Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.theScore staff took part in a 12-team, 12-round mock to offer some insight on what to watch for in each round.This is a PPR (point per reception) scoring league with the following roster spots: QB, RB, RB, WR, WR, WR, TE, FLEX, BN, BN, BN, BN. We omitted defenders and kickers, as they normally get selected in the final two rounds.Draft participants: Mike Dickson, Dustin Saracini, Daniel Valente, Matt Washington, Jack Browne, Taylor Rohaly, Gino Bottero, Ian Dalley, Justin Boone, Alex Moretto, Caio Miari, C Jackson CowartRound 1PickPlayerTeam1Christian McCaffrey (RB1)Dickson2Derrick Henry (RB2)Saracini3Dalvin Cook (RB3)Valente4Alvin Kamara (RB4)Washington5Jonathan Taylor (RB5)Browne6Saquon Barkley (RB6)Rohaly7Ezekiel Elliott (RB7)Bottero8Nick Chubb (RB8)Dalley9Stefon Diggs (WR1)Boone10Davante Adams (WR2)Moretto11Travis Kelce (TE1)Miari12Tyreek Hill (WR3)CowartRound 1: Very chalky opening round with running backs dominating early and a few pass catchers sneaking into the back half. Considering this is a PPR league, Derrick Henry was a bit of a reach at No. 2. Even during his 2,000-yard season, the Titans workhorse averaged 20.8 PPR fantasy points per game, well behind Christian McCaffrey (30.1), Alvin Kamara (25.2), and Dalvin Cook (24.1). It's unlikely Tennessee starts targeting the 27-year-old more at this point in his career, so it'll be a challenge for him to outpace the top-tier pass-catching backs.Round 2PickPlayerTeam13Austin Ekeler (RB9)Cowart14Aaron Jones (RB10)Miari15Cam Akers (RB11)Moretto16DeAndre Hopkins (WR4)Boone17Calvin Ridley (WR5)Dalley18D.K. Metcalf (WR6)Bottero19Darren Waller (TE2)Rohaly20Antonio Gibson (RB12)Browne21A.J. Brown (WR7)Washington22Najee Harris (RB13)Valente23Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB14)Saracini24Justin Jefferson (WR8)DicksonRound 2: Not much to note from the second round, with the usual names going off the board and managers sticking fairly close to average draft position so far. Players like Antonio Gibson, Najee Harris, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire are particularly intriguing as late second-round selections. It wouldn't be surprising to see all three backs break out this season, vaulting them into first-round consideration for 2022 drafts.Round 3PickPlayerTeam25Patrick Mahomes (QB1)Dickson26Michael Thomas (WR9)Saracini27George Kittle (TE3)Valente28Joe Mixon (RB15)Washington29Keenan Allen (WR10)Browne30Terry McLaurin (WR11)Rohaly31Miles Sanders (RB16)Bottero32D'Andre Swift (RB17)Dalley33Chris Carson (RB18)Boone34J.K. Dobbins (RB19)Moretto35David Montgomery (RB20)Miari36Josh Jacobs (RB21)CowartRound 3: Team Dickson locks down football's best quarterback in Patrick Mahomes at the top of the third. While it's hard to argue against the former MVP's fantasy ceiling, he's not a value at this range of the draft. As we'll eventually see, other passers with QB1 overall upside like Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and Kyler Murray are available two and even three rounds later. Avoid the temptation of taking a quarterback this high and focus on running backs, receivers, and maybe a tight end in the first three or four rounds.Round 4PickPlayerTeam37Allen Robinson (WR12)Cowart38Robert Woods (WR13)Miari39CeeDee Lamb (WR14)Moretto40Amari Cooper (WR15)Boone41Chris Godwin (WR16)Dalley42Mike Evans (WR17)Bottero43Myles Gaskin (RB22)Rohaly44Julio Jones (WR18)Browne45Adam Thielen (WR19)Washington46Ja'Marr Chase (WR20)Valente47Odell Beckham Jr. (WR21)Saracini48Kenny Golladay (WR22)DicksonRound 4: Several different builds have begun to take shape through four rounds, but the rosters that include an elite tight end are particularly interesting. While there will be sleeper receivers still on the board later, it's hard to match the fantasy advantage that a premier tight end provides.There are also a few risky picks that may end up looking like reaches here. Veteran wideouts Adam Thielen, Odell Beckham Jr., and Kenny Golladay might be living off name value more than actual production in 2021. Thielen has been touchdown-dependent, and regression will strike hard after his 14-TD campaign. Beckham is coming off an ACL tear and rejoins a Browns offense that hasn't given him the volume he enjoyed with the Giants. Golladay will have to fight with a crowded skill position group in New York in order to re-establish himself as a fantasy star. They aren't bad picks, but there are younger talents who are more deserving of this draft capital.Round 5PickPlayerTeam49James Robinson (RB23)Dickson50Kareem Hunt (RB24)Saracini51Josh Allen (QB2)Valente52Cooper Kupp (WR23)Washington53Tyler Lockett (WR24)Browne54D.J. Moore (WR25)Rohaly55Mike Davis (RB25)Bottero56Mark Andrews (TE4)Dalley57Javonte Williams (RB26)Boone58Brandon Aiyuk (WR26)Moretto59Diontae Johnson (WR27)Miari60Lamar Jackson (QB3)CowartRound 5: Some of those younger receivers referenced in the previous round can be found here in the fifth, with D.J. Moore, Brandon Aiyuk, and Diontae Johnson all having WR2 fantasy profiles and a chance to flirt with WR1 numbers if they take another step forward.

Free-agent cornerback Richard Sherman was released from jail Thursday without bail, according to The Seattle Times' Bob Condotta."I see Mr. Sherman is a pillar in this community, he's a business owner, he's a husband, he's a father," the judge said, according to CBS Sports' Amy Dash.

Richard Sherman isn't a member of the San Francisco 49ers anymore, but 49ers general manager John Lynch is offering the free-agent cornerback support after his recent off-field incident.Sherman, who played the last three seasons in San Francisco, was arrested Wednesday on a burglary domestic violence charge after forcing his way into his in-laws' residence in Seattle. Police are also recommending DUI and hit-and-run misdemeanor charges against Sherman after investigating a single-car incident that preceded his arrest."Obviously, (it's) not the news you want to hear," Lynch said Thursday, according to USA Today's Nate Davis. "Obviously, reached out to the family - to Richard, to Ashley (Sherman's wife) - just let them know that we want to be a resource for them. We do for all our players, both current and former."More than anything, just praying for them," Lynch added. "They're good people, and just praying that they find their way through this, and we'll support them any way we can."Sherman was expected to find a new team soon after free agency opened in March, but the 33-year-old recently said he was waiting for the right opportunity to join a contender. The five-time Pro Bowler has also said he intends to play two more years in the NFL.Although Lynch didn't specifically speak about Sherman, he said some players may have a tough time transitioning to the end of their careers."I don't care how prepared people might think you are, it's a difficult one," Lynch said, according to NBC Sports' Matt Maiocco. "People struggle with that for a variety of reasons. It's difficult."Sherman, a fifth-round pick in 2011, spent his first seven NFL campaigns with the Seattle Seahawks.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady has said he played all of last season with a knee injury, and now the exact nature of the ailment has been revealed.Brady suffered a torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee during the passer's final season with the New England Patriots, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.The 43-year-old underwent surgery to repair the MCL shortly after winning his seventh career Super Bowl in February. He's since declined to go into specifics about the injury, only saying he knew all of last year surgery would be required, and that it was "pretty serious."Brady produced one of his best statistical campaigns in 2020 despite the knee issue. The veteran's 40 touchdown passes were the second-most of his career, while his 4,633 passing yards ranked third in the NFL.The signal-caller didn't participate in the Buccaneers' voluntary offseason program, instead opting to work out with teammates privately before returning for mandatory minicamp in June.Brady signed a one-year extension with Tampa Bay in March after inking a two-year, $50-million contract as a free agent last offseason.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Six players will be playing under the NFL's franchise tag in 2021 after the deadline for them to ink multi-year deals passed Thursday.Each team had until March 9 to assign the franchise tag to one pending free agent and until July 15 to negotiate an extension. The Carolina Panthers and offensive tackle Taylor Moton agreed to a reported four-year, $72-million contract before the deadline.2021 franchise-tagged playersPlayerTeam2021 salaryBrandon ScherffWashington$18.04MAllen RobinsonBears$17.88MChris GodwinBuccaneers$15.98MCam RobinsonJaguars$13.75MMarcus WilliamsSaints$10.61MMarcus MayeJets$10.61MThe franchise tag results in a guaranteed one-year contract worth no less than the average of the top-five salaries at a player's position. Brandon Scherff received the tag for the second straight year, so he'll make 120% of his previous salary.The New York Giants and Denver Broncos also used the franchise tag, but they signed Leonard Williams and Justin Simmons, respectively, to extensions long before the deadline.Players aren't required to sign their franchise-tag contract, but they can't join the active roster until inking the deal. Since they're not under contract before agreeing to the pact, a player can stay away from his club without facing fines or any other form of discipline.Training camps get underway across the league in late July.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Panthers and right tackle Taylor Moton have agreed on a multi-year extension, the club announced Thursday.The deal is for four years and worth $72 million, including $43 million guaranteed, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Moton's extension works out to an average annual value of $18 million, making him the NFL's sixth highest-paid offensive tackle.

Following a disappointing first season with the New England Patriots, and with a rookie quarterback on his heels, Cam Newton knows the 2021 campaign will be a crucial one."I know who I am," Newton told ESPN Radio's Keyshawn, JWill, & Zubin show, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss. "At times, I do remind myself people forget who you are and what you've done. So, now I'm in a position where I need to be my best self. It's really put-up or shut-up time."Questions arose in April regarding Newton's role after the Patriots drafted Alabama signal-caller Mac Jones in the first round. The former MVP is set to be the team's starter, but Bill Belichick previously said Jones could challenge Newton when he's ready.Newton was benched mid-game multiple times during 2020 and missed time due to COVID-19. He finished the season with eight passing touchdowns and 10 interceptions but was re-signed to a one-year deal."For me, the Patriots organization has been impeccable. ... My time there has been everything I could have asked for," Newton said. "I guess it's now time for me to uphold my end of the bargain, through and through."Newton has been praised by New England's staff this offseason, with both Belichick and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels pointing out his progress from a year ago.But despite his preparation and confidence, Newton knows only his results will matter."Me having this conversation in July is irrelevant. ... We play in a sport that is strictly based off the final product," Newton said. "And the final product is on game days. With that being said, it's just going to come down to winning and losing."Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dwayne Haskins' wife is being charged with domestic battery for allegedly punching the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback during an incident in Las Vegas on July 3, according to a police report obtained by Greg Haas and Carolyn Williams of 8 News Now.Haskins' injuries - including a split upper lip and missing upper tooth - were "substantial in nature," according to ESPN's Brooke Pryor.Las Vegas police reportedly found blood and a piece of Haskins' tooth when searching his hotel room. The quarterback went to the hospital for his injuries.The dispute stemmed from an apparent disagreement over plans for a social outing. Haskins and his friends didn't wait for his wife and others before going to a nightclub, Haas and Williams report.Kalabrya Gondrezick-Haskins said she and Dwayne were in Las Vegas to renew their wedding vows. She faces a felony charge of battery and domestic violence resulting in bodily harm.The Steelers signed Haskins this offseason.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Free-agent cornerback Richard Sherman was booked on a burglary domestic violence charge Wednesday morning in Seattle, King County Correctional Facility records show.Redmond Police Chief Darrell Lowe said Sherman tried to force his way into his in-laws' residence, according to The Athletic's Matt Barrows. The case is classified as domestic violence because of the relationship of the parties involved, even though no family members were harmed, police said.The case is being investigated as a felony, according to USA Today's Scooby Axson. Sherman, 33, was denied bail, though suspects in domestic violence cases typically aren't released until they appear before a judge.Sherman also faces a malicious mischief charge for the damage he caused to the door of the residence, Lowe said."At this time we're going to make no statements, except he didn't harm anybody," Sherman's wife, Ashley Moss, told The Seattle Times' Bob Condotta. "My kids were not harmed in the incident. He's a good person and this is not his character. We're doing all right, just trying to get him out. I want people to know no one was injured."Police said they responded to a 911 call around 1:49 a.m. PT from someone complaining that an adult family member who didn't live at the residence was forcibly trying to enter the home.Sherman allegedly fought with police when they arrived, and he suffered minor injuries. He was eventually apprehended, taken to the hospital, and then booked into the correctional facility, according to police.Meanwhile, Washington State Police are recommending DUI and hit-and-run misdemeanor charges against Sherman after investigating a single-car incident that preceded the burglary domestic violence arrest, a spokesperson told Barrows.Sherman's vehicle sustained significant damage on the driver's side door after crashing in a highway construction zone, Washington State Patrol captain Ron Mead said. Mead noted that one of the tires was nearly separate from the vehicle.State officials wound up at the same home where local enforcement apprehended Sherman after screening the license plates on an abandoned vehicle near the crash site, according to Barrows.The NFL Players Association addressed the domestic violence charge through a statement, but the union didn't mention Sherman - a vice president of its executive committee - by name."We were made aware of an arrest last night of one of our player leaders for an alleged domestic violence incident and have activated our domestic violence crisis protocol for the protection and support of everyone involved," the statement read. "We will continue to monitor events closely as more facts are made available to us."Sherman became a free agent in March after completing a three-year, $39-million contract with the San Francisco 49ers. He spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Seattle Seahawks, and the veteran won a Super Bowl while anchoring the "Legion of Boom."Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Several teams "in win-now mode" are considering making a move for Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard, who is unhappy with his contract, reports NFL Network's Mike Silver.The 2020 All-Pro signed a five-year, $75.25-million deal in 2019. But then Howard watched the Dolphins sign Byron Jones to a five-year, $82.5-million contract prior to last season.On the field, the two were worlds apart: Howard led the league with 10 interceptions, while Jones grabbed two picks and allowed five touchdowns and a 60% completion percentage while in coverage.Howard wants a new deal more in line with his performance, reports Silver, who adds that the Dolphins are unlikely to restructure Howard's contract.It will likely take a first-round pick and the promise of a richer deal to land the 28-year-old via trade, Silver adds.The former second-round pick has reached two Pro Bowls in his five seasons in Miami. He's recorded 22 career interceptions.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We've covered the Cowboys and Eagles, two NFC East teams I believe will fall short of their 2021 win totals.Now we move on to the Giants, one of the league's most stagnant franchises. Can they improve? Or will New York register yet another double-digit losing season?Here's our breakdown and pick for the G-Men.Giants 2021 win totalOver: 7 (-140)

New York Giants star Saquon Barkley is planning to have 100% of his future endorsements paid through Bitcoin.Barkley, 24, told "The Best Business Show with Anthony Pompliano" on Wednesday that he's hoping to create generational wealth, something he believes isn't possible solely through playing as a running back."You see the KDs, the Lebrons, the Bradys of the world, you want to create generational wealth," Barkley said. "You can't do that just off of (your salary alone), especially in the sport that I play and the position that I play."Coming off of injury, that's kind of the stuff that makes more sense. When you sit out of football for a whole year, you realize that this game could be taken away from you."Barkley missed all but two contests in 2020 after suffering a torn ACL. He's currently on a four-year, $31.1-million deal, though the Giants picked up his $7.2-million fifth-year option in April, according to Spotrac.Barkley remains mum on his status ahead of the 2021 campaign, as he wouldn't guarantee his return for New York's Sept. 12 season opener.The 2018 Offensive Rookie of the Year has tallied 3,563 scrimmage yards and 23 total touchdowns during his career.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 delivers some of his bold predictions for the upcoming fantasy season.Akers takes the fantasy RB crown Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images Sport / GettyIt took Cam Akers time to establish himself in the Rams' backfield as a 21-year-old rookie. But he eventually secured the starting role and posted 23.8 touches per contest over his final six games, including the playoffs. More importantly, he delivered on that volume by averaging 118 yards from scrimmage per contest during that stretch, as well as three total touchdowns. Remember, before Todd Gurley fell off a cliff, Sean McVay helped his former bell cow finish as the top-scoring fantasy back league-wide in 2017 and 2018. With Matthew Stafford set to lift this offense's ceiling, Akers will see plenty of positive game scripts as he dominates in 2021.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are not expected to reach a long-term contract extension with offensive tackle Cam Robinson, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Robinson will play on a one-year, $13.7-million franchise tag in 2021.It's unlikely an agreement will be reached ahead of the July 15th deadline for franchise-tagged players.The 25-year-old has started 47 contests over the span of four seasons in Jacksonville. Robinson will be tasked with protecting rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence this fall.Robinson joins a growling list of players that includes Washington Football Team's Brandon Scherff, the New York Jets' Marcus Maye, and the Chicago Bears' Allen Robinson who are set to become free agents in 2022.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tennessee Titans will induct former head coaches Jeff Fisher and Bum Phillips, as well as ex-general manager Floyd Reese, into their Ring of Honor in 2021.The trio will become the 15th, 16th, and 17th members of the Titans' Ring of Honor, which celebrates the most iconic figures in franchise history."I am so excited to recognize these important figures in our team's history," Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk said in an announcement. "Each had a significant hand in the success of their eras. Bum was Texas through and through and led us to new heights as the 'Luv Ya Blue' era was born, reaching two AFC Championship Games."Jeff won more games than any coach in franchise history while also leading our football team through some difficult years as we moved to Tennessee, playing in four different home stadiums over a four-year period. His ability to connect with our players and our fans was unmatched, and he too reached two AFC Championship Games and helped take us to our only Super Bowl."Adams Strunk continued: "Floyd was a great position coach for us during our run of success during the Run 'n Shoot years and then transitioned to the front office, where he found even greater success."He had a great ability to find talent and take 'chances' to find sustained success - hiring a first-time head coach in Jeff Fisher; selecting a Division I-AA quarterback, Steve McNair, in the top five of the draft; converting a first-round linebacker, Jevon Kearse, to defensive end; claiming a little-used tight end, Frank Wycheck, from Washington; and trading down, then up, to grab a Heisman-trophy-winning running back, Eddie George."Of the three inductees, Fisher contributed to the Titans most recently. He began coaching the club in 1995 when the franchise was based in Houston and lasted until the end of the 2010 season. He went 142-120 in Tennessee, earning six playoff berths.Phillips served as head coach of the franchise from 1975-80, going 55-35 while making the playoffs three times. The father of longtime NFL coach Wade Phillips died in 2013 at the age of 90.Reese began his executive career with the franchise in 1990 and served as GM from 1994-2006. He drafted an eventual co-MVP in McNair and three Rookie of the Year winners in George, Kearse, and Vince Young.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brandon Scherff isn't expected to strike an extension with the Washington Football Team, leaving him to play on the franchise tag for the second straight year, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The 29-year-old right guard would make $18 million on the 2021 tag before potentially reaching free agency for the first time in his career in 2022.Tagged players have until Thursday to sign long-term deals.Scherff, who earned his first All-Pro selection last year, is coming off arguably his best NFL season. The 2015 fifth overall pick out of Iowa also earned his fourth Pro Bowl nod in 2020.Scherff could have greater responsibility on Washington's offensive line in 2021 with longtime right tackle Morgan Moses no longer on the roster.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Eagles haven't advanced past the wild-card round since being crowned Super Bowl champions during the 2017 season. Coming off a dismal year, Philadelphia's hoping turnover in the coaching staff can get the franchise back into contention.With expectations lower than usual, will the Eagles take flight in 2021, or wallow in the basement of the NFC East?Eagles 2021 win totalOver: 6.5 (-140)

Former NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Al Baker is finally getting his due, and he's overjoyed with the development.Pro Football Reference recently updated its site to include sack stats dating back to 1960. Sacks weren't an official stat until 1982.As a result of the update and research involved, Baker now holds the unofficial record for single-season sacks after collecting 23 while with the Detroit Lions in 1978, his rookie campaign. New York Giants legend Michael Strahan set the official record with his 22.5 sacks in 2001."For some reason, and I'm not kidding you, without any prompting, tears just started running down my eyes," Baker said of his reaction to the new unofficial record on the "Around The NFL" podcast, according to NFL.com's Grant Gordon."You know, somebody tells you you're a sack leader and what do you do, you start crying," he continued. "And I guess it's because none of us really sat around like some players and, 'We want this and we want that.' We hadn't thought about it for at least, for at least, I'm not kidding you, 20 years."While the single-season sack leader has unofficially changed, there was no such movement atop the career sack leaderboard.Buffalo Bills Hall of Famer Bruce Smith still owns the most career sacks with 200, while Reggie White is second on the list (198). Unofficially, Deacon Jones vaults Kevin Greene for third. The Los Angeles Rams legend now sits at an unofficial 173.5 sacks, with Greene behind him at 160.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Patrick Mahomes cleared the air regarding his playful jab at division rival Justin Herbert.

Carolina Panthers offensive tackle Taylor Moton is prepared to play on the franchise tag next season, sources told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.While the Panthers would like to ink the 26-year-old to an extension, there appears to be "a gap to bridge" before the parties can reach a long-term deal, Fowler adds.Moton is set to earn $13.7 million after signing the one-year agreement with Carolina in March. The two sides have until July 15 to sign an extension ahead of the deadline for franchise-tagged players.Carolina drafted the Western Michigan product in the second round in 2017. Moton has made 48 starts out of a possible 64 through four seasons. The right tackle has started every game for the Panthers since 2018.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Franchise-tagged safety Marcus Maye withdrew his contract proposal to the New York Jets after failing to hear back from the team, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Maye and the Jets aren't expected to strike an extension by the July 15 deadline.Publicly, the Jets have said they are "relentlessly" trying to sign Maye long term. However, negotiations have reportedly been trending in the wrong direction for weeks.Maye is in line to earn $10.6 million on the franchise tag. The Jets offered him a deal worth about 20% less per year, which is significantly less than other clubs were prepared to give him in free agency, a source told Rapoport.Maye posted a career-high 88 tackles to go with two interceptions, two forced fumbles, and two sacks last year. He was one of the few standouts New York had on either side of the ball.The Jets were involved in a similar saga with another safety last year, as Jamal Adams allegedly waited six months to receive an extension proposal before he requested a trade. New York wound up dealing the former All-Pro defender to the Seattle Seahawks.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Peyton Manning wants to see Aaron Rodgers playing in the NFL this season, but the retired quarterback doesn't believe his former team, the Denver Broncos, is a likely destination for the Green Bay Packers star despite months of speculation."Obviously, I hope he plays somewhere this year," Manning said Monday on MLB Network ahead of the 2021 Home Run Derby at Denver's Coors Field, according to NFL.com's Nick Shook. "The fact that Aaron Rodgers might not play this year, I can't fathom it. He's too good of a player. Too fun to watch for the fans."Manning continued: "My gut is he's not coming to Denver. My gut is Denver's gonna have Drew Lock or Teddy Bridgewater be their quarterback. At this point, you gotta kinda know what your plan is, you can't be having a new quarterback three weeks before the season."Manning also said he hopes Rodgers will remain in Green Bay.The Broncos have been rumored as one of the potential top suitors for Rodgers if he were to become available. A report of the quarterback's discontent with the Packers surfaced just prior to the start of the 2021 NFL Draft in late April.Manning joined Denver as a free agent in 2012. He captured his second career Super Bowl title, set the single-season record for touchdown passes, and won 50 regular-season games across four campaigns with the AFC West club.The Broncos haven't made the playoffs since Manning retired, producing an overall record of 32-48.Lock initially appeared to be the answer under center after the team endured a revolving cast of underwhelming options at the position, but the young signal-caller has failed to cement his place as Denver's franchise player.The Broncos traded for Bridgewater this offseason and will have a competition for the starting quarterback job in training camp.Green Bay, meanwhile, has been adamant that it won't part ways with Rodgers, who skipped the team's offseason program and mandatory minicamp amid tensions with the front office.The reigning MVP said Saturday he hopes to "figure things out in a couple weeks" when asked about his plans for 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.Given the rate at which injuries strike the running back position, knowing who's next in line for carries is critical for fantasy owners.Not all backup rushers are created equal, and though the league-winning potential of players like Kareem Hunt and Tony Pollard may appear obvious, many second-string ball carriers aren't getting the respect they deserve in fantasy drafts.Here's how we're ranking the top reserve tailbacks, broken down into tiers:More than a backupRkBackupTeam1Kareem HuntCLE

Once the NFL's cream of the crop, the Patriots took a turn for the worse last season. Can head coach Bill Belichick get his team back on track this fall following its worst finish since the turn of the century?Here's New England's win total for the upcoming campaign along with which way we're leaning.Patriots' 2021 win totalOver: 9 (-125)

Philadelphia Eagles receiver DeVonta Smith and quarterback Jalen Hurts are ready to pick up where they left off.The former Alabama stars were reunited when the Eagles selected Smith with the No. 10 overall pick in this year's draft, and the wideout said the return of his chemistry with Hurts has been instantaneous."It's great to have that connection come back," said Smith, according to John Clark of NBCSPhilly. "It just feels like old times. Like back in college."Smith is set to be Philadelphia's top receiving weapon this season after becoming the first pass-catcher to win the Heisman Trophy in 29 years during his final campaign at Alabama.The 22-year-old racked up 117 catches for 1,856 yards and 23 touchdowns in 13 games. Smith's yardage total was the sixth-most in college football history, while his touchdown total ranked fifth all-time.When asked if he was "ready to be the guy" for the Eagles, Smith confidently replied, "That's the plan."Philadelphia's wide receiver group was one of the worst in the NFL last season. Travis Fulgham led the unit with 539 yards, while Greg Ward had a team-high six touchdown receptions.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Football Team has scratched off Warriors as a potential new team name.Team president Jason Wright said in a statement Monday the club plans to move forward "with no ties to Native American imagery" after engaging with Native American leaders and individuals."I want to address a name that has emerged amongst our fanbase: 'Warriors.' One might look at this name as a natural and even harmless transition considering that it does not necessarily or specifically carry a negative connotation," Wright wrote. "But as we learned through our research and engagement with various groups, 'context matters,' and that makes it a 'slippery slope.'"Wright added: "Feedback from across communities we engaged clearly revealed deep-seated discomfort around 'Warriors,' with the clear acknowledgment that it too closely aligns with Native American themes."Such an embrace of potentially Native-adjacent iconography and imagery would not represent a clear departure that many communities have so forcefully advocated for us to embrace, and that, frankly, we set out to do when we started this process a year ago."Washington asked season-ticket holders for input on Warriors, as well as other possible names, earlier this year. Rubies, Pilots, Wild Hogs, and Aces were also among the options.Washington plans to unveil a new team name and logo in early 2022.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Denver Broncos star Von Miller is nowhere near ready to retire despite creeping up in age."I've got a son," the sack artist told Mike Klis of 9News. "He'll be here in about three or four weeks. I definitely want him to be able to see me play. That's going to take about five-to-seven years."That's what I have on my heart, that's what I have on my mind, another five-to-seven years. Whatever God will give me, I'm going to take it."The 32-year-old missed the 2020 season after dislocating an ankle tendon during training camp. He notched eight sacks in 2019, his lowest output in a full season (Miller registered five sacks over nine outings in 2013).The Broncos could have released Miller before the new league year in March, but they picked up his $17.5-million tab for the 2021 campaign. He could now become a free agent in 2022 after spending his entire career in Denver."Last year I got caught up in, not stressed out, but I felt the tension of being 31 and I wanted to prove to you guys I'm this, I'm that," Miller said. "I know I have a lot of good football left."My emphasis this year is just to be with the guys. If you remember last year, I was tense - I've got to go out there and show these guys. Now, I feel like I don't have to play that type of game, especially for myself mentally. I just want to go out here and be the best Von that I can possibly be on and off the ball field."Miller sits atop the Broncos' all-time leaderboard with 106 career sacks. The eight-time Pro Bowl edge rusher won Super Bowl 50 with Denver, taking home game MVP honors after a 2.5-sack performance versus the Carolina Panthers.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tyreek Hill is using last season's 31-9 Super Bowl defeat to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as motivation to return to the big game."I've been grinding my tail off ever since that loss," the Kansas City Chiefs star told TMZ Sports.Hill added he believes Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, among other teammates, want to bounce back after being "embarrassed on national TV.""We definitely don't want to go down that route again," Hill said. "We'll be back."During Super Bowl LV, the Chiefs failed to score a touchdown for the first time since Mahomes became a starter. Tampa Bay also held Hill to 73 receiving yards, and Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. taunted him with a peace sign, which Hill often uses when scoring a touchdown.Kansas City will enter the 2021 season in search of its third consecutive Super Bowl appearance.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Aaron Rodgers offered a rough timeline Saturday for when he'll have a plan in place for the 2021 season, which may or may not include the Green Bay Packers."I'm going to enjoy the hell out of this week, and then I'm going to get back to working out and figure things out in a couple weeks," he said at the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship Tournament.Rodgers has been coy about his status with the Packers throughout the offseason amid tensions with the front office. He said Tuesday while playing in "The Match" with Tom Brady, Phil Mickelson, and Bryson DeChambeau that he wasn't sure where he'll be in Week 1.He's spent his entire 16-year career in Green Bay, winning three NFL MVP awards and one Super Bowl. The 37-year-old led the Packers to the NFC Championship Game the last two seasons.Green Bay is scheduled to open training camp on July 28.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott had the seventh-shortest odds to win the MVP last year. After sustaining a season-ending injury just five weeks into the season, he's expected to rally back for the Comeback Player of the Year award.However, there's plenty of value elsewhere in the current field. Here, we'll discuss a couple of players to either fade or bet.2021 Comeback Player of the Year oddsPlayer OddsDak Prescott (DAL)+170Saquon Barkley (NYG)+550Christian McCaffrey (CAR)+600Joe Burrow (CIN)+600Nick Bosa (SF)+800Carson Wentz (PHI)+900Derwin James (LAC)+1500Sam Darnold (CAR)+1500Von Miller (DEN)+1500Julio Jones (TEN)+1800Field - All Others Not Listed+2000Jameis Winston (NO)+2000Jimmy Garoppolo (SF)+2000Joe Mixon (CIN)+2200Odell Beckham Jr. (CLE)+2500Tim Tebow (JAX)+3000Danielle Hunter (MIN)+4000Damien Williams (CHI)+9000C.J. Mosley (NYJ)+10000Dont'a Hightower (NE)+11000BetJoe Burrow (+600)Burrow looked every bit the part of a franchise quarterback before going down with a knee injury in Week 11.Although the Bengals went just 2-7-1 in Burrow's 10 starts, he finished with 2,688 passing yards and 16 total touchdowns. Through his first eight games, he completed an NFL-record 221 passes.The Bengals set a low bar by going 4-11-1 overall last season. The team added three key pieces to the offensive line and has a budding receiving corps featuring Burrow's college teammate and first-round pick, Ja'Marr Chase.Burrow's on track to start this year's opener, and a couple more wins onto the ledger would certainly help his case.Derwin James (+1500)It seems like forever ago James was named to the Pro Bowl and perceived as a fringe top-30 player in the league. However, he's been sidetracked by injuries, seeing only five games in 2019 and zero a year ago.If he can play anywhere near the level he did in Year 1, he's a great value pick.New head coach Brandon Staley's a defensive wizard, fresh off leading the Rams to the No. 1 rank in yards per play. James can do a little bit of everything - he had 105 tackles, 13 pass deflections, and three picks in his only full season - which puts him in a prime position to stand out on one of the league's top units.Fade Tim Tebow (+3000)One price I wouldn't touch with a 10-foot pole is Tebow at +3000, which implies roughly a 3.2% probability he takes home the hardware.Those are some bullish odds on a player who might not make the roster.Although he's dominated headlines over the offseason, Tebow is 33, hasn't played since 2012, and is learning a new position at tight end. Suiting up Week 1 is a tall enough task for the former Florida QB let alone being semi-productive over a 17-game season.Tebow could potentially find a new home elsewhere in the scenario he gets cut. But failing to land on a Jaguars roster that won just one game in 2020 would be a pretty clear signal to the rest of the league.Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. Find him on Twitter @AjKolodziej.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Orleans Saints are entering a new era following Drew Brees' retirement this offseason.Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill currently highlight New Orleans' quarterback depth chart, and although head coach Sean Payton has yet to name a starter, he knows whoever steps up under center will need to handle the pressure of succeeding one of the greatest signal-callers ever."There's a little bit of a standard, and it's kind of high," Payton said Friday on "NFL Total Access."He added, "I think both of the players we've talked about have had the benefit of training, being in meeting rooms with (Brees), and seeing the daily grind, and I think we go from there. Obviously, there's a high bar for our team. ... I think both of those guys will rise to the challenge. They both understand the importance of the reps that we're going to have in this upcoming training camp."Hill was Brees' backup last season, appearing in eight contests (four starts). He tossed 928 yards and four touchdowns against two interceptions in those games and posted a 3-1 record as a starter.Winston, who started for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2015-19, attempted just 11 passes during four brief appearances in his first season with New Orleans in 2020.The Saints re-signed Winston to a one-year deal and handed Hill a one-year extension this offseason. The club also drafted Ian Book out of Notre Dame in the fourth round.New Orleans is set to report for training camp in the last week of July.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs pass-rusher Frank Clark has been charged with possession of an assault weapon and could face up to three years in prison, TMZ Sports reports.The L.A. County District Attorney's office confirmed the charge to NFL.com.The two-time Pro Bowler was arrested in California in March after two loaded guns were found in his vehicle during a traffic stop, and he was arrested again in June after police found an Uzi submachine gun in his car during another routine stop. The charge stems from the incident in March.Clark will return to court on July 14 for a hearing. He's scheduled to appear in court again on Oct. 18 for the June arrest.The 28-year-old was a key cog of the Chiefs' Super Bowl-winning team in 2019 and picked up another six sacks in Kansas City's trip back to the championship game last season. Clark has 49 career sacks in six seasons, split between the Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks.Clark will likely face league discipline for the off-field incident.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL community awaits word on whether legendary receiver Larry Fitzgerald will retire or return for his 18th season.That wait will continue as the Arizona Cardinals star remains undecided."I haven't decided on anything. I'm just sitting here playing golf and having a good time," Fitzgerald said Friday on ESPN's "The Jump.""Training camp starts in a few weeks, and I'm excited, it's going to be another great season for the NFL."The 37-year-old has spent his entire NFL tenure with the Cardinals, but his usage dropped last campaign. Fitzgerald recorded the fewest single-season targets (72), receptions (54), yards (409), and touchdowns (one) in his career over 13 games in 2020.Arizona signed fellow veteran wideout A.J. Green in the offseason, but the club hasn't ruled out bringing Fitzgerald back.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are returning all their starters after winning Super Bowl LV last season, but head coach Bruce Arians still thinks his players have a lot to prove ahead of the 2021 campaign."I'm going to have to be harder. Make sure that we stay the hunter, not the hunted," Arians recently said. "We've relaxed a lot over this spring, teams are getting ahead of us right now, but I think we can catch up quickly."In training camp, we know what it takes to come to work every day. I think our players know the level of competition at practice every day. I don't think I'm going to say much about it, except we're nowhere near where we were last year. Just knocking them down to pay and making sure this team doesn't think they are last year's team. Because last year's team won the Super Bowl. This team hasn't done crap."The Buccaneers were one of the league's busiest teams this offseason. Tampa Bay was able to keep all its key pending free agents, including linebackers Lavonte David and Shaquil Barrett, tight end Rob Gronkowski, running back Leonard Fournette, and wide receivers Antonio Brown and Chris Godwin.The organization also extended superstar quarterback Tom Brady for another year and added backfield depth with running back Giovani Bernard's signing.Brady led the Bucs to their first playoff appearance since 2007 in his first year with the squad, en route to winning the franchise's second Super Bowl.The Brady-led New England Patriots were the last NFL team to win back-to-back titles in 2003 and 2004.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

You never really know what you're going to get with the 49ers.A franchise that's been to the Super Bowl twice over the last decade is also tied for the fewest winning seasons (4) in the NFL since 2003. Naturally, San Francisco followed up a trip to the title game with a six-win campaign a season ago.What should bettors expect this fall? Let's profile the 49ers and see which way we're leaning.2021 49ers win totalOver: 10.5 (+110)

Two star receivers appear set to play on the franchise tag this season.Chicago Bears wideout Allen Robinson and Tampa Bay Buccaneers wideout Chris Godwin aren't expected to sign long-term contract extensions before the July 15 deadline, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports.The Bears and Robinson have had "no substantive talks" in months, added Pelissero.Both players have signed their one-year tenders and are expected to report to training camp. Robinson is due $17.98 million on the franchise tag, while Godwin will earn $15.99 million.Robinson has been the focal point of Chicago's offense over the last two years. He has back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns and notched 1,250 yards and six touchdowns in 2020.Though Robinson was vocal about his desire to avoid the franchise tag, Pelissero notes the 27-year-old is confident he can cash in next offseason. The pass-catcher will be working with two new quarterbacks in Andy Dalton and rookie Justin Fields.Godwin, meanwhile, is coming off another strong season for the Buccaneers. The 25-year-old's receiving yards dropped from 1,333 in 2019 to 840 after he missed four games due to injury, but he racked up 232 yards during Tampa Bay's Super Bowl run.The Buccaneers managed to retain their entire championship core this offseason. In addition to tagging Godwin, the team re-signed linebacker Lavonte David, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, and tight end Rob Gronkowski, among others.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Stephon Gilmore opted not to attend the New England Patriots' mandatory minicamp last month, and the star cornerback explained Friday what's behind his dissatisfaction with his current contract."I just want what I'm worth, however that plays out," Gilmore told NFL reporter Josina Anderson. "Every player should be paid what they're worth. That's just how it is."He added, "Hopefully, we can find some common ground and get it situated. I just know what I bring to the table and my style of play. Right now, I'm just trying to focus on myself and make sure I'm good mentally and physically."Gilmore has one year left on the five-year, $65-million contract he inked with the Patriots in 2017. His average annual salary of $13 million currently ranks 12th among cornerbacks, according to Spotrac.The former first-round pick became one of the NFL's premier defenders after his arrival in New England, winning the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2019. The two-time All-Pro, who's now earned three straight Pro Bowl berths, also helped the Patriots win Super Bowl LIII.However, Gilmore is coming off arguably his worst campaign with the Patriots after racking up 37 tackles, one interception, and three pass breakups through 11 appearances in 2020. The 30-year-old battled a knee ailment during the regular season and underwent quad surgery in the offseason."I feel stronger than I've ever felt since the surgery," he said of his recovery. "I've been running a lot, building full speed." Gilmore added he's still unsure if he'll be fully ready for training camp, adding he doesn't want to "push it."The Patriots are set to report for training camp in the last week of July.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 staff took part in a 10-team, 12-round mock to offer some insight on what to watch for in each round.This is a PPR (point per reception) scoring league with the following roster spots: QB, RB, RB, WR, WR, WR, TE, FLEX, BN, BN, BN, BN. We omitted defenders and kickers, as they normally get selected in the final two rounds.Draft participants: Justin Boone, Gino Bottero, Caitlyn Holroyd, Jack Browne, Daniel Valente, Matt Washington, Caio Miari, Alex Moretto, Taylor Rohaly, Ian Dalley.Round 1PickPlayerTeam1Christian McCaffrey (RB1)Boone2Alvin Kamara (RB2)Bottero3Dalvin Cook (RB3)Holroyd4Derrick Henry (RB4)Browne5Antonio Gibson (RB5)Valente6Ezekiel Elliott (RB6)Washington7Saquon Barkley (RB7)Miari8Jonathan Taylor (RB8)Moretto9Aaron Jones (RB9)Rohaly10Nick Chubb (RB10)DalleyRound 1: The first round wasn't just dominated by running backs - it was completely consumed by them. All 10 picks went to the position, as managers scrambled to get an RB1 before the well ran dry in the early rounds. While you can nitpick the order they came off the board, every player in this round has top-five upside. The only back inside my top 10 that didn't appear here is Cam Akers.Round 2PickPlayerTeam11Tyreek Hill (WR1)Dalley12DeAndre Hopkins (WR2)Rohaly13Travis Kelce (TE1)Moretto14Austin Ekeler (RB11)Miari15Stefon Diggs (WR3)Washington16Najee Harris (RB12)Valente17Calvin Ridley (WR4)Browne18Davante Adams (WR5)Holroyd19Joe Mixon (RB13)Bottero20Cam Akers (RB14)BooneRound 2: Anyone questioning whether a tight end deserves to be selected this early needs to remember Travis Kelce was a cheat code in fantasy last season. In addition to finishing as the No. 1 tight end for the fifth straight year, Kelce averaged nearly 10 points per game more than the TE3. His 20.9 points per game would have made him the WR3 in 2020.After being surprised Akers wasn't one of the running backs taken in the opening round, I was ecstatic to see him fall to me at the end of the second. The Rams continue to talk about the former second-rounder as an every-down option, which is a rare commodity these days. And that's exactly how they deployed him over the final month - he saw at least 22 touches in three of his last four outings.Round 3PickPlayerTeam21Darren Waller (TE2)Boone22DK Metcalf (WR6)Bottero23Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB15)Holroyd24Justin Jefferson (WR7)Browne25A.J. Brown (WR8)Valente26J.K. Dobbins (RB16)Washington27Keenan Allen (WR9)Miari28Terry McLaurin (WR10)Moretto29George Kittle (TE3)Rohaly30David Montgomery (RB17)DalleyRound 3: Darren Waller was the only tight end who came anywhere near Kelce's production last season and he warrants consideration as a third-round pick (maybe even second) this year. Waller also averaged top-10 WR numbers for fantasy, and as the unchallenged top receiving weapon in the Raiders' offense, the 28-year-old is headed for another monster campaign. He gets the slight nod over George Kittle, who's dealing with target competition, injury history, and a potential run-heavy offense once rookie quarterback Trey Lance gets under center. Regardless, investing in one of the elite tight ends is something I'm trying to do in as many drafts as possible this season.Round 4PickPlayerTeam31Michael Thomas (WR11)Dalley32Chris Carson (RB18)Rohaly33D'Andre Swift (RB19)Moretto34Robert Woods (WR12)Miari35Allen Robinson (WR13)Washington36CeeDee Lamb (WR14)Valente37Amari Cooper (WR15)Browne38Mike Evans (WR16)Holroyd39Julio Jones (WR17)Bottero40D.J. Moore (WR18)BooneRound 4: With two strong running backs and a difference-making tight end already on the roster, my focus shifted to backfilling at receiver. Fortunately, there's plenty of talent left in Round 4 and beyond - when the other two positions fall off a cliff. D.J. Moore is a 24-year-old wideout who's accumulated 153 receptions, 2,368 yards, and eight touchdowns over the last two seasons while playing with average passers. Even if Sam Darnold doesn't pan out in Carolina, Moore will be fine.Round 5PickPlayerTeam41Ja'Marr Chase (WR19)Boone42Miles Sanders (RB20)Bottero43Chris Godwin (WR20)Holroyd44Patrick Mahomes (QB1)Browne45Cooper Kupp (WR21)Valente46Kyle Pitts (TE4)Washington47Tyler Lockett (WR22)Miari48Adam Thielen (WR23)Moretto49Tee Higgins (WR24)Rohaly50Odell Beckham (WR25)DalleyRound 5: This is your annual reminder to wait on a quarterback. With so many quality options available, there's no value in taking Patrick Mahomes before the fifth round in a 10-team league.Kyle Pitts will be one of the most intriguing players in fantasy this season. Though rookie tight ends rarely deliver in their debut season, the 20-year-old is the best prospect we've ever seen at the position and will be asked to help fill the void left by Julio Jones in Atlanta. He's a risky pick in redraft leagues, with a massive ceiling that could put him in the elite fantasy tight end conversation but a low floor that could leave us looking foolish for passing on other talents in this range at running back and receiver. Even so, I'm in on Pitts breaking the mold as a top-five tight end right out of the gate.Round 6PickPlayerTeam51Josh Allen (QB2)Dalley52Josh Jacobs (RB21)Rohaly53Brandon Aiyuk (WR26)Moretto54Lamar Jackson (QB3)Miari55Javonte Williams (RB22)Washington56Dak Prescott (QB4)Valente57Mike Davis (RB23)Browne58Diontae Johnson (WR27)Holroyd59Chase Claypool (WR28)Bottero60Kenny Golladay (WR29)BooneRound 6: Over the last three rounds, my receiving corps had come together with Moore, Ja'Marr Chase, and now Kenny Golladay. Like Pitts, Chase is a special prospect with the potential to make an immediate impact on fantasy lineups. Paired with his college quarterback Joe Burrow, he's a high-upside WR2 as a rookie. Meanwhile, Golladay joins a Giants offense in need of a strong No. 1 option on the outside. Target competition could lower his ceiling, but he's just one season removed from back-to-back 1,000-yard efforts with the Lions - including a 65-catch, 1,190-yard, 11-touchdown campaign in 2019.Round 7PickPlayerTeam61Travis Etienne (RB24)Boone62Mark Andrews (TE5)Bottero63Myles Gaskin (RB25)Holroyd64Kareem Hunt (RB26)Browne65Jerry Jeudy (WR30)Valente66Robby Anderson (WR31)Washington67Deebo Samuel (WR32)Miari68Kyler Murray (QB5)Moretto69Courtland Sutton (WR33)Rohaly70Tyler Boyd (WR34)DalleyRound 7: Concerns about Travis Etienne's usage have pushed his redraft ADP down in recent weeks, but I'm willing to take my chances on a home run hitting, first-round ball carrier carving out a big role in the Jaguars' attack. Urban Meyer's insistence on having Etienne spend time practicing with the receiving corps will only increase his value in PPR formats.You could make a pretty good argument for any of Josh Allen, Kyler Murray, Dak Prescott, or Lamar Jackson being the second-best fantasy quarterback this year. Waiting and taking whoever falls is a smart move.Round 8PickPlayerTeam71Dallas Goedert (TE6)Dalley72Joe Burrow (QB6)Rohaly73Raheem Mostert (RB27)Moretto74T.J. Hockenson (TE7)Miari75Russell Wilson (QB7)Washington76Curtis Samuel (WR35)Valente77JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR36)Browne78Noah Fant (TE8)Holroyd79D.J. Chark (WR37)Bottero80Laviska Shenault (WR38)BooneRound 8: We don't have a clear picture of what the new offense in Jacksonville will look like under Meyer and offensive coordinator Darrel Bevell. That makes it hard to project D.J. Chark and Laviska Shenault. Both could emerge as stars if Trevor Lawrence delivers on the hype, but deciding which one will lead this receiving corps isn't as simple. Chark has a 1,000-yard season on his NFL resume already, while Shenault is a breakout candidate who flashed as a rookie and wowed beat writers during recent OTA practices. They're both excellent upside picks in this area of the draft.Round 9PickPlayerTeam81DeVonta Smith (WR39)Boone82Michael Gallup (WR40)Bottero83Justin Herbert (QB8)Holroyd84Will Fuller (WR41)Browne85Ronald Jones (RB28)Valente86Elijah Moore (WR42)Washington87Trey Sermon (RB29)Miari88Chase Edmonds (RB30)Moretto89Brandin Cooks (WR43)Rohaly90Zack Moss (RB31)DalleyRound 9: My plan to find value at receiver in the middle rounds continued to pay dividends as I secured rookie DeVonta Smith in the ninth. Despite his size concerns, Smith should get every opportunity for volume in an unproven Eagles receiver room.Team Washington was also chasing rookie upside. After selecting Pitts and Javonte Williams earlier, he went with Elijah Moore - the best player at Jets minicamp, according to many beat writers. Taking so many chances on rookies can be dangerous, but that risk is mitigated in the middle rounds.Round 10PickPlayerTeam91Melvin Gordon (RB32)Dalley92James Conner (RB33)Rohaly93Michael Pittman (WR44)Moretto94Michael Carter (RB34)Miari95Mike Williams (WR45)Washington96Jarvis Landry (WR46)Valente97James Robinson (RB35)Browne98Jaylen Waddle (WR47)Holroyd99Marquise Brown (WR48)Bottero100Antonio Brown (WR49)BooneRound 10: Even this far into the draft, there were still receivers who could be full-time fantasy starters in 2020. Michael Pittman has a chance to step up as Carson Wentz's top target, Mike Williams is generating buzz due to his expanded role in the new offense, Jaylen Waddle was the sixth overall pick in April, and Antonio Brown averaged the 27th-most fantasy points among wideouts in the second half of the season.Round 11PickPlayerTeam101Mecole Hardman (WR50)Boone102Leonard Fournette (RB36)Bottero103Damien Harris (RB37)Holroyd104Mike Gesicki (TE9)Browne105Logan Thomas (TE10)Valente106Cole Beasley (WR51)Washington107Tony Pollard (RB38)Miari108A.J. Dillon (RB39)Moretto109Gus Edwards (RB40)Rohaly110Gabriel Davis (WR52)DalleyRound 11: We finally got some positive news about MeCole Hardman, with The Athletic's Nate Taylor identifying the former second-rounder as the favorite to be the WR2 in Kansas City this year. Though Hardman will still have to earn that role in training camp, it's enough to put him back on our radar as a late-round option with big-time potential.Damien Harris might be the most interesting pick of the round. As the lead back in New England, his value will get a nice boost whenever Mac Jones takes over as the Patriots quarterback. Unlike Cam Newton, who vultured goal-line work, Jones is a more traditional passer and the Pats will need to lean on their run game as he develops. Harris is a sneaky starting-caliber fantasy pick who will be available deep into drafts.Round 12PickPlayerTeam111Russell Gage (WR53)Dalley112Corey Davis (WR54)Rohaly113Darrell Henderson (RB41)Moretto114Darnell Mooney (WR55)Miari115Jamaal Williams (RB42)Washington116Marvin Jones (WR56)Valente117Nyheim Hines (RB43)Browne118DeVante Parker (WR57)Holroyd119Aaron Rodgers (QB9)Bottero120Jalen Hurts (QB10)BooneRound 12: Despite waiting until the final pick of the 12th round to take a QB, I still had my pick of Jalen Hurts, Matthew Stafford, Tom Brady, Ryan Tannehill, and more. Hurts was my choice based on his immense rushing upside, but I likely would have used my 13th-round pick to pair him with one of the other QBs on that list.Since this is a 10-team league, we didn't even get to the rounds filled with high-upside backup running backs, but some managed to sneak in Tony Pollard (11th round) and Darrell Henderson (12th round). Remember, once your starting lineup is filled out, your goal in the later rounds should be pure upside - players whose value could skyrocket if things go their way.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, and Anchor.In this episode, Boone recaps the first 10 rounds of his new international dynasty league startup draft featuring analysts from around the world and then answers your mailbag questions.

Travis Kelce is still smarting from the Kansas City Chiefs' blowout loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV, and he's using that as extra motivation to capture the Lombardi Trophy again."That was pretty embarrassing man, taking that loss down there in Tampa, man," the All-Pro tight end said on "NFL Total Access," according to NFL.com's Nick Shook."If you're not motivated after taking a shellacking like that, I don't know what's wrong with you," he continued. "I want to go win one more than I ever wanted to get one in the first place and that's everybody in that building, man."The Chiefs were attempting to secure their second consecutive championship when the Tom Brady-led Buccaneers dispatched them 31-9.Kelce caught 10 passes for 133 yards in the game, but Kansas City's high-octane offense was kept out of the end zone.The 31-year-old said the entire franchise is thinking about revenge in 2021."That's why I love Kansas City, we've got great guys, top to bottom," Kelce said. "Front office, Clark Hunt, the head of it all, the owner of the Chiefs, he's done a great job of getting the right people in the right place, even more so this year with the new additions that we have."It's just exciting times and everybody's motivated to just get better and go out here and try to win a Super Bowl, man."Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The arrival of Jalen Hurts was the beginning of the end for Carson Wentz in Philadelphia, but former Eagles head coach Doug Pederson said Wednesday the team didn't mean to pressure its starter by selecting another quarterback in the second round of the 2020 draft."You go into drafts and you go into each year looking for quarterbacks," Pederson said on SiriusXM NFL Radio. "And we continued to look for quarterbacks, and that's always something that will never change. We won a Super Bowl with our backup quarterback. And we've had to play with our backups a couple of times in Philadelphia."So we did that a year ago and brought in Jalen Hurts. Not to undermine Carson Wentz, not to do anything to take away his job or anything because Carson was definitely our starter. He was the franchise and all that moving forward. But someone that could come in and could be the backup and learn how to play the NFL game - bring his talent to the Philadelphia Eagles."While the Eagles didn't intend for Hurts to usurp Wentz just a year after signing the latter to a four-year, $128-million contract extension, the starter's poor play forced their hand.Wentz was benched for Hurts after throwing 15 interceptions and taking 50 sacks - both NFL highs - through Week 13. The veteran then reportedly requested a trade instead of competing for the starting job in 2021, ultimately moving to the Indianapolis Colts for a conditional 2022 second-round pick and a 2021 third-rounder.Wentz's regression from MVP candidate in 2017 to one of the NFL's worst statistical starters was held up as the main reason for the Eagles' worst finish of the Pederson era. However, the head coach believes the team's failure doesn't rest solely on the quarterback's shoulders."As the season began, things just started to kind of, I guess, spiral out of control," Pederson said. "Injuries began to set in. We weren't playing very well. Turnovers offensively - just a number of things - penalties, more injuries, compounded problems, and it just became harder and harder as the year wore on. No one person is to blame for any of what happened last year."Pederson is sitting out the 2021 season after being fired but said recently he hopes to return to coaching in 2022.The Eagles have opted against handing Hurts the starting job after bringing in Joe Flacco, but the sophomore signal-caller is widely expected to be under center in Week 1.Meanwhile, Wentz said in late June that he feels "a new passion for the game" after joining the Colts and reuniting with head coach Frank Reich, who previously served as the Eagles' offensive coordinator.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Story contains coarse languageThe mysterious team that passed on Tom Brady in free agency is still unknown.The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback recently said he was shocked after an organization remained uninterested in him at the end of last year's free agency. Brady added his initial thought after being snubbed was, "You're sticking with that motherf-----? Are you serious?"Many in NFL circles began connecting dots after Brady's quote became public, and the team he was talking about was reportedly believed to be the Las Vegas Raiders, led by Derek Carr.However, Carr has heard he wasn't the "motherf-----" in question."From what I know, it wasn't me," Carr recently said on "Brother from Another.""If it was, I've gotten in enough trouble trying to challenge people to fights. But, as a man, Tom, I know you got the rings, but if it's not me, then we're good. What I heard, it wasn't me. And so I'm good with that."The Raiders were among several clubs linked to Brady during his free agency period. The Los Angeles Chargers, Tennessee Titans, Indianapolis Colts, and San Francisco 49ers were also associated with the superstar signal-caller.Carr, 30, has posted two of the best seasons of his career in recent years, recording a passer rating above 100 in both 2019 and 2020. The three-time Pro Bowler is 15-17 in that span.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With his toe injury on the mend, Patrick Mahomes is feeling eager for the opportunity to win another Super Bowl."The toe's feeling great," Mahomes told NFL Network's Patrick Claybon. "I'm out here playing golf, being able to walk around the course. I've been running, cutting, jumping, throwing, doing it all. So, I'm just excited to get back to training camp and have another chance to make a run at it and win the Super Bowl this year."The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback underwent surgery following this year's Super Bowl, his second consecutive championship appearance, to repair a turf toe ailment that plagued him throughout the playoffs.Mahomes participated in OTAs this offseason and told reporters earlier in June he would already be able to play in a game.The 25-year-old added this offseason hasn't differed from past ones, with the Chiefs focusing on making it to a third straight Super Bowl."It's different in the sense that you don't have the parades and all that different type of stuff," Mahomes said.He continued: "But I think the beautiful thing about the NFL is every single year, you start from scratch. You have to come in, you have to put in the work to try to get to the big game and try to win it. And so for us, win or lose that Super Bowl the last two years, we still have that same mentality of we're going to start from scratch and build and try to find a way to get back to that game."Mahomes defeated the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl in 2019 before falling to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Super Bowl LI loss still gnaws at Kyle Shanahan.To this day, the Atlanta Falcons are mocked for blowing a 28-3 lead to the New England Patriots, and Shanahan, the Falcons' offensive coordinator at the time, is questioned about the play-calling late in that defeat.Shanahan said he regrets calling the pass play that led to a sack knocking the Falcons out of field-goal range late in that eventual loss.While on the "Flying Coach" podcast with Peter Schrager and Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay, Shanahan said it was a previously stuffed second-and-10 running play that led to his aggressive approach late in the fourth quarter with the Falcons ahead 28-20. Julio Jones made a spectacular 27-yard reception a few plays earlier, which also prompted the coach to put his faith in the receiver and call for a throw.

The Cowboys are one of the most popular teams in the betting markets on an annual basis. But will the franchise take a wide-open NFC East this fall or continue to underwhelm?Let's analyze the club's 2021 projection and see where the value lies.Cowboys' 2021 win total Over: 9.5 (+115)

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan admits he mulled a move for Matthew Stafford before the Los Angeles Rams acquired the quarterback.During an appearance on the "Flying Coach" podcast with Rams head coach Sean McVay, Shanahan said he was in Cabo at the same time as Stafford and McVay when the deal was completed."That was frustrating," Shanahan said. "I was watching it all ... I remember looking through it because everybody was telling me it was a possibility. Stafford's the man. I studied him hard coming out of college, and you always play against him, so you know how good he is."But to know he might be available and to spend two weeks really watching him, Sean, he's better than I realized."The 49ers head coach added he was "trying to get involved," only to learn that the Rams had swooped in quickly to land the former Detroit Lions signal-caller."I remember Saturday I was so stressed out and finally we talked to someone, it was seven at night, and they're like, 'No, nothing's happening at the earliest until tomorrow, so you can finish your night.' So I'm like, alright, I'm done," Shanahan noted.He continued: "Half an hour later, my buddy calls me and is like, 'I'm just telling ya, if you want Stafford, you need to get a hold of him right now.' I'm like, 'What do you mean? We just talked to people. I can sleep on this. We'll talk to them tomorrow.' 'I'm just telling you, you need to talk to him right now.' And then it was all over."McVay told Shanahan the Rams' deal for Stafford came together faster than he expected as well.The 49ers were one of many teams rumored to be in the mix for the 33-year-old earlier this offseason. After failing to land Stafford, San Francisco completed a blockbuster trade to move up to No. 3 in the 2021 draft to select North Dakota State passer Trey Lance.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kurt Warner offered a glimpse at his upcoming film, "American Underdog," before it hits theaters later in 2021.The biopic stars Zachary Levi as the Hall of Fame quarterback and is based in part on Warner's memoir, "All Things Possible: My Story of Faith, Football, and the First Miracle Season."

The XFL announced Wednesday it will return in 2023 after opting against a formal partnership with the Canadian Football League."While our discussions with the CFL did not ultimately lead to a collaboration, the effort reinforced our belief and commitment to developing the XFL for international spring football," the XFL said in a statement, according to Jai Nokes of XFL News Hub.The CFL and XFL entered into merger talks in March after both leagues canceled their 2020 seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic.The XFL was forced to end its first campaign since 2001 after completing half of its scheduled 10-week season and filed for bankruptcy. Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, and RedBird Capital purchased the league for $15 million in August."We have acquired the XFL," Johnson said. "With gratitude and passion I've built a career with my own two hands and will apply these callouses to our XFL."A targeted return for spring 2022 was announced in October, but plans were put on hold while the XFL and CFL explored a partnership.The XFL's 2020 lineup of teams included the St. Louis Battlehawks, Tampa Bay Vipers, New York Guardians, Seattle Dragons, Los Angeles Wildcats, D.C. Defenders, Houston Roughnecks, and Dallas Renegades.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Derek Carr has a recruitment plan for Davante Adams."I'm gonna offer him whatever I gotta offer. I'll buy him a car, whatever I've got to do, I'll offer that man. I know he would fit in great with the receivers we have here. He would fit so well in that room," Carr said during an appearance on "The Cris Collinsworth Podcast."Carr added: "He's focused on being a Packer, and I know that because I see how he works ... He's focused on that, and I'm focused on trying to get to the Super Bowl, win the Super Bowl. Hopefully, he's in it so I can beat his butt, too. That's the plan, then recruit him over to the dark side."The Las Vegas Raiders quarterback hasn't been shy about his desire to play with the Green Bay Packers wide receiver, previously stating he will put on a "full-court press" to recruit Adams in 2022.Adams, who's scheduled to be a free agent next season, also mentioned he would like to team with Carr sometime in the future. The two players enjoyed a pair of seasons together in college at Fresno State, putting up 3,031 yards and 38 touchdowns.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff is moving to television for his next job.In NBA Sports' latest "Football Morning In America" column, guest columnist Michael Holley revealed Dimitroff has interviewed 15 general managers for an "unfiltered TV show" he's producing."The idea is to show aspects of the job - and the personalities behind it - that often go unseen/unexplained," Holley wrote.The 15 interviewees reportedly include the Philadelphia Eagles' Howie Roseman, Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Jason Licht, New Orleans Saints' Mickey Loomis, and Kansas City Chiefs' Brett Veach. Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane was also spotted with Dimitroff recently, according to Ryan Talbot of NYup.com.