Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton didn't participate in Friday's practice and appears to be "a long shot" to play Monday against the Tennessee Titans, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.Sutton suffered a sprained AC joint in his shoulder during Thursday's practice and was listed as day-to-day.The third-year wideout will attempt to practice on a limited basis Saturday, and Denver has yet to rule him out for Week 1, Rapoport adds.Coming off a successful sophomore campaign, Sutton had high expectations entering the 2020 season. The 24-year-old earned a Pro Bowl selection after racking up 1,112 yards and six receiving touchdowns last year.With rookie KJ Hamler also on the mend, Jerry Jeudy, Tim Patrick, and DaeSean Hamilton would be Drew Lock's top three wide receivers should Sutton be ruled out.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns will be without a pair of cornerbacks against Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens, as Greedy Williams and Kevin Johnson were ruled out of the team's Week 1 matchup.Williams injured his shoulder during training camp and was not deemed fit to take the field opposite Denzel Ward. Johnson suffered a lacerated liver Aug. 20 and is considered week-to-week.Both defenders were expected to play significant roles in Cleveland's secondary this season. Johnson, who signed a one-year deal with the club in April, was fighting for the starting slot cornerback job in camp.The Browns are expected to move forward with Ward and veteran Terrance Mitchell on the outside versus Baltimore. M.J. Stewart is listed as questionable for Week 1 with a hamstring injury, though he's participated in practice all week on a limited basis.Linebacker Mack Wilson and offensive tackle Chris Hubbard were also ruled out Friday, while starting center JC Tretter is questionable to suit up following a knee procedure.Williams started 12 games as a second-round rookie in 2019, logging 47 tackles and no interceptions.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.What do Ray Romano, Marineland, and teasers have in common? Everyone loves them.That was admittedly terrible, but it's Friday, football is back, and we're serving up as much cheese as possible.Let's be honest, all you care about are winners anyway. Every week, we'll bring you our favorite six-point, two-team teaser, with the standard -110 odds. Here's the winning play for Week 1.Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Football TeamLine: Washington +6Teaser line: Washington +12The Eagles have yet to play a snap in the 2020 season, but they're already reeling on the injury front - a continuation of an overwhelming theme from their 2019 campaign. Miles Sanders and Jalen Reagor are banged up, Alshon Jeffery is out, and the offensive line is in disarray. Left tackle Andre Dillard and Pro Bowl guard Brandon Brooks are out for the season, while Lane Johnson is questionable.That's especially concerning against a terrific Washington defensive line - arguably the best Ron Rivera's had as a head coach - that will spend all afternoon in Carson Wentz's face. There will be growing pains for this Washington offense, but Dwayne Haskins is surrounded by an underrated skill group and enters the year with momentum after finishing the 2019 campaign strong: He recorded five touchdowns and just one interception while completing 65.7% of his passes over his final three starts.With the Washington defense sure to keep things close - and ugly from an Eagles perspective - the offense will just have to be average to stay within this number. There's also a motivation factor for Washington following Rivera's cancer diagnosis. This team will leave it all on the field in Week 1, putting the shorthanded Eagles on upset watch.Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville JaguarsLine: Colts -7.5Teaser line: Colts -1.5The biggest early-season concern for the Jaguars isn't necessarily a lack of talent - though that problem exists, too - but just how young this roster is. The defense is extremely green and untested, which is especially problematic in the wake of a shortened offseason and the absence of preseason football. It's going to take time for this team to mesh - perhaps more time than Doug Marrone will be afforded.That's hardly an issue for the Colts, who possess a wealth of talent and experience on both sides of the ball. Indianapolis has one of the most well-rounded rosters in the NFL and the ultimate professional under center in Philip Rivers - who's arguably playing behind the best offensive line he's ever had. With the edge in experience and talent, superiority at quarterback, and a decided advantage at head coach, the Colts will cruise to a 1-0 start.Full teaser: Washington +12, Colts -1.5 ($110 to win $100)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.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans returned to practice Friday for the first time this week after battling a hamstring injury ahead of Sunday's season opener.

Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Charvarius Ward will undergo surgery on his broken hand suffered in Thursday's season opener against the Houston Texans, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Though the injury appears significant, Ward could play through it with a cast on his hand, Rapoport adds.The Chiefs will be dangerously thin at cornerback should the 24-year-old defender miss time. Rookie L'Jarius Sneed and second-year man Rashad Fenton would likely assume the starting spots, with Antonio Hamilton seeing action as well. Sneed fared well in his NFL debut against speedy Texans receivers Will Fuller and Brandin Cooks.Bashaud Breeland started for Kansas City in 2019 but is currently serving a four-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy. He's eligible to return in Week 5.Ward has three extra days' rest before Kansas City's Week 2 matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers on Sept. 20.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

SSSQ is a weekly look at under-the-radar fantasy players to consider starting and potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut.For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult our Week 1 rankings. You can also listen to the Week 1 preview episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast.StartBen Roethlisberger, Steelersat Giants Justin K. Aller / Getty Images Sport / GettyBig Ben is back, but can you instantly trust him and his surgically repaired elbow in your lineup? By all accounts, Roethlisberger looked great throwing in training camp, and he's just one year removed from leading the league in passing yards. Even the narrative about his home/road splits can be put to rest.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.The NFL season is finally upon us.We're posting our best bets each Friday of the campaign. A word of caution, though, to take things slow for the first couple of weeks. Though it's tempting to dive in and bet seven or eight games every weekend, it's better to sit back and be patient amid all the certainty until we get a better read on the teams.With that said, here are our best bets for Week 1:Los Angeles Chargers (-3, 43) at Cincinnati BengalsThere is just too much value here on the Chargers. The Bengals were better than their record suggested in 2019 - losing eight games by one score or fewer - and will be vastly improved this season. However, rookie quarterback Joe Burrow faces a huge challenge when the Chargers' defense comes to town in Week 1.The loss of stud safety Derwin James will be felt throughout the season, but Los Angeles' defensive front has the edge over a porous Bengals offensive line. There's maybe no bigger mismatch in the NFL than Chargers Pro Bowl defensive end Melvin Ingram versus Bengals journeyman right tackle Bobby Hart.Cincinnati's defense allowed an NFL-worst 148.9 rushing yards per game last season, and the Chargers' recipe for success this season is to run the football with Tyrod Taylor starting under center following the departure of Philip Rivers.The Bengals are a popular underdog with the public, with close to 60% of the bets coming in on them as of Friday morning. Fade the public 'dog here for our top play of Week 1.Pick: Chargers -3Philadelphia Eagles (-6, 43.5) at Washington Football TeamWashington is getting very little respect here despite Philadelphia being down two starting offensive linemen and expected to be without receivers Alshon Jeffery and rookie Jalen Reagor.Ron Rivera will turn Washington around, and though there are still question marks about second-year quarterback Dwayne Haskins, the defense has talent across the front seven. Under Rivera and Jack Del Rio, Washington's defense should be much improved from the unit that surrendered 27.2 points per game last season.This is setting up to be a Pros versus Joes situation. As of Friday, 67% of the bets were on the Eagles, though 52% of the money is backing Washington, suggesting more sharp bettors are taking the home 'dog here.With Rivera battling cancer, expect an inspired effort from Washington in what should be a close, low-scoring slugfest.Picks: Washington +6, Under 43.5(Odds source: theScore Bet)(Betting percentages source: Sports Insights)Thomas Casale is theScore's supervising editor of sports betting. He's been following the sports betting industry for almost 30 years. A devoted fan of the wishbone offense, Thomas bets on all sports but specializes in college football, NFL, and college basketball. Find him on Twitter @TheTomCasale.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

J.J. Watt was disappointed by the boos that rained down at Arrowhead Stadium while the Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs stood together in a display of unity before the NFL season opener."The moment of unity I personally thought was good," the Texans star said after the game, according to NFL Network's James Palmer. "I mean, the booing during that moment was unfortunate. I don't fully understand that. There was no flag involved. There was nothing involved other than two teams coming together to show unity."The demonstration took place after the national anthems, for which the Texans remained in the locker room. The Chiefs were on the field for the playing of "Lift Every Voice and Sing" and "The Star-Spangled Banner." The two teams linked arms to promote racial equality and the Black Lives Matter movement.Texans head coach Bill O'Brien said he didn't hear the boos, and speculated that they may have been a reaction to his team coming onto the field for the first time.

The Houston Texans struggled to find consistency on both sides of the ball during their 34-20 opening-night loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Head coach Bill O'Brien understands there's still plenty of season left but hopes to correct his team's mistakes in short order."There's a lot of things to fix, it's one game," O'Brien told reporters, according to The Athletic's Rivers McCown. "We have to improve very quickly. But it is just one game. ... We've got to get back to work very soon and fix these things."Houston was outscored 31-7 entering the midway point of the fourth quarter before quarterback Deshaun Watson scored a pair of touchdowns (one through the air, one on the ground).Despite being outgained by just 9 yards, O'Brien noted that stopping the run and blocking for Watson are key areas he must focus to improve moving forward."I thought Deshaun played well," he said, according to SportsRadio 610. "He played hard, played tough. He kept fighting but it was too late.""We struggled to stop the run, we struggled to get off the field," he added.The Texans' tough early-season schedule continues with matchups against the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers over the next two weeks.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Kansas City Chiefs began their title defense with a convincing 34-20 win over the Houston Texans to kick off the 2020 NFL campaign Thursday night.Here are five key takeaways from the season opener.Who needs preseason?A summer without preseason football was a shock to everyone's system. For players, it means jumping into meaningful games without live reps against another opponent. For coaches, it means preparing for opponents without film on players and/or coaches on new teams. And for fans, it means getting right into the fun stuff without a month of borderline unwatchable football.While there was justifiably some concern as to how players and coaches would adapt in such unfamiliar circumstances, there wasn't much discernible difference from regular-season openers to which we've grown accustomed. Tackling was sound, timing was relatively good in the passing game, and there weren't any major mental errors on either side of the field. It's almost as if a four-game preseason is - and always has been - totally unnecessary.There are certainly still benefits to preseason games - most notably, lesser-known players having more opportunities to crack the roster. But if the rest of the week goes like this (and really, even if it doesn't), it's tough to imagine the NFL not making major changes to the preseason format in a post-pandemic world. The plan is to reduce to three games when a 17-game season is implemented, but why stop there?Clyde's going to be a problemIt was easy to love the fit when Clyde Edwards-Helaire landed with the Chiefs at the end of the first round of this year's draft. One game in, it's becoming easier to dream about just how good he's going to be.The popular sentiment heading into the summer was that Edwards-Helaire, a sensational receiver out of the backfield, could be the next Brian Westbrook in Andy Reid's offense. A flattering comparison, to be sure, but it still felt as though most of the football world was sleeping on the impact he could have as an early down ball carrier, too. Anything a running back may lack in terms of size and breakaway speed simply doesn't feel as important when his elusiveness and contact balance are at such an advanced level that he's this difficult to bring down.The former LSU standout demonstrated everything he's capable of in that regard Thursday, racking up 138 yards and a touchdown, which came on a spectacular 27-yard run. And for anyone who wondered whether Darrel Williams might take some touches away from the rookie, Edwards-Helaire not only out-carried his veteran counterpart 25-7, but also got consistent opportunities on the goal line.Edwards-Helaire is a budding superstar. The Chiefs adding him to an already unstoppable offense is a problem for the rest of the NFL.Chiefs moving people up frontThe Chiefs lost a key starter at guard when Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, who has a doctorate in medicine, opted out of the 2020 season to continue working with patients in long-term care facilities in Montreal. So if there were going to be any questions about the high-flying offense carrying its dominance into the new campaign, they would be centered around the offensive line.In what appears to be the latest stroke of genius from the Kansas City front office, signing Kelechi Osemele following Duvernay-Tardif's decision may well ensure this group doesn't miss a step.Osemele's been a dominant player for significant stretches in his career, making two Pro Bowls in a three-year stay with the Raiders, but injuries caught up to him the last two seasons and left him without a job into the summer. A one-year, $1.2-million contract so late in the offseason was the definition of a flier, but early returns suggest Kansas City may be getting the Osemele of old.Now healthy, and no doubt motivated, Osemele was one of the best players on the field against the Texans. If the Chiefs are going to dominate the line of scrimmage like they did Thursday night - a vast improvement over what we saw from Kansas City's running game last year - no team's going to be able to stop this offense.David Johnson might be backHouston's offseason trade of DeAndre Hopkins, which netted David Johnson and a second-round pick, felt like one of the more lopsided deals in recent memory. It may well end up that way, but that's not to say there isn't at least some upside in the Texans' return - especially if Johnson plays like he did Thursday.After three years of injury issues and overall ineffectiveness, Johnson once again showed flashes of the player who took the league by storm back in 2016. Yes, it's only one game, and players - especially not running backs - aren't often able to recapture some magic after trending down the way Johnson has, so it's best to not overreact, but the explosiveness and shiftiness he demonstrated in his Texans debut were impressive.The 28-year-old finished his night with 77 rushing yards on 11 carries - highlighted by a 19-yard touchdown that opened the scoring - and three catches for another 32 yards out of the backfield.Johnson's not going to win this trade for the Texans - that's impossible. However, his turning back into a big-time playmaker would be a major development for an offense that needs to take some pressure off Deshaun Watson.Texans missing Nuk

After six months of worldwide upheaval and uncertainty, the NFL is back. Its regular season is somehow set to begin on time when the Houston Texans visit the Kansas City Chiefs tonight, while the weekend brings the rest of Week 1's full slate of games, including a nationally televised Sunday tilt featuring Tom Brady and Drew Brees. It feels almost … normal. Almost.Let's get right to the big-picture items that ought to figure prominently this season, at least as of right now.The pandemic isn't overNFL teams did a great job keeping the coronavirus at bay during training camp, thanks in large part to the detailed health and safety protocols established in conjunction with the players' union. The league's rigorous daily testing regimen was set to expire on Sept. 5, but the NFL agreed to continue it during the regular season at the union's request. But the calculation changes now.Though the league opted against an NBA- or NHL-style bubble system, training camps effectively functioned like individual bubbles. But with the season starting, teams will begin to travel, which is precisely the period in which MLB's no-bubble approach started showing vulnerabilities.The NFL is counting on an honor system to keep players, coaches, and other team personnel from putting themselves in situations that might increase their risk of contracting COVID-19. It will certainly help that team travel itineraries - fly in the day before, fly home right after the game - and work schedules might make it more difficult for individuals to stray into risky situations. But uncertainty looms large. The virus will have the ultimate say. Harry Aaron / Getty ImagesThere will be other adjustments. Twenty-six teams will not have fans in the stands, at least at the start of the season. Those that will - the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, and the Chiefs - will do so under capacity restrictions. The league will also allow teams to pump artificial crowd noise into their respective stadiums. Coaches like Sean McDermott of the Buffalo Bills have openly fretted about some teams having a home-crowd advantage, but it's hard to see how 20% capacity in an 80,000-seat stadium will be much of a factor.Practice squads have also been expanded, and there are new rules regarding how teams can claim players or bump them to the active roster in the event of a positive test result. Depending on how things shake out, it will be worth watching to see if any such roster rules become permanent.ProtestsMany players and coaches have said they intend to take a knee during the U.S. national anthem to protest racial injustice and police brutality, with even Cowboys owner Jerry Jones finally acknowledging he won't do anything to stop members of his team from doing so.What's less clear is whether protests will go any further, even to the point of the walkouts that briefly affected other sports in recent weeks. Though commissioner Roger Goodell is now on record saying he supports both the players' right to protest and their cause, it's also unclear how he and the league will react if the protests wind up in President Donald Trump's outrage generator with a November election looming.The separation of Brady and BelichickAfter 20 years of unprecedented success, Brady and head coach Bill Belichick won't be working together. It's impossible to suss out which one was more responsible for the New England Patriots' dynasty since they were so intertwined in their working relationship. But now what? Pool / Getty ImagesBrady joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and they seem to have the pieces for a playoff run, but winning the offseason isn't the same as winning for real. Belichick, meanwhile, made a value acquisition by picking up Cam Newton on the cheap, but Newton is stuck throwing to the same mediocre pass-catchers with whom Brady had to work last season. New England also had a league-high eight players opt out of the season because of the pandemic, including two of its best defenders. It's impossible to count the Patriots out until they're actually out, but could this finally be the year?Young guns at QBThe last few seasons have signaled a real changing of the guard at quarterback after many years of geezers like Brady dominating the position. Patrick Mahomes was the 2018 league MVP in his first full season as a starter and followed that by winning the Super Bowl. Lamar Jackson was last year's league MVP after piloting the Baltimore Ravens to a 14-2 finish. Deshaun Watson continues to thrive despite Bill O'Brien's questionable roster management. Dak Prescott proved he can succeed in a forward-thinking system. And Kyler Murray showed potential in head coach Kliff Kingsbury's aggressive offense, which now includes one of the game's best receivers in DeAndre Hopkins. Norm Hall / Getty ImagesAll of these quarterbacks have dynamic skill sets and coaches who are willing to tap into their full potential with play-calls and personnel groupings designed around what they do best, eschewing the traditional square-peg-round-hole approach of forcing them to be strictly pocket passers. It's a credit to all involved, and it's also fun as hell to watch. That Mahomes and Watson both received gargantuan contract extensions this offseason is a sign these guys are expected to dominate for years. That Prescott didn't is a sign of Jones' stubbornness, which is only going to make signing Prescott increasingly expensive.Don't forget the geezersEli Manning finally retired, but Brady, Brees, Philip Rivers, and Aaron Rodgers are still alive and kicking because some things never change. Brady and Rivers are with new teams, while the Green Bay Packers traded up to nab Jordan Love, Rodgers' possible replacement, in the first round of the draft. Brees, meanwhile, will be 42 in January, a fact often overlooked because he'll never be as old as Brady.Like Brady, Rivers has a chance to begin anew, albeit as a bridge quarterback on a one-year deal. But the Colts had built a roster that seemed primed to contend for a Super Bowl in 2019 until Andrew Luck retired on the eve of the season. Even if Rivers is no longer a consistent deep-shot threat, he still possesses something with which Indianapolis can work. Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesThen there's Ben Roethlisberger, who's 38 and coming off elbow surgery, which is never a good combination. Big Ben was a big-volume QB as recently as 2018, but he also had peak Antonio Brown at that time, and his performances in recent years have sometimes been erratic. The Pittsburgh Steelers figured out how to play defense last season for the first time in years, which was a big reason they were able to eke out an 8-8 finish with Devlin Hodges and Mason Rudolph doing their worst in Roethlisberger's absence. A healthy, capable Roethlisberger could put the Steelers on a path toward a possible playoff run. A banged-up, scattershot Roethlisberger could leave the franchise rudderless and stuck with a mammoth 2021 cap hit.Don't forget Russ, eitherAt 31, Russell Wilson is neither a young gun nor a geezer. But he remains one of the NFL's best quarterbacks, in large part because of his ability to improvise in a Seattle Seahawks offense that could do so much more to feature his talents."In 2019, only five teams passed on a lower percentage of plays than Seattle (54.0%), and in '18 no team threw less frequently," Conor Orr recently wrote for Sports Illustrated. "The team went to the playoffs in both of those seasons, in large part because Wilson consistently delivered his heroics late.""Let Russ Cook," indeed.Remember the Cleveland Browns?The Browns were 2019's version of the Buccaneers: a team widely expected to make a playoff push after years of futility. Alas, paper champions are sometimes just paper champions. Quarterback Baker Mayfield struggled, Cleveland finished 6-10, and the team fired head coach Freddie Kitchens after just one season.Despite a wealth of talent, the 2019 Browns were a prime example of how team and coaching dynamics - factors fans and even reporters aren't close enough to observe - can be the difference between winning and losing. There seemed to be no way a team with Mayfield, Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, Nick Chubb, Myles Garrett, and Denzel Ward could lose 10 games. But success isn't just about having talented players, even if having such players is a key ingredient in achieving that success. Diamond Images / Getty ImagesCleveland had a real front-office conflict between its analytics-driven individuals and its old-school football folks. And though Kitchens seemed like a smart hire given the improvement Mayfield and the offense showed once he took over as coordinator midway through the 2018 season, he proved to be out of his depth in the head job.After 2019, the Browns hit reset again, this time putting the analytics-minded Paul DePodesta in charge of personnel and hiring Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski as head coach. They also signed tackle Jack Conklin and tight end Austin Hooper, in addition to drafting tackle Jedrick Wills. Those moves ought to help Mayfield by reducing the frequency with which he jets out of the pocket when it might be unnecessary. With far less preseason fanfare, could this be the Browns' year? It's possible, but these are the Browns, so believe it when you see it.Can the Titans sustain what they started?Six games into the 2019 season, Ryan Tannehill replaced Marcus Mariota as the Tennessee Titans' starting quarterback and proceeded to become one of the league's most efficient passers. Tannehill, a former first-round pick who had washed out with the Dolphins, wound up leading the league in completion percentage over expectation, which measures a QB's performance relative to the difficulty of his throws. Tennessee made the playoffs, then beat the Patriots and Ravens on the road before grabbing an early but ill-fated 10-point lead against the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.Running back Derrick Henry also won the rushing title, and he averaged 148.7 yards on the ground in the Titans' three playoff games. The team rewarded both Tannehill and Henry with contract extensions, but can the Titans keep it up? Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesTennesee has an innovative offensive coordinator in Arthur Smith, who went heavy on play-action last year, and the team added pass-rusher Vic Beasley before also landing Jadeveon Clowney on the eve of the season. After spending some time at Titans camp, NBC's Peter King came away impressed with what he heard about rookie running back Darrynton Evans, a third-round draft pick. One person close to the Titans told King that Evans "has a chance to be a poor man's Alvin Kamara."Tannehill, Henry, Evans, and shifty wideout A.J. Brown - who averaged 8.9 yards after the catch last season, according to Sports Info Solutions - certainly give the Titans plenty on which to build. They're just not a surprise anymore.Dom Cosentino is a senior features writer at theScore.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ahead of the first game of the 2020 NFL season, the Houston Texans stayed in the locker room before the playing of "Lift Every Voice and Sing" and "The Star-Spangled Banner."

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 rankings for Week 1.The final rankings will be released Sunday morning.Half PPR

Free-agent wide receiver Josh Bellamy was charged Thursday with wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud for his alleged role in a COVID-19 relief scheme.The U.S. Department of Justice claims Bellamy received over $1.2 million in illegal Paycheck Protection Program loans for his company Drip Entertainment LLC. The entire scheme was allegedly worth over $24 million.Bellamy was released Tuesday by the New York Jets. He was on the physically unable to perform list while recovering from a shoulder injury.Prosecutors say Bellamy spent $62,000 of loan money at a Florida casino, and over $104,000 on items at luxury stores like Dior, Gucci, and various jewelers. The 31-year-old also allegedly withdrew over $302,000.Bellamy played for the Chicago Bears from 2014-18 before joining the Jets last year. His most productive campaign came in 2017 when he caught 24 passes for 376 yards and one touchdown.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Miami Dolphins announced Thursday that they, as a team, will stay in the locker room during the playing of both national anthems this season.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton was diagnosed Thursday with a sprained AC joint in his shoulder and is day-to-day, a source told Mike Klis of 9News.Sutton reportedly underwent an MRI on his shoulder after departing practice with an injury.Sutton finished training camp atop the Broncos' depth chart out wide, a year after posting his first 1,000-yard season. The 24-year-old earned a Pro Bowl selection last year after racking up 1,112 yards and six touchdowns through the air.The Broncos entered 2020 with increased expectations after their strong finish last year but have already suffered one major injury, as edge rusher Von Miller sustained a potentially season-ending dislocated ankle tendon.Denver is set to begin its schedule against the Tennessee Titans on the season debut of Monday Night Football.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott got help this offseason after experiencing anxiety and depression in the wake of his older brother Jace's death and the coronavirus pandemic."When you have thoughts that you've never had, I think that's more so than anything a chance to realize it and recognize it, to be vulnerable about it," Prescott said, according to ESPN's Todd Archer.He added, "I think being open about it and not holding those feelings in was one of the better things for me."Prescott revealed on "In Depth with Graham Bensinger" that his brother died by suicide. He said Jace carried a heavy burden as the primary caregiver for their mother, Peggy, as she received treatment for colon cancer while Dak attended school at Mississippi State."Jace at the time was finishing with school and was home, was with her, and watched it," Dak said. "She couldn't necessarily hide it from Jace because he was there every day. He saw the times where she would have to spend probably 10-plus hours throwing up, this and that, and saw the medicine she had to take."Peggy died in 2013, and Dak said the death of his mother impacted him and his two brothers, Jace and Tad, immensely.Dak saw Jace three days before his death in April and thought everything seemed fine."I mean, obviously tears and tears and tears," Prescott said of learning of his brother's death. "I mean, I sat there and tried to gather what had happened, and wanted to ask why for so many reasons ... and as much as you want to ask why as much as this, I mean, I know my brother, and as we said, he had a lot of burdens on him."Prescott told Archer that he shared his feelings with close friends, current and former teammates, and a sports psychologist.The quarterback also revealed how the coronavirus pandemic affected him."I'm a people person. I'm somebody that likes to be around people. I like to inspire. I like to put a smile on people's faces, day in and day out, and I like to lead," Prescott said. "When that's taken away from you simply because you're forced to quarantine and not be around people and get around people as much as you would like to, yeah, it's tough."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For the first time since reports surfaced that contract negotiations between the two sides were suspended, Zach Ertz spoke to his standing with the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday.The star tight end reiterated that he wants to spend the rest of his career with the Eagles, but expressed frustration that the club has been unable to work out a new deal."It's been frustrating at times. It's been difficult," Ertz told reporters, according to Zach Berman of The Athletic. "I said all along I want (to) be here for the long run. I don't know if for sure that feeling is mutual. I'm going to play this year like it's my last year (in Philadelphia)."The two sides reportedly discussed an extension in August. The Eagles apparently offered a lower average annual salary than Austin Hooper's four-year, $42-million deal with the Cleveland Browns this offseason.Ertz is signed through 2021 after inking a five-year, $42.5-million extension in January 2016. His deal also includes a team opt-out option following the 2020 campaign."I don't think it should be too hard to get a deal done now," he said, per NFL Network's Andrew Siciliano.Ertz has been one of the league's most productive tight ends since entering the league. He leads all tight ends with 525 catches since 2013 and has amassed at least 70 receptions and 800 receiving yards in each campaign since 2015.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Blake Bortles should stop reading right here.After three frustrating seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, running back Leonard Fournette is elated at the prospect of finally playing with a good backfield partner in Tom Brady after joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers."I don't really worry about expectations," he said Tuesday, according to NFL.com's Kevin Patra. "Football is football. I've been playing the same game for 25 years. I mean, for the first time in my life, I really have a quarterback. So that's eye-opening for me."Fournette also took the field with Gardner Minshew, Cody Kessler, and Nick Foles in Jacksonville. At LSU, the 2017 No. 4 overall pick played mostly with Danny Etling and Brandon Harris.But with the Bucs, Fournette is paired with arguably the greatest quarterback in NFL history, and certainly the league's most accomplished active player.With receiving weapons like Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Rob Gronkowski at Brady's disposal, the Bucs are likely to rely sparingly on their running game.Fournette has no issues with shouldering less responsibility after years of carrying Jacksonville's offense."And not a lot of pressure is gonna come on me," he said. "As far as game-planning and changing things, it's great for me. I'm happy to be back there with one of the greatest, well, the greatest that's played this game, and I get to learn from him too."My first two days here, I was sitting here talking to him about other defenses, what he expects, what I expect from him, you know our expectations because they're high right now. But we have to start with each other on the team to understand each other and get better communication before anything."Ronald Jones sits atop the depth chart, and the Bucs also signed LeSean McCoy this offseason, so Fournette will have to prove he deserves to be the lead back alongside Brady.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, Mike Tagliere of FantasyPros joins Boone to discuss the biggest fantasy questions heading into Week 1.

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

The Denver Broncos recently expressed interest in signing veteran pass-rusher Clay Matthews in an attempt to fill the void left by Von Miller's ankle injury, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.Unfortunately for Denver, the former Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker reportedly told the club he's "not going to play" this season.Matthews' agent, Ryan Williams, released a statement shortly after the report, clarifying that the veteran could not agree to terms with the Broncos but remains open to playing in 2020.

The first game of the 2020 campaign is on its way, so theScore's NFL staff is kicking things off with playoff, Super Bowl, and awards predictions for this season.AFCEASTNORTHSOUTHWESTWCWCWCAlessandriniBUFPITINDKCBALTENLVBrowneNEBALINDKCPITHOUBUFChippinBUFBALINDKCPITHOUNEMcClymontBUFBALHOUKCPITCLETENMiariBUFBALINDKCHOUNEPITValenteBUFBALINDKCPITHOUNEWashingtonNEBALINDKCCLEPITLACWilkinsNEBALTENKCPITCLEBUFWoodsBUFPITINDKCBALNETENThe addition of Philip Rivers gives us plenty of hope that the Indianapolis Colts can win their first division title since 2014. The Buffalo Bills are also trying to return to the top of the division and kick off the season as our favorites in the AFC East.NFCEASTNORTHSOUTHWESTWCWCWCAlessandriniDALMINTBSEANOGBARIBrownePHIMINTBSFSEADALATLChippinDALMINNOSEATBGBATLMcClymontPHIGBNOSFTBDALARIMiariDALGBNOSEATBMINPHIValenteDALMINNOSFTBSEAARIWashingtonDALGBNOSFTBMINSEAWilkinsDALMINNOSEATBSFATLWoodsDALGBNOSEASFTBMINThe star-studded Tampa Bay Buccaneers are expected to end the franchise's playoff drought, but they're not yet the favorites over the New Orleans Saints in the NFC South. We're also looking for the Arizona Cardinals and Atlanta Falcons to bounce back from 5-10-1 and 7-9 seasons, respectively.AFC Championship GamePREDICTIONAlessandriniRavens vs. SteelersBrowneChiefs vs. PatriotsChippinChiefs vs. RavensMcClymontChiefs vs. RavensMiariChiefs vs. SteelersValenteChiefs vs. RavensWashingtonChiefs vs. RavensWilkinsChiefs vs. SteelersWoodsChiefs vs. SteelersAll but one picked the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs to return to the conference title game. It's widely expected their opponent will be one of two AFC North powerhouses.NFC Championship GamePREDICTIONAlessandriniSeahawks vs. BuccaneersBrowneCowboys vs. 49ersChippinSaints vs. SeahawksMcClymontBuccaneers vs. SaintsMiariSaints vs. PackersValenteSaints vs. CowboysWashingtonSaints vs. 49ersWilkinsCowboys vs. SaintsWoodsCowboys vs. SaintsAs was the case with the AFC, there's a clear favorite to make it to the NFC Championship Game. However, there's a ton of variety when it comes to who we believe the Saints will face, as the conference is shaping up to be a slugfest.Super Bowl LVPREDICTIONAlessandriniRavens def. SeahawksBrowneCowboys def. ChiefsChippinChiefs def. SaintsMcClymontChiefs def. SaintsMiariSaints def. ChiefsValenteChiefs def. CowboysWashingtonChiefs def. SaintsWilkinsCowboys def. SteelersWoodsChiefs def. SaintsUnsurprisingly, five out of nine editors have the Chiefs hoisting the Lombardi Trophy again. The bigger shock may be the team that received the second-most votes to win Super Bowl LV: the Dallas Cowboys.Rookies of the YearOFFENSIVEDEFENSIVEAlessandriniJerry JeudyIsaiah SimmonsBrowneJoe BurrowChase YoungChippinJerry JeudyChase YoungMcClymontClyde Edwards-HelaireJeff OkudahMiariJonathan TaylorChase YoungValenteJoe BurrowChase YoungWashingtonClyde Edwards-HelaireChase YoungWilkinsJoe BurrowPatrick QueenWoodsClyde Edwards-HelaireChase YoungThere's an obvious favorite to win the Defensive Rookie of the Year, but voters are split on the offensive side of the ball, with Edwards-Helaire, Burrow, and Jeudy each picked more than once.Players of the YearOFFENSIVEDEFENSIVECOMEBACKAlessandriniLamar JacksonNick BosaBen RoethlisbergerBrowneJulio JonesDarius LeonardCam NewtonChippinChristian McCaffreyMyles GarrettBen RoethlisbergerMcClymontTom BradyNick BosaAlex SmithMiariEzekiel ElliottT.J. WattCam NewtonValenteDeshaun WatsonT.J. WattBen RoethlisbergerWashingtonSaquon BarkleyNick BosaMatthew StaffordWilkinsPatrick MahomesMyles GarrettCam NewtonWoodsPatrick MahomesMyles GarrettBen RoethlisbergerBosa is the slight favorite to take home Defensive Player of the Year honors after an impressive rookie campaign, while Mahomes is the most popular pick to win the offensive award for the second time in three years.Meanwhile, a quartet of quarterbacks highlight our Comeback Player of the Year choices, with Roethlisberger and Newton standing out as the favorites.Coach of the YearPREDICTIONAlessandriniSean McDermottBrowneBill BelichickChippinBruce AriansMcClymontKliff KingsburyMiariSean PaytonValenteMike McCarthyWashingtonBruce AriansWilkinsMike McCarthyWoodsMike McCarthyOur high expectations for the Cowboys are reflected here, as new head coach McCarthy is the favorite to capture his first career Coach of the Year award.MVPPREDICTIONAlessandriniKyler MurrayBrowneDak PrescottChippinRussell WilsonMcClymontKyler MurrayMiariAaron RodgersValentePatrick MahomesWashingtonPatrick MahomesWilkinsDak PrescottWoodsPatrick MahomesThe MVP conversation is a bit more muddied than one might expect, with three quarterbacks receiving more than one vote and two more also getting a nod. Surprisingly, reigning MVP Lamar Jackson wasn't among those picked.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2020 NFL season is nearly here, and Pittsburgh Steelers receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster is chomping at the bit.The previous campaign was a disappointing one for both the team and wideout. The Steelers went 8-8, missing the playoffs for the second straight year, and Smith-Schuster recorded career lows in catches (42), yards (552), and touchdowns (three).Entering his fourth season, he's using last year's experiences to fuel him."It's more so motivation," Smith-Schuster told theScore. "Obviously last year we had some ups and downs with some players being out and I dealt with a major injury that had me out for (four) weeks. But at the end of the day, it is what it is. Going into this season, I'm more hungry than ever. Can't wait to beat my goals and get where I want to get."Now "100%" healthy following the knee injury that cost him Weeks 12-15 last season, Smith-Schuster is looking forward to reuniting with another teammate who missed a major part of the previous campaign. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger suffered a throwing-arm elbow injury, but he's fully recovered entering his 17th season."He's actually surprised a lot of people. His recovery process and for him to come back, he's doing a great job," Smith-Schuster said. "He looks like normal Ben, the first two years I played with Ben. He looks totally fine. I can't wait to just go crazy."With two of their offensive leaders given a clean bill of health, the Steelers' focus is on a postseason return. After four consecutive playoff appearances from 2014 to 2017, Pittsburgh was one of the last teams eliminated from postseason contention in 2018 and 2019."Last year we fell short, we had to win one game out of the two games and (we didn't)," Smith-Schuster said."All we have to do is lean in," he added, noting that the club made the playoffs in his first NFL season. "I know what it takes to get there and I'm pretty sure the other guys do, too."The 23-year-old is aware he's entering a season unlike any other. Training camp was held under a bubble at Heinz Field due to the coronavirus pandemic, and social justice protests continue across America.Smith-Schuster said talks are ongoing ahead of the Steelers' season opener against the New York Giants on Monday regarding a possible social-justice gesture during the national anthem."As of right now, coach (Mike) Tomlin, that's something that he's going to talk to us about, hopefully this Friday," he said. "Leading into Monday Night Football, we're going to be on a big stage and we might do something but that's up to the head coach. We're a team and we're going to be as one. Hopefully, we'll do something to show the world that enough's enough."Smith-Schuster is much more certain of his plans on the field. Though fans won't be present at Heinz Field for at least the Steelers' first two home games, the exuberant receiver has planned a few touchdown celebrations."Just know that I might be in the crowd as an actual fan and somebody might go up to me and we do a little celebration," he said.All NFL games this season will be available for Canadian fans live across multiple platforms on DAZN."You can see me there doing all my celebrations, all my catches, pretty much everything I do to have fun so check it out," Smith-Schuster said.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Aaron Rodgers is relishing the idea of the Green Bay Packers being underestimated.The quarterback seemed bemused about his club not garnering much national attention despite finishing 13-3 and a win away from the Super Bowl last season."I think the beauty is there's a lot of conversation about other teams, whether it's Tom (Brady) and Tampa, or the teams that were really solid last year, New Orleans, San Francisco, Seattle, Philadelphia, Dallas with Mike (McCarthy) and what they've done to their roster," Rodgers said Wednesday, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky."I like where we're at as far as kind of flying under the radar even though we went 13-3 last year," he added. "We've got a chance to prove what kind of team we are to start the season out on Sunday, and I look forward to that opportunity."Those NFC clubs have dominated offseason headlines, but the Packers return much of the same roster that reached the NFC Championship Game last campaign.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Francisco 49ers conducted a walk-through and practice Wednesday under an orange sky.The combination of California wildfires and a heat wave made for the unfamiliar environment."We just got back in from walk-through and it's orange out here, too," head coach Kyle Shanahan said, according to ESPN's Nick Wagoner. "I feel like I'm in 'The Book of Eli' - it's like an apocalyptic state out there."The 49ers host the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, but the air quality in the area has not yet reached dangerous levels. Shanahan said the air quality index was at 69 during the walk-through and remained in the 60s. The NFL won't allow teams to play if that number reaches 200 or higher."Surprisingly, the air quality doesn't seem as bad as it looks," Shanahan said. "A few weeks ago when we had it or last week, it got up, it got past 150 here for us. But, today, when we were just out there 15 minutes ago, that air quality was at 69, I think, which isn't close to what it's been. It definitely looked different out there."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ahead of the 2020 NFL season opener Thursday between reigning Super Bowl champions the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans in a rematch of their playoff slugfest, theScore's football editors examine the most pressing on-field question for all 32 teams.Arizona CardinalsWill DeAndre Hopkins' arrival turn the offense into a juggernaut? Christian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / GettySix months later and the decision to trade Hopkins is still just as perplexing. The Cardinals likely won't preoccupy themselves with how lucky they were to get the wideout, but rather focus on integrating him as fast as possible to create a dangerous passing attack. Kyler Murray flashed a star ceiling as a rookie, but it remains to be seen how he'll adapt to playing with a target monster like Hopkins. The Year 2 expectations for the "Kliff Kingsbury era Cardinals" - especially the offense - are high compared to 2019. Whether or not Hopkins can lead the unit from Day 1 is the key to a playoff push.Atlanta FalconsWill Matt Ryan get enough protection?A team can have all the firepower in the world, but it doesn't matter if the quarterback is hounded every snap. That's what happened to the Falcons and Ryan in 2019. Despite Atlanta pouring assets into fixing the offensive line, the 2016 MVP was the league's third-most sacked QB (48). Ryan's poor protection wasted the prodigious talents of wideouts Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley. The offense has to lead the way if the Falcons are to compete in the NFC South. That won't happen unless the line takes strides forward.Baltimore RavensIs Marquise Brown ready to lead the passing attack?The only weakness on a star-studded Ravens roster appears to be a receiving corps bereft of a 1,000-yard receiver last season. Brown led the team's wideouts with just 584 yards, though he added seven touchdowns. "Hollywood" packed on 23 pounds of muscle this offseason to better withstand the beating he'll take from top cover men. With opposing defenses keying in on the top-ranked running game, Brown will have to be a difference-maker.Buffalo BillsCan Josh Allen take a leap in efficiency as a passer? Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyThe Bills have done all they can to surround their young QB with the necessary pieces to go from playoff participants to title contenders. Allen is backed by a top-tier defense, a top-10 running game (to which Allen contributes much), and he now has a star receiver to pass to in Stefon Diggs. What's left is for the 24-year-old to improve his accuracy; his 58% completion percentage was the lowest mark among the 32 starting QBs last season.Carolina PanthersHow will Matt Rhule deal with the leap from college to the NFL?The Colts were mocked for interviewing Rhule in 2018 after being rebuffed by Josh McDaniels. At the time, Rhule was coming off a 1-11 season in his first year at Baylor. But 18 regular-season wins and a bowl victory later, Rhule was tapped as the ideal program-builder to turn Panthers owner David Tepper's vision into a reality. There are sure to be growing pains for Rhule, just like fellow ex-college coach Kingsbury experienced last year. While Carolina is thinking long term, Rhule still needs to show relatively quickly that the NFL stage isn't too big for him.Chicago BearsWill the latest gamble on Mitchell Trubisky pay off?Matt Nagy has again hitched his wagon to Trubisky. Playing out the final year of his rookie contract, the 26-year-old will enter the season as the starting QB after beating out Nick Foles in camp. The Bears didn't miss the playoffs by much last season, and there's more opportunity to reach the postseason this time around with an expanded field. Still, much will be expected of Trubisky if he's to stick in Chicago and ward off the naysayers.Cincinnati BengalsCan A.J. Green still be the focal point of the offense? Timothy T Ludwig / Getty Images Sport / GettyGreen looked like a top-10 receiver the last time we saw him. His 2018 was cut short by injury, but you get 1,234 yards and 11 touchdowns on 136 catches if you extrapolate his production from nine starts. But, at 32 and coming off a 21-month layoff, can Green still be a No. 1 weapon for Joe Burrow, or have injuries sapped too much of his athleticism? Cincinnati has running back Joe Mixon and a solid group of wideouts to rely on behind the Pro Bowler. Green was one of the rare game-changers in his prime; the Bengals need that version to return.Cleveland BrownsCan Odell Beckham Jr. return to elite form?Last season was a year to forget for the Cleveland Browns and Beckham. The superstar entered his first campaign with the Browns surrounded by huge expectations following a blockbuster trade; he and Baker Mayfield were supposed to be a guaranteed dynamic duo. Unfortunately, Mayfield had a serious case of the sophomore slumps, and the wideout rarely looked like the game-changer he was in New York. Beckham set a historically high bar in his first three seasons. If he can't recapture that form, it's hard to see this marriage lasting beyond 2020.Dallas CowboysIs the move from Jason Garrett to Mike McCarthy a big enough upgrade?Cowboys supporters have long professed that all Dallas needed was a change in leadership. We'll finally learn if that's the case as McCarthy, a proven winner, takes over for Garrett. The Cowboys have one of the most talented rosters in the league, and the team made few changes to the core this offseason. They'll be looking to rebound from a disappointing 8-8 season, hoping McCarthy's championship pedigree can put them over the top.Denver BroncosCan Drew Lock take advantage of a talent-rich offense? Dustin Bradford / Getty Images Sport / GettyWhile most are pegging Murray as the breakout sophomore QB, Lock is entering 2020 with a lot of hype. The Broncos seem confident they've finally found their franchise player in Lock, who went 4-1 as a starter in 2019, after years of failing to replace Peyton Manning. John Elway found Lock's play so convincing he went all-in on the offense, adding running back Melvin Gordon and rookie receiver Jerry Jeudy to a crew that already boasted Courtland Sutton and Phillip Lindsay. Lock has all the help he needs, but he won't have any excuses if things go wrong.Detroit LionsCan the running game finally give Matthew Stafford the support he deserves?The Lions attempt to kickstart their running game ever year, only to come up short each time. The biggest victim of this has been Stafford, who's been forced to carry the offense for too long. The overreliance on the QB was clear last season when he got injured. There's no guarantee of better help for Stafford in 2020, with the backfield containing a 35-year-old Adrian Peterson; Kerryon Johnson, who averaged 3.6 yards last year; and rookie D'Andre Swift.Green Bay PackersDoes Aaron Rodgers have enough weapons?One wouldn't fault Rodgers if he felt the Packers were purposely handicapping him. The front office neglected to add playmakers through the draft or free agency, then cut receiver Jake Kumerow - whom Rodgers vouched for - and didn't even opt to place him on the practice squad. Allen Lazard and his 36 career receptions are listed as the team's second receiver. Green Bay is again asking Rodgers to work his magic and banking on another career year from running back Aaron Jones.Houston TexansWill Bill O'Brien's dramatic makeover of the offense pay off? Wesley Hitt / Getty Images Sport / GettyVery few people would say O'Brien's trade of Hopkins was the best plan moving forward. Hopkins is a top-five receiver and developed great chemistry with Deshaun Watson. If there's an on-field explanation for the move that makes a lick of sense, it's that the Texans head coach saw the beginning of a decline after the wideout had 400 fewer yards in 2019 than the year prior, and decided to pivot to build the offense around speed and help Watson be less reliant on one weapon in key situations. Is O'Brien a mad genius or just plain mad? Time will tell.Indianapolis ColtsDoes Philip Rivers have anything left in the tank?The Jacoby Brissett-led passing attack was one of the NFL's least intimidating in 2019, and the Colts had a middling season as a result. While Rivers is a far better fit in Frank Reich's offense, there's no guarantee he'll be a significant upgrade. On the one hand, Rivers played close to an MVP level in 2018 and now has the best offensive line of his career. On the other, it's hard to forget all the interceptions and how shot his arm looked at times in his final year with the Chargers.Jacksonville JaguarsHow will the defense respond to mass turnover?Is there a better example of the famous phrase "NFL means not for long" than the Jaguars defense that carried the team to the 2017 AFC title game? Jacksonville traded three key defensive pieces in Calais Campbell, Yannick Ngakoue, and A.J. Bouye this offseason, which leaves Myles Jack as the last remaining starter from the team that lost to the Patriots in the playoffs three years ago. The unit is now scarily short on talent, depth, and experience.Kansas City ChiefsIs Clyde Edwards-Helaire ready for the top role? Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images Sport / GettyIt's hard to find many significant question marks when you look over the Chiefs' roster. The offense is certain to continue to be a monster. The difference between another top-five scoring finish and potentially challenging historic feats might come down to first-round running back Edwards-Helaire and if he's ready to take over Damien Williams' workload following the veteran's decision to opt out.Las Vegas RaidersCan the young secondary grow up fast enough?The Raiders are undergoing a youth movement with their secondary in the team's first year in Las Vegas. Trayvon Mullen, a 2019 second-round pick, and rookie first-rounder Damon Arnette are set to start at outside cornerback. Johnathan Abram, a 2019 first-rounder who missed his rookie season due to injury, will start at strong safety. In a division containing Patrick Mahomes, the unit must grow up quickly in 2020.Los Angeles ChargersCan the defense lead the team without Derwin James?With the offense in a state of transition with Rivers' and Gordon's departures, the Chargers need their defense to be the team's driving force if they want to challenge the Chiefs. The unit took a major blow when James was recently lost to a season-ending knee injury in training camp. L.A.'s defense ranked 10th in DVOA in James' standout 2018 rookie season, but it dropped to 25th when he was limited to five games the following year. The Chargers' unit is talented, but can the scheme work without the do-it-all safety?Los Angeles RamsWill the offense thrive without Todd Gurley and Brandin Cooks? Harry How / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Rams will field a new-look offense after cutting Gurley and trading Cooks. The two players were responsible for 3,103 yards and 27 touchdowns of L.A.'s production in 2018, but both players' roles were significantly reduced last season. Sean McVay wants a committee approach to his backfield moving forward, and the expectation is the Rams will move from three- and four-receiver sets to a more tight end heavy attack.Miami DolphinsWhen will Tua Tagovailoa see the field?Tagovailoa is seemingly fully recovered from the hip injury that ended his final season at Alabama and threatened to tank his draft stock. With limited offseason and training camp work, the Dolphins opted to go with the experienced hand in Ryan Fitzpatrick over the rookie QB, at least initially. Fitzpatrick is such a streaky player it's almost certain he'll produce a performance that leaves Dolphins fans crying out for their new star. Will Brian Flores make a move in time for Miami to push for the AFC East title?Minnesota VikingsCan Justin Jefferson fill the void left by Stefon Diggs?The Vikings took a big risk shipping off Diggs to the Bills. Sure, they got a good price, and the wideout wasn't happy in Minnesota, but it's beyond time for the "Kirk Cousins era Vikings" to make a deep playoff push. That goal will be much harder to achieve without Diggs. The club used its first-round pick on Jefferson, who will likely be the No. 3 receiver behind Adam Thielen and Bisi Johnson. While the Vikings will be a run-heavy team, there will come a time when the passing attack needs to catch fire. Will they regret trading a talent like Diggs then?New England PatriotsIs Cam Newton past his prime? Maddie Meyer / Getty Images Sport / GettyNewton is one of the best physical specimens to ever step onto an NFL field. He's a better passer than most give him credit for, but his game is built around running the ball, extending plays, and using his size to finish drives in the red zone. But Newton's body has begun to fail him. The 31-year-old spent most of the last two seasons either playing hurt or on the sidelines. With only decent offensive talent, the Patriots can't succeed without Newton consistently creating magic outside of the team's structured plays.New Orleans SaintsIs Emmanuel Sanders the final piece to the title puzzle?There is no debate about how good the Saints are. New Orleans hasn't put everything together during the playoffs in recent years, and those minor faults have culminated in heartbreaking losses. With the Super Bowl window under Drew Brees closing, lining up Sanders in an already solid offensive unit may give the Saints the extra veteran presence needed to win big games. The wideout has played in the Super Bowl for three different teams, winning one title.New York GiantsCan Daniel Jones fix his turnover issues?There was a lot more to like about Jones' rookie season than most predicted when the Giants shockingly reached for the QB with the No. 6 pick in 2019. The biggest takeaway from Year 1 is that Jones won't develop into a solid starter without fixing his turnover issues, particularly his ball security. Jones fumbled an NFL-high 18 times. He lost 11 of those, and no one else lost more than seven. The young passer also threw 12 interceptions, tied for the 11th-most.New York JetsCan Le'Veon Bell and Adam Gase coexist? Scott Taetsch / Getty Images Sport / GettyBell and Gase failed to match expectations in their debut campaigns with the Jets last year. The star runner produced career lows with 3.2 yards per carry and three rushing touchdowns, while the coach failed to save New York from logging its fourth straight losing season. After a second offseason together, this relationship is apparently better than ever off the field, despite rumors to the contrary. Whether that's enough for Gase to help Bell recapture his Steelers form - while saving himself from another year on the hot seat - remains to be seen.Philadelphia EaglesHow will the offensive line answer after losing a couple of starters?Carson Wentz's health has been a concern for the Eagles in recent years, and his protection suffered major hits in 2020 as Pro Bowl guard Brandon Brooks and 2019 first-round offensive tackle Andre Dillard will miss the season due to injuries. Jason Peters, who moved to guard when Dillard was expected to start at tackle, will return to his original position, but can he still protect Wentz's blind side effectively throughout the entire season at the age of 38? Is Matt Pryor - the likely replacement at right guard - ready to be a starter after playing in just 7% of the offensive snaps in 2019? Philly needs quick answers to those questions if they want to be competitive.Pittsburgh SteelersCan Ben Roethlisberger stay healthy?One of the biggest "what-ifs" of the 2019 season was the Steelers. They had an elite defense but didn't have Roethlisberger - coming off a 2018 campaign where he set career highs in passing yards and touchdowns - for basically the entire season due to injury. The core of that defensive unit is back and possibly even better with another year of experience under its young standouts' belts. The main question in Pittsburgh is whether the future Hall of Fame signal-caller in Roethlisberger can overcome offseason surgery on his right elbow. If the answer is yes, the AFC playoff race should get another strong candidate.San Francisco 49ersIs Jimmy Garoppolo the long-term answer at quarterback? MediaNews Group/The Mercury News via Getty Images / MediaNews Group / GettyHelping the 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance wasn't enough to convince people that Garoppolo is a difference-maker. A poor fourth quarter against the Chiefs, especially compared to a red-hot Mahomes, highlighted that for the whole NFL world to see. Garoppolo's job is secure for 2020 barring a total collapse in performance. Next season, however, the 49ers could move on from him with only a $2.8-million dead-money hit, so Garoppolo needs to prove he's worthy of another big financial investment.Seattle SeahawksWhere will the pass rush come from?The Seahawks failed to bring back Jadeveon Clowney and missed out on Everson Griffen and Yannick Ngakoue. Only the Dolphins had fewer sacks than Seattle's 28 last year, and little has been done to improve the area. Veterans Bruce Irvin and Benson Mayowa were signed, but the Seahawks appear to be betting big on a breakout year from either Rasheem Green, who had a team-high four sacks in 2019, or L.J. Collier.Tampa Bay BuccaneersHow will the crowded backfield play out?In a normal season, the Bucs' backfield would already carry big question marks considering how mediocre it's been in recent years. The group is facing even more pressure in 2020 due to the presence of Tom Brady and the additions of high-profile names in the offseason. Ronald Jones is the team's starter entering the season, but how Bruce Arians uses Leonard Fournette - the runner with the highest ceiling on the depth chart - and LeSean McCoy - who had solid averages when touching the ball last season - can make this group the X-factor in a pass-first system.Tennessee TitansCan Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry build on their breakout campaigns? Adam Glanzman / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Titans went all-in on Tannehill and Henry, the duo who sparked the team's surprisingly successful regular season and an even more surprisingly successful playoff run in 2019. Tannehill got $118 million over four years, while Henry received $50 million over four. Both players enjoyed career years in 2019. However, if even one of the two players regresses toward their former level of play, the Titans could struggle to replicate last year's progress.Washington Football TeamWill Dwayne Haskins hold off Alex Smith?The improbable happened when Smith completed his amazing return to football by making Washington's roster after suffering a life-threatening leg injury. The QB's comeback aims for an even more miraculous feat: taking back the starting role from Dwayne Haskins. Haskins has a lot to prove in his second campaign after posting a 2-5 record while completing just 58% of his pass attempts in nine appearances. The 2019 first-rounder improved late in the season - five touchdowns to one interception in the last three games - but his margin for error is now significantly smaller with Smith on the sidelines.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Vikings placed star pass-rusher Danielle Hunter on injured reserve Wednesday. The decision means Hunter will miss at least the first three weeks of the season and be eligible to return Week 4 versus the Houston Texans.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.The NFL season kicks off Thursday with the most lopsided matchup in oddsmakers' eyes, with the Kansas City Chiefs (-9.5, 54.5) hosting the Houston Texans as the biggest favorites in Week 1. Despite the public love for the home team, sharp money has moved the line in favor of the Texans, who are looking to avenge last year's wild playoff loss.Here are our favorite trends, props, and bets for Thursday's season opener.Betting trendsIt's tough enough to fade the reigning champions, but doing so in this spot is even braver. Defending Super Bowl winners are 13-6-1 ATS in Week 1 over the last 20 seasons, while Chiefs coach Andy Reid is 10-2 straight up and 8-4 against the spread in Week 1 since 2008.Never count out a vengeful foe, though - since 2018, squads looking to avenge a playoff loss from the season before are 9-5 ATS in the rematch with nine outright victories. The Texans are 8-5-1 ATS in their last 14 games against teams that beat them in their previous meeting.This is also a classic spot to fade the big favorite. Since 2000, teams favored by nine or more points in Week 1 are 24-5 straight up but a paltry 9-20 ATS. The under is 18-11 in that span.Speaking of the under, bettors have moved the total from an opening 55.5 to 54.5, and the trends support it. Under Reid, the Chiefs are 18-6-1 to the under when giving at least a touchdown at home, including 5-2-1 in that spot when the total is at least 49.And in those 14 playoff revenge spots mentioned before? The under is 10-4, an average of 5.71 points below the total.Player propsWill Fuller over 60.5 receiving yardsFuller is among the most dangerous receivers in the league when he's on the field. Since the start of 2018, he's tallied at least 61 receiving yards in eight of his 16 regular-season games with at least 20 snaps played, averaging 72.3 yards in that span. He also torched Kansas City for 89 yards in last year's postseason contest.He could threaten for 100-plus yards against a Chiefs secondary particularly vulnerable over the top. As the best remaining weapon from a year ago, expect Fuller to see plenty of volume from quarterback Deshaun Watson under the lights.Clyde Edwards-Helaire under 12.5 rushing attemptsThe Chiefs' new running back has the profile of a future star in this system, but that doesn't mean Kansas City will run him into the ground in Week 1.In 2019, Damien Williams was the only running back to register more than 12 carries in a game, and he only did it three times during the regular season. The Texans' defense is also weaker through the air, where the Chiefs have the clearest advantage to exploit. Edwards-Helaire will get his chances on Thursday, but don't label him a workhorse just yet.Best betUnder 54.5The Texans faced the Chiefs twice in 2019. The first time, they fell behind but pounded the rock for a comeback win. The second time they struck early, only to leave way too much time for a devastating collapse.Don't expect Houston to turn this into a track meet after how they ended that last meeting. Kansas City's defense is especially thin up front, so the Texans' new-look rushing attack should get plenty of work, leaving little hope on a sky-high number for over bettors.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 Denver Broncos will place Von Miller on injured reserve due to the ankle injury he suffered in practice but aren't ready to declare the edge rusher done for the season."It's too early to say for sure, but he's definitely out for a while," head coach Vic Fangio told reporters Wednesday, according to the Denver Post's Ryan O'Halloran.Miller went down Tuesday during what Fangio described as a normal play. Initial reports indicated the injury would keep Miller, an eight-time Pro Bowler and the Broncos' all-time leader in sacks, from seeing the field in 2020.Ultimately, doctors diagnosed the 31-year-old with a dislocated peroneal tendon, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo. The injury typically requires five-to-six months of recovery, while the most generous timetable would be closer to three months."I still expect us to be a good team without Von," Fangio said.The Broncos still aren't sure how ready their other pass-rusher, Bradley Chubb, will be for the season opener. Chubb tore his ACL last year, and Fangio acknowledged Saturday the former No. 5 overall pick still isn't at full health.Denver opens its schedule on Monday Night Football against the Tennessee Titans.Modified injured reserve rules this season allow teams to reinstate an unlimited number of players, as long as they've spent at least three weeks on the list.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.Who says only quarterbacks move betting lines?Entering this week, the Denver Broncos were slim home favorites over the Tennessee Titans in one of the tightest lines of the NFL's Week 1 schedule. After Von Miller suffered a freak ankle injury Tuesday that's likely to end his season, that line flipped to the Titans (-2, 41) being favored at theScore Bet as of Wednesday afternoon.That's just one of a handful of line movements ahead of this weekend's action, though it's easily the most dramatic. The Broncos were circled as tasty home 'dogs, having won nine of their last 16 outright in that spot, but now the Titans head into Denver riding a 4-1 run against the spread as road chalk.How the Broncos weather Sunday's test without Miller could have a sizable effect on their weekly lines for the rest of the year. Denver is an underdog or pick 'em in 10 of its final 15 games and a short favorite in four of its other five games. A strong showing - or outright disaster - against Tennessee could flip a few of those lines before we even reach Week 2.Here are some other notable line movements ahead of Week 1.Las Vegas Raiders (-3) at Carolina PanthersOpening line: Panthers -1Surprise, surprise: The betting market is closing in late on Las Vegas. Whether it's because of their intriguing offense, rebuilt defense, or proximity to the Vegas strip, the Raiders are getting plenty of love ahead of their Week 1 bout with the Panthers.Carolina was as high as -1.5 at some shops but could get as many as 3.5 points by kickoff as sharp money floods in on the road favorites. Don't be too quick to dismiss the Panthers under new head coach Matt Rhule, who went 34-15 ATS as a home 'dog in college and takes over a team with legitimate offensive talent.Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions (-3)Opening line: Lions -1.5The betting market really hates Mitchell Trubisky, huh? This line opened at pick 'em at some shops and had been sitting at Lions -1.5, which makes sense - the Bears are considered the better team in the futures market, and home-field advantage matters less this year than ever.The Lions money came in steadily over the last week, though, coinciding with the Bears' decision to stick with Trubisky over challenger Nick Foles. For all of the flaws in Detroit's defense, it's hard to fault bettors for fading the Bears quarterback until he makes them pay.Pittsburgh Steelers (-5) at New York GiantsOpening line: Steelers -3It's surprising to see a line jump this much without a major injury or quarterback change, but that's what happens when a public team like the Steelers gets a favorable Week 1 matchup with a traditional dumpster fire like the Giants, who are 1-8 in their season opener since 2011.There's certainly less value on Pittsburgh than there was before, but this is still a good spot for the road favorite. In 2019, teams giving at least five points on the road were 28-8-1 ATS with a dominant 35-2 record straight up.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.

Five-time Pro Bowl cornerback Aqib Talib is retiring from the NFL despite an offer to return to the New England Patriots, he announced Wednesday.Talib, a 12-year veteran, said Patriots head coach Bill Belichick offered him a contract for up to around $6 million and a unique role that would've had him cover tight ends if he accepted it.The 34-year-old said he chose retirement because he was reluctant to face the likes of George Kittle, Travis Kelce, and Darren Waller in 2020."Once that negative thought crossed my mind, I was like, my heart, my competitive edge, I ain't really in it like that no more," he said. "Let alone, you get 34, you lose a step, you ain't move the same way you used to move. I just wasn't feeling it no more, honestly."Talib played in New England for parts of two seasons from 2012 to 2013. The Patriots helped reignite his career after acquiring him from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with whom he was beset by off-field issues and inconsistent play.After his successful run with the Pats, Talib joined the Denver Broncos on a six-year, $57-million contract in free agency. He spent four seasons in Denver and won Super Bowl 50 while anchoring a Broncos secondary that became known as the "No Fly Zone."The Broncos traded Talib in 2018 to the Los Angeles Rams, whom he helped reach Super Bowl LIII. The Rams dealt him to the Miami Dolphins in a salary dump last year while he was injured. Talib never appeared in a game for the Dolphins.A former first-round pick out of Kansas, Talib hauled in 35 interceptions - 10 of which he returned for touchdowns - over the course of his career.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Rams and cornerback Jalen Ramsey agreed to a five-year, $105-million extension, the richest contract for a defensive back in NFL history, his agent confirmed to ESPN's Adam Schefter.The deal contains $71.2 million in guarantees at signing, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Previously, no defensive back had hit the $100-million benchmark on a contract.Ramsey was in line for a gigantic payday after the Rams traded two first-round picks to the Jacksonville Jaguars last year to acquire him. At the time, Ramsey assured the club he wouldn't hold out in 2020. In return, Los Angeles told him it would compensate him as he desired.A three-time Pro Bowler, Ramsey broke up four passes and notched one interception in nine appearances for the Rams last season. The 25-year-old broke out in 2017 with an All-Pro campaign and then became a household name with his incessant trash talk on and off the field.Ramsey was the fifth overall pick in the 2016 draft, selected out of Florida State by the Jaguars.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger admitted Wednesday he's nervous for the season opener, which will mark his first NFL action in 365 days."You always have a little bit of jitters and nerves for the first game, but the way I feel now is more than I've felt in a very long time," he told reporters Wednesday, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "I'm sure it's going to intensify as the week goes on and then Monday night I'm sure I'm gonna be shaking like a leaf."Roethlisberger, who's entering his 17th campaign, played in only two games last year because of an elbow injury that required surgery. With their veteran signal-caller on the shelf, the Steelers missed the playoffs for the second time in six seasons.The 38-year-old will make his highly anticipated return on the season debut of Monday Night Football, where the Steelers will face the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium."It's one of those things that you get out there and hopefully it all comes back to me really quick," said Roethlisberger, the NFL's passing leader in 2018. "There's gonna be rust, there's no doubt about it, but hopefully we can get it knocked off sooner than later."A six-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl champion, Roethlisberger has been a popular pick to win the Comeback Player of the Year award in 2020."If I wasn't nervous, if I didn't have that anxiousness, then I think that - you shouldn't be out there, right?" he said. "There's not a love for the game if you don't have that. Since I have those nerves already, it just shows that I still love this game, I'm still passionate for it, and I want to go out, win for my teammates, the fans, and this city."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Denver Broncos star linebacker Von Miller will undergo season-ending surgery after suffering an ankle tendon injury at practice Tuesday, according to Troy Renck of Denver7.An MRI on Tuesday confirmed the severity of the issue, and Miller will meet with a foot specialist in Green Bay on Thursday seeking a second opinion, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The 31-year-old suffered a "freak" injury on the last play of practice, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Miller, an eight-time Pro Bowler, racked up eight sacks over 15 games last season. The Super Bowl 50 MVP has led the Broncos in sacks during eight of his nine NFL campaigns since entering the league as the second overall pick in 2011.The Texas A&M product is the Broncos' all-time leader with 106 career sacks.After being sidelined for seven games in 2013, the former Defensive Rookie of the Year has missed just one contest over the last six years.Several NFL stars took to Twitter to show support for Miller, including teammate pass-rusher Bradley Chubb and Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Chris Harris Jr., who played in Denver for nine seasons until 2019:

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 the latest news and takes an early look at intriguing players available on the waiver wire heading into Week 1.

Defensive end Randy Gregory signed a one-year extension with the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday, sources told Todd Archer of ESPN.The new deal, which locks him in through the 2021 season, includes a $200,000 signing bonus and can be worth up to $2.1 million in 2021 if he's on the game-day roster for six contests this season, Archer adds.The league reinstated the 27-year-old - who's missed 46 games due to suspensions since entering the NFL in 2015 - last week after he was banned indefinitely in February 2019 for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.He's now allowed to enter the Cowboys' facilities for testing, meetings, and individual workouts, and Gregory may play as early as Oct. 25, when Dallas faces the Washington Football Team in Week 7.The former second-round pick last played in 2018, amassing six sacks, two forced fumbles, and 15 quarterback hits through 14 games.Dallas also extended Gregory last April, converting part of his salary into a signing bonus.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 1.Updated rankings (including Standard and PPR) will be released Thursday, with the final version coming down Sunday morning.Half PPR

One of Ben Roethlisberger's most reliable blockers likely won't be in front of him when he returns to the field Monday night.Pittsburgh Steelers right guard David DeCastro isn't expected to play against the New York Giants in Week 1, according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.DeCastro has missed most of training camp due to a lower-body injury.Head coach Mike Tomlin didn't provide more details about DeCastro's status, but he mentioned Tuesday that the five-time Pro Bowler is "excited about getting out there with his teammates as soon as possible," according to Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.The 30-year-old, who's earned two All-Pro nods, started all 16 games in 2019 and has missed only four contests since 2013.Stefen Wisniewski, who signed a two-year deal with Pittsburgh this offseason after playing for the Kansas City Chiefs last year, is now set to start at right guard in Week 1, Dulac adds.Roethlisberger suffered a season-ending elbow injury last year, and he'll take the field for the first time since September 2019 when the Steelers visit the Giants on Sept. 14.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.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.You'll notice that the amounts in this week's column are small. That's because most leagues have already drafted, so you likely won't need to spend any FAB to get these players if they're available. You should also be saving up for the next few weeks as early-season breakout candidates emerge.Quarterbacks MediaNews Group/The Mercury News via Getty Images / MediaNews Group / GettyJimmy Garoppolo, 49ersNext UpRosteredFABvs. ARI52%$1Some managers might shy away from playing Jimmy Garoppolo in Week 1 based on Deebo Samuel's and Brandon Aiyuk's uncertain statuses for this contest. But there are still plenty of weapons in the 49ers' passing attack, including tight end George Kittle and a few receivers we'll get to later. Garoppolo also had his two best games of 2019 against the Cardinals, throwing for over 300 yards and four touchdowns in each outing. He might be a fantasy streaming option for a few games, as San Francisco gets the Jets, Giants, Eagles, and Dolphins over the first five weeks.Tyrod Taylor, ChargersNext UpRosteredFABat CIN8%$0It's easy to forget about Tyrod Taylor's fantasy potential. After all, we haven't seen him in action much since he played for the Bills, where he finished as the QB8 (2015), QB8 (2016), and QB19 (2017) in fantasy points per game. We don't know how long the 31-year-old will be the Chargers' starter with first-rounder Justin Herbert awaiting his opportunity, but Taylor's rushing ability gives him a high fantasy floor, especially against a Bengals team that allowed the most rushing yards to quarterbacks last season. Even with Mike Williams banged up, the Chargers have an excellent supporting cast and a couple of soft matchups that could make Taylor a quality streamer in the opening weeks.Long-term options: Gardner Minshew vs. IND (26% rostered), Teddy Bridgewater vs. LV (24% rostered)Streamer options: Derek Carr at CAR (19% rostered), Kirk Cousins vs. GB (41% rostered), Philip Rivers at JAX (31% rostered)Running backs Emilee Chinn / Getty Images Sport / GettyHigh-upside backups like Alexander Mattison (54% rostered), Tony Pollard (44% rostered), Darrel Williams (22% rostered), and Chase Edmonds (44% rostered) should be rostered in almost all leagues.Boston Scott, EaglesNext UpRosteredFABat WAS43%$3The Eagles' decision to cut all but three running backs from their roster means they likely don't have any concerns about Miles Sanders' availability for Week 1. However, Boston Scott produced as at least a fantasy flex option while Sanders broke out down the stretch in 2019. Scott amassed 45-plus yards from scrimmage in four of his last five games and eclipsed the 120-yard mark in two of those outings. He should be rostered in all leagues and would be the immediate beneficiary if Sanders were to miss any time.Joshua Kelley, ChargersNext UpRosteredFABat CIN10%$2By all accounts, Joshua Kelley was one of the stars at the Chargers' training camp and has the edge on the No. 2 job behind Austin Ekeler. Kelley's main competition, Justin Jackson, is dealing with a toe injury that could hold him out of the opener. Though we're not ready to compare the fourth-round rookie to Melvin Gordon, it's worth noting that both Ekeler and Gordon were top-10 fantasy backs in PPR formats from Week 6 on. The offense will be different without Philip Rivers at quarterback, but Kelley will be a sneaky fantasy play every week if he can handle the power-back role. He needs to be picked up in more than 10% of leagues.Chris Thompson/James Robinson/Devine Ozigbo, JAXNext UpRosteredFABvs. IND38%/5%/12%$2/$1/$1The Jaguars have decided to roll with mostly unknowns in their backfield after cutting Leonard Fournette and electing not to sign Devonta Freeman. Veteran Chris Thompson is the most valuable fantasy asset due to his pass-catching ability and history with offensive coordinator Jay Gruden dating back to their time together in Washington. However, keep a close eye on camp standouts Devine Ozigbo and James Robinson, who should split the bulk of the early-down carries in Week 1. Head coach Doug Marrone talked up both young backs as potential three-down options and general manager Dave Caldwell highlighted Robinson as a reason why the team felt comfortable moving on from Fournette. Thompson also highlighted Robinson when asked about the backfield, suggesting the rookie undrafted free agent has the best vision in the group. Without a clear outlook on Jacksonville's running back depth chart, the best approach is to target them in the order they're listed as bench stashes capable of growing into a bigger role.Other options: Benny Snell Jr. at NYG (12% rostered), Brian Hill vs. SEA (3% rostered), Bryce Love vs. PHI (12% rostered), Malcolm Brown vs. DAL (37% rostered), Darrynton Evans at DEN (5% rostered), Ryan Nall at DET (0% rostered), Mike Davis vs. LV (1% rostered)Wide receivers Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyAnthony Miller and Mecole Hardman are around the 60% rostered mark and should be rostered in almost all leagues.DeSean Jackson, EaglesNext UpRosteredFABat WAS48%$7The injury wave that washed over the Eagles' receiving corps in 2019 hasn't receded. A return date for Alshon Jeffery has yet to be established, and first-rounder Jalen Reagor is now sidelined with a shoulder issue that could affect his play all year long. DeSean Jackson hasn't exactly been the epitome of durability himself over the past few seasons, but he's positioned to be Philly's top target on the outside. We got a glimpse of what that could be like in Week 1 last year when D-Jax rocked Washington for an 8-154-2 stat line. Guess who he's playing this Sunday? Starting strong is nothing new for Jackson, either. The 33-year-old has eclipsed 100 yards in three of his last four openers. You might also want to consider his teammates JJ Arcega-Whiteside (2% rostered) and Greg Ward (1% rostered) in deeper leagues, as they're projected to round out three-wide sets.Preston Williams, DolphinsNext UpRosteredFABat NE39%$5My doubts about whether Preston Williams would be available to start the season after suffering a torn ACL in November have been put to rest by his performance in the Dolphins' practices. Though he'll likely be on a snap count early on, Williams made his usual highlight-reel plays in camp and is on track to suit up in a tough matchup with the Patriots. Prior to getting hurt in Week 9, Williams was leading Miami in several key receiving categories and ranked fourth among rookie wideouts with 428 yards. Williams could emerge as the Dolphins' No. 1 receiver in 2020 if he can stay healthy, especially if teammate DeVante Parker continues to deal with injuries of his own.Kendrick Bourne, 49ersNext UpRosteredFABvs. ARI5%$1The 49ers' receivers will be one of the most closely watched storylines heading into Week 1. Deebo Samuel's recovery from Jones fracture surgery has gone well, but the team has to be careful not to rush him back too soon and risk aggravating his foot. Rookie Brandon Aiyuk is dealing with a hamstring issue that could keep him out of the opener as well. If both wideouts were to miss the game, Kendrick Bourne would become San Francisco's most intriguing receiver as a player with nine touchdowns over the last two years on limited snaps. In deeper formats, slot receiver Trent Taylor (1% rostered) could rack up enough catches to be relevant, while Dante Pettis (0% rostered) earned praise from the front office for his improved attitude and play in camp after he was a bust last year.Other options: Sammy Watkins vs. HOU (43% rostered), N'Keal Harry vs. MIA (35% rostered), Bryan Edwards at CAR (17% rostered), Parris Campbell at JAX (20% rostered), Golden Tate vs. PIT (44% rostered), Allen Lazard at MIN (44% rostered), Randall Cobb at KC (10% rostered), Laviska Shenault Jr. vs. IND (11% rostered), Michael Pittman Jr. at JAX (28% rostered), Steven Sims Jr. vs. PHI (5% rostered), James Washington at NYG (15% rostered), Miles Boykin vs. CLE (6% rostered), Marquez Valdes-Scantling at MIN (3% rostered), Olabisi Johnson vs. GB (1% rostered)Tight ends Tim Warner / Getty Images Sport / GettyEric Ebron, SteelersNext UpRosteredFABat NYG31%$1Don't let the jersey in the image above fool you - Eric Ebron is now a member of the Steelers and the reports out of camp have been glowing. Ebron is just one year removed from putting up 14 touchdowns as a member of the Colts, and he's poised to bounce back in Pittsburgh after injuries and poor quarterback play brought him back to earth in 2019. Ben Roethlisberger led the league in pass attempts in 2018, and the Steelers' coaching staff has plans to move Ebron all over the field. Another double-digit touchdown total for Ebron isn't out of the question.Jack Doyle, ColtsNext UpRosteredFABat JAX32%$1The second tight end we want to highlight this week is actually Ebron's former teammate, Jack Doyle. The Colts picked up Trey Burton to fill the role vacated by Ebron, but Burton is expected to miss at least the first two weeks with a calf injury. That should allow Doyle to be a productive fantasy option catching passes from Rivers, who had an affinity for throwing to tight ends while with the Chargers. Doyle may not have the tantalizing upside of some of the young breakout candidates at his position, but he had back-to-back finishes as a top-eight fantasy tight end in 2016 and 2017, proving he can deliver when given the volume.Other options: Chris Herndon at BUF (53% rostered), Irv Smith Jr. vs. GB (16% rostered), Greg Olsen at ATL (30% rostered), Dawson Knox vs. NYJ (4% rostered), Logan Thomas vs. PHI (1% rostered), Jordan Akins at KC (1% rostered), Dan Arnold at SF (1% rostered)DefensesWeek 1 streamersTeamNext UpRosteredBroncosvs. TEN59%Titansat DEN37%Lionsvs. CHI5%Chargersat CIN47%Favorable upcoming schedules: Titans DEF (37% rostered), Buccaneers DEF (30% rostered), Browns DEF (13% rostered), Cardinals DEF (2% rostered)Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins signed a contract extension Tuesday, the team announced.It's a two-year deal worth $54.5 million that will make Hopkins the NFL's highest-paid non-quarterback, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Los Angeles Chargers star pass-rusher Joey Bosa is the current leading earner among non-QBs after inking a deal worth $27 million annually earlier this offseason. Hopkins' reported annual average of $27.25 million would also blow past Julio Jones' previously position-leading salary of $22 million per season.Hopkins will reportedly receive $42.75 million in guaranteed money.The deal could turn into a one-year pact as the second year is reportedly voidable. The contract also contains provisions prohibiting the Cardinals from trading Hopkins or using the franchise tag on him, added Rapoport.Hopkins now has five years and $94 million remaining on the deal he originally signed with the Houston Texans before a shock trade to Arizona in March, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.A first-team All-Pro in each of the last three seasons, Hopkins established himself among the NFL's elite wide receivers in seven campaigns with Houston. The 28-year-old led the NFL in receiving touchdowns in 2017 and owns five 1,000-yard seasons.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.There are three parameters I prefer to follow when making my survivor picks: Steer clear of road teams, avoid divisional games, and don't save teams for future use.It's Week 1 and I'm already disregarding all three.The truth is you can't be predictable in a survivor pool. There are too many unknowns to play it safe on a weekly basis. If you take everything at face value, you're going to get eliminated before Canadian Thanksgiving.This will especially ring true in a 2020 season unlike any that have come before. There are no rules, only guidelines. So let's go against the grain early and hope to kick things off with a bang.Week 1 confidence rankingConfidence rankings (CR) are out of 10 based on the author's picksAWAYHOME (SPREAD)PICK (CR)IndianapolisJacksonville (+7)IND (8)PittsburghNY Giants (+5)PIT (7)HoustonKansas City (-9.5)KC (6)ClevelandBaltimore (-9)BAL (6)Tampa BayNew Orleans (-3.5)NO (6)Green BayMinnesota (-3)MIN (6)NY JetsBuffalo (-6)BUF (5)Las VegasCarolina (+2.5)LV (5)ArizonaSan Francisco (-7.5)SF (4)ChicagoDetroit (-2.5)DET (4)MiamiNew England (-6.5)NE (4)PhiladelphiaWashington (+6.5)PHI (3)TennesseeDenver (-1)DEN (2)SeattleAtlanta (+1.5)ATL (2)LA ChargersCincinnati (+3)CIN (1)DallasLA Rams (+2.5)LAR (1)(Odds source: theScore Bet)Author's pick: Indianapolis ColtsWhile the entire football world raves about the improvements the Buccaneers made in the offseason, it's the Colts who have really caught my eye. Indianapolis added so much talent on both sides of the ball and has an excellent coach in Frank Reich who will get the best out of an impressive roster.Many people believe veteran signal-caller Philip Rivers, who's coming off a down year, won't shift the needle much, but that couldn't be farther from the truth. Many of his struggles can be attributed to the Chargers' miserable, oft-injured offensive line. Not only is the Colts' line the best Rivers will have ever played behind, it's the best one that any NFL quarterback will play behind this season. Rivers will have all day to spoil his wide array of offensive weapons against a Jaguars team that's shedding talent at an alarming rate.Jacksonville is in full teardown mode and will become a bigger and bigger underdog as the season progresses. Every year we see some lines in Week 1 that we can look back at in disbelief - the Browns -5.5 against the Titans, or the Bucs -1 over the 49ers last season. This will be one of those. The Colts are superior to the Jaguars at every position, and by the time October rolls around, we'll be wondering how this spread wasn't in the double digits.If you're feeling lucky: Minnesota VikingsComing off a 13-3 season, no team is primed for regression quite like the Packers, who posted last year's biggest discrepancy between wins and estimated wins. Green Bay was abysmal against the run - 27th in the NFL, allowing 4.9 yards per attempt - and provided few weapons for quarterback Aaron Rodgers.The Packers failed to address either weakness and are now dealing with an understandably disgruntled Rodgers heading into the season. They'll always be a popular public team, but it's shaping up to be a rocky season in Green Bay.That will be evident as early as Week 1 against a Vikings team getting very little respect heading into the season. It's lazy to point at the departures of Kevin Stefanski, Stefon Diggs, Everson Griffen, and the starting cornerbacks and say the Vikings will be worse. That simply isn't true. Each of those areas was appropriately addressed and this team is loaded with talent throughout the roster. The Vikings are my pick to comfortably win the NFC North and will make a statement in Week 1.Avoid: Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore RavensBoth of these teams are likely to win in Week 1, but there are enough question marks to scare me off.Though the Texans are trending in the wrong direction ahead of the 2020 season, Deshaun Watson is still a game-breaker, and this is a team that nearly upset the Saints in Week 1 in New Orleans last season as seven-point underdogs. And if the Chiefs do suffer any sort of Super Bowl hangover, could you imagine a worse fate than being knocked out of your survivor pool before Sunday of Week 1?Like Kansas City, the Ravens should win, just like they should have beaten the Browns at home in Week 4 of last season. They didn't. Cleveland won 40-25, and that was with Freddie Kitchens in charge. The Browns - healthy and well-coached, finally - will be better in 2020. I know we've heard that time and time again, but I'm at least willing to wait and see as opposed to learning the hard way.I'd much rather look elsewhere, saving the Chiefs and Ravens for later in the season while rooting for an upset that could see close to half of my survivor pool knocked out in Week 1.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.Nothing is more rewarding than a winning futures bet, especially in a league as volatile as the NFL. And after a shortened offseason that will surely affect the campaign, there's never been a better time to scour the oddsboard for compelling long shots.We're here to help. Here are our five favorite value bets to make before the 2020 NFL season begins.Buffalo Bills to win the Super Bowl (+2200)In 2019, I hitched my futures wagon to Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens - the biggest collective cash cow of the season. This year, I'm all-in on the Bills, who are a screaming value in nearly every futures market:MARKETBETODDSWin totalBills over 8.5-150MVPJosh Allen+6000Coach of the YearSean McDermott+2000Defensive Player of the YearTre'Davious White+2500Buffalo returns its head coach, coordinators, and nearly every starter from last year's 10-win group, while adding star receiver Stefon Diggs to one of the five-most talented rosters in the NFL. The X-factor is Josh Allen, who's already made dramatic strides in his game and has the arm talent to put together an exceptional season.It's a similar script to the one Jackson and the Ravens followed a year ago when they swept the MVP and Coach of the Year awards and nearly made a run at the title. This group has that type of upside, and they're easily my favorite bet of the 2020 season.Ryan Tannehill to win MVP (+6000)This price was floating around 100-1 earlier this summer but has tightened ahead of the season, and for a good reason. Tannehill made history a year ago and has the talent and supporting cast to replicate his success.He posted the fourth-best passer rating in NFL history (117.5) in 2019, and became only the second quarterback in the Super Bowl era to complete more than 70% of his passes while averaging more than 9.0 yards per attempt. He ended the year as PFF's highest-graded quarterback despite not having a full offseason as the team's starter.He wasn't dramatically different as a player - instead, he finally had the coaching staff and offensive weapons to support his aggressive but deliberate approach in the pocket. The Tennessee Titans return the same infrastructure that turned Tannehill into a star last year, so don't be surprised to see an even sharper version in 2020.'Field' to win Comeback Player of the Year (+400)This bet doesn't look great in a headline, but it's a safe and savvy move in a traditionally hard-to-predict market.My favorite dark horses for this award are elite Denver Broncos edge rusher Bradley Chubb and New York Jets running back Le'Veon Bell. Chubb missed most of last year with the second ACL tear of his career and is included with this ticket, while Bell is one of the most talented - yet disappointing - players in the league.And then, of course, you have Rob Gronkowski, who should be a clear front-runner during his reunion tour with Tom Brady. The tight end might be worth this price alone, so getting a handful of other worthy comeback candidates makes this bet hard to ignore.Jamal Adams to win Defensive Player of the Year (+3000)Pass rushers have dominated this award in recent years, but Adams is a top-two defensive talent in the NFL and is versatile enough to buck the pass-rusher trend in his first year with the Seattle Seahawks.In 2019, the former New York Jets safety became one of three players in NFL history with at least 6.5 sacks, seven passes defended, an interception returned for a touchdown, and a fumble return for a touchdown in a season. He's also one of just five defensive backs to record at least 6.5 sacks in a single campaign.Eleven of the last 13 players to win this award played for teams with at least 11 wins or a division title. The Seahawks will need a monster effort from Adams to reach either milestone, which would only help his case as the most important defensive player in football.New England Patriots under 9 wins (-105)I'm prepared to die on this hill. Many before me have looked foolish for trying to predict the end of the Patriots' reign, but there simply isn't enough talent or chemistry with this year's group to expect double-digit wins.No team lost more this offseason than New England - the Pats have waved goodbye to a Hall of Fame quarterback in Brady, a pivotal assistant coach in Dante Scarnecchia, many key defensive leaders from 2019, and a handful of opt-outs that leave this year's roster lacking high-end talent and depth.Cam Newton's arrival is exciting but possibly misleading. He hasn't been the same since injuries took over in 2018, and he'd need to rediscover his MVP form to carry the young, undeveloped talent around him. The AFC East isn't what it once was, and neither are the Patriots. Fade this number into oblivion.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.

Now that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have won the offseason, the NFL universe can finally turn its attention to whether the Bucs are capable of winning during the regular season, against actual opponents in actual football games. The sport can be pesky like that.There is widespread belief that the Bucs are good enough to make the playoffs, with ESPN's full-season simulator putting them in the NFC Championship Game and Peter King of NBC sauntering out onto a limb to predict they'll win the damn Super Bowl. But how realistic are those expectations?The Bucs have added a bunch of players, including Tom Brady, who only happens to be the greatest quarterback of all time. This, in turn, prompted Brady's old wingman, tight end Rob Gronkowski, to come out of retirement.Tampa Bay also kept its defense together by retaining Shaquil Barrett, Ndamukong Suh, and Jason Pierre-Paul. It attacked some major needs by drafting offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. with its first two picks. And then the Bucs signed running back Leonard Fournette after he had been released by the Jacksonville Jaguars and cleared waivers. Fournette, of course, was the fourth overall pick in the 2017 draft.Past isn't prologue, but these are some fun facts to pass along anyway: Tampa Bay has the worst all-time winning percentage of any team in the league. Even though the Bucs won a Super Bowl 18 years ago, they haven't won a playoff game since and haven't appeared in the postseason at all since 2007 - the second-longest drought in the NFL. Since 2002, the season of Tampa's lone title, Brady has won 27 playoff games and five Super Bowls with the New England Patriots. The Bucs were 7-9 last season, Bruce Arians' first as head coach. So, how's this going to go?If Brady's the GOAT, what's the problem?It's not a problem, really, but it is uncharted territory. Brady is 43 years old, and the only QBs to ever start a game at that age or later are Vinny Testaverde, Steve DeBerg, and Warren Moon; none achieved anything memorable when they did. Brady has long seemed to defy the aging process, but he can't do it forever. And when the end comes for quarterbacks, it tends to arrive rather quickly. Reports out of Bucs camp suggest he looks good, but he also hasn't yet faced opponents who are game-planning, nor has he taken any hits. Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesCan Brady still play?The evidence is sort of mixed, which I explained in greater detail back in March. Some statistics indicate Brady is in decline, but he also had a genuinely crummy group of receivers to work with last year and the Patriots still managed to finish 12-4. He's certainly got a better group of skill players around him now.Oh?Yeah. Wideouts Chris Godwin and Mike Evans might be the best tandem in the league. The pair combined for 153 catches and 17 touchdowns last year, and they're dangerous in different ways. According to Sports Info Solutions, Evans had 887 completed air yards last year, good for sixth in the league, while Godwin led the NFL with 629 yards after the catch and dropped just one pass out of 121 targets. Tight ends Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard combined for 70 catches. Then throw in Gronk, who's now 31 and was pretty banged up when he retired after the 2018 season. He's still Gronk, though, which means if he can still bring it, he's going to be a darn good weapon for Brady. All told, it's the best pass-catching crew Brady's had in a long time.What about the offensive line?Four of five starters are back, with Wirfs all set to replace Demar Dotson at right tackle. The Bucs ranked 17th last year in pass-block win rate, per ESPN, with left guard Ali Marpet and center Ryan Jensen both in the top 10 at their respective positions. PFF graded the Bucs' O-line as the league's seventh-best unit. On running plays, Football Outsiders ranked Tampa Bay 23rd in adjusted line yards. All in all, it's pretty good, at least for the passing game. That bodes well for Brady, who owes some of his longevity to how infrequently he gets hit.What about Arians? Isn't he all about throwing it deep, something Brady doesn't do all that often?Arians' "no risk it, no biscuit" style seems to clash with Brady's tendency to rely on short and intermediate passes, but soon after Brady signed, Arians said he'd try to meet him halfway on this stuff. The coach made his bones by working with a variety of big-shot QBs with varying skill sets (Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, Andrew Luck, Carson Palmer, Jameis Winston, Ryan Fitzpatrick), so it's fair to expect that he and offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich will know how to work with Brady. Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesIt's quite a change from Winston, that's for sure.Yep. Winston threw 30 interceptions last season. Thirty! And one of the understated outcomes of that is poor field position. According to the Football Outsiders Almanac, opponents took over inside the Bucs' 40-yard line 14 times after a Winston interception; no other team was put in a similar situation more than nine times. Tampa's defense also faced the worst average starting line of scrimmage in the league in 2019. And Winston set an NFL record with seven pick-6s. Brady threw 29 total picks in the last four seasons. If nothing else, he ought to help the defense immeasurably just by not giving the ball away so often.What about Fournette? Will he be a difference-maker?Eh. I mean, he just joined the team, and there's a reason Jacksonville let him go despite his draft pedigree (it's not just because the Jaguars are tearing it all down three years after nearly getting to the Super Bowl). Ronald Jones still figures to be the primary back. If nothing else, Fournette and LeSean McCoy - another veteran newcomer - figure to give Arians and Leftwich another piece to tinker with. And who's to say how that might evolve as the season progresses?What about the defense? Is it any good?According to traditional volume stats like yards allowed (in which Tampa ranked 15th) and points allowed (29th), not so much. But those metrics are wildly misleading because they don't reveal the strain Winston's interceptions placed on the defense. In terms of Football Outsiders' DVOA, which factors in specific situations, the Bucs' D ranked fifth last season after having been dead last the year before. Against the run, Tampa Bay ranked first in efficiency. Defensive coordinator Todd Bowles did his thing by blitzing heavily (43.4%, second-most in the NFL) out of a 3-4, one-gap scheme. This year's defense will return 10 of 11 starters, with Winfield the only newcomer. It's a solid unit, though it also benefited from a little luck. Carmen Mandato / Getty ImagesHow so?Well, in 2018, the Bucs' D was wrecked by injuries, with Football Outsiders estimating the group suffered 46.8 adjusted games lost in the secondary alone - the second-most ever tracked. Last year, the secondary endured a mere 1.6 adjusted games lost. That level of health may not be sustainable, and some overall regression in defensive performance is likely. But it still should be fairly solid.So, like, what's the problem?Brady's in new surroundings, with new coaches, with little chance to prepare on the field during the offseason because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Patriots famously did things a certain way, and as much as Brady was a key part of what they did for 20 years, he no longer has the rest of that infrastructure around him. And, again, he's 43. There are other complicating factors, too.Like what?The rest of the AFC East was like junior varsity competition for the Patriots for all these years. That isn't the case for the Bucs in the NFC South. The New Orleans Saints are a perennial Super Bowl contender, the Atlanta Falcons should be improved, and the Carolina Panthers are something of a wild card with new head coach Matt Rhule, who had a knack for quickly turning losing teams into winners at the college level.Also, last year's Cleveland Browns and the 2011 Philadelphia Eagles offer cautionary tales about winning the offseason by stockpiling what looks like a surefire winning roster on paper. And, come on, these are the Buccaneers. They never win anything, do they? Maybe this is the year. In five days, at long last, we'll begin to find out.Dom Cosentino is a senior features writer at theScore.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Colin Kaepernick might still be looking for a shot at an NFL return, but fans of the Madden video game series will once again be able to play as the quarterback.EA Sports announced Tuesday that Kaepernick, whom the brand described as "one of the top free agents in football and a starting-caliber quarterback," will be available to use immediately.

The Cleveland Browns have signed running back Kareem Hunt to a two-year contract extension worth $13.5 million with $8.5 million guaranteed, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Hunt debuted with the Browns last season after serving an eight-game suspension for domestic violence allegations. The Kansas City Chiefs released the rusher in 2018 when a video emerged of him kicking and pushing a woman.The 25-year-old found himself in more trouble this past offseason after police found marijuana in Hunt's possession after pulling him over for speeding.Hunt said in June that he was lucky the Browns gave him another chance following his latest off-field incident.Hunt appeared in eight games for the Browns in 2019, racking up 179 yards and two touchdowns on 49 carries. The team expects him to again slot in behind Nick Chubb on Cleveland's depth chart in 2020.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alvin Kamara isn't going anywhere.The New Orleans Saints and the Pro Bowl running back are "extremely close" to signing a new contract that is expected to be completed within days, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN.Kamara was recently the subject of trade rumors, with the Saints reportedly open to moving him for a first-round pick ahead of the final year of his rookie deal.But with the team in win-now mode during Drew Brees' remaining window, it appeared unlikely Sean Payton and Co. would separate the quarterback from one of his most reliable weapons.Kamara, 25, has been one of the most dynamic running backs in the league since the Saints selected him in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He racked up 3,146 yards and 31 touchdowns from scrimmage over his first two pro seasons.But a knee injury slowed the running back last season; his touchdown total dropped to six in 2019 after he amassed 18 the year prior, and he struggled to make big plays as a receiver. Kamara recently said he's fully recovered from the ailment.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A panel of theScore's football editors votes on the NFL Power Rankings.1. Kansas City Chiefs Mark Brown / Getty Images Sport / GettyPre-camp rank: 1The defending champs made it through camp without any major injuries, and they're the team to beat in 2020.2. Baltimore RavensPre-camp rank: 2The Ravens boasted a championship-caliber defense before Earl Thomas' departure, so they shouldn't suffer much after cutting the star safety following a practice scuffle.3. New Orleans SaintsPre-camp rank: 3The Saints seem to have averted a potential Alvin Kamara holdout crisis, and they're ready to make another charge at the Lombardi Trophy.4. San Francisco 49ersPre-camp rank: 4The Niners are a little more banged up than they would like heading into the season, but they're skilled enough to make up for it early in the campaign when opponents won't yet be at their best.5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPre-camp rank: 5The offseason overhaul in Tampa continued throughout training camp, as the Buccaneers brought in LeSean McCoy and Leonard Fournette to bolster a backfield in need of depth.6. Tennessee TitansPre-camp rank: 9The Titans went from good to scary with the signing of Jadeveon Clowney, who should bounce back as a pass-rusher with the talent on his new team's defensive line after a three-sack campaign with the Seahawks in 2019.7. Seattle SeahawksPre-camp rank: 7The Seahawks will always be contenders as long as Russell Wilson is their quarterback, and they should be better defensively this year with Jamal Adams and Quinton Dunbar in the secondary.8. Dallas CowboysPre-camp rank: 8Late arrivals Everson Griffen and Randy Gregory could seriously impact the Cowboys' pass rush, an area in which they struggled last year.9. Buffalo BillsPre-camp rank: 6A soft early-season schedule should help Josh Allen and Co. start hot, but the team will need to prove itself against better competition to be seen as a legitimate Super Bowl threat.10. Green Bay Packers Dylan Buell / Getty Images Sport / GettyPre-camp rank: 10Aaron Rodgers says the Packers are more comfortable in Matt LaFleur's offense this year, and that could spell trouble for the rest of the NFC.11. Minnesota VikingsPre-camp rank: 11Yannick Ngakoue and Danielle Hunter might be the NFL's best pass-rushing tandem, but the Vikings' secondary still needs work.12. Pittsburgh SteelersPre-camp rank: 12The Steelers' 2020 fortunes hinge on Ben Roethlisberger's durability, and he's ready for Week 1 after months rehabbing his surgically repaired elbow.13. Philadelphia EaglesPre-camp rank: 13If the Eagles can ever stop succumbing to the injury bug, they could be a pretty good team.14. Houston TexansPre-camp rank: 16It's hard to envision Deshaun Watson missing the playoffs, even if he needs to put the Texans on his back and carry them there.15. Indianapolis Colts Michael Hickey / Getty Images Sport / GettyPre-camp rank: 15It's time to see how much gas is left in Philip Rivers' tank. The roster around him is solid.16. Arizona CardinalsPre-camp rank: 17If Kyler Murray makes the type of progress the Cardinals foresee, Arizona could be more than simply a playoff hopeful.17. New England PatriotsPre-camp rank: 14Just when you thought the Patriots' receiving corps couldn't get any thinner, New England released Mohamed Sanu.18. Denver BroncosPre-camp rank: 20The Broncos will field plenty of young talent, but youth often needs time to develop.19. Atlanta FalconsPre-camp rank: 18The offense should be good enough, but there are questions about the Falcons' defense and coaching staff.20. Los Angeles Rams Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Getty Images Sport / GettyPre-camp rank: 19Sean McVay needs to come up with some new tricks to reverse the Rams' trajectory. That won't be easy in the deep NFC West.21. Cleveland BrownsPre-camp rank: 21It's hard to trust the Browns to do anything besides disappoint, though it wouldn't be stunning if their talented group wins a decent number of games in 2020.22. Las Vegas RaidersPre-camp rank: 23The Raiders appear better equipped to handle losing Tyrell Williams than they were a year ago, but that isn't saying much.23. Los Angeles ChargersPre-camp rank: 22Losing Derwin James is huge for the Bolts, who need to be sharp defensively to offset their expected offensive limitations.24. Detroit LionsPre-camp rank: 24They say defense wins championships, and that should quickly eliminate the leaky Lions from any such conversation.25. Chicago Bears Dylan Buell / Getty Images Sport / GettyPre-camp rank: 25Mitchell Trubisky may be starting Week 1, but calls for Nick Foles to replace the oft-criticized signal-caller could come as early as Week 2.26. New York GiantsPre-camp rank: 26The Giants are much more than a Logan Ryan addition away from contending, even in the winnable NFC East.27. Miami DolphinsPre-camp rank: 27Expectations should be significantly tempered with Tua Tagovailoa slated to begin the season on the bench.28. New York JetsPre-camp rank: 30Camp reports about Le'Veon Bell's lack of explosion and Sam Darnold's inconsistencies can't inspire much confidence among the Jets' faithful.29. Cincinnati BengalsPre-camp rank: 28The Bengals' offense could be exciting with Joe Burrow in the saddle, but their defense took a major hit in camp when Trae Waynes went down with a pectoral injury.30. Carolina Panthers Grant Halverson / Getty Images Sport / GettyPre-camp rank: 29The Panthers lack legitimate depth at every position - other than maybe wide receiver - and they don't possess enough star power to make up for those shortcomings.31. Washington Football TeamPre-camp rank: 32Releasing Adrian Peterson signaled the start of a youth movement in Washington. It could take a couple of seasons for the rewards of that phase to manifest.32. Jacksonville JaguarsPre-camp rank: 31The Jaguars didn't roster much talent to begin with, and there's even less skill in Jacksonville following the recent departures of Ngakoue, Fournette, and Ronnie Harrison.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Cardinals and All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins are closing in on a contract extension, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.The new deal is expected to make Hopkins the highest-paid wideout in the NFL, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. Atlanta Falcons superstar Julio Jones currently leads the position at $22 million annually.There are three years left on a five-year, $81-million extension Hopkins signed with the Houston Texans in 2017. The Cardinals acquired him in a blockbuster trade with the Texans last March.The 27-year-old's $16.2 million average annual salary currently ranks ninth at his position, putting him significantly behind the league's highest-paid wideouts.Days prior to his shocking trade to Arizona, Hopkins' representatives reportedly told the Texans he wanted a deal worth $18 million to $20 million per season and would consider a holdout to get it.Hopkins leads the league with 31 receiving touchdowns since 2017. He's also racked up 315 receptions and 4,115 yards over the last three seasons, ranking second and third among pass-catchers, respectively.The four-time Pro Bowler has topped 1,100 yards in five of the seven years he's played since being drafted in the first round in 2013. The Clemson product recorded 104 catches for 1,165 yards and seven scores through 15 games last season.Meanwhile, three wide receivers currently average $20-plus million per season, including Jones, Amari Cooper, and Keenan Allen, who inked an extension last week.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFL players will be allowed to exchange jerseys this season, but they'll be doing it in a different way.The league is requesting that players communicate with their teams about jersey swaps so clubs can collect the apparel for cleaning before shipping it to other facilities, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.Teams were informed of the new rule on Monday after the NFL partnered with Tide, which will cover the cost of one replacement jersey per player while also giving clubs a cleaning detergent.Players can inform their team's equipment managers of a forthcoming jersey exchange through multiple methods, including email or text, Pelissero adds.Each club's equipment manager is also responsible for removing the Kinexon device, a wearable smart tag that monitors the physical distance between players when they interact, and how long those interactions lasted. They must also put the device back onto a replacement jersey.The league won't allow jerseys used during designated games, such as Crucial Catch and Salute to Service contests, to be exchanged. Additionally, on-field jersey swaps are subject to team discipline.49ers cornerback Richard Sherman was among several players to criticize the NFL after it was reported in July that the league was planning to ban postgame interactions within six feet as one of its return-to-play guidelines.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.