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.Ownership percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. FAAB bids are set off a $100 budget. Only players owned in less than 60 percent of leagues are considered.QuarterbacksIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyJosh Allen, BillsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. MIA50%$5Coming off his bye, Allen has an incredibly soft schedule that features the Dolphins, Eagles, Redskins, Browns, and the Dolphins again. With both a high ceiling and a high floor thanks to his rushing stats, Allen has been fairly consistent in 2019, with the lone exception being a difficult matchup with the Patriots, which he left with a concussion. The Bills quarterback hasn't had a huge fantasy outing so far, but it could be coming Sunday. Miami is giving up the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks, including multiple touchdown passes in every game this season.Sam Darnold, JetsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. NE16%$3If you're looking for a Week 7 streamer, Darnold isn't the quarterback to target given his matchup with the Patriots. So if a bye-week replacement is all you seek, look at Allen or one of the names below. However, Darnold offers value as a potential fantasy starter from Week 8 on given his performance in his first game since Week 1 (338 yards and two TDs against the Cowboys). In addition, the Jets have the easiest schedule in the league over the second half of the season.Other options: Kirk Cousins at DET (47% owned), Gardner Minshew II at CIN (59% owned), Daniel Jones vs. ARI (29% owned), Jacoby Brissett vs. HOU (42% owned), Joe Flacco vs. KC (8% owned)Running backsDylan Buell / Getty Images Sport / GettyJamaal Williams, PackersNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. OAK16%$9It's hard to trust Williams as a weekly fantasy starter because he shares a backfield with Aaron Jones, but as we saw on Monday night, anything can happen. Jones compiled 182 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns in Week 5 when Williams was recovering from a concussion, only to fall back into a timeshare when Williams returned this past week. A first-half fumble and a brutal drop on Monday further doomed Jones, who turned 15 touches into 60 yards while Williams produced 136 yards and a score on 19 touches. Though Jones remains the more talented back overall, a healthy Williams could push for a hot-hand committee, giving him RB3 upside.Latavius Murray, SaintsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat CHI47%$9Alvin Kamara entered Week 6 with an ankle injury and left it with a knee issue after a defender fell on him in the first quarter. The good news is that Kamara managed to continue in the contest, but he was held in check with 66 yards from scrimmage on 18 touches. His teammate, Murray, saw a much larger role than usual and outgained Kamara with eight carries for 44 yards and three catches for 35 yards. It's unknown if Kamara will miss time or if the Saints will choose to rest him to protect their playoff interests. If they do, Murray would instantly become an RB2 even in a tough matchup in Chicago. Remember, the Bears' last performance came in London, where they allowed Josh Jacobs to hammer them for 123 rushing yards and two scores. If Kamara is sitting out Sunday, my bid for Murray would at least double.Chase Edmonds, CardinalsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat NYG34%$9Despite an injury scare stemming from back tightness, David Johnson managed to suit up Sunday and amass 102 yards from scrimmage and a pair of touchdowns in a win over the Bengals. Even with DJ doing damage, Edmonds put up 67 yards and a touchdown of his own. The second-year back has now played on over 30% of the Cardinals' snaps the last two weeks. In addition to being a high-upside handcuff, Edmonds is also flirting with being a weekly flex option.Frank Gore, BillsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. MIA56%$5Devin Singletary should return from injury in this game, but Gore will still see plenty of work with the Bills projected as 17-point favorites at home versus the Dolphins. If the game is as lopsided as Vegas anticipates, Buffalo may choose to ease Singletary in and let Gore punish his former team. The 36-year-old has at least 60 rushing yards in every contest over the last month. He'll be a high-upside RB3 with an excellent chance at finding the end zone against a Miami franchise already looking ahead to next year's draft.Alexander Mattison, VikingsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat DET22%$5Playing behind a transcendent Dalvin Cook, Mattison has managed to be productive with 49 rushing yards or more in four of the Vikings' six outings. That makes him a borderline flex play in quality matchups, while also providing his fantasy owners with a league-winning lottery ticket as one of the best handcuffs in the NFL.Tony Pollard, CowboysNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. PHI19%$5Pollard is right there with Mattison as an overqualified backup running back. Ezekiel Elliott's durability is the only thing standing in the way of a Pollard fantasy explosion. Instead of waiting for an Elliott injury to occur, go pick up Pollard now and avoid having to spend your entire FAAB budget fighting your league-mates for him if his number gets called.Other options: Darrell Henderson at ATL (28% owned), Mark Walton at BUF (4% owned), Benny Snell on Bye (2% owned), Rashaad Penny vs. BAL (46% owned), Rex Burkhead at NYJ (20% owned), Giovani Bernard vs. JAX (8% owned), Darrel Williams at DEN (15% owned), Ryquell Armstead at CIN (1% owned), Gus Edwards at SEA (6% owned), Justice Hill at SEA (7% owned), Ty Johnson vs. MIN (1% owned), Ty Montgomery vs. NE (4% owned), Ito Smith vs. LAR (20% owned), Jordan Wilkins vs. HOU (2% owned), Nyheim Hines vs. HOU (16% owned), Reggie Bonnafon on Bye (12% owned), Raheem Mostert at WAS (15% owned)Wide receiversIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyRobby Anderson, Golden Tate, and DK Metcalf are all around the 60% ownership mark and should be owned in all leagues.Jamison Crowder, JetsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. NE42%$9In two games with Darnold at the helm, Crowder has stat lines of 14-99 and 6-98, with the former coming in Week 1 when the Jets faced a stifling Bills pass defense. They might find themselves in a similar script Sunday against the Patriots, so Crowder could once again become a relief valve. Either way, his target volume with Darnold puts him in the conversation as a WR3 for fantasy. Teammate Demaryius Thomas kicked in 62 yards last week and is a long-shot flex play fueled by a revenge narrative after New England traded him earlier this year.Darius Slayton, GiantsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. ARI3%$3The impact receivers on the waiver wire will dry up very quickly this week, forcing us to dig deeper for help at the position. With Sterling Shepard dealing with his second concussion of the season, Slayton is an intriguing player to add before Week 7. In the three games where he's seen at least five targets, Slayton has stat lines of 3-82-0, 4-62-1, and 3-32-0, with that final result coming against the Patriots' elite secondary. The Cardinals provide much less resistance to opposing wideouts, making Slayton a potential flex play this week.Jakobi Meyers/N'Keal Harry, PatriotsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat NYJ1%/6%$3/$3With Josh Gordon and Phillip Dorsett nursing injuries that could keep them out this week, our eyes turn to what's left on New England's depth chart behind the stalwart Julian Edelman. Meyers was the immediate beneficiary of the Patriots' injuries last week, as he put up 54 yards on four catches, and is the most likely to see increased volume if either veteran is sidelined this week. First-rounder Harry is a more speculative pickup who isn't eligible to return from injured reserve until Week 9, but he could start practicing soon.Auden Tate, BengalsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. JAX23%$3Tate has at least 50 yards or a touchdown in each of the last four games for the Bengals. His value will disappear when A.J. Green makes his long-awaited return, but we still don't know when that will happen. For now, treat Tate as a high-ceiling, low-floor flex option in an offense that's hard to trust.Other options: Geronimo Allison vs. OAK (30% owned), Mecole Hardman at DEN (49% owned), Allen Lazard vs. OAK (0% owned), Diontae Johnson on Bye (26% owned), Preston Williams at BUF (20% owned), DeVante Parker at BUF (15% owned), Cole Beasley vs. MIA (15% owned), Duke Williams vs. MIA (1% owned), Dante Pettis at WAS (17% owned), Anthony Miller vs. NO (12% owned), Tavon Austin vs. PHI (0% owned), Devin Smith vs. PHI (2% owned), DaeSean Hamilton vs. KC (6% owned), AJ Brown vs. LAC (19% owned), Corey Davis vs. LAC (43% owned), Zay Jones at GB (4% owned), Jaron Brown vs. BAL (0% owned), Cedrick Wilson vs. PHI (0% owned)Tight endsIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyHunter Henry is around the 60% ownership mark and should be owned in all leagues.Dawson Knox, BillsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. MIA8%$5Knox's playing time continued to rise before the team's bye, reaching 72% of the Bills' offensive snaps in Week 5. Though his numbers in that game disappointed, he did post 67 yards and a score in Week 3 and 58 yards in Week 4. Paired with Buffalo's cupcake schedule, Knox is a potential breakout candidate over the next month and can be used with confidence as a streamer against Miami.Chris Herndon, JetsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. NE27%$5The wait for Herndon's 2019 debut was delayed a week or two by a hamstring injury, which is incredibly frustrating, but don't lose sight of his value. The Jets' offense looked even better than expected in Darnold's return and Herndon is one of the only tight ends available in most leagues who has top-10 upside every week. Will Dissly owners should be using their waiver wire dollars to scoop up Herndon.Other options: Ben Watson at NYJ (1% owned), Noah Fant vs. KC (24% owned), Eric Ebron vs. HOU (54% owned), Jack Doyle vs. HOU (20% owned), Dallas Goedert at DAL (9% owned), Darren Fells at IND (4% owned), Jordan Akins at IND (9% owned), Maxx Williams at NYG (0% owned), Ricky Seals-Jones on Bye (3% owned)Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius Leonard is back at practice and close to returning from a Week 2 concussion that forced him to miss the last three games.It wasn't an easy road to recovery, as the second-year pro told The Athletic's Stephen Holder that he grew quite concerned about the severe symptoms he was experiencing."The third week, that's when I really started thinking, 'Wait a minute. Now I have a wife and kid. I've had a headache for three weeks. Will I ever be the same? Do I keep playing?' You have those thoughts in the back of your head," said Leonard.He later clarified on Twitter that he never considered retirement:

Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera will be making a quarterback decision sooner rather than later.Panthers signal-caller Cam Newton is expected to return to practice after the team's Week 7 bye, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.A foot injury has sidelined Newton for the past four games, an issue he apparently played through for the first two weeks of the season. The 30-year-old's absence opened the door for second-year pro Kyle Allen.With Newton out, the Panthers have leaned heavily on running back and MVP candidate Christian McCaffrey, who leads the league in yards from scrimmage (923), and a fearsome pass rush that ranks first in sacks (27). But the undrafted Allen has also been solid.The Arizona native is far exceeding expectations, and Allen is undefeated in four starts after replacing Newton. The Houston product has thrown for 901 yards and seven touchdowns while tossing zero picks and sporting an impressive 106.6 passer rating.His play is even leading to reports that the 23-year-old could remain the starter even when Newton returns to full health.Newton recorded three turnovers and a subpar 71.0 passer rating while playing injured earlier this season. The Panthers will ponder their quarterback conundrum during the team's bye week before a tilt against the undefeated San Francisco 49ers.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles have released linebacker Zach Brown, the team announced on Monday. Several clubs are expected to express interest in the veteran, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.The move comes just six games into Brown's tenure with Philadelphia, the fourth stop of his NFL career. The former Tar Heel reached the Pro Bowl as a member of the Buffalo Bills in 2016.Brown's release also comes just a day after the 29-year-old's now infamous comments about former teammate Kirk Cousins blew up in his face in spectacular fashion.Brown, who played with Cousins when both were on the Washington Redskins in 2017, didn't say kind words about the pivot during the week leading up to the Eagles' clash with the Minnesota Vikings."Cousins, I think every defense is going to want that guy to throw the ball," Brown said of the Vikings quarterback, according to ESPN.com's Tim McManus. "For me, that's probably the weakest part of their offense is him... You just want them to pass the ball. You want Kirk Cousins to get it in his hands."

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, and Anchor.In this episode, Boone discusses which players are buy-low or sell-high options after Week 6, recaps all the latest injuries, and takes an early look at possible waiver wire adds.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.The Green Bay Packers will host the Detroit Lions in a Week 6 divisional clash on Monday Night Football. Here are the best individual player props to consider for the prime-time tilt.Matthew Stafford under 20.5 completionsI can understand wanting to take the over here. It's a small number and the Lions should be in passing situations while playing from behind. But the more I dig in, the more I think Stafford will struggle on Monday.For starters, Stafford isn't the gunslinger he once was. The Lions have featured a more run-heavy offense this season, as the veteran quarterback has attempted more than 34 passes just once. He's also only produced more than 22 completions in one game. On Monday, he'll get a Green Bay defense that ranks No. 5 in opponent completion rate (58.2%) and has allowed fewer than 21 completions per game.Jimmy Graham over 42.5 receiving yardsGraham was a player I targeted last week when Davante Adams was sidelined, and the star receiver has also been ruled out for Week 7. Meanwhile, Detroit's defense gave up just three catches for 29 yards to tight ends over the first two games, but it allowed 13 combined catches for 194 yards to Philadelphia's Zach Ertz and Kansas City's Travis Kelce over the past two. Graham isn't in their class, but he's competent enough to make plays in an offense that's missing its top wideout.Kenny Golladay to score a touchdownA Packers defense that didn't allow more than 16 points in any of the first three games has come back down to earth a bit. Green Bay gave up 34 at home to the Eagles and then 24 to the Cowboys last week. And in three of the last four contests, the Packers' secondary allowed the opposing No. 1 wide receiver to find the end zone. Dallas' Amari Cooper went off for 11 catches, 226 yards and a score in Week 5, Philadelphia's Alshon Jeffery posted three catches for 38 yards and a touchdown in Week 4, and Minnesota's Stefon Diggs hauled in a touchdown grab in Week 3.Golladay has been Stafford's favorite option by a mile this season, as he's seen 12 more targets than any other Lion to date.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.

The Los Angeles Chargers don't enjoy the same home-field advantage that other teams do, as they rank last in attendance while playing in a sparsely populated 30,000-seat Dignity Health Sports Park.Making matters worse, Sunday night's home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers felt like a road contest for L.A., as Steelers fans packed the soccer-specific stadium. The Chargers' game-operations staff added to that feeling by playing the Steelers' unofficial theme song, "Renegade" by Styx, over the PA system with Pittsburgh leading late in the game."It was crazy. They started playing their theme music. I don't know what we were doing - that little soundtrack, what they do on their home games. I don't know why we played that," Chargers running back Melvin Gordon said afterward to Jeff Miller of the Los Angeles Times."I don't know what that was. Don't do that at our own stadium. ... It already felt like it was their stadium. ... I don't understand that."The Chargers played only a snippet of the song before replacing it with "Never Gonna Give You Up" by Rick Astley, but the damage had already been done, as the Steelers faithful rose in volume upon hearing the first notes of their song."We're used to not have any fans here. It does suck, though, when they're playing their music in the fourth quarter," Chargers tackle Forrest Lamp said. "I don't know who's in charge of that but they probably should be fired."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Following Jameis Winston's six-turnover performance in Sunday's loss to the Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians said he isn't entertaining the idea of a quarterback change after the team's Week 7 bye."No. I look at the reasons why," Arians said Monday, according to ESPN's Jenna Laine. "What happened? If it happens again, yeah, it'll concern the hell out of me."Winston threw five interceptions and lost a fumble in a 37-26 defeat in London. It continued a troubling trend of strong performances mixed with a propensity for turnovers across Winston's five-year career."I think as we continue to grow together, I think it will get better and these games will be one in a million and not one every five," Arians said.Winston is in his contract year. The only other quarterback on the Buccaneers' active roster is Ryan Griffin, a six-year pro who has yet to appear in a regular-season game.Last season, under previous head coach Dirk Koetter, the team yo-yoed between Winston and journeyman quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. Winston began the year by serving a three-game suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy. He drew nine starts over the rest of the campaign, missing three starts partway through the season when he was benched for Fitzpatrick.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky was back throwing passes on the practice field just two weeks after suffering a shoulder injury.Trubisky exited the Bears' Week 4 game after falling awkwardly on his non-throwing shoulder. While the injury appeared serious, it was not thought to be season-ending.Bears head coach Matt Nagy said Trubisky looked good throwing the football 15 days after the initial injury and left the door open for the quarterback to play Sunday against the New Orleans Saints."His situation is just seeing exactly where he's at with pain. All of us collaborating to see where he is so that we can make a decision as to which way we want to go for this week, if he's ready or if he's not ready," Nagy said Monday.Backup quarterback Chase Daniel stepped in for Trubisky and led the Bears to a Week 4 win over the Minnesota Vikings before taking a loss in Week 5 against the Oakland Raiders. Chicago was on a bye this past weekend.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New England Patriots are expected to re-sign tight end Benjamin Watson, a source told ESPN's Field Yates.Watson was suspended for the first four games of the season due to a violation of the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy. New England released him last week.The 38-year-old's return bolsters an inexperienced tight end group that includes Ryan Izzo and Matt LaCosse, who have combined for just 199 receiving yards through six weeks.LaCosse is expected to miss at least a few weeks after suffering a sprained MCL during Thursday's win over the New York Giants, reports NFL Network's Michael Giardi.Watson, a former first-round pick of the Patriots, spent the 2018 season with the New Orleans Saints. The veteran caught 35 passes for 400 yards and two touchdowns in 16 appearances.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Chargers were stunned by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night, and quarterback Philip Rivers appeared to lose his cool after throwing his second interception of the game to seal the 24-17 loss.Rivers grabbed Steelers cornerback Mike Hilton by the shoulder pads, which led to a brief scuffle between the two teams. After the defeat, Rivers said he was responding to Hilton waving to the Chargers' sideline."I was disappointed the game was over," Rivers said, according to Penn Live's Jacob Klinger. "I wasn't frustrated. A guy comes and waves at our sideline, you protect your team. It was really no big deal. I haven't seen him (since), but I'd probably shake his hand and tell him, 'Sorry, I got a little fired up.' But it wasn't a big deal."There was no screaming and yelling. It was just defending our guys."

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.Another week brings another collection of gut-wrenching bad beats for football bettors.There's a reason we wait until Monday to release these. Hopefully, if you were on the wrong end of one or more of these outcomes, you've had enough time to hit the reset button.As always, if you bet on any of these, our sincerest condolences.Baylor 33, Texas Tech 30Bad beat: Under 58.5Forty-eight hours is not enough time to emotionally rebound from this harrowing turn of events. The Baylor-Texas Tech under was a best bet from yours truly in Week 7. The first half? Pretty good!

Retired tight end Rob Gronkowski said last week that he'll "always keep the door open" for a potential return to the NFL.However, if he does return to the New England Patriots at some point, the decision apparently won't be motivated by a plea from his former quarterback, Tom Brady."Look, I love that guy. I am so happy that he is enjoying his time. I am happy that he's enjoying his life," Brady said Monday during his weekly appearance on WEEI. "He seems to really be doing a lot of great things. He knows how I feel about him. I want what's best for him. He's the only person that can make those decisions. So I don't lobby for those things."Gronkowski, 30, recently joined FOX Sports as an NFL analyst. In his debut Thursday, he acknowledged that a comeback is possible, hours after Patriots owner Robert Kraft said his team will "always pray and hope" that Gronkowski decides to reverse his retirement.New England's offense is first in the league in points per game through six weeks but has lacked a legitimate threat at tight end. Ryan Izzo has 144 yards (seventh on the team) and one touchdown on six catches, while Matt LaCosse has 55 yards in four appearances.Brady said Gronkowski has earned his retirement after helping deliver three Super Bowl titles to New England."He's given actually a hell of a lot to our team already over the course of a long period of time, and I think people should be very appreciative for what he's brought to the team and what he's brought to the region," said Brady. "I think he's a very special guy. He's just in a different phase of his life."Gronkowski was widely considered the best tight end in the league throughout his nine-year career, but the 30-year-old struggled with a wide variety of injuries, including multiple back and knee ailments.Last season, those injuries appeared to finally take their toll. Gronkowski caught 47 passes for 682 yards and just three touchdowns, a far cry from his previous Hall of Fame level of production.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A major matchup is looming in Week 7, as the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys will meet on Sunday Night Football with the top spot in the NFC East on the line.Both 3-3 clubs are coming off dispiriting losses in Week 6, but one is still predicting a big road victory."I know the sky's falling outside. It's falling and I get that. The fans are reeling just a little bit. But we're going down to Dallas and our guys are going to be ready to play," Eagles head coach Doug Pederson said Monday on Sports Radio WIP, via Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News. "And we're going to win that football game and when we do, we're in first place in the NFC East, we control our own destiny. We're right where we need to be."The Eagles were beaten 38-20 by the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, but that didn't stop Pederson from exuding confidence."Has it been perfect or beautiful or all of that? No," the coach said. "But all we gotta do is try to be 1-0 this week, beat the Dallas Cowboys and we're in first place. And listen, they're reeling too, they've dropped their last three games. So this will be an exciting football game."Pederson added that he hopes some of Philadelphia's injured players will return to aid a depleted secondary in time for the divisional battle.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Denver Broncos are optimistic that receiver Emmanuel Sanders, who left Sunday's win over the Tennessee Titans after aggravating a knee injury, will be ready for Thursday's divisional clash against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 7, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Sanders was limited in two practices last week because of the knee issue, but he wasn't given an injury designation for Week 6.Denver's training staff reportedly kept Sanders on the sideline against Tennessee due to the level of pain he was in.The 31-year-old Sanders has scored two touchdowns this season. He also ranks second on the Broncos in receiving yards with 307 behind Courtland Sutton.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines the significance of those events moving forward.Russ for MVPWith all due respect to Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson - or even Christian McCaffrey - the MVP through five weeks plays in Seattle.As the Seahawks' supporting cast continues to fall apart around him - with the offseason retirement of Doug Baldwin the most recent departure of a key player from the franchise's juggernaut teams - Russell Wilson keeps getting better. He's improving despite a dismal offensive line and a milquetoast Brian Schottenheimer system that doesn't do nearly enough to utilize Wilson's talent.Sunday's road win over the Browns was just the latest in a long line of heroic efforts from the five-time Pro Bowler. Wilson put the team on his back while leading a comeback effort that pushed Seattle to 5-1.Mahomes and Watson may be better, but if we're going by the definition of the award, nobody is more valuable to their contending team than Wilson.Chiefs' offense can't overcome team's defensive issuesAt a time when quarterbacks mean everything, it's natural to consider the Chiefs among the early Super Bowl favorites. Mahomes is one of the most talented passers we'll ever see, and most opposing defenses don't have the faintest idea about how to defend his video game-like abilities.But if Kansas City is going to reach its potential, Mahomes can't be asked to do it all. A baseline level of defensive competence remains a requirement for overall team success. And right now, the Chiefs are falling well short of that threshold.The Texans ran 83 plays on Sunday to the Chiefs' 47 while amassing 192 rushing yards, with 116 of those yards coming from recent Chiefs cast-off Carlos Hyde. Repeatedly, Houston handed the ball off to extend drives, keeping Patrick Mahomes and Co. on the sideline.The Chiefs also can't rush the passer effectively. After weeks of running for his life behind one of the NFL's shakiest offensive lines, Watson wasn't sacked on Sunday, and he was hit only twice. It all led to Kansas City's second consecutive loss, with both coming at home.After an offseason focused on defensive improvement while adding Frank Clark and Tyrann Mathieu, the Chiefs still field one of the NFL's most vulnerable defenses. Mahomes' brilliance will allow them to get away with that most weeks, but there's no shortage of presumptive playoff teams with the tools to pick this defense apart. Kansas City should be aggressive at the trade deadline.5 years later, Winston and Mariota remain enigmasKatharine Lotze / Getty Images Sport / GettySelected with the first two picks of the 2015 NFL Draft, Heisman winners Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota will be forever linked. Their careers over the ensuing four seasons have followed similar trajectories, with each quarterback showing glimpses of elite upside amid maddening inconsistency.On Sunday, any remaining hope of Winston or Mariota eliminating their fatal flaws and becoming the franchise passers they were drafted to be likely died.Winston entered the Buccaneers' overseas contest against the Panthers with a 10:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio over his previous four games, and there were whispers that he had finally turned a corner. He had not.Winston's propensity for ugly turnovers reappeared on Sunday, with the 25-year-old throwing five interceptions and losing a fumble. He also took seven sacks.Similarly, Mariota's inaccuracy resulted in him being benched for Ryan Tannehill in the third quarter of the Titans' game against the Broncos. He exited after completing just seven of 18 pass attempts for 63 yards and two interceptions. And, as he often has as a pro, Mariota appeared far too willing to take hits in the pocket.Both pivots are playing under fifth-year contract options this season, and both will almost certainly hit unrestricted free agency next spring. They'll surely field offers for backup roles, but it's never looked less likely that either passer will be viewed as a starting option again.Newton likely not getting starting job backKyle Allen isn't a better football player than a healthy Cam Newton. Full stop.The Panthers' coaches probably know this, but it's still unlikely Newton gets his starting job back any time soon.NFL coaches care about momentum. Allen, undefeated as a starting quarterback in the NFL at 5-0, oozes it right now. Coaches care about ball security, too, and Allen has yet to throw an interception as a pro.More than anything, coaches care about their job security. Ron Rivera knows that bungling the move back to Newton could lead to the end of this time in Carolina.Newton was a shell of his former MVP self last season while battling through a shoulder ailment. He looked even worse in two appearances this campaign before his foot injury opened the door for Allen.Reinstalling Newton as the starter before he's healthy enough to overcome his issues wouldn't just risk derailing the Panthers' playoff hopes. It would result in questions about coaching competency.The Panthers will likely ride Allen's hot hand as far as it'll take them. Even when Newton is recovered enough to play, Panthers coaches can say they're waiting for him to be 100 percent healthy (a level football players rarely reach) for his own good.49ers deserve your attentionJohn McCoy / Getty Images Sport / GettyHop aboard the 49ers' hype train. This thing isn't slowing down anytime soon.With Kyle Shanahan's ability as an offensive mastermind, and some of the pieces in place to help carry out his vision, it was fair to assume San Francisco would move the ball this season and put points on the board.But who could have predicted the 49ers dominating at this level on the other side of the ball? Outside of the Patriots, they might have assembled the NFL's best defense.The 49ers are one of only two teams still undefeated after Week 6, along with those Patriots. And after taking it to the Rams on Sunday afternoon, with the 49ers' defense holding Sean McVay's vaunted offense to a mere seven points, nobody can say the Niners haven't earned their flawless record.Shanahan is the early front-runner for coach of the year, and the 49ers could be competing for a much bigger prize in February.Chargers a major disappointmentWhat in the world is going on with the Chargers?A popular Super Bowl sleeper pick heading into the season, the Chargers once again responded by getting off to a slow start. That's an annual tradition with these guys, but Sunday night's prime-time game at home against the Devlin Hodges-led Steelers was a natural "get right" spot, right?Instead of pouncing on the easy matchup, the Chargers came out sleepwalking, quickly finding themselves in a 21-0 hole. The early deficit was too much to overcome, leading to a 24-17 loss, and the team now heads into Week 7 at 2-4.Sure, the Chargers have suffered key injuries, and the team's years-long run of terrible injury luck is one of the league's more confounding storylines. But their issues currently go well beyond that.Barring a massive turnaround in the coming weeks, you can likely scratch one team off what was once a crowded list of AFC contenders.Cowboys coming back down to earthTom Pennington / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Cowboys' offense was the talk of the league through the first three weeks of the season, with Kellen Moore being labeled the next young mastermind poised to push a team into Super Bowl contention. How quickly things change.Just three games later, and following a stunning road loss to the previously winless Jets, Dallas' offense looks like a completely different unit.Are teams catching onto the wrinkles in Moore's offense? Or were the Cowboys simply benefitting from a cupcake schedule that saw them open the year against three of the NFL's worst defenses?It's probably some combination of the two, which raises pressing questions. If defenses have adjusted to Moore, he needs to counter. And If the Cowboys are only going to beat up on the worst opponents, they certainly won't be going deep in the playoffs.Games against the Eagles' and Giants' weak defenses lie ahead, giving Moore a chance to get his offense together. A four-game stretch that could decide Dallas' fate this season awaits thereafter, and the offensive output we saw over the last three weeks isn't going to fly against the Vikings, Lions, Patriots, and Bills.Dolphins inexplicably risk ruining tank jobDespite a public declaration from head coach Brian Flores that the Dolphins' starting quarterback job would remain Josh Rosen's for the rest of the season, the second-year passer's reign lasted about three quarters.Week 1 starter Ryan Fitzpatrick took over for an ineffective Rosen on Sunday, providing his typical spark of Fitzmagic. This time, he nearly cost the Dolphins the inside track to the No. 1 pick.Fitzpatrick led the winless Dolphins on two late scoring drives against the also winless Redskins, which included throwing a touchdown pass with six seconds left to draw within a point.Then, inexplicably, Flores decided to go for two and the win. Years from now, Miami's two-point conversion play call could make for a riveting moment in a documentary breaking down how the Dolphins' tank job set them up for long-term success.Fitzpatrick took the snap and threw a screen pass to Kenyan Drake, who immediately saw a defender in his face and dropped the ball. Game over. The Dolphins stayed winless and, crucially, the Redskins earned their first victory of the year.A conspiracy theorist would say the play wasn't intended to succeed because the Dolphins' brass never truly intended to win. But then why insert Fitzpatrick into the game? Why get within a point?Either the Dolphins are doing their very best to cover up a plan to lose, or they're earnestly trying to win despite the obvious downside of that result. Either reality would be baffling.Darnold saves the JetsIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyTo the surprise of absolutely no one, the gap between a third-string quarterback and a presumed franchise signal-caller is, well, pretty significant.Sam Darnold's return from mono meant everything for the Jets on Sunday afternoon. He hit the ground running while going 22-of-32 passing for 338 yards and two touchdowns in a win over the Cowboys, including a 92-yarder to Robby Anderson.There's plenty of reason to doubt Adam Gase as a head coach, but he's not why the Jets were winless heading into Week 6. He called a fantastic game with his top pivot back under center, and it'll be interesting to see if this victory kickstarts a Jets turnaround.The Patriots present a tough matchup Monday night in Week 7, but New York's next seven opponents beyond that are the Jaguars, Dolphins, Giants, Redskins, Raiders, Bengals, and the Dolphins again. There are plenty of opportunities for wins ahead.9:30 a.m. ET kickoffs ruleMore early-morning football, please!There’s something uniquely pleasant about rolling out of bed on a Sunday morning, turning the TV on, and seeing live NFL football in front of your sleepy eyes.It’s not always good football, as the quality frequently dips for London games. But it’s still meaningful football, and bypassing the excruciating wait for 1 p.m. ET kickoffs is a welcome change.Sure, 9:30 a.m. ET kickoffs come with some logistical problems, the most obvious being that 9:30 a.m. ET is 6:30 a.m. PT.But if fans in California need to set their alarms for before sunrise to watch their favorite team’s game in London, so be it. West coasters have it good the rest of the time, with the main slate of afternoon games kicking off at 10 a.m. local. Let us east coasters get in on some of that sweet morning football more often.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Amari Cooper was diagnosed with a thigh bruise after being forced to leave Sunday's loss to the New York Jets in the first half, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.While the injury can be severely painful, there is no indication of long-term damage, added Rapoport.Without their top receiver, the 3-3 Cowboys suffered their third straight loss.Michael Gallup struggled with drops against the New York Jets, finishing with 48 yards on four catches, while Tavon Austin led Dallas in receiving with 64 yards.Cooper leads the Cowboys in catches (33), receiving yards (515), and touchdowns (five). It would be a major blow to the NFC East club's offense if the wideout were to miss time.Dallas is embarking on a vital divisional stretch of its schedule. The Cowboys play the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night in Week 7 before traveling to face the New York Giants in Week 9 following a bye.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jerry Jones declined to put Jason Garrett on the hot seat following the Dallas Cowboys' third straight loss on Sunday, but the team's owner didn't give his head coach a ringing endorsement, either."I'm going to be very trite: I was a lot happier with what he had done the first three games than what's happened the last three games," Jones said postgame, according to ESPN's Todd Archer. "But the big thing I want to say is it's not just him. This is across the board. That had a lot of input out there tonight to get in that spot."The Cowboys fell 24-22 on the road against the New York Jets, a team that won its first game of the season.Dallas opened the campaign with victories over the New York Giants, Washington Redskins, and Miami Dolphins, but the club has since fallen to the New Orleans Saints, Green Bay Packers, and Jets.The Cowboys will meet their NFC East rival the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 7, a matchup of two 3-3 teams."I think it's all about where you end up in your division. I think the competition against each other and the competition within the division, I think that's where it all is," Jones said, according to Jeremy Bergman of NFL.com."I hope that someday this season we could be one of the top teams," he continued. "We certainly were not tonight. I hope that we can do better than just win our division, although I'll take that right now in this circumstance. But I hope that we can get out there and get a little special positioning in the playoffs."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baker Mayfield wasn't pleased with the refereeing on Sunday during the Cleveland Browns' narrow loss to the Seattle Seahawks.The two teams drew a whopping 19 accepted penalties combined, 10 of which went against the Browns. One of those flags came on a questionable blindside block call on Jarvis Landry, killing a third-quarter drive."I will probably get fined for saying this, but it was pretty bad today," Mayfield said of the officiating. "The guy is squared up with him, running at him and he is lowering his head into Jarvis. What is (Landry) supposed to do? Avoid him? This is not bull fighting. I don't know. It ticks me off."

The undermanned Dallas Cowboys suffered another injury blow early against the New York Jets.Wide receiver Amari Cooper exited Sunday's game after aggravating a quad injury that kept him limited in practice during the week. He was initially deemed questionable to return before being ruled out for the day early in the second half.The Cowboys' offense was already missing wide receiver Randall Cobb and starting offensive tackles Tyron Smith and La'el Collins.Cooper had carried Dallas' passing attack through five games. Entering Week 6, he was second in the NFL in receiving yards (512) and trailed only Chris Godwin in receiving touchdowns (five).Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.The Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions both enter Week 6 with just one loss straight up and against the spread.With Aaron Rodgers looking pedestrian thus far, the Packers have relied on a dominant defense en route to the NFC's second-best record. On the other side, the Lions' talented defense has been as expected, but Matthew Stafford has upped his play and nearly led an upset over Kansas City in Week 4.Here's everything you need to know about the matchup from a betting perspective:Line movementThis game is shaping up as a classic "Pros vs. Joes." Most tickets are on the Packers, per Sports Insights, but sharps have pushed this line from Packers -6 to -4.5 at theScore Bet as of Saturday. The total has also bumped down a point from 46.5 to 45.5.Betting trendsThe Packers are rolling with four wins ATS in their last five, capped off by a dominant showing over the Cowboys. The Lions have also won four of their last five ATS and enter Monday with 15 days of preparation after a bye week.Road underdogs coming off a bye are 41-28-1 ATS (59.4%) since 2012, with a 10-2-1 ATS run and seven outright wins in the last 13 tries. The Lions are 6-1 ATS off a bye since 2012, including a win in Matt Patricia's first year in 2018.Meanwhile, this is a spot Rodgers thrives in. The quarterback is 50-31-1 ATS (61.7%) as a home favorite, including a scorching 21-9-1 ATS (70%) versus NFC North foes. He's also 11-6-1 ATS (64.7%) in his career against the Lions.That said, when teams get a week to prep for Rodgers, the Green Bay signal-caller has fared less favorably. Since 2012, the Packers are 2-5 ATS in Rodgers' regular-season starts when the opponent is coming off a bye - the latest instance coming in a 2015 loss to Detroit. Green Bay has averaged just 210.1 passing yards and 23.6 points in those games.Rodgers is also 6-9 ATS on Monday, while the Lions are on a 5-2 ATS run in that spot.The X-factorIf Rodgers doesn't have his A-game, the ground attack could decide this matchup. Packers back Aaron Jones went off against Dallas but has tended to struggle after breakout games, averaging just 28 rushing yards in four contests after a 100-yard effort.Conversely, Lions back Kerryon Johnson racked up 125 yards against the Chiefs' maligned run defense and faces an equally inept unit in Green Bay, which has allowed an average of 161.25 rushing yards against its last four opponents. Detroit has covered five straight when rushing for at least 125 yards.PickIt's no surprise the public is on the Packers after last week's showing vs. public favorite Dallas. But the Lions have quietly been one of the more impressive teams this year, and the defensive-minded Patricia will throw two weeks' worth of preparation against an underwhelming Rodgers.Follow the sharps and bet the road underdog on Monday. It's also worth giving the under a look in what should be a grind-it-out affair.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.

The Houston Texans handed the Kansas City Chiefs their second consecutive loss on Sunday.Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson ran in two touchdowns and threw another in the 31-24 win at Arrowhead.More to come.Copyright © 2019 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 a difference six weeks make. What looked like a prime-time gem at the beginning of the year has lost its luster ahead of the Sunday night matchup between the Los Angeles Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers.For the former, last week's home loss to the then-winless Broncos sent L.A. below .500 and on the outside looking in of the AFC playoff field. The Steelers' playoff chances died when Ben Roethlisberger went down in Week 2, and their chances Sunday took a bigger hit when Mason Rudolph suffered a major head injury in last week's overtime loss to Baltimore.Here's everything you need to know about the matchup from a betting perspective:Line movementThe Chargers opened as 5.5-point favorites and reached -7 on Wednesday, two days before the Steelers named backup Devlin Hodges the Sunday starter. Pittsburgh has seen late buyback at some books but remains a seven-point underdog at theScore Bet in New Jersey. The total is 41, down from a 43.5 opening.Betting trendsLos Angeles has rightfully been criticized for playing to the level of its competition over the years (see: Week 5). As a big favorite, though, L.A. has been stellar. The Chargers are 9-5-2 against the spread (64.3%) and 15-1 straight up (93.8%) under Anthony Lynn when favored by at least 6.5 points, and they're 34-22-1 ATS (60.7%) when giving six or more at home in the Philip Rivers era.The Steelers are undefeated ATS in starts without Roethlisberger, and Mike Tomlin has been a solid bet coming off a straight-up loss. Yet he's just 4-7 ATS (36.4%) and 1-10 SU (9.1%) all time as a six-point underdog and the nature of last week's loss could hamper Pittsburgh in this game.Since 2015, six-point underdogs or bigger coming off an overtime loss are 4-10 ATS and 2-12 SU, including 1-5 in their last six. The Steelers have also struggled after facing the rival Ravens. Since Baltimore's Super Bowl-winning season in 2012, Pittsburgh is 5-9 ATS in games following a matchup against the Ravens.Oddly enough, the Chargers are 19-8 ATS since 2004 after facing the Broncos and 5-2 ATS after a home loss to Denver. Lynn is also 10-5-1 ATS overall following an ATS loss.The X-factorThe story of Sunday's game is Hodges, who'll make his first career start on the road under the Sunday night lights. The undrafted rookie was cut in the offseason and signed to Pittsburgh's practice squad in Week 2 before a roster promotion after the Big Ben injury.He finished with the 18th-highest passing grade in Week 5, per Pro Football Focus, with relatively risk-free football - his 7.56 yards per attempt ranks 19th among all quarterbacks with at least five attempts. He'll have to test the Chargers more Sunday, especially if the Steelers fall behind early.PickLook, this is a gross matchup. There's no way around it. The recent history of these teams can't override an undrafted rookie starting against an underwhelming unit that probably shouldn't be giving a touchdown to all but five teams.This version of Pittsburgh is one of those five. If L.A. can avoid turning the ball over, it should be able to seize an early lead against an opportunistic but vulnerable Steelers defense, forcing Hodges to mount an unlikely comeback. Hold your nose and take the points, especially if you can grab -6.5 before kickoff.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.

The Carolina Panthers took down the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 37-26 in London, with Carolina's defense intercepting Jameis Winston five times and forcing one fumble from the quarterback.More to come.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Multiple teams have shown interest in trading for New York Jets defensive end Leonard Williams, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports, citing sources.Despite the level of interest in Williams, the Jets aren't currently interested in dealing the fifth-year pro, Schefter adds.Williams was the sixth overall pick of the 2015 NFL Draft. He's yet to miss a game in his career.The 25-year-old has 231 career tackles and 17 sacks. He has 11 tackles in four games this season.Any deal for Williams would likely have to include at least a third-round pick, as previous trades of Jadeveon Clowney and Dante Fowler Jr. have netted, Schefter notes.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Cardinals have fielded calls from at least three teams interested in trading for veteran cornerback Patrick Peterson in recent weeks, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.However, Arizona remains uninterested in trading Peterson, Schefter adds.The eight-time Pro Bowler is nearing the end of his six-game suspension. He'll be eligible for next week's game against the New York Giants.Peterson has spent his first eight seasons in the desert. He requested a trade last season when the Cardinals were in the midst of a league-worst 3-13 campaign.The 29-year-old retracted his request this summer, claiming he would "love to be a Cardinal for life."The NFL's Oct. 29 trade deadline is just over two weeks away.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Orleans Saints star running back Alvin Kamara is active for Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars despite an ankle injury.Kamara popped up on the injury report Thursday as a limited participant and was unable to practice Friday, earning a questionable designation for Week 6.He's rushed for 342 yards and a touchdown through five weeks and added 241 receiving yards and a TD reception.The 4-1 Saints can put some distance between themselves and the rest of the NFC South with a victory over the 2-3 Jaguars.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Wide receiver Tyreek Hill is officially listed as active for the Kansas City Chiefs' Week 6 matchup with the Houston Texans.Hill missed the last four games after injuring his clavicle in the season opener.The speedy wideout practiced on Thursday and felt good during pregame warmup Sunday.Kansas City has gone 3-1 since Hill suffered the injury, as its high-flying offense continues to rack up yards (444.6 per game, second in the league) and points (29.6 per contest, fourth).Sammy Watkins is inactive versus Houston with a hamstring injury.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A rarely-seen rule made an appearance during the NFL's London matchup Sunday between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers.The Panthers caught a punt after calling for a fair catch with one second remaining in the first half and elected to try a free-kick field goal for their final play.The little-known rule allows a team to call for a fair catch on a punt and then line up to attempt a field goal on the next play without the defense being able to rush the kicker. If the ball goes through the uprights, it's three points, just like a regular field goal.Panthers kicker Joey Slye ultimately missed the 60-yard attempt, but it was a bizarre end to the opening half in London nonetheless.

Cleveland Browns general manager John Dorsey shut down all speculation of a trade involving receiver Odell Beckham Jr.With the Browns struggling out of the gates at 2-3, rumors emerged this past week that the team was listening to offers for the frustrated wideout."That's fake news," Dorsey told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Dorsey insisted Cleveland has not fielded any calls for Beckham and is not interested in dealing him ahead of the Oct. 29 trade deadline.The Browns traded for the three-time Pro Bowler this offseason, but he's gotten off to a slow start with his new team. Beckham has 23 receptions on 43 targets for 335 yards and one touchdown after five games. He's on pace for 74 catches, 1,072 yards, and three touchdowns, which would be career lows for a full campaign.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank said after last week's loss that he isn't yet considering a coaching change.However, Blank wants to see progress from his 1-4 team over the next three weeks. Changes could come if things don't improve before Atlanta's Week 9 bye, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports, citing a source.Head coach Dan Quinn also serves as the team's defensive coordinator and he said this week he's not giving up defensive play-calling duties.The Falcons are in Glendale to face the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday before squaring off against the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks over the next two weeks.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Panthers' London matchup Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could have a significant impact on the team's quarterback situation moving forward.If Kyle Allen continues to win, he's likely to keep the starting job while Carolina brings Cam Newton back slowly, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. If the Panthers lose, they could turn to Newton following their Week 7 bye.There is a possibility, however, that the former MVP won't be cleared in two weeks as he makes his way back from a foot injury. While Newton was targeting a return after the bye, the team isn't sure he'll be healthy enough to play, Rapoport adds.The former No. 1 pick may not even start practicing next week. Carolina doesn't plan to finalize a decision until Newton returns to full health.Allen has yet to lose since taking over for Newton, and his coaching staff has expressed confidence in the young quarterback's ability to lead the team.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Chargers are expected to have oft-injured tight end Hunter Henry back in the lineup for the first time since Week 1 when they host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.Henry sustained a tibial plateau fracture in his left knee during Los Angeles' season opener and has been sidelined since.The four-year pro was a limited participant in practice this week before getting in a full session Friday. He hadn't practiced the four weeks prior.His presence should help a Chargers team that has lost three of its last four games.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson, who's listed as questionable for Week 6 due to a back injury, is reportedly expected to play versus the Atlanta Falcons, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Wide receiver Christian Kirk, however, is not expected to suit up on Sunday, Schefter adds. Kirk is nursing an ankle injury and missed last week's win over the Cincinnati Bengals.Johnson practiced on Friday, and his back injury wasn't considered serious. He's coming off his most productive game in 2019, accumulating 156 total yards against Cincinnati.KeeSean Johnson, Trent Sherfield, and Pharoh Cooper are likely to see snaps alongside Larry Fitzgerald.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

SSSQ is a weekly look at under-the-radar fantasy players you should 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 6 rankings. You can also listen to the Week 6 preview episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast.StartMatt Ryan, Falconsat CardinalsHarry How / Getty Images Sport / GettyDespite being one interception away from the league leader in that category, Ryan has posted the seventh-most fantasy points among quarterbacks thanks to five straight 300-yard games and multiple touchdowns in four of those outings. The Cardinals' defense is sure to help him continue that level of production, as they've given up 12 touchdown throws on the season and have yet to intercept a single pass. Tougher matchups loom for the Falcons, but Ryan is a top-five play this week.Boone's projection: 364 passing yards, 3 passing TDsOther QBs to start

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 6.Half PPR

The Los Angeles Rams ruled out running back Todd Gurley for Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers, according to Greg Beacham of the Associated Press.In a corresponding move, the team promoted running back John Kelly from the practice squad. He'll join Malcolm Brown and Darrell Henderson Jr. as the Rams' active backs for an important divisional matchup.Gurley was listed as doubtful on the team's injury report Friday. He was unable to practice throughout the week after suffering a quad injury in last Thursday's loss to the Seattle Seahawks.An MVP candidate for much of 2018, Gurley has yet to reach the 100-yard mark in a game this season. He rushed 15 times for 51 yards Thursday and has 270 yards and five rushing scores on the year.The Rams rank 22nd in the league in rushing, while the 49ers own the fifth-best rushing defense. San Francisco also boasts the league's best rushing game, averaging 200 yards on the ground per contest.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones had a big performance against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5, tying a franchise record with four rushing touchdowns in his team's 34-24 win.Jones also picked up a big fine from the NFL for taunting Cowboys cornerback Byron Jones en route to the end zone. While the Packers rusher isn't happy about being out that money, he did like the photo that came out of it."I can't say it was worth it, but the picture is a dope picture," he said Friday of the $10,527 fine, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky. "I can't argue with that. I'm going to have that blown up one day in my house. I definitely got a nice picture out of it, but it hurts my pocket a little bit. I want that money."The 24-year-old added that he plans to appeal the fine and hopes to have it reduced as a first-time offender.

The Washington Redskins have placed tight end Jordan Reed on injured reserve, the team announced Saturday.Reed has missed all five games this season after suffering what's believed to be the fifth documented concussion of his NFL career in the preseason.The 29-year-old's extensive concussion history includes two documented concussions in college.Reed reportedly could be forced to retire due to his latest concussion, but he apparently still hopes to continue his career.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.The NFL season enters Week 6 with some big matchups on the slate. Where is the sharp money? Which lines are moving the most? Each week throughout the campaign, we'll track 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 6 slate.All lines courtesy of theScore Bet.Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs (-4, 55)The Chiefs are looking to bounce back from their first loss of the season to the Indianapolis Colts last week. Meanwhile, the Texans' offense put up its best performance of the year in a 53-32 rout of the Atlanta Falcons.Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill will be a game-time decision after missing the last four games with a shoulder injury. However, the bigger concern is Patrick Mahomes' health. Mahomes re-aggravated an ankle injury in last week's loss. We know the public will be on Kansas City as a short home favorite, but sharps are going the other way by backing Houston. The number dropped two points since the opening line was released with early money coming in on the Texans."The ticket count is 2-1 to KC but the money is 2-1 to Houston," Rood said. "We're gonna see the public all over the Chiefs, though maybe not as heavy as usual since Mahomes got dinged up a little bit. Sharp money will be on the Texans' side."Seattle Seahawks (-1, 46.5) at Cleveland BrownsOne of the most interesting games of the week pits the surprising 4-1 Seahawks against the 2-3 Browns. Seattle is coming off an emotional one-point win at home in Week 5 on Thursday Night Football against the Los Angeles Rams, while the Browns got blown out by the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football.With the Browns stumbling out of the gate, it's not surprising to see bettors backing the Seahawks, especially with Cleveland coming off a blowout loss. However, this is one of the rare times when public and sharp bettors are on the same side. The line opened at Browns -2.5 and has moved to Seattle being a one-point road favorite."We took a large bet on the Seahawks moneyline," Rood said. "We've got pretty much everybody on Seattle. Ticket count is 7-1 and money is 12-1 on the Seahawks. It's gonna be a big game because the pros and Joes are both on the Seahawks' side. We're gonna need Cleveland to show up for us on Sunday."The Seahawks have been a profitable bet away from home recently, as they've covered seven of their last eight road games.San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams (-3, 50)San Francisco enters Week 6 as one of two remaining undefeated teams in the NFL thanks to its defense and a strong running game. The Niners rank second in total defense and first in rushing offense, averaging 200 yards per game on the ground. The Rams will try to rebound after dropping two straight to Seattle and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Rams head coach Sean McVay has been close to unbeatable with extra time to prepare. McVay is 10-1 straight up and 8-2-1 against the spread with more than seven days to get ready for a game. His only loss came to the New England Patriots in last year's Super Bowl.Despite McVay's recent success when given extra time to game plan, bettors are siding with the 49ers to stay unbeaten Sunday."Right now everything is really heavy toward San Fran," Rood said. "Ticket count and money are both 3-1 to the Niners. Ticket count on parlays is 2-1 for San Fran. People (are) really buying into the Niners right now."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 © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Green Bay Packers receiver Davante Adams will miss a second straight week with a toe injury, head coach Matt LaFleur announced Saturday.Adams will be absent for Monday night's divisional matchup with the Detroit Lions, having already missed the Packers' Week 5 win over the Dallas Cowboys.The star receiver has yet to practice since suffering the injury late in Week 4's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.Adams is leading Green Bay in targets, catches, and yards. The Packers leaned on their running game in his absence, riding Aaron Jones' four touchdowns to a 34-24 victory last week.They'll face a stingy Lions defense that's kept the Philadelphia Eagles' and Los Angeles Chargers' offenses under wraps.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Free-agent receiver Antonio Brown reportedly wants to end his time in the NFL wilderness soon.Brown, who declared he was done with football in September before quickly reversing his decision, hopes the NFL can resolve his playing status in the next few weeks before he attempts to land with a fourth team since the start of the calendar year, sources told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.The NFL is currently investigating allegations of sexual assault against Brown from his former trainer, which came from a federal lawsuit. The receiver is also accused of sending intimidating texts to a woman who says Brown made an unwanted sexual advance toward her in 2017.The league expects to speak with Brown as part of its ongoing investigation, added Fowler.Brown reportedly wants to be certain he'll be allowed to play before deciding on his next landing spot.On Wednesday, Brown took to Instagram Live to call for the New England Patriots to re-sign him."They still gotta pay me so might as well let me earn it," said Brown.The 31-year-old reportedly filed grievances against the Patriots and Oakland Raiders last week as he seeks to recoup roughly $40 million in unpaid salary, fines, and voided guarantees.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The reeling Denver Broncos aren't looking to sell off assets as the NFL trade deadline approaches."No one from our side is on the trading block," general manager John Elway said Friday, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic. "We're going to try to win football games."It took Denver five weeks to find a victory this season, finally defeating the Los Angeles Chargers five days ago to get to 1-4. The Broncos haven't reached the postseason since their Super Bowl campaign in 2015.Since 1980, only six out of 176 teams that began the season with three straight losses have made the playoffs. Elway believes the Broncos can become the seventh, though."I still think we have a chance to do some good things," he said, according to Ryan O'Halloran of the Denver Post. "We have to take them one (game) at a time. We dug ourselves a little bit of a hole early but we've played good football, we just (weren't) able to win some of them. It was nice to get one last week."Denver sits fourth in the AFC West. The rumor mill has been flooded with speculation that Broncos veterans such as Von Miller and Emmanuel Sanders could be made available closer to the trade deadline. Miller is off to a slow start with only two sacks, but the 30-year-old would still net Denver a significant return.The trade deadline is Oct. 29. The Broncos were sellers a year ago, moving Demaryius Thomas to the Houston Texans for a pair of draft picks.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph has been ruled out for Week 6 after suffering a concussion against the Baltimore Ravens.Undrafted rookie Devlin Hodges will get his first career start when the Steelers face the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.Rudolph was taken to hospital in Week 5 after a helmet-to-helmet hit from Baltimore Ravens safety Earl Thomas left him concussed, though he was discharged the same day. Thomas said he was fined $21,000 for the play.Rudolph, who took over for an injured Ben Roethlisberger in Week 2, has completed 67% of his passes for 646 yards with seven touchdowns and two interceptions in four appearances.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Players continue to loathe Thursday Night Football, but the latest viewership update shows that fans continue to watch it.Through Week 6, average TNF viewership per game is up 14% relative to the same point of the season in 2018, according to NFL Communications.The Week 6 installment, which saw the New England Patriots defeat the New York Giants, drew 16.8 million viewers, up 9% from the 2018 comparable between the Philadelphia Eagles and Giants.TNF begins in Week 2, as the NFL season opener isn't considered part of the package even though it takes place on a Thursday night.TNF games through Week 6WeekGame2Buccaneers def. Panthers3Jaguars def. Titans4Eagles def. Packers5Seahawks def. Rams6Patriots def. GiantsTNF will feature the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos in Week 7.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley is in danger of missing Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers due to a quad injury after being listed as doubtful by head coach Sean McVay on Friday, according to Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times.In addition, the Rams will be without cornerback Aqib Talib, who was ruled out of the important divisional clash with a ribs injury.Both players missed all three practices this week.Gurley suffered the left thigh contusion in last week's loss to the Seattle Seahawks.McVay said Thursday that the star back's lingering pain entering this week caught the Rams "off guard."If Gurley is forced to miss Week 6, the Rams will likely rely heavily on Malcolm Brown, with rookie Darrell Henderson acting as his backup.So far this season, Gurley's production has paled in comparison to recent years. He has racked up 270 rushing yards, 68 receiving yards, and five touchdowns on the ground through five weeks.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Criticisms of Kirk Cousins continue to flood in. This time, rather than coming from a current teammate, a former one weighed in on the quarterback's abilities.Ahead of the Minnesota Vikings' matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Eagles linebacker Zach Brown took his old teammate to task."Cousins, I think every defense is going to want that guy to throw the ball," Brown said, according to ESPN's Tim McManus."For me, that's probably the weakest part of their offense is him. Everything else is good. They've got a good running game, probably one of the best in the league. They have real good receivers. You just want them to pass the ball. You want Kirk Cousins to get it in his hands."The two were teammates with the Washington Redskins in 2017. Brown wasn't impressed by what he saw during his one season with Cousins as his quarterback."I realized when I was in Washington, he was kind of careless with the ball. But at the same time, hey, you make the bed you sleep in," he said. "I was at the Redskins with him so I know about him. That's my viewpoint on him."Two weeks ago, Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen implored his quarterback to throw the ball downfield after a 16-6 loss to the Chicago Bears. Fellow wideout Stefon Diggs followed that up by skipping meetings and practices, reportedly out of frustration with the offense.The Vikings' passing game rebounded last week when Cousins threw for 306 yards and two touchdowns - including one to Thielen - in a 28-10 win over the New York Giants.Cousins signed a fully guaranteed $84-million deal with the Vikings last season - a record at that point.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens safety Earl Thomas said he was fined $21,000 by the NFL for a blow to Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph that knocked the pivot out of their Week 5 game.While leaping at Rudolph, Thomas' helmet connected with the quarterback's chin. Rudolph was concussed on the play and had to be helped off the field.