The New York Giants ruled running back Saquon Barkley out of Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings.Barkley was trying to make a miraculous return from a high ankle sprain suffered in Week 3 that was supposed to sideline him for four-to-eight weeks. He returned to practice this week and was even seen running and cutting.Both Barkley and the Giants have expressed optimism about a return in the near future for the sophomore rusher.Wayne Gallman will start in Barkley's place in Week 5.The 2018 Offensive Rookie of the Year topped 100 yards on the ground in each of his two games this year before sustaining the injury against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold will not play Week 5 against the Philadelphia Eagles as he continues his recovery from a bout with mononucleosis, head coach Adam Gase announced Friday.Darnold practiced this week but hasn't been cleared by doctors for contact. He underwent tests Thursday night to ensure his spleen was not still enlarged due to the illness."The labs didn't come back the way that we were hoping," Gase said. "It's close but it's not where it needs to be."Darnold acknowledged on Thursday that a hit to his enlarged spleen could be fatal."It's a tough thing because you want to stay safe. I want to make sure that I'm safe out there and I'm not going to die," Darnold told reporters.The sophomore quarterback has been out since Week 2 after contracting mono. He had been pushing to return for the matchup with the Eagles but will now turn his attention to the Jets' Week 6 matchup with the Dallas Cowboys.Luke Falk will make his second consecutive start this week, and the Jets signed David Fales to serve as the backup quarterback.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden said earlier this week that the team doesn't have a plan at quarterback right now, and his reluctance to play first-round pick Dwayne Haskins has underlined that point.Now, Les Carpenter of the Washington Post has reported that Gruden did not want to draft Haskins with the team's No. 15 overall pick this year. The head coach and his staff apparently preferred a more experienced passer, but they were overruled by team owner Daniel Snyder, Carpenter added. Haskins started for just one full season at Ohio State before entering the NFL draft.Four games into the season, Haskins has already sensed that he was not the head coach's first choice, a person close to the rookie quarterback informed Carpenter.Gruden's staff reportedly remains excited about Haskins' future but maintains that he was not ready to start the year.Haskins has been toiling as 0-4 Washington's No. 2 quarterback while starter Case Keenum has struggled. Meanwhile, Colt McCoy has yet to play since suffering a leg injury late last season.Gruden has yet to name a starter for Week 5's test against the undefeated New England Patriots. However, reports from practice indicate McCoy has seen time with the first team.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.Every Friday during the NFL season, theScore's betting writers will 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.Thomas Casale ($1,195)Season record: 4-1, +$195New England Patriots (-15) at Washington RedskinsIt's only once a decade that I lay more than 10 points in the NFL, but this feels like a good situation to exploit. The Redskins are coming off back-to-back ugly losses and the players are likely counting down the days until Jay Gruden gets fired. Luckily for them, they shouldn't have to wait much longer. This is an especially bad week for Washington to welcome the Patriots. New England's offense struggled last week in Buffalo. Tom Brady's passer rating was 45.5 - his lowest in 13 years - so there's little chance the future Hall of Famer and Co. come into this matchup unmotivated.Teams need to have either strong quarterback play or a good defense to beat the Patriots. The Redskins have neither. Gruden admitted earlier this week that the team doesn't have a plan at quarterback, and Washington's defense ranks 27th in the NFL, allowing just under 30 points per game.The Patriots' defense has allowed one touchdown in four games. I don't care who they've played, that's darn impressive. Look for the boo birds to come early in Washington and Gruden to get fired on Monday after another blowout loss.Pick: Patriots -15 ($100)Alex Kolodziej ($1,090)Season record: 7-3, +$90Atlanta Falcons at Houston TexansTotal: 49Seven in a row. I might never lose again. OK, onto this matchup, which involves a pair of offenses coming off terrible performances at home. Atlanta has been underwhelming virtually the entire season, but after last week's dud against the Tennessee Titans, how do the Falcons not pull out all the stops? The same goes for the Texans, who mustered just 10 points against the Carolina Panthers. These offenses have serious talent and I don't know how you can keep either down for long. It's about time they put that talent to good use, preferably this week, so we can cash another best bet.Pick: Over 49 ($40)Alex Moretto ($976)Season record: 4-3, -$24Denver Broncos at Los Angeles ChargersTotal: 44.5The Chargers are 2-2, but there's nothing wrong with their offense. It ranks fifth in offensive DVOA without Melvin Gordon, who should have a large role on Sunday. The only issue has been keeping Philip Rivers clean in the pocket, but that won't be a concern against the Broncos. Denver has a paltry five sacks this season, and now Bradley Chubb is out for the season. Chargers pass-rusher Melvin Ingram is also out. Those are two huge blows for a pair of defenses that rank 27th and 28th in DVOA. This total is way too low. Brace yourself for a shootout in L.A.Pick: Over 44.5 ($60)Minnesota Vikings (-5) at New York GiantsWith all the drama going on in Minnesota this week stemming from its offensive struggles, the Vikings can thank their lucky stars that they face the brutal Giants secondary. Kirk Cousins beats up on weaker opponents, and he's going to be asked to throw, throw, and throw some more to appease Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen. New York won't get much pressure on Cousins, who will have open receivers scattered throughout a porous secondary. We get a deflated price here, as well, given the hype surrounding Daniel Jones and his 2-0 start.Pick: Vikings -5 ($40)C Jackson Cowart ($972)Season record: 5-5, -$28Baltimore Ravens (-3) at Pittsburgh Steelers The Ravens' offense ranks first in the NFL in points per drive, thanks in part to a versatile receiving corps and bullying run game. The Steelers' offense ranks 25th, and its defense is still incredibly vulnerable, even if a drubbing of a lousy Cincinnati Bengals' offense may trick you otherwise.The Ravens laid an egg last week against the Cleveland Browns but were coming off a tough loss in Kansas City. It looked like they never got off the bus, as Baltimore went down early and couldn't recover. The Steelers beat up on an awful Bengals team Monday night. Given the recency bias of last week's outcomes, we are getting value with the Ravens on Sunday. Expect Lamar Jackson to bounce back and have a good game against a suspect Steelers secondary. Baltimore is a much better team, so lay the field goal on the road.Pick: Ravens -3 ($75)New England Patriots at Washington RedskinsTotal: 42.5Washington has no plan at quarterback, as Gruden freely admitted earlier this week, and the Patriots' secondary is one of the best in recent memory. The Redskins managed three points against a bad Giants defense; will they even score Sunday? Maybe a field goal.Pick: Redskins team total under 14 ($25)Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Russell Wilson is a Super Bowl champion and five-time Pro Bowler, but on Thursday night, he may have put together his finest performance yet.Stats will show Wilson completed 17 of 23 passes for 268 yards and four touchdowns, and he nearly recorded a perfect passer rating in the Seattle Seahawks' thrilling 30-29 victory over the rival Los Angeles Rams. Not included in the scoresheet were the number of impressive throws and improvisations Wilson made, even in the face of a furious L.A. pass rush, to lead Seattle to victory."I thought Russell played one of the best games I've ever seen him play," head coach Pete Carroll said postgame."I just thought Russ stole the show tonight as he did so much, and on top of what he has done to start the season off in great fashion. So I'm really fired up for him and our team, and our guys are really excited to be able to cheer for him in that way tonight."Wilson has been on another level to start the 2019 season. He owns a 73% completion percentage, has thrown for more than 1,400 yards, and has tossed 12 touchdown passes to zero interceptions.He's thrust himself into early MVP conversation and knows his performance against the Rams was clutch."I left it all out on the field. Coach and I were just talking about that. It was one of the best, I think," Wilson said.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Brandin Cooks left in the fourth quarter of Thursday Night Football against the Seattle Seahawks to be evaluated for a concussion.Cooks' head appeared to hit the ground as he hauled in a 29-yard catch from Jared Goff while under heavy coverage from Seahawks cornerback Shaquill Griffin.Cooks entered Week 5 with 19 receptions for 296 yards and one touchdown. The 26-year-old speedster has topped 1,000 receiving yards in each of the last four seasons.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

An opposing attorney has filed a 35-page motion requesting sanctions against Antonio Brown after the free-agent wideout's "reprehensible behavior" allegedly derailed a deposition for a property damage lawsuit filed in October 2018.The motion, filed Wednesday and obtained by Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports, concerns the former All-Pro's antics during a court-ordered deposition on Sept. 24 that took eight months to schedule. Opposing lawyer George Minski asserts Brown's actions "warrant the imposition of monetary sanctions" as well as a new deposition.The original property damage lawsuit concerns a 2018 incident in which Brown allegedly threw several pieces of furniture out the window of his luxury condo into the complex's pool area, nearly injuring a man and his 22-month-old grandson and causing nearly $100,000 in damages.Brown was apparently 30 minutes late for the deposition, and his subsequent behavior prompted his own counsel to ask for a break after only 20 minutes. When Brown returned from consulting with his counsel, he began texting on his phone. He ignored requests to stop from both opposing counsel and his own, prompting another break 20-30 minutes later.Minski alleges Brown acted "belligerent and pugnacious, refusing to answer the most routine of questions, despite there being no objection to the questioning coming from his counsel." The motion also details Brown's abrupt exit from the proceedings."Soon thereafter, (Brown) started announcing a countdown, starting at 'five minutes,' and counting down the minutes thereafter," the motion reads. "Before noon, (Brown) left the conference room."Minski added he would file video footage of the deposition so "the court may actually see (Brown's) shenanigans."Brown's lawyer, Darren Heitner, said a legal response to the motion was already being prepared and could be submitted as early as Thursday, according to Robinson, who adds a hearing regarding the sanction request is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 8.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New England Patriots named Mike Nugent their new kicker, the team confirmed Thursday.The Patriots wasted little time while finding an interim replacement for longtime kicker Stephen Gostkowski, who will reportedly undergo season-ending hip surgery. Gostkowski is reportedly expected to be back in 2020.Nugent beat out several other notable candidates for the gig during workouts at Gillette Stadium over the past few days, including Kai Forbath and Younghoe Koo.Koo was able to secure a spot on the practice squad as a backup plan, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Nugent comes into a unique situation as just the Patriots' fourth field-goal kicker in the last 24 years. The 37-year-old joins a team known for playoff success following 13 years of kicking without experiencing triumph after December.The former Buckeye has moved around quite a bit in his career, and the Patriots are his ninth NFL stop. Nugent last held a consistent job in 2016 when he went 23-for-29 kicking on field-goal and extra-point attempts for the Cincinnati Bengals.Nugent will make his Patriots debut this Sunday against the 0-4 Washington Redskins.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Stefon Diggs' frustration with the Minnesota Vikings has been evident this season, and his teammates are now questioning whether the star wide receiver wants to remain with the squad, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Diggs confirmed his frustrations and addressed ongoing trade rumors Thursday. "I can't sit up here and act like everything is OK," he told reporters, according to The Athletic's Chad Graff."There's truth to all rumors," he added. "And what I mean by that ... there was a lot of speculation of me being frustrated. Of course, being a receiver and wanting to have success and wanting to win. If you want to win and you're not winning, of course you'll be frustrated."The former fifth-round pick said that he plans to suit up Sunday versus the New York Giants. "I hope (the Vikings) let me play," Diggs replied when asked about his status for the game.The 25-year-old said he did not attend Wednesday's practice because he "hasn't been feeling well." He was a full participant Thursday.While Diggs has been the subject of trade speculation, Minnesota is adamant that it will keep its star wideout unless it receives a substantial offer, Rapoport added.Diggs has accumulated just 13 receptions for 209 yards and one touchdown through four games this season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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 5.The final rankings will be released Sunday morning.Half PPR

Melvin Gordon is finally coming to a TV near you.Los Angeles Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn said Thursday that his star running back will finally make his 2019 on-field debut and could even start in Week 5 against the Denver Broncos after ending his holdout last week."You know, he's definitely going to be a part of the game plan this week," Lynn told Sirius/XM NFL Radio.Lynn added: "We have a package for him, a role for him in this game. He may even start this game."The third-year coach did, however, attempt to temper expectations for his Pro Bowl tailback's first snaps of the season."He's definitely gonna have a workload this week, but not too big. I wanna work him in, but I don't wanna overdo it," said Lynn.He added: You can't simulate football ... I know he's a hard worker and he's in great shape but I can't give him 50 snaps come Sunday, I think that's way too many."Justin Jackson (calf) could miss a few weeks, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, so Gordon will split time with Austin Ekeler in the backfield.Ekeler has gotten off to a scorching start in Gordon's absence, sitting fifth in the league with 490 scrimmage yards while leading all players with six total touchdowns through four weeks.Gordon, for his part, has apparently stayed in shape during his holdout while appearing in several episodes of HBO's "Ballers" and creating a parody video with soap company Dr. Squatch. The Wisconsin product put up 1,375 scrimmage yards and 14 total touchdowns in 12 games last season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite reports that Saquon Barkley would miss four-to-eight weeks with a high ankle sprain, New York Giants head coach Pat Shurmur refused to rule out the star running back for Sunday's matchup with the Minnesota Vikings.Shurmur told reporters Thursday that the Giants will bring Barkley along "as quickly and as smartly as possible," and a return in Week 5 isn't out of the question, according to The Athletic's Dan Duggan.The second-year rusher was once again spotted at practice just 10 days after injuring his ankle. He shed his walking boot Wednesday and was seen cutting and running on the field.

The Minnesota Vikings have lost twice in the first month of the season, and they now field the league's 31st-ranked passing offense, raising more questions about quarterback Kirk Cousins.The 31-year-old, who has yet to lead the Vikings to back-to-back 20-plus-point games this season, remains optimistic after a 16-6 loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 4."My confidence is strong," Cousins said on Wednesday, according to Mark Craig of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "I think I'm trying to be self-aware… and be honest and say, 'Hey, when I mess up, I'm going to own it and point to it.'"Cousins hasn't eclipsed 300 passing yards in any of the Vikings' first four games, a career-worst stretch since becoming a starting quarterback in 2015."I've played a lot of football in this league, and I think you take confidence from the fact that I've been through this before," the eighth-year quarterback said. "It's not my first rodeo being in a tough game, a tough loss. You just move forward with confidence."Head coach Mike Zimmer also addressed his pivot's confidence level."He just needs to go play," Zimmer said. "Just play the game. That's usually what I tell him. Just play the game. Don't worry about consequences."Cousins went 27-of-36 passing for 233 yards against the Bears, posting a season-low 6.5 yards per attempt. Earlier this week, the signal-caller apologized to star receiver Adam Thielen for his role in missed scoring opportunities.Minnesota will try to bounce back against the New York Giants in Week 5. The Giants boast the 25th-ranked passing defense, allowing 279.5 yards per game.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Manning football dynasty appears to be far from over.Arch Manning, the son of Cooper Manning and nephew of Peyton and Eli, is a freshman and starting quarterback for the varsity team at Isidore Newman School in New Orleans. And according to his grandfather, he's been playing better than Arch's uncles did at his age."He's probably a little ahead of them as a freshman," Archie Manning told Dana Hunsinger Benbow of the Indianapolis Star.Peyton and Eli attended Isidore Newman as well, but unlike the 6-foot-1 Arch, they didn't start until their sophomore years.Arch has already drawn interest from Ole Miss, Archie and Eli's alma mater, and Tennessee, where Peyton played. Archie and Cooper are doing their best to keep the pressure off him, though."(Arch is) playing good, he's on a good team, they're having a lot of success and having a lot of fun and that’s the way it should be," Archie said. "That's the one thing I always told my kids and I'll tell Arch the day before a game. 'Go have fun.'"Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs missed practice Wednesday for undisclosed reasons not related to injury.The Vikings provided no other details on his absence. A team official didn't know why Diggs wasn't in attendance, according to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.Diggs had seven receptions for 108 yards - both season highs - in the Vikings' Week 4 loss to the Chicago Bears. The 25-year-old, who was quiet over the first three weeks, created a buzz the next day by tweeting a curious emoji.

Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan doesn't intend to trade Jalen Ramsey despite the Pro Bowl cornerback's request."Obviously, football is a team sport and I'm sensitive to what individual insight or viewpoint or requests (there) might be," Khan told Mark Long of The Associated Press. "But we have to do the right thing for the team. We value the values Jalen adds to us, to the Jaguars. I think we value him highly. We're still looking at what is the right thing for the Jaguars, and I think right now the best thing is to have him be part of the team."Ramsey asked for a trade after clashing with head coach Doug Marrone on the sideline in Week 2. He later revealed his desire to leave the Jaguars stemmed from a "disrespectful" exchange with the front office.Ramsey suited up in Week 3, but noted afterward he still wanted out of Jacksonville. A back injury kept him out Week 4, and has sidelined him at practice early in Week 5."I've met with him," Khan said. "I think my relationship with him is pretty good. This is not a request from me or a viewpoint from me. I have no issue, obviously. I'd love for him to be part of the Jaguars."The Jaguars closed September on a two-game winning streak. They sit at 2-2 alongside the other three teams in the AFC South."Obviously, we're turning the season around and I think he can help the team," Khan said.Previously, Khan said he'd be willing to make Ramsey the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL. A two-time Pro Bowler, Ramsey has already enjoyed standout performances this season against star receivers Tyreek Hill and DeAndre Hopkins.Ramsey was drafted fifth overall by the Jaguars in 2016 and is tied to his rookie contract through the 2020 campaign.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, and Anchor.In this episode, Mike Wright of The Fantasy Footballers joins Boone to discuss the biggest fantasy questions heading into Week 5:

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.Week 5 of the NFL season opens with a divisional clash between the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks. Here, we dive into everything you need to know from a betting perspective.Line movementThere's been some significant movement on the spread. Los Angeles opened as a 1.5-point favorite and hit as high as -2.5. But the line crossed zero and moved the other way after money poured in on the Seahawks, who are 1.5-point chalk as of Wednesday afternoon.The total has also experienced a bump up from 47.5 to 49.5. The Rams played in the highest-scoring game of the season last week - a 55-40 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on their home turf. Last season, the two totals in the Rams-Seahawks matchups closed at 50.5 and 50, respectively.Betting breakdownRams quarterback Jared Goff has been criticized for his home-road splits. The offense has struggled away from home, leading to the Rams going over the total only twice in their last nine road games.Seattle head coach Pete Carroll loves these prime-time slots. The Seahawks have been as good as it gets on Thursday, going 7-0-2 against the spread in their last nine such games. Meanwhile, the Rams have been on the opposite end of the spectrum, as they are 1-5 ATS in the same situation.There's little separating two offensive units that rank in the top half of the league in yards per play. The Seahawks have a minuscule edge at 5.9 against the Rams' 5.7. However, Seattle has faced three defenses - Cincinnati Bengals, New Orleans Saints, and Arizona Cardinals - that are bottom-eight in the NFL in yards allowed per play. L.A., meanwhile, has faced Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns defenses that are No. 2 and No. 13, respectively.Important trendsCarroll's record on Thursday nights is great, sure, but his overall level of success in all prime-time games has been nothing short of spectacular. His Seahawks are currently on a 24-6-3 run ATS in these spots; narrow the trend down to strictly home games and the Seahawks improve to 17-2 straight-up and 15-3-1 ATS under Carroll. Needless to say, night games in prime time at CenturyLink Field have been a nightmare for Seattle's opponents.X-factorThe Rams' secondary desperately needs to get back on the wagon following last week's double-digit loss to the Buccaneers. A unit that had been solid for the first three games of the season allowed Jameis Winston to throw for 376 yards in the 55-point outburst. But all's not lost for a defensive backfield that still, somehow, ranks No. 15 in the league in passing yards allowed per game (238.5).Los Angeles especially needs to be better against a quarterback who's lit it up in prime time. Russell Wilson's quarterback rating in games played at night is 7.3 points higher than in those played during the day, and he's posting a career QBR north of triple digits under the lights. Wilson has been fantastic to start the year, surpassing 1,000 yards through the air with eight touchdowns against zero interceptions. Also, he's registered seven passing scores without a pick in his last three meetings with the Rams.Wilson versus L.A.'s defensive backs should be a sneaky-good chess match Thursday.PickWilson Under 257.5 passing yardsWith all the angles, betting nuggets, and what we know about these two teams, there are plenty of ways to go with this. I would have preferred the Seahawks at a pick 'em or better, but there's no upside in grabbing Seattle at -2.5 when +2.5 was available earlier in the week.Goff scares me in this spot. In Week 3 on the road in prime time against the Browns, it was clear that the crowd noise was affecting his ability to communicate and read defenses. If he was having trouble in Cleveland, I can only imagine the struggles he'll face in Seattle.I'm going to go a bit outside of the box here and take a shot on Wilson's passing yards prop. Despite his past success in prime-time games, he's thrown for fewer than 200 yards in the last four meetings against the Rams, and this is a big step up in class from what the Seahawks have seen so far defensively.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.

New England Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski will undergo season-ending surgery for a left hip injury, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Gostkowski is expected to be ready for the start of the 2020 season, Schefter added.The 14-year veteran has not missed a game since 2010 when a torn quadriceps muscle forced him to miss the final eight weeks. Shayne Graham kicked for the Patriots for the rest of that season as the only man not named Gostkowski or Adam Vinatieri to do so since 1995.It was reported earlier Wednesday that the Patriots were working out several kickers at Gillette Stadium. Kai Forbath and Mike Nugent are apparently the two veterans battling to take over for Gostkowski, sources told Schefter.Four-time Pro Bowler Gostkowski has struggled this season, missing four extra points through four games after misfiring on just three such kicks over the past two seasons. This year, he is 11-for-15 on extra points and 7-for-8 on field goals, with his lone miss coming from 48 yards.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Saquon Barkley was apparently serious about his intention to beat his recovery timetable.The New York Giants' star running back was back at practice just 10 days after suffering a high ankle sprain in the team's Week 3 game. Barkley had reportedly been given a four-to-eight week recovery timeline along with the diagnosis.

The Washington Redskins are looking for an answer at quarterback, and head coach Jay Gruden admitted Wednesday that the team doesn't yet have a plan at the position ahead of Sunday's game against the New England Patriots."We don't have one right now," said Gruden, according to Zack Cox of NESN.Case Keenum started the first four games but was benched in favor of rookie Dwayne Haskins in the opening half of last week's blowout loss to the New York Giants.Keenum had a five-turnover game in Week 3 and threw an early interception against the Giants. However, the switch to the first-round pick did little to change Washington's fortunes, as Haskins tossed three interceptions of his own.The winless Redskins have a third option in Colt McCoy, who appeared in three games last season before suffering a leg injury.McCoy returned to full practice this week after multiple setbacks in his rehabilitation, and he's apparently in the mix to start against the Patriots, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The former Texas standout's chances to start appeared to improve after he took part in Wednesday practice while Keenum was seen wearing a walking boot.

Arizona Cardinals owner Bill Bidwill died Wednesday at the age of 88, the team announced."Our dad passed away today the same way he lived his life: peacefully, with grace, dignity, and surrounded by family and loved ones," Cardinals president Michael Bidwill said in a statement. "We are overwhelmed by the support our family has received, not only now but throughout the latest chapter of his life."We are especially grateful to the nurses, doctors, and other caregivers whose endless kindness and compassion in recent years have made our dad's life so meaningful."Above all else, we will remember him as a man devoted to the three central pillars of his life - his immense faith, his love for his family, and his life-long passion for the Cardinals and the sport of football."

The Cincinnati Bengals placed wide receiver John Ross on the injured reserve list Wednesday due to a shoulder injury, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Cincinnati is already without perennial Pro Bowl receiver A.J. Green, who continues to work his way back from an ankle injury.Ross is a candidate to return this season, as he isn't expected to need surgery, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.After disappointing with just 210 yards receiving in his first two years with the Bengals, the former top-10 draft pick was enjoying a breakout season in the early stages of the campaign, as he put up 328 yards and three scores before the injury.Quarterback Andy Dalton will have to lean on wideout Tyler Boyd and tight end Tyler Eifert in the passing game, while youngsters Auden Tate, Alex Erickson, and Damion Willis look to enter the mix.Cincinnati takes on the Arizona Cardinals in Week 5.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Bears linebacker Roquan Smith said Wednesday that the personal issue that forced him to miss last week's game is behind him.The second-year pro added that he's excited to practice Wednesday and is looking forward to playing against the Oakland Raiders in London on Sunday.Smith refused to go into detail about why he was downgraded to doubtful shortly before the win over the Minnesota Vikings."It's over with and it's behind me," he said, according to Adam Jahns of The Athletic. "I'm fine. You see me here."Bears head coach Matt Nagy, who also previously opted not to answer any questions about Smith's status, said "we'll see" when asked about the linebacker suiting up in Week 5, according to Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune.Smith led the Bears in tackles as a rookie and is a key part of Chicago's top-ranked defense.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Percy Harvin's promising NFL career was bogged down by injuries - including migraines - and anxiety, which he says he tried to combat by regularly smoking marijuana.The former Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks receiver/returner, who hasn't played in the NFL in three years, revealed on Master Tesfasion's new "Untold Stories" series that he smoked before every game."I had at least seven prescriptions that I was to take, from Zoloft and all the other ones I was taking," Harvin said. "And the only thing that really seemed to work is when I would smoke marijuana."He added: "There's not a game I played in that I wasn't high."Harvin also noted that despite the negative stigma surrounding marijuana, it was a much healthier alternative to prescription drugs.Additionally, the Florida product addressed and apologized for some instances where his anxiety led to altercations, including a fight with Seahawks teammate Golden Tate during Super Bowl week in 2013. Harvin said he responded to comments from Tate in an interview by punching his fellow receiver, leaving Tate with a bruise on his face for the team photo later that day.Harvin compiled 32 total touchdowns for four teams over his eight-year NFL career. In 2009, he earned Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro nods while also being named Offensive Rookie of the Year.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Andrew Luck's sudden retirement stunned the NFL world, but the Indianapolis Colts didn't panic, in large part due to the presence of Jacoby Brissett.Brissett was previously considered one of the league's top backups, and the 26-year-old has shown through four games this season that he can become far more than that.Colts general manager Chris Ballard praised Brissett on Tuesday for his consistency off the field despite Luck's surprising exit."Look: Jacoby, he's the same guy he was since the first day we traded for him," Ballard told team writer Andrew Walker. "Somebody asked me a question today in my office about Jacoby and his leadership, and I said, 'Look, what makes him really special is he's authentic, he's real, and he's the same guy every day - and he's been that way since the day he walked in this building.' He prepares - he's always prepared like the starter."And I remember saying this during Andrew's press conference when he retired that, look, Jacoby won't flinch. And he hasn't flinched. He's played really good football - he's played winning football for us each and every week."Brissett, who inked a one-year extension shortly after Luck's decision, has led the Colts to a 2-2 start and is currently tied for the league lead in touchdown passes (10) with Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson.The young signal-caller is also the only quarterback to throw multiple touchdown passes in each game so far this season.While Brissett has kept the offense rolling without Luck, Indy's defense has severely regressed. The unit is tied for 24th in points allowed per game (25.5) and has been carved up by Matt Ryan and Derek Carr in back-to-back weeks."Look: you are what your record is, and we're 2-2, we're a .500 football team. It's been an interesting tale of the season," Ballard said. "But, look, we're through one-quarter of the season, we're 2-2, and there's a lot of football left and a lot of chance for us to get better and keep improving."Brissett is facing his stiffest test as a starter in Week 5, with the Colts set to travel to Arrowhead Stadium for a prime-time matchup Sunday with Mahomes' high-flying Kansas City Chiefs.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.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

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 5.Updated rankings (including Standard and PPR) will be released Thursday, with the final version coming down Sunday morning.Half PPR

The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's football editors.At the quarter pole of the season, we assess who's been the most valuable player for every team in the league.1. New England Patriots (4-0)Brett Carlsen / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 1Tom Brady looks good as ever at age 42, but the Patriots' defense has been the star of the show so far, allowing a ridiculous 6.8 points per game. Linebacker Jamie Collins has been a major factor, racking up 3.5 sacks, three interceptions, and 27 total tackles.2. Kansas City Chiefs (4-0)Previous Rank: 2Looking to better his own MVP season, Patrick Mahomes is on pace for more than 6,000 passing yards and 40 touchdowns in 2019. Even when opposing defenses present tough matchups (see: Lions), the league's premier passer simply can't be stopped.3. New Orleans Saints (3-1)Previous Rank: 7Drew Brees and Teddy Bridgewater have both enjoyed clean pockets, thanks in large part to Ryan Ramczyk. The third-year right tackle held J.J. Watt without a sack or tackle in the season opener and dominated matchups against the likes of Jadeveon Clowney and DeMarcus Lawrence in subsequent weeks.4. Los Angeles Rams (3-1)Previous Rank: 3Showing no lasting impact from his 2018 ACL tear, Cooper Kupp is in the midst of an outstanding campaign. The third-year wideout ranks second in yards and fourth in receptions. Only Sammy Watkins has more yards after the catch than Kupp's 195.5. Seattle Seahawks (3-1)Norm Hall / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 11Write the Seahawks off all you want - Russell Wilson will make you regret it. The former Super Bowl champion leads the NFL in completion percentage, has yet to throw an interception, and is once again making the most of a subpar supporting cast.6. Green Bay Packers (3-1)Previous Rank: 4It's been the Packers' defense leading the way, particularly their third-ranked pass defense. Second-year pro Jaire Alexander is blossoming into a star: He's allowed just 11 receptions on 27 targets and had one touchdown scored on him through four games.7. Dallas Cowboys (3-1)Previous Rank: 5The Cowboys' offense didn't look anywhere near as dominant on Sunday Night Football as it did through Dallas' first three games, but Dak Prescott seems like a man reborn under new coordinator Kellen Moore. The quarterback leads the NFL in QBR and has emerged as a genuine MVP threat.8. Philadelphia Eagles (2-2)Previous Rank: 15Philadelphia's been ravaged by early injuries to start the year, but Carson Wentz has been in top form even without his top two receivers. Pro Football Focus ranks him first among all quarterbacks who've started four games, and his traditional stats should soon reflect his performance when the Eagles finally get healthy.9. Chicago Bears (3-1)Previous Rank: 14The team's MVP and a legitimate candidate for the league award, Khalil Mack continues to do Khalil Mack things. While the Bears' offense struggles to get going, the game-wrecker is leading the way on defense with 4.5 sacks and four forced fumbles in as many games.10. San Francisco 49ers (3-0)Michael Zagaris / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 12Kyle Shanahan is making the most of what appears - at least on paper - to be an underwhelming group of skill position players. The undefeated 49ers rank fourth in total offense behind their head coach's dynamic run schemes and creative play designs.11. Detroit Lions (2-1-1)Previous Rank: 13The Matt Patricia-led defense has been solid, limiting the likes of the Chargers, Eagles, and Chiefs, but Matthew Stafford is the leading reason the Lions have lost but one game thus far.12. Baltimore Ravens (2-2)Previous Rank: 6Super sophomore Lamar Jackson has thrust himself into the early MVP conversation, doing so with his arm, not his legs. Challenged to be a better passer, Jackson has responded by spreading the ball around for 10 touchdowns against just two interceptions.13. Cleveland Browns (2-2)Previous Rank: 19The Browns' offense has disappointed, but one playmaker who has met expectations is running back Nick Chubb; he's averaging 5.1 yards per carry and 100 yards per game.14. Buffalo Bills (3-1)Previous Rank: 16Buffalo's defense looks capable of dragging its uninspiring offense to a wild-card spot, and the dynamic safety duo of Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer is a major reason why. With the Bills ranking 24th in sacks, Hyde's elite coverage skills have been particularly key to the team's 3-1 start.15. Los Angeles Chargers (2-2)Mark Brown / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 17Austin Ekeler filled in admirably during Melvin Gordon's holdout. Though he's a solid runner, the 2017 undrafted free agent makes his living as a receiver out of the backfield. He leads all backs in receiving touchdowns and receiving yards and ranks second in catches.16. Indianapolis Colts (2-2)Previous Rank: 10Any questions about T.Y. Hilton's true value to the Colts were answered in Week 4, as Jacoby Brissett and Co. struggled to move the ball against the Raiders without him. The gifted wideout has four touchdowns in three games and has made numerous clutch catches to help Indy stay afloat while the franchise adapts to life without Andrew Luck.17. Houston Texans (2-2)Previous Rank: 8The offense has been up and down early, but Whitney Mercilus has been exclusively up on defense. With five sacks and four forced fumbles, Mercilus has eased concerns about the Texans' plan to replace Jadeveon Clowney while also giving fellow pass-rusher J.J. Watt time to round into form.18. Minnesota Vikings (2-2)Previous Rank: 9The Vikings have the league's second-worst passing game and third-best running game. Dalvin Cook is a yard off the lead for rushing yards (410) and averaging a sterling 5.8 yards per carry. The junior back is also responsible for five of the team's 11 touchdowns.19. Carolina Panthers (2-2)Previous Rank: 20With Cam Newton sidelined, it's been the Christian McCaffrey show in Carolina. The versatile playmaker has put the Panthers' offense on his back, accounting for 44.7% of the team's yards (157.2 a game) and 44.4% of its offensive touchdowns (four). He's on pace for 1,644 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground with over 800 yards receiving.20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-2)Michael Reaves / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 23The Buccaneers' long-awaited defensive resurrection can be attributed almost entirely to Shaquil Barrett, who's enjoying a breakout season for the ages. The edge rusher already has more sacks (nine) through four games than he managed in his previous three seasons combined (8.5).21. Tennessee Titans (2-2)Previous Rank: 21It all starts inside for the Titans' fourth-ranked scoring defense, namely with Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jurrell Casey. The 29-year-old has consistently generated pressure and was finally rewarded with his first sack of the season in Week 4. As usual, he's also been a beast against the run.22. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-2)Previous Rank: 22His numbers don't jump off the screen, but Gardner Minshew is doing exactly what the Jaguars gave Nick Foles $88 million to do. The rookie has seven touchdowns against one interception, and he's sparked the Jaguars to back-to-back wins to put them in the AFC South mix.23. New York Giants (2-2)Previous Rank: 24Two starts, two wins for Daniel Jones. The rookie hasn't done it all by himself, but the Giants have scored nearly twice as many points in the last two games (56) than they did in the first two with Eli Manning under center (31). It's especially impressive considering Jones and Co. are doing it without Saquon Barkley.24. Atlanta Falcons (1-3)Previous Rank: 18Atlanta would be 0-4 if not for Julio Jones' 54-yard catch-and-run touchdown late in Week 3 against the Eagles. While plenty of his teammates have struggled to poor starts, Jones has arguably been the best receiver in the league.25. Oakland Raiders (2-2)Justin Casterline / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 26One of the year's early surprises, Darren Waller has emerged as the heartbeat of Jon Gruden's offense. The young tight end ranks third in the NFL with 33 catches and has demonstrated a unique ability to beat both zone and man coverages.26. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-3)Previous Rank: 25It's been a struggle in the Steel City to this point, but the Steelers' pass rush is still a strong suit. Leading the way is T.J. Watt, who's accumulated 18 total pressures, six quarterback hits, 2.5 sacks, and a forced fumble from his spot on the edge.27. Denver Broncos (0-4)Previous Rank: 29Courtland Sutton is an impressive talent on an otherwise stagnant offense. Eighteen of the sophomore wideout's 22 receptions have earned a first down and he's yet to drop a pass. Joe Flacco has a 136.5 passer rating when targeting him.28. Arizona Cardinals (0-3-1)Previous Rank: 25A bright spot during a rough first month in Arizona, Jordan Hicks leads the NFL in tackles while displaying versatility in coverage and the blitz. The veteran linebacker was one of the offseason's top bargain signings.29. Washington Redskins (0-4)Previous Rank: 28While positives for Washington have been few and far between this season, the instant impact of first-year wideout Terry McLaurin is a major silver lining. He missed the loss to the Giants but enters Week 4 leading all rookies in catches (16) and receiving touchdowns (3).30. New York Jets (0-3)Billie Weiss / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 31New York is winless through three games, but it's not due to the effort of star safety and defensive energy-setter Jamal Adams. He's allowed a passer rating of just 30.2 while in coverage, according to PFF, and is tied for second on the team in solo tackles.31. Cincinnati Bengals (0-4)Previous Rank: 30Although he's set to miss multiple weeks with an injury, John Ross has been an offensive catalyst for the Bengals through the first quarter of the season. After recording 210 yards over his first two seasons, the No. 9 pick of the 2017 NFL Draft has broken out for 328 yards and three touchdowns so far.32. Miami Dolphins (0-4)Previous Rank: 32The Dolphins are off to a perfectly bad start, and it's almost impossible to find someone worthy of this recognition on either side of the ball. At least Preston Williams has highs to go with his lows. The rookie receiver has struggled with drops, but his team-leading 201 yards are impressive considering Miami's talent level on offense.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Every Monday during the season, theScore's Justin Boone runs down the recommended waiver wire pickups.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.QuarterbacksAndy Lyons / Getty Images Sport / GettyAndy Dalton, BengalsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. ARI35%$1Dalton may have disappointed on Monday Night Football, but he has a pair of top-15 fantasy finishes already this season. In an extremely desirable matchup with the Cardinals in Week 5, Dalton will be a borderline QB1. Arizona has been very generous to opposing quarterbacks, having allowed 10 touchdown passes in four outings and their uptempo pace increases volume for both offenses.Jacoby Brissett, ColtsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat KC35%$1Brissett has thrown multiple touchdowns in each of his four starts this season, making him one of the more stable fantasy quarterbacks over the first month. He'll be forced to open things up again this week as the Colts try to keep pace with the Chiefs, who just gave up a three-touchdown day to Matthew Stafford.Other options: Jimmy Garoppolo vs. CLE (55% owned), Gardner Minshew at CAR (14% owned), Sam Darnold at PHI (13% owned), Kyle Allen vs. JAX (17% owned)Running backsKatharine Lotze / Getty Images Sport / GettyRonald Jones, BuccaneersNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat NO43%$24Jones has 70 rushing yards or more in three of four games this year. He saw a season-high 20 touches in Sunday's win over the Rams, resulting in 82 yards and a score. That performance could have been even better had two long runs not been nullified by penalties. The sophomore is severely outproducing teammate Peyton Barber and appears to be gaining confidence under Bruce Arians' coaching staff. The matchup with the Saints will be tough now that defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins has returned to their lineup, but Jones needs to be owned everywhere as a fantasy RB3 with RB2 upside if he can continue his rise.Jordan Howard, EaglesNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. NYJ56%$14Fantasy managers expecting a Miles Sanders breakout were stunned as Howard racked up 115 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns against the Packers. The Eagles' backfield remains a committee, but Howard's touches have increased in three straight games, and he'll likely get another positive game script at home against the Jets in Week 5. Consider him a high-end RB3 with a high ceiling if he can find the end zone again.Jaylen Samuels, SteelersNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. BAL29%$14The Bengals are one of the easiest matchups the Steelers' offense will get all season, so it wasn't surprising to see Pittsburgh's running backs go off. However, the near-even split between James Conner and Samuels was unexpected. That alone was already enough to make Samuels a player to target on the waiver wire this week, but with Conner's Week 5 availability in doubt due to an ankle injury, Samuels is one of the top adds. When thrust into a starting role last year, Samuels was a fringe RB1 for fantasy.Darrel Williams, ChiefsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. IND52%$14Until we get a timetable for Damien Williams' recovery, it's the other Williams who needs to be owned in every format. Despite sharing snaps with LeSean McCoy the last two weeks, Williams notched 109 yards from scrimmage on 14 touches in Week 3 and followed that up with 56 yards and two scores on Sunday. He's a borderline RB2 as long as Damien remains on the shelf.Rex Burkhead, PatriotsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat WAS43%$9A foot injury limited Burkhead to just 12 snaps Sunday, which could be a good thing for fantasy owners still hoping to acquire him on the waiver wire. Prior to Week 4, Burkhead led all Patriots running backs in playing time, seeing action on 48% of their snaps. When healthy, Burkhead is, at worst, part of a three-man committee in one of the league's most successful offenses.Rashaad Penny, SeahawksNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. LAR58%$7Penny will be active for Thursday night's showdown with the Rams, but the hamstring injury that sidelined him for the last two weeks may have caused him to miss his window of opportunity to overtake a fumbling Chris Carson on Seattle's depth chart. Even so, Penny still needs to be rostered as the complementary back in the Seahawks' run-heavy offense. If Carson gets hurt or his ball-security issues return, Penny could be a fantasy league-winner.Other options: Jordan Wilkins at KC (2% owned), Nyheim Hines at KC (19% owned), Ito Smith at HOU (14% owned), Malcolm Brown at SEA (39% owned), Alexander Mattison at NYG (25% owned), Tony Pollard vs. GB (27% owned), Giovani Bernard vs. ARI (14% owned), Gus Edwards at PIT (9% owned), Chase Edmonds at CIN (2% owned), Dexter Williams at DAL (0% owned), Ty Montgomery at PHI (6% owned), Justice Hill at PIT (11% owned), Ryquell Armstead at CAR (1% owned), Ty Johnson on bye (2% owned)Wide receiversJoe Amon/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images / Denver Post / GettyRobby Anderson, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Phillip Dorsett are just above the 60% ownership mark but should be owned in all leagues.Courtland Sutton, BroncosNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat LAC54%$24Despite playing with Joe Flacco as his quarterback, Sutton is in the midst of a second-year breakout with 22 catches, 309 yards, and two touchdowns through the first month. It's shocking to see the WR14 still available in 46% of leagues. Make sure he's owned in yours.Geronimo Allison, PackersNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat DAL24%$14Though Allison has taken a back seat to sophomore Marquez Valdes-Scantling, he should see a bigger role over the coming weeks with Davante Adams recovering from turf toe. Allison, who was off to a hot start in 2018 hitting injured reserve, leads Green Bay's receivers with two touchdowns this year and posted a 3-52-1 stat line against the Eagles on Thursday. He should be treated as a short-term WR3 while Adams is out.Golden Tate, GiantsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. MIN49%$14The 31-year-old has been reinstated after serving his four-game suspension and returns to a Giants offense filled with hope now that Daniel Jones is under center. A midseason trade to the Eagles threw off Tate's 2018 campaign, but he had four consecutive 90-catch seasons for the Lions and was on pace for his fifth before being dealt. Even with target competition from Sterling Shepard and Evan Engram, the upside is there for Tate, so stash him on your bench until we see how he fits with his new club.A.J. Brown, TitansNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. BUF10%$9The rookie popped up for his second big game in four weeks, bookending his first month as a pro with a three-catch, 100-yard performance and a three-catch, 94-yard, two-touchdown effort. Brown's talent is undeniable, but the Titans' passing attack will struggle to maintain consistency in weeks where they aren't facing the Falcons' porous defense. Brown needs to be owned to see if he can build off this outing, just keep your expectations in check for a player who has yet to see more than five targets in a game.Other options: Diontae Johnson vs. BAL (5% owned), Keke Coutee vs. ATL (18% owned), Preston Williams on bye (9% owned), DeVante Parker on bye (9% owned), Jamison Crowder at PHI (45% owned), Deebo Samuel vs. CLE (26% owned), Mohamed Sanu at HOU (27% owned), Cole Beasley at TEN (12% owned), Miles Boykin at PIT (2% owned), Auden Tate vs. ARI (0% owned), Antonio Callaway at SF (1% owned), James Washington vs. BAL (18% owned), Zach Pascal at KC (1% owned)Tight endsStacy Revere / Getty Images Sport / GettyJimmy Graham, PackersNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat DAL36%$5As Adams deals with his turf toe issue, Graham should see another uptick in volume, which began with nine targets last week. The veteran turned those into six receptions, 61 yards, and a score. Though he's not nearly as imposing of an athlete as he once was, Graham has chemistry with Rodgers and his touchdown-upside alone puts him in the low-end TE1 conversation.Chris Herndon, JetsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. DAL (Week 6)16%$5Considering the situation at tight end is rather dire, it's time to pick up Herndon, a breakout candidate serving a four-game suspension. As a rookie, he was a top-seven fantasy tight end over a 10-game stretch from Week 6 to Week 16. The Jets' new coaching staff gushed about him in the offseason and he should produce another strong fantasy finish once he returns from his ban.Other options: Dawson Knox at TEN (14% owned), Gerald Everett at SEA (5% owned), Jack Doyle at KC (20% owned), Ben Watson at WAS (2% owned), Noah Fant at LAC (11% owned), Ricky Seals-Jones at SF (1% owned), Tyler Eifert vs. ARI (15% owned)Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr defended Vontaze Burfict on Wednesday after the linebacker was suspended for the rest of the season for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Indianapolis Colts tight end Jack Doyle.It was the latest incident in a long line of on-field misconduct by Burfict, who has previously been given four-game bans in both 2016 and 2017 for dangerous hits.But Carr believes the perception of Burfict as a dirty player is unwarranted, with the quarterback calling his teammate "one of the most misunderstood people in the NFL.""I don't think he was trying to hurt that man; the man was going down," Carr said, according to ESPN's Paul Gutierrez. "You see it all the time - there's flags flying everywhere."We see other people choking people out, and they're going to play this Sunday. We see other people hitting people in the helmet, and they're going to play this Sunday. And Vontaze Burfict won't play the rest of the year? I think that's a little excessive, if you ask me. I don't think it's fair, if we really got to know the guy."If the people making the decision really knew the guy that we know, inside our building ... he's a great person, his heart is broken because he's not playing football. The guy just wants to play football. We don't get a lot of time to play this game in our lives."Burfict - who was suspended 13 times in seven seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals - was ejected from Sunday's win after the hit was reviewed by the league office.In its letter to the veteran, the NFL said Burfict's hit was "unnecessary, flagrant, and should have been avoided."Raiders head coach Jon Gruden echoed his quarterback's message, saying he's "obviously upset about it."Burfict is reportedly planning to appeal the suspension.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kirk Cousins can see the error of his ways.The Minnesota Vikings quarterback took plenty of the blame for the offense's poor output in Sunday's 16-6 loss to the Chicago Bears. In particular, receiver Adam Thielen took issue with the passing game, saying after the defeat "you have to be able to throw the ball ... You have to be able to hit the deep balls."Cousins responded to those comments Tuesday on local radio."I really want to apologize to (Thielen) because there's too many opportunities where we could have hit him on Sunday," Cousins said on KFAN, according to Jeremy Bergman of NFL.com. "Postgame when I talk to the media I always say, 'Hey, until I watch the film, it's hard for me to really give you a straight answer.' Well, now it's Tuesday night. I've watched the film and the reality is there were opportunities for (Thielen)."The one that's obvious is the third-and-10 at the beginning of the game. We're near midfield. That's arguably seven points. If you put the ball where it needs to be, he's shown ... that he will make that play and he'll probably finish the play in the end zone and pull away from the defender."Cousins badly overthrew the receiver on the play in question.

Washington Redskins tight end Vernon Davis was placed in the NFL's concussion protocol after Sunday's game against the New York Giants, The Athletic's Ben Standig reports.The Redskins' tight end group has been beset by concussions as Jordan Reed has yet to play a game this season after picking up his seventh reported concussion during the preseason.Davis, a 14-year veteran, has played in all four of Washington's games this year, hauling in 10 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown.The Redskins are perilously thin at the receiving position, as star rookie Terry McLaurin missed Sunday's game with a hamstring injury.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals receiver John Ross is expected to miss multiple weeks after suffering a shoulder injury in Monday night's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reports, citing sources.Ross could miss upwards of a month, Garafolo adds.The wideout was enjoying a breakout year in his third season. He started the campaign with seven catches for 158 yards and two touchdowns in Week 1 and followed it up with 112 yards and another score in Week 2. His 328 yards through four games is more than he had in his rookie and sophomore seasons combined.It's a big blow to a receiving corps that is already without star A.J. Green, who has yet to play since injuring his foot on the first day of training camp. Tyler Boyd and Auden Tate will likely take on a larger role in the passing game.The 0-4 Bengals face the 0-3-1 Arizona Cardinals in Week 5.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Panthers have placed defensive tackle Kawann Short on the injured reserve with a partially torn rotator cuff suffered in Week 2 versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team announced on Tuesday.Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said Short won't return this season."We have made the decision that it is in the best long-term interest of KK (Short) and the team that he undergo surgery to fix his shoulder and focus on the rebab and get ready for next season," said Hurney.Short missed the team's last two games due to the injury.The two-time Pro Bowler posted four tackles in two games this season. To fill the roster spot, Carolina has signed Bryan Cox Jr. from its practice squad.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Fans can typically expect to pay more for drinks at sporting events, but one person attending Sunday's Miami Dolphins game had the misfortune of shelling out hundreds of dollars for two beers.Nathaniel Collier, a 33-year-old walking vendor, was arrested after he used a personal card reader to charge $724 to the fan's card for the two beers, Miami-Dade police said, according to Martin Vassolo of the Miami Herald. The fan received a notification from his bank shortly after regarding the charge.Collier worked for Rocket Man, a Kentucky-based subcontractor that employs vendors at sporting events and concerts. He was fired following his arrest and the customer received a full refund, Rocket Man said in a statement."As the chosen provider of walking vendors across dozens of stadiums, we take the matter of security extremely seriously, and train and monitor our vendors to safeguard our customers," Rocket Man said. "Our onsite supervisor contacted the authorities immediately upon learning of the overcharge on what was Mr. Collier's unauthorized personal device."Collier has been charged with grand theft and using a skimming device, according to police.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.Week 4 sucked. Scoring was scarce, quarterback play was appalling, games lacked suspense, and there were a ton of survivor-pool casualties.That's right, the other shoe finally dropped. Jared Goff went full Jameis Winston. Jacoby Brissett proved he's not, in fact, Andrew Luck. Deshaun Watson and Matt Ryan combined for zero touchdown passes in a pair of losing efforts. The New Orleans Saints won a game without finding the end zone. And the Cleveland Browns dropped a 40-burger on the Baltimore Ravens. What is the NFL?If you're still standing in your survivor pool, congratulations. Here's your guide to keeping it that way through Week 5.Safest pick: New England PatriotsThe Miami Dolphins may be on their bye, but it's no time to panic. There are lots of bad teams in the NFL right now.In particular, I'm looking at the New York Jets and Washington Redskins this week. You can't go wrong picking the Philadelphia Eagles or New England Patriots against those bottom-dwelling teams, but due to Sam Darnold's healing spleen and potential return, the Patriots get the slight edge as the safest pick for Week 5.The Patriots take to the road on Sunday for a date with the Redskins, but nothing about being away from Foxboro should concern Bill Belichick. Jay Gruden still hasn't named his Week 5 starting quarterback, but it doesn't matter if he goes with Case Keenum or Dwayne Haskins, or dials back the clock with Patrick Ramsey or Jason Campbell. Washington isn't hitting double digits.The Patriots rank first in total defense, points allowed, sacks, and takeaways. It's their world, and everybody else is living in it.The Redskins, meanwhile, just recorded more turnovers (four) than points (three) against the Giants, a team that fielded the NFL's worst pass defense going into Week 4. And now they're supposed to move the ball against the Pats? Gruden's disastrous play-calling hasn't helped matters either, and there's no reason to believe it'll improve.Under Belichick, the Patriots are 60-6 as 10-plus point favorites (12-2 on the road), with five of those losses coming in the division, and the other one in the Super Bowl against the Giants. They're 27-0 when laying at least two touchdowns.The Redskins, meanwhile, are 3-15 when getting seven-plus points under Gruden, whose job is hanging by a thread. They were double-digit dogs twice over that span and lost both games, including a 27-10 defeat to the Patriots in 2015.If you're feeling lucky: Houston TexansSpeaking of coaches who will soon be unemployed, Dan Quinn is on his last legs in Atlanta. The Falcons appear soft and unmotivated in what's sure to be the final season (weeks?) for Quinn as their head coach.There was hardly any compete left in them against the Tennessee Titans in Week 4. They were taking undisciplined penalties stemming from a lack of focus, Matt Ryan spent much of the contest screaming at his offense, Derrick Henry bullied their front seven, and Marcus Mariota torched Atlanta's secondary for three first-half touchdown passes - one fewer than he had notched through the first three weeks this season.This isn't a rebound spot for Atlanta. If anything, it's a game when the Falcons will get beaten so badly owner Arthur Blank is forced to take action.Instead, Deshaun Watson and the Houston Texans should bounce back here after losing at home to the Carolina Panthers in Week 4, and do so in convincing fashion against a Falcons team that looks ready for the offseason.Todd Kirkland / Getty Images Sport / GettyAvoid: New Orleans SaintsI learned my lesson. Stay far, far, far away from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. To those who played the Los Angeles Rams last week in your pool, I mourn with you. Misery loves company. Let's grab a drink.The Bucs will never come through for you. When you need them to win, they crumble in the most theatrical fashion. When you count on them to lose, they go on to victory in Los Angeles. Or in Carolina. Or in New Orleans. The Buccaneers are an enigma, and I vow to stay far away from predicting their games the rest of the season.But... are the Bucs actually good? You know what, let's not go down that road. All the numbers and film study in the world couldn't solve that riddle.What I do know is Winston could toss five interceptions this week and lose 42-10 to the New Orleans Saints, or he could throw five touchdown passes and lay a beating on Teddy Bridgewater in the Big Easy.I'm done trying to figure out which Bucs team is going to show up week-to-week. Done with it, and you should be too.Week 5 safety rankingsSafety rankings (SR) are out of 10 based on the author's picksAWAYHOME (SPREAD)WINNER (SR)New EnglandWashington (+15.5)NE (9.5)NY JetsPhiladelphia (-14)PHI (9)IndianapolisKansas City (-10.5)KC (8)AtlantaHouston (-5)HOU (8)DenverLA Chargers (-6.5)LAC (7)ChicagoOakland (+4.5)CHI (6)MinnesotaNY Giants (+5)MIN (6)Tampa BayNew Orleans (-3.5)NO (4)BaltimorePittsburgh (+4)BAL (3)Green BayDallas (-3.5)DAL (3)ArizonaCincinnati (-4)CIN (2)ClevelandSan Francisco (-3)SF (2)BuffaloTennessee (-2.5)BUF (1)LA RamsSeattle (-1.5)SEA (1)JacksonvilleCarolina (-3.5)JAC (1)Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. 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The Cincinnati Bengals were blown out by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night, and receiver Tyler Boyd didn't mince his words postgame when discussing his team's performance."We got embarrassed," Boyd said, according to Ben Baby of ESPN. "Straight like that. It sucks."The 27-3 loss pushed the Bengals to 0-4, likely cementing their place outside the playoffs for the fourth straight season.Cincinnati took an early 3-0 lead but could then do nothing to stop Pittsburgh's offense, which scored 27 consecutive points to help the team earn its first win of the season.Rookie head coach Zac Taylor was brought in to revitalize the Bengals' offense but only the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins have averaged fewer points than Cincinnati (14.2) after four weeks."Right now we don't have that winning feeling," Taylor said. "We've got to get that before we talk about anything else that goes on this season."The Bengals are slated to face the also winless Arizona Cardinals in Week 5.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Bears linebacker Roquan Smith will be sidelined indefinitely after he wasn't acting like himself around the team's facilities for the past week or so, sources told ESPN's Jeff Dickerson.The Bears will reportedly allow Smith to take time to deal with what the team describes as a "personal issue."The 2018 first-round pick was downgraded to doubtful shortly before Sunday's win over the Minnesota Vikings and didn't suit up.On Monday, Bears head coach Matt Nagy refused to go into detail about Smith's absence."Again, he's completely a personal issue," Nagy said. "For us, it's something that we're gonna leave it at that right now."Pressed further, Nagy added that he wouldn't speak about Smith's situation "out of respect."The 22-year-old was on the sideline during the Bears' 16-6 victory Sunday.Smith led Chicago in tackles (122) as a rookie after being taken eighth overall, and he's a key part of the NFC North club's dominant defense. Nick Kwiatkoski replaced him against the Vikings.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sam Darnold is still targeting Week 5 for his return after contracting mononucleosis.The New York Jets quarterback is doing his best to suit up for the team's next game Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles."Right now, I'm saying there's a good chance, just because of how I feel, but there's no telling if my spleen is going to go down," Darnold said Monday on "The Michael Kay Show," according to ESPN's Rich Cimini."If it is where it is and I can't play, obviously, that's not up to me ... but right now, I'm planning on playing."The sophomore quarterback hasn't featured since Week 1. Initially, he was expected to miss between three and seven weeks. He said in mid-September that doctors were targeting Week 5 for his return.Jets head coach Adam Gase said Monday that Darnold is cleared for non-contact activities. His concern, however, is his QB taking a shot that affects his spleen."At this point, it's out of my control," Darnold said. "My spleen is going to do what it's going to do."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A pair of hurting defenses made a trade Monday.The Atlanta Falcons shipped linebacker Duke Riley, a former third-round pick, to the Philadelphia Eagles for veteran defensive back Johnathan Cyprien, the teams announced.Atlanta also sent a 2020 sixth-round pick to the Eagles for a 2020 seventh-round selection as part of the deal.The move comes after the Falcons lost star safety Keanu Neal to an Achilles injury. Cyprien signed with the Eagles in early August for the veteran's minimum of $805,000 and appeared in all four games this season, recording two tackles. He missed the entire 2018 campaign with a torn ACL.Riley has started 16 of the 32 games he's appeared in since being drafted in 2017. He's recorded 90 tackles.The Eagles have an ailing defense and played two games in five days this past week.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Chargers pass-rusher Melvin Ingram is expected to miss time with a hamstring injury he picked up in Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.Ingram is likely to be out for a couple of weeks, according to Rapoport. A more concrete time frame hasn't been established.The veteran joins a long list of injured Chargers. In Week 4, Los Angeles was without receivers Mike Williams and Travis Benjamin, backup running back Justin Jackson, tight ends Hunter Henry and Virgil Green, and kicker Michael Badgley. Star rusher Melvin Gordon ended his holdout to return to the team ahead of Sunday's game.Ingram had one tackle against the Dolphins. He's posted 14 tackles and one sack in four games to begin the year.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Denver Broncos' season took another unfortunate turn in Week 4.Denver lost its fourth straight game to start the campaign and star cornerback Chris Harris Jr. seemed exasperated after a second contest in three weeks was decided by a last-second field goal."I ain't saying nothing. Thirteen more weeks for me," Harris said as he exited the locker room following the 26-24 defeat to the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to the Denver Post's Mark Kiszla.On Monday afternoon, Harris attempted to clear the air regarding those comments:

A day after Minnesota Vikings Pro Bowl receiver Adam Thielen was vocal about his team's inability to throw the ball, head coach Mike Zimmer discussed his quarterback's play when addressing the media."I think there were some times where he might've gotten rid of it a bit too soon," said Zimmer when asked about Cousins' lack of aggression in the passing game. "There's times you just gotta pull the trigger and you just gotta believe it, that you're gonna make the throw."Despite the comments, Zimmer bristled when one reporter characterized his comments about his $84-million man as calling the QB "gun shy."The Vikings have had a disappointing start to the season through the air, putting up less yardage (169.0 yards per game) than every team but the winless New York Jets.This season, Cousins has thrown just three touchdowns against a pair of interceptions. He ranks 17th in completion percentage (64.6), 25th in passing yards (735), 15th in yards per attempt (7.4), and 22nd in passer rating (88.6).Cousins, alongside Thielen and wideout Stefon Diggs - who will all cost the Vikings $229 million collectively over the next five years - will look to get on track in a Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at the Meadowlands.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.Week 4 of the NFL season is almost in the books. The final game of the slate takes place on Monday night when the Cincinnati Bengals clash with the Pittsburgh Steelers in prime time.Here are our best individual player prop bets for the divisional game, starting with one player who could thrive in a favorable matchup.Tyler Boyd 5.5 receptions and over 73.5 receiving yardsBoyd should fill the stat sheet on Monday night because the Steelers can't cover slot receivers. As Matthew Berry noted, Pittsburgh's defense has allowed quarterbacks to go 35-of-40 passing for 530 yards and four touchdowns while throwing to slot receivers this season.Meanwhile, with fellow wideout A.J. Green sidelined to start the year, Boyd has received double-digit targets in every game. Since Cincinnati is typically in catch-up mode, quarterback Andy Dalton has to drop back plenty, and that will likely be the case again on Monday night.James Conner over 93.5 total yardsConner is off to an extremely slow start this season, and the Steelers' run game has been nonexistent.The second-year back has been held to 43 yards or fewer on the ground in each game, and he hasn't passed the 65 total yards mark yet. However, Pittsburgh has played some decent competition so far.Both San Francisco and New England rank top five in yards allowed per carry, and Seattle is right in the middle of the pack. And in that Seahawks game, the Steelers were trailing for virtually the entire contest, putting the offense in pass-first mode. Now, a huge swing in momentum could be coming for Connor on Monday night due to the opponent.The Bengals allowed a whopping 244 rushing yards against the 49ers in Week 2, and they also let the Bills cross the century mark rushing last Sunday. Additionally, opposing running backs have caught four-plus passes in each game this season against Cincinnati.If Conner can't get going on Monday, there's a serious problem.Tyler Eifert over 2.5 receptionsTake a flier on Eifert. He's only received 12 targets this season compared to 32 for Boyd and 26 for John Ross. But the Steelers have struggled recently to cover tight ends while allowing 12 receptions the last two weeks to that position.I'm expecting some points scored during Monday's game, making this the third player prop to bet the over on. Let the track meet commence.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 @AlexKoIodziej.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys left tackle Tyron Smith's high ankle sprain isn't as severe as the initial evaluation suggested, a source told ESPN's Todd Archer.Smith won't play in Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers, but he has not yet been ruled out of Week 6, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.High ankle sprains typically require a four-to-six week absence, added Rapoport.Cameron Fleming will likely replace Smith in Dallas' starting lineup.The 28-year-old Smith was hurt when Dak Prescott fell onto his leg while attempting to avoid a sack in Sunday night's loss to the New Orleans Saints.The six-time Pro Bowler is the linchpin of Dallas' talented offensive line. He has missed time due to injury in each of the last three seasons.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Denver Broncos linebacker Bradley Chubb suffered a torn ACL in Week 4 and will be out for the remainder of the 2019 season, head coach Vic Fangio announced Monday, according to The Athletic's Nicki Jhabvala.Chubb briefly left the Broncos' matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars with a cramp but returned and suffered the knee injury, with which he finished the game, added Jhabvala.The Broncos' 2018 first-round pick burst onto the scene in his rookie year with 12 sacks playing opposite All-Pro pass-rusher Von Miller, who contributed 14.5 quarterback take-downs. Their combined number of 26.5 sacks was the most for any pass-rushing duo in the league last season.However, the North Carolina State product contributed just one sack and one forced fumble this season before the injury.Fangio said the team will replace Chubb through a committee instead of a one-man approach, according to Jhabvala. Outside linebackers Malik Reed and Justin Hollins are next on the depth chart while defensive end Derek Wolfe figures to see more pass-rushing snaps, too.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold has been cleared for non-contact activities, head coach Adam Gase told reporters on Monday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The second-year signal-caller's return timetable remains unknown.Darnold, who contracted mononucleosis after Week's 1 matchup against the Buffalo Bills, hasn't even thrown during practices since then, missing two games thus far.The symptoms of mononucleosis can include an enlarged spleen. Darnold will not be cleared for a full return to football activities until his spleen returns to its normal size, according to ESPN's Rich Cimini."At this point, it's out of my control. My spleen is going to do what it's going to do," Darnold said Monday, according to Andy Vasquez of The Record.Darnold completed 28 of 41 passes for 175 yards and a touchdown in the 17-16 season-opening loss.The winless Jets are coming off a bye and will travel to Philadelphia to face the Eagles in Week 5.New York will continue to rely on second-year quarterback Luke Falk in Darnold's absence. Falk has yet to throw his first NFL touchdown in two professional appearances, in which his offense averaged 8.5 points per game.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

An MRI on Monday revealed that Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky sustained a dislocated left shoulder and a minor labrum tear in Sunday's win over the Minnesota Vikings, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Trubisky won't need surgery and should be back "sooner rather than later," added Schefter's source. However, while the quarterback will reportedly travel with the team to London this week, he's unlikely to play against the Oakland Raiders.Chase Daniel will again replace Trubisky if he indeed can't suit up in Week 5. Chicago then has its bye in Week 6.Trubisky suffered the injury after landing awkwardly on his non-throwing shoulder while scrambling.Bears head coach Matt Nagy refused to confirm the details of Schefter's report at his presser later Monday."We'll know more throughout the day," he said, according to Larry Mayer of the Bears' official site.Trubisky has struggled to start his third season. He's averaging an NFL-worst 5.5 yards per attempt and has thrown just three touchdowns to two interceptions.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The hurdling fad may be finished, at least for players who are the size of T.J. Hockenson.Detroit Lions tight end Hockenson left the team's Week 4 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs with a concussion he suffered when his attempt at leaping over a defender resulted in him lying motionless on the turf.However, the Lions will not place their 2019 first-round pick on injured reserve, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Hockenson was upended by a defender and landed at an awkward angle on his head and shoulder. He was attended to by medical staff on the field for several minutes before being carted off. Fortunately, the Iowa product was able to avoid a hospital visit.