The Minnesota Vikings listed star running back Dalvin Cook as questionable for Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions as he continues to deal with an ankle injury.Cook could be a game-time decision for the divisional matchup, head coach Mike Zimmer said Friday.The ankle ailment sidelined Cook in Week 3, but he returned for last Sunday's 14-7 loss to the Cleveland Browns. He carried the ball just nine times for 34 yards before reaggravating the injury.Cook missed practice Wednesday and Thursday.If he's unable to go, Alexander Mattison figures to get another start. Mattison ran 26 times for 112 yards in Cook's absence in Week 3.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Christian McCaffrey is doubtful to face the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday despite practicing in a limited capacity three times this week.The Carolina Panthers rusher missed Week 4 after he injured his hamstring in Week 3. Ailments have limited him to six appearances since the start of the 2020 season.McCaffrey said Thursday he'd "definitely" have a shot at returning against the Eagles. The 25-year-old began practicing in pads Wednesday for the first time since he got hurt.McCaffrey ran for 201 yards and a touchdown while adding 163 receiving yards over his first three outings this year.The Panthers leaned on rookie Chuba Hubbard in Week 4 with McCaffrey unavailable. The youngster rushed for 57 yards on 13 carries, good for an average of nearly 4.4 yards per attempt.McCaffrey will have another chance to get back in the lineup when Carolina hosts the Minnesota Vikings in Week 6.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 5.The final rankings will be released Sunday morning.Half PPR

SSSQ is a weekly look at under-the-radar fantasy players to consider starting and potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut.For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult our Week 5 rankings. You can also listen to the Week 5 preview episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast.StartKirk Cousins, Vikingsvs. Lions Adam Bettcher / Getty Images Sport / GettyThanks to an easy early-season schedule, Cousins is the QB13 through four games while averaging 20.89 fantasy points per contest.The good times should keep rolling against the Lions, who rank 30th in Football Outsiders' pass defense DVOA.Cousins also has a solid history versus Detroit, with at least three touchdown passes in three of his last four meetings against the team, including a 405-yard, three-score game last time out.He's a top-10 fantasy option this week.Boone's projection: 306 passing yards, 3 passing TDsOther QBs to start

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson suffered a finger injury in the fourth quarter of Thursday's 26-17 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.Wilson hurt his middle finger in a clash of hands with Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald. He returned to the field for one drive before being replaced by Geno Smith, who finished the game.

Seattle Seahawks running back Chris Carson is out for Thursday's divisional matchup against the Los Angeles Rams due to a neck injury, the team announced.Alex Collins is expected to take on the starting role in Carson's absence.The Seahawks expected Carson to be a game-time decision and listed him as questionable after he missed practice all week. The 27-year-old played in the first four games of the campaign, racking up 232 yards and three touchdowns."He has had kind of a long-term, I guess it would be kind of a condition, that he's dealt with," head coach Pete Carroll said Wednesday, according to The News Tribune's Gregg Bell. "And sometimes it flares up, and sometimes it doesn't."We've tested him and MRI'd him and all that kind of stuff, and it's no different than it's been. It's just, obviously, inflamed right now. And so we've got to see if it quiets down."Carson has never played a full regular season in his prior four seasons. He signed a two-year extension this spring worth up to $14.625 million.Collins has 79 rushing yards, 34 receiving yards, and one touchdown in a backup role. He played a significant part in Seattle's Week 4 win over the San Francisco 49ers, finding the end zone once and registering 78 yards from scrimmage.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Las Vegas Raiders rookie Alex Leatherwood practiced at right guard Thursday after struggling at right tackle throughout his first four games.Leatherwood has been victimized in pass protection early and often so far this season. He also took multiple penalties in three of four contests."We're still looking at trying different ways to get our best five guys on the field … So, just trying to find that combination," offensive coordinator Greg Olson said.Las Vegas drafted Leatherwood 17th overall in April. The Alabama product was projected to go in the second round, making his early selection a surprise.Leatherwood played his sophomore season with the Crimson Tide at right guard. He moved to left tackle for his final two campaigns and earned an All-American selection as a senior."Not everyone can move inside, but he is one of our tackles that can move inside," Olson said of Leatherwood. "So, again, just experimenting."The Raiders have struggled to protect Derek Carr in the pocket, even though they rank near the top of the league in passing offense and total yards. With Leatherwood working inside, the Raiders gave Brandon Parker first-team reps at right tackle.Las Vegas is gearing up to face the Chicago Bears, who lead the NFL in sacks, in Week 5.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Christian McCaffrey's recovery from injury may be ahead of schedule.The Carolina Panthers running back, who was expected to miss a few weeks after sustaining a hamstring ailment in Week 3, said Thursday he's feeling great and "definitely" has a chance to play Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles, according to Joe Person of The Athletic.Carolina opted not to place McCaffrey on injured reserve, which would've sidelined him for at least three weeks. Head coach Matt Rhule initially said he wasn't sure if McCaffrey would miss "one, two, three, or four weeks."The 25-year-old rusher practiced in pads on a limited basis Wednesday for the first time since suffering the ailment. He was also limited during Thursday's session.McCaffrey, who injured his hamstring on Thursday Night Football, said he "definitely" believes the short week was responsible for his ailment, according to Person.Chuba Hubbard carried the rushing load for the Panthers against the Cowboys, notching 57 yards on 13 carries. Quarterback Sam Darnold also helped his team on the ground with 35 yards and two touchdowns.McCaffrey has amassed 364 total yards and one score this season. He led the league with 2,392 scrimmage yards and 19 touchdowns in 2019.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley won't travel to London to face the New York Jets on Sunday due to a personal matter, the team announced."We are in support of Calvin during this time and will respect his privacy on the matter," the Falcons said in a statement.Ridley leads Atlanta with 42 targets, 27 catches, and 255 receiving yards this season. The 26-year-old, who's coming off a career year, has also scored one touchdown through four appearances in 2021.Ridley isn't the only absence for the Falcons' pass-heavy offense. Atlanta will also be missing wideout Russell Gage, who hasn't played since Week 2 due to an ankle injury.As a result, rookie tight end Kyle Pitts and veteran playmaker Cordarrelle Patterson will likely see increased workloads. Pitts is still looking for his first career touchdown, while Patterson scored three times in Week 4.Wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus and tight end Hayden Hurst should also feature for Atlanta on Sunday.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bang! Zonk! Whammo! Doink!No, that's not a reenactment of a live-action "Batman" episode from the 1960s; it was the field-goal uprights in Foxborough that left us exclaiming, "What the Folk, Nick!"An infamous clank did in the round-robin moneyline parlay last week, not unlike our other losing ticket in Week 2. Though Nick Folk's effort was a more difficult kick than Greg Joseph's miss in Arizona, it didn't hurt any less, especially when the Las Vegas Raiders showed up fashionably late to their gathering in Los Angeles on Monday night.Undaunted, we'll grab a shiny coin from our gold doubloon silo and take a shot with more underdogs to put together another edition of football betting's lottery ticket.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 1.1 units to make 11 different bets: 10 three-team parlays and one five-team parlay. 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 +375This is our first big swing of the season with a double-digit underdog - a perfect candidate to take a shot on with just 0.7 units on the line.Are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers simply invincible? Of course not. We saw that Sunday night, as Antoine Winfield and Carlton Davis added to the Bucs' cluster of injuries on the back end. If Mac Jones can move the ball through the air in the rain, Jacoby Brissett can do the same against a second-string secondary.Defensively, the Dolphins are more vulnerable on the ground than through the air. That's not what the Bucs do, though. Leonard Fournette won't have the same impact Jonathan Taylor had last Sunday. Meanwhile, without Rob Gronkowski, we could see something similar to last week's one touchdown result for Tampa.This is the mother of all letdown spots for the Bucs - they poured a lot into the win for Tom Brady in New England. In what could be a low-scoring game, this juicy of a moneyline is too big to pass up as part of our quintet of chaos.New York Jets +150I, too, find it hard to believe the Jets will win a second straight game, but how many oceans away does this game need to be played for it to make sense that the Atlanta Falcons are favorites over anyone? The +150 price tag on what can't be much worse than a coin flip is worth inclusion here.Philadelphia Eagles +165Remember trigonometry class? This triangle is a little easier to understand. The Eagles were four-point underdogs in Dallas against the Cowboys two weeks ago. Six days later, the Carolina Panthers were four-point underdogs in Dallas. Both teams got equally manhandled. Now there's a 3.5-point difference between Philadelphia and Carolina. Even if you throw Carolina a point for home-field advantage, we're not getting close to -3.5. Therefore, there's value on the underdog and a worthwhile shot on the moneyline.San Francisco 49ers +200We got deep into this matchup Wednesday in the upset of the week, so naturally, we'll include the 49ers here. The king of NFL subterfuge, Kyle Shanahan, said Jimmy Garoppolo might be able to play this week. If you believe that, I've got some magic beans you might be interested in. This will be the run-oriented offense with play-action passes for Trey Lance that the 49ers coach craves, and San Francisco's relative success against Kyler Murray should make this a late-game toss-up. A good deal at 2-1 odds.Chicago Bears +200Bill Lazor is calling the plays for Justin Fields, which worked for the Bears' offense - at least for one game. Another week of first-team reps and a Raiders defense that took a step back Monday night could result in a more dangerous-looking offense for Chicago. The Raiders allow the fourth-most yards per carry, and Damien Williams is just as capable of shredding them as the injured David Montgomery would have been.The Raiders' offense is predicated on Derek Carr taking advantage of teams that dare him with blitzes. The Bears have blitzed the fifth-least this season. The Los Angeles Chargers got to Carr rushing just four times, and the Bears can do the same, especially after they render Las Vegas one-dimensional thanks to a strong run defense.Here's how the odds shake down this week:PARLAYODDS (Approx.)NYJ+MIA+PHI+3000NYJ+MIA+CHI+3400NYJ+MIA+SF+3400NYJ+PHI+CHI+1800NYJ+PHI+SF+1800NYJ+CHI+SF+2100MIA+PHI+CHI+3600MIA+PHI+SF+3600MIA+CHI+SF+4100PHI+CHI+SF+2200NYJ+MIA+PHI+CHI+SF+27000Who 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.

The exact nature of Baker Mayfield's shoulder injury is coming to light.The Cleveland Browns quarterback has a partially torn labrum in his left shoulder, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.Mayfield needs to wear a shoulder harness during games but doesn't require surgery, Rapoport adds.The injury could explain Mayfield's poor performance in a 14-7 win over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. He completed just 15 of his 33 passes, missed several wide-open receivers, and finished with a 59.5 passer rating.Mayfield isn't making excuses, however. He said the harness shouldn't affect his play, according to Rapoport.He suffered the injury while making a tackle after throwing an interception against the Houston Texans in Week 2. Mayfield left the game briefly but returned to finish.Since absorbing the hit, Mayfield hasn't missed a practice and wasn't listed on the injury report prior to the game against the Vikings.The 2018 first overall pick will look to rebound this Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Justin Fields was too busy studying to celebrate earning the Chicago Bears' starting quarterback job.Fields told reporters Wednesday that his parents wanted to take him out after the Bears named him their starter for the remainder of the season, but he chose to stay home."My parents were actually at my house last night. I told them and they wanted to go out to celebrate and I'm cool, as I'm trying to win this weekend," Fields said. "I mean, of course there's some reason to celebrate, but I'm not just gonna be complacent with where I'm at. I'm gonna continue to grow, continue to get better, and just try to work hard each and every day to get wins on Sundays."While Fields stayed home, his parents went out to celebrate the news without him."I was just home with my dog Uno watching film last night," Fields said. "That's all I was doing."Fields started the last two games for Chicago in place of veteran Andy Dalton, who's been sidelined with a knee injury. He'll face the Las Vegas Raiders next on Sunday.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Green Bay Packers agreed to a one-year deal with Jaylon Smith, the linebacker's agent confirmed to ESPN's Adam Schefter.The 2016 second-round pick was a surprise release by the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday.Dallas severed ties with Smith despite owing him the remainder of his $7.2-million salary minus offsets. The Cowboys attempted to trade him before the release.Smith made the Pro Bowl in 2019 but has declined since then. He lost playing time this season after Dallas signed Keanu Neal in free agency and drafted Micah Parsons and Jabril Cox to reinforce its linebacker corps.Smith, 26, has tallied over 100 tackles over the last three seasons and has 18 tackles in four games in 2021. He'll join a Packers defense that has surrendered the sixth-fewest yards in the NFL this season but lacks speed at the linebacker position.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Rookies don't get a second chance to make a first impression in the NFL. Here, we evaluate the overall performance of every 2021 first-round pick from the opening month of the season.1. Trevor Lawrence, QB, JaguarsBest game: at Bengals (Week 4)

The National Football Players Association executive committee couldn't come to a unanimous decision to approve an extension for executive director DeMaruice Smith, sources told ESPN's Dan Graziano.The 14-member committee giving a majority approval vote likely would have secured Smith's future with the players' union for a few more years. However, the panel was evenly split 7-7 on offering a new contract, Graziano reports.Smith's future now rests in the hands of the league's 32 player representatives who are scheduled to vote during a Friday conference call on whether to re-elect him.For him to be re-elected and permitted to negotiate a new contract, 22 of the 32 player representatives would need to vote for Smith. He needs at least 16 votes to be eligible as a candidate, according to the NFLPA constitution.Failing to gain 22 votes would lead to the executive director position being officially open, allowing other candidates to run for the position ahead of the league’s annual meetings next March.Smith has served as the union's head since 2009. He's helped to guide players through a lockout before striking a labor deal in 2011. The union has extended Smith's contract on three previous occasions, with his most recent new deal coming in 2017.The 57-year-old has come under fire after the NFLPA narrowly signed off on the current collective bargaining agreement that runs through 2030. The new 10-year pact established a 17-game regular-season schedule and a 48.5% revenue share for players.Union members criticized the timing of the deal, as it came prior to the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. But Smith and the NFLPA's leadership insisted that coming to an agreement before the 2020 season was beneficial for players.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Eagles players have struggled while trying to adapt to new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon's scheme.That includes Philly's star defensive lineman Fletcher Cox."I mean scheme-wise, some things are different," Cox said Wednesday of Gannon's defense, according to Martin Frank of the Delaware News Journal. "Last year I was able to kind of run off the ball a little bit. More than what we're doing now. We're playing a different style of defense.""It's hard to get settled into a game when you're playing so many positions and doing so many things," he added.The Eagles have allowed 83 points and 851 yards over their last two games, and Gannon's scheme has been heavily criticized for creating poor individual matchups.The Kansas City Chiefs had a third-and-goal from the 6-yard line during the second quarter of their blowout win over the Eagles on Sunday, and Philadelphia was in nickel formation (five defensive backs, two linebackers), with linebacker Eric Wilson lined up against Tyreek Hill, one of the league's fastest wideouts. The clear mismatch resulted in a touchdown.Gannon was asked Monday why the Eagles don't usually use dime formations (six defensive backs and one linebacker) on long third downs to create better matchups."I just don't believe in it right now with who we are," the 38-year-old said, according to Alexis Chassen of Bleeding Green Nation. "I like to play out of four (linemen) down and two linebackers.""We feel like that's kind of the best way with second down and drop back and defending - who we've defended up until this point," he added. "On third down, as well, to play with two linebackers in a game."Philadelphia addressed its secondary over the offseason, signing cornerback Steven Nelson and safety Anthony Harris. But the unit still lacks depth."I don't have a scheme. Our scheme should be to put our 11 guys on the field in the best position possible to succeed," Gannon added.The Eagles hired Gannon this past offseason to replace Jim Schwartz, who had spent the previous five years with the team.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

These NFC West rivals were on opposite sides of lopsided results in a pair of divisional contests in Week 4, and now the Los Angeles Rams take to the road in an attempt to get right against a Seattle Seahawks team looking to avenge last season's playoff defeat.Here's how we're betting Rams-Seahawks:C Jackson Cowart: Rams -2.5I've been loudly bullish on the Rams since before the season began, and they've done nothing - last week included - to move me off that position.Los Angeles' offense hit a snag last week with a pair of turnovers but still averaged 6.3 yards per play - right in line with its 6.6 average, which ranks fourth on the season. Matthew Stafford and Co. should be licking their chops ahead of a matchup against Seattle's secondary, which has allowed 292.5 passing yards per game (fifth-most) and ranks in the bottom 10 in PFF coverage grade.If Chris Carson (neck) can't go for the Seahawks, it'll seriously limit the ways Seattle can attack one of the more talented defensive units in football. Anything is possible with Russell Wilson in prime time, but I just don't see this as the fair fight this line suggests.Alex Moretto: Rams -2.5I bet this at -1 early in the week, but I'm fine playing it at the current price - I'd cut it off at -2.5, though. We're getting a decent discount here thanks to Week 4's results. The Cardinals shelled the Rams - in something of a letdown spot after dismantling the Buccaneers - while the Seahawks won fairly convincingly as underdogs in San Francisco.However, neither result was quite as it appeared. The Rams and Cardinals were essentially equal in yards per play, rush, and pass, with Los Angeles getting punished for some uncharacteristic turnovers. Meanwhile, Seattle capitalized on Trey Lance coming in cold in the second half for his first real taste of NFL action. The 49ers actually averaged two more yards per play than the Seahawks, had nine more first downs, and out-gained them by 223 yards.The Seahawks defense is legitimately bad, and while I believe the Rams defense isn't as good as people seem to think, it's still a couple of tiers above Seattle's. The bottom line is the Seahawks are giving up yards in bunches, especially through the air. And while the atmosphere should be electric in Seattle, Stafford's been around the block and won't be intimidated in what's a get-right spot for Los Angeles.Matt Russell: Under 54.5At first blush, it's easy to think the over is the play when you see a Stafford-Wilson matchup against two secondaries that have been a little leaky this season. However, these teams know each other's offensive game plan well enough that last year's two regular-season matchups stayed under the total.Then in the playoffs, a 50-point game broke out from a 6-3 score through 20 minutes of play, aided by a pick-6 and game script that lent itself to late scoring. However, the Rams should be more one-dimensional in a raucous atmosphere without Cam Akers carrying the load like he did in January. Los Angeles will also invite Seattle to run the football, and subsequently, longer drives should ensue.In important games, Sean McVay and Pete Carroll tend to play conservatively, opting to kick more frequently and run plays that won't lead to turnovers. I expect this contest to look more like a "first to 24 wins" than "first to 30." I'm hoping to see this total go up to 55, in case of a 28-27 or 31-24 type of game.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It might be most notable which line hasn't moved during the early Week 5 market movement.The Chiefs blew out the Bills in the AFC Championship Game last season as 2.5-point favorites. Months later, the line is the exact same. The Bills' dominant start to the season and the Chiefs' 2-2 record are probably equally weighted following that one-sided affair back in January.Let's look at the other lines to watch heading into Week 5.Rams @ Seahawks (+2.5, 54.5)The number is moving away from the Seahawks heading into the Thursday nighter, which is surprising given their reputation at home, and their 10-1 straight-up record on Thursday nights in Seattle.Add in the Rams' Week 4 loss and the Seahawks' win, and this line moving from Seattle -1 to the Rams as short favorites is the opposite of what one might expect. Russell Wilson and Co. become very interesting at +3, but even if the line doesn't stretch to the key number, a Seattle teaser leg of +8.5 should be hard to beat.Jets @ Falcons (-3, 46)A small move from 3.5 down to 3 is a bigger deal around the key number of -3. However, that's probably coming from nothing more than uncertainty around whether Atlanta should be giving more than a field goal to anyone.It helps that the Jets won last week, and a transatlantic flight likely won't stop the Falcons from continuing their weekly search for ways to lose.Packers @ Bengals (+3, 50.5)Speaking of big moves, the lookahead line featured the Packers at -6 here and it reopened at -3.5. If you think that's short, the bigger indicator of a move might be that it's dropped further to -3.The sneaky-important injury from this past Sunday was to Green Bay's shutdown corner Jaire Alexander. Without him locking up one side of the field, Joe Burrow should be able to target his favorite weapon at his leisure.Broncos @ Steelers (-1.5, 40)If the summer lookahead lines set the starting point for a line move, the Steelers would be featured in this column every week.Bettors can't downgrade Pittsburgh fast enough, but the Broncos are dealing with their own issues under center, and a significant difference between Teddy Bridgewater and Drew Lock. If the former is healthy, the favorite might flip by Sunday.Dolphins @ Buccaneers (-10, 48)Even though the Dolphins' Week 4 loss was mostly due to shoddy run defense, Jacoby Brissett takes the blame for the defeat to Indianapolis, and that's led to a move here to +10 from +7.5.The Buccaneers are dealing with injuries in their defensive backfield and to offensive security blanket Rob Gronkowski, making it hard to understand Tampa giving double-digit points to the Dolphins, who aren't likely to get gashed on the ground again.Patriots @ Texans (+9, 40)The Patriots earned some respect while nearly notching an upset win over their former quarterback Sunday night. Now they move from a significant home underdog to a massive road favorite.That's a standard line move that NFL handicappers know how to play, especially with the shift upward from Patriots -6 to -9. How high will this line move with no one wanting anything to do with the Texans? I'll be looking to bite the bullet at +10.49ers @ Cardinals (-5.5, 50)The buy low/sell high spot of the weekend features an overadjustment toward the Cardinals after the preseason line was around a pick 'em. The move is understandable because Arizona is the league's last undefeated team, but bettors are tasked with taking advantage of these spots.Giants @ Cowboys (-7, 52)Logging two comfortable wins over six days will bring betting attention to "America's Team," as perhaps the preseason hype from 2020 is finally being realized.That's why this line opened back up at Cowboys -7.5. Daniel Jones put together arguably the best game of his career in New Orleans, so bettors grabbed the hook right away on a Giants team that plays much better on the road.Colts @ Ravens (-7, 45.5)The Colts won in Miami, but the market isn't sold on Indianapolis. The Ravens are a different animal at home in prime-time, especially with All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson not healthy for Indy.The Colts will need to keep Carson Wentz upright somehow. They're at least getting a full touchdown on Monday, which is as high as this line has been since the summer lookahead openers.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.Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and Anchor.In this episode, Eric Moody of ESPN joins Boone to discuss the important fantasy questions heading into Week 5.

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr wasn't impressed by what he heard from Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa following their Week 4 matchup.The Chargers handed the Raiders their first loss of the season on Monday Night Football, and Bosa disparaged Carr's toughness afterward, saying the signal-caller "kind of shuts down" under pressure."He did piss me off, so good job on that," Carr said Wednesday when asked about Bosa's comments, according to Jesse Merrick of KSNV News 3. "But there's nothing wrong with that."Carr added: "He's entitled to that opinion and saying those things, but it's almost like he watched the game in reverse. ... we came out and fought a little bit after they got after us a little bit up front ... But we'll see them again, and he's entitled to say that. He's a great player, great dude. I just don't think he watched the game in the same order I did."Carr's teammates apparently took Bosa's comments more seriously than the signal-caller did."They are so mad for me," Carr said, according to ESPN's Paul Gutierrez.Despite tossing a season-low 196 yards against Los Angeles, Carr still leads the NFL with 1,399 yards through four games. The 30-year-old has notched 64 dropbacks under pressure this season, completing 44.9% of his pass attempts while throwing for 373 yards (7.6 per attempt) and three touchdowns to two interceptions in those situations, according to PFF.Bosa, 26, has racked up 11 tackles and 2.5 sacks to go along with a league-leading two forced fumbles so far.The Raiders and Chargers face off again in the final week of the regular season on Jan. 9 in Las Vegas.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Justin Fields is keeping the starting job in Chicago.Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy announced Wednesday that the rookie passer will be the starting quarterback moving forward over veteran Andy Dalton, according to ESPN's Field Yates."We've been patient with this, we've grown with him, we're proud of Justin," Nagy said.Dalton began the season as Chicago's starter, but the veteran signal-caller suffered a knee injury in Week 2 that sidelined him for multiple games and gave Fields a chance to step up. Nagy previously said Dalton would return as the starter when fully recovered from his ailment.Fields started two games as Dalton's replacement. The 11th overall pick had a disastrous debut in Week 3 - 68 yards on 6-of-20 passing - but improved in last week's win over the Detroit Lions, completing 11 of 17 pass attempts for 209 yards and no touchdowns against one interception.The 22-year-old, who logged only situational appearances during the first two games of the campaign, has yet to throw a touchdown in the regular season. He rushed for a 3-yard score in the season opener.Meanwhile, Dalton was completing 73.4% of his passes with a passer rating of 83.9 before being sidelined.The 2-2 Bears, who face the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, have struggled offensively so far this year, ranking 30th and 32nd in points and total yards, respectively.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New England Patriots finalized a deal with Jamie Collins, bringing the linebacker to Foxborough for the third time, his agency announced Wednesday.The Detroit Lions released Collins after Week 3 following an unsuccessful attempt to trade him. The veteran was in the second season of a three-year, $30-million contract.Collins logged two previous stints with the Patriots. He began his career with New England in 2013 before heading to the Cleveland Browns in a 2016 trade. He returned to the Patriots in 2019 after two-plus uneventful years with the Browns.The defender has produced his best seasons under Bill Belichick in New England, both times parlaying strong showings into lucrative contracts elsewhere. He notched a career-high seven sacks with the club in 2019 while also posting a personal-best three interceptions.The Patriots' defense ranks fifth in yards allowed and sixth in points allowed through four games, but the unit could use help at linebacker with Ja'Whaun Bentley sidelined.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Panthers acquired star cornerback Stephon Gilmore from the New England Patriots before his release was finalized, the team announced.New England obtained a 2023 sixth-round pick in return.The Patriots were set to cut Gilmore after the two sides failed to renegotiate his contract, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Gilmore is earning $7 million this season, which marks the completion of his five-year, $65-million pact.Gilmore, a four-time Pro Bowler and the 2019 Defensive Player of the Year, opened the season on the physically unable to perform list while rehabbing from quad surgery. He'll be eligible for activation after Week 6.Gilmore made one interception and forced one fumble in 11 appearances last season, battling multiple injuries in the process. In 2019, he intercepted an NFL-best six passes and added 20 pass breakups en route to Defensive Player of the Year honors. He captured one title in New England, sealing Super Bowl LIII with an interception of Jared Goff in the fourth quarter.The 31-year-old grew up in South Carolina and stayed in his home state for college, making his move to the Panthers somewhat of a homecoming.Carolina has now made two significant trades for cornerbacks since the beginning of the season, as the team first acquired former top-10 pick C.J. Henderson from the Jacksonville Jaguars.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

J-E-T-S! Jets! Jets! Jets!It was a tough scene for the disbelievers in our weekly stab at finding value with a big underdog, as Randy Bullock's kick sailed unthreateningly past the uprights in overtime to give the New York Jets their first win of the season.The good guys move to 3-1 and double our profits to plus-5.8 units on the upset of the week, with the Miami Dolphins' overtime loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in September our lone miss.Remember: the rules require a bet on something longer than +150 or 3.5 points. Often, this means backing a bad team or fading a team that's recently been in - or close to - the Super Bowl. This week, we do neither.The San Francisco 49ers are 5.5-point underdogs to the Arizona Cardinals, the NFL's last undefeated team. Football fans are in love: they love Kyler Murray, his waterbug style, and the fleet of receivers he throws to.The betting public is decidedly less in love with the 49ers' quarterback situation. Jimmy Garoppolo has very few supporters, and Trey Lance finally got some run when the former went out with an injury and spent much of the second half airmailing his targets.The fundamental issue was the 49ers had Lance running an offensive game plan designed for Garoppolo. Now, the rookie gets a week of preparation and practicing with the first team, and he should use plays that accentuate his skill set. Whether that's Lance running or simply the threat of him doing so, the Cardinals should have difficulty preparing for what they haven't seen.As for the 49ers' preparation for Murray, they're at least familiar with his work. Here are the Cardinals quarterback's stats in his four meetings with San Francisco:DATERESULTPASSINGRUSHING10/31/19SF 28-2517/21 241 YDS34 YDS11/17/19SF 36-2624/33 150 YDS67 YDS9/13/20AZ 24-2026/40 230 YDS91 YDS12/26/20SF 20-1231/50 247 YDS75 YDSThe Cardinals scored only 12 points in a loss last December despite the 49ers' defense being without many of its stars. That shows San Francisco knows how to create a game plan to slow Murray enough to win - and that victory came with C.J. Beathard at quarterback.Lastly, there's the matter of price. With a full week of practice for Lance, I've downgraded the 49ers' offense only slightly, with the team sitting at 67 overall. Meanwhile, full credit to the Cardinals for their win in Los Angeles versus the Rams last week, but their rating still has to be rooted in priors for a team that was lined at 8.5 wins before the season began. I moved them up to 65, with obvious room to run upward.There's no way the numbers see the appropriate line as anything more than the Cardinals by three points, as was the case three weeks ago when Arizona was a chip-shot field goal away from losing to the Minnesota Vikings at home. The 49ers are live to this one, and at 2-1 for our money, we'll use a unit of our season-long winnings to try to win back two more.Pick: 49ers +200Matt 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.

Urban Meyer hasn't considered stepping down as Jacksonville Jaguars head coach amid the controversy hovering over him.Meyer has been scrutinized heavily since a video went viral showing a young woman - who isn't his wife - dancing on his lap. The first-year coach stayed in his native Ohio and went out while the rest of the Jaguars flew back to Jacksonville after losing to the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday to fall to 0-4."I thought, at the time, this is a chance for everybody to clear their head, including myself with my family located where we were to go spend a day or two with them and then get back because I knew I wanted (players) to get out of Dodge, too, and clear their heads," he said.Jaguars owner Shad Khan condemned Meyer on Tuesday, saying the legendary college football figure must work to regain the organization's trust.Meyer apologized to his players for the distraction but reportedly drew the ire of the locker room for doing it in small groups. One player anonymously said the 57-year-old was "too scared" to face the entire team at once."In my opinion, you don't get much done in a team meeting, you get a lot done when you're in personal space with people," Meyer said. "I've always done that."Meyer apologized to the team again Wednesday and addressed the players collectively.The three-time national champion said he received permission from general manager Trent Baalke "way in advance" to stay in Ohio and added that the franchise hasn't fined him for his conduct. He also described his actions as a "speed bump" in his 37-year marriage with his wife, Shelley.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Houston Texans are releasing wide receiver Anthony Miller after just two games, a source told Sports Talk 790's Aaron Wilson.Miller scored Houston's only touchdown in its 24-9 loss to the Carolina Panthers and recorded 23 yards on five receptions in two games played.The Chicago Bears drafted Miller in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. They traded him to the Texans this past July with a 2022 seventh-round pick for a 2022 fifth-rounder.In his four-year career, Miller has 1,587 yards and 12 touchdowns on 139 receptions.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

The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's football editors.1. Arizona Cardinals (4-0) Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious Rank: 6Who would've guessed Arizona would be the lone undefeated team in the NFL after a month of action? Kliff Kingsbury has been putting a lot on Kyler Murray's shoulders, and the quarterback has responded spectacularly. A beatdown of the Rams in Week 4 proved the Cardinals are for real.2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1)Previous Rank: 2Although Tampa Bay remains one of the most well-rounded outfits in the league, the Buccaneers put together arguably their least convincing performance in a close win over the Patriots. And the disappearance of the once-dominant pass-rush is becoming a concern.3. Buffalo Bills (3-1)Previous Rank: 3The Bills' offense has been unstoppable, averaging 39.3 points per game since the Steelers tamed the unit in Week 1. Yes, Josh Allen and Co. have dominated some of the NFL's weaker teams, but that's what we expect from true contenders. Buffalo has a chance to solidify itself as the AFC's best in a mouthwatering Sunday night matchup with Kansas City.4. Los Angeles Rams (3-1)Previous Rank: 1The hype surrounding the Rams took a significant hit with an uncompetitive loss at home to Arizona. Still, the Matthew Stafford-Sean McVay partnership is only a month old. The duo will get a chance to rebound fast with a Thursday matchup at the Seahawks looming.5. Green Bay Packers (3-1) Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 5The Packers' offense has been everything we expected it to be over the last three games following a woeful Week 1 performance. The defense, on the other hand, has yet to see the improvement hoped for with the switch at coordinator to Joe Barry. Green Bay better pray star cornerback Jaire Alexander's shoulder injury isn't too serious.6. Los Angeles Chargers (3-1)Previous Rank: 7Up 21-0 at halftime against the Raiders on Monday, the Chargers began to take their foot off the gas and allowed Las Vegas to score twice. Normally, this is the exact type of game Los Angeles would watch slip away, but Brandon Staley's aggressive call on fourth down and Justin Herbert's poised play sealed the win. This isn't your grandfather's Chargers squad, it seems.7. Cleveland Browns (3-1)Previous Rank: 4Baker Mayfield was far from happy with his performance in the Browns' win over the Vikings, calling it "piss poor." And he was right. The quarterback was erratic under pressure, and his accuracy was awful. Cleveland's strong defense and ground game won't matter much if Mayfield's outing isn't just an outlier.8. Baltimore Ravens (3-1)Previous Rank: 9John Harbaugh was absolutely right to hit back at a salty Vic Fangio, who criticized the Ravens for extending their streak of 100-yard rushing games with a Lamar Jackson run on the last play while up 23-7. As Harbaugh pointed out, Fangio had the Broncos throwing to the end zone with 10 seconds left despite the all but unassailable deficit.9. Kansas City Chiefs (2-2)Previous Rank: 10Patrick Mahomes is on pace to break the single-season passing touchdown record. Whether it's because the Chiefs are at .500 or we're just numb to his greatness, Mahomes' start to the campaign isn't receiving as much fanfare as other red-hot passers. The Texas Tech product's also way ahead in first place in QBR and ahead of his MVP mark from 2018.10. Dallas Cowboys (3-1) Richard Rodriguez / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 12Entering the season, Dallas would've jumped at the prospect of an average defense. But despite losing DeMarcus Lawrence to injury, the Cowboys are 10th in defensive DVOA through four contests. If this isn't just an early-campaign mirage, Dallas could be a real threat in the NFC.11. Las Vegas Raiders (3-1)Previous Rank: 8The Raiders suffered their first loss of the season at the hands of the Chargers on Monday, but Jon Gruden's side shouldn't take the defeat too hard. Las Vegas might not be a top AFC team, but a first trip to the playoffs under Gruden is more than within its capabilities.12. Seattle Seahawks (2-2)Previous Rank: 17As usual, it's hard to get a read on the Seahawks week to week. It won't be surprising whether Seattle blows out the Rams or loses by multiple touchdowns on Thursday. The defense is the main culprit for this unpredictability.13. Denver Broncos (3-1)Previous Rank: 13Facing their first real test of the campaign against the Ravens, the Broncos came up short. Hopefully, Teddy Bridgewater can recover from his concussion in time for Week 5 - one half with Drew Lock under center was more than enough.14. San Francisco 49ers (2-2)Previous Rank: 11We know the 49ers fan base is itching to see Trey Lance play with a game plan suited to him and a week to prepare as the No. 1 quarterback. But his first start is far from ideal, coming against the surging Cardinals and the duo of Chandler Jones and J.J. Watt.15. Carolina Panthers (3-1) Tom Pennington / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 15Sam Darnold, dual-threat quarterback. The Panthers signal-caller continued his impressive start to the season in a shootout with the Cowboys, twice using legs to find the end zone. Darnold's penchant for poorly timed turnovers returned, but Carolina can clearly make a playoff push with the former third overall draft pick under center.16. Cincinnati Bengals (3-1)Previous Rank: 18One of the most surprising 3-1 teams, the Bengals look solid on both offense and defense. If Cincinnati can steal one at home against the Packers, Bengals faithful will begin to believe they could contend for their first division title since 2015.17. New Orleans Saints (2-2)Previous Rank: 16The Giants spoiled the Saints' return to New Orleans, winning in overtime. A severe lack of big plays on offense (an NFL-worst mark of just three passes of 25 yards or more) is holding the NFC South club back.18. Washington Football Team (2-2)Previous Rank: 22Washington stayed on Dallas' heels with an improbable comeback win over Atlanta. But if Ron Rivera and Co. are to continue the chase, the much-vaunted defense needs to get it together and fast.19. Tennessee Titans (2-2)Previous Rank: 14The Titans take a big drop after suffering an overtime loss to the lowly Jets. Yes, Tennessee didn't have Julio Jones or A.J. Brown. But still, the AFC South side too often fails to put away opponents early and will continue to suffer losses like this unless it develops a killer instinct.20. Indianapolis Colts (1-3) Cliff Hawkins / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 24Indy snapped its three-game losing streak with a sloppy win over the Dolphins. The beat-up Colts are better than their first three performances indicated, but unless Carson Wentz can find his form, they could be in danger of sleepwalking their way to a middling finish while also surrendering a first-round pick.21. Chicago Bears (2-2)Previous Rank: 26Matt Nagy allowed offensive coordinator Bill Lazor to take the reins for Justin Fields' first start, and the rookie looked far more comfortable in the win over the Lions. Clearly, Nagy and Fields obviously aren't a good fit, and the quarterback even said he appreciated dealing with Lazor's more calming approach to playcalling.22. New England Patriots (1-3)Previous Rank: 20Bill Belichick couldn't quite get one over on his former pupil, but the Patriots' defense impressed, mostly shutting down Tom Brady and Co. on Sunday night. Keep Davis Mills in your thoughts for Week 5 as he goes against a peeved Belichick.23. Minnesota Vikings (1-3)Previous Rank: 21Minnesota desperately tried to retool its run defense this offseason, spending big on the interior of its defensive line. But the unit could do nothing to limit the Browns' dominant rushing attack in Week 4. Mike Zimmer might be running out of time to get the Vikings on track.24. Miami Dolphins (1-3)Previous Rank: 19With road trips to face the Buccaneers and the Bills upcoming in Week 5 and 8, respectively, Miami has no room for error in its three other far more winnable games against the Jaguars, Falcons, and Texans.25. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-3) Stacy Revere / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 23The worst-case scenario with Ben Roethlisberger's decision to return is unfolding for the Steelers, and there is no solution at hand. Mason Rudolph or Dwayne Haskins could be an improvement but almost certainly nowhere near good enough to get Pittsburgh into the playoff race. Well, the good news is that Aaron Rodgers is a really big fan of Mike Tomlin.26. Philadelphia Eagles (1-3)Previous Rank: 25The Cowboys and Chiefs own two of the league's most dynamic offenses, but giving up 851 yards and 76 points in that two-game span - both losses - doesn't bode well for the rest of Philadelphia's campaign.27. New York Giants (1-3)Previous Rank: 30Daniel Jones set career highs with 401 yards and 10.1 yards per attempt in Sunday's overtime win over the Saints, and he also leads the Giants with 188 yards on the ground. The 24-year-old might not ever be a franchise-level quarterback, but he's clearly far from the problem in New York.28. New York Jets (1-3)Previous Rank: 32Robert Saleh earned his first victory as a head coach with the kind of scrappy performance most expected to come from his Jets squad entering the season. And the team's reward for the win? Flying across the pond to play at 9:30 am ET against the Falcons.29. Atlanta Falcons (1-3)Previous Rank: 27The more things change, the more they stay the same for Matt Ryan's squad. The offense put in its best performance of the year after a shaky start to the campaign, but Taylor Heinicke lit up the defense. Arthur Smith has his work cut out for him.30. Houston Texans (1-3) Bob Levey / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 28Tyrod Taylor is still weeks away from returning, and all the good feelings earned from the surprising Week 1 win have totally evaporated following a 40-0 destruction at the hands of the Bills.31. Detroit Lions (0-4)Previous Rank: 29If you weren't thinking about the 2022 draft already, Lions fans, it might be time to start diving into those scouting reports.32. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-4)Previous Rank: 31Even the biggest Urban Meyer doubters didn't see the experiment falling apart after only four weeks and in such dramatic - and uncomfortable - fashion.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Cowboys will release linebacker Jaylon Smith, the team announced Tuesday.Smith signed a five-year, $64-million contract extension in August 2019 and is still owed $7.2 million for this season, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.The Cowboys tried to find a trade partner before opting to cut the linebacker, a source told NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.The 26-year-old made the Pro Bowl in 2019, but he's struggled to maintain that form since. He lost his starting role this campaign after Dallas drafted Micah Parsons in the first round and signed Keanu Neal.Smith produced 18 tackles over four appearances (two starts) this season.The Cowboys selected Smith in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He was projected to be a first-round pick before suffering a torn ACL and LCL during the Fiesta Bowl.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After a 7-4 start to the season, we slogged through an 0-3 week highlighted by a 1-point miss in the Colts-Dolphins game and an incredible under in Buffalo despite the Bills scoring 40 points on their own. Really, Texans?Let's get back on track with an intriguing Week 5 slate that features two of the lowest totals in years:Patriots (-9, 39.5) @ Texans, 1 p.m. ETImagine betting the over and watching one team put up 40 points ... and losing. Welcome to the Davis Mills experience. The Stanford product has been abhorrent through 10 quarters, completing 56.7% of his passes with two touchdowns, five interceptions, two fumbles, eight sacks, and a shockingly low 17.6 QBR.More importantly, the Texans have combined for 16 points in his 2.5 games of action, including a goose egg last week against the Bills. The Patriots' defense ranks fifth in yards allowed (306.8) and sixth in points (17.5) after shutting down the Buccaneers a week ago, though their offense doesn't have the weaponry to threaten 40 points as Buffalo did a week ago.If you're scared off by the low total, don't be. In fact, low totals have been a boon for under bettors in recent years. Since 2019, games with a total of 40 or less have gone 19-8-1 (70.4%) to the under, including 1-0 in the only such contest from last season. Neither offense should concern you in this one.Pick: Under 39.5Broncos @ Steelers (-1, 39.5), 1 p.m.Two sub-40 totals in one week! It's the first time that's happened since the 2019 season, and if you followed our picks then (or now), you know we're going under on a game that can't be priced low enough.Oddsmakers are essentially daring either side to score more than 20 points, something a Drew Lock-led team has done just twice in his last eight appearances. Even if Teddy Bridgewater starts for the Broncos - which seems unlikely at this point - he won't be able to practice until late in the week, which isn't ideal before facing a Steelers defense that ranks fifth in pressure rate (29.7%).Conversely, this Pittsburgh offense is downright awful, ranking 28th in points per drive (1.5) and 30th in points per play (0.27). Ben Roethlisberger's days as a competent NFL quarterback are over, and he'll be hard-pressed to lead his team to more than a scoring drive or two against one of the most complete defenses in the league.Pick: Under 39.5Packers (-3, 50.5) @ Bengals, 1 p.m.It's starting to look more and more like the Packers' Week 1 dud was simply a fluke, as they've now scored at least 27 points in three straight games and exceeded their team total in each of those contests.Aaron Rodgers has been back to his MVP self in that stretch, tossing eight touchdowns to zero interceptions on a 67.5% completion rate. Perhaps more significant is the involvement of Green Bay's running backs, who've combined for 467 yards and five touchdowns in the last three weeks.The Bengals' defense has impressed against shoddy competition but is yet to face a team like the Packers, though their offense has looked electric in Joe Burrow's second season thanks to a much-improved offensive line. He should have his way against a banged-up Green Bay secondary that's been inconsistent even at full strength.Pick: Over 50.5C Jackson Cowart is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on Twitter (@CJacksonCowart) or email him at cjackson.cowart@thescore.com.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan chastised Urban Meyer's actions after a controversial bar video involving the head coach and a woman who was not his wife went viral over the weekend."I have addressed this matter with Urban. Specifics of our conversation will be held in confidence," Khan wrote in a statement on Tuesday. "What I will say is his conduct last weekend was inexcusable."I appreciate Urban's remorse, which I believe is sincere. Now, he must regain our trust and respect. That will require a personal commitment from Urban to everyone who supports, represents, or plays for our team. I am confident he will deliver."A video posted on social media this weekend showed a woman dancing in the head coach's lap. Meyer, who didn't fly back with the team after Thursday's loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, told reporters Monday he apologized to the team and his family for the incident, calling his actions "just stupid."The event impacted the Jaguars' locker room as well. One anonymous player told NFL Network's Michael Silver that the coach has "zero credibility in that stadium" before adding Meyer had little to begin with.Players also reportedly took issue with his apology. Meyer canceled team meetings Monday and chose to apologize to position groups rather than face the entire team, Silver added. One player reportedly said Meyer was "too scared" to face everyone at once.When asked Tuesday about getting his team ready for Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans, Meyer said he hopes his players will be able to put aside the distraction he's caused."I’m going to be extremely clear as I can; our staff is working their tails off," said Meyer, according to Mark Long of The Associated Press. "But you know as well as I do that the ownership of this team is with the players.”The Jaguars hired Meyer earlier this year in hopes of revitalizing the franchise. However, the first-time NFL head coach's tenure has been clouded with controversy since he took over.Meyer's initial decision to bring Chris Doyle on his staff earlier this year was met with loud criticism as Doyle faced allegations of racism and bullying during his time at Iowa. Doyle resigned from the position one day after accepting the job.Jacksonville has also struggled on the field under Meyer, losing four straight games to open the 2021 season.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 5.Updated rankings (including Standard and PPR) will be released Thursday, with the final version coming down Sunday morning.Half PPR

Another week, another legendary moment in teaser world. Week 3 saw Justin Tucker doink one over the bar to cover the Ravens teasers in Detroit. In Week 4, Nick Folk had the latest doink heard 'round the world, saving the Buccaneers teasers on Sunday night.We had 13 in the teaser legs basket last week, and 10 of them came home. As warned, we avoided the risky Titans teaser, and our recommended usage of GB -0.5/BAL +7.5/MIN +7.5 went out the window as well.Each teaser leg has a price of -270 - the cost of teasing a 6-point favorite down to PK. Let's use this week's NFC East battle between the Giants and Cowboys as an example.SpreadOddsDAL -7-105DAL -6.5-125DAL -6-138DAL -5.5-150DAL -5-155DAL -4.5-163DAL -4-175DAL -3.5-180DAL -3-225DAL -2.5-250DAL -2-270DAL -1.5-275DAL -1-280You're able to bring Dallas down to -1 via a teaser, which is a bit of value on the alternative spread of -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?Several contests provide the opportunity to tease a point spread that captures the key numbers of three, six, and seven. Remember, these are not a recommendation but more about the selection of teams in the "teaser basket" you could tease from a mathematically correct standpoint.Teaser BasketTEAMSPREADTEASER LEGSeahawks+2+8Broncos+1.5+7.5Vikings-7.5-1.5Washington+2+8Bears+5.5+11.5Browns+1+7Cowboys-7-149ers+5.5+11.5Bills+2.5+8.5Ravens-7-1Those last two seem tasty, don't they? Team up getting over a touchdown with the Bills offense against the Chiefs' shaky defense with the Ravens just winning at home in primetime. If you have the patience, the Seahawks +8 on Thursday night seems like a bet that'll have a hard time losing.Elsewhere, getting a full TD against the Steelers with anyone is interesting, but I'd need to see Teddy Bridgewater in the lineup for the Broncos. The Lions' injuries are piling up, so teasing the Vikings down to -1.5 is an attractive move. How confident do you feel in the Cowboys?After their Monday Night Football game, the Raiders and Chargers are both on the opposite side of potential teaser legs. Capturing six, seven, eight, 10, and 11 with the Bears is nice, and getting the Browns up to +7 would be a pretty good bet since Los Angeles beat Kansas City and Las Vegas in consecutive weeks.But 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.

I'm not going to sit here and pat myself on the back for calling a Bills win last week. I'm also not going to celebrate the Bengals - my backup pick - barely winning a nail-biter.What I am going to do is issue an "I told you so." In last week's article, I explicitly said to avoid picking the Saints, Titans, Rams, and Buccaneers.Alright, the Bucs barely squeaked out a win, but the other three fell by the wayside and likely took a healthy chunk of your pool down with them. Now that's cause for celebration.Let's dive into the Week 5 matchups.AWAYHOMEPICK (CR)DolphinsBuccaneers (-10.5)TB (9)LionsVikings (-8)MIN (8)PatriotsTexans (+9)NE (8)ColtsRavens (-7)BAL (7)49ersCardinals (-5)ARI (5)GiantsCowboys (-7)DAL (4)EaglesPanthers (-4)CAR (4)RamsSeahawks (+1.5)LAR (3)SaintsWashington (+1.5)NO (3)BearsRaiders (-4.5)LAR (3)JetsFalcons (-3.5)ATL (2)TitansJaguars (+4)TEN (2)PackersBengals (+3.5)GB (1)BroncosSteelers (-1)PIT (1)BrownsChargers (PK)LAC (1)BillsChiefs (-2.5)BUF (1)Confidence rating (CR) is the author's level of trust in picking the winner of each given gameLast week, there were a number of favorites to avoid, so I broke down my top pick before examining the reasons to avoid the other big favs.This week, I'm flipping the script, as there are a handful of favorites I think offer varying forms of safety to win outright, so I'll break down my top options before getting into one pick to avoid.Buccaneers (vs. Dolphins)Realistically, this shouldn't be competitive. The Dolphins' once vaunted defense has fallen off a cliff without Raekwon Davis, and while he has an outside chance of returning this week, cornerback Byron Jones is now questionable with a quad injury. The unit is giving up yards in bunches and just allowed a bad Colts team to possess the ball for over 37 minutes in Week 4.Offensively, the Dolphins are incredibly limited in what they can do with Jacoby Brissett at the helm, and they have no running game to speak of. It's only going to get worse against the Bucs' defense, which leads the league yards allowed per rush at just 2.7. The weight of the offense will fall on Brissett's shoulders here, and even with Tampa Bay's secondary dealing with numerous injuries, there isn't a world in which the Dolphins have the firepower to pull off the upset - especially with the offensive line incapable of keeping its quarterback upright.Vikings (vs. Lions)For all the talk about the Lions again competing and deserving better against the Bears, a deeper dive into the box score suggests otherwise. Chicago posted a +1.3 yards-per-play differential and an astounding +4.2 per pass. That's from an offense that managed just 68 passing yards the week prior. The Bears managed a ridiculous 10.1 yards per play through the air, which shouldn't have come as a huge surprise against the Lions' secondary, which ranks dead last in allowing 9.8 yards per pass.An even bigger issue for Detroit in Week 4 was losing pass-rusher Romeo Okwara for the season. That's big for the Vikings, who have been unstoppable on offense when Kirk Cousins has time to throw. Dalvin Cook returning late against the Browns is reason enough for optimism surrounding his Week 5 availability, and the Lions' red-zone woes on offense play right into Zimmer's bend-but-don't-break defense. Minnesota's star-studded offense will have its way here, while the defense provides enough resistance to secure a win in Minneapolis.Patriots (at Texans)Bill Belichick's success against rookie quarterbacks is well-documented, and we saw further evidence in Week 2 against the Jets. Davis Mills has shown nothing to suggest he can get the Texans' offense on track, especially in another very tough matchup. The only concern here is whether this could be a letdown spot for the Patriots after leaving it all on the field against Tampa, but even if that is the case, can Mills really take advantage? The Texans have managed just nine points and 3.3 yards per play in Mills' two starts. Yikes.Avoid: Cowboys (vs. Giants)You know the drill by now: Avoid divisional games in survivor, always. We spent some time last week diving into Daniel Jones' remarkable home/road and underdog/favorite splits, and those come into play here once again. Jones has performed vastly better in his young career both on the road and as a 'dog, and we saw it last week as he led a comeback win in New Orleans despite being without two of his top three wide receivers.While Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton didn't play, both traveled to New Orleans, which is a good sign regarding their Week 5 availability. With Saquon Barkley looking much closer to his former self, this Giants' offense is sneaky good. It averaged an electric 8.1 yards per play and 10.1 per pass against the Saints, and now gets the Cowboys' defense, which ranks 30th in allowing 6.4 yards per play.That's not a great representation of Dallas' defense, in fairness, as the unit has performed well relative to expectation. Of course, the unit doesn't have to be great for this team to win football games, with the offense looking close to unstoppable right now.But the Giants tend to play the Cowboys tight, losing a 37-34 nail-biter in Dallas last season in a contest Barkley and Shepard both missed - and Kenny Golladay wasn't on the roster either. I'm high on this Cowboys team, but the Giants are also flying dangerously under the radar right now. Stay away in your survivor pools and instead just enjoy what should be an exciting game.Alex Moretto is theScore's supervising editor of sports betting. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Josh Gordon will make his Kansas City Chiefs debut in Week 5 against the Buffalo Bills after earning a promotion from the practice squad, sources told NFL Network's Taylor Bisciotti.The wide receiver signed with the Chiefs after Week 3. Head coach Andy Reid said it would "take a while" to get him in the lineup.Gordon, whose issues with substance abuse drastically altered his career path, spent the 2020 season on the suspended list. He played 11 games in 2019, finishing the year with 426 yards and a touchdown while splitting time between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks.The 30-year-old led the NFL in receiving with the Cleveland Browns in 2013 but hasn't come near the 1,000-yard mark since. He's played only 33 games since that banner year, mostly because of suspensions.The Chiefs and Bills will square off on Sunday Night Football in a rematch of the 2021 AFC Championship Game.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger suffered a hip injury Sunday that could affect his ability to start this week's game against the Denver Broncos, head coach Mike Tomlin said, according to ESPN's Brooke Pryor.Tomlin added that Roethlisberger's participation in practice this week will be a guideline as to whether he'll be able to suit up versus the Broncos.This is the second ailment for Roethlisberger this year following a pectoral injury he suffered against the Las Vegas Raiders. He didn't miss any time as a result of that, though.Roethlisberger has struggled thus far for the 1-3 Steelers. He's thrown for 1,033 yards and just four touchdowns to go along with four interceptions.However, Tomlin still believes the veteran is the best starting quarterback option for the Steelers."What he does and what he's done makes me really comfortable in saying that," he said, according to Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL Network.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Every Monday during the season, theScore's Justin Boone runs down the recommended waiver wire pickups.Roster percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. Free Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are set off a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 50% of leagues are considered.Quarterbacks Ezra Shaw / Getty Images Sport / GettyTrey Lance, 49ersNext UpRosteredFABat ARI31%$5Lance finally got an opportunity to lead the 49ers' offense Sunday after Jimmy Garoppolo suffered a calf contusion that prevented him from playing in the second half.Despite some standard rookie struggles early on, the first-rounder settled in and completed 50% of his passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns. Lance also added another 41 yards on the ground. The result was more than 20 fantasy points essentially accrued in one half. That's a sign of what's to come if Kyle Shanahan sticks with his rookie passer.Garoppolo said postgame that he hopes his injury sidelines him for just a couple of weeks. However, the diagnosis was much more optimistic Monday, with Shanahan saying there's still a chance Garoppolo will play in Week 5. The veteran quarterback is being re-evaluated Wednesday.Fantasy managers would love to see Lance start with a game plan tailored to him and a full week of first-team practice reps to prepare. Unfortunately, we might not see that come to fruition yet, so keep your FAB bids in check.Whether his launch date is this Sunday or later in the season, Lance offers top-12 fantasy upside due to his dual-threat abilities and should be rostered everywhere.Sam Darnold, PanthersNext UpRosteredFABvs. PHI37%$5Darnold has occupied a feature spot in our waiver wire column for three straight weeks now, so there isn't much left to say about him.The former Jet has found a home in Carolina and is currently the fantasy QB5 overall on the season.He's topped 300 passing yards in each of his last three outings and shouldn't have a problem moving the ball against an Eagles unit that's given up eight touchdown passes over the last two weeks.With the Eagles, Vikings, Giants, and Falcons on the schedule across the next month, you can continue using Darnold as a low-end QB1.Streaming options: Daniel Jones at DAL (31% rostered), Justin Fields at LV (41% rostered), Taylor Heinicke vs. NO (10% rostered), Mac Jones at HOU (17% rostered)Risky streaming options: Zach Wilson at ATL (9% rostered), Jared Goff at MIN (13% rostered), Carson Wentz at BAL (12% rostered), Jacoby Brissett at TB (3% rostered), Drew Lock at PIT (1% rostered)2QB/Superflex long-term stashes: Taysom Hill (2% rostered), Cam Newton (1% rostered)Running backs Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyDamien Williams/Khalil Herbert, BearsNext UpRosteredFABat LV8%/0%$39/$1Things are up in the air with the Bears' backfield at the moment. Starter David Montgomery hyperextended his knee Sunday and is likely to miss some time, although the team believes he avoided season-ending issues.Immediate backup Williams stepped up in his absence with 70 yards from scrimmage and a score on 10 touches in the win over the Lions.Williams also left the game late with a thigh bruise, but there's no sign of concern at the moment that it'll affect his availability for Week 5.You may remember Williams from his brief time as the Chiefs starter, including during their Super Bowl run in 2019 when he flashed his skills as a runner and pass-catcher with a nose for the end zone. He'll be an RB2 for however long Montgomery is out.With Montgomery and Williams both getting dinged up, you should consider stashing Herbert - a sixth-round rookie capable of handling the load if thrust into a starting role. He averaged 15 touches a game during his final year at Virginia Tech.Samaje Perine/Chris Evans, BengalsNext UpRosteredFABvs. GB2%/1%$9/$1Bengals head coach Zac Taylor disputed reports Joe Mixon is week-to-week with an ankle sprain. Instead, he suggested it's more of a day-to-day injury.That might be true, but it's also important to remember Taylor has a history of downplaying an injury's severity, including calling Mixon day-to-day late last season before ruling him out for the year.

Joey Bosa questioned Derek Carr's toughness after the Los Angeles Chargers held the Las Vegas Raiders quarterback to under 200 yards on Monday Night Football."We knew once we hit him a few times, he really gets shook," the Pro Bowl edge rusher told reporters after helping the Bolts to a 28-14 win. "And you saw on (Christian Covington's) sack, he was pretty much curling into a ball before we even got back there. Great dude, great player, he's been having a great year, but we know once you get pressure on him, he kind of shuts down and he's not as effective with a crowded pocket."The Chargers hit Carr seven times and registered four sacks. Bosa accounted for two of the hits and one sack.Carr came into Week 4 on a hot streak but produced a season-low 196 yards against the Chargers. He also threw his third interception of the year, a late dagger that ended the Raiders' hopes of mounting a comeback.The quarterback still leads the NFL in passing yards through four weeks despite taking the third-most sacks.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Defeating the New England Patriots on Sunday came with some mixed feelings for Tom Brady.During an appearance on the "Let's Go!" podcast with Jim Gray on Monday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback was asked to name his favorite and least favorite NFL teams to beat. He chose the New York Giants as his favorite and his former Patriots team as his least favorite."The team I would love to beat the most is the Giants," Brady said. "There's no doubt about that, 'cause they've taken away some really, you know - I've always joked with Eli (Manning), but yeah, and I think he likes that I bring it up all the time. So to bring it up again, I do not like losing to those guys, so when we beat 'em, I love that."And the team I like to beat the least is obviously the Patriots. Again, those are my guys, man. Those are the other warriors that I went to battle with for so long. So I've had a lot of battles over the years with different teams, there's a lot of mutual respect in pro sports, but glad I'm through with the one last night."Brady lost two Super Bowls to Manning and the Giants as a member of the Patriots and said earlier this year that he'd like a championship rematch now that he's in Tampa.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Bears running back David Montgomery is expected to miss four-to-five weeks after tests revealed he suffered a knee sprain Sunday against the Detroit Lions, ESPN's Dan Graziano reports.Montgomery could potentially return around the Bears' Week 10 bye, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.The 24-year-old was in the midst of a tremendous rushing effort in Sunday's victory before exiting, tallying 106 yards and two touchdowns.Montgomery has been one of the few bright spots in what has been a stagnant offense. He has accumulated 309 yards on the ground and two 100-plus yard performances this season.Chicago will likely turn to Damien Williams while Montgomery is sidelined. Williams rushed for 55 yards on eight carries during the Week 4 win over Detroit.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The first four weeks of the 2021 NFL season are in the books, and the race for the league's top awards is shaping up.Here's a current look at the best five candidates for the main awards, including Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year.Coach of the Year5. Sean McVay, Rams Harry How / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Rams have put themselves back in contender status, with Matthew Stafford showing off his arm and McVay demonstrating his genius on offense. McVay has Los Angeles off to a 3-1 start while averaging nearly 29 points per contest, a big jump from last year. With a capable quarterback at his disposal, McVay has once again put the league on notice.4. John Harbaugh, RavensWhat Harbaugh has been able to do with injury-riddled Baltimore is nothing short of remarkable. The veteran coach has managed to lead his team through rocky waters despite missing multiple starters. With their backs against the wall, Harbaugh's Ravens have shown they won't go down without a fight.3. Matt Rhule, PanthersThe Panthers took a shot on Rhule in 2020, believing he could rebuild the franchise. It took only one campaign, but Rhule looks to be on the right track in 2021. Despite suffering the season's first loss Sunday, the fact remains that Carolina is one of the league's most well-balanced clubs. The 3-1 Panthers have recorded over 370 yards of offense in each game so far while also allowing the third-fewest points per game.2. Jon Gruden, RaidersAfter being a punching bag for pundits during recent years, Gruden and the Raiders are finally punching back. Las Vegas' band of misfits is playing entertaining but captivating football at 3-1. The Raiders haven't had it easy either, defeating the Ravens, Steelers, and Dolphins - three teams who had 10-plus wins last season. Al Davis said, "Just win, baby," and Gruden has Vegas doing just that.1. Kliff Kingsbury, Cardinals Harry How / Getty Images Sport / GettyCan anyone stop Kingsbury and the Cardinals? Right now, the answer looks like a resounding no. It took a few years, but Kingsbury has implemented a well-oiled machine and has a world-class driver to operate it in Kyler Murray. With these two at the helm, Arizona is putting up video-game numbers and off to its first 4-0 start since 2012, leaving no doubt about who should be the front-runner for Coach of the Year.Defensive Rookie of the Year5. Patrick Surtain, BroncosThe 10th overall pick in this year's draft has lived up to his billing so far for the Broncos. Denver threw Surtain into the fire after starting corner Ronald Darby was injured, but he's more than held his own, recording one interception and two pass defenses.4. Greg Newsome, Browns Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyNewsome missed Week 4 with a calf injury, but that shouldn't detract from his marvelous start. The Browns' first-round corner is allowing just 4.7 yards per target and has yet to get burned for a touchdown, according to Pro Football Reference.3. Azeez Ojulari, GiantsThe rookie leader in sacks didn't come from the top 10 or even the first round. But draft billings aren't everything, and Ojulari - who wasn't picked until the 50th overall selection - is proving that. The pass-rusher looks like a star in the making, notching three sacks, three quarterback hits, and one forced fumble through four games.2. Asante Samuel Jr., Chargers Harry How / Getty Images Sport / GettyYears after his father crafted his legacy in the NFL, Samuel is now quickly creating a name for himself. The rookie corner has made the jump into the big leagues in grand fashion, intercepting passes off Patrick Mahomes and Dak Prescott in recent weeks.1. Micah Parsons, CowboysWhen Parsons is on the field, it's almost impossible to tell he's a rookie. The linebacker is enjoying an almost unbelievable start to his career, putting up 2.5 sacks, three tackles for loss, and seven quarterback hits. But the plain truth is that Parsons' numbers still don't do his exceptional play justice, considering he's played everywhere from linebacker to defensive end and had last played football in 2019.Offensive Rookie of the Year5. Najee Harris, SteelersWhat if the Steelers had given Harris a solid offensive line? The first-round rusher leads all rookies with 363 scrimmage yards - while also adding two touchdowns - despite having one of the NFL's worst blocking units surrounding him.4. Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins Mark Brown / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Dolphins' offense has yet to break out, but Waddle has shown several times why Miami drafted him sixth overall. The Alabama product leads all first-year wideouts with 25 receptions to go along with 200 yards and one touchdown.3. Rondale Moore, CardinalsMoore's explosiveness has been a great fit for the Cards. The second-round pass-catcher has 211 yards (13.2 per catch) and one touchdown on 16 receptions. Additionally, his 114-yard, one-touchdown outing in Week 2 was the difference-maker in his team's victory.2. Rashawn Slater, ChargersIt took Slater only four games to show Chargers fans he's the right guy to protect Herbert's blind side for the foreseeable future. The left tackle entered Week 4 with zero sacks allowed despite playing all of L.A.'s offensive snaps.1. Ja'Marr Chase, Bengals Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyIt almost feels like Chase was waiting for the bigger stage to show us why he was the first wide receiver taken in 2021. The LSU product, who struggled with drops during the preseason, has dropped just one pass so far in the regular season and currently leads all rookies in receiving yards (297) and touchdown catches (4).Defensive Player of the Year5. Jalen Ramsey, RamsIt seems contradictory that a player can be great and rarely get mentioned, but that's the exact predicament Ramsey finds himself in. The Rams constantly hand their cornerback the enormous task of locking down standout receivers week after week, and he does it quietly yet superbly. DeAndre Hopkins was Ramsey's responsibility in Week 4, and he did a standout job again, allowing just one reception for 18 yards, per PFF.4. Myles Garrett, BrownsThe Defensive Player of the Year award has evaded Garrett's grasp through his first four campaigns, but there's a good chance that streak comes to an end in 2021. Despite being double-teamed frequently, the All-Pro pass-rusher has already had six sacks through four games, putting him on pace to easily surpass his career high of 13.5.3. Maxx Crosby, Raiders Ethan Miller / Getty Images Sport / GettyMad Maxx may not have been a household name coming into this year, but he's put himself in the conversation for Defensive Player of the Year with more than a few super performances this season. No matter how big or how strong the opposition may be, Crosby has laid waste to those standing in his path. The defensive end's terrorization of the backfield has been a key part of the Raiders' 3-1 start.2. Trevon Diggs, CowboysCowboys fans have the opportunity to see two stars at AT&T Stadium: One is painted at midfield, and the other is cornerback Trevon Diggs. The second-year corner has dared passers to throw his way. Those who opted to do so paid the ultimate price - Diggs currently leads the league with five interceptions this season.1. Chandler Jones, CardinalsLost in all the attention directed towards Arizona's success on offense is Jones' return to All-Pro form. The 31-year-old embarrassed three-time Pro Bowler Taylor Lewan for a whopping five sacks in Week 1. Jones hasn't notched a sack since then, but his pressure numbers still make him the early favorite for the award. The linebacker has registered at least three quarterback hits three times this campaign.MVP5. Justin Herbert, ChargersHerbert's sophomore season has been just like we all anticipated, with the star signal-caller completing almost 69% of his throws and tossing nine touchdowns against just three picks. But perhaps the most impressive part of Herbert's game is his performances in clutch moments: The 23-year-old already has two game-winning drives under his belt in 2021, and he entered Week 4 with a 110.3 passer rating in the fourth quarter.4. Lamar Jackson, Ravens Dustin Bradford / Getty Images Sport / GettyThis hasn't been a good campaign if you are a Lamar Jackson hater. The field general is running the ball as effectively as always and continues to improve as a passer, with his 14.4 yards per throw leading all quarterbacks thus far. Jackson's also posted a 3-1 record with convincing wins over the Chiefs and Broncos.3. Tom Brady, BuccaneersBrady's production dropped a bit over the last two contests, but after four weeks, the legendary quarterback has completed 64.7% of his passes while leading the NFC in completions (119) and passing yards (1,356). Not to mention he's ranked second in the conference with 10 touchdowns. Oh, and he's already managed two game-winning drives in the fourth quarter.2. Derek Carr, RaidersRemember when Carr was in the MVP discussion after tossing 28 touchdowns to only six interceptions in 2016? Well, the veteran quarterback looks even better now, and he's currently on pace to set career highs in yards and touchdowns. It's just impossible to imagine Las Vegas would have three wins only one month into the regular season if it wasn't for Carr.1. Kyler Murray, Cardinals Harry How / Getty Images Sport / GettyMurray's in charge of the hottest team in football, and although the star passer threw four interceptions in the first three games, he's torched every defense he's faced. Arizona is only the fifth team in NFL history to post at least 30 points and 400 total yards in the first four contests of a campaign. Three of the four quarterbacks under center for those previous teams ended up winning the MVP that year.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Chargers pass-rusher Joey Bosa called the officials "blind" following Monday night's win over the Las Vegas Raiders.Bosa argued with officials over what he thought was a missed holding call late in the fourth quarter and was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct, which drew a fiery response from him in his postgame presser."I didn't even know they called the f------ penalty on me because I was fuming," Bosa said, according to ESPN's Shelley Smith. "But, I mean, refs are blind, simple. I'm sorry, but you're blind, like open your eyes and do your job. It's so bad it's unbelievable."Bosa took responsibility for hurting his team with the penalty, but he added that the missed call highlights what he believes is a longstanding problem with the NFL's officiating."Obviously, that's on me," Bosa said. "I should never lose my temper like that, but these guys have got to do a better job because it's been years of terrible missed calls left and right."He added: "It's really pathetic, honestly, but pathetic on me too for doing what I did. Call or not I have to take a step back and just go to the next play, but, man, they seem not to have their eyes open half the time."The 26-year-old was a major factor in the Chargers' 28-14 victory, recording one sack and two quarterback hits.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Brady addressed his relationship with New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick following his 19-17 homecoming victory against his former team.After a brief postgame embrace between the iconic duo, Belichick went into the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' locker room and spent about 20 minutes talking privately with Brady, according to ESPN's Jeff Darlington."We've had a personal relationship for 20-plus years. He drafted me here. We had a lot of personal conversations that should remain that way. They're very private," Brady said, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN."I would say, so much is made of our relationship. ... Nothing is really accurate that I ever see. It definitely doesn't come from my personal feelings or beliefs."Brady noted he was "emotional" at times in the buildup to his first return to Foxborough since leaving the franchise after 20 years in 2020. The former Patriots quarterback brought the organization to new heights during his tenure, winning six Super Bowls.The Patriots presented Brady with a pregame video tribute and fans gave the quarterback a warm welcome as he took the field."It was awesome. I tried not to predict what was going to happen and how I would feel," Brady said. "Had a few emotional moments this week just thinking about the people that have really meant so much to me in my life and that are a part of this community. Just very grateful for an amazing time here."Brady noted Patriots fans should expect to see him again, telling the broadcast he plans to be a part of the community after his playing days are over, according to Adam Kaufman of iHeartRadio.The 44-year-old also managed to add one more historic feat to his already decorated resume in his Foxborough return, shattering the NFL all-time record for career passing yards with a first-quarter completion.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs is active for Monday Night Football against the Los Angeles Chargers.Jacobs will return after missing the Raiders' previous two contests due to an ankle injury.The Pro Bowl tailback was a limited participant in practice throughout the week and was listed as questionable heading into the prime-time matchup.Jacobs last appeared in Las Vegas' season-opening victory over the Baltimore Ravens. He rushed for 34 yards and two touchdowns in the 33-27 overtime win.Las Vegas has split running duties between Peyton Barber and Kenyan Drake with Jacobs sidelined.Jacobs will attempt to spark a Raiders offense that's averaging 91.3 rushing yards per game, and do it against a Chargers defense that allows a league-high 170 rushing yards per contest.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jimmy Garoppolo's calf injury may not be as serious as the quarterback initially thought.San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that Garoppolo's calf contusion will be re-evaluated Wednesday, and the veteran passer "has a chance" of playing against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 5."It wasn't as bad as we thought it might have been," Shanahan said, according to Cam Inman of The Mercury News. "Today, he's in a lot of pain and still sore. Wednesday, if (it gets) better, he has a good chance."Garoppolo played the entire first half of Sunday's loss to the Seattle Seahawks but didn't return for the final two quarters after sustaining the calf ailment. The 29-year-old, who's battled several injuries in recent years, said postgame he was hoping to be sidelined "just for a couple weeks."Rookie Trey Lance replaced Garoppolo against Seattle, tossing 157 yards and two touchdowns on 9-of-18 passing. The contest marked Lance's first extended game action after only notching situational appearances through the first three weeks.The 2-2 49ers, who are currently on a two-game skid, have a bye following their Week 5 game in Arizona.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Who saw this one coming? After Sunday's dominant win over the then-undefeated Rams, the Cardinals are currently the only 4-0 team in the NFL - surging into the group of Super Bowl contenders after just four weeks.Arizona's rise up the title oddsboard was the biggest adjustment after Week 4, but it wasn't the only one. Here are the current Super Bowl odds and the most significant takeaways from Sunday's results:TEAMODDSTampa Bay Buccaneers+500Kansas City Chiefs+600Buffalo Bills+750Los Angeles Rams+800Baltimore Ravens+1200Green Bay Packers+1200Cleveland Browns+1400Arizona Cardinals+1600Dallas Cowboys+2000Los Angeles Chargers+2200San Francisco 49ers+2800Seattle Seahawks+2800Denver Broncos+3500New Orleans Saints+3500Tennessee Titans+4000Las Vegas Raiders+4500Minnesota Vikings+6500Carolina Panthers+10000Indianapolis Colts+10000Miami Dolphins+10000New England Patriots+10000Washington Football Team+10000Cincinnati Bengals+15000Pittsburgh Steelers+15000New York Giants+20000Philadelphia Eagles+20000Atlanta Falcons+25000Chicago Bears+25000New York Jets+50000Detroit Lions+100000Houston Texans+100000Jacksonville Jaguars+100000Cardinals, Cowboys enter top 10The Cardinals and Cowboys entered the year as trendy long-shot title bets behind electric offenses and unproven defenses. Four weeks later, both teams are among the 10 shortest contenders for the first time all season.Start with Arizona (+1600), which jumped out to an 11-point halftime lead over the Rams and never let up in a clear statement win for Kyler Murray and Co. The current MVP favorite tossed two touchdowns to bring his season total to 12. However, the defense was arguably even more impressive, forcing Matthew Stafford into his worst game of the year and limiting L.A. to a season-low 20 points.It was a similar story for the Cowboys (+2000), who held the previously 3-0 Panthers to a mere 14 points through the first 50 minutes before letting up on the gas. It didn't matter, as Dak Prescott threw four touchdowns to lead Dallas to a whopping 36 points - more than Carolina had allowed on the season.It's clear these two clubs can score on anyone, which we'd already suspected entering the season. If their defenses can play to their talent level and sustain their Sunday showings, these teams' ceilings are as high as any.49ers tumble after QB injuryFans and bettors alike have been clamoring for Trey Lance to take over as the 49ers' starting quarterback since the team drafted him in April. He finally got his shot Sunday in a way few expected - and it could jeopardize this club's Super Bowl aspirations.The rookie replaced Jimmy Garoppolo in the second quarter of Sunday's 28-21 loss to the Seahawks after the eight-year veteran left the game with a hamstring injury. Lance threw for a pair of touchdowns but connected on just 50% of his attempts, including a few badly missed throws early on. It encapsulated the ups and downs of starting Lance, which elevates this team's title ceiling but greatly lowers its floor.San Francisco (+2800) had already been hit hard with injuries before this game, which also saw star tackle Trent Williams leave on a cart in the fourth quarter. Health derailed the Niners' title chances a year ago, and oddsmakers are preparing for a similar story this season.Steelers, Eagles slipping into obscurityIt's been three weeks since the Steelers (+15000) and Eagles (+20000) surprised with dominant Week 1 wins. Those are looking more like flukes than a harbinger of better days ahead for these two in-state squads.Since holding the Falcons to six points in its season debut, Philadelphia's defense has completely fallen apart - allowing 41 points to the Cowboys last Monday night before ceding 42 points to the Chiefs on Sunday. The Eagles recorded just one sack a week ago and have generated only 26 pressures on the season, tied for the fifth-fewest in the NFL.Pittsburgh hasn't been written off quite as dramatically by oddsmakers, but it might as well be after another lethargic showing in Sunday's 27-17 loss to the Packers. Ben Roethlisberger has now posted a passer rating of 87 or worse in all four starts this year, while the Steelers' banged-up defense has now allowed at least 24 points in three straight. It may be time to wave that terrible white towel on the AFC North's last-place club.C Jackson Cowart is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on Twitter (@CJacksonCowart) or email him at cjackson.cowart@thescore.com.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A quarter(-ish) into the season, the Week 4 takeaways need a freshening. Since we've been schooled not to overreact to one game and have three prior contests to act as data points, there won't be massive changes to these teams' ratings.However, we now have a better understanding of the rating ranges to which these teams play. Some have a wide scope of expectations each week, depending on injuries, matchups, and other circumstances. Others are consistently consistent - you know what you're going to get.Before we get into the adjustments from this past week, here are my ratings: The average expectation of the quality of a team and the range they might play up or down to on any given Sunday.TEAMRATINGRANGEBuccaneers7765-85Chiefs7665-85Bills7460-80Browns7455-80Ravens7255-75Rams7260-8049ers6755-80Cardinals6550-70Packers6555-70Chargers6450-80Seahawks6250-75Cowboys6145-80Vikings5845-70Broncos5740-65Patriots5745-70Saints5645-75Raiders5535-55Titans5450-75Panthers5335-60Dolphins5145-70Bengals4835-55Steelers4640-65Eagles4530-55Colts4435-60Bears4435-55Washington4440-60Falcons4025-50Giants3930-50Lions3620-40Jaguars3430-50Jets2925-40Texans2020-40Who's the best team in the NFL?This isn't as easy of an answer as it once was. The Chiefs don't move in my ratings, other than to confirm the defense is still bad. The Eagles opted not to run the ball, or their matchup may have been closer. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers' offense shouldn't be downgraded after playing in the rain without Rob Gronkowski and against the most tailored defensive game plan you'll ever see. It's the defense that's the issue as injuries pile up in the secondary.Speaking of rain games, how much should we really bump the Bills for crushing the Texans? Buffalo gets to make its pitch for being the top team on Sunday night in Kansas City, where I have the Chiefs -2.8, thanks to an above-average home-field advantage.The Rams are still above the Cardinals, you say? After a 17-point win?! We were on Arizona, knowing it was a tough spot for L.A. after its big win over Tampa Bay. Yards per play slightly favored the Rams 6.3 to 6.2, so this was more evenly played than the scoreboard indicated, and we won't get crazy with an adjustment.Injuries confuse thingsSimilar story in the other NFC West tilt as the Seahawks beat the 49ers, but Seattle's losses to Tennessee and Minnesota have to be considered. Meanwhile, Jimmy Garoppolo left Sunday's game, and San Francisco got a taste of life with a green Trey Lance. That version of the 49ers played to the back end of their overall range, and the Seahawks took advantage.As expected, the Titans played to the bottom of their range, with Ryan Tannehill missing his top two outside threats. However, the Jets performed to the top of their's, seeing a softer defense and a non-threatening pass game. Throw those together, and you have a recipe for an upset.The ups and downsThe Dolphins hit a new low in their range with a horrendous performance against the Colts, as the much-ballyhooed defense got run over on the ground and couldn't create Carson Wentz turnovers. Indy showed some life to avoid getting dropped to the nether regions of their range.The Steelers showed some age, or at least their quarterback did, for the fourth straight week, and we might not have them dropped low enough. The Packers are the world's tightest range team. You always know what you're going to get. The offensive line has held up better than I thought, but, more importantly, Pittsburgh's running game wasn't capable of taking advantage of Green Bay's defense, which was the difference in the Steelers not covering.The Cowboys roll again at home. While I'll mute their average, I'm open to the idea that the top end of this team's range is quite high. As such, I'll aggressively move them up if they have more good games. Meanwhile, the Jaycee Horn injury may have been more of an issue than Christian McCaffrey's, at least on Sunday.Misleading matchup of the weekThe Lions ventured into goal-to-go situations three times in the first half against the Bears and came away with zero points. That feat is almost impossible to accomplish. If the reasoning is "Well, that's Jared Goff," then would it be all that surprising if Justin Fields suffered the same fate? No change for either team and Lions +3 probably covers more often than not, given how the squads played.The back endWe can't go any lower for the Texans. The top end of their range involves Tyrod Taylor's return. Until then, they might find themselves in historically bad territory, especially when Davis Mills is in inclement weather. Even worse, we probably have to bet on them this week against the Pats.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.

Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon has been diagnosed with a low-grade ankle sprain that will be looked at on a day-to-day basis, head coach Zac Taylor said Monday, according to ESPN's Ben Baby.Reports initially indicated Mixon was week-to-week with the injury, but Bengals head coach Zac Taylor clarified Monday the ailment is not severe.Mixon spent the final few offensive plays of the Bengals' 24-21 win over the Jaguars on the sidelines after rushing 16 times for 67 yards and a touchdown.The 25-year-old has rushed for 353 yards and two touchdowns on 83 carries in four games for Cincinnati this season. Mixon leads the team in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As expected, a lot of people watched Tom Brady's return to New England.The Sunday Night Football game between the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers generated a total audience delivery of about 28.5 million viewers across all platforms, according to NBC Sports, which cited preliminary Nielsen and Adobe data.The Week 4 clash was the most-watched NBC Sunday Night Football matchup since 2012, and the second-most-watched ever, trailing only a Week 17 contest between the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Football Team in 2012. That NFC East win-and-in game drew a total audience of 30.3 million viewers.

Denver Broncos head coach Vic Fangio wasn't impressed by the Baltimore Ravens' decision to run a live play on the final down of Sunday's game.Leading 23-7 with only three seconds left, the Ravens had quarterback Lamar Jackson run the ball to keep the team's 100-yard rushing streak alive instead of taking a knee."I thought it was kind of bullshit, but I expected it from them," Fangio said Monday. "Thirty-seven years in pro ball, I've never seen anything like that. But it was to be expected ... I just know how (the Ravens) operate. That's just their mode of operation there: Player safety is secondary."Jackson gained 5 yards on the final play of regulation, giving Baltimore 102 rushing yards on the day and tying the Pittsburgh Steelers with an NFL-record 43 consecutive games with at least 100 yards on the ground.The play left Broncos players "livid" on their walk to the locker room after the game, according to Mike Klis of 9News, and Fangio was visibly furious: