voters should do the same.3. Trevon Diggs, CowboysDiggs was red-hot to start the 2021 campaign, recording an interception in six straight games for a league-leading seven picks. Unfortunately, those who play with fire eventually get burned. That's exactly what's happened to Diggs recently, with Broncos wideout Tim Patrick beating the corner for a long touchdown Sunday. Regardless, corners with elite ball skills don't come around often. It'll be hard to pick against Diggs if he snags a few more interceptions by season's end.2. Myles Garrett, BrownsNo surprise here: One of the front-runners for this award is none other than the league's sack leader. Garrett's 12 sacks through nine games represent an astronomical feat, putting him on pace to barely break the NFL's single-season record of 22.5 sacks over a 17-game campaign. It seems foolish to doubt whether Garrett can replicate his form over the second half of the year, as there doesn't appear to be an offensive line that can stop him. He's recorded 0.5 sacks or more in all but one of the Browns' contests this year.1. T.J. Watt, Steelers Jason Miller / Getty Images Sport / GettyForgive us if you've heard this before, but Watt is once again within striking distance of Defensive Player of the Year honors. Hampered by a groin injury after essentially missing training camp due to contract negotiations, Watt is somehow enjoying his best season yet. He's put up 11.5 sacks and three forced fumbles thus far. The 27-year-old has come close in years past, but a strong push from here on out could make 2021 the year Watt finally wins this award.MVP5. Dak Prescott, CowboysPrescott enjoyed stellar performances through the first six weeks - tossing at least three touchdowns in all but one contest - but the Cowboys' last two games dealt a blow to his MVP case. Dallas beat the Vikings in Week 7 without Prescott on the lineup, and then the two-time Pro Bowler struggled to a 48.7% completion rate and 232 yards in a blowout home loss coming off a bye. It's premature to declare Prescott out of the MVP race, but he needs to rediscover his early-season form quickly to have a realistic shot.4. Lamar Jackson, RavensIt's impossible to imagine the 2021 Ravens succeeding without Jackson, who continues to overcome his limitations as a passer by making absurd plays as a runner. In Week 9, for instance, Jackson threw two interceptions, including a bad one in overtime. But he still finished the contest with a season-high 120 rushing yards and put Baltimore in a position to kick the game-winning field goal that lifted the team to 6-2. Jackson leads the NFL with four fourth-quarter comebacks this year.3. Tom Brady, BuccaneersBrady's production through eight games speaks for itself. The 44-year-old has completed 67.3% of his passes - his best rate since 2016 - while tossing a league-leading 25 touchdowns and 331.3 yards per game. With the Buccaneers encountering more defensive issues than anticipated, Brady's consistency under center has been critical for Tampa Bay's success. The reigning champions currently have the NFL's top-ranked scoring offense and lead the NFC South with a 6-2 record through Week 9.2. Matthew Stafford, RamsOne can make the argument that Stafford is the MVP after nine weeks. He leads the NFL in QBR and expected points added; the latter category has seen its leader win MVP every year since 2016. But the Rams have faced only one opponent above .500 since Week 4 - the Titans in Week 9 - and Stafford had his worst performance of the year on that occasion. Still, despite posting a 71 passer rating versus Tennessee, the 33-year-old is on pace for a career year in his 13th NFL campaign.1. Kyler Murray, Cardinals Christian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / GettyMurray's Week 9 absence due to injury didn't hurt his MVP case as much as it could have, with other legitimate MVP contenders failing to boost their respective cases. Murray hasn't been flawless - he's tossed seven interceptions in eight games - but the Cardinals signal-caller was football's most exciting player through the season's first half. He's 7-1 as a starter and has a 110.4 passer rating with a 72.7% completion rate. He's also delivered when Arizona has needed him most, recording a passer rating of 122.1 in third-down situations.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell nailed a 40-yard field goal in the final minute to help his team edge the Chicago Bears 29-27 on Monday night.Chicago had its chance to steal the victory, but Cairo Santos missed a 65-yard kick as time expired.The Bears, who were down 20-6 late in the third quarter, took the lead just minutes before Boswell's field goal.Rookie quarterback Justin Fields led a clutch touchdown drive to put Chicago up 27-26, overcoming a controversial taunting penalty by his team's defense that extended Pittsburgh's previous drive.Chicago linebacker Cassius Marsh, who used to play for the Steelers, drew the flag after he looked over to Pittsburgh's bench following a third-down sack of Ben Roethlisberger.

A week ago, it looked like the Titans' title hopes might be dead after they lost their best player to injury. Now, Tennessee is the hottest team in football and a bona fide Super Bowl contender after a chaotic Week 9.The Titans saw their title odds shortened to 10-1 this week after Sunday's dominant 28-16 win over the Rams. It was their first game without Derrick Henry, who underwent what was likely a season-ending foot surgery earlier this week. But it hardly mattered as Tennessee's defense shut down Los Angeles' high-powered attack, helping the Titans beat a team that made last year's playoffs for the fourth straight game. The last three teams to pull off that feat all reached the Super Bowl.Tennessee managed just 194 yards on offense, but its defensive stars picked up the slack. Linemen Jeffery Simmons and Denico Autry combined for 4.5 of the Titans' five sacks, while star safety Kevin Byard - currently PFF's No. 1 ranked safety - took one of Matthew Stafford's two interceptions to the end zone for the second of Tennessee's three second-quarter touchdowns.The win gave the Titans sole possession of first place in the AFC, though oddsmakers still favor the Bills (+600) to reach the big game despite Sunday's 9-6 loss to the Jaguars as 14.5-point favorites. Tennessee beat Buffalo on Monday night in Week 6 - a week after it blew out Jacksonville on the road.The Bills' stunning loss was just one of several shocking Week 9 results, but the widespread chaos muted any real effect on the oddsboard. Four of the nine teams priced shorter than 20-1 (Bills, Rams, Packers, Cowboys) lost on Sunday, but the Titans were the only team among those nine to see a notable shift in their title price.Here are the updated Super Bowl odds after Week 9:TEAMODDSTampa Bay Buccaneers+550Buffalo Bills+600Los Angeles Rams+800Tennessee Titans+1000Arizona Cardinals+1000Green Bay Packers+1100Baltimore Ravens+1200Dallas Cowboys+1200Kansas City Chiefs+1200Los Angeles Chargers+2000Cleveland Browns+2800New England Patriots+3500Pittsburgh Steelers+5000New Orleans Saints+5000Indianapolis Colts+6000Seattle Seahawks+6000Las Vegas Raiders+6000Cincinnati Bengals+6500Denver Broncos+8000San Francisco 49ers+10000Minnesota Vikings+13000Philadelphia Eagles+20000Atlanta Falcons+25000New York Giants+50000Miami Dolphins+50000Carolina Panthers+50000Washington Football Team+50000Chicago Bears+50000Jacksonville Jaguars+50000Detroit Lions+100000Houston Texans+100000New York Jets+100000C 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 Las Vegas Raiders are releasing cornerback Damon Arnette after he threatened to kill someone while holding multiple guns in a video, general manager Mike Mayock confirmed Monday."Very painful decision. We spent significant time, effort, and resources trying to help him in all aspects of his life ... we cannot stand for the video of Damon with a gun, threatening to take a life," Mayock said, according to Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.The Raiders have cut both their 2020 first-round picks within the last week. They waived Henry Ruggs following his involvement in a fatal car crash.Arnette was a surprise selection when Las Vegas drafted him 19th overall. The Raiders were intrigued by his athleticism but knew he had character concerns coming out of Ohio State."We did more research on Arnette than anybody else since I have been here and we missed," Mayock said, according to Vic Tafur of The Athletic. "And that is 100% on me."Arnette reportedly tiptoed around trouble for much of his rookie season. At one point, he crashed four rental cars in approximately one month, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. He also faces a lawsuit from a woman who said he injured her in a 2020 car crash and fled the scene. He allegedly struck her vehicle while trying to get to a team meeting on time.Las Vegas relegated Arnette to a reserve role this season after he struggled with performance and injuries as a rookie. He recorded four tackles and one pass breakup in four appearances this year, and he finishes his brief Raiders career without an interception.Mayock has now severed ties with his top three picks from the 2020 draft. Along with cutting Ruggs and Arnette, he traded Lynn Bowden Jr. to the Miami Dolphins last year before the regular season even began.Despite a tumultuous season off the field, which includes Jon Gruden's ouster as head coach on Oct. 11, the Raiders are tied for the top spot in the AFC West with a 5-3 record.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones was accused of a dirty play when he held Brian Burns' ankle as the Carolina Panthers pass-rusher attempted to twist away following a strip sack during Sunday's contest.But the rookie signal-caller insisted Monday he assumed Burns had the ball and was only thinking about trying to limit the damage from his turnover."After I got hit pretty hard, I didn't really know exactly what was going on. I thought he had the ball," Jones told WEEI's Merloni and Fauria. "It was my job to try and make the tackle."The 23-year-old added: "I didn't mean to hurt anybody or anything like that."

After the wildest Sunday of the season, maybe we should just make everyone a 50 and call it a day.The NFL's dream scenario came to life this week, as upsets of varying degrees ruled the day. While we're trained to not lose our minds and throw all these teams in a blender, if there ever was an actual "any given Sunday," Week 9 was it.Since we were so close to hitting the mid-point of the season, I thought about two things last week:

The Chicago Bears activated running back David Montgomery from injured reserve to play Monday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team announced.Montgomery suffered a knee injury against the Detroit Lions in Week 4 but returned to practice Thursday.The 24-year-old has rushed for 309 yards and three touchdowns - two against Detroit before exiting the game - on 69 carries this season.Rookie Khalil Herbert filled in during Montgomery's absence, rushing for 351 yards and one touchdown on 81 carries.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence suffered a low ankle sprain during Sunday's win over the Buffalo Bills and will likely be limited at practice this week, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Lawrence's X-rays were negative and showed "little structural issues," Rapoport adds.The first overall pick was injured late in the second quarter against the Bills. He was taken to the locker room but returned to the game minutes later and didn't miss a snap.Jacksonville head coach Urban Meyer doesn't expect Lawrence to miss any games."Trevor's good," Meyer said Monday, according to ESPN's Michael DiRocco. "He should be a go this week."The 22-year-old finished Week 9 with only 118 yards on 15-of-26 passing while helping Jacksonville stun Buffalo with a 9-6 victory.Lawrence entered the NFL as one of the most coveted prospects in league history, but his rookie campaign has yet to meet expectations. The Clemson product has completed 59.5% of his passes for eight touchdowns against nine interceptions in eight games.The Jaguars are set to visit the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.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, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, and Anchor.In this episode, Boone discusses the latest injuries and top players available on the waiver wire.

Arizona Cardinals running back Chase Edmonds is expected to miss multiple games after suffering a high ankle sprain in Sunday's win over the San Francisco 49ers, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Edmonds underwent an MRI on Monday and is likely to land on injured reserve, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. That would sideline him for at least three games.He suffered the injury on the Cardinals' first offensive play, paving the way for James Conner to carry the load. Conner finished the contest with three touchdowns in Edmonds' absence.The Cardinals have relied on both backs this season. Conner has taken the bulk of carries (115 to 76), while Edmonds has produced greatly as a receiver, recording 30 receptions to Conner's 10. Edmonds is also averaging a career-high 6.0 yards per touch in 2021.If Edmonds is sidelined, he'll become Arizona's latest offensive weapon to face an absence. The Cardinals were without Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins on Sunday due to injuries, while A.J. Green was also unavailable after being placed on the COVID-19 list.Arizona heads into Week 10 with a league-best 8-1 record.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Russell Wilson's back.The Seattle Seahawks quarterback has been cleared to play Sunday against the Green Bay Packers by Dr. Steve Shin, who performed the surgery on his finger in October.Wilson, who hasn't played since Week 5 due to a ruptured tendon in the middle finger of his throwing hand, also confirmed his return in a hype video he posted on social media Monday.

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said his game plan was at fault Sunday after quarterback Jordan Love stumbled through his first career start in a 13-7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs."This one falls on me, squarely," LaFleur said, per ESPN's Rob Demovsky. "Certainly, for us to be 2-for-12 on third down, obviously didn't have a good enough plan for some of the (cover) zero pressures that they brought on us."But I thought our guys battled. I thought Jordan, I was really proud of the way he played. He hung in there. He was taking hits and delivering the ball. I thought he did a really good job. But I think that, ultimately, I've got to be better and this one falls squarely on me."Love filled in for Aaron Rodgers and went 19 of 34 for 190 yards with an interception and a late touchdown against one of the NFL's worst defenses. The 2020 first-round pick looked particularly frazzled when pressured and went 6-for-17 for 30 yards against the blitz."Obviously, not good enough," Love said of his overall performance. "I think we started off a little slow; I started off a little slow, personally. I think we got into a bit of a rhythm later. Obviously, it was too late. Just not good enough."Love could start again in Week 10 against the Seattle Seahawks, as Rodgers won't be eligible to come off the COVID-19 list until Saturday at the earliest.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Winners of three straight, the Pittsburgh Steelers are looking to stay hot Monday night against a Chicago Bears team desperate to stop the bleeding and avoid a fourth successive defeat.Here's how we're betting Bears-Steelers:C Jackson Cowart: Under 39It's hard to imagine a better matchup for under bettors than this one, which pits two uninspiring offenses against defenses with the talent to turn this into a slugfest.The Steelers have a winning record this year in spite of a wholly ineffective offense, which entered this week ranked in the bottom eight in points per game (18.9), points per drive (1.74), and yards per drive (31.4). They've scored 17 points or fewer in four of their seven contests this season, and it would've been five if not for a blocked-punt touchdown in the season opener.The Bears' offense has been even worse, ranking second last in average points (15.4) with an even lower per-game mark (14.8) in Justin Fields' six starts. He's been one of the NFL's worst passers under pressure, which is concerning against a Pittsburgh defense ranked third in pressure rate (28.6%) and hurry rate (15.2%).I also love targeting the under on games that profile as clear low-scoring affairs since oddsmakers can only set the total so low. Since 2014, contests with a total of 39 or lower are 46-31-1 (59.7%) to the under, including 4-1-1 in games involving the Steelers. Expect both runs to continue Monday.Alex Moretto: Najee Harris over 79.5 rush yardsMy leans align with both Jackson and Matt here, on the under and the Bears, respectively, but they aren't all that strong. Historically, this is a bad spot for Mike Tomlin's Steelers from an against-the-spread perspective. But I think this Chicago team might be even worse than we realize despite the team showing signs of life offensively. That's enough to keep me off the Bears, while the potential for short fields off turnovers, David Montgomery's return, and the absence of Khalil Mack and Eddie Jackson will keep me away from the under.Instead, I'll get behind this rapidly improving Steelers offensive line against a shorthanded Bears defense. I mentioned earlier this week I liked the value on Najee Harris (50-1) to lead the league in rushing. He's getting better by the week, and Pittsburgh isn't shying away from giving him a massive workload, especially with Ben Roethlisberger struggling. Additionally, Harris is making the most of his opportunities. Now, he gets a Bears defense that's been gashed on the ground all season, but especially over Chicago's recent three-game skid.WEEKPLAYERTEAMCARRIESYARDS8Elijah MitchellSF181377Leonard FournetteTB15817Ronald JonesTB10636Aaron JonesGB13766A.J. DillonGB1159Unlike the Bucs' and Packers' backs, Harris has the backfield all to himself. An 80-yard day on the ground is closer to the floor against this defense should he see the 23-26 carries he's been getting over the past three weeks.Matt Russell: Bears +6.5This is an easy bet to make and a hard bet to win. It doesn't have the same ring to it as "If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball," but if you can almost lose to Geno Smith, you can almost lose to Fields.At the end of the day, this is just too many points for a frustrating Steelers offense and a defense that's relied on to do too much. Plus, the Bears can give Ben Roethlisberger just as many problems as the Steelers can to Fields.This game feels like it's going to come down to a field goal or a defensive stop. In that case, we'll be thrilled to have nearly a touchdown in our pocket.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tennesse Titans appear to still be serious contenders even without Derrick Henry.The Titans' defense sacked Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford five times and intercepted him twice, including a pick-6, during a 28-16 upset win on Sunday night.It was Tennessee's first game since its star running back suffered a potentially season-ending foot injury, and the victory moved the AFC South club to the top of the conference at 7-2.More to come.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Seattle Seahawks have a strong interest in adding wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., a source told USA Today's Mike Jones.Quarterback Russell Wilson reportedly has urged Seattle's front office to bring in Beckham, who can be claimed off waivers as early as Tuesday following his official release from the Cleveland Browns.The Seahawks are Beckham's preferred destination, while the San Francisco 49ers and New Orleans Saints are also possible landing spots, Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio reports.Any team that claims Beckham will have to take on his remaining salary of $7.25 million - Seattle is one of nine clubs with the space to do so without revising other contracts.However, Beckham reportedly prefers to become a free agent. Sources reported Sunday that the wide receiver wants to spend the rest of the 2021 campaign with a playoff contender and in a winning environment.The Seahawks sit at 3-5 after losing two of their last three games with Wilson sidelined due to a finger injury. However, the star signal-caller could be in line to return following the team's bye in Week 10.Seattle already boasts one of the best wideout duos in DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Both receivers are on pace for 1,000-yard seasons.Beckham struggled in six games for the Browns this season while coming off a torn ACL he suffered last year. He caught just 17-of-34 targets for 232 yards and no touchdowns with Cleveland this season.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Las Vegas Raiders are signing wide receiver DeSean Jackson, he told NFL reporter Josina Anderson.The three-time Pro Bowl wideout was released by the Los Angeles Rams on Tuesday after the club failed to deal him ahead of the NFL's trade deadline.Jackson went unclaimed on waivers and subsequently became a free agent.The California native will likely serve as a replacement for former Raider Henry Ruggs III, who was released this week after he was charged in connection with a fatal car crash.Jackson struggled to carve out a consistent role within the Rams offense after signing with the club in the offseason. He recorded eight receptions for 221 yards and one touchdown in seven games.The Raiders would be the 34-year-old's fifth NFL team following stints with the Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Football Team, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Jackson is currently 38th on the NFL's all-time receiving yards list with 10,877, according to Pro Football Reference.Known for his top-end speed and ability to get behind defenses, Jackson provides a veteran presence for a receiver corps that features Hunter Renfrow, Bryan Edwards, and Zay Jones.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sam Darnold and Robby Anderson insisted Sunday they're on good terms after Anderson gave the Carolina Panthers quarterback an earful for throwing three interceptions to the New England Patriots."I'm fully aware I didn't play my best football today," Darnold said after the Panthers fell 24-6, according to Grace Remington of FOX 46 Charlotte. "You want your teammates to be able to say, 'Let's go. Let's tighten up. Let's put some points on the board.' So, it's nothing more than that. We're cool."Anderson threw his helmet in frustration and shouted at Darnold, who appeared to be unfazed, after the signal-caller threw an interception in three straight second-half possessions. J.C. Jackson corralled two of the three picks and returned one for an 88-yard touchdown."It was pretty much, 'Tighten up a little bit,'" Anderson said when asked what he told Darnold. "Same way if I'm slacking … we hold each other accountable."The Panthers benched Darnold in a Week 7 loss to the New York Giants but allowed him to play out their 24-6 defeat to the Patriots. The 24-year-old has posted a passer rating below 70 since Week 4.Carolina head coach Matt Rhule said he saw the outburst but didn't want "to make anything of that.""Robby was frustrated because we just had our third interception," Rhule said. "We all were."Anderson has appeared irritated at various points this season. He had only one catch for two yards against New England, and his production is down significantly compared to his 1,096-yard campaign in 2020.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns and Baker Mayfield didn't miss a beat without Odell Beckham Jr. during Sunday's 41-16 blowout win over the Cincinnati Bengals.The quarterback put together one of his best performances of the season, throwing for 218 yards and two touchdowns on 14-of-21 attempts for a passer rating of 132.6.While Beckham's divorce from the Browns was messy and the two players have still yet to speak, Mayfield doesn't have any hard feelings toward his former teammate."I wish him well. I really do. My feelings haven't changed," said Mayfield, according to ESPN's Jake Trotter. "From a personal standpoint, he's a good friend of mine. We still haven't talked. But that doesn't change things. I wish him well. I wish him the best in his career."Mayfield added he was proud of how his teammates "were about to focus up despite all the bullshit" surrounding Beckham's exit.Beckham's father, Odell Beckham Sr., made waves before the trade deadline on Tuesday, sharing a video of Mayfield's misfires from this campaign.The wideout will hit waivers on Monday and can be claimed Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET. He reportedly wants to join a contending team for the rest of 2021.Cleveland apparently reworked Beckham's contract as part of his release and removed the final two years of the deal, meaning he will become a free agent after this season.Beckham's remaining $7.25 million salary was left untouched, so only nine teams - the Jacksonville Jaguars, Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks, Carolina Panthers, Los Angeles Chargers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Football Team, and Cincinnati Bengals - can claim him without revising other contracts.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Jacksonville had the better Josh Allen on this Sunday, with the standout linebacker intercepting a pass, making a sack and recovering a fumble in a 9-6 upset of the Buffalo Bills.Buffalo's star quarterback with the same first and last names turned over the ball three times, including twice in the second half. He didn't have a second-half turnover in any previous game this season.The Bills (5-3) lost for the second time in seven games. The Jaguars (2-6) rebounded from a debacle at Seattle a week ago.Buffalo's Allen completed 31 of 47 passes for 264 yards, with the two interceptions and a fumble.The first of two deciding moments came on a third-and-2 play at the Jaguars 37 with about 5 1-2 minutes remaining. Allen fumbled after getting pressured by Dawuane Smoot. The other Josh Allen recovered.Buffalo got the ball back in the waning minutes and advanced to the Jaguars 39. But Smoot sacked Allen on third down. It was Jacksonville's fourth sack of the day.Allen got the first one. It was the first time a player sacked a quarterback with the same name since the NFL started counting sacks in 1982.Allen and Allen had been looking forward to this meeting, although Buffalo’s Allen made it clear he didn’t want to get acquainted with Jacksonville’s Allen in the backfield. It nonetheless happened when Allen beat Dion Dawkins off the edge.The players with the same first and last name had never meet before Sunday even though they were both selected with the seventh pick in consecutive NFL drafts. They have exchanged messages via social media.MULTIPLE MISSESJaguars kicker Matt Wright missed three straight field-goal attempts – all left – in a matter of minutes in the third quarter.Wright hit the left upright from 42 yards, but a false start penalty on the Jaguars gave him another chance from 47. He yanked that one left, too. But Bills reserve running back Taiwan Jones was flagged for running into the kicker – it probably should have been a roughing call – and Wright got one more chance.He missed left again from 42 yards out.Wright did have three field goals for all his team's points, hitting from 39, 55 and 21 yards.LAWRENCE SCAREJaguars rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the first overall pick in the 2021 draft, was helped to the locker room after injuring his right ankle in the second quarter. He returned a few plays later. Still, it was a huge scare for the home team.Rookie left tackle Walker Little, making his first start in place of Cam Robinson (back), was pushed into Lawrence and stepped on him during a passing play. Lawrence tried to put weight on his ankle and couldn’t. Trainers helped him straight to the locker room for tests before he returned.KEY INJURIESBills running back Zack Moss and cornerback Taron Johnson were ruled out with concussions. Safety Jaquan Johnson left with a hamstring injury.Robinson tweaked his back in pregame warmups and did not play. Cornerback Chris Claybrooks was ruled out because of a concussion.BILLS MAFIAThe Jaguars are used to play in front of opposing fans. It happens often, even at TIAA Bank Field. But Sunday’s crowd was especially favorable for the visitors, with more than half the stadium filled by Buffalo fans affectionately known as the “Bills Mafia.”UP NEXTThe Bills continue a three-game stretch against some of the NFL’s worst teams when they play at the New York Jets next Sunday. The soft stretch started against Miami last week.The Jaguars play at Indianapolis next Sunday. The Colts have won seven of the last eight meetings in Indy.___More AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFLCopyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Multiple executives from various NFL clubs believe their teams have been held to higher standards than the Green Bay Packers with regard to COVID-19 protocols, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.One apparent gripe concerns mask-wearing on the sideline for unvaccinated players. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who is unvaccinated, didn't wear a mask on the sidelines while inactive during the preseason."That's B.S. ... What's going on in Green Bay, that's not what teams were told by the NFL," one executive told Schefter. "Our players wore masks all the time. We made our guys that weren't playing wear masks."The reported complaints are the latest fallout from Rodgers testing positive for COVID-19, which has prompted an NFL investigation into Green Bay's handling of protocols.Rodgers and the Packers are not expected to face suspensions but could be fined for possible violations, Schefter adds.One reported focus for the NFL is a Halloween party that multiple Green Bay players were seen attending without masks. The league believes a violation may have occurred since protocols only allow a limited number of players to gather together outside team facilities, Schefter adds.Another potential violation relates to Rodgers' press conferences. The NFL requires unvaccinated players to wear masks while speaking to the media, a stipulation the veteran hasn't followed.Rodgers said earlier this week he did not receive a COVID-19 vaccine due to an allergy to an ingredient in mRNA vaccines and concerns with the Johnson & Johnson shot. The 37-year-old received an alternative treatment and petitioned the league to consider him vaccinated. That petition was denied.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Miami Dolphins quarterback Jacoby Brissett is starting Sunday's game against the Houston Texans in place of Tua Tagovailoa.Tagovailoa isn't starting due to a small fracture in the middle finger of his throwing hand, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports. However, he is dressed for the contest, though he'll only serve as an emergency backup, sources told Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post.The ailment is not expected to be a long-term injury, but Tagovailoa's status for Week 10 is now also in question, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Dolphins are slated to face the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday Night Football following their clash with Houston.Dolphins head coach Brian Flores was optimistic about Tagovailoa's status heading into Miami's meeting with the Texans. But the 23-year-old only participated in a limited capacity throughout the week's practice sessions.Tagovailoa has struggled to find stability in 2021. He missed three games with fractured ribs, and his name was also linked in trade rumors ahead of the deadline. He's thrown for seven touchdowns against five interceptions.Miami sits last in the AFC East with a 1-7 record.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.theScore's Justin Boone was first overall in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition in 2019 and has finished among the top seven each of the last seven years. Follow the links below to see his rankings for Week 9.Half PPR

Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey and quarterback Sam Darnold are active for Sunday's game against the New England Patriots.McCaffrey hasn't played since Week 3 due to a hamstring injury. The star rusher amassed only 201 rushing yards (3.9 per attempt) and one touchdown on the ground before being sidelined. He's also caught 16 passes for 163 yards this season.The 25-year-old will split carries with rookie Chuba Hubbard, who rushed for 82 yards and one score in last week's win over the Atlanta Falcons.Darnold was listed as questionable Friday due to a concussion and shoulder injury suffered in Week 8.Carolina only has Darnold and P.J. Walker as active quarterbacks in Week 9.Darnold helped the Panthers snap a four-game losing streak against the Falcons in Week 8 but has struggled of late. The 24-year-old hasn't thrown for more than 210 yards in any of his last four games and has racked up only four touchdowns to seven interceptions since Week 4.Walker, 26, has replaced Darnold in two brief appearances this season, completing 3 of 15 pass attempts for 33 yards.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Orleans Saints tried to reunite with a familiar face in the wake of Jameis Winston's season-ending ACL injury.The Saints inquired about trading for Denver Broncos quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports. However, the Broncos weren't interested in shipping off the veteran.Bridgewater spent two years as the Saints' backup from 2018 to 2019. He filled in admirably for an injured Drew Brees during the 2019 campaign, recording a 5-0 record with nine touchdowns to two interceptions over five starts.The 28-year-old landed in Denver this offseason after a disappointing one-year stint with the Carolina Panthers. Bridgewater beat out Drew Lock for the Broncos' starting job this season and led the team to a 3-0 start before losing four of the last five.The Saints, who sit at 5-2, elected to look internally for their quarterback answer, naming Trevor Siemian the starter for Week 9. Siemian completed 16 of 19 passes for one touchdown after coming in for Winston in last Sunday's victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Taysom Hill and Ian Book are behind Siemian on the quarterback depth chart.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Odell Beckham Jr. doesn't want just any team claiming him off waivers next week.The three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver, who was waived by the Cleveland Browns on Friday, wants to spend the rest of the 2021 campaign with a playoff contender and in a winning environment, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.There could be issues if a team that doesn't fit Beckham's criteria claims him, Schefter adds.The Browns restructured Beckham's contract before releasing him, and that deal has already been officially approved by the league, meaning the wideout will go on waivers Monday and be claimed by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday.Any club planning to add Beckham needs to have enough salary-cap space to take on the remaining $7.5 million on his contract. Only nine teams would currently be able to afford Beckham without restructuring other contracts on their roster: the Jacksonville Jaguars, Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Chargers, Cincinnati Bengals, and Washington Football Team.Here's the current waiver order:

The Tennessee Titans face a tough test as they begin life without Derrick Henry in primetime against the joint-league leading Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium.Here's how we're betting Titans-Rams:C Jackson Cowart: Matthew Stafford over 2.5 passing TDs (+100)For whatever reason, it feels like people are overlooking Stafford's brilliance this campaign even as he continues to torch defenses week after week. The Rams star ranks second in the NFL in passing touchdowns (22) and has thrown for at least three TDs in five of his eight starts, including in each of the last three contests.Stafford should have a field day against the Titans, who are tied for the seventh-most passing TDs allowed (15) and have surrendered three such scores in two of the last three weeks. Tennessee has also allowed at least 8.0 yards in half of its games thus far - that's a bad sign against an elite deep-ball passer in Stafford, who ranks second in yards per attempt (9.1) and already has three touchdowns of at least 50 yards. Expect him to pick apart this secondary in a game Los Angeles should control handily.Alex Moretto: Rams over 30.5 points (-115)NFL fans everywhere are worse off for not being able to watch Henry strut his stuff every weekend, and while his injury is undoubtedly a big blow to this Titans team, I'm not ready to judge just how big an impact his absence will have on this offense.Ryan Tannehill can absolutely handle himself with the unit shifting to a more pass-heavy approach, and A.J. Brown is ready to erupt as the offensive focal point. Jeremy McNichols is also a playmaker who's understandably been buried behind Henry on the depth chart but has averaged 4.5 yards per carry and 7.8 yards per catch in his one-and-a-half seasons in Tennessee. The offense will look very different, but I'm not so sure it's going to be as bad as people seem to suggest. Still, I want to see it first.What we do know is this Rams offense is a nightmare matchup for the Titans defense. Stafford and his stable of weapons outmatch Tennesse's secondary, which will open up all sorts of room for Darrell Henderson on the ground. So instead of trying to decide whether or not the Titans can keep pace, I'd rather just trust in one of the most consistent units in football to get theirs against a relatively underwhelming defense.Matt Russell: Jeremy McNichols anytime TD (+200)Whether it's at the Draft or on a game-to-game basis for fantasy football, we often refer to running backs as the most replaceable position in football. Tennessee is an exception - or at least we assume that's the case.While I don't expect McNichols to be Henry, I do think he gets first crack at the majority of carries as the Titans try to fill that void. The locker room will agree he's earned that over a veteran off the street.L.A. has built its defense around allowing teams to run the football, and Sebastian Joseph-Day is an underrated loss to the defensive line. Look for McNichols to get more opportunity than a 36-year-old Adrian Peterson coming in fresh.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Las Vegas Raiders are one of seven teams interested in free-agent wide receiver DeSean Jackson, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.Raiders officials had a zoom call with the speedy wideout on Saturday, according to Bally Sports' Michael Silver.Jackson could sign with Las Vegas as early as Monday, but the parties haven't decided anything yet, Silver adds. The veteran also has a few more zoom meetings and calls set up with other clubs, Garafolo notes.No franchise claimed the 34-year-old off waivers following his release from the Los Angeles Rams. Both sides agreed to search for a trade before the Nov. 2 deadline due to Jackson's lack of fit with the Rams, but the team couldn't find a deal, leading the two sides to part ways.The Raiders have a clear need for a vertical threat after releasing Henry Ruggs III.Jackson has caught eight passes for 221 yards this season, but 120 of those yards came in one game. At his peak, the former second-round pick was one of the game's most dangerous deep threats. Jackson's led the NFL in yards per catch on four occasions (2010, 2014, 2016, 2018).Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We went 4-6 in Week 8 for our first losing week since Week 1. Anyone watching Buccaneers-Saints saw Tom Brady struggle, yet he went over his yards total due to a comeback game script. The Panthers beat the Falcons with such surprising ease that they didn't need Sam Darnold to throw in the second half, while Ryan Tannehill needed overtime to bust our under. You just never know.Here's what's on tap for a bounce-back Week 9:Jerry Jeudy over 53.5 receiving yardsJeudy returned from an injury last week after not playing since Week 1, and he caught all four of his targets for 39 yards in a sloppy game against Washington. Jeudy should have his legs under him this week, and he'll need them in a more open game than the Broncos are used to.Teddy Bridgewater's passing yards number at 261.5 is higher than his season average, which suggests the market expects more offense from the Broncos in their matchup with the Cowboys. We'd rather focus on Jeudy, who should benefit from Trevon Diggs honing in on Courtland Sutton.Alvin Kamara under 75.5 rushing yardsThis is no slight on Kamara; he may lead the game in receiving yards when the Saints face the Falcons. But New Orleans has two other rushing options it didn't have two weeks ago. Mark Ingram will cut into the traditional carries now that he's had more time to reacquaint himself, while Taysom Hill will run the ball a fair amount as well. Kamara's impact on this matchup will come in the passing game.Austin Hooper over 24.5 receiving yardsWe're hangin' with Hooper here, as he's been increasingly involved over the Browns' last two games after a slow start. It stands to reason Baker Mayfield was forcing balls to various wide receivers, including royal malcontent Odell Beckham Jr. Now that Beckham is gone, Cleveland can confidently use two-tight end sets and work Hooper into the play-action game. Look for Hooper to see around five targets and manage 30-plus yards; though Hooper missed last year's road clash with the Bengals, his replacement Hunter Bryant had four receptions for 58 yards.Tyrod Taylor over 20.5 rushing yardsWe didn't wait week after week for the return of Taylor not to have him impact this game with his legs. Without Laremy Tunsil to protect his blind side, the Texans will need Taylor to scramble against the Dolphins.Darren Waller over 5.5 receptionsWaller's last off-Broadway performance was a stellar one as he notched 13 catches for 200 yards last season against the Jets. With Derek Carr having one less option to throw to and Waller back after missing a game before the Raiders' bye, look for the quarterback and tight end to connect in a way they haven't since the season opener. Waller gets double-digit targets and hauls in more than half of them against the Giants.Lamar Jackson over 245.5 passing yardsMike Zimmer is a few years behind strategically, which means he's probably going into this game intent on forcing Jackson to win with his arm; the Vikings give up the fifth-most yards per quarterback rush attempt. But the Ravens signal-caller is absolutely fine beating opponents through the air, ranking fifth in the NFL in net yards gained per pass attempt.Austin Ekeler under 63.5 rushing yardsAs with Kamara, this is not a fade of Ekeler - it's an expectation that he'll be key in a game plan that sees Justin Herbert frequently throwing the ball against the Eagles' zone-heavy defense. Herbert has more success against zone coverage, and Ekeler can still be involved to help the Chargers slow down Philadelphia's front four via screens and dump-offs.Elijah Mitchell anytime touchdown (+105)The Cardinals' injury uncertainty leaves little selection here. George Kittle is back for the 49ers, and though he will help their passing game, he's also an all-world blocker in the run game. Elijah Mitchell has already been a good bet without Kittle in front of him, so we'll play him to find the end zone (and over his rush yards once that market becomes available).AJ Dillon over 37.5 rushing yardsWe just saw this last week: Dillon SZN gets extended for another game. The Packers face another favorable opponent for their run game in the Chiefs and will lean on Aaron Jones and Dillon for a second straight week. Dillon had 16 carries last week; anything more than half of that should generate an over winner against Kansas City's much-maligned defense.Jeremy McNichols anytime touchdown +200McNichols could be the second-best running back on the planet, and no one would ever know. That's hyperbole, of course, but anyone who plays behind Derrick Henry never gets a chance to show his stuff. Until now. McNichols is a weapon in the passing game and should now get first crack on the ground for the Titans. Let's see if he can find pay dirt for a payout Sunday night against the Rams.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 Carolina Panthers activated Christian McCaffrey off injured reserve, the team announced Saturday.McCaffrey, who hasn't played since Week 3 due to a hamstring injury, will go through a pregame workout Sunday to make sure he can participate against the New England Patriots, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.If the star running back plays, he could see a limited workload, according to ESPN's Dan Graziano.The 25-year-old has struggled with durability, playing in just six games since 2020. McCaffrey recorded 364 scrimmage yards through three games this season before suffering the injury.Additionally, Sam Darnold cleared the concussion protocol. However, he remains a game-time decision for Sunday's contest with a shoulder ailment. Head coach Matt Rhule noted Friday that Darnold could serve as quarterback P.J. Walker's backup against the Patriots.The Panthers sit at 4-4 after losing four of their last five games.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers spoke on the "The Pat McAfee Show" Friday about the confusion regarding his vaccination status for the first time since testing positive for COVID-19, and he explained why he is not vaccinated."First of all, I didn't lie in the initial press conference," Rodgers said. "During that time, it was a very witch hunt that was going on across the league, where everybody in the media was so concerned about who was vaccinated, and who wasn't, and what that meant, and who was being selfish, and who would talk about it ... At the time, my plan was to say that I'd been immunized. It wasn't some sort of ruse or lie, it was the truth."Rodgers said he was "immunized" when asked about his vaccination status in August. However, he tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday and will have to miss at least 10 days - a rule that only applies to unvaccinated players."Had there been a follow up to my statement that I've been immunized, I would've responded with this, I would have said, 'Look, I'm not some sort of anti-vax, flat-earther. I'm somebody who's a critical thinker,'" he added.Rodgers pointed out he's allergic to an ingredient that’s in mRNA vaccines, adding that Johnson & Johnson was the only vaccine available for him in April because of the allergy. However, Johnson & Johnson vaccines were paused in the U.S. in mid-April over blood clot concerns, which dissuaded Rodgers from getting it.The signal-caller also noted his desire to be a father as another reason for deciding not to get vaccinated."The next great chapter in my life, I believe, is being a father, and it's something that I care about a lot," Rodgers said. "To my knowledge, there's been zero long-term studies around sterility or fertility issues around the vaccines, so that was definitely something that I was worried about."That thought process led Rodgers to find a different "immunization protocol.""I'm very proud of the research that went into that and the individuals that I met with, and we felt like it was what was best for me," he said. "It was not, again, something that the league didn't know about. The league was fully aware of it upon my return to the Packers."The 37-year-old then petitioned the NFL to accept his immunization status under its vaccination protocol, but the league denied his claim.Rodgers, who said he's been following all protocols for unvaccinated players, also criticized the NFL's COVID-19 guidelines."I respect both sides of that argument and understand both sides of that," Rodgers said. "I will say, when they sent in a stooge early in training camp to basically shame our team that we were 19th in the league in percentage of vaccinated people, I raised my hand and asked a few questions to challenge some of the things he was saying."The situation that I'm in should be a conversation, not a controversy."Rodgers could return as early as Nov. 13, one day before Green Bay takes on the Seattle Seahawks in Week 10.On Saturday, Prevea Health, a health care organization in Green Bay, announced its partnership with Rodgers had ended. Rodgers was a spokesperson since 2012.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns have released wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., the team announced Friday."After careful consideration, internal discussions, and conversations with Odell and his representation, we've determined that it is in the best interest of all parties involved that Odell no longer play for the Cleveland Browns," general manager Andrew Berry said in a statement."We appreciate all his efforts and contributions while in Cleveland, but we've just reached a point where it is best that we move forward as a team without Odell. We are finalizing the process of granting Odell his release, and we wish him well as he continues his career."Cleveland will remove the final two years of Beckham's contract before placing him on waivers, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Any club that claims him will have to pay his $7.25 million salary for the rest of the season.The Browns will be responsible for only $4.25 million of Beckham's salary if he goes unclaimed on waivers, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports. He also agreed not to go after termination pay for his release, Rapoport adds.The tumultuous relationship between player and team seemingly reached a crossroads this week when, hours before Tuesday's NFL trade deadline, Beckham's father reposted a video montage of his son getting open in coverage and Baker Mayfield either missing on throws or not looking in the receiver's direction.Beckham's father was also active in the comments section of his post, echoing sentiments that were critical of the Browns quarterback.LeBron James, a close friend of Beckham's, added fuel to the fire when he tweeted the following the same morning:

The Cleveland Browns and three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. agreed to part ways Friday, ending his tumultuous stint with the team after just three years.Beckham is now set to hit waivers and can be claimed by any team, with the Detroit Lions having first dibs at the wideout. Any team that claims Beckham would reportedly have to pay his $7.25-million salary for the remainder of the season. If he goes unclaimed, Beckham would become a free agent, giving him the opportunity to decide with which team he plays next.Here are the best fits for Beckham:New Orleans Saints Steph Chambers / Getty Images Sport / GettyBeckham to the Saints almost makes too much sense. Firstly, it'd mark a homecoming for the wideout, who grew up in Louisiana and played college football at LSU. Plus, New Orleans entered the season thin at wide receiver, and top pass-catcher Michael Thomas suffered a setback with his ankle injury and is out for the year. That reportedly led coach Sean Payton and Co. to pursue receivers at the trade deadline - including Beckham - but the Saints ended up empty-handed.New Orleans doesn't have enough cap space to afford Beckham right now, but general manager Mickey Loomis could find a way to restructure other contracts on his roster, as he often does.Las Vegas RaidersIf Beckham wants to find a home where he'll be guaranteed a big role on a contending team with a top quarterback, Mark Davis' franchise would likely be a perfect landing spot.Las Vegas needs a wideout after it released leading receiver Henry Ruggs III. Beckham could be counted on to receive a high volume of targets from Derek Carr, who is in the midst of a career year. The Raiders reportedly enquired about Beckham's status this week, so it wouldn't be surprising for him to become a Raider after all is said and done.Green Bay Packers John Fisher / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Packers have Davante Adams, but they have really struggled to get much production out of the receivers behind him, with no other Green Bay wideout exceeding 200 receiving yards this season. A motivated Beckham looking for another opportunity to prove his worth would be a great bet to remedy that problem.Plus, if Beckham is looking for an improvement over Baker Mayfield, he can't do much better than Aaron Rodgers. The Packers quarterback has been pushing to improve the team's receiving group dating back to last year's trade deadline and taking a flier on the three-time Pro Bowler wouldn't be the worst solution.A potential partnership would require a bit more than a "Lambeau Leap", but the move makes sense for a Packers team looking to keep Rodgers content while maximizing their championship pursuit.Kansas City ChiefsThe Chiefs' offense isn't firing on all cylinders this season, and while Patrick Mahomes' league-high 10 interceptions are a major reason for that, it sure isn't the only one. Kansas City lacks depth at skill positions and there's a huge gap between their top two pass-catchers - Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce - and the rest of the receiving corps. Beckham would reduce that gap right away, being a clear upgrade over the likes of Mecole Hardman, Byron Pringle, and Demarcus Robinson.Additionally, the Chiefs haven't been afraid of going after free agents looking for a fresh start, signing running back Le'Veon Bell in 2020 and receiver Josh Gordon in September. Pursuing Beckham, who still has something left in the tank, would be a smart move for a relatively low price.New England Patriots picture alliance / picture alliance / GettyBill Belichick adding a wide receiver with baggage like Beckham? No way that happens, right? Not so fast. While the legendary coach has a no-nonsense philosophy, he also has a history of buying lottery tickets on troubled wide receivers like Randy Moss, Antonio Brown, Chad Johnson, and Josh Gordon.Of course, those additions came while New England was in the midst of its two-decade-long domination with Tom Brady and could offer glory in return for the wideouts' commitment. Brady may no longer be present, but the transitioning Patriots are still very much alive in the AFC playoff picture at 4-4 and Beckham would be a big-name target for the impressive Mac Jones.The only concern is whether or not the Patriots want to expose their highly-rated rookie passer to a receiver that has a tendency to cause disruption when things don’t go his way.Seattle SeahawksThe Seahawks are ninth on the current waiver order - the highest-ranked club among the teams on this list - and adding Beckam would check a ton of boxes for them. They'd obviously get a third solid pass-catcher alongside DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, which sounds like a smart move for a 3-5 team that isn't deep at wide receiver.Seattle is on its bye week, so Beckham could have extra time to get familiar with the club before making his debut in Week 10 when the Seahawks are also hopeful that quarterback Russell Wilson will return from injury.The Seahawks aren't afraid of going after controversial wideouts either; they gave Josh Gordon a chance in 2019 and have shown interest in Antonio Brown several times. Wilson was frustrated with some of Seattle's personnel decisions in the offseason, and though he did explicitly mention the number of times he's been hit as a reason for his disappointment, adding another explosive offensive weapon should make him happier.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Henry Ruggs faces three additional charges, including two felonies, for the car crash that left a woman in Las Vegas dead Tuesday, according to the Las Vegas Journal-Review's Rio Lacanlale.Prosecutors intend to charge the former Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver with felonies for DUI and reckless driving since his girlfriend sustained injuries in the wreck and with a misdemeanor for possession of a firearm while under the influence.Ruggs initially faced two charges for driving under the influence of alcohol resulting in death and reckless driving. He allegedly drove 156 mph with a blood-alcohol content twice Nevada's legal limit when he struck a Toyota Rav4 that contained Tina Tintor and her dog.In total, Ruggs could face up to 46 years in prison if convicted on all five counts, according to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio.The Raiders released Ruggs, one of their two first-round picks in 2020, hours after the incident.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A lawsuit filed in October accuses Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Damon Arnette of injuring a woman in a car crash and fleeing the scene, according to News 3's Matthew Seeman.The alleged incident took place in October 2020. The suit was filed approximately one year after the collision and one month before Henry Ruggs was charged for a fatal crash. Las Vegas picked both Ruggs and Arnette in the first round of the 2020 draft.In the complaint, Yaneth Casique said Arnette was driving past the street leading to the Raiders' facility when he swerved at 65 mph to turn right. Arnette apparently lost control of the car and crashed into Casique, who was stopped at the intersection. The 25-year-old was allegedly trying to get to a team meeting on time.The lawsuit also says Arnette was traveling with a passenger who tried to claim he was driving until the second-year corner was confronted at the club's headquarters."Mr. Arnette denies the allegations in the complaint and looks forward to addressing these claims through the court process," attorney Richard Schonfeld told TMZ.Casique allegedly hit her head and lost consciousness in the crash, eventually experiencing headaches, balance impairment, memory loss, and other symptoms. She is seeking damages for medical expenses, loss of income, property damage, attorney fees, and general damages.After the incident, Arnette was charged with misdemeanors for failure to maintain a lane and duty to stop at an accident. He pleaded guilty and paid $1,640 in fines.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL denied Aaron Rodgers' claim Friday that a doctor representing the league erroneously told him a vaccinated individual couldn't get or spread COVID-19."No doctor from the league or the joint NFL-NFLPA infectious disease consultants communicated with the player," the league said in a statement, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. "If they had, they certainly would have never said anything like that."The Green Bay Packers quarterback gave a different version of events while recounting his appeal process on "The Pat McAfee Show," where he spoke publicly for the first time since testing positive for COVID-19. Rodgers had petitioned the league for a medical exemption before the season, citing his allergy to an ingredient in the mRNA vaccines and the removal of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine from the market due to blood clot concerns."In that (appeal) process, we had many conversations, I enjoyed the conversations with the league, it was good sharing," Rodgers said. "But one, in particular, stood out when I knew I was not going to win this. I had a meeting, and one of the main docs said it's impossible for a vaccinated person to get COVID or spread COVID. At that point, I knew that I was definitely not going to win the appeal, and it was very shortly thereafter that (it was) denied."Rodgers confirmed reports that he sought holistic treatments to "immunize" himself against the virus. He also revealed he took advice on how to counter COVID-19 from comedian and UFC commentator Joe Rogan, and that he feels "pretty incredible" days after first showing symptoms.The three-time MVP will miss Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs while in COVID-19 protocol. He could potentially miss Week 10 against the Seattle Seahawks as well.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We went 2-1 on our NFL best bets and realistically would have swept the board if not for a brutal beat courtesy of the Texans offense. So let's kick off Week 9 with a bet on the very team that betrayed us a week ago:Texans @ Dolphins (-5.5, 46.5), 1 p.m.It's not often that a side as bad as the Dolphins will lay this many points - and it's usually a bad sign when they do. Only four teams in the last 30 years have been at least a four-point favorite amid a losing streak of at least seven games. Those previous clubs went 0-4 ATS, and the last team in this spot (2013 Texans) suffered back-to-back outright losses as a massive favorite.This time, Houston is on the other side of that coin, and it deserves a bit more respect in this matchup of 1-7 teams. The Texans' biggest issue has been on offense, which ranks dead last in DVOA and points per game (14.9), but a brutal six-week stretch from rookie passer Davis Mills muddies those stats. In six quarters under Tyrod Taylor - who will make his return this week - this unit scored 51 points while Taylor posted a stellar 80.4 QBR.Taylor may not be at 100%, but he won't need to be against the league's fourth-worst scoring defense (29.1 PPG), which has allowed at least 23 points in each of the last seven weeks. Neither club deserves to be favored this much against just about anyone, so take the points in a contest that could go either way.Pick: Texans +5.5Bills (-14.5, 48.5) @ Jaguars, 1 p.m.The Bills can seemingly do no wrong to bettors. Even after a slow start last week against Miami, Buffalo still erupted in the second half to push the 15-point closing line and cover the opening spread, marking the fifth time in the last six weeks that this group has won by at least 15 points.There's no reason to expect regression here against the Jaguars, who were pummeled last week in a 31-7 loss to a Seahawks team playing behind backup quarterback Geno Smith. Jacksonville also enters Week 9 with concerns surrounding running back James Robinson (foot), who has been the squad's main source of offense this year but remains questionable to play this weekend.However you slice it, this is a massive mismatch, and historically that's a good sign for the favorites. Teams favored by 14 points or more on the road are 8-1-1 ATS since 2005 and 11-3-2 ATS dating back to 1993. Expect those marks to continue on Sunday.Pick: Bills -14.5Packers @ Chiefs (-7.5, 48), 4:25 p.m.Have we not yet learned our lesson with the Chiefs? Kansas City's been favored in every single game this campaign but is 2-6 ATS with four outright losses - which easily could have been six if not for late rallies against the Browns and Giants.Something is clearly not working within this offense, which leads the NFL in turnovers (19) and has been the fifth-most volatile group, per Football Outsiders. Patrick Mahomes has posted three of the five worst passer ratings of his career within the past month and thrown an interception in seven straight contests - his previous career long was two games.Yes, the Packers will have to start Jordan Love in place of Aaron Rodgers, but the second-year QB has the arm talent to take advantage of a Chiefs defense ranked 30th in DVOA against the pass and 31st overall. Green Bay's surrounding cast is also better than some of the teams that have given Kansas City trouble in recent weeks, so there's value once again in fading the preseason favorites.Pick: Packers +7.5C 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 San Francisco 49ers are expected to activate tight end George Kittle from injured reserve ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, head coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.The All-Pro pass-catcher has missed the Niners' past three contests rehabbing from a calf injury. San Francisco posted a 1-2 record in Kittle's absence.Kittle tallied 19 receptions for 227 yards over the first four games of the regular season.The two-time Pro Bowler's return comes while there's concern about Deebo Samuel's availability. The wide receiver is listed as questionable for Sunday's game due to a calf issue.However, San Francisco activated kicker Robbie Gould from injured reserve.The 49ers will attempt to reach .500 with a win over their NFC West foe, with the Cardinals allowing 264.9 passing yards per game this season.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores is optimistic that quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will be able to play Sunday against the Houston Texans despite dealing with an injured finger on his throwing hand, according to Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network.The second-year signal-caller suffered the injury during last week's loss to the Buffalo Bills. He was a limited participant in practice Wednesday and Thursday.Tagovailoa missed three games earlier this season with fractured ribs. He has thrown for seven touchdowns to five interceptions through five starts.Meanwhile, the Dolphins are placing DeVante Parker on injured reserve after the wide receiver suffered a setback with his hamstring injury, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports. Parker will now miss at least the next three games.The Dolphins have struggled mightily this season after a 10-win campaign in 2020. Miami currently ranks last in the AFC East with a 1-7 record.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Orleans Saints will start Trevor Siemian at quarterback against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, head coach Sean Payton announced Friday, according to ESPN's Mike Triplett.The move comes just days after New Orleans saw starter Jameis Winston suffer a season-ending knee injury in the second quarter of last week's win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Siemian threw for 159 yards and one touchdown in relief.Siemian, 29, last started a game in 2019 for the New York Jets and has logged 25 starts throughout his career.The 2015 seventh-rounder began his career with the Denver Broncos, posting a 13-11 record as a starter.Payton added that Taysom Hill, who has been inactive since Week 5 due to a concussion, will also play against the Falcons.The 5-2 Saints enter Week 9 on a three-game winning streak.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.