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.Rostered percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. Free Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are set off a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 60% of leagues are considered.Quarterbacks Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images Sport / GettyJimmy Garoppolo, 49ersNext UpRosteredFABat NYJ52%$1Garoppolo makes his second straight appearance in this section after throwing for 259 yards and two scores against the Cardinals in Week 1. Though we're still not spending much to acquire Garoppolo, he's an excellent early season streamer thanks to his schedule which features the Jets, Giants, Eagles, and Dolphins over the next four weeks. The Jets just allowed Josh Allen to crack the 300-yard mark for the first time in his career and look like the ideal pass defense to attack in fantasy matchups this year.Gardner Minshew, JaguarsNext UpRosteredFABat TEN25%$1Minshew's first game in offensive coordinator Jay Gruden's system couldn't have gone better. The sophomore quarterback completed a staggering 95% of his passes while throwing three touchdowns in an upset win over the Colts. With a bevy of new playmakers around him, Minshew is poised to be a sneaky fantasy starter - especially over the next five weeks when he faces the Dolphins, Bengals, Texans, and Lions. Next week's matchup with the Titans isn't as appealing, but there should be plenty of optimism surrounding Minshew and the Jags' weapons after their performance in Week 1.Long-term options: Ryan Tannehill vs. JAX (45% rostered)Streamer options: Kirk Cousins at IND (34% rostered), Mitch Trubisky vs. NYG (3% rostered), Philip Rivers vs. MIN (27% rostered)Running backs Sarah Stier / Getty Images Sport / GettyBenny Snell Jr., SteelersNext UpRosteredFABvs. DEN11%$24As much as the term "injury prone" can be overstated, it was hard to ignore the time James Conner spent on the trainer's table during his first three NFL campaigns. In the offseason, we referred to him as the running back equivalent of Will Fuller - a player who is a solid fantasy starter for as long as he can stay healthy. Unfortunately for Conner, he made it just 15 snaps in Week 1 before suffering an ankle injury and sitting out the rest of the game. He'll be re-evaluated on Tuesday and the team is optimistic for a timely return, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Even so, we have to accept the reality that Conner has been unable to hold up physically in the NFL. Meanwhile, his backup Snell earned a ton of positive reviews in training camp for shedding weight and coming back in much better shape. It showed on Monday as he gained 113 yards on 19 carries. We don't know how long Snell will have the lead back job, but he'll be an RB2 in those starts. He also assumes added long-term value with Conner's ongoing durability concerns.Malcolm Brown, RamsNext UpRosteredFABat PHI24%$24Brown was the star of the Rams' offense on Sunday night, making two trips to the end zone while amassing 79 yards on 18 carries and adding another 31 yards on three receptions. The veteran led the backfield after playing 60% of the team's snaps, compared to 33% for rookie Cam Akers and just 7% for Darrell Henderson. In addition to being the most productive, Brown simply looked like the best back on the roster, and with the trust of the coaching staff behind him, it might take a while for Akers and/or Henderson to eat into his workload. Akers taking over as the lead back is still the most likely outcome by midseason, so don't spend your entire budget on one prime-time performance by Brown. He's an early season RB2 who can fill a spot on your roster until you find someone else for the stretch run.Nyheim Hines, ColtsNext UpRosteredFABvs. MIN19%$19If Marlon Mack hadn't suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 1, Hines might not be as high on this list. Even after compiling eight catches, 72 yards from scrimmage, and two scores against the Jaguars, Hines still would have been locked into a three-way committee. However, with Mack on the sidelines, Hines' volume is now secure as he shares the Colts' backfield with rookie Jonathan Taylor. Philip Rivers' arm isn't what it once was and his affinity for using running backs in the passing game is clear. Hines isn't Austin Ekeler, but he'll benefit from Rivers' presence in the same way Ekeler did with the Chargers. That makes Hines a top-30 fantasy back in PPR leagues and someone who might return RB2 value on a weekly basis.Adrian Peterson, LionsNext UpRosteredFABat GB45%$14How long can Peterson continue to prove us wrong for doubting him? Following his release by Washington, Peterson told reporters his decision to sign with the Lions came down to them offering him a chance at volume. With D'Andre Swift and Kerryon Johnson already on the roster, we assumed Peterson would work into what was surely to be a committee. Though the snap counts reflect that - with the rookie Swift leading the way at 44%, Peterson at 31%, and Johnson at 26% - it was AP who dominated touches with 17 to Swift's eight and Johnson's seven. And it was the veteran who carried the backfield with 114 yards from scrimmage. Similar to Brown, Peterson's time as the most-productive back in Detroit likely has an expiration date when Swift takes over. But the 35-year-old showed once again he can deliver in real life and fantasy while still warranting a spot on your roster.Joshua Kelley, ChargersNext UpRosteredFABvs. KC12%$14We tried to tell you. Kelley was featured in this space a week ago after he somehow went undrafted in almost 90% of fantasy leagues. His 12 carries for 60 yards and a touchdown might not look like much, but the performance put his hard running style on display. The rookie proved he can be the perfect complement to Austin Ekeler, serving in the vacated Melvin Gordon-type role on the Chargers' offense. Last week we said Kelly could be a sneaky fantasy option and was available for free on the waiver wire. If you want him now, you'll have to pay up.James Robinson is around the 60% rostered mark and should be rostered in almost all leagues.High-upside backups like Alexander Mattison (45% rostered), Tony Pollard (37% rostered), Chase Edmonds (41% rostered), and Darrel Williams (23% rostered) should be rostered in almost all leagues.Upside flex options: Jerick McKinnon at NYJ (11% rostered), Peyton Barber at ARI (3% rostered)Risky flex options: Frank Gore vs. SF (4% rostered), Josh Adams vs. SF (0% rostered), Myles Gaskin vs. BUF (0% rostered)Deeper upside backups: Brian Hill at DAL (4% rostered), Carlos Hyde vs. NE (19% rostered), Giovani Bernard at CLE (5% rostered), Mike Davis at TB (1% rostered), Darrynton Evans vs. JAX (4% rostered)Long shot bench stashes: Devonta Freeman - free agent (11% rostered), Corey Clement vs. LAR (2% rostered), Anthony McFarland Jr. vs. DEN (2% rostered), Devontae Booker vs. NO (0% rostered), Jordan Wilkins vs. MIN (0% rostered), Bryce Love vs. PHI (12% rostered),​​​​​​ Royce Freeman at PIT (2% rostered), La'Mical Perine vs. SF (1% rostered), J.J Taylor at SEA (0% rostered), Buddy Howell vs. BAL (0% rostered)Wide receivers Justin Casterline / Getty Images Sport / GettyParris Campbell, ColtsNext UpRosteredFABvs. MIN22%$24Campbell was someone we identified as a potential breakout candidate in 2020 after injuries derailed his rookie season. The electric playmaker with a RB/WR hybrid build worked on his body during the off months in an effort to avoid further injuries. If the early returns are any indication ... it paid off. The sophomore led the Colts' receiving corps in snaps (82%), targets (9), receptions (6), yards (71), and also got a rushing attempt with which he picked up nine yards. Campbell's skill set appears to mesh well with Rivers' aging arm, since he can use his speed to turn short crossers into bigger gains. Every year we see a new batch of stars emerge in the first few weeks and Campbell checks a lot of those boxes. With T.Y. Hilton turning 31 in November, a transition of power might be taking place in Indy's WR room.Sammy Watkins, ChiefsNext UpRosteredFABat LAC49%$19Watkins led the Chiefs in receiving during the season opener Thursday, continuing a streak of solid outings for him dating back to last year's Super Bowl run. The 27-year-old put up stat lines of 2-76-0, 7-114-1, and 5-98-0 during Kansas City's three playoff appearances before starting this year with 7-82-1. We've seen Watkins tease us with big games in the past only to revert to his often inconsistent ways. That's why we're not overreacting here. Securing pieces of a Patrick Mahomes-led offense is always a smart investment, so see if you can get Watkins at a decent value on the waiver market. If he stays healthy, he could be an upside WR3.Preston Williams, DolphinsNext UpRosteredFABvs. BUF38%$19Williams is back for a second consecutive week in the waiver column. His return from a torn ACL in November has gone as well as can be expected, and despite talk he might be eased into the season, Williams opened the year by playing 90% of snaps. His two catches for 41 yards on seven targets leave a lot to be desired, but he was also facing one of the leagues best secondaries in New England. Another difficult matchup with the Bills awaits in Week 2. However, DeVante Parker might not be available for that game after re-aggravating his hamstring injury, thrusting Williams into the unchallenged No. 1 spot. As we stated last week, Parker's injuries could open the door for Williams to stay in that top role long term. Don't view this as a pickup for next Sunday, see it as a pickup for the rest of the season.Corey Davis, TitansNext UpRosteredFABvs. JAX4%$19When the Titans declined Davis' fifth-year option, it seemed like the right move considering his limited accomplishments since being selected fifth overall in 2017. However, on Monday night he looked like the best receiver on the depth chart - outperforming his much more heralded teammate A.J. Brown. Now we have to wonder how much of Davis' recent struggles were due to a toe injury that sapped his agility in 2019 and the routinely bad quarterback play from Marcus Mariota over the years. Tennessee's low-volume passing attack might not be able to support multiple fantasy assets, so if Davis' emergence is real, it might turn both he and Brown into inconsistent producers. It's still worth taking a shot on him to see if he can be this year's DeVante Parker - a former first-rounder who finally broke out after everyone had given up on him.Allen Lazard/Marquez Valdes-Scantling, PackersNext UpRosteredFABvs. DET43%/7%$14/$7The Packers stunned everyone, including the Vikings, by taking a pass-heavy approach in Week 1. The result was a monster 14-156-2 game for Davante Adams, as well as 4-96-1 from Valdes-Scantling and 4-63-1 from Lazard. Even if the pie isn't this big in every contest, Aaron Rodgers should be able to take advantage of a supbar Lions secondary in Week 2. The stats don't reflect that Lazard was the more consistent option between these two, with MVS bringing a mix of game-breaking downfield speed and occasional drops. Both receivers offer intriguing upside if Green Bay continues to attack through the air. They need to be rostered until we find out if this was a one-week blip or a sign of things to come.Anthony Miller and Mike Williams are around the 60% rostered mark and should be rostered in almost all leagues.Upside flex options: Robby Anderson at TB (31% rostered), Russell Gage at DAL (1% rostered), Golden Tate at CHI (42% rostered)Promising rookies: Brandon Aiyuk at NYJ (35% rostered), Jalen Reagor vs. LAR (39% rostered), Laviska Shenault Jr. at TEN (12% rostered), Bryan Edwards vs. NO (24% rostered)Deeper bench stashes: Curtis Samuel at TB (31% rostered), N'Keal Harry at SEA (32% rostered), James Washington vs. DEN (12% rostered), Scotty Miller vs. CAR (5% rostered), Tre'Quan Smith at LV (2% rostered), Steven Sims Jr. at ARI (7% rostered), Miles Boykin at HOU (5% rostered), Olabisi Johnson at IND (1% rostered), Isaiah Ford vs. BUF (0% rostered)Tight ends Greg Fiume / Getty Images Sport / GettyLogan Thomas, WashingtonNext UpRosteredFABat ARI1%$2Thomas was one of those long shot options who had the right mix of talent and opportunity heading into Week 1. Recognizing that, Washington gave him a team-leading eight targets in the game and Thomas came away with four receptions, 37 yards, and a touchdown. On a team that lacks receiving threats outside of star wideout Terry McLaurin, it's possible Thomas could be this year's Darren Waller - a player who saw significant volume on a Raiders offense thin on pass-catching talent in 2019.Eric Ebron, SteelersNext UpRosteredFABvs. DEN28%$1Despite a quiet opener, we remain optimistic about Ebron's chances of producing in 2020. After all, he's a new addition to this offense and wasn't afforded a real offseason or preseason to build chemistry with Ben Roethlisberger. That trust will develop over time, and with the coaching staff looking to use Ebron as a mismatch all over the field, he might just work his way back into the TE1 conversation.Dallas Goedert and Jonnu Smith are around the 60% rostered mark and should be rostered in almost all leagues.Other options: Jack Doyle vs. MIN (27% rostred), Chris Herndon vs. SF (52% rostered), Greg Olsen vs. NE (26% rostered), Jordan Akins vs. BAL (1% rostered), Jimmy Graham vs. NYG (5% rostered), O.J. Howard vs. CAR (17% rostered), Dawson Knox at MIA (3% rostered)DefensesWeek 2 streamersTeamNext UpRosteredTitansvs. JAX49%Buccaneersvs. CAR24%Cardinalsvs. WAS3%Brownsvs. CIN9%Favorable upcoming schedules: Buccaneers DEF (24% rostered), Cardinals DEF (3% rostered), Jaguars DEF (1% rostered)Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This was how the Arizona Cardinals scored their first touchdown of the season: Your browser does not support the video tag. Fox Sports/NFL Game PassThere is a lot to keep track of there: the inverted wishbone backfield formation, the double play-action, and the zone blocking to the right as the right guard pulls to the left, all of which put the defense on its heels. It also made it easy for quarterback Kyler Murray to flip the ball to running back Chase Edmonds, whose speed and body control did the rest.It was a glimpse of the sort of innovative play-calling head coach Kliff Kingsbury brought with him from the college ranks when he was hired last year, and the Cardinals overcame an early 10-point deficit to take down defending NFC champions the San Francisco 49ers 24-20 in an all-important division game on the road.It's easy to get ahead of one's skis after Week 1, but it's also hard not to notice the Cardinals might be onto something here.Kingsbury took on a reclamation project last year, and the organization drafted Murray with the No. 1 overall pick to help him do it - a mulligan just one year after the Cardinals had already selected quarterback Josh Rosen 10th overall. Kingsbury promised to bring the field-stretching dynamic of the Air Raid offense, which involves using four or five receivers to create spacing and playing with a quick tempo.And while the Cardinals only improved from 3-13 in 2018 to 5-10-1 last year, there were reasons for optimism as the season progressed. Many of them had to do with Kingsbury's willingness to adapt by not forcing the four-wideout set or a consistently frenetic pace.The Cardinals began 2019 with a tie and three losses in their first four games, a stretch in which they deployed four or more receivers on 61% of their plays - something no other team in the league had done more than 12% of the time in the same span, according to The Ringer's Danny Kelly. The Cardinals also used lots of no-huddle (41%) and played fast, with a seconds-per-snap rate of 24.9 that ranked first in the league, per Establish the Run's Pat Thorman.The rest of the way, the Cardinals went 5-7 and were more nuanced, even as they stayed true to the basic Air Raid concepts. Their seconds-per-snap rate slowed to 27.2 (eighth-fastest), and their plays-per game average fell from 71.5 in the first four weeks (second) to 61.0 (25th), per Thorman. Kelly noted that their deployment of 11 personnel (one back, one tight end, three wideouts) jumped to 40% and their use of 12 personnel (one back, two tight ends, two wideouts) rose to 28%. Meanwhile, their four-wide usage rate dropped to 22%.Still, though: No team used four or more wideouts more than 10% in the last 12 weeks, according to analyst Warren Sharp's database. By the end of the season, Arizona's usage of four-plus receivers was still nearly four times higher than any other team (31% vs. 8% for the Seahawks and Jaguars).Another factor that distinguished the Cardinals after Week 4 was their willingness to run the ball, even when using a spread set. Thorman calculated that their neutral-situation pass rate (plays in the first three quarters of one-score games) fell to 56% from 69%. While those spread concepts sacrificed protection, they also opened up running lanes: By the end of the year, Arizona ranked second in rushing DVOA, a result aided by a midseason trade for running back Kenyan Drake, who's playing this season on the transition tag.Murray finished 21st in both QB DYAR and QB DVOA, and he was sacked a league-high 48 times. But by the end of the season, his performance was strong enough to earn him the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year award. All told, the 2019 Arizona offense made the third-largest year-over-year improvement since 1986, according to the Football Outsiders Almanac. This was a successful work in progress.Fast-forward to 2020. The Cardinals pulled off a heist by trading running back David Johnson, a second-round pick, and a 2021 fourth-round pick for wideout DeAndre Hopkins and a 2020 fourth-round pick. This gave Murray, who relied heavily on Christian Kirk and an aging Larry Fitzgerald, a playmaking target. The addition of Hopkins paid immediate dividends against a San Francisco defense that had been among the NFL's best last season. Hopkins had 14 catches on 16 targets for 151 yards, including this backbreaker that set up Drake's game-winning TD with 5:03 to play:

The San Francisco 49ers are placing cornerback Richard Sherman on injured reserve with a leg injury, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reports.Sherman's reserve stint isn't expected to last much longer than three weeks, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.It's unclear when exactly Sherman sustained the injury, but he was replaced by Ahkello Witherspoon on the final defensive drive of San Francisco's opening-week loss to the Arizona Cardinals.Sherman, 32, returned to Pro Bowl form last year while helping the 49ers reach Super Bowl LIV. He finished the 2019 campaign with 11 pass breakups and three interceptions while adding two more picks in the playoffs.A five-time Pro Bowler, Sherman was one of the game's most dominant cornerbacks over his seven-year run with the Seattle Seahawks before signing with San Francisco in 2017.The 49ers will travel across the country to face the New York Jets in Week 2.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Francisco 49ers added depth to their injury-plagued receiving corps on Tuesday by agreeing to a one-year contract with free agent Mohamed Sanu, according to the wideout's agent Mike McCartney.San Francisco placed Deebo Samuel on injured reserve Monday after he suffered a setback related to the broken foot he sustained shortly before training camp, while rookie Brandon Aiyuk was inactive for the team's season opener after injuring his hamstring during camp. Samuel is expected to be out until Week 4.The 49ers had attempted to fill the voids by signing J.J. Nelson and Tavon Austin in the summer, but both players landed on IR shortly after.The New England Patriots released Sanu prior to Week 1 after just eight games with the team. Bill Belichick's club acquired him from the Atlanta Falcons for a second-round pick last October.No 49ers wide receiver caught more than two passes in Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals, with Kendrick Bourne and Trent Taylor leading the way. Running back Raheem Mostert and tight end George Kittle - who is battling a sprained knee - led the team with four receptions each.Sanu spent two seasons with San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan when the latter was the Falcons' offensive coordinator.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Michael Thomas' high ankle injury is more severe than initially anticipated, and the New Orleans Saints wide receiver is now expected to be sidelined for several weeks, sources told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Thomas initially believed he could play through the ailment after appearing to suffer the injury late in the Saints' season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.The star pass-catcher will attempt to return earlier than his reported timeline, though being placed on injured reserve is a possibility, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Thomas has developed into one of the NFL's top offensive players since entering the league in 2016. He led all players in catches (149) and receiving yards (1,725) last season and was named the Offensive Player of the Year.The 27-year-old was quiet in New Orleans' 34-23 win over the Buccaneers, catching just three passes for 17 yards.The Saints will battle the Las Vegas Raiders, Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, and Los Angeles Chargers over the next four weeks.Copyright © 2020 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 the winner of FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition in 2019, marking the seventh time he's placed in the top 10. Follow the links below to see his early rankings for Week 2.Updated rankings (including Standard and PPR) will be released Thursday, with the final version coming down Sunday morning.Half PPR

Rookies don't get a second chance to make a first impression in the NFL. Here, we evaluate the debut performances of every 2020 first-round pick.1. Joe Burrow, QB, BengalsGrade: B-Burrow didn't become the first No. 1 pick to win their debut since David Carr in 2002, but he came very close and he looked good doing it. The former LSU star did have a perplexing late interception and will likely be thinking about missing a wide-open A.J. Green in the end zone for a while. However, he looked calm and collected outside of those errors, ran in an impressive touchdown, and showed enough resilience to keep Cincinnati in it. Bengals fans should have no doubt that Burrow is the guy, especially after he gave himself the harsh grade of D for Week 1.2. Chase Young, Washington, DE Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGrade: ANo team likely exits Week 1 happier with its first-round decision than Washington, which came back to earn a shocking victory over the Eagles on the back of its dominant defensive line. Young was at the heart of Washington's win, consistently wreaking havoc on Carson Wentz and Co. The pass-rusher finished with 1.5 sacks - including a crucial strip sack - and four tackles. Just like Nick Bosa last year, Young looks like an instant star.3. Jeff Okudah, CB, LionsGrade: IncompleteOkudah was inactive for Week 1 due to a hamstring injury.4. Andrew Thomas, OT, GiantsGrade: C+New York's entire offensive line struggled to protect quarterback Daniel Jones against Pittsburgh. Thomas actually held up better than his teammates at times, finishing the game with four pressures allowed. The left tackle was more impressive as a run-blocker, but his efforts didn't lead to a lot of production from Saquon Barkley.5. Tua Tagovailoa, QB, DolphinsGrade: IncompleteTagovailoa acted as Ryan Fitzpatrick's backup in Miami's loss to New England.6. Justin Herbert, QB, ChargersGrade: IncompleteHerbert acted as Tyrod Taylor's backup in Los Angeles' win over Cincinnati.7. Derrick Brown, DT, Panthers Grant Halverson / Getty Images Sport / GettyGrade: C-The Panthers fell just short of the perfect start to the Matt Rhule era, losing to the Raiders in a closely fought game. The mammoth Brown couldn't stop Josh Jacobs from racking up 93 yards and three touchdowns, but that failure was on the whole unit. The 6-foot-5, 318-pounder produced three total tackles and batted two passes. Brown will need to make more of a pass-rushing impact.8. Isaiah Simmons, LB, CardinalsGrade: DThe supposed most versatile defender in the draft got benched against the 49ers, playing only 18 of 61 snaps. The Clemson product was called for a horse-collar tackle on George Kittle early, then got beat by Raheem Mostert on a 76-yard catch-and-run touchdown. Simmons may have a bright future but the debut was dull.9. CJ Henderson, CB, JaguarsGrade: AJalen who? The Jaguars needed some of their young defensive players to step up following massive offseason turnover, and rookie Henderson answered the call spectacularly. He not only made a great read to pick off Philip Rivers early in Jacksonville's upset win, but he also made the game-sealing play, leaping to break up a fourth-down pass intended for T.Y Hilton.10. Jedrick Wills, OT, BrownsGrade: BWills held up well against a strong Ravens front, which was a pleasant surprise given the underwhelming reports on him in training camp. While he conceded a sack, Wills was strong overall at left tackle, where the Browns struggled so mightily a year ago. However, he left the contest in the second half with a leg injury.11. Mekhi Becton, OT, JetsGrade: BThere were plenty of reasons for the Jets' offensive futility in Week 1, but Becton wasn't one of them. While Bills pass-rusher Jerry Hughes got the better of him at times, Becton looked like the starting-caliber left tackle the Jets sorely needed when they selected him on draft night. He was solid in both pass protection and run blocking, and came out of the loss as one of the few bright spots for the Jets.12. Henry Ruggs III, WR, Raiders Grant Halverson / Getty Images Sport / GettyGrade: B-Ruggs flashed the electrifying speed that led the Raiders to make him the first receiver picked in the draft by corralling a 45-yard pass that set up a touchdown. Other than that, the 21-year-old was quiet, collecting only two more receptions for 10 yards. He did briefly leave the game with a leg injury, which might have contributed to his quiet second half.13. Tristan Wirfs, OT, BuccaneersGrade: BWirfs had his struggles at times with Cameron Jordan - but who doesn't? Truth be told, Jordan did more of his damage against left tackle Donovan Smith and was less effective against Wirfs, who debuted on the opposite side. It's only one game, but Wirfs may already be the Bucs' best tackle.14. Javon Kinlaw, DT, 49ersGrade: BKinlaw generated a pair of quarterback pressures and helped keep the Cardinals' inside running game at bay, but he didn't deliver the splash plays San Francisco used to get from DeForest Buckner. Overall, the 49ers failed to dominate up front, with Bosa the only lineman who really caused chaos in the backfield.15. Jerry Jeudy, WR, BroncosGrade: B-Jeudy looked every bit as electric during his Broncos debut as he did in college with Alabama, but his voltage clearly got too high at times. While the wideout had four catches for 56 yards, he also had two drops - including a major one late in the game that would've extended Denver's drive and put the team into field-goal range. Hopefully, the return of Courtland Sutton will help ease the pressure on Jeudy.16. A.J. Terrell, CB, FalconsGrade: CTerrell looked good early but struggled in the second half. His most egregious infraction was biting on a double move from DK Metcalf that allowed the Seahawks receiver to get deep for a big play. Whether it's fair or not, the Falcons need Terrell to play better for this secondary to hold up over the course of the season.17. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Cowboys Harry How / Getty Images Sport / GettyGrade: BEven in defeat, it was easy to see why the Cowboys were so high on Lamb. Working out of the slot, Lamb posted five receptions for 59 yards and seemed to have natural chemistry with quarterback Dak Prescott. He made one glaring mistake on a pivotal fourth-and-3 when he ran a 2-yard crossing pattern that resulted in a turnover on downs for Dallas.18. Austin Jackson, OT, DolphinsGrade: C-Widely viewed as one of the rawest first-round prospects, Jackson was inconsistent in his first taste of NFL speed. He didn't give up a sack of Ryan Fitzpatrick but was beaten multiple times in pass protection. On a less lucky day, the rookie could've been responsible for multiple QB takedowns. Still, Miami likely knows it must be patient with Jackson's development.19. Damon Arnette, CB, RaidersGrade: CWhile he broke up a pass and had some other positive plays in coverage, Arnette got torched by Robby Anderson on a 75-yard touchdown reception. The Ohio State product also bounced off Christian McCaffrey at one point, reviving concerns about the number of missed tackles he had in college. In fairness, Arnette was playing with a broken thumb.20. K'Lavon Chaisson, DE, JaguarsGrade: C-Chaisson was overshadowed by Henderson's dominant debut and had his best play against the Colts - an interception of Rivers - negated due to a penalty. He also made little impact as a pass-rusher, though he was facing what's arguably the league's best offensive line.21. Jalen Reagor, WR, EaglesGrade: C+Reagor's debut was a mixed bag: He caught a 55-yard bomb, but it was his lone catch of the day. The Eagles knew they needed more speed out wide when they drafted Reagor, and in that regard, he came through. His numbers would have been more impressive had Carson Wentz not gone cold in the second half. Still, finishing a game with one catch is disappointing, no matter the circumstances.22. Justin Jefferson, WR, Vikings Hannah Foslien / Getty Images Sport / GettyGrade: C-The starting job opposite Adam Thielen is there for the taking, but Jefferson did little to seize it against the Packers. Despite receiving the second-most snaps among Vikings wideouts, Jefferson caught only two passes on three targets for 26 yards. He was outperformed by unheralded sophomore Bisi Johnson, who had three grabs for 56 yards and will probably remain the official starter in Week 2.23. Kenneth Murray, LB, ChargersGrade: DMurray is a project for the Chargers, and the linebacker looked just that in a subpar game against the Bengals. He didn't appear comfortable in coverage and was often washed away in run defense. Picking Murray over Patrick Queen raised eyebrows at the time, and the early returns on both players highlight that questionable decision.24. Cesar Ruiz, C, SaintsGrade: IncompleteRuiz missed Week 1 with an ankle injury.25. Brandon Aiyuk, WR, 49ersGrade: IncompleteAiyuk missed Week 1 with a hamstring injury.26. Jordan Love, QB, PackersGrade: IncompleteLove was inactive while Tim Boyle acted as Aaron Rodgers' backup in Green Bay's win against Minnesota.27. Jordyn Brooks, LB, Seahawks Joe Robbins / Getty Images Sport / GettyGrade: IncompleteBrooks played seven snaps in Seattle's win over Atlanta.28. Patrick Queen, LB, RavensGrade: AHow do eight tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble sound for a debut? It was difficult to understand why Queen slid to the bottom of the first round during the draft, and it's even harder to fathom now. Granted, his production came against a Browns squad that looked completely unprepared, but there is reason to believe Baltimore has found its next great inside linebacker.29. Isaiah Wilson, OT, TitansGrade: IncompleteWilson missed Week 1 after being arrested for a DUI.30. Noah Igbinoghene, CB, DolphinsGrade: C-Igbinoghene didn't make many rookie errors against the Patriots, but he also did little to stand out. While he allowed a catch on the two times he was targeted, he did put in some solid effort on special teams.31. Jeff Gladney, CB, VikingsGrade: IncompleteGladney played nine snaps late in Minnesota's loss to Green Bay.32. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, Chiefs Jamie Squire / Getty Images Sport / GettyGrade: AWho knew an uber-talented running back could thrive in a Patrick Mahomes/Andy Reid-led offense?! In the NFL's season opener, Edwards-Helaire looked the piece that will turn the Chiefs' offense from a terrifying monster into an unstoppable juggernaut. The former LSU standout looked like he couldn't be tackled while racking up 138 yards and one touchdown against Houston. And Edwards-Helaire didn't even get to show off his best skill, as he failed to catch a pass from Mahomes.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Jets placed running back Le'Veon Bell on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, meaning he'll miss at least three games, the team announced Tuesday.The move came one day after head coach Adam Gase conceded Bell could be sidelined "a couple weeks" with the ailment.Bell was removed from the Jets' season-opening loss to the Buffalo Bills after appearing to tweak his hamstring. He returned briefly but spent most of the second half on the bench with his hamstring wrapped. Gase said after the Week 1 contest that he regretted putting Bell back on the field while he was hurt.Bell allegedly battled hamstring tightness in training camp, but at the time, he denied there was anything bothering him physically.

Allen Robinson has grown frustrated over the state of extension talks with the Chicago Bears and feels some of the offers he's received are disrespectful, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports.While the wide receiver apparently hasn't asked for a trade, he has sparked speculation over his future in Chicago after removing Bears content from his social media accounts Tuesday.

Odell Beckham Jr. isn't concerned with the criticisms about his body language emerging from the Cleveland Browns' season-opening blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday."Everyone's always watching," he told reporters Tuesday. "If you don't have the same reaction that somebody may like, then a story or headline or whatever can be written about you. That's always tough, that's just the position I'm in. I've helped put myself in that position by some mistakes and a lot of by what I did on the field, all of the good things that I feel like we often forget about."Beckham lacked vigor for much of the Week 1 shellacking and finished with just three catches for 22 yards. Despite his 10 targets. Cleveland struggled to get Beckham the ball - similar to what happened during the 2019 campaign.Beckham's production has declined with the Browns following a megastar-level tenure with the New York Giants. He has had to deny rumors of unhappiness in Cleveland since being traded in March 2019."I'm just here at a point in my life where I just want to play football, I just want to win, period," he said according to Scott Petrak of Browns Zone."There's nothing else that can distract and deter me from those goals, and I think once I get you all, the world, everyone, to understand that I care about one thing, and that's winning and producing, I think that you'll be able to see some of the other actions and look at it from a different perspective than a perspective of a lot of the names and attachments that have been thrown off me, in a way."Beckham and the Browns face the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday Night Football to begin Week 2.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.When you pick a team to win and they put up 445 yards of total offense - 200 more than the other team - while not punting once all game, you would think a win is a given.Narrator: It isn't.The Indianapolis Colts lost a contest they had no business losing and did so in true Los Angeles Chargers fashion.Two of my four survivor entries went up in flames before Week 1's late kickoffs as a result, just like the many who followed my column last week and the other millions who didn't. Here's to a better fate in Week 2.Week 2 confidence rankingConfidence rankings (CR) are out of 10 based on the author's picksAWAYHOME (SPREAD)PICK (CR)JacksonvilleTennessee (-10)TEN (8)Kansas CityLA Chargers (+9.5)KC (8)BaltimoreHouston (+6.5)BAL (7)DenverPittsburgh (-6.5)PIT (7)CarolinaTampa Bay (-8.5)TB (7)AtlantaDallas (-5)DAL (6)New OrleansLas Vegas (+5.5)NO (6)New EnglandSeattle (-4)SEA (5)San FranciscoNY Jets (+6.5)SF (4)LA RamsPhiladelphia (PK)LAR (4)WashingtonArizona (-6.5)ARI (4)MinnesotaIndianapolis (-3)IND (4)NY GiantsChicago (-5)CHI (3)DetroitGreen Bay (-5.5)GB (3)BuffaloMiami (+6)BUF (3)CincinnatiCleveland (-6)CLE (2)(Odds source: theScore Bet)Author's pick: Tennessee TitansDespite Stephen Gostkowski missing three field goals and an extra point, the Titans managed to escape Week 1 unscathed. They moved the ball well, with 26 first downs and close to 400 yards of offense, while the defense held the Broncos to just two scoring drives on 11 attempts. Tennessee would have run away with a comfortable double-digit win in a tough road game to start the season - had the kicking game not gone completely sideways.Now Mike Vrabel's team returns home for a much easier matchup - at least on paper - with the Jaguars. As I mentioned before, Jacksonville defied the odds for a 1-0 start to the season despite being significantly outplayed. Only the Washington Football Team (239) posted fewer yards of offense than Jacksonville (241) in Week 1, while the Jags defense gave up 445 yards - the third most in the league.It was a nice way for Jacksonville to begin after a tumultuous offseason, but the losses will certainly pile up if those trends continue. Ryan Tannehill and the Titans dismantled the Jaguars at Nissan Stadium last season - Jacksonville gave up 471 yards in a 42-20 defeat for their sixth straight loss in Tennessee.Derrick Henry piled up 116 yards on the ground in Week 1's difficult matchup against the Broncos' stingy run defense (4.2 yards per attempt last season) and now gets the chance to run wild against a Jaguars team that was torched on the ground a year ago (5.1 yards per attempt allowed, 31st in the NFL). Henry ran for 159 yards and two touchdowns in this game last season and will be the catalyst for the Titans in what should be a straightforward victory to push them to 2-0.Avoid: Green Bay PackersWhen you look at the results for these teams from the first week, a Packers win looked close to a guarantee on Sunday - Aaron Rodgers was in superb form, while the Lions crumbled in a way only they can. But there's more to those contests that at least warrants consideration before locking in Green Bay as your Week 2 survivor pick.An incredibly raw group of Vikings cornerbacks - who weren't up to speed following a shortened offseason - partially attributed to Rodgers' outstanding day, and Danielle Hunter's absence muted Minnesota's pass rush, leaving Rodgers comfortable in the pocket. Detroit also has a banged-up secondary, but the team is hopeful third-overall pick Jeff Okudah will return this week, and Desmond Trufant could also be back in the lineup.The Vikings also gashed the Packers on defense. Long, sustained drives from the offense helped to limit the Vikings' opportunities, but they averaged a league-high 7.8 yards per play in Week 1 - almost a full yard more than the next closest team. While that should be taken with a grain of salt, since they padded some of the stats in garbage time, Minnesota also managed a league-best 6.1 yards per rush, which has to worry Packers fans since it was the squad's biggest shortcoming a season ago.Detroit has three very capable running backs that could help them control the clock and keep Rodgers on the sidelines, and they're also expecting to get star wideout Kenny Golladay back from injury. The Lions have won two of its last three trips to Lambeau, and they have the recipe to cause another upset on Sunday. Proceed with caution.Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.The NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year race is already off to a hot start, with two running backs jockeying for the early lead and the top overall pick showing signs of greatness. Here are the updated odds after Week 1 with five of our favorite bets.PLAYERODDSClyde Edwards-Helaire+120Joe Burrow+400Jonathan Taylor+700Tua Tagovailoa+1400Jerry Jeudy+1800Cam Akers+2000J.K. Dobbins+2000Henry Ruggs+2000Antonio Gibson+2000CeeDee Lamb+2200Jalen Reagor+3300D'Andre Swift+3300Brandon Aiyuk+4000Justin Herbert+4000Justin Jefferson+4000Chase Claypool+4000Bryan Edwards+5000Michael Pittman Jr.+6000Denzel Mims+6600Tee Higgins+8000Zack Moss+8000A.J. Dillon+10000K.J. Hamler+10000Cole Kmet+10000Laviska Shenault Jr.+10000Ke'Shawn Vaughn+10000Anthony McFarland+12500Clyde Edwards-Helaire (+120)I probably don't need to sell you on Edwards-Helaire. The Kansas City Chiefs back totaled 138 yards and a score on Thursday and didn't even see a target in the passing game, a situation that surely won't last for long given his skill set as a pass-catcher.His usage on the ground is encouraging, though. His 25 carries were easily the most by a Kansas City back in almost two years, and it marked the first time the Chiefs attempted more rushes than passes since Patrick Mahomes became the starter. If Andy Reid keeps using the LSU product like a workhorse back, even a price this short will be hard to fade.Joe Burrow (+400)Quarterbacks will always have a slight advantage in the Rookie of the Year race, and Burrow's performance Sunday shouldn't dissuade bettors. He engineered a nearly picturesque game-winning drive before his teammates let him down late, teasing the type of "franchise QB" upside the Cincinnati Bengals were counting on when they drafted him. A few more instances of late-game heroics could put him in the driver's seat to win this award.Jonathan Taylor (+700)If you're targeting one clear contender at decent odds, make it Taylor. We know he's a threat on the ground, but the Indianapolis Colts back flashed his pass-catching chops with six catches for 67 yards on Sunday - a valuable skill to have with Philip Rivers at QB. The bigger news was the season-ending injury to Marlon Mack, which could free up Taylor to run away with this award behind a stout O-line.J.K. Dobbins (+2000)Dobbins doesn't have the same yardage ceiling as the other two running backs on this list, but he'll have plenty of chances to score. The Baltimore Ravens rookie scored twice Sunday and was the only Ravens back to reach the end zone, which signals a potential goal-line role for the former Ohio State star. Considering how often this team is in the red zone, Dobbins could post double-digit touchdowns as a long shot.Laviska Shenault Jr. (+10000)Wide receivers never win this award, so I don't fault oddsmakers for being a little pessimistic about Shenault's chances. But 100-1? The Jacksonville Jaguars rookie entered the season with promise as a creative offensive weapon, and he flashed it Sunday with two rushes for 10 yards and three catches for 37 yards and a score.The best case for Shenault is that, unlike most receivers before him, he can impact the game rushing and receiving. That could make him a compelling choice in voters' eyes. It's unlikely, but at this price, it's an easy play.C Jackson Cowart is a betting writer for theScore. He's an award-winning journalist with stops at The Charlotte Observer, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Times Herald-Record, and BetChicago. He's also a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and his love of sweet tea is rivaled only by that of a juicy prop bet. Find him on Twitter @CJacksonCowart.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ben Roethlisberger's elbow may no longer be a cause for concern following his 2020 season debut.Roethlisberger looked like his old self against the New York Giants after missing the majority of last season with an elbow injury, throwing for three touchdowns and zero interceptions in the Pittsburgh Steelers' 26-16 victory Monday."I feel great right now. Obviously, adrenaline is still pumping, and we won the game. I'm going to be sore tomorrow, there is no doubt. I got some bumps and bruises. In terms of (the) elbow and everything else, I feel really good right now," Roethlisberger told the media postgame.The quarterback was spotted wearing a large elbow sleeve on the sideline during the game but said it was just intended to keep his arm warm."That's a sleeve from a heavy jacket that the equipment guys made for me. Rather than put the whole jacket on when it's warm out, we just have that on the side to keep the elbow warm, kind of like a pitcher, if you will," Roethlisberger said.The 38-year-old threw his first touchdown pass since December 2018 on Monday while also completing 21 of his 32 pass attempts.Roethlisberger's health will play a big factor in the Steelers' success this season. The team missed the playoffs last year with Roethlisberger injured.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Steelers believe right tackle Zach Banner tore his ACL in Monday's game against the New York Giants, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports.Banner will undergo an MRI to confirm what would be a season-ending injury.The 26-year-old was hurt in the second half of the Steelers' 26-16 victory over the Giants. He departed the field on a medical cart.The Steelers named Banner their starting right tackle before their season opener. The offensive lineman beat out Chukwuma Okorafor for the position in training camp. Okorafor will now likely fill in at right tackle in Banner's absence.The Indianapolis Colts originally drafted Banner in the fourth round in 2017 but cut him before he had the chance to suit up for the franchise. He enjoyed stints with the Cleveland Browns and Carolina Panthers before Pittsburgh signed him in 2018.Banner tweeted a message to Steelers fans after the game.

The New York Giants and their rushing attack started the season on the wrong foot, with the Pittsburgh Steelers holding running back Saquon Barkley in check during the team's season opener.Barkley carried the football 15 times for just six yards in a 26-16 loss to Pittsburgh on Monday night. The rusher's offensive line did him no favors - he was met behind the line of scrimmage on multiple occasions, but Barkley shouldered the responsibility for the run game's woes."I have to be better, I have to be better for the team. We have to find a way to get the run game going," Barkley said.Not only did Barkley finish with fewer rushing yards than Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who had nine, but his Week 1 output was also the second-lowest total the 23-year-old has ever produced in a game. Despite the lowlights, the third-year back is not losing any sleep over his numbers."I’m not really too concerned with the stats. You have to give credit where credit is due. They have a great defense, especially their defensive front. They made some plays, and we weren’t able to win the game today," Barkley told reporters following the loss.After the contest, Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin also acknowledged shutting down Barkley was an important focus for his team - even if that meant making sacrifices in regards to his passing defense."We had a commitment and we weren't going to be bashful about that commitment. We thought that guy was a catalyst for whatever that they were going to do offensively," Tomlin said. "We put our secondary in harm’s way some in an effort to do so. It's a team game. They embraced that challenge."Barkley's next opportunity to get the Giants' ground game going comes next Sunday against a Chicago Bears defense that gave up 138 rushing yards in Week 1.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Brady didn't pick up a win in Week 1, but he did sell more jerseys than any other player.The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback had Fanatics' top-selling jersey after the first week of the NFL season, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton was second, followed by Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, and San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa.Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin tweeted that NFL sales were up more than 35% for the opening weekend compared to last year, setting a new record.Brady completed 23-of-36 passes for 239 yards with two touchdowns and a pair of interceptions in his Buccaneers debut Sunday in Tampa Bay's 34-23 loss to the New Orleans Saints. Newton, meanwhile, completed 15-of-19 passes for 155 yards and ran for two touchdowns in the Patriots' 21-11 win over the Miami Dolphins.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Denver Broncos cornerback A.J. Bouye and running back Phillip Lindsay didn't play in the second half of their season opener against the Tennessee Titans on Monday night.Bouye suffered a shoulder injury during the second quarter after landing on his right side while defending a pass. The 29-year-old corner, who was acquired by the Broncos via trade in the offseason, recorded one pass breakup in his debut with the club.Lindsay, meanwhile, didn't return with the team from the locker room after halftime due to a foot injury.The running back suffered what the team hopes is "mild" turf toe, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. However, Lindsay's Week 2 status is apparently in question.Lindsay, Denver's leading rusher in the last two seasons, racked up 24 yards on seven rushing attempts before being sidelined. He also caught one pass for 11 yards.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) Ben Roethlisberger did a very Pittsburgh thing in his return to the lineup, riding the Steelers' defense and running game to victory.Oh, Big Ben did plenty to help the cause. Roethlisberger, who missed the final 14 games last season after elbow surgery, threw for three scores in a 26-16 win over the New York Giants at an empty and eerie MetLife Stadium on Monday night.The keys, though, were several defensive plays and the running of backup Bennie Snell, who rushed for 113 yards on 19 carries - his first 100-yard performance in his second NFL season.The defense, while not quite on the level of the famed Steel Curtain, was plenty stingy and physical. It not only held Saquon Barkley to 6 yards on 15 carries, it also swarmed him in the backfield nearly all night.Three Steelers stars got them their first touchdown. All-Pro linebacker T.J. Watt made a clever interception at the New York 36. Roethlisberger beat a blitz with a perfect throw to JuJu Smith-Schuster for a 10-yard second-quarter score. Chris Boswell's extra point hit the upright, leaving them behind 10-9.They got the lead with 7 seconds remaining in the half as Roethlisberger connected with James Washington, who dived into the end zone for a 13-yard score. Boswell made the PAT this time, and added a 36-yard field goal early in the final quarter. That came following the night's biggest play.Even though the Pittsburgh defense broke down as the Giants marched 87 yards on 19 plays in just under nine minutes in the third quarter, it still came up with a major stop. Bud Dupree pressured quarterback Daniel Jones as he rolled left from the 4 and deflected his pass. Edge rusher Cam Heyward practically made a fair catch in the end zone for the interception.Roethlisberger then took Pittsburgh 62 yards for the field goal and a 19-10 lead. He hit Smith-Schuster again for a 10-yard touchdown and a 26-10 lead before New York got a late TD.SLOPPINESSNot unexpectedly, sloppy play was the order of the evening early on. New York had a dropped pass by Evan Engram and a delay-of-game penalty on fourth-and-1.The first time a Steeler touched the ball this season, it was a muff by punt returner Diontae Johnson deep in Pittsburgh territory. Oshane Ximines recovered at the 3, but New York only managed a 21-yard field goal by Graham Gano.There were three drops and the muff in the first half of the opening period, and neither team could run the ball successfully in Joe Judge's debut as Giants coach.Not exactly made for prime time - until the beginning of the second quarter and Darius Slayton's post pattern touchdown reception of 41 yards for a 10-3 Giants lead.Slayton caught a 7-yard TD pass with 1:52 remaining in the game. and had six receptions for 102 yards.PREGAME SCENENineteen of the Giants' 48 active players kneeled during the national anthem, mostly defensive players. Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson was on a knee with a hand across his heart.The Steelers stood side by side while a group of players held a white banner with the words "Steelers Against Racism." Only tight end Eric Ebron raised his arm.The Steelers remained in their locker room and the Giants stood in an end zone some 25 minutes earlier when the Black anthem, "Lift Every Voice and Sing,'' was played.INJURIESSteelers starting running back James Conner left in the second half with an ankle injury. Guard Stefen Wisnewski sustained a pectoral injury one play before right tackle Zach Banner hurt his right knee in the fourth quarter. Banner had beaten out Chukwuma Okorafor for the starting spot after he remade his body and approach, dropping 30 pounds.NEXT UPSteelers: Host the Broncos on Sunday.Giants: Visit the Bears on Sunday.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back James Conner was sidelined for the second half of the Monday night game against the New York Giants with an ankle injury.Conner was initially listed as questionable to return.The Steelers are "optimistic for a timely return" for Conner, who sustained a sprained ankle, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. He'll reportedly be re-examined Tuesday.The 2018 Pro Bowler finished his first game of the season with just six carries for nine yards. He also caught two passes for eight yards.The 25-year-old missed six games last season due to a shoulder injury.A third-round pick in 2017, Conner posted a career year in 2018 after amassing 973 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground while catching 55 passes for 497 yards and one score.Second-year running back Benny Snell Jr. took over the Steelers' backfield in Conner's absence, amassing 113 rushing yards on 19 carries against the Giants.Pittsburgh kicked off their 2020 season with a 26-16 win over New York.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton is inactive for his team's season opener against the Tennessee Titans on Monday night.Sutton was listed as questionable ahead of Week 1 after suffering a shoulder injury at practice Thursday.Second-round rookie wide receiver KJ Hamler, who was considered questionable prior to the game, is also among the Broncos' inactives.

New York Giants wide receiver Golden Tate was made inactive for Monday Night Football against the Pittsburgh Steelers due to a hamstring issue.The veteran had been listed as questionable for the affair.Tate missed the first four games of last season because of a suspension for a failed drug test. He wound up playing 11 of the next 12 games and posted 676 yards and six touchdowns.With Tate unavailable for the season opener, the Giants figure to feature Darius Slayton, Sterling Shepard, and Evan Engram more prominently in their passing attack.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Indianapolis Colts are hosting running back Lamar Miller on a tryout after losing fellow rusher Marlon Mack to a season-ending Achilles injury, according to the NFL's visit list.Miller is coming off his own season-ending ailment, as he tore his ACL in the 2019 preseason. The 29-year-old signed a one-year contract with the New England Patriots in training camp but failed to make the final roster.Mack, who only rushed four times in Week 1 before his season came to an end, went over 1,000 yards last year for the first time in his career. The USF product was set to lead an Indianapolis backfield that also includes rookie Jonathan Taylor and scatback Nyheim Hines.Miller started for the Houston Texans for three seasons. He rushed for 973 yards and five touchdowns over 14 appearances in 2018 and had over 1,000 yards in 2016.The Colts lost their season opener 27-20 to the Jacksonville Jaguars.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

An MRI confirmed that Indianapolis Colts running back Marlon Mack tore his Achilles tendon in Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, head coach Frank Reich said Monday.The Colts initially feared the running back suffered a torn Achilles after he went down with a non-contact injury and was carted from the sideline to the locker room Sunday.Mack racked up 26 yards on the ground and added three catches for 30 yards before exiting. He set a career high last season with 1,091 rushing yards and scored eight touchdowns.The 24-year-old is set to become a free agent at the end of the campaign.Rookie Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Hines will now lead the Colts' rushing attack, with the latter being more involved in the passing game.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After missing Sunday's loss to the Washington Football Team, Philadelphia Eagles running back Miles Sanders, right tackle Lane Johnson, and defensive end Derek Barnett remain day-to-day.Eagles head coach Doug Pederson said Monday that all three players will increase their practice load this week in hopes they'll be ready for Week 2 against the Los Angeles Rams, according to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer.Sanders and Barnett are dealing with hamstring injuries, while Johnson is still recovering from a minor ankle procedure.Pederson also provided updates for multiple other players who left Sunday's game against Washington, including defensive end Brandon Graham, who's in the concussion protocol, according to The Athletic's Zach Berman.The head coach expects edge rusher Vinny Curry and cornerback Craig James to miss significant time, according to team insider Dave Spadaro.Curry is set to miss four weeks after injuring his hamstring, a source told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Pederson didn't prove an update on Javon Hargrave's pectoral injury. The recently signed defensive tackle was ruled out for the season opener early last week.Philadelphia has already lost left tackle Andre Dillard and right guard Brandon Brooks for the season, and wide receiver Alshon Jeffery isn't expected back until the end of September.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's not Tua Time in Miami just yet.Dolphins head coach Brian Flores said Monday that quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick will remain the starter for the team's Week 2 matchup against the Buffalo Bills, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.Fans were calling for the Dolphins to make the switch to rookie Tua Tagovailoa after Miami lost its opening game Sunday to the New England Patriots.Fitzpatrick's turnover issues were arguably the biggest reason for the Dolphins' 21-11 loss. He threw three interceptions - two of which came in the first half - and failed to find the end zone.Tagovailoa, the No. 5 overall pick in this year's draft, received a clean bill of health during training camp following a hip injury that ended his final campaign at Alabama.The rookie acted as Fitzpatrick's backup in Week 1.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns placed tight end David Njoku on injured reserve and changed kickers Monday as they prepare for their Week 2 outing on Thursday Night Football, the team announced.Njoku was deactivated because of a knee injury. He'll need to sit out at least three games before he becomes eligible for reinstatement.Cleveland made the moves after getting blown out 38-6 by the Baltimore Ravens to begin the campaign. Njoku had the Browns' lone touchdown and finished the game with three receptions for 50 yards.In the kicking department, Cody Parkey was promoted to the active roster to replace Austin Seibert, who was waived. Seibert missed a field goal and an extra point in the season opener. He was a fifth-round pick of the Browns in 2019, but he was drafted by a different regime.Parkey, famous for the postseason "double doink" with the Chicago Bears two seasons ago, went 3-for-3 on field goals and 5-for-6 on extra points in three games last year for the Tennessee Titans.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Jets head coach Adam Gase said Monday that running back Le'Veon Bell could miss "a couple weeks" while nursing his hamstring injury, according to Newsday Sports' Al Iannazzone.Gase added that he doesn't want to put a timetable on Bell's recovery.The tailback battled hamstring issues throughout training camp and was seen grabbing the back of his leg in the second quarter of New York's Week 1 loss to the Buffalo Bills. He returned briefly in the second half but was eventually removed.Gase told reporters postgame that he regretted putting Bell back in the contest despite the injury.Bell carried the ball six times for 14 yards against Buffalo, adding two receptions for 32 yards.Gase noted that rookie La'Mical Perine is unlikely to return from his ankle injury for Week 2 against the San Francisco 49ers, per Iannazzone, meaning Frank Gore and Josh Adams will handle the bulk of New York's backfield snaps.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians anticipates a better performance from Tom Brady in Week 2 after his new quarterback began the season with a fairly pedestrian outing."He knows how to bounce back," Arians told reporters Monday. "He knew he didn't play very well and it's not what he expects from himself, nor what we expect. I would anticipate him to have a little more grit (and) a little more determination this week."Though Brady did account for three touchdowns, he threw a pair of interceptions in the opener as the Buccaneers fell 34-23 to the New Orleans Saints.Brady appeared to suffer from a miscommunication with Mike Evans on the first interception, but Arians called the second one - a pick-6 - the result of a poor decision and throw."If you throw an out route and you don't throw it low and outside - that hasn't been the case up until that one," he said. "(He) was a little bit late on it and it probably (would have been) a better decision to go somewhere else with the ball."Arians added that he was surprised to see the three-time MVP, who signed a two-year, $50-million contract with the Bucs in free agency, out of sorts: "He looked like Tom Brady in practice all the time, so it's kind of unusual to see that in the ballgame because they didn't do the things that we didn't get ready for. Everything they did, we thought we were ready for."Brady went 23-for-36 for 239 yards through the air in his Buccaneers debut. In addition to the two interceptions, he was sacked three times and hurried on several other plays. In particular, left tackle Donovan Smith struggled to protect him."I was very disappointed in his play," Arians said of Smith. "I think every now and then he reverts back to some techniques that are not very good (and) he got beat. He had, probably, the easiest guy to block up there and he did a poor job."While Saints star Cameron Jordan spent most of the game rushing against Tristan Wirfs on the right side, Smith was tasked with blocking the less heralded Trey Hendrickson.The Buccaneers will try to get their first win of the season Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, who are also 0-1.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.It's not every week you can detect a bad line in the NFL. Edges are tough to come by in an efficient market.However, it's still early in the 2020 season and perhaps we can find an overreaction throughout the early stages of the betting cycle.Here's the full oddsboard for Week 2.Matchup LineBengals at BrownsBrowns -6Broncos at SteelersSteelers -6Bills at DolphinsBills -5.5Jaguars at TitansTitans -11Lions at PackersPackers -6Rams at EaglesEagles -2.5Panthers at BuccaneersBuccaneers -7.5Giants at BearsBears -5.5Vikings at ColtsColts -3Falcons at CowboysCowboys -649ers at Jets49ers -6.5Redskins at CardinalsCardinals -7Chiefs at ChargersChiefs -8Ravens at TexansRavens -6.5Patriots at SeahawksSeahawks -4Saints at RaidersSaints -5.5Bad line of the week - Seahawks -4 (vs. Patriots)The New England Patriots got the job done Sunday in a 21-11 win over the Miami Dolphins.Cam Newton rushed the ball 15 times for 75 yards and two scores in his Patriots debut. Overall, New England ran it 42 times, masking a wide receiver corps that leaves a lot to be desired.It wasn't the most alluring game plan, but I'm not going to doubt head coach Bill Belichick as he rearranges his offensive pieces.Newton's skill set pales in comparison to Tom Brady's, but this is an offense that can play keep-away if it can get five yards a pop on a designed quarterback dive. There's a higher floor for a unit that can utilize Newton's legs in dire situations.I guarantee you'll see a similar approach this week on the road at Seattle. New England had the ball for nearly 35 minutes in Week 1 and would love nothing more than to keep quarterback Russell Wilson and Co. on the sidelines.And when the Seahawks do have the ball, I don't see a ton of solid matchups.New England cornerbacks Stephon Gilmore and J.C. Jackson will be able to keep Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf in check. The Patriots' defense held Miami to just 4.6 yards per play and didn't skip a beat despite losing some key players from last season.Four points is way too much to give Belichick. New England is 7-3 against the spread over its last 10 road games, 5-1 ATS during its previous six as road underdogs, and 5-1 ATS over its last six contests played in Week 2. Meanwhile, the Seahawks are 7-2 ATS during their last nine home games and 1-5 ATS over their last six Week 2 contests.(Odds source: theScore Bet)Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKolodziej.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2020 Fantasy Football Draft Kit and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, and Anchor.In this episode, Boone discusses his biggest takeaway from every team in Week 1, recaps the latest injuries, and goes over the top players available on the waiver wire.

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas suffered a high ankle injury in Sunday's win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, sources told Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Thomas believes he can play through the ailment but will likely be listed as questionable for Week 2, added Rapoport.The star pass-catcher will have an extra day to rest with the Saints slated to play Monday night against the Las Vegas Raiders.Thomas was quiet in the 34-23 win over the Bucs, catching just three passes for 17 yards. He appeared to suffer the injury late in the game when Saints running back Alvin Kamara rolled up on the wideout's lower leg.Tight end Jared Cook and Kamara were Drew Brees' primary Week 1 targets, racking up 80 and 51 yards and touchdown, respectively.Thomas led the league in catches (149) and receiving yards (1,725) last season and was named the Offensive Player of the Year.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns suffered their 16th straight season-opening loss Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, as Baker Mayfield and the offense struggled to move the ball consistently.Although head coach Kevin Stefanski noted the Week 1 defeat isn't solely on Mayfield, he called his quarterback's performance "inconsistent," per NFL Network's Aditi Kinkhabwala."Baker had some really good moments," Stefanski told reporters, according to ESPN's Jake Trotter. "Some moments he wants back. But I'm not pinning blame on any one person."Mayfield completed 21 of 39 passes for 189 yards, one touchdown, and one interception against the Ravens. He targeted Odell Beckham Jr. a team-high 10 times, but the two only connected three times for 22 yards.Despite throwing to Beckham four more times than the next-closest receiver, Stefanski didn't feel as if the third-year passer was forcing the ball to his top target."We didn't connect as much as we'd like to, it was a combination of things," he said, via Kinkhabwala. "(There were a) couple balls I'm sure Baker wants back, couple routes I'm sure Odell wants back."The Browns' Week 2 contest is at home against the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday Night Football, and the quick turnaround is one reason why Cleveland's head coach won't push the panic button this early in the campaign."I don't get too high or too low," Stefanski said. "This is a long season, we're one game into this ... The best thing we have going for us is we have a game coming up on Thursday night."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch will be placed on injured reserve after suffering a fractured collarbone in the first half of Sunday night's game against the Los Angeles Rams, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.A CT scan revealed a clean break, which means Vander Esch will undergo surgery and his timetable for return is six-to-eight weeks, added Rapoport.The linebacker must miss at least three games under the league's new IR guidelines.Vander Esch was taken to the locker room for evaluation during the game and later ruled out for the rest of the contest.The 24-year-old finished last season on injured reserve after undergoing minor neck surgery to fix a nerve issue. The 2018 Pro Bowler has worn a neck roll since his time in Boise State but didn't miss any action as a rookie two years ago.Vander Esch racked up 72 tackles, three pass breakups, and a forced fumble across nine games last season.The Cowboys are also without veteran linebacker Sean Lee after placing him on injured reserve before the start of the campaign.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines the significance of those events moving forward.Welp, Brady's a Buc now Chris Graythen / Getty Images Sport / GettyHe’s not in Foxborough anymore. Tom Brady’s big first day with the Buccaneers started with the kind of cold effectiveness the world has come to know from him for the last 20 years: a nine-play drive ending with a TD that he scored on a sneak from the 2-yard line. After that? Not so much.The Bucs’ next five possessions ended with a punt, an interception, a blocked field goal, a punt, and another interception. That second INT was a pick-6 putting Tampa Bay into a 24-7 hole less than two minutes into the second half. And that was pretty much that. Brady got the Bucs to within a touchdown, but no closer.It didn’t help that the Buccaneers muffed a kickoff after the Saints extended the lead again. Brady rarely had to worry about those sorts of self-inflicted mistakes at his old job. This was a tough in-division road assignment against a perennial Super Bowl contender, but how Brady and the Bucs bounce back in the weeks ahead will tell us lots. They’ve got the Panthers at home next week.Cam Newton turns back the clock Maddie Meyer / Getty Images Sport / GettyCam Newton's much-anticipated Patriots debut ended with a 21-11 win over the Dolphins and the quarterback leading New England's rushing attack.Newton completed 15 of 19 passes for 155 yards and a 100.7 passer rating. He made his biggest impact on the ground, rushing for a team-high 75 yards on 15 carries, with two touchdowns. He also grinned a lot, which was fun to see again after he missed most of the last two seasons with injuries.The Pats as a team pounded out 217 rushing yards and averaged 5.2 yards on 42 carries. New England had a run-pass ratio of more than 2-to-1, which sounds more like 1940 than 2020. Why does this matter? Bill Belichick has long succeeded by adapting his game plans to his personnel, and he clearly sees Newton’s dual-threat ability as an asset. Newton used designed runs, option reads, and scrambles, and he went heavy on play-action. At one point in the fourth quarter, CBS showed a graphic indicating Newton play-faked on a whopping 80% of his dropbacks.Something tells me we’ve barely gotten a glimpse of the sort of deceptiveness the Pats plan to deploy with Newton this year. This is not Tom Brady’s team anymore.Washington storms back to stun Eagles Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyAfter an offseason of embarrassing headlines that had nothing to do with the embarrassment they’ve long been on the field, the Washington Football Team got off to a very on-brand start. They spotted the Eagles a 17-0 lead, only to score 27 unanswered points to rack up a shocking victory in head coach Ron Rivera's debut.For a while, this one looked like a lot of other Washington wipeouts. After punting with 1:55 remaining in the second quarter, Washington’s win probability dipped to 4.81%. But Fabian Moreau picked off Carson Wentz on the next play, and the comeback was on.Washington did it with defense - by sacking Wentz eight times, forcing three turnovers, and stopping the Eagles twice on fourth down. Defensive end Chase Young, the No. 2 pick in the draft, finished with 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble, while tackle Matt Ioannidis racked up 1.5 sacks and four QB hits. In the second half, Wentz was 10-for-20 with 88 passing yards, an interception, and a 41.3 passer rating. Thanks to the D, all five of Washington’s scoring drives began in Philadelphia territory.It’s too soon to draw any definitive conclusions - other than the Eagles’ banged-up offensive line looks like a toll booth - but it’s still a division win and a promising start for Washington. Since its name change, the Football Team has never lost a football game.The Jags won Julio Aguilar / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Jaguars might be rebuilding and planning for life beyond 2020, but that’s of no concern to the players and coaches on the team this year, many of whom likely won’t be around when that future arrives. The Jags not only spoiled Philip Rivers’ debut, but the Colts quarterback threw a pick late in the game, which certainly felt like a return to normal.Gardner Minshew completed 19 of 20 passes with three touchdowns and zero interceptions. He also spread the ball around to 10 different receivers. Minshew's post-playing career as a roadie for Lynyrd Skynyrd can wait.Bad teams stay bad Rey Del Rio / Getty Images Sport / GettyLeave it to the Jets, Lions, Bengals, and Browns to begin the season with colossal screw-ups. They all clowned their way to losses with their own style of stink. To wit:

The NFL sent a memo Monday reminding teams and coaches that it's important to follow the league's guidelines regarding wearing face coverings on the sidelines."Failure to adhere to this requirement will result in accountability measures being imposed against offending individuals and/or clubs," league executive Troy Vincent wrote, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

Ron Rivera was certainly pleased with the Washington Football Team's comeback win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1, but he was even more proud of his squad for battling adversity in an eventful 2020."Without a doubt. To me the biggest thing, more than anything else, I've been trying to tell everybody, just don't judge us on where we've been," Rivera said, according to MMQB's Albert Breer. "Judge us on where we're going. I get it. We've made some mistakes in the past, this organization, this team. We're trying to correct those things. We're trying to go forward. People keep wanting to be pulling us back. So I said to the guys, 'Don't go backwards with anybody.'"Let's just keep going forward. Let's worry about what we can do. Let's talk about what we can impact and how we can make things happen as opposed to what's already happened."Washington's offseason was among the most tumultuous in recent memory. The team changed its name. The NFL is investigating after several female ex-employees said the organization was a toxic work environment in which male employees sexually harassed them. The team's minority owners reportedly tried to sell their stakes, then pressured Dan Snyder to sell the franchise.Though Washington was down 17-7 at halftime Sunday, the head coach didn't see his players succumb to pressure."What's kind of interesting was I looked around and I realized nobody was panicking," Rivera said, describing the team's reaction to a 17-0 deficit in the second quarter. "Really, honestly, nobody was screaming or pointing fingers or MFing anybody. They were all just like, 'OK what's going on? Let's settle down. Let's calm down.' So I just got on the headset and I just said, 'Hey fellas, we don't have a 17-point play. So why don't we just take it one play at a time and see what happens. Let's get back to the basics.'"Rivera himself was recently diagnosed with squamous cell cancer. Though the disease is treatable, the veteran coach will be forced to take IVs at halftime this season."I got a little tired at the end, I did," he said. "It was pretty good though. Getting the IV was a good move on our part. It just helped me sustain and make it through. And then afterwards, I got a chance to relax, and have a little something to eat before I left the stadium."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The first Sunday night matchup of the 2020 NFL season ended in controversy when the Dallas Cowboys' late comeback attempt against the Los Angeles Rams was thwarted by a widely debated offensive pass interference call.Cowboys wide receiver Michael Gallup hauled in a 47-yard catch during the final minute to give his team a chance to at least send the game to overtime with a field-goal attempt. However, the referees ruled that Gallup pushed off Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey.Though some questioned the call, Ramsey thought it was an obvious flag."If they hadn't have called that, I would have been really upset," Ramsey said, according to ESPN. "That was clear as day, in my opinion."

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.Was it worth the wait? The first week of NFL action delivered plenty of drama for bettors, including six fourth-quarter comebacks and a historic mark by a pesky group of 'dogs.Here are five NFL betting takeaways from Week 1.Historic week of upsetsUnderdogs didn't have the best overall performance in Week 1, but a trio did shock the betting community on Sunday.The Cardinals (+7), Jaguars (+7), and Washington (+5.5) all pulled off outright upsets - a feat with roughly 40-1 implied odds entering Sunday. It was the first time three underdogs of at least 5.5 points won in Week 1 since 2005, and two of those wins came at home, marking the first time that's happened in Week 1 since Sports Database started tracking NFL data in 1989.The biggest winner is Arizona, which entered the year as a fringe playoff contender and strengthened its case with a win over the defending NFC champions. DeAndre Hopkins (14 catches, 151 yards) played as advertised for the Cardinals' offense, but their defense stole the show, holding San Francisco to 2-of-11 on third down and below 21 points for just the fourth time in the 49ers' last 24 games.Saints embarrass Brady, BucsSo much for a new king in the NFC South. In the much-anticipated showdown between Tom Brady and Drew Brees, the Saints (-3.5) smacked the Buccaneers by 11 points in a contest that really wasn't that close. Brady's game to forget included two interceptions, with one being a pick-six, continuing the turnover woes in Tampa Bay.It's not all bad, though - the Bucs' vaunted run defense held star Alvin Kamara to 16 yards on 12 carries, and their offense outgained New Orleans through the air and on the ground. If Tampa Bay can cut down on sloppy mistakes, it's still a team that can push for the NFC title.Newton shines in Patriots debutMaybe New England isn't cooked, after all. Cam Newton rushed for two touchdowns in the first game with his new team and was efficient through the air en route to the Patriots (-7) cashing as home chalk over the frisky Dolphins, who scored just 11 points with three interceptions against New England's elite secondary.It was only the fourth time in the last six seasons New England had more rushing yards (217) than passing yards (140), but perhaps it's a winning formula for Bill Belichick and co. in the post-Brady era since they've covered 11 of the last 12 times in that spot. It's too early to reverse course for those who faded the Patriots this summer, but they have the ingredients for another double-digit win campaign.Ravens, Chiefs continue dominanceThe two biggest blowouts through Sunday came courtesy of the two shortest Super Bowl favorites in the market.A year after leading the league with 14 wins, the Ravens (-7.5) blew the doors off the Browns with a 38-6 victory behind Lamar Jackson's 320 combined yards and three passing touchdowns. Baltimore looks every bit as dangerous this year - despite gaining just 107 rushing yards this week following last season's record-setting mark - and is still a solid bet for anyone who paid for its short Super Bowl odds (+650) entering the year.Don't forget about the Chiefs (-9.5), who scored 31 unanswered points against the Texans in an impressive 14-point victory on Thursday. The defense held Houston to just seven points through the first 52:45 of the game, while Clyde Edwards-Helaire (138 rushing yards) flashed star potential as Kansas City tallied more rushes than passes for the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era. If that keeps up, even a +400 title price may not be short enough.MVP race heats upA big Week 1 showing from Jackson propelled his eventual MVP campaign in 2019. This year, a few players staked an early claim for their own candidacy.Russell Wilson (+800), last year's unofficial runner-up, was nearly flawless with 351 total yards and as many touchdowns (four) as incompletions. Kyler Murray (+2500) scampered all over San Fran's elite defense for 321 yards and two TDs, while Jackson (+650) and Mahomes (+450) were their usual MVP-caliber selves.How about Josh Allen (+6000), who was as high as 66-1 to win the award this summer? He wasn't perfect Sunday, but the Bills quarterback picked apart the Jets' defense for a career-high 312 passing yards and evaded pressure with 57more yards on the ground. Allen earned some preseason buzz in the MVP market before the season, and with more performances like this weekend's, that price could shorten in a hurry.(Odds source: theScore Bet)C Jackson Cowart is a betting writer for theScore. He's an award-winning journalist with stops at The Charlotte Observer, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Times Herald-Record, and BetChicago. He's also a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and his love of sweet tea is rivaled only by that of a juicy prop bet. Find him on Twitter @CJacksonCowart.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cincinnati Bengals were one play away from winning Joe Burrow's debut, but the first overall pick still thinks he has a lot to improve on."At the end of the day, I made too many mistakes to win the game and we just didn't make enough plays," Burrow said Sunday after Cincinnati's 16-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.The rookie signal-caller gave himself a "D" after his first pro game.Burrow led the Bengals on a 14-play, 69-yard drive while trailing by three points with less than four minutes remaining. However, kicker Randy Bullock missed the potential game-tying field goal with seven seconds left.Additionally, an offensive pass interference penalty negated Burrow's late touchdown pass to A.J. Green prior to the missed kick."We weren't playing very well on offense but we started to get a little rhythm there in the two-minute drill and I felt like we were going to go down there and win the game," Burrow said. "And if we didn't win, (that) we were going to score some points and go into overtime. But things didn't fall our way, like I said. We just made too many mistakes."The rookie quarterback completed 23 of his 36 pass attempts for 193 yards and no touchdowns against one interception. Burrow also had 46 yards and one score on the ground and was sacked three times.The Bengals will next face the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Brady's Tampa Bay Buccaneers debut didn't go as planned.The legendary quarterback totaled three touchdowns in Week 1 but his pair of interceptions - including a pick-6 - helped the New Orleans Saints spoil the star-loaded Buccaneers' season opener with a 34-23 victory."It doesn't matter how much talent you have if you throw interceptions returned for touchdowns," Brady said Sunday, according to Greg Auman of The Athletic."We hung our defense out to dry with some short fields," Brady added. "The turnovers really hurt us."Brady said his two interceptions were "just bad throws," per Grace Remington of CBS Tampa.The 43-year-old finished with 239 yards and two passing touchdowns. He also had one rushing score and was sacked three times.Tampa Bay outgained New Orleans in total yards (310-271) and first downs (23-18) but lost the turnover battle (0-3). The Bucs, who led the NFL in penalties in 2019, committed nine infractions in Week 1."We didn't do anything that great on offense," Brady said. "We made a few plays, but I think we're all gonna wish we had a lot of plays back. I certainly do."He added: "I've lost plenty of games in my career. I know I don't like it, but it happens. We just got to do a better job."The Buccaneers will try to bounce back in Week 2 at home against the Carolina Panthers.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Jets head coach Adam Gase regrets bringing Le'Veon Bell back for the second half of their season opener while the running back was ailing from a hamstring injury."I'm mad at myself that I let him go back in there in the second half," Gase said after the Jets fell 27-17 to the Buffalo Bills, according to ESPN's Rich Cimini.Bell, who battled hamstring issues in training camp, was seen grabbing the back of his leg before halftime. He returned briefly in the third quarter with his hamstring wrapped, but was eventually removed and watched the rest of the game from the sideline."That play looked bad," Gase said of the first-half reception on which Bell got hurt. "I'm watching and I thought it was going to be a touchdown, then he got grabbed. And kind of the way he planted and torqued, it looked really bad."I saw him grab his hamstring and he wouldn't come out. We come in at halftime. I let him go back in there. I was worried about it, and we were eventually like, 'I can't put you in there. We can't take a chance on getting more hurt than you already are.'"Gase and Bell clashed briefly in camp when the Jets pulled him out of practice due to hamstring tightness. Bell tweeted afterward that there "ain't nothin wrong with my hamstrings." In response, Gase questioned why Bell would air his frustrations on social media.Bell took six carries for 14 yards in the Week 1 loss to Buffalo. The Jets will face the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Aaron Rodgers has gone through a lot over his 15 NFL seasons, but the Green Bay Packers quarterback considers playing in an empty stadium one of his weirdest moments."One of the strangest experiences I've had in the NFL," Rodgers said Sunday when asked about playing without fans, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.The veteran signal-caller added that the absence of a crowd "doesn't let you know that a play is a good play sometimes," per Ryan Wood of Green Bay Press-Gazette.Despite being in an unfamiliar situation, the two-time MVP managed to start the 2020 regular season on the right foot. Rodgers completed 32 of his 44 pass attempts for 364 yards and four touchdowns en route to a 43-34 victory against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium.Packers head coach Matt LaFleur thinks not having fans in the stands gave his offense an edge over its division rival."It definitely benefited us from an offensive standpoint today in terms of being able to use that hard count," LaFleur said, according to NFL.com's Grant Gordon.Green Bay will host its first game this season without fans next Sunday in Week 2 against the Detroit Lions.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As air quality index levels rise in California, the San Francisco 49ers are hopeful their game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday will be played at Levi's Stadium, a league spokesman told ESPN's Nick Wagoner.Wild fires in the area and a heat wave have created air quality concerns.The Niners practiced under "apocalpytic" skies on Wednesday, head coach Kyle Shanahan said. However, the air quality index was at 69, well under the 200 threshold allowed by the league. On Friday, that number climbed to above 150."We would have (altered the schedule) if it got to 200, but it didn't," Shanahan said. "If it happens Sunday, my understanding is if it gets to 200, that's when the NFL will start really discussing what to do with the game ... Hopefully it won't get there, hopefully it will be safe, but we've got to see what the wind does."Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury said Arizona is "definitely monitoring the situation."Even air quality levels at 150 could prove problematic for people with health concerns. San Francisco running back Tevin Coleman was held out of practice Friday because of a pre-existing sickle cell trait condition."Just taking a precautionary decision to help him for Sunday," Shanahan said. "I know when it is up to 150 that's when it can affect people with different conditions, so that's something that Tevin, it will be a personal decision when he gets there. It's not just an automatic no ... that's stuff you have got to discuss with the doctor and be comfortable with."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Denver Broncos agreed to terms on a four-year extension with kicker Brandon McManus, the team announced.The deal is worth $17.2 million with $9.5 million guaranteed, McManus' agent Drew Rosenhaus told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

George Floyd's family will be in attendance for the Minnesota Vikings' regular-season opener against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, the team announced Friday, according to NFL.com.Floyd's family will be recognized before kickoff and after the performance of the Black national anthem ahead of the game.Floyd, a Black man, was killed while in Minneapolis Police custody in May. The murder prompted protests against police brutality and racial injustice.The Vikings created the George Floyd Legacy Scholarship in June, which includes a $125,000 endowment that will provide roughly $5,000 annually for African American graduating students in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.Before you make your NFL bets this weekend, it's worth knowing which side other bettors are backing - especially on games drawing sharp action.We talked to Jay Rood, Bet.Works' chief risk officer and theScore Bet's head trader, to see how sharps and public bettors are playing a busy Week 1 slate.Las Vegas Raiders (-3, 47) at Carolina PanthersThe biggest move in the early games has come on the Raiders, who opened as 1-point underdogs but have been bet to 3-point road favorites as of Friday.Neither side drew much activity at the opening number, but bettors moved on the Raiders at -1 and came piling in at -2.5. Things have calmed at -3, but Las Vegas is still drawing 20 times as much money as the Panthers in side action.That's come despite a 2-to-1 advantage in ticket count, as four or five sharp plays and a sizable advantage in parlays have moved the line in Las Vegas' favor. Sunday's game marks just the second time since 2017 the Raiders are a road favorite.Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions (-2.5, 43)The other big mover in the early games is Detroit, which opened at -1.5 and has climbed as high as -3 over division rival Chicago."The majority of sharp play is all on the Lions," Rood said, "but we’re getting good two-way action there from squares on the Bears.”Despite decent play on both sides, don't be surprised to see this line return to three points by kickoff if wiseguys keep playing the new-look Lions, who have gone 3-7-1 against the spread in their last 11 division games.Indianapolis Colts (-7.5, 45.5) at Jacksonville JaguarsWith a new quarterback and high expectations entering 2020, the Colts enter Week 1 as massive favorites over the hapless Jaguars - and bettors are all-in.Indianapolis has seen 25 times as many tickets as Jacksonville with a 1,000-1 edge in money wagered. Needless to say, books will be rooting hard for the gold and teal to spoil one of the biggest public plays of the week.“Nobody’s betting the Jaguars," Rood said. "Nobody's betting them even with stolen money ... We’re going to need them to bust up teasers and parlays and everything.”Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers (-7, 48)One of the surprising trends from early wagering is in San Francisco, where last year's runner-up is trending down against the upstart Cardinals.The 49ers opened as 7.5-point favorites but have been bet down to -7 after some early money on Arizona. Those bettors are still backing the road dogs at +7, and this line could move off the key number if current action continues until kickoff.“The sharps are on this one, as well," Rood said. "Everybody’s on the Arizona Cardinals.”The Cardinals' high-upside offense is likely driving the action. That's reflected in the total, which opened at 45.5 but has jumped to 48 as of Friday. Arizona was 10-5 ATS as an underdog last year with a pair of ATS wins and overs against San Francisco.Tennessee Titans (-2, 41) at Denver BroncosNo game has seen more movement than this one, which opened at Broncos -2.5 and sits at Titans -2 as of Friday. There's potential for it to move to -3, too, if bettors keep buying the road team.This line moved in part because of the status of two key defenders. Rood saw an uptick in Tennessee money after the team signed edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney, and it increased when Denver star Von Miller went down with a potentially season-ending injury.As of Friday, the Titans are drawing 20 times as much money as the Broncos. Parlay bets swing 5-to-1 to the road favorites, suggesting more side action could be coming for Tennessee ahead of Monday night."That's a big game for us," Rood said. “To end the week, we’re gonna need the Broncos pretty big."(Odds source: theScore Bet)C Jackson Cowart is a betting writer for theScore. He's an award-winning journalist with stops at The Charlotte Observer, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Times Herald-Record, and BetChicago. He's also a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and his love of sweet tea is rivaled only by that of a juicy prop bet. Find him on Twitter @CJacksonCowart.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Francisco 49ers will be shorthanded at receiver when they take on the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.The team ruled wideout Deebo Samuel out for Week 1 due to a foot injury, and rookie wideout Brandon Aiyuk is questionable with a hamstring ailment.Samuel has been pressing hard to be available for the regular season after suffering a broken left foot in June. In August, head coach Kyle Shanahan expressed optimism that his top wideout would be available for the season opener, but Samuel didn't practice all week.Aiyuk didn't practice Wednesday and was limited on Thursday and Friday. Should he be unavailable Sunday, the 49ers would be down its leading receiver from a season ago and their second first-round pick in this year's draft.The receiving corps would be led by All-Pro tight end George Kittle, and wideouts Kendrick Bourne, Dante Pettis, Trent Taylor, and Richie James.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Brady could be without one of his top weapons for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' season opener.The Buccaneers listed Pro Bowl wide receiver Mike Evans as doubtful for Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints due to a hamstring injury.Evans practiced in a limited capacity Friday after missing sessions on Wednesday and Thursday with what head coach Bruce Arians called a "soft-tissue" injury to his hamstring.The 27-year-old hasn't played in a game since Week 14 of last season. He caught a 61-yard touchdown but pulled up and missed the remainder of the campaign with a strained hamstring.He finished the year with 1,157 yards and eight touchdowns.Fellow receivers Chris Godwin, Justin Watson, and Scotty Miller would all move up the depth chart if Evans misses Sunday's game, and tight ends Rob Gronkowski, Cameron Brate, and O.J. Howard would also likely see more action.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Lions listed wide receiver Kenny Golladay as doubtful for Sunday's Week 1 matchup against the Chicago Bears with a hamstring injury.Golladay suffered the injury Wednesday and hasn't practiced since.The Pro Bowler is coming off a career-high 1,190 yards and 11 touchdowns a season ago and was once again expected to be Matthew Stafford's top target in 2020.Marvin Jones and Danny Amendola are likely to start at receiver against Chicago in Golladay's absence.Detroit also ruled out right tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai for Sunday's matchup, while rookie running back D'Andre Swift was taken off the injury report.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh clearly doesn't want to become a meme.Harbaugh said he was considering wearing a face shield on the sidelines, but that was before he saw Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid use one during the reigning champion's Week 1 victory over the Houston Texans."I dismissed that after last night," Harbaugh said with a smile after Friday's practice, according to ESPN's Jamison Hensley.Amid a comfortable win for the Chiefs, the internet kept itself entertained with jokes about Reid's increasingly fogged-up face shield.