by Dan Wilkins on (#4TY2A)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Amari Cooper is expected to play in Sunday night's game against the Minnesota Vikings despite being listed as questionable due to knee and ankle injuries, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.An MRI on Cooper's knee Monday revealed a bruise. He was a limited participant in practice this week, missing only Thursday's team session.The 25-year-old's availability is a major boost for the Cowboys in a matchup with a Vikings defense allowing just 225.1 passing yards per game, the eighth-lowest total in the NFL.Operating as Dak Prescott's top target since landing with Dallas in a midseason trade from the Oakland Raiders last year, Cooper has racked up an impressive 95 catches for 1,426 yards and 12 touchdowns across 17 regular-season games.The Cowboys, coming off a Week 9 win over the New York Giants, sit atop the NFC East at 5-3.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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Updated | 2024-11-27 17:17 |
by Dan Wilkins on (#4TY29)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is being advised by some to sit out Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears due to a back injury, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.Stafford is hoping to play through the pain but will likely be a game-time decision, Schefter adds.Uncertainty about the veteran quarterback's availability comes on the heels of a week in which he was officially listed as a limited participant for all three team practices.Stafford has been putting together one of the most productive seasons of his career through eight games, throwing for 2,499 yards, 19 touchdowns, and five interceptions.Detroit would turn to Jeff Driskel under center if Stafford is unavailable for the NFC North clash. The 26-year-old backup, who signed with the Lions in the offseason, tallied six touchdowns and two interceptions while making five starts for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2018.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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by Mike Alessandrini on (#4TXVJ)
Despite his team's third straight loss in Week 9 to the Miami Dolphins, New York Jets owner Christopher Johnson is expected to remain patient with head coach Adam Gase, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Gase may be on the hot seat with his squad sitting 1-7, but the team's ownership is not yet inclined to make a head-coaching change, sources told Schefter.The Jets reportedly believe the team's situation will sort itself out, especially considering Gase and new general manager Joe Douglas have only worked together for five months without a full offseason.New York ranks last in scoring offense and total offense in 2019, but it appears the Jets want to judge Gase on a larger body of work.A fan-sponsored plane with a banner reading, "Fire Adam Gase" was spotted flying over New York City on Friday.Gang Green hired Gase this past January in the hopes he could elevate the play of second-year quarterback Sam Darnold and the offense. The 41-year-old spent three seasons in Miami prior to joining the Jets.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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by Alex Chippin on (#4TXVM)
The Oakland Raiders placed safety Karl Joseph on injured reserve Saturday and signed veteran D.J. Swearinger to replace him, the club announced.Oakland also signed defensive end Dion Jordan and waived linebacker Quentin Poling.Joseph came up with a pivotal interception late in the fourth quarter Thursday against the Los Angeles Chargers but suffered an apparent foot injury on the play. He was seen on crutches after the game, and head coach Jon Gruden said he was worried that the ailment was significant.The Raiders, who improved to 5-4 in Week 10 with the win, also lost Lamarcus Joyner to a hamstring injury.Swearinger opened the season with the Arizona Cardinals but was released at the end of September, as he was a liability in coverage. The 28-year-old played with the Washington Redskins from 2017-18, when he established himself as one of the NFL's heavier hitters from the safety position.Jordan was suspended 10 games before the season for using Adderall without a therapeutic use exemption. The former No. 3 pick has 8.5 sacks in 43 career contests split between the Miami Dolphins and Seattle Seahawks.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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by Alex Murray on (#4TXE7)
San Francisco 49ers star tight end George Kittle is officially listed as doubtful for the club's Monday Night Football matchup against the Seattle Seahawks due to knee and ankle issues, head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters Saturday, including NBCS 49ers' Jennifer Lee Chan.Kittle suffered the injuries during the team's win over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 9 and hasn't practiced yet this week, adds Maiocco.Head coach Kyle Shanahan didn't say much when asked about his Pro Bowl tight end's ailments, revealing only that Kittle's MRI showed some knee and ankle "issues."If the 26-year-old can't play, backup Ross Dwelley will replace him. The team could also consider activating veteran Garrett Celek from the physically-unable-to-perform list for the divisional matchup.Kittle is coming off a sophomore campaign when he broke the single-season receiving yards record for tight ends. Through eight games in 2019, the third-year pro has contributed 541 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns on 46 catches.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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by C Jackson Cowart on (#4TXKF)
Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.The NFL season enters Week 10 with some big matchups on the slate. Where is the sharp money going? Which lines are moving the most? We're tracking the games drawing the most interest from bettors.We talked to Jay Rood, Bet.Works' chief risk officer and theScore Bet's head trader, to see how sharps and public bettors are playing the Week 10 schedule.All lines courtesy of theScore Bet.Kansas City Chiefs (-6, 48.5) at Tennessee TitansThis game has moved more than any on the slate, with the Chiefs opening as 3.5-point road favorites on Tuesday.The line bumped up to -5.5 once it was reported that Patrick Mahomes is expected to start, and it sits at -6, where it'll likely settle unless there's some unexpected sharp play on the Titans. Rood said the line won't drop more than around a point even if Mahomes is a late scratch, as there is already so much money invested in the contest."This is gonna be a game I think where the public is all over the Chiefs," Rood said.The parlay action is nearly 100% in favor of Kansas City, with bettors taking the Chiefs at a 10-to-1 clip. That suggests this line could even creep up to -6.5 by game time, which may invite some late action from wise guys.Buffalo Bills at Cleveland Browns (-2.5, 40.5)Bettors are split between the six-win Bills and the two-win Browns, with sharps backing the home team and the public riding the road 'dog.Early money on the Browns pushed the line to -2.5 (-120), where it remains as of Saturday morning. The average bet on Cleveland is twice as high as those on Buffalo, though the Bills are seeing twice the number of tickets ahead of Sunday. They're the public favorites in parlays, too, with roughly a 6-to-1 edge in tickets."That's an indicator there that the public might be taking the 'dog (on Sunday)," Rood said. "I could see this maybe being a pros versus Joes sort of thing, but we'll see."Rood added that the line will likely sit at -2.5 into game time, though any more sharp play on Cleveland would push it to the key number of -3.Los Angeles Rams (-4, 44.5) at Pittsburgh SteelersBoth sides are banged up heading into Sunday afternoon: Brandin Cooks is out for L.A., while James Conner is out and JuJu Smith-Schuster is questionable for Pittsburgh. Bettors favor the Rams here, though just barely, taking them with 60% of spread tickets but a near dead-even split in money.In parlays, it's a different story. Los Angeles is seeing nearly 4-to-1 action over Pittsburgh and is almost exclusively the public's choice in teasers, even with a seemingly unfavorable number to tease across zero.Expect the public to come heavy on the Rams before kickoff, which could inch this number a bit higher for the road favorites.Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers (-6, 46.5)This game would be seeing more action at this point if it weren't on Monday - bettors don't love to wait - but those early to the window are split between the NFC West rivals.The 49ers opened at -5.5 and were nudged to -6, where they took a small sharp play. But Rood expects the number to move back in Seattle's favor, which could attract some late sharp play on the undefeated Niners."I see some -6.5s out there right now (on San Francisco)," Rood said. "I can't recall any real bias from the sharps on the Niners this season so far, so I don't see them getting as involved unless we drop back to -5.5 where we started.""We're probably gonna be on the lookout for the public piling onto this game," he added.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 © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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by Alex Murray on (#4TXKG)
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Jacoby Brissett has been ruled out for the team's game against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday due to an MCL injury, the club announced on Saturday.Brissett suffered the injury when guard Quenton Nelson rolled up on his leg in the second quarter of the Colts' Week 9 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. An MRI on Monday revealed an MCL sprain but no serious damage.Head coach Frank Reich said on Friday that Brissett, who was a limited participant at practice all week, could play through the injury with a "little risk" of suffering further damage, according to IndyStar's Joel A. Erickson.Brian Hoyer, who took extra reps in practice this week, will make his first start for the Colts after coming on in relief against the Steelers. Hoyer recorded 168 passing yards, three touchdowns, and two turnovers in the loss.The Colts also elevated signal-caller Chad Kelly from their practice squad on Saturday to bolster the team's quarterback depth chart.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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by Alex Kolodziej on (#4TXKJ)
Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.The player prop market is a hot one for bettors. While standard spread and total bets account for an entire game, individual props focus on specific matchups.Here are five prop bets to consider for Week 10:Nick Chubb over 86.5 rushing yardsIt's ironic, isn't it? With Baker Mayfield entering his second year and the Browns acquiring Odell Beckham Jr. to put alongside Jarvis Landry, we all thought Cleveland's passing offense would surge. Instead, the running game has been the team's strength.Cleveland has slowly climbed the ladder to No. 13 in rushing DVOA, and its passing offense sits at No. 25. Week 10 offers a quality matchup for Chubb, who faces a Bills defense allowing 4.4 yards per carry this season, and Buffalo has given up nearly 300 yards to opposing running backs over the last two weeks.Mike Gesicki over 41.5 receiving yardsI really like everything about Gesicki's situation this week. He's played a solid offensive role for the Miami Dolphins lately, with the tight end catching 15 passes for 197 yards over his last four games after posting six receptions for 51 yards in the first three. He could experience an uptick in targets with emerging receiver Preston Williams now on injured reserve.The Dolphins draw the Indianapolis Colts in Week 10, and their defense has allowed four-plus receptions to tight ends in every game this season, surrendering an average of 55.6 yards per contest to the position. The Dolphins field one of the most pass-heavy offenses in the league while throwing on 65.9% of their plays, and once they're trailing that goes up to 75%. Gesicki should get plenty of opportunities this week.Jared Goff under 262.5 passing yardsThis is the perfect spot to fade Goff against an underrated Steelers defense.The quarterback's road-home splits are alarming, and he's struggled to produce against teams that can dial-up pressure (see: San Francisco, Carolina, Cleveland). The Steelers rank No. 5 in sacks and No. 6 in pass-defense DVOA.There are lots of factors working against Goff on Sunday, even with the Rams coming off a bye week.Danny Amendola under 43.5 receiving yardsKenny Golladay and Marvin Jones form the one-two punch in the Lions' receiving corps, but Amendola has done some nice things lately.Amendola went missing after going off for seven catches and 104 yards in Week 1, posting just five receptions over his next three games. He's since caught fire, and the veteran enters Sunday with 19 catches for 229 yards since Week 7.However, this is a good time to jump ship while his stock is back on the upswing. Detroit clashes with the Chicago Bears in Week 10, and fading slot receivers against the Bears was a treasure trove in 2018. This season Chicago has been stout against the position again, and Amendola is spending 77% of his snaps in the slot.Tarik Cohen over 26.5 receiving yardsCohen has been quiet this year, but Bears head coach Matt Nagy is trying to turn his speedy back loose.While David Montgomery takes on the bulk of the rushing load, Cohen has been given four-plus targets in all but one game this season. He brings strong breakout potential on Sunday against a Lions defense that's allowed 45-plus receiving yards to running backs in seven of eight games this season.Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKolodziej.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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by Michael McClymont on (#4TWTK)
Jalen Ramsey is back to his trash-talking ways.The brash cornerback and his Los Angeles Rams will square off against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, and Ramsey is expected to line up opposite Steelers wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster.Ramsey was quick to point out that he was handed tougher assignments when asked Friday if he had covered Smith-Schuster in previous games versus the Steelers."I matched up against Antonio (Brown) the whole time. Antonio was the No. 1 receiver there, not JuJu," Ramsey said.When pressed further about the challenges in covering the third-year pro, Ramsey offered a blunt assessment."No disrespect to him, he's not Antonio Brown," he said. "I matched up with Antonio for two years and it was a good battle. And I held my own in those battles. And now I'm going up against a different person, different body type, different receiver a little bit. He can make plays. But I'mma play my game, I'm not really worried about it."You can watch the full clip below.
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by Michael McClymont on (#4TWTN)
Most have exited the 2-6 Cleveland Browns' bandwagon, especially after the team's upset loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday. However, Browns pass-rusher Myles Garrett still has faith that all is not lost for the club in 2019."I don't see why we can't be 10-6," Garrett said Friday, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com."There's eight more games and that's eight more opportunities. I don't care what the previous record has shown, I don't care what they've said has happened before. You go out there with the right mindset and good amount of want to, you know what the hell you're doing, you have your fundamentals down, you can go out there and play with anybody."If the Browns are to turn things around, they'll have to start Sunday against the 6-2 Buffalo Bills. Currently, Cleveland is three games behind the 5-3 Indianapolis Colts for the final wild-card spot in the AFC."The guys in our room I know aren't going anywhere and their heads aren't going to ever hang, they aren't going to ever bash on us and complain and feel like we need something different," Garrett said. "They're confident in who's managing us, who's coaching us that we can win with the guys in this room, and that will never change."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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by Michael McClymont on (#4TVE9)
NFL Hall of Famer and former Florida State legend Deion Sanders has emerged as a candidate to be the Seminoles' next head coach, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported.Sanders is currently an NFL Network analyst.The eight-time Pro Bowler was an All-American cornerback at Florida State in the 1980s and won the Jim Thorpe Award in 1988, given to the nation's top defensive back. Sanders was the fifth overall pick of the 1989 NFL Draft.Considered one of the best corners of all time, "Prime Time" was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011 after a dazzling 14-year career.Sanders has coached high school football for several years and also opened Prime Prep Academy in 2012 before it shut down in 2015.Florida State fired head coach Willie Taggart on Nov. 3 after he went 9-12 at the helm.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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by Alex Murray on (#4TWJT)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back James Conner will not play Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams due to a shoulder injury, the team announced Friday.Conner suffered the injury during the team's win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 8. He was unable to play against the Indianapolis Colts last week.Head coach Mike Tomlin was "optimistic" Tuesday about Conner's chances to suit up. The running back was limited in practice Wednesday but was a non-participant Thursday and Friday.Jaylen Samuels will start again this week after finishing with 83 scrimmage yards and a fumble on 21 touches against the Colts. Third-year tailback Trey Edmunds was limited early in the week with a rib issue but was able to practice fully Friday.Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster was a surprise addition to the team's injury report Friday after logging a limited practice. He's considered questionable with a foot injury.Fellow running back Benny Snell (knee) and fullback Roosevelt Nix (knee) will also miss Sunday's affair.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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by Alex Murray on (#4TWAG)
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Jacoby Brissett is a game-time decision Sunday against the Miami Dolphins, head coach Frank Reich said, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Brissett, who has been a limited participant in practice all week, continues to recover from an MCL sprain he suffered in the second quarter of last week's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers."In some ways, I am encouraged," Reich told reporters, including WISH-TV's Charlie Clifford. "I think he (Brissett) has looked OK ... will he be 100%? I don't think there is any way he is 100% by Sunday."Reich added that Brissett's injury is one the quarterback can play through with "little risk" of suffering further damage, according to IndyStar's Joel A. Erickson.Veteran Brian Hoyer will make his first start since 2017 if Brissett is unable to play. Hoyer threw for 168 yards and three touchdowns while committing a pair of turnovers last week.Receivers Parris Campbell and T.Y. Hilton have already been ruled out of Sunday's contest, according to Erickson.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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by Jack Browne on (#4TWAD)
The reigning MVP is back.Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said Friday that Patrick Mahomes will start Sunday's Week 10 game against the Tennessee Titans "unless something changes," according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.The star quarterback missed Kansas City's last two games after dislocating his knee against the Denver Broncos in Week 7. While it was initially thought he could be out until after the Chiefs' bye in Week 12, the third-year pro made a fast recovery.Mahomes said he'll wear a brace in his return, per Nate Taylor of The Athletic."I'm in a great spot," he added, according to Adam Teicher of ESPN.Kansas City went 1-1 in Mahomes' absence, losing a close game against the Green Bay Packers before bouncing back to beat the Minnesota Vikings in Week 9.Despite being sidelined for two games, Mahomes is still tied for seventh league-wide in passing touchdowns (15). He's also tied for the fewest interceptions (one) with Russell Wilson among long-term starters.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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by Jack Browne on (#4TWAJ)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is ready to go after he missed practice Thursday due to an illness."I'm good," a smiling Jackson said Friday when asked if he was feeling better, according to Luke Jones of WNST.Ravens head coach John Harbaugh also gave a similarly positive and brief update:
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by Jack Browne on (#4TWAE)
The Minnesota Vikings will be missing one of their top weapons in prime time against the Dallas Cowboys.Star wide receiver Adam Thielen won't play in Sunday's game after reinjuring his hamstring in Week 9, the team announced Friday.Thielen sat out the Vikings' win over the Washington Redskins in Week 8 before returning to face the Kansas City Chiefs. He suffered the injury in the first quarter and then sat out every practice this week.With Thielen out against Washington, fellow receiver Stefon Diggs exploded for 143 yards on seven catches.Laquon Treadwell, Chad Beebe, and Olabisi Johnson will take on expanded roles in the important conference clash with Thielen sidelined.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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by Jack Browne on (#4TWAP)
Former New York Jets quarterback Luke Falk has filed an injury grievance against the club through the NFL Players Association, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reports.The sixth-round pick in 2018 is the second player to file a grievance against the Jets over the past three weeks.Falk, who started two games for the team while Sam Darnold was out with mononucleosis, is reportedly suffering from a hip injury that requires surgery.The signal-caller was released on Oct. 12 after Darnold was cleared to return. Falk wasn't listed on the injury report prior to his final start for the Jets or during the week before his release, according to Mehta.New York is also in the midst of an ongoing dispute over its handling of former guard Kelechi Osemele's shoulder injury.The 30-year-old was released on Oct. 26, the day after independently scheduling a surgery the team didn't authorize.The Jets and the veteran offensive lineman disagreed over the severity of the shoulder issue. The franchise fined Osemele nearly $580,000 for detrimental conduct, and he filed a grievance to recoup lost wages.Osemele is also reportedly considering taking action against the Jets' team doctor for violating state medical board regulations.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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by Alex Murray on (#4TWAR)
Seattle Seahawks safety Quandre Diggs was dealt by the Detroit Lions at the trade deadline for a fifth-rounder, and he believes there was more to the decision than stockpiling draft picks."I think it was more of just a control thing," Diggs told Detroit Free Press' Dave Birkett. "Them wanting to control the locker room. Control the locker room, control voices in the locker room."A team captain coming off a Pro Bowl season, Diggs said the news of the trade was a "shock." Other players on the team, including cornerback Darius Slay, voiced their displeasure with the deal.The 26-year-old said he has "no ill will" toward his former employer, expressing appreciation for his teammates, the city, and the management team that brought him in.However, that group did not include current head coach Matt Patricia and general manager Bob Quinn. When discussing his relationship with them, Diggs simply said, "It is what it is."Some will point to Diggs' spotty tackling and injury troubles this year as the reasons he was shipped out, but he thinks it was his big personality and strong voice."Just me being the person I am," Diggs explained. "I'm a vocal guy, so when you're vocal and when you're competitive, I'm a competitive guy. I'm competitive as shit. I hate losing. I go and I put my body on the line every week doing hella treatment, doing all these other things and at the end of the day it didn't work out ... I'm just me, man, and I guess when you yourself, sometimes you get singled out."After practicing on a limited basis this week, the fifth-year pro will look to make his Seahawks debut Monday against the undefeated San Francisco 49ers.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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by Alex Kolodziej, Thomas Casale, C Jackson Cowart, A on (#4TW0D)
Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.Every Friday during the NFL season, theScore's betting writers release their best bets for the week. Each writer has been given an imaginary $1,000 bankroll to manage throughout the campaign. If you decide to follow any of the picks, please gamble responsibly.Odds courtesy of theScore Bet.Alex Kolodziej ($1,143)Season record: 10-5, +$143Arizona Cardinals at Tampa Bay BuccaneersTotal: 52It initially made sense this total opened where it did. You’re dealing with two offenses that can make splash plays and defenses that have relapsed in recent weeks. But after digging deeper, I understood why my numbers came up well short of the opener of 53.5.Both the Buccaneers and Cardinals have gotten into plenty of shootouts, but it seems as if they haven’t been planned. The two offenses are in the back half of the league in DVOA and it’s not as though the defenses are completely decrepit. Tampa Bay still leads the league in rush defense and can trap quarterback Kyler Murray and Arizona into a one-dimensional offense. The Cardinals' pass rush has a chance to dial up pressure on Jameis Winston, who's been terrible this season when he doesn't have a clean pocket.This one might seem like a shootout on paper, but there are underlying stats that tell a completely different story.Pick: Under 52 ($60)Thomas Casale ($988)Season record: 6-5-2, -$12Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans SaintsTotal: 51This feels like a good week to ride the Saints' offense. That's typically the case when a team faces the dumpster fire known as the Falcons' defense. Atlanta ranks 30 in points allowed, giving up an average of 31.3 per game. Teams have scored at least 27 points against the Falcons in six of eight games this season and three of the last four opponents have eclipsed 30.The Saints are coming off a bye and the offense is starting to hit its stride, scoring 67 points in the last two games. With Alvin Kamara likely returning Sunday, the Saints will score at will against the Falcons' Swiss cheese defense. I'll take the over for the game and Saints team total here.Picks: Over 51 ($75), Saints team total over 31.5 ($75)C Jackson Cowart ($801)Season record: 7-9-2, -$199Arizona Cardinals at Tampa Bay BuccaneersTotal: 52Everything about this game screams over: two high-volume passing attacks against below-average defenses with abysmal secondaries. Yes, please.The Bucs have gone over in six straight games, and the Cardinals just put up 25 points on the vaunted 49ers defense in arguably Murray's best start yet. Yet, Arizona's coverage unit had one of its worst showings last week and now faces the two-headed monster of Chris Godwin and Mike Evans.Don't be scared of the high total, either. This season, games with a total of at least 50 or higher are 10-6-2 to the over, including 3-0 when either of these two teams are involved. Bet on points in bunches with this game.Pick: Over 52 ($75)Buffalo Bills at Cleveland BrownsTotal: 40.5I'm a bit surprised the total isn't below 40 given the way these two teams have played offense as of late. Still, this number is telling you to bet low: when the total is 40.5 or lower, the under is a scorching 11-3 this year. Both defenses are good enough to trust the total here.Pick: Under 40.5 ($75)Alex Moretto ($767)Season record: 8-10-1, -$234Minnesota Vikings at Dallas CowboysTotal: 48Don't overreact to last month. Although these offenses have been putting up points at will, that was to be expected against a handful of struggling defenses. This week's showdown will represent the first real test for Kirk Cousins and Dak Prescott since Week 4, when the Vikings and Cowboys combined for 16 points against the Bears and Saints.These are the fourth- and fifth-ranked scoring defenses, and two of the most run-heavy offenses in the NFL. We get a really inflated line here as a result of their recent outbursts on offense, but points are going to be a lot harder to come by.Pick: Under 48 ($60)Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers (-6)Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. What about the fourth time? Does that make me bold or just plain stupid? I've bet against the Seahawks three times already this season and have yet to win one of those. I'm as stubborn as they come and remain as convinced as ever that this team isn't anywhere close to as good as their record indicates. They're giving up way too many yards on defense and the offense has feasted on weaker teams.Throw everything the world wants you to know about Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson's record on prime time out the window. Seattle is about to be exposed in more ways than I care to count on Monday Night Football. The Seahawks will be on the road, against the league's best pass rush and secondary, No. 2 scoring defense and rushing attack, and the third-ranked scoring offense. Not even Wilson can save the Seahawks against the 49ers.Pick: 49ers -6 ($60)Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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by Jack Browne on (#4TW0F)
Trent Williams' season effectively ended Thursday when the Washington Redskins placed him on the non-football injury list, and it doesn't sound like the veteran left tackle intends to suit up for the NFC East club ever again."I feel like everything has run its course," Williams told USA TODAY Sports' Mike Jones on Friday. "I mean, I do want to play football still and I'm not a free agent until after the 2020 season, so who knows. But the bridge has definitely been burned, and any efforts now, basically are, in my opinion, pretty much just CYA (cover your ass)."Williams hasn't played this season after holding out of Washington's first eight games. He revealed last week his anger stems from a cancerous growth on his head that team doctors didn't take seriously when it began developing six years ago.The 31-year-old returned to the Redskins after the NFL trade deadline but failed his physical due to discomfort with his helmet.The Redskins have requested an independent review of their handling of the medical care given to Williams. However, while Williams wants the matter investigated, he believes the team is only concerned with absolving itself of blame."If I felt like they were genuine, I'd be all for it,†Williams said. "They're not doing it to find out what went wrong. They're doing it to cover their butts."Mine isn't the only situation they got wrong. There are a lot of situations they could have looked into. Why didn't they do it before now? Why didn't they do it in (quarterback) Colt (McCoy's) case? And they keep putting out these false reports."That's never helpful. I just feel like regardless of what the findings of the investigation are, they're going to try to find a way to paint me negatively and make themselves look better."The Redskins reportedly attempted to trade Williams hours before the deadline after months of insisting he wouldn't be moved but were unable to find a team willing to match their high asking price.With Williams seemingly done with Washington, it's possible the team could shop him in the offseason.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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by Caitlyn Holroyd on (#4TW0G)
His son may play for the New York Giants, but Alibay Barkley - the father of Saquon Barkley - is a Jets fan through and through.Saquon told reporters Thursday his dad will be wearing a Joe Namath Jets jersey to Sunday's game between the two New York teams."My dad, if you ever met my dad, know my dad, he's been a Jets fan his whole life," Saquon said, according to ESPN's Jordan Raanan. "So is he going to root for the Jets? Yes, but he's going to root for the Giants and his son at the same time."So he gets the best of both worlds watching his team that he grew up rooting for and gets to watch his son live his dream."Alibay is such a big Jets fan that he even has the team logo tattooed on his forearm. He said last year he would consider adding some Giants-related ink if Saquon wins the Super Bowl.Sunday's game will be Saquon's first regular-season appearance against the Jets.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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by Jack Browne on (#4TTK7)
Warning: Story contains coarse languageAntonio Brown took to social media on Thursday to call out the NFL and used the opportunity to announce he does not intend to play in the league again - a threat he's made before.Antonio Brown / Twitter
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by Alex Chippin on (#4TV4N)
Jamal Adams finally met with New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas and head coach Adam Gase to clear the air over their trade deadline episode."It went well," Adams said of the meeting, which took place Monday, according to ESPN's Rich Cimini. "I told them I don't hate those guys. They said they don't hate me. I have nothing but love and respect for them, you know what I mean? We've moved on. We apologized to each other."We went about it a little different way on both ends. It is what it is. You live and learn. It's part of life. It's not going to hurt our relationship or how I feel about this organization."Adams declined to speak with both Douglas and Gase for days following the Oct. 29 deadline after his name popped up in trade rumors. The Jets insisted they never actively shopped their Pro Bowl safety but acknowledged they did listen to offers.The 24-year-old defensive back met with Jets chairman Christopher Johnson days before agreeing to sit down with Douglas and Gase.Adams, who previously questioned why management would consider trading him and admitted the rumors "hurt" him, said Thursday he's still committed to the franchise long term."I would love to be here," he said. "Simple as that. I want to bring success to this organization. I want to bring a Super Bowl to this organization."The Jets drafted Adams sixth overall in 2017. He's signed through the 2020 season, and the team can exercise the fifth-year option on his rookie deal to keep him under control through 2021.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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by Michael McClymont on (#4TTWM)
The Washington Redskins announced Thursday that left tackle Trent Williams was placed on the team's non-football injury list, effectively ending his 2019 season.Williams had yet to play a game this season, as he held out the first eight weeks of the year. Upon his return after the trade deadline, he failed his physical due to discomfort with his helmet. Williams had a cancerous growth removed from his head during the offseason.The roster move saves the Redskins from paying the remainder of Williams' $6-million salary, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Williams has one year left on his contract. He sought a trade from Washington, but the team only began pursuing offers hours before the deadline.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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by Justin Boone on (#4TTWN)
theScore's Justin Boone is coming off his sixth top-10 finish in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition. Follow the links below to see his updated rankings for Week 10.The final rankings will be released Sunday morning.Half PPR
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by Jack Browne on (#4TTK6)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green experienced swelling around his injured ankle Thursday and is unlikely to make his season debut this week, he told Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic."Probably not," Green said when asked if would play against the Baltimore Ravens.Bengals head coach Zac Taylor expressed optimism about Green's status earlier in the week, but the wideout didn't feel right during Wednesday's walkthrough and sat out practice."I can't go out there when I'm not 100%," said Green, according to Jay Morrison of The Athletic. "It makes no sense for me to put myself in that situation to where I can have another time hurting (it), just like I did my toe. It's all about making sure I'm taking care of myself first. Everything else comes after that."Green has missed the first eight games of the Bengals' season. Cincinnati is the only NFL team still without a win this year.The 31-year-old underwent surgery in July for an ankle injury he suffered on the opening day of training camp.Green was sidelined for seven contests last season due to the aforementioned toe injury. He racked up 46 catches for 694 yards and six touchdowns in his nine appearances.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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by Alex Murray on (#4TTK8)
The Dallas Cowboys are optimistic that wide receiver Amari Cooper will play Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, head coach Jason Garrett said, according to ESPN's Todd Archer.Cooper underwent an MRI on his knee Wednesday after suffering an injury in practice last week and re-aggravating it during the team's win over the New York Giants on Monday, Archer reports.He will not practice Thursday and is set to meet with doctors about the MRI results.The three-time Pro Bowler tweaked his ailing knee in the first half of Monday Night Football and exited briefly in the second quarter. He returned shortly thereafter and went on to score a 45-yard touchdown in the fourth.Cooper downplayed the injury postgame, saying it "wasn't anything that was that bad," and that his knee simply "locked up," according to The Dallas Morning News' Michael Gehlken.The Alabama product has been a revelation since going to Dallas in a trade with the Oakland Raiders last year. The fifth-year pro has compiled 1,426 yards and 12 touchdowns on 95 receptions in 17 games since joining the Cowboys.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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by Jack Browne on (#4TTK9)
New York Jets head coach Adam Gase remains optimistic that running back Le'Veon Bell will play Sunday against the New York Giants, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN.Gase said Bell, who's dealing with knee and ankle injuries, will be limited at practice Thursday, according to Brian Costello of the New York Post.Bell suffered the knee injury during the fourth quarter of last week's loss to the Miami Dolphins.An MRI on Wednesday revealed that the 27-year-old suffered no structural damage to his knee, according to Manish Mehta of the NY Daily News.Bell had his best game of the season against Miami, racking up 111 total yards on 25 touches.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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by Alex Murray on (#4TT9H)
New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton said Thursday he "fully expects" running back Alvin Kamara to suit up in Week 10 against the Atlanta Falcons after missing the last two contests with an ankle injury.The Saints won both games without their two-time Pro Bowler thanks in large part to the play of his replacement, Latavius Murray. Over the past two weeks, Murray has put on a show, piling up 307 yards from scrimmage and four total touchdowns on 62 touches.With the Tennessee product coming back, Murray will likely return to a reserve role.Kamara has contributed 649 yards from scrimmage and two total touchdowns on 119 touches through six games this season and will look to get back in the groove on Sunday after three weeks off.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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by Alex Murray on (#4TT9J)
Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson expects to return from an ankle injury this Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers."I'm definitely playing. I'm good, I'm ready to go," Johnson told reporters Wednesday.Johnson added that he's at "100%" and feels fully healthy.Head coach Kliff Kingsbury was not as confident, however, saying his tailback is "close" to returning but that he wanted to see "full-speed cuts and comfort level" before making a final decision, according to ESPN's Josh Weinfuss."Hopefully we see what we want this week and we can get him back out there," Kingsbury said Wednesday, Weinfuss reports.Johnson picked up the ankle injury prior to Week 7 and missed all but three snaps during the team's 27-21 win over the New York Giants. The fifth-year pro missed the following two games, too.Chase Edmonds carried the load against the Giants and also earned the start in Week 8, but he went down with a hamstring injury during the latter contest. The Cardinals acquired former Miami Dolphins back Kenyan Drake before the trade deadline.Drake served as the starter in Week 9 against the San Francisco 49ers and finished with 162 scrimmage yards and a touchdown.Kingsbury has yet to comment on how the team will distribute backfield snaps when Johnson returns to the fold.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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by Caitlyn Holroyd on (#4TT9K)
After living with his parents for his first one-and-a-half seasons in the NFL, Denver Broncos running back Phillip Lindsay has finally found a place of his own.The 25-year-old Denver native revealed on the latest episode of Ian Rapoport's "RapSheet + Friends" podcast that he's now a homeowner."Yeah, yeah, I am," Lindsay said (his interview starts at the 45-minute mark of the podcast). "Like you said, it's about time for me to move out and I think that I played it smart, was able to save some money for me to be able to get a place and also help myself out after getting a place."I just think that was the right choice to do right now. I definitely am going to move out and be an adult now."Lindsay signed a three-year, $1.725-million contract with the Broncos in 2018, and went on to become the first undrafted offensive rookie in NFL history to be named to a Pro Bowl.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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by Caio Miari on (#4TQ2R)
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen is unlikely to play Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys due to his strained hamstring, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.The Vikings' 2018 receiving leader first suffered the injury during his only catch in Week 7 against the Detroit Lions. He was sidelined for the following matchup against the Washington Redskins and returned in Week 9.However, the injury isn't worse after his brief appearance against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Pelissero adds. He played just 10 snaps but could still feel it pulling during the 26-23 loss and now needs to rest.The 29-year-old has posted 27 receptions, 391 yards, and a team-high six receiving touchdowns through eight games this season.The Vikings may be conservative regarding Thielen's health while sitting second in the NFC North with a 6-3 record. Minnesota's bye is scheduled for Week 12, and the wideout is struggling with an injury for the first time in his six-year career.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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by Alex Chippin on (#4TS3J)
Dwayne Haskins is expected to remain the Washington Redskins' starting quarterback coming out of the team's Week 10 bye, sources told Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.Redskins interim head coach Bill Callahan was non-committal when asked Tuesday about naming a starter, emphasizing he would take the bye week to conduct "self-scout evaluation," according to Grant Gordon of NFL.com.Haskins, the 15th overall pick this past April, made his first NFL start in Week 9, playing a turnover-free game in a losing effort versus the Buffalo Bills. The rookie has thrown four interceptions in three appearances and is still seeking his first career touchdown pass.Haskins, Case Keenum, and Colt McCoy have all made at least one start for Washington this season, with Keenum the first-string pivot when healthy. He missed the Bills game with a concussion.Washington will take on the New York Jets in Week 11. The Redskins have lost eight of nine games this season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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by Alex Murray on (#4TT9N)
Los Angeles Chargers All-Pro safety Derwin James is eyeing a return from a foot injury after the team's Week 12 bye, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.James suffered a stress fracture in his right foot during training camp. The 23-year-old underwent surgery in mid-August and was subsequently placed on injured reserve on Sept. 1.The injury was one James originally suffered before his sophomore season at Florida State, according to ESPN. James refractured the foot during a joint practice with the New Orleans Saints on Aug. 15.James was stellar in his rookie campaign, as he finished second in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting while piling up 105 total tackles, 13 pass breakups, 3.5 sacks, and three interceptions.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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by Alex Chippin on (#4TSGX)
Ezekiel Elliott doesn't believe he's been the best running back in the NFL this season, even if he's in the middle of a stretch where he's looked like it."I think there's been running backs that have played better than me this year," he told Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News. " ... I don't think it bothers me. It kind of adds a little fuel to the fire. I've got some more work to do. That's all."Elliott got off to a slow start - by his standards - but has averaged a league-high 118.3 rushing yards per game since Week 6.The 24-year-old sits sixth on the rushing leaderboard in 2019, trailing Dalvin Cook, Christian McCaffrey, Leonard Fournette, Nick Chubb, and Chris Carson. Chubb is the only member of that group with fewer rushing attempts than Elliott, who will face the league leader, Cook, and the Minnesota Vikings in Week 10."Just his speed, his ability to stretch and cut and make guys miss," Elliott said of Cook, who holds the NFL lead with 894 rushing yards. "He's definitely a special guy."Elliott led the league in rushing in two of his first three NFL seasons. He was suspended for six games in 2017, the only year he wasn't the rushing champion.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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by Justin Boone on (#4TSGY)
Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, and Anchor.In this episode, Ben Gretch of CBS Sports joins Boone to discuss the biggest fantasy questions heading into Week 10:
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by Alex Chippin on (#4TSB5)
Free-agent wide receiver Dez Bryant tweeted Wednesday that he'll begin searching for a team to sign with in two weeks and will accept a smaller role than he's accustomed to."I'm not trying to go nowhere and be a starter on a team," he wrote. "I want to contribute because I know I will be able to... I'm feeling good... in two weeks I'm going to reach out to teams and see what happens.... let's go X."Bryant has spent the last 12 months rehabbing from a ruptured Achilles he suffered in his first practice as a member of the New Orleans Saints. The three-time Pro Bowler signed a one-year deal with the Saints in November 2018 after the Dallas Cowboys released him prior to that season.
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by Alex Chippin on (#4TSB6)
The Washington Redskins have activated running back Derrius Guice from the injured reserve, according to Field Yates of ESPN.Guice missed eight games after undergoing surgery to trim the meniscus in his right knee. The former second-round pick missed his entire rookie campaign after tearing the ACL in his left knee.Guice rushed for 18 yards on 10 carries in the season opener. He was named a starter by former head coach Jay Gruden before Week 1, though Adrian Peterson has reemerged as the primary ball-carrier during his absence.The Redskins are on a bye in Week 10 and will face the New York Jets on Nov. 17.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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by Alex Chippin on (#4TSB8)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was a full participant in practice Wednesday, a sign he could be ready to make his return in Week 10.Mahomes has missed the last two games after dislocating his kneecap Oct. 17 versus the Denver Broncos. He had been practicing on a limited basis up until Wednesday.The Chiefs have gone 1-1 in his absence. Veteran Matt Moore has thrown four touchdowns and no interceptions since replacing the reigning league MVP.Mahomes was enjoying another monster season prior to his injury, putting up 15 touchdowns against just one pick. The 24-year-old was originally expected to miss between three and seven weeks.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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by Alex Chippin on (#4TSBA)
The New York Giants are considering season-ending injured reserve for Sterling Shepard, who has struggled to come back from his second documented concussion of the season, team sources told SNY's Ralph Vacchiano.The wide receiver missed Monday night's loss to the Dallas Cowboys after being placed back in the concussion protocol. Shepard initially cleared the protocol before experiencing more symptoms the day before the game.Shepard was sent to a concussion specialist in Pittsburgh on Wednesday. The 26-year-old suffered his first concussion of the year in the season opener, missing one game as a result. He sustained his second concussion in Week 5 and hasn't played since."You can kind of wing an ankle or other injuries, but when it comes to your brain, you only have one of those," teammate Golden Tate said. "And the picture outside of football is way more important, I think. Me being married and having a family, that's kind of the most important thing in my life and it's more important for me to remember my child's childhood than to force myself to play right here and now."So, we want him to understand that we support him, we're praying for him, and we want him to make sure that he's right."Shepard has 25 receptions for 267 yards and one touchdown in four games this season. He signed a four-year, $41-million extension with the Giants before the 2019 campaign.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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by Jack Browne on (#4TS3M)
New York Giants tight end Evan Engram expects to miss Sunday's game against the New York Jets with what the team is calling a "mid-foot sprain," according to ESPN's Jordan Raanan.While Engram is reportedly awaiting a second opinion on his MRI results from specialist Dr. Robert Anderson, his foot injury apparently isn't as serious as initially feared.The tight end said he "dodged a bullet" as it's not a Lisfranc injury, which would've sidelined him for an extended period of time.The Giants have their bye next week before a game against the Chicago Bears."Timing works out," Engram said. "So rest this week and obviously get a lot of rest next week."With Engram likely out, veteran Rhett Ellison will take over the starting role.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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by Mike Alessandrini on (#4TS3P)
Freddie Kitchens doesn't believe raw numbers tell the full story of Baker Mayfield's 2019 struggles.Following his team's fourth straight loss on Sunday, the Cleveland Browns head coach addressed the quarterback's dip in accuracy from his rookie season."There's a lot of factors that go into that," Kitchens told reporters when asked about Mayfield's low completion percentage, according to 92.3 The Fan's Keith Britton. "I don't think he's just wildly missing passes. I don't really look at that. I truly do not look at stats."After showing signs of a future NFL franchise quarterback in his first campaign, Mayfield has surprisingly declined in 2019, tossing just seven touchdowns to 12 interceptions.Despite the passer's inconsistencies, Kitchens believes Mayfield has the tools to turn his season around."He has to have the mindset of the game of football is tough," Kitchens said. "It's a tough game played by tough people. He's a tough individual. Baker will be fine. He just has to stay in the moment."I think Baker's got a unique ability like a lot of great QBs have, a short memory," he added. "They don't worry about the last play, move on to the next one."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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by Jack Browne on (#4TRSZ)
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said Wednesday that he believes wide receiver A.J. Green will make his season debut Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.However, several hours later, Taylor revealed that Green's ankle didn't feel right during the team's walkthrough, so the Bengals opted to hold him out of practice, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic.Taylor added the star pass-catcher is considered day-to-day, making his status for Week 10 uncertain.Green has missed the Bengals' first eight games - all losses - after undergoing surgery in July for an ankle injury suffered on the opening day of training camp.The potential return of Green coincides with the first career start of fourth-round rookie Ryan Finley, who's taking over for a benched Andy Dalton.The 31-year-old wideout - who's in the last year of his contract - has reiterated his desire to remain in Cincinnati. The two parties are in talks for a new extension.Widely recognized as one of the NFL's best receivers when healthy, Green racked up 46 catches for 694 yards and six touchdowns in nine appearances in 2018. He was sidelined for seven games last season with a toe injury.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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by Alex Moretto on (#4TS3R)
Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.Week 10 will kick off Thursday when the 4-5 Los Angeles Chargers visit the 4-4 Oakland Raiders for a game with significant wild-card implications. Here's everything you need to know about the AFC West clash from a betting perspective.Line movementThe market is warming up to the Chargers once again after their win over the Green Bay Packers in Week 9. They're now 1.5-point favorites in most spots after the line opened at zero. Meanwhile, the total has experienced a bump from 47.5 to 49. Games involving the Raiders have averaged 53.33 points over the last seven weeks.Betting breakdownBack-to-back victories have put the Chargers within a game of .500 and into the thick of the wild-card race. They're just behind the Raiders, who ended a two-game losing skid by beating the Detroit Lions on Sunday. That was Oakland's first game at the Coliseum since Week 2.Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers leads the league in passing yards and he'll look to attack a Raiders secondary that's allowed the most yards per game through the air and the second-most yards per attempt. Los Angeles prefers to pass, as the offense ranks just 25th in rushing attempts and 28th in yards per game on the ground, while it's top 10 in passing attempts, completion percentage, yards per game, and yards per attempt. The Chargers should be able to get some chunk plays against a Raiders defense that has allowed the third-most yards per play this season, and the most over the last three weeks.The Chargers' defense is middle of the pack in that regard, but the unit will be tested by a Raiders offense that ranks third in yards per play and has converted a league-high 56% of third downs at home. Los Angeles has converted 46% of third downs on the road, which is the third-best mark in the league. All signs point to both offenses having success moving the ball.Important trendsThe Chargers have consistently performed better on the road under coach Anthony Lynn, where they've gone 14-7-2 against the spread and 6-2-1 ATS as road favorites. Meanwhile, they've gone 7-2 to the under when favored away from home. Los Angeles has also performed well within the division, posting a 4-1-1 ATS record away to AFC West opponents under Lynn, while the coach is 4-0 both ATS and straight up as a head coach against the Raiders. Jon Gruden, who is 0-2 against the Chargers in his latest stint as Oakland head coach, is also 7-2 to the under when his team is getting points at home.X-FactorHunter Henry has been close to unstoppable since returning from a fracture in his knee that kept him sidelined for four weeks. He's had three games of at least 84 receiving yards and six catches, and now he gets to face an Oakland team that struggles against tight ends. Only Arizona has allowed more touchdowns to tight ends than the Raiders this season, who are among the worst in the NFL in allowing 63.8 yards a game to the position. Henry is the NFL's yards-per-game leader among tight ends and he should be a major part of L.A.'s offense on Thursday.PickPhilip Rivers over 22.5 completionsExpect a healthy dose of Rivers on Thursday night, as the Chargers know the way to attack the Raiders is through the air. Los Angeles already runs the ball just 36% of the time, and it likely won't even meet that number against an Oakland defense that's allowed the fifth-fewest yards per attempt on the ground. Meanwhile, the Raiders have been torched for the most yards per game through the air and they've allowed 20 receptions to running backs alone in the last three weeks. As a result, Rivers should have ample opportunities to dump the ball off to Austin Ekeler and Melvin Gordon, while also hitting his security blanket in Henry early and often. The Chargers QB should have no problem surpassing this number.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 © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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by Jack Browne on (#4TS3S)
Hall of Famer Bill Polian was skeptical about Lamar Jackson's ability to succeed as an NFL quarterback prior to the 2018 draft, even saying the Heisman winner should switch to wide receiver due to his athleticism.But on Tuesday, with the Baltimore Ravens pivot firmly in the MVP conversation after dismantling the New England Patriots on Sunday night, the former general manager admitted he missed the mark on Jackson."I was wrong, because I used the old, traditional quarterback standard with him, which is clearly why (Ravens head coach) John Harbaugh and (former general manager) Ozzie Newsome were more prescient than I was,†Polian told USA TODAY Sports's Jarrell Bell."And (offensive coordinator) Greg (Roman) found a way in how he's developed a system to use those dynamic skills," Polian added. "Bottom line, I was wrong."The AFC North-leading Ravens are reaping the benefits of transforming their offense to maximize Jackson's rare talents, with the second-year passer recording three 100-plus-yard rushing games in eight contests this season.Jackson ripped apart the Patriots' defense - a unit that entered Week 9 as the NFL's best - while scoring two rushing touchdowns and tacking on another through the air during the 37-20 win. He went 17-of-23 passing for 163 yards, adding 61 yards on the ground.Polian's criticisms of Jackson were centered around his size and accuracy issues. He also said the former Louisville standout wasn't on the same passing level as the four quarterbacks taken before him in the draft (Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, and Josh Rosen).While the former Indianapolis Colts and Buffalo Bills executive maintained his initial comments were misconstrued, Polian recognized he was evaluating Jackson with an out-of-date mindset."The definition has changed, no question," Polian said. "What he's doing is amazing."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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by C Jackson Cowart on (#4TRSX)
Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.There was a moment after Week 1 when Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens felt like the hottest tickets on the market. They'd just embarrassed the Miami Dolphins behind their reinvented offense; Jackson looked like a brand new quarterback and legitimate MVP candidate. The Ravens' 40-1 Super Bowl preseason odds looked like the steal of the summer.The moment was short-lived. The NFL quickly caught up to how bad the Dolphins are; the New England Patriots reclaimed AFC supremacy behind a historic defense; the Ravens faded away after losses to the Chiefs and Browns. Entering last week, Baltimore was 18-1 to win the Super Bowl, while Jackson's MVP odds were 7-1.Then came Sunday night, when Jackson ripped apart the vaunted Patriots defense and handed New England its first loss. The moment is now back.After that win, the Ravens are now 8-1 to win the Super Bowl, trailing only the Patriots (5-2), Saints (4-1), Chiefs (7-1), and undefeated 49ers (7-1). For his part, Jackson is now tied with Russell Wilson atop the MVP oddsboard at 3-1 - a far cry from the 100-1 opening odds he saw in June.His MVP odds hovered around 50-1 entering the year, as did Baltimore's title odds at some books this summer. But the second-year quarterback has been the engine for the smash-mouth Ravens, who lead the league with 204.9 rushing yards per game - more than 30 yards ahead of second-place San Francisco.Jackson is responsible for 79.6 of those per game - 10th-most in the league - on 6.4 yards per attempt, most of anyone with at least 50 carries. He's fifth among QBs in scrimmage yards per game (294.9) and fifth in ESPN's QBR (69.9), bolstering his statistical case for the award. As for MVP moments? He's had plenty of those, too.He torched Miami's defense for a perfect passer rating in Week 1 and dropped a dime to freeze the Cardinals in Week 2. He became the first player in the modern era with 200 passing yards and 150 rushing yards in a win over Cincinnati and outdueled Wilson in Seattle a week later in an MVP showdown.And, of course, he scored three touchdowns against the Patriots' historically stout defense in a prime-time statement win.The Ravens' improved defense might be the best case for buying them now, aside from Jackson's early season brilliance. After featuring one of the shakier secondaries in the league through six weeks, Baltimore traded for former All-Pro Marcus Peters, who had a pick-6 against Seattle and has played at an elite level this year. Third-year corner Marlon Humphrey has scored a touchdown in consecutive games and forced the game-winning turnover in Pittsburgh, and Jimmy Smith returned Sunday after missing the previous six games.Speedy receiver Marquise Brown is back in the fold, too, as the Ravens head into the meat of their schedule. It'd take an utter collapse for Baltimore to cede control of the AFC North crown, and the team is only 1.5 games back of the No. 1 seed thanks to its tiebreaker with New England.It feels as if those two teams are fated to meet again in the postseason. Bill Belichick will surely have a new game plan for the rematch, though he's just 3-5 in his career when facing a team in the playoffs after losing to them in the regular season.Does that make Baltimore the best bet in the AFC? With the Patriots reeling, it's not as far-fetched as it once seemed, and now may be the last time to buy at a value.Other notes, movementsCleveland BrownsSpeaking of Super Bowl contenders from the AFC North ... Yikes. Remember when the Browns were as short as 10-1 at some books to win their first Super Bowl? They're 200-1 now, and even that might be giving too much credit to a 2-6 squad on a four-game losing streak. They're theoretically talented enough to run the table, which is what it might take to make the playoffs. But who's brave enough to bet that?Chicago BearsOddsmakers are finally throwing in the towel on the Bears, who were among the most-bet teams in the offseason. Chicago is 200-1 to hoist the Lombardi Trophy at year's end, and quarterback Mitchell Trubisky - a sharp darling in the offseason MVP market - is 5,000-1 to win the award. That's not a typo. A.J. Green has the same odds and he hasn't even played a snap this year.Houston TexansJackson isn't the only MVP hotshot leading his team to surprise Super Bowl contention. Deshaun Watson, now 5-1 to win MVP, is the engine behind the Texans' 6-3 record and 25-1 title odds. After outshining Patrick Mahomes in a Week 6 win, he'll take aim at Jackson in Baltimore after Houston's bye week. The winner of that game could easily skyrocket to sole possession of first place in the MVP race.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 © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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by Justin Boone on (#4TRT0)
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 before the deadline, 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
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by Mike Alessandrini on (#4TRT2)
Cleveland Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens announced Wednesday that running back Kareem Hunt will likely suit up for Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills."Some of (Hunt's playing time) will be dictated by the game, but I think Kareem's ready to play," Kitchens told reporters, according to Marla Ridenour of the Akron Beacon Journal."Kareem fits in our locker room really well," he added, per Scott Petrak of The Chronicle-Telegram. "He's been a good person since he's been here."The 24-year-old was suspended eight games for two violent off-field incidents, including one in which video emerged of him shoving and kicking a woman in a hotel hallway.Cleveland signed Hunt in March, three months after his release from the Kansas City Chiefs.The versatile tailback joins a strong rushing attack that already features Nick Chubb. Kitchens was vague about how the two rushers will fit together in his offense."Nick's about winning only," Kitchens said, according to Petrak. "He gives us a great opportunity to win. Think we're adding another chip to the puzzle. They'll do whatever gives us the best chance to win."We're still trying to find out what we can draw up," he continued, via The News-Herald's Jeff Schudel. "I definitely think both of their skill sets offer you plenty of opportunities to do a lot with those guys. They're both excellent runners and they both catch the ball incredibly well out of the backfield."Chubb has rushed for 803 yards and six touchdowns, adding 25 catches for 161 receiving yards in eight games this season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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by theScore Staff on (#4TR70)
The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's football editors.With eight weeks left in the season, we identify the biggest game left on every team's schedule.1. San Francisco 49ers (8-0)Ezra Shaw / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 2Week 10 vs. Seahawks: Seattle constitutes the 49ers' toughest opponent thus far. A win over the Seahawks would give San Fran a two-and-a-half-game cushion atop the NFC West.2. New Orleans Saints (7-1)Previous Rank: 3Week 14 vs. 49ers: It's looking increasingly likely that the winner of this one will have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.3. New England Patriots (8-1)Previous Rank: 1Week 14 vs. Chiefs: Perhaps the biggest game remaining on the AFC schedule, this one could decide the No. 1 playoff seed and home-field advantage in the conference title game.4. Baltimore Ravens (6-2)Previous Rank: 5Week 13 vs. 49ers: The Ravens just won what was arguably their most important game of the season. At 6-2, they'll need a strong finish to cement a division title and possible top seed in the playoffs. A matchup with the NFC-best 49ers will be an interesting measuring stick.5. Seattle Seahawks (7-2)Stephen Brashear / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 7Week 10 at 49ers: A win in this NFC West clash is vital to the Seahawks' ambitions this season. After all, they don't want to fall even further behind in the division with six games left.6. Green Bay Packers (7-2)Previous Rank: 4Week 16 at Vikings: The Packers and Vikings have established themselves as the class of the NFC North this season. This Monday night matchup in Minnesota will likely have massive playoff implications.7. Kansas City Chiefs (6-3)Previous Rank: 8Week 14 at Patriots: Kansas City is still alive for home-field advantage in the postseason. Beating the Patriots in Week 14 may save them from going back to Foxborough in January.8. Houston Texans (6-3)Previous Rank: 10Week 12 vs. Colts: The Texans should be able to coast to their fourth division title in five years - if they take care of business against a Colts team that beat them earlier this year and usually gives them problems.9. Minnesota Vikings (6-3)Previous Rank: 6Week 13 at Seahawks: The back half of the Vikings' schedule is loaded with big-time matchups. Kirk Cousins gets a chance to change the narrative around his prime-time performances and another shot at Seattle on Monday night in Week 13.10. Dallas Cowboys (5-3)Richard Rodriguez / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 12Week 16 at Eagles: Currently in the driver's seat in the NFC East, Dallas could clinch the division - and bury its rival - by sweeping Philadelphia.11. Buffalo Bills (6-2)Previous Rank: 13Week 15 at Steelers: Buffalo is unlikely to win the AFC East, but Sean McDermott's squad is leading the wild-card race. A win at Pittsburgh would almost certainly clinch the Bills a spot.12. Los Angeles Rams (5-3)Previous Rank: 11Week 14 vs. Seahawks: The Rams already lost to the Seahawks this season. The second matchup between these squads might decide who takes second place in the NFC West and a likely wild-card spot.13. Indianapolis Colts (5-3)Previous Rank: 9Week 12 at Texans: The Colts won't have a hope of winning the AFC South unless they sweep the season series against the Texans, who have Deshaun Watson playing at an MVP clip.14. Philadelphia Eagles (5-4)Previous Rank: 16Week 16 vs. Cowboys: It's been a disappointing, injury-riddled season in Philadelphia, but the Eagles' playoff hopes will likely still rest on this rivalry game.15. Carolina Panthers (5-3)Streeter Lecka / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 14Week 15 vs. Seahawks: With the NFC South probably out of reach, Carolina could be battling Seattle for a wild card late in the year.16. Oakland Raiders (4-4)Previous Rank: 19Week 10 vs. Chargers: The Raiders' next four opponents are the Chargers, Bengals, Jets, and Chiefs. The Week 13 clash against Kansas City will be huge, but Oakland must first beat the Chargers to solidify its wild-card chances.17. Los Angeles Chargers (4-5)Previous Rank: 22Week 11 vs. Chiefs: Despite a 2-5 start, the Chargers are still dreaming of a wild-card spot after two straight wins. Los Angeles has its first meeting with the Chiefs in Week 11, and a win over the current division leaders could be a defining moment entering the final month of the regular season.18. Detroit Lions (3-4-1)Previous Rank: 15Week 10 at Bears: With four losses in their last five games, the Lions can ill afford to fall further behind in the playoff race. They need this win against the similarly struggling Bears.19. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-4)Previous Rank: 23Week 17 at Ravens: Pittsburgh's still in this thing. Should the Steelers keep pace these next six weeks, a potential clash with the Ravens for the division title looms in the final week of the regular season.20. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-5)James Gilbert/11iStock / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 17Week 11 at Colts: Jacksonville can make a statement by beating Indianapolis on the road in Nick Foles' return from injured reserve. The 4-5 Jaguars aren't as far from a playoff spot as many believe.21. Tennessee Titans (4-5)Previous Rank: 18Week 10 vs. Chiefs: If Patrick Mahomes remains out, this game suddenly becomes very winnable for the consistently inconsistent Titans, who haven't defeated a team above .500 this season.22. Chicago Bears (3-5)Previous Rank: 21Week 10 vs. Lions: Losers of four straight and facing unrelenting questions about the competency of their head coach and quarterback, the Bears are in dire need of a win to keep this season alive.23. Arizona Cardinals (3-5-1)Previous Rank: 20Week 11 at 49ers: The Cardinals get another chance to see how Kyler Murray fares against one of the league's best defensive units - and perhaps even spoil San Francisco's amazing run.24. Denver Broncos (3-6)Previous Rank: 27Week 15 at Chiefs: The Broncos travel to Kansas City in Week 15, looking to snap an eight-game losing streak that dates back to 2015 against their division rivals.25. Cleveland Browns (2-6)Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious Rank: 24Week 15 at Cardinals: The only thing that could make this season more miserable would be Baker Mayfield losing to his former college backup.26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-6)Previous Rank: 25Week 10 vs. Cardinals: Bruce Arians is in danger of being tuned out by his players unless he can keep his ship from sinking to the bottom of the NFC South.27. New York Giants (2-7)Previous Rank: 26Week 12 at Bears: Not good enough for a playoff berth but likely not bad enough to land a top-three pick, the Giants will come off their bye hoping to see significant progress from rookie Daniel Jones against a stingy Chicago defense.28. Atlanta Falcons (1-7)Previous Rank: 28Week 10 at Saints: Dan Quinn may not be around for the rematch in Week 13 if his underachieving Falcons don't get a win ASAP.29. Washington Redskins (1-8)Previous Rank: 29Week 11 vs. Jets: This interconference tilt might not appear important at first glance, but the loser will likely earn a higher draft slot and the right to select the top non-quarterback prospect in April.30. Miami Dolphins (1-7)Mark Brown / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 32Week 16 vs. Bengals: We've had this game circled for months. The loser will likely hold the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. It doesn't get more exciting.31. New York Jets (1-7)Previous Rank: 30Week 14 vs. Dolphins: This AFC basement rematch will have serious draft implications and could determine Adam Gase's future in New York.32. Cincinnati Bengals (0-8)Previous Rank: 31Week 16 at Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa and his family may make up the majority of the viewership numbers for this one.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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by Justin Boone on (#4TQJ5)
Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.theScore's Justin Boone is coming off his sixth top-10 finish in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition. Follow the links below to see his early rankings for Week 10.Updated rankings (including Standard and PPR) will be released Thursday, with the final version coming down Sunday morning.Half PPR
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