The Washington Football Team is moving expensive safety Landon Collins to linebacker, but it's unknown how long the switch will last."We'll see," head coach Ron Rivera told reporters Friday, according to The Athletic's Nicki Jhabvala.Rivera revealed Wednesday that he told the veteran defensive back that he views him as more of a downhill linebacker, a role where the team needs help.Washington signed the hard-hitting safety to a six-year, $84-million contract in 2019, one year before Rivera joined the franchise. Collins has been a strong run defender throughout his career, but he's been a liability in pass coverage at times in Washington.Collins said Thursday that he agreed to switch positions to help the team. However, he indicated that he'd eventually want to return to safety, a spot he's played since high school."Do I like playing linebacker? No, not at all," he said. "I don't like hitting big linemen, getting big linemen off of me. I'm undersized for being a linebacker. So I don't want to play down there, but if (I) need to, yeah, I'll do so. I'm good at it."Collins, who owns the richest contract for a safety based on total value, has 39 tackles across six outings this season. The 27-year-old has one interception over 28 games with Washington. He missed most of last season with a torn Achilles.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown and cornerback Richard Sherman won't play Sunday versus the Chicago Bears due to injuries, head coach Bruce Arians announced.Tight end Rob Gronkowski and linebacker Lavonte David remain out of the lineup with ailments of their own.Brown sprained his ankle in Week 6 against the Philadelphia Eagles and Sherman left that same contest with a hamstring injury. Gronkowski has been sidelined with injured ribs since Week 3, while David is set to miss a second straight game with an ankle problem.The wideout ranks second on the Buccaneers in receiving with 418 yards and four touchdowns. He's drawn a whopping 32 targets over the last three weeks and has caught at least seven passes in all of them.Sherman, who signed with the Buccaneers in Week 4, started his first three games in a Tampa Bay uniform while the team battles injuries in the secondary.The Buccaneers are on a three-game winnings streak, and they sit 5-1 overall.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores gave Tua Tagovailoa a vote of confidence Friday amid persistent trade speculation involving Deshaun Watson."I don't really get into rumors," Flores told reporters, via Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. "Tua's our quarterback. I'm happy with our quarterback, our quarterback situation, and I'll leave it at that."The Dolphins have been linked to Watson for months. The Houston Texans quarterback requested a trade at the beginning of the offseason, and recent reports indicate the Dolphins could finalize a deal for Watson before the Nov. 2 trade deadline.Miami drafted Tagovailoa fifth overall in 2020. He's yet to look like the superstar he was at Alabama, but he hasn't played much this year due to fractured ribs he suffered in Week 2. Flores has publicly backed Tagovailoa since the end of his rookie campaign."Really, he's played in two games this year," Flores said. "So he should have a lot of confidence in the way he's played. We have a lot of confidence in him because of the way he's played."Tagovailoa threw for 329 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in his return to the lineup in Week 6, a loss in London to the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars.Watson hasn't played in 2021. He's facing 22 lawsuits and 10 criminal complaints from women who say he committed sexual assault or misconduct, but the NFL has said he's eligible to play for the time being.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Story contains coarse languagePhiladelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce offered disgruntled Philadelphia Sixers star Ben Simmons some advice Thursday: "Just play better, man."While speaking about the relationship between Philadelphia and its athletes at a press conference, Kelce said the Simmons situation boils down to "a lack of accountability.""If all that got corrected, if you're fixing free throws, if you're getting better as a player, none of this is happening," Kelce said. "So everybody can b---- and complain about how tough this city is to play in - just play better, man. This city will love you."Kelce added, "There's a lot of people that say it's a hard place to play. I think it's pretty f------ easy, to be honest with you: You just go out there and play hard."Sixers head coach Doc Rivers asked Simmons to leave practice Tuesday after the three-time All-Star reportedly declined to participate in defensive drills.Simmons was subsequently suspended for the 76ers' season opener against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday. He was also reportedly fined $1.4 million for missing the team's four preseason games, plus other fines for the other practices and activities he missed while he attempted to force a trade.Kelce said he doesn't have anything against the NBA star, but he considers the situation "a travesty any way you put it," according to ESPN's Tim McManus."These guys were all brought in here, a lot of talent, and it hasn't worked out for them for whatever reason," Kelce said of the 76ers. "But it's a pretty good example of how not to handle the Philly media, at the very least."Kelce, 33, has spent 11 seasons with the Eagles, earning three All-Pro nods and three Pro Bowl appearances. He became beloved in Philadelphia when he helped the franchise earn its first Super Bowl title.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

SSSQ is a weekly look at under-the-radar fantasy players to consider starting and potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut.For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult our Week 7 rankings. You can also listen to the Week 7 preview episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast.StartRyan Tannehill, Titansvs. Chiefs Andy Lyons / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Chiefs have a defense to target for fantasy quarterbacks since they're allowing the second-most points to the position.In the last five weeks alone, they've given up 14 touchdowns to QBs.Tannehill has struggled more often than not through the first month-and-a-half, but Kansas City will be his easiest matchup yet.In a game with the highest projected point total on this week's slate at a massive 57.5, Tannehill is set to enjoy his best outing of the season.Boone's projection: 273 passing yards, 2 passing TDs, 34 rushing yardsOther QBs to start

Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller suffered a sprained ankle during Thursday night's 17-14 loss to the Cleveland Browns, head coach Vic Fangio said postgame, according to Troy Renck of Denver7.Miller's left leg bent awkwardly as he collided with teammate Dre'Mont Jones just before halftime. He walked gingerly off the field before being ruled out.The star pass-rusher said after the bout that his removal was precautionary and he expects to play next week, according to Mike Klis of 9News.“I’m good. They just wouldn’t let me go back in," Miller said, per Klis.The 32-year-old missed the entire 2020 campaign due to an ankle injury.Miller, who told reporters earlier in the week that he was "going to go off" against the Browns, finished the game with two tackles and one quarterback hit."My pride is hurt more than anything. I talked a lot of shit before the game," he said, according to DNVR's Zac Stevens.Miller has recorded 4.5 sacks through seven games this season.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield is dealing with a fractured humerus bone in his shoulder, he confirmed to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports.Mayfield, who also has a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder, said the fracture is preventing his rotator cuff from firing, Glazer adds."I need that fracture to heal for me to get back out there," said the signal-caller, who's reportedly expected to require offseason surgery in his shoulder.The 26-year-old, who was inactive against the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football, hopes he'll be available in Week 8 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to Glazer.Mayfield suffered the torn labrum in Week 2 and then re-injured the non-throwing shoulder during Sunday's loss to the Arizona Cardinals.The first overall pick in 2018, Mayfield is 3-3 this season and has tossed 1,474 yards with six touchdowns against three interceptions over six appearances.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cleveland Browns receiver Odell Beckham Jr. will suit up for Thursday night's contest against the Denver Broncos despite not practicing all week due to a shoulder injury, the club announced.Beckham was listed as questionable coming into the matchup but participated in pregame workouts before being declared active.The star wideout will be a boost for a Browns squad that has been devastated by injuries. Cleveland will be starting Case Keenum at quarterback with Baker Mayfield sidelined due to a shoulder ailment. Additionally, Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt are also out, leaving D'Ernest Johnson as the starter at running back.Jarvis Landry will join Beckham on the field after being activated off injured reserve earlier Thursday.Beckham has recorded 203 receiving yards across four games this season but is still in search of his first touchdown of the campaign. Meanwhile, the 3-3 Browns are seeking to end a two-game skid.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman J.J. Watt is set to face the Houston Texans for the first time since leaving the club he called home for a decade.Watt, who was named Defensive Player of the Year three times while making 128 regular-season appearances with the Texans from 2011-2020, believes there's something special about Sunday's game but downplayed its significance given the fact that Houston is going through a rebuild."There's obviously something more to it," Watt said Thursday, according to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN. "I don't think that it's what people may think it is because, I mean, you look at the roster and you look at the guys that are there. I mean, it's been so massively turned over that there's only a handful of guys that are even there from last year that I played with."So, it's not like, I'm like, 'Oh, I want to go and beat my old team' or 'Oh, I can't wait to face this guy,' because it's not the same team. It's not the same organization that I remember and that I was a part of."The 1-5 Texans began their rebuild this year after finishing the 2020 season 4-12, which led to Watt asking to be released. Houston hired a new head coach in David Culley and a new general manager in Nick Caserio during the offseason and has since parted ways with several veteran players."There's so many guys I don't know," said Watt, who inked a two-year deal with the Cardinals in March.Houston, which released longtime pass-rusher Whitney Mercilus and wide receiver and return specialist Andre Roberts earlier this week, likely isn't done moving on from veterans with the Nov. 2 trade deadline around the corner. Players like linebacker Zach Cunningham - who inked a big extension before Culley and Caserio came aboard - have seen limited playing time so far this season and could be moved.Meanwhile, Arizona is the NFL's only unbeaten team after six weeks. Watt has racked up 15 tackles, one sack, and two pass breakups through six appearances.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants head coach Joe Judge believes the team's struggles start with him."I'm the head coach. It's my responsibility, point blank," Judge said Thursday, according to ESPN's Jordan Raanan. "Every player on this field, every position group, the execution, it all comes down to me. The fish stinks from the head down."Judge was critical of his players' effort levels in their latest defeat, a 38-11 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. However, he promised fans it'll get better amid New York's 1-5 start."I've been taught that from great guys who I worked for, played for. There are no excuses, no exceptions," Judge said. "You demand it from your coaches to make sure that the players are playing the right way. You demand it of the players to know what to do and then go out there to do it."He added: "But it starts with me and ends with me."The Giants spent heavily this past offseason, signing Kenny Golladay and Adoree' Jackson in free agency, but those moves haven't changed the team's status quo. New York is 1-5 for the fourth time in five years.New York has also been plagued by injuries, with Golladay, Saquon Barkley, Sterling Shepard, Evan Engram among players who've missed time this year.Judge joined the Giants prior to the 2020 season and holds a 7-15 record with them.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We slogged through a 1-2 week on our total plays in Week 6, hitting on the Bengals' defense but missing on the Vikings' and Raiders' offenses. Here's to a better run in an appealing Week 7 slate.Bengals @ Ravens (-6.5, 46.5), 1 p.m.We cashed on a Bengals under last week thanks to a strong defensive showing against the Lions, and we're going back to the well this week in a clash of top-10 scoring defenses.After holding Detroit to 11 points in Week 6, Cincinnati's defense ranks fifth in DVOA, sixth in PFF grade, and third in opponent points per play (0.28). Meanwhile, the Ravens' defense held the high-flying Chargers to just six points a week ago and are surrendering just 13.8 points per game over the past four weeks.Baltimore's defense should be able to bait young quarterback Joe Burrow into a couple of mistakes Sunday, while the Ravens' offense faces a stiff test against the Bengals' front. Keep an eye on linebacker Logan Wilson - if he can prevent Lamar Jackson from owning the middle of the field, it'll do wonders for slowing Baltimore's dynamic offense.Pick: Under 46.5Lions @ Rams (-16, 50.5), 4:05 p.m.This total is driven almost entirely by the Rams' offense, which ranks fourth in points per play (0.48) and second in yards per play (6.5). Don't mistake that for high scoring totals - Los Angeles ranks 20th in plays per game (61.7), which is partly why they're yet to crack 40 points in a contest this season despite efficient offensive production.Don't expect the Lions to carry this one over, either, as Jared Goff has led this offense to 17 or fewer points in each of the past five weeks. He'll struggle to get anything going against L.A.'s elite defense; if the Rams have a big lead early, it'll be tough for this game to top 50 points.Pick: Under 50.5Eagles @ Raiders (-3, 49), 4:05 p.m.Well, so much for an offensive slump under a new play-caller. The Raiders looked as explosive as ever in their first game without Jon Gruden at the helm, scoring 34 points against the Broncos' talented defense behind a steady diet of shots downfield.Six different Las Vegas players caught a pass of at least 25 yards, including an early 48-yard touchdown pass to Henry Ruggs. This offense should have no problem lighting up the Eagles, who have allowed at least 28 points in three of their last four games as injuries mount.Philly's offense has been ineffective as of late but could see a resurgence against the Raiders' front, which is allowing the ninth-most rushing yards to opposing running backs (103.2 per game) and eighth-most to opposing QBs (23.3). That plays right into the strengths of Jalen Hurts and Co. in what profiles as a shootout.Pick: Over 49C 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.

Overtime, you cruel mistress. A profitable round-robin underdog moneyline parlay died in overtime in Week 6, marking the second time that has happened this season.The Patriots lost a late lead, took it back, and then lost it again. The Cowboys closed out the game after New England wasn't awarded a drive-extending penalty, killing our hopes for another winning week on our long-shot moneymaker.Four underdogs got home in total in Week 6, meaning the path to victory at least existed - even if we only found two of the four.How it worksWe parlay five underdogs together in 10 different three-team parlays. Using every combination of a three-team parlay is called a round robin, so we're going to use a total of 1.1 units to make 11 different bets: 10 three-team parlays and one five-team parlay, each for .1 units. If three teams pull off the upset, you'll likely double your money. If four teams win, as they did in Week 3, you're connecting on four separate parlays and will be very pleased with the return. If all five teams win like they did in Week 1, then it's back into the pool, swimming in gold doubloons like heirs to the McDuck fortune.Who to playMiami Dolphins +125Let's get this out of the way - this week is rough for viable underdogs. So we'll start with the shortest one on our card to begin the theme of every week, which is value. We faded the Dolphins last week in London and they were embarrassed, becoming the first team to lose to the Jaguars in more than a year.Embarrassment is the No. 1 motivator for NFL players, and I believe it's actually a good thing they didn't take the typical post-London bye. If Xavien Howard and Byron Jones return on defense, they should handle the Falcons' offense. Tua Tagovailoa was serviceable against Jacksonville, and a couple of healthier options for him to throw to would help in what is probably the Dolphins' last stand in a season slipping away.Cincinnati Bengals +225This is probably the most controversial inclusion, but that's what the price is for. Market-wise, we've already seen this number come off -7, so someone out there sees value with the Bengals. But can they win the game?The handicap in this one lies in the defenses. The Ravens only know one mode: blitz. Baltimore brings an extra man on 32% of its snaps (fifth most), while the Bengals rush more than four defenders only 20% of the time. Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson both invite the blitz, but the Bengals quarterback is going to see more of it.Cincinnati is giving up just 3.9 yards per carry and is fourth in the NFL in net yards per pass attempt at 5.7. It's strange to say, but the Bengals' defense is actually better than the Ravens'.Philadelphia Eagles +150This is purely a buy-low/sell-high spot. The Raiders won an emotional divisional matchup last week and proved what they needed to prove without Jon Gruden. Meanwhile, we all saw the Eagles lose to the Buccaneers in a game that wasn't as close as the spread-covering final score indicated. Philadelphia will have more success on offense than the banged-up Broncos did and we'll get another close game in Las Vegas. The Eagles are worthy of a bet at this price.Indianapolis Colts +165This was our upset of the week before the Colts lost a key player on defense a day after publication when Julian Blackmon tore his Achilles tendon in practice. While we're not quite as bullish on Indy now, for one game we'll hope the Colts can patch things up on the back end. That makes this price worthwhile.Seattle Seahawks +200The Seahawks looked stunned in the first half Sunday night, but they rallied in the second half to give the Steelers a big scare.I dropped Seattle to a 40/100 in my ratings, which is exactly the number you'd assign to the Seahawks if they were truly five points worse than Pittsburgh. With that number seeming pretty accurate, if not low, then the Saints can't be more than two-point favorites on the road on Monday night given the 56/100 rating that I assign to New Orleans.While the fumble on the penultimate play wasn't a good look for Geno Smith, who continues to fill in for the injured Russell Wilson, it's not like he was firing interceptions all over the field. Like last week, I'm content with taking the home 'dog at 2-1 odds to hopefully close out a winning week.Here's how the odds shake down this week:PARLAYODDS (Approx.)MIA+CIN+PHI+1650MIA+CIN+IND+1900MIA+CIN+SEA+2000MIA+PHI+IND+1350MIA+PHI+SEA+1450MIA+IND+SEA+1700CIN+PHI+IND+2600CIN+PHI+SEA+2200CIN+IND+SEA+2600PHI+IND+SEA+1850MIA+CIN+PHI+IND+SEA+14000Who are your five underdogs for a football betting lottery ticket?Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there’s a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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

Head coach Matt Rhule dismissed the idea that the Carolina Panthers are doing their due diligence on Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson ahead of the Nov. 2 trade deadline."I haven't done any work on anyone else," Rhule said, according to Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News. "I believe that (Sam Darnold) will be a great quarterback for the Carolina Panthers."The Panthers opened the campaign with three wins but have suffered three consecutive losses since then.Darnold has recorded 1,573 passing yards for seven touchdowns and seven interceptions this season. He's also added 110 rushing yards and five scores on the ground.Darnold's completion percentage has gradually declined over the campaign, going from 68% in the season opener to 41% in last week's loss to the Minnesota Vikings.Carolina acquired Darnold from the New York Jets in April in exchange for three draft picks. The 2018 first-round pick became the unquestioned starter after the Panthers dealt Teddy Bridgewater to the Denver Broncos a few weeks later.Rhule is placing Darnold's success in Carolina on his own shoulders."My biggest thing is making sure that me and (QB coach) Sean Ryan, (offensive coordinator) Joe Brady do a better job of putting Sam in the best position," he said. "He's my focus, and I expect him to play his best football moving forward. I'm not looking anywhere else."The Panthers will attempt to return to the win column Sunday against the New York Giants.Watson has been a healthy scratch during the 2021 campaign amid police and NFL investigations. The 26-year-old is facing lawsuits from 22 women who say he sexually assaulted them or committed sexual misconduct during massage sessions. Ten women also filed criminal complaints against Watson.The three-time Pro Bowler previously indicated his intention to be traded from the Texans this past offseason. Watson holds a no-trade clause in his contract and would have to approve a move.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns activated wide receiver Jarvis Landry from injured reserve before Thursday Night Football versus the Denver Broncos, the team announced.Landry missed the last four games with an MCL sprain. He began practicing six days ago, a sign his return was on the horizon.Landry posted six receptions for 80 yards over the first two contests. The five-time Pro Bowler has led the Browns in receiving for three consecutive years, providing most of his damage from the slot.The Browns will take on the Broncos without quarterback Baker Mayfield and star running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, who are all injured. Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is questionable for the affair while he nurses a shoulder problem.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Kansas City Chiefs, New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers, and Carolina Panthers have all made preliminary trade inquiries about Indianapolis Colts running back Marlon Mack, reports NFL insider Josina Anderson.Mack reportedly requested a trade early in the season after losing playing time to Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Hines. The 25-year-old is playing on a one-year contract worth a guaranteed $1 million.The Chiefs, 49ers, and Panthers each lost their starting running back to injuries, while the Saints lost backup Tony Jones.Mack has recorded 97 rushing yards on 25 carries this season. He ran for 1,091 yards and averaged 4.4 per carry in 2019 before tearing his Achilles in the 2020 season opener.The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday, Nov. 2 at 4 p.m. ET.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Houston Texans defensive end Whitney Mercilus is joining the Green Bay Packers, the team confirmed.The Texans released the 31-year old Tuesday. He was in his 10th season with the franchise.Mercilus recorded 12 tackles and three sacks over six games with Houston this season.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's a meeting of former Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks to kick off Week 7 in the NFL, as Teddy Bridgewater leads the Denver Broncos - looking to snap a three-game losing skid - into battle with Case Keenum and the injury-ravaged Cleveland Browns.Here's how we're betting Broncos-Browns:C Jackson Cowart: Under 41Most of the attention heading into Thursday's contest revolves around Keenum, and deservedly so. The journeyman QB hasn't started a game since 2019 and posted a sub-50 QBR in each of his last two seasons as a starter, while the Browns scored 14 points a week ago, even with starter Baker Mayfield taking most of the snaps before his injury.Let's not forget that Cleveland isn't the only team dealing with an injured quarterback, though. Three weeks after getting forced out of the game with a concussion, Bridgewater is also battling a foot injury that could hamper him Thursday, which is the last thing Denver's offense can afford. Since walloping the lowly Giants, Jaguars, and Jets in the first three weeks, the Broncos are averaging 16.7 points per game and are coming off a contest in which they produced four turnovers and converted just 6-of-17 tries on third and fourth down.I still have faith in Vic Fangio's defense to make life difficult on Keenum in his first start in years, which is exacerbated by injuries to star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and three starters along Cleveland's offensive line. This Browns defense is also better than it has looked in recent weeks against juggernaut offenses and should contain a mostly ineffective Denver offense.Alex Moretto: Melvin Gordon under 40.5 rush yardsA lot is working against Gordon here to make this an attractive bet, despite him going over this total in three of his last four games. The way to attack the Browns is through the air, and the Broncos - who rank 19th in the league in rush-play percentage - are comfortable going with a volume passing attack to do just that. Cleveland ranks third in the league in yards per rush allowed, so we can expect a healthy dose of Bridgewater in this one, who is supposed to be active tonight.When the Browns do run the ball, Gordon's best-case scenario is to collect about half of the team's carries. He hasn't received more than 10 carries in a game since Week 3 and continues to trail rushing partner Javonte Williams in terms of efficiency on the ground. Williams has earned more work for himself, and the rookie's role should only grow with each passing week.The Browns have allowed just one rusher over 40 yards this season when they've gotten fewer than 14 carries - Chase Edmonds went 4-46 in last week's blowout win. Among the notable names to be held under 40 by this Cleveland defense on a smaller workload were Dalvin Cook and David Montgomery, who each finished with 34 yards on nine and 10 carries, respectively.Matt Russell: D'Ernest Johnson over 59.5 rush yardsThis play is all you need to know about this game. We're D'honestly down to D'Ernest when it comes to offensive options to bet on.This was going to be Broncos +3.5, but Mayfield being officially ruled out moves the line across the key number of -3, and I think this is an overreaction to Keenum getting the start. Part of that feeling is because Johnson, although an unfamiliar name, has shown flashes of brilliance in limited opportunities.Johnson looked fast and shifty while running for 95 yards on 13 carries against the Cowboys last season in his only game in which he got a decent workload. Understandably, he's buried behind Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, but there's also a reason the Browns haven't made him available to other teams via the practice squad.As the bell cow, D'Ernest can take some heat off Keenum and clear this relatively low number for a running back in this offense.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield is expected to require offseason surgery on the torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Mayfield has been dealing with the injury since Week 2. He said Tuesday he had "no idea" if he would eventually need a procedure, according to Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal.The quarterback intends to play through his injury, though more damage to the shoulder could threaten that plan, according to Rapoport. The 26-year-old initially didn't need surgery, but the hits he's taken on a weekly basis have reportedly changed that.Mayfield will miss Thursday Night Football in Week 7 given the quick turnaround from the previous game, but he's expected to return the following contest.The first overall pick in 2018, Mayfield has thrown for 1,474 yards with six touchdowns and three interceptions over six outings this year. He led the Browns to the playoffs last year, Cleveland's first trip to the postseason since 2002.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts safety Julian Blackmon tore his Achilles during practice Wednesday and will miss the remainder of the season, the team announced.The second-year player tallied 34 tackles, two tackles for loss, and a forced fumble through six games of the season.Blackmon provided an immediate impact to the Colts' secondary following his selection in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He started 14 contests during his rookie campaign and racked up 42 tackles, two interceptions, and six passes defended.This is just the latest setback for a Colts roster that's suffered various injuries this season, including those to guard Quenton Nelson and wide receiver T.Y. Hilton.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Head coach Bruce Arians made it clear that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won't trade running back Ronald Jones ahead of the Nov. 2 trade deadline."No, none at all," Arians said, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. "It's a long season, and just that scenario that happened last year and still with COVID, you can't have enough good backs."Jones dropped to No. 2 on the depth chart behind Leonard Fournette this season.The 24-year-old runner has carried the ball 18 times for 118 yards and one touchdown across six weeks in 2021.Jones led all Tampa Bay tailbacks last campaign with 978 yards and seven touchdowns while averaging 5.1 yards per carry. He missed the final two regular-season contests in 2020 due to a positive COVID-19 test. A quad injury during warmups in the team's wild-card round win against the Washington Football Team also forced him out of action.The Buccaneers have plenty of depth at the position, with Giovani Bernard and Ke'Shawn Vaughn also on the roster.Arians said he likes Jones as an insurance policy in a 17-week regular-season schedule as the Bucs attempt to repeat as Super Bowl champions.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL trading season ends Tuesday, Nov. 2 at 4 p.m. ET. Let's examine the 20 most appealing trade chips ahead of the deadline.The big boardThe chipsDeshaun WatsonA trade for Watson could be among the most complex in NFL history. The quarterback hasn't played this year amid 22 lawsuits from women who say he sexually assaulted them or committed sexual misconduct during massage sessions. Ten women have also filed criminal complaints. But teams have still explored the possibility of acquiring Watson, and it was reported Wednesday that the Miami Dolphins hope to complete a deal with the Houston Texans by the end of the week. It's possible Miami would send protected picks to Houston, as has been speculated, to safeguard itself in the event the quarterback is suspended or faces criminal prosecution.Potential landing spots: Eagles, DolphinsXavien Howard Justin K. Aller / Getty Images Sport / GettyHoward pushed for an exit from Miami in the offseason but eventually came to terms on a reworked deal. However, the cornerback is unlikely to be happy for long, and with the Dolphins' playoff hopes all but over at 1-5, they would be wise to sell. Howard would fetch a high pick, which the Dolphins desperately need considering they're currently projected to give up their No. 3 pick to the Philadelphia Eagles.Potential landing spots: 49ers, BengalsBrandin CooksDespite being stuck in the worst offensive situation of his career, Cooks is arguably having his best season. His diminutive stature comes with limitations, but Cooks is one of the league's best vertical threats. He's an ideal No. 2 receiver on a team looking to create more explosive plays.Potential landing spots: Browns, ChargersFletcher CoxIt's hard to tell whether Cox is declining because of age or a scheme change. The 30-year-old has been one of the best 3-techniques in the NFL over the last several years, but the Eagles have used him in different alignments under first-year coordinator Jonathan Gannon. Either way, he's worth taking a chance on given his past dominance.Potential landing spots: Raiders, BrownsOdell Beckham Jr.It's more likely that the Cleveland Browns look to move on from Beckham in the offseason rather than weaken their offense during a year in which they could contend for a Super Bowl. Still, Beckham is undoubtedly a poor fit with the Browns and that's unlikely to change this season. If another team offers decent value for the star wideout, Cleveland could opt to cut its losses.Potential landing spots: 49ers, SaintsMarcus MayeMaye and the New York Jets have been headed for a split since the franchise-tag deadline. This hasn't been his best season, but Maye is still a well-rounded safety who's come down to play the run and drop back into coverage throughout his career. Maye can be had for a reasonable price as a typical midseason rental.Potential landing spots: Chiefs, CowboysRobby Anderson Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyAnderson has crashed back down to earth following his first 1,000-yard campaign. Amid a slow start, Anderson complained about his usage in Week 5, then dropped a slew of passes in Week 6 when the Carolina Panthers force-fed him the ball. The talent is still there, but Anderson may benefit from a fresh start, and his club may wish to give him one.Potential landing spots: Browns, TitansMyles JackJack might look mentally checked out, but who can blame him considering all the troubles in Jacksonville? He's still one of the league's most athletic linebackers, and teams ache for 250-pound defenders who can run sideline to sideline. A move to a contender should reignite Jack, who's had two wins to celebrate over the last two years.Potential landing spots: Ravens, BengalsWill FullerFuller was one of the top trade chips that didn't end up moving last year and returns to the block in 2021 amid a vastly different season. He's made only two appearances for the Dolphins and was hardly a factor in those games, but Fuller still has value as a vertical threat. He should be back from a broken finger before long.Potential landing spots: Packers, ChiefsJoe HadenThe Pittsburgh Steelers kept themselves in the AFC wild-card race with an overtime win against the Seattle Seahawks, but the team should still be realistic about its chances of competing this year. Haden will almost certainly leave as a free agent this coming offseason, so Pittsburgh should get what it can for the cornerback now.Potential landing spots: Cowboys, TitansDeVante ParkerParker may never replicate his 1,200-yard 2019 campaign, but he's still efficient against man coverage and wins in contested-catch scenarios. If a shake-up is coming for the Dolphins, Parker could be on his way out. Perhaps another team can take greater advantage of his skill set.Potential landing spots: 49ers, ColtsDante Fowler Todd Kirkland / Getty Images Sport / GettyFowler has rebounded from a massively disappointing debut campaign in Atlanta with a far more respectable season in 2021. He only has two sacks, but Fowler's 14.1% win rate makes him a strong complimentary pass-rusher for teams eyeing a boost off the edge. The market lacks viable pass-rushers, which should help his value.Potential landing spots: Chargers, ChiefsAkiem HicksThe Chicago Bears tried to shed Hicks in the offseason but couldn't find a taker for his $10.4-million salary. They may prefer to keep him at this point since the regime in Chicago is under pressure to win, but there are contenders who could use a run-stopper who also occasionally flashes as a pass-rusher.Potential landing spots: Chargers, CowboysKyle FullerFuller hasn't lived up to expectations after signing a one-year deal this offseason. With the Denver Broncos falling to 3-3 after three straight losses, Vic Fangio and Co. should look to move the veteran to a contender that needs depth at cornerback.Potential landing spots: Buccaneers, BillsEvan EngramEngram has teased star potential during his time with the New York Giants, but flashes have been few and far between. And under coordinator Jason Garrett, the 27-year-old is even more misused. Engram has just 14 catches for 127 yards and zero touchdowns this season. With the Giants going nowhere at 1-5, they should get what they can for the tight end.Potential landing spots: Vikings, TitansMelvin GordonJavonte Williams appears ready to take over the backfield in Denver, making Gordon a trade chip ahead of the deadline. The former Pro Bowler is averaging 4.7 yards per carry and can still make plays as a pass-catcher. Whether he's featured or part of a committee, Gordon can fit on plenty of teams.Potential landing spots: Bills, CardinalsJamison Crowder Jim McIsaac / Getty Images Sport / GettyKeeping Crowder as a veteran presence for an inexperienced receiver corps made sense for the Jets this past offseason. But at 1-4, New York should be looking to 2022. Trading Crowder would open up more playing time for Elijah Moore and Denzel Mims, while Corey Davis can still mentor the two youngsters.Potential landing spots: Colts, BearsMarlon MackMack already asked the Indianapolis Colts for a trade after Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Hines squeezed him out of a role. He didn't have much of a market in free agency after tearing his Achilles in 2020, so it remains to be seen whether teams come calling at the deadline. Mack has been productive throughout his career, however.Potential landing spots: Chiefs, RavensJabrill PeppersPeppers was once billed by Dave Gettleman as the linchpin of the Giants' defense but no longer seems to be part of New York's plans. The 26-year-old has seen his playing time fluctuate in a contract year, and Xavier McKinney likely represents the future at safety for the Giants. Peppers has always been better against the run than he has in coverage.Potential landing spots: Panthers, RamsNick FolesFoles is no longer a starting-caliber quarterback and currently sits No. 3 on the Bears' depth chart. But with injuries to quarterbacks inevitable as the expanded season wears on, teams could look to take Foles off the Bears' hands - providing, likely, Chicago pays most of his salary - as an insurance policy or a late-season replacement for a struggling starter.Potential landing spots: Broncos, SeahawksCopyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and Anchor.In this episode, Victoria Geary of Football Guys joins Boone to discuss the important fantasy questions heading into Week 7.

Jared Goff took notice when his former coach Sean McVay said he regrets how he handled the trade that sent the quarterback to the Detroit Lions.McVay said earlier this week that he wishes there was "better, clearer communication" with his former signal-caller when Goff was traded to Detroit in January in exchange for Matthew Stafford.“I appreciate it,” Goff said Wednesday, according to ESPN's Eric Woodyard. “It takes a man to say something like that. … It still happened the way it did, but I do appreciate him saying that.”Goff, who spent the first five years of his career with the Los Angeles Rams, is set to take on his former club Sunday for the first time since the trade. Goff says he is still bothered by the deal, but he remembers the good times in Los Angeles.“The sourness is there still from how it ended, but there's so much more of good things that happened that make you appreciative for those times," Goff added, according to Chris Burke of The Athletic.McVay praised his former quarterback when asked about Goff's comments later Wednesday."He's quality, class act," McVay said, according to ESPN's Lindsey Thiry. "He's always going to be honest, but he's a great kid, he's a great guy. I really enjoyed the time with him and I think we've kind of talked about that."The Rams are 5-1 this season with Stafford under center while Goff is still searching for his first win with the Lions.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The haves and the have-nots. For a league that does everything it can to foster parity and unpredictability, once in a while you still get a week like this. Four games are lined above a touchdown and two more appear to be headed in that direction. Let's take a look at how some of Week 7's lines got to where they are, and if there's any value to glean before their respective kickoffs.Broncos @ Browns (-3.5, 42)This game won't be pretty, and that's not merely due to the various shades of orange that will be on the field. Injuries are piling up for both sides, and the market's decided that the Browns' ailments are more significant. It's hard to argue against that. Dropping the Browns from -6 down to -3.5 may not be enough before Thursday night's kick.Panthers @ Giants (-3, 43)The Panthers have moved from -3 to +3 since the lookahead lines were released over the summer, but it would have made a lot more sense three weeks ago. However, it's hard to take Sam Darnold seriously as a field-goal favorite at MetLife Stadium, regardless of what uniform he's wearing at his former home. We'll wait and see if the line can creep any higher before coming in on the Giants plus the points.Washington @ Packers (-9.5, 49)The Packers were 6.5-point favorites in the first look this summer and then opened Sunday as 10-point faves. Early money has hit Washington to bring this number into the single digits. If you like that side, you may see +10 again, as the usual flood of Packers money should be on the way.Chiefs @ Titans (+5.5, 56.5)This one will likely just feature two unstoppable forces and no immovable objects. The market and I actually like the Titans less than we otherwise would despite Tennessee's upset win over the Bills on Monday Night Football. It felt like the Titans got injured on every second play, and that's not what you want with the Chiefs coming to Nashville, so you can excuse a move from -4.5 to -5.5 toward a K.C. team that has been the worst ATS bet in sports for the last year or so.Falcons @ Dolphins (+2.5, 47.5)The game we'll all be excited for on Sunday has encountered somewhat of a peculiar move, with the favorites flipping from as recently as last week. The movement toward the Falcons must be based entirely on rest.Atlanta took the usual post-London bye last weekend, while the Dolphins strangely opted not to take the bye this weekend. They might be regretting that now. However, I'll wait for this to creep up to a flat +3 and take my chances in a game with two equally poor teams.Lions @ Rams (-15, 50.5)Now, let's dig into the really big numbers. The recipe for an over-two-touchdown point spread usually involves a good team blowing out a team the week prior and a bad team getting blown out themselves, and then those two squads meeting the next week. So, here we are. That said, this is a bit too much of a change for me, as I have the Rams -12.7 in my numbers, which is closer to where this number was last week than where it is now.Bears @ Buccaneers (-13, 47)I'm less into the Bears here, even though they're getting a couple more points than would be considered appropriate prior to this week. Justin Fields gets the task of taking advantage of the Bucs' lackluster secondary group, but he's not the guy we want on the job.Texans @ Cardinals (-17.5, 47.5)Davis Mills or the return of Tyrod Taylor? It probably won't matter to the point spread. That's actually a compliment to Mills, as he acquitted himself well again last week in Indianapolis. This number was at 10.5 in the summer when we all thought the Texans would be awful. They are. So the extra seven points can be attributed to Cardinals fever, which seems to be at an all-time high, and since they're not required to win by 18 points to stay undefeated, we'll bet against them doing so.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 Miami Dolphins and Houston Texans are working on a Deshaun Watson trade that has a chance to be completed by the end of the week, reports John McClain of the Houston Chronicle.The quarterback has been a healthy scratch for the first six weeks of the season amid police and NFL investigations. Watson is facing lawsuits from 22 women who say he sexually assaulted them or committed sexual misconduct during massage sessions.Ten of those women also filed criminal complaints against Watson.If the Dolphins and Texans are unable to complete a deal this week, the two teams reportedly intend to come to an agreement before the Nov. 2 trade deadline.Miami and Houston have been in discussions about a potential Watson trade for months, and talks recently "intensified into serious negotiations," added McClain.Houston's potential return for Watson is not yet known. The Texans reportedly rejected an offer of three first-round picks and three third-round picks before April's draft.The Dolphins are 1-5 this season and seem intent on upgrading at quarterback. Tua Tagovailoa has been a disappointment over the first season-and-a-half of his NFL career after Miami selected him fifth overall in 2020.Watson, meanwhile, led the NFL with 4,823 passing yards last season and threw a career-high 33 touchdowns.The 26-year-old would be eligible to play for the Dolphins immediately; the NFL hasn't placed the signal-caller on the commissioner's exempt list, a move that would have prohibited him from playing and practicing.Watson formally asked for an exit from Houston this offseason before any of the lawsuits were filed. He has a no-trade clause and would have to approve the move.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns will start backup quarterback Case Keenum against the Denver Broncos on Thursday, the team announced Wednesday.Baker Mayfield is out after reinjuring his non-throwing shoulder Sunday. He previously said he expected to be ready for the Week 7 contest."Case Keenum will be our starter tomorrow night, and we have full confidence in him to lead us and do the things necessary to put us in position to win," Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said."Baker fought really hard to play, he's a competitor and obviously wants to be out there, but (he) just couldn't make it on a short week. We know he will continue to do everything in his power to return as quickly as possible."Cleveland will also be without top running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, who are on the shelf with calf injuries. Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is questionable with a shoulder injury after sitting out all three practices this week.The nod will mark Keenum's first start for the Browns. The 33-year-old has 62 career starts under his belt and has thrown 75 touchdowns versus 47 interceptions across 10 NFL seasons.Keenum played for the Broncos in 2018, making all 16 starts that year. He's in his second season with the Browns.Mayfield had started 51 straight games, a streak that began in 2018 when he was a rookie. The former No. 1 overall pick has thrown for 1,474 yards with six touchdowns and three interceptions over six outings this season, completing a career-best 67.1% of his passes and averaging a career-high 8.5 yards per attempt.The Browns carry a 3-3 record into Thursday Night Football after dropping two straight decisions. The Broncos are also 3-3 and are riding a three-game losing streak.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday he's "pretty optimistic" quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will be ready to play in Sunday night's matchup with the Indianapolis Colts, according to David Lombardi of The Athletic.Garoppolo missed Week 5 with a calf injury and the 49ers had a bye in Week 6. Rookie Trey Lance started in the veteran's absence but is now dealing with a knee sprain.Garoppolo said before practice Wednesday that his calf felt "really good." It's unclear what San Francisco would do if Garoppolo isn't able to start against the Colts, as there is no other quarterback on its active roster.Garoppolo completed 66.1% of his passes for 925 yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions across four starts before he went down injured. The 29-year-old is 24-10 as a starter for the 49ers, but he has struggled to stay healthy.The 49ers will look to snap a three-game losing streak when they take on the Colts.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

On the surface, the Jaguars' win in the last upset of the week wasn't that impressive. By nature, when given out, the +165 price was above our self-appointed threshold to qualify for a UOTW (which sounds like a Div-III basketball powerhouse). Then, by the time the game kicked off on Sunday morning, the line had dropped to Dolphins -1.5.That's the point, though. This exercise is designed to take advantage of inefficiencies and inaccuracies in the market. People throw the word "value" around wantonly, but it actually means getting something for a better price than you should. Win or lose - on a pair of Jacksonville's wild field goals - getting value is the point, which is why this article comes out on Wednesdays. After that, it's out of our hands.That said, it's not like the Jaguars have won within the calendar year, so calling our shot is pretty fun ... and the money still counts the same. We improve to 4-2 (+6.25 units) on the moneyline for contests that require a bet on something longer than +150 or +3.5 points.With 32 teams in a league where we focus on each side as if it's our own, it can still be easy to get locked into a position on the lower profile franchises. That might be what's happening here with the Colts.Indianapolis' conversation always starts with Carson Wentz and his infuriating inconsistency. The tendency for turnovers in his time with the Eagles has made us skeptical of the former second overall draft pick. This year, preseason injuries resulted in no live-action time for Wentz with his new club until the season opener.GAMEQB RATINGTOvs. SEA23.81 FUMvs. LAR57.61 INT@ TEN38.40@ MIA79.10@ BAL65.70vs. HOU63.30Wentz had a fumble in the opener and threw his only interception of the campaign against the Rams before leaving with two sprained ankles - an injury that he played through in Week 3. Since then, it's only gotten better for Wentz as he's settled into running the Colts' offense.The 28-year-old passer hasn't been the only one battling injuries all season, but as he gets healthy, so do many of his teammates. T.Y. Hilton struggles to stay in the lineup, but he brings the speed necessary to stretch the field when he's available. This provides more room for Wentz's bigger intermediate targets and acts as a threat that keeps defenses from stacking the box against Jonathan Taylor.Taylor is third in the NFL in yards after contact, behind both of the Browns' injured running backs. The 49ers' average run defense is secondary to the fact that they don't cause turnovers, with their 3.6% turnover rate ranking second-last in the league. Indianapolis is 4th in the NFL by comparison - causing opposing turnovers at a rate better than 18% - and health is improving within the defensive unit led by Darius Leonard, who looked his best last week.San Francisco should get Jimmy Garoppolo back at the pivot, but until Trey Lance showed his inexperience, Garoppolo's role as a starter was very much in question. The team will continue to try to get its ground game going on Sunday night, but considering the Colts' run defense has shown itself capable of snapping the Ravens' 100-yard game streak, this will be a tough task.The 49ers get credit for being the better team, but there's nothing in their resume to indicate that's the case. And speaking of accreditation, a lot of Kyle Shanahan's 31-38 career record gets explained away by injuries, so it's Frank Reich that I'm trusting to make positive expected-value in-game decisions.With no discernible home-field advantage, the distinct possibility that Indianapolis might be developing into the better team, and San Francisco's inability to win the turnover battle, this game feels like the kind of coin flip that - if we're getting better than 3:2 on our money - is worth taking.Pick: Colts +165Matt 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.

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

Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller doesn't think the Cleveland Browns will have offensive tackles good enough to stop him on Thursday Night Football."I'm going to go off. It's going to be a good game for me," Miller said Tuesday, according to Broncos reporter Aric DiLalla. "I'm going to have a great game. I'm going to go out there, and I'm going to play well and get a couple (of) sacks."He added: "I don't know who the (offensive) tackle is that I'm going against, but I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. And the other guy too, on the other side. And I'm going to play extremely well and I'm going to make plays for my team."Miller lines up on both sides of the defense so he'll likely face Cleveland's right and left tackle in Week 7. The Browns still aren't sure whether Jedrick Wills Jr. and Jack Conklin - their starting tackles - will be available this week.Wills was sidelined over the last two weeks with an ankle injury while Conklin missed the team's Week 6 loss to the Arizona Cardinals due to a knee ailment. Neither of them practiced Tuesday.Blake Hance and rookie James Hudson started for the Browns against the Cardinals at left and right tackle, respectively. Hance had a solid performance, but Hudson struggled in his first career start, earning the 12th-worst grade among all starting offensive tackles Sunday, according to PFF.The Broncos took advantage of an easy schedule and began their season 3-0 but have now lost three straight. Miller, an eight-time Pro Bowler, hasn't recorded a single sack over the last two weeks after amassing four through the first three games."If I can play well and I can get sacks and I can find a way to disrupt the game, we'll win," Miller said.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 7.Updated rankings (including Standard and PPR) will be released Thursday, with the final version coming down Sunday morning.Half PPR

It's been smooth sailing for us through six weeks. While things will get tougher soon with byes piling up and more teams becoming unavailable, we still have another week of calm waters ahead of us.There are three double-digit favorites to choose from in Week 7, all of which look like very safe survivor picks. Here's how the full slate shakes out:AWAYHOMEPICK (CR)TexansCardinals (-17)ARI (10)BearsBuccaneers (-13.5)TB (10)LionsRams (-15.5)LAR (10)WashingtonPackers (-9.5)GB (8)JetsPatriots (-7)NE (8)BengalsRavens (-6.5)BAL (4)Colts49ers (-3.5)SF (4)ChiefsTitans (+4.5)KC (3)SaintsSeahawks (+5)NO (3)BroncosBrowns (-3.5)CLE (2)EaglesRaiders (-3)LV (2)PanthersGiants (+3)NYG (1)FalconsDolphins (+2.5)MIA (1)Confidence rating (CR) is the author's level of trust in picking the winner of each given gameWhich big favorite should you take?The hardest decision we have to make this week is which of the big favorites to pick. At the risk of being presumptuous, all three look close to surefire outright winners. The Cardinals are the biggest favorite of the bunch, while the Buccaneers are the smallest, but the difference between the two is rather negligible. The same can be said of the Rams.The outside chance Tyrod Taylor returns this week isn't enough reason to sour on Arizona, given the Texans' defensive struggles and a general lack of overall talent. The Cardinals are averaging 32.3 points per game, while Houston ranks at, or near, the bottom of the league in every important defensive metric.The Lions have the same issue on defense, which has only been worsened by a laundry list of injuries. They rank dead-last in yards per pass allowed, and they have to travel to take on the league's most efficient passing offense. It's not going to be a happy homecoming for Jared Goff.As for the Bears, they match up horribly with Tampa Bay. Chicago's run-happy - possibly pass-shy - offense ranks second in rush-play percentage, but it'll struggle to find success against far and above the league's best run defense. The way to attack the Bucs is through the air, but Justin Fields and this offense simply aren't equipped to do so. The Bears will really struggle to move the ball here in a game that could get ugly, early.With all three picks about as safe as we could hope for, how do we decide on the one we want? Now, I'm going to do something that not only goes against my general rule of thumb for survivor pools, but also directly contradicts what I've preached in the past.We're going to base our decision off which teams we're best suited to save for future use.In order to do so, we must analyze their remaining schedules:WEEK RAMS CARDINALS BUCCANEERS8@ Texansvs. Packers@ Saints9vs. Titans@ 49ersBYE10@ 49ersvs. Panthers@ Washington11BYE@ Seahawksvs. Giants12@ PackersBYE@ Colts13vs. Jaguars@ Bears@ Falcons14@ Cardinalsvs. Ramsvs. Bills15vs. Seahawks@ Lionsvs. Saints16@ Vikingsvs. Colts@ Panthers17@ Ravens@ Cowboys@ Jets18vs. 49ersvs. Seahawksvs. PanthersThe Rams should be protected at all costs, with games against the Texans and Jaguars still remaining. In fact, you could save them for next week's visit to Houston in what looks like a bit of a tricky week at first glance.The Cardinals could be viable at home to the Panthers in Week 10 and at the Lions in Week 15, but neither matchup is all that inspiring. The game against Carolina could be something of a trap, sandwiched between road contests against a pair of NFC West rivals. Maybe you feel Week 16 at home to the Colts is worth holding out for.As for the Bucs, there are also some viable options in there, with Week 11 against the Giants - who are a live 'dog when fully healthy - and Week 17 at the Jets standing out. Still, Week 17 is quite far away, and a lot can happen between now and then. Tampa Bay might not even have anything to play for.Based on the remaining strength of schedules, the Bucs would be my top choice this week. If you have multiple entries, I'd suggest a split between Tampa Bay and Arizona.Picks:

Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb will not play Thursday against the Denver Broncos due to a calf injury, head coach Kevin Stefanski announced Tuesday, according to team reporter Nathan Zegura.D'Ernest Johnson will get the start in Chubb's absence.Chubb also missed the Browns' Week 6 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.The two-time Pro Bowler has rushed for 523 yards and four touchdowns with an average of 5.8 yards per carry through five appearances this season.Cleveland is currently without the services of its dynamic duo at tailback with both Chubb and Kareem Hunt sidelined by calf injuries. Hunt was placed on injured reserve earlier Tuesday, along with linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.Johnson and Demetric Felton will likely see an increase in snaps. The Browns also signed running back John Kelly to the active roster.It remains unclear whether Cleveland will also have to break in a new quarterback as Baker Mayfield deals with an injured non-throwing shoulder. Mayfield said he intends to start Thursday's prime-time matchup.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley will undergo his second straight year-ending ankle surgery. "This is not what I wanted or expected when coming into the season," Stanley announced Tuesday. "Throughout the last year, I did everything I could to be 100% healthy so I could be out there playing for our team and city. As a competitor, I have a mindset of sacrificing my body for my brothers and my team to reach our goals. At this point in time, my ankle isn't where it should be."This is the best decision not only for my health but also for the team long term. I look forward to supporting my team from the sideline this season and coming back fully healthy in 2022."Stanley missed the second half of the last campaign with the same injury, which he suffered just days after signing a five-year deal reportedly worth $98.75 million. He returned for Week 1 but has sat out the last five contests.Veteran Alejandro Villanueva shifted over to left tackle, and Patrick Mekari took over at right tackle.Injuries have devasted the Ravens this season. Star cornerback Marcus Peters and running back Gus Edwards both suffered torn ACLs during practice days before the start of the campaign.Baltimore also lost two other running backs, J.K. Dobbins and Justice Hill, to year-ending injuries. Meanwhile, first-round wide receiver Rashod Bateman missed the first five games before making his debut in Week 6.Despite the losses, the Ravens have established themselves as one of the NFL's best clubs through six weeks, winning five contests to top the AFC North.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns don't believe quarterback Baker Mayfield's shoulder injury is a season-ending issue or that it will require immediate surgery ahead of a second opinion from an MRI on Tuesday, a source told ESPN's Jake Trotter.Mayfield dislocated his non-throwing shoulder after awkwardly landing on it during a strip-sack in Sunday's loss to the Arizona Cardinals. He was reportedly already playing through a torn labrum in the same shoulder.While the signal-caller said he expects to play in Thursday's game against the Denver Broncos, his status is still undetermined, Trotter added.Case Keenum would take over starting duties if the ailment forces Mayfield to miss time.Keenum is one of the most experienced backups in the NFL, making 62 starts (and nine further appearances) during his 10-year career while throwing for 14,420 yards and 75 touchdowns against 47 interceptions.Injuries are currently ravaging Cleveland's offense. Running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt are both dealing with calf issues. The former missed Week 6 and won't play against the Broncos, while the latter is out for at least three weeks after the Browns placed him on injured reserve Monday.Left tackle Jedrick Wills and right tackle Jack Conklin also missed the loss to the Cardinals with ankle and knee injuries, respectively.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Rams' decision to trade Jared Goff to the Detroit Lions in January blindsided the quarterback, and head coach Sean McVay said Monday he regrets not creating a smoother exit for Goff."Yes, I wish there was better, clearer communication," McVay said, according to ESPN's Lindsey Thiry. "To say that it was perfectly handled on my end, I wouldn't be totally accurate in that. I'll never claim to be perfect, but I will try to learn from some things that I can do better, and I think that was one of them without a doubt."Goff will return to Los Angeles for the first time Sunday and is still looking for his first win as a member of the Lions. Meanwhile, the 5-1 Rams are primed for another run at the Super Bowl in large part thanks to a dynamic offense led by McVay and new quarterback Matthew Stafford, who was acquired in the trade for Goff.Stafford is in the MVP conversation, having completed 69.5% of his passes for 1,838 yards and 16 touchdowns against four interceptions.However, Goff's poor play from the end of his time with the Rams has continued in Detroit. He has thrown just two touchdowns in his last four games while turning the ball over five times.Lions head coach Dan Campbell said his quarterback "needs to step up more than he has" after Sunday's blowout loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.Though the Goff era in Los Angeles ultimately didn't deliver a Super Bowl - despite an NFC Championship Game win and 43 regular-season victories - McVay believes the 2016 No. 1 overall pick will get a warm welcome from the Rams' crowd."I think he'll be received well," McVay said. "I think the L.A. fans and I think the Rams fans know what a great job he had done and ... how much he meant to the Rams organization both as a football player and also (in) the community."Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox broke a bone in his hand during Monday's 34-31 loss to the Tennessee Titans, a source told NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.The timeline for his recovery remains unclear, but there's optimism that Knox will not miss much time with the Bills entering a bye week, Garafolo adds.Despite the injury, Knox was able to throw a two-point conversion to quarterback Josh Allen in the third quarter before being sidelined for the remainder of the game.The 24-year-old Knox has become a fixture in the Bills' passing game through six weeks. He's hauled in 21 receptions for 286 yards and leads the team with five touchdown grabs.Buffalo is thin at the position if Knox misses significant time: The only other tight end on the active roster is Tommy Sweeney.The Bills return to action Oct. 31 against the Miami Dolphins.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

They're scared of you. The sportsbooks saw another brutal weekend behind the counter, partially due to favorites cashing teasers and moneylines at a ridiculously high clip.As it turns out, we didn't even need last week's warning to be careful, with all four +EV sides cashing easily. In fact, the Vikings opened +1.5 and a +7.5 teaser leg but were bet to -2.5, while the Panthers became the viable teaser leg, and that won too!Week 7 sees fewer options, with six teams on bye and double-digit favorites in three other games.On a two-team six-point teaser priced at -115, each teaser leg has a price of -270. There are places where that -270 price becomes more valuable than just betting a moneyline or an alternative spread on its own. Let's use the upcoming AFC North tilt between the Bengals and Ravens as an example.SPREAD ODDSBAL -6.5-115BAL -6-138BAL -5.5-150BAL -5-155BAL -4.5-163BAL -4-167BAL -3.5-175BAL -3-210BAL -2.5-250BAL -2-260BAL -1.5-270BAL -1-280BAL ML-300Taking Baltimore down to -0.5 via a teaser is better than both the moneyline and Ravens -1. While that's a small advantage, it allows you to take another game and manipulate that spread in your favor.Not all teaser legs are created equal. The biggest mistake novice bettors make is teasing through zero - you're wasting valuable price points on a number the game probably won't land on. So how can we maximize the six-point move? How can we get what we're paying for at -270 per leg?With the three heavy favorites being untouchable, there are only a few good options for how to best use the teaser to create value. Remember, these are not recommendations - this is more about the selection of teams you could tease from a mathematically correct standpoint in the "teaser basket."Teaser basketTEAMSPREADTEASER LEGDolphins+2+8Giants+2.5+8.5Ravens-6.5-0.5Patriots-7-1Titans+4.5+10.5Seahawks+5+11The first two options are my favorite type of teaser leg, grabbing over a touchdown in a coin flip game. The next two are better options than just betting the moneyline if you like the favorite and allow you to move those first two clubs to an ideal leg. The last two options are untraditional, but moving the Titans over two scores against the Chiefs defense and the Seahawks into double-digits at home against an offensively challenged Saints outfit is probably profitable long-term.Fundamentally, take as many legs from the basket as you want that align with your handicap of the game. Which ones do you like?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.

Tennessee Titans cornerback Caleb Farley will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a torn ACL during Monday's 34-31 win over the Buffalo Bills, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Farley, a 2021 first-round pick, was carted to the locker room in the second quarter with the knee injury.The 22-year-old made his first career start in place of Kristian Fulton, whom the Titans placed on injured reserve Monday with a hamstring ailment. Farley played in just two prior contests due to a shoulder injury.Farley was notably one of the first prospects to opt out of his collegiate season amid the COVID-19 pandemic.The promising young defensive back previously tore his ACL while at Virginia Tech and also dealt with a back issue in college that required a pair of surgeries to repair a herniated disk, according to Ben Arthur of The Tennessean.It was an injury-filled evening for the Titans, as offensive tackle Taylor Lewan was carted off the field after suffering a concussion and receiver Julio Jones didn't finish the game due to a hamstring issue.The Titans also lost wide receiver Cam Batson to a torn ACL, according to NFL reporter Paul Kuharksy.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Julio Jones was unable to finish Monday night's game against the Buffalo Bills due to a hamstring injury.Jones was ruled out during the fourth quarter of the Titans' 34-31 victory. He finished with three receptions for 59 yards, including an impressive acrobatic catch along the sideline in the second quarter.The veteran wideout missed the previous two games due to hamstring issues before returning for Monday's contest. He entered Week 6 with 204 receiving yards.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tennessee Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan is under evaluation for a possible concussion after being carted off on a backboard during Monday night's contest against the Buffalo Bills, the club announced.Lewan, who gave a thumbs up to the home crowd as he exited the field, has movement in all his extremities.More to come.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 Alex Pantling / Getty Images Sport / GettyTua Tagovailoa, DolphinsNext UpRosteredFABvs. ATL17%$3Miami's franchise quarterback returned to the lineup with 329 yards and two scores in the loss to the Jaguars. The embarrassing interception he threw was offset fantasy points-wise by his 22 rushing yards.The degree of difficulty wasn't high versus the Jags, and Tagovailoa gets another soft matchup against Atlanta next. The Falcons were the fourth friendliest opponents to fantasy QBs prior to their Week 6 bye.With Tua healthy, this could be the start of an uptick in production for Miami's passing attack, especially if the Dolphins can get other injured starters like DeVante Parker and Will Fuller back in the coming weeks.For now, consider Tagovailoa a strong streaming option with the potential to develop into a long-term asset in your lineup.Streaming options: Jameis Winston at SEA (37% rostered), Taylor Heinicke at GB (28% rostered), Teddy Bridgewater at CLE (20% rostered)Risky streaming options: Daniel Jones vs. CAR (33% rostered), Jimmy Garoppolo vs. IND (7% rostered), Justin Fields at TB (32% rostered), Carson Wentz at SF (35% rostered)Dart-throw streaming options: Mac Jones vs. NYJ (17% rostered), Jared Goff at LAR (11% rostered), Geno Smith vs. NO (7% rostered)Bye week stashes: Ben Roethlisberger (26% rostered)Long-term stashes: Trey Lance vs. IND (31% rostered)2QB/Superflex long-term stashes: Cam Newton (1% rostered), Case Keenum (0% rostered)Running backs Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyJ.D. McKissic/Jaret Patterson, WashingtonNext UpRosteredFABat GB42%/1%$14/$3Antonio Gibson has been playing through a stress fracture in his shin, and it may have got the best of him this week. Washington's lead back was limited to just 23 snaps against the Chiefs, 13 fewer than teammate McKissic.That prompted an MRI, which could ultimately lead to the second-year star missing time. With Washington's bye not until Week 9, Gibson may need to be shut down in order to let the injury heal properly.If that happens, McKissic will likely see the majority of the touches (including the bulk of passing-down duties), with undrafted rookie and preseason standout Patterson spelling him as a complementary option.McKissic isn't built to be a lead runner, so his fantasy ceiling is capped as a low-end RB2.D'Ernest Johnson/Demetric Felton, BrownsNext UpRosteredFABvs. DEN2%/9%$14/$2With Kareem Hunt heading to injured reserve and Nick Chubb's status unclear for Thursday night's tilt with the Broncos, Cleveland might be forced to start Johnson in their backfield.The 5-foot-10, 208-pound runner has never played more than 37% of his team's offensive snaps in a game and is far from a lock to dominate touches.He'll likely split time with pass-catching specialist Felton, who's caught two passes in four of the Browns' last five outings despite taking the field for just a handful of snaps each week.Head coach Kevin Stefanski said Chubb is progressing after missing Week 6. If he manages to play, Johnson and Felton will slide back down the depth chart into change-of-pace roles.However, if Chubb is out, Johnson can be temporarily started as an RB3, while Felton would project as a flex in PPR and half PPR formats.Rashaad Penny, SeahawksNext UpRosteredFABvs. NO7%$9Over the last four years, Pete Carroll has shown excitement about his former first-round running back countless times only for fantasy managers to be left disappointed when Penny inevitably got hurt.Here we go again.The 25-year-old, who's been plagued by injuries since entering the league, is returning this week at a time when starter Chris Carson is on IR with a chronic neck issue and backup Alex Collins is banged up after handling 20 carries and rushing for 101 yards in Week 6.Collins spent the end of that game on the sidelines, but Carroll ruled out a serious injury, meaning it's possible he could be available in Week 7.Either way, it seems Seattle wants to give Penny a shot to earn touches, and with Carson lacking any clear timeline for his recovery, this backfield is a wide-open competition.Penny is worth a stash just to see if he can break the loop and stay healthy long enough to carve out a legitimate role.Devonta Freeman/Le'Veon Bell/Ty'Son Williams, RavensNext UpRosteredFABvs. CIN2%/7%/16%$5/$5/$5With Latavius Murray suffering an ankle injury Sunday, it's likely the Ravens elect to rest him through their Week 8 bye.That leaves some combination of Freeman, Bell, and Williams to pick up the pieces.Despite the sophomore Williams looking and producing like the most effective runner in the group, Baltimore has been taking turns activating only one of him or Bell on game days.This week was Bell's turn and he saw near identical usage to Freeman and Murray in what's become a three-man committee.That's probably going to continue, so keep your expectations for this trio in check. But if you're in a bye-week crunch, you could deploy any one of them as a risky flex play.Michael Carter is close to the 50% cutoff line but should be rostered in most leagues.Flex options: Rhamondre Stevenson vs. NYJ (11% rostered), Kenneth Gainwell at LV (28% rostered), Mark Ingram at ARI (32% rostered), DeeJay Dallas vs. NO (2% rostered)Dart-throw flex options: David Johnson at ARI (28% rostered), Samaje Perine at BAL (16% rostered), Giovani Bernard vs. CHI (19% rostered), Ty Johnson at NE (5% rostered), Jerick McKinnon at TEN (19% rostered)Stash in case of trade: Marlon Mack at SF (30% rostered), Ronald Jones vs. CHI (37% rostered)Other backups to roster: Darrynton Evans vs. KC (2% rostered), Salvon Ahmed vs. ATL (1% rostered), Justin Jackson on Bye (2% rostered), Wayne Gallman at MIA (1% rostered), Chris Evans at BAL (4% rostered), Royce Freeman at NYG (1% rostered)Injured reserve stashes: JaMycal Hasty (2% rostered), Jeff Wilson Jr. (20% rostered), Anthony McFarland Jr. (1% rostered)Wide receivers Scott Taetsch / Getty Images Sport / GettyRashod Bateman, RavensNext UpRosteredFABvs. CIN28%$12As far as debuts go, Bateman's four-catch, 29-yard performance won't draw much attention. But he appeared comfortable while playing 65% of the offensive snaps - second most among Ravens wideouts behind only Marquise Brown.The rookie also tied for the team lead in targets with Mark Andrews and may have seen even more passes if Baltimore didn't get out to a commanding lead over the Chargers.We don't know how the Ravens will divvy up playing time when Sammy Watkins returns, but you should feel comfortable betting on this year's first-round pick over an often injured and mostly underperforming veteran like Watkins.With Baltimore's passing attack showing signs of life this season, Bateman has the upside to emerge as a WR3 the rest of the way if he maintains the starting job.Tim Patrick, BroncosNext UpRosteredFABat CLE35%$9Some people read these articles to find out who they should pick up off the waiver wire. Others come to see whether this is the week I'll have a full-blown meltdown over the fact that Patrick is still available in the majority of fantasy leagues.Patrick has appeared in this column so many times over the last two years, he might as well be a sponsor.After another trip to the end zone this week, he now has 89 yards or a touchdown in five of his six contests this year - with the lone exception being the game that Teddy Bridgewater left with a concussion.It's a feat he's accomplished in 12 of his last 19 outings dating back to Week 3 of the 2020 campaign when his playing time increased following Courtland Sutton's season-ending injury.Jerry Jeudy's eventual return will complicate the situation, but head coach Vic Fangio said Jeudy's odds of playing this week are below 50%. So Patrick can continue to be used as a WR3/flex until further notice.Henry Ruggs, Sterling Shepard, Rondale Moore, A.J. Green, Christian Kirk, Mecole Hardman, Darnell Mooney, and Hunter Renfrow are close to the 50% cutoff line but should be rostered in most leagues.Long-term upside stashes: Michael Gallup on Bye (43% rostered), Curtis Samuel at GB (20% rostered), Josh Gordon at TEN (26% rostered)Flex options: Marquez Callaway at SEA (34% rostered), Jamison Crowder at NE (27% rostered), Jamal Agnew on Bye (0% rostered),Flex options (if healthy): DeVante Parker vs. ATL (40% rostered), T.Y. Hilton at SF (39% rostered), Tyrell Williams at LAR (10% rostered)Risky flex options: Quez Watkins at LV (2% rostered), Deonte Harris at SEA (10% rostered), Amon-Ra St. Brown at LAR (23% rostered), Kalif Raymond at LAR (3% rostered), Donovan Peoples-Jones vs. DEN (2% rostered), Zach Pascal at SF (11% rostered)Dart-throw flex options: Darius Slayton vs. CAR (6% rostered), K.J. Osborn on Bye (8% rostered), Bryan Edwards vs. PHI (11% rostered), Russell Gage at MIA (6% rostered), Allen Lazard vs. WAS (2% rostered), Nico Collins at ARI (1% rostered), Van Jefferson vs. DET (10% rostered), Sammy Watkins vs. CIN (18% rostered), Randall Cobb vs. WAS (12% rostered)Deep bench stashes: Demarcus Robinson at TEN (0% rostered), Byron Pringle at TEN (1% rostered), Kendrick Bourne vs. NYJ (2% rostered), Josh Palmer on Bye (1% rostered), Cedrick Wilson on Bye (1% rostered), Dante Pettis vs. CAR (0% rostered)Tight ends Bryan Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyRicky Seals-Jones, WashingtonNext UpRosteredFABat GB29%$9Seals-Jones has completely assumed Logan Thomas' role in Washington's offense, playing 93%, 99%, and 100% of the team's snaps over the last three games.The results have been stat lines of 5-41 and 4-58-1 over his past two starts, making him a TE1 for fantasy during that time.Thomas isn't eligible to return from injured reserve until at least Week 8 and his hamstring issue might keep him out longer, so continue to fire up RSJ as a top-12 option until he returns.Zach Ertz is close to the 50% cutoff line but should be rostered in all leagues.Risky streamer options: Evan Engram vs. CAR (33% rostered), Cole Kmet at TB (19% rostered), O.J. Howard vs. CHI (1% rostered)Bye week stashes: Tyler Conklin on Bye (16% rostered), Pat Freiermuth on Bye (6% rostered), Dan Arnold on Bye (9% rostered)Dart-throw streamer options: Gerald Everett vs. NO (31% rostered), Anthony Firkser vs. KC (7% rostered), Mo Alie-Cox at SF (8% rostered), C.J. Uzomah at BAL (6% rostered), Hayden Hurst at MIA (2% rostered)DefensesWeek 7 streamersTeamNext UpRostered49ersvs. IND47%Raidersvs. PHI13%Saintsat SEA40%Dolphinsvs. ATL33%Giantsvs. CAR2%Favorable upcoming schedules: 49ers DEF (47% rostered), Eagles DEF (4% rostered)Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants head coach Joe Judge promised fans that better days are coming after the club's 1-5 start to the 2021 season."This is definitely going to get better," Judge said, according to ESPN's Jordan Raanan."I don’t know what kind of guarantee they want, but I can assure everyone out there who is a Giants fan, and they want to know when it’s going to turn, we’re working tirelessly to make sure we get this turned in the right direction, not just for short-term results but for long-term success.”The Los Angeles Rams defeated the Giants in a 38-11 blowout in New York. After going up 3-0 early, the Giants allowed 38 unanswered points before adding a late touchdown in the fourth quarter. The lackluster performance drew boos from spectators, which Judge says he understands completely."In terms of the fans, I love the passion of our fans. It's New York, what'd you expect? It's supposed to be tough," he said, according to Zack Rosenblatt of The Newark Star-Ledger.The second-year head coach told the media in his postgame presser Sunday that he challenged the team at halftime to fight it out. He added Monday that he won't single out players after noticing lapses in effort throughout the game but will address it internally.The Giants have struggled on both sides of the ball this season. Their offense ranks 27th in scoring while the defense is allowing 29.5 points per game, the fourth-most in the league.Judge noted he has no plans to make play-calling changes "at this moment."Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh has no idea why people thought defenses would figure out quarterback Lamar Jackson this season.Some inside the NFL reportedly said during training camp that this would be the year teams solve the Jackson-led Ravens' offense. Six weeks into the 2021 season, however, the 2019 NFL MVP has torched his opponents while establishing Baltimore as one of the early Super Bowl favorites."I think the people who make those statements are kind of whistling in the graveyard just a little bit," Harbaugh said Monday, according to ESPN's Jamison Hensley. "It doesn't have any meaning. Anybody who knows Xs and Os are rolling their eyes when they hear something like that."Jackson has been a crucial piece for the 5-1 Ravens, who've now won five straight, including a 34-6 victory over the red-hot Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.The 24-year-old has tossed for 1,686 yards - ninth-best in the NFL - and nine touchdowns to five interceptions in 2021 while completing 67.5% of his passes. He also ranks seventh with 392 rushing yards and first with 6.1 yards per carry, a category he's led in each of the last two seasons.Jackson has also fashioned a league-high three fourth-quarter comebacks."He's played phenomenally well," Harbaugh added, according to Jonas Shaffer of the Baltimore Sun. "We've seen some different things from defenses. I think we've seen the same kind of basic principles that we saw for the last two-and-a-half, three years. ... We never see the exact same thing from any team that we've been seeing on tape. We always see something different."Jackson won his 35th regular-season game Sunday, surpassing former Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino for most among players under age 25.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.

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas is expected to miss at least two more weeks before he's ready for his season debut, reports NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Thomas began the campaign on the physically unable to perform list, making him eligible to return after Week 6. He's recovering from surgery on an ankle that never fully healed after he sprained it early in the 2020 season.The Saints have been waiting to reintroduce Thomas, the NFL's leading receiver in 2019 and the record holder for receptions in a single campaign. New Orleans' offense has labored without him, as the team ranks 31st in passing yards per game.The ankle ailment limited Thomas to seven appearances last year. He posted 438 yards without a touchdown, marking the first time in his career he failed to reach 1,000 yards.Thomas and the Saints were reportedly at odds over the timing of his June surgery, but they met to clear the air prior to the season. Head coach Sean Payton said in August that Thomas' recovery was ahead of schedule.The 3-2 Saints will face the Seattle Seahawks in Week 7.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott suffered a calf strain on the last play of Sunday's 35-29 victory over the New England Patriots, the team announced postgame, according to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News.Prescott isn't expected to miss time and is "looking good" after an MRI on Monday, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Dallas has a bye in Week 7 before facing the Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 31.The Cowboys walked off the Patriots after Prescott found wide receiver CeeDee Lamb for a 35-yard touchdown in overtime.Prescott was keeping his right foot off the ground and was helped to the locker room after the contest. He wore a protective boot during his postgame press conference.

Cleveland Browns running back Kareem Hunt is expected to miss several weeks with a calf injury, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Rapoport notes Hunt could return in four-to-six weeks, making a stint on injured reserve likely.Hunt was helped off the field after suffering the injury during the Browns' 37-14 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.The 26-year-old has recorded five touchdowns and 361 yards on 69 attempts this season, averaging 5.2 yards per carry.With Hunt out and Nick Chubb suffering a calf injury the week prior against the Los Angeles Chargers, the starting running back situation is unclear. However, head coach Kevin Stefanski is "not ruling out" Chubb playing Thursday against the Denver Broncos, per ESPN's Jake Trotter.If both Hunt and Chubb are ruled out for the Thursday Night Football matchup, third-year running back D'Ernest Johnson is the likely option after filling in against the Cardinals.Stefanski added that linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah will also miss time with a high-grade ankle sprain.Quarterback Baker Mayfield said he dislocated his shoulder and was seen wearing a sling after the Cardinals game.Both of Cleveland's starting offensive tackles Jack Conklin and Jedrick Wills Jr. were inactive Sunday, as Conklin dealt with a knee injury and Wills continues to deal with an ankle injury suffered Week 1.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule identified quarterback Sam Darnold as the primary cause of a three-game losing streak that's soured a promising start to the season."Sam's not playing well enough, let's start there," Rhule told reporters Monday.He continued: "That means the offensive line isn't getting it done for him, that means the running backs aren't getting it done for him. Everyone on offense - every receiver, every tight end, every back, every O-lineman - their job is to help our quarterback play well. We are not getting that done."Darnold completed only 17 of 41 passes during the Panthers' overtime loss against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. The 24-year-old has thrown six interceptions amid the skid.Carolina acquired Darnold - the third overall pick in 2018 - from the New York Jets in exchange for a second-rounder this past offseason. Darnold was plagued by turnovers throughout his Jets tenure but avoided such mistakes during the Panthers' three-game win streak earlier this campaign.Sam Darnold passing statsCMPTDINTRatingWeeks 1-368.2%3199Weeks 4-654.7%4662.1"The shame of the game yesterday, to me, when you really go back and watch the game, is we ran the football well. We just have not been committed enough to running it, and that's going to change, I can tell you right now," Rhule said. "You'll see a vastly different look from us moving forward. We're not going to line up and drop back and throw it 40 times a game and think that's gonna win the game for us. It hasn't."The Panthers logged 23 rush attempts against the Vikings, averaging 5.1 yards per carry. Even without Christian McCaffrey, rookie Chuba Hubbard has given Carolina a viable run game."We're gonna redefine who we are," Rhule said. "We're gonna run the football, and we're gonna protect our quarterback, and we're not gonna turn the football over anymore. That's the only way that we're gonna win."The Panthers will travel to face the struggling New York Giants in Week 7.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.