The NFL is establishing a social justice and entertainment partnership with rapper Jay-Z and his agency, Roc Nation, according to The Washington Post's Mark Maske.Jay-Z and Roc Nation will contribute to the NFL's Inspire Change program, a social activism campaign that involves players around the league. Roc Nation will also co-produce the Super Bowl halftime show and select entertainers to perform on NFL stages throughout the season."I think we have autonomy," said Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter. "I anticipate that there will be a lot of - with any big organization, in this building right here we have internal problems. Anything that's new is going to go through its growing pains. We put what we want to do on the table. The NFL agreed to it. So we're gonna proceed with that as if we have a partnership."The newly created bond does not mean Jay-Z will be on the stage at Super Bowl LIV in February."He was very quick to say that he does not want this to be about him performing, that it was broader than that," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said. "It quickly went beyond that. Do I hope he'll perform in the Super Bowl sometime in the next several years? Yes. But I think we'll all know if that time comes. He'll know in particular."Jay-Z reportedly turned down an offer to headline the Super Bowl LIII halftime show out of support for Colin Kaepernick.Roc Nation represents a number of high-profile NFLers, including Todd Gurley, Saquon Barkley, Ndamukong Suh, and JuJu Smith-Schuster.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the start of the NFL season just over three weeks away, Thomas Casale, Alex Kolodziej, and C Jackson Cowart go over their favorite bets for who will lead the league in rushing yards. Included are best bets, value plays, and players to avoid.Odds to lead the NFL in rushing yardsPlayerOddsSaquon Barkley4-1Ezekiel Elliott5-1Joe Mixon10-1Le'Veon Bell10-1Derrick Henry12-1Nick Chubb12-1Todd Gurley12-1Christian McCaffrey16-1Melvin Gordon16-1Dalvin Cook20-1Leonard Fournette20-1Marlon Mack22-1David Johnson25-1James Conner25-1Chris Carson33-1Kerryon Johnson33-1Phillip Lindsay33-1Sony Michel33-1Alvin Kamara40-1Damien Williams40-1David Montgomery40-1Derrius Guice40-1Devonta Freeman40-1Josh Jacobs40-1Aaron Jones50-1Jordan Howard50-1Mark Ingram50-1Rashaad Penny50-1Ronald Jones66-1Lamar Miller75-1Latavius Murray75-1Tevin Coleman75-1Who is the best bet to lead the NFL in rushing yards?TC: I'm all in on James Conner. Conner rushed for 973 yards in his first season as a starter, and he should easily exceed that total in 2019. Despite averaging 4.5 yards per attempt and scoring 12 touchdowns, Conner received just 215 carries.He missed three games, and Pittsburgh fielded a young defense, leading to a lot of shootouts and Ben Roethlisberger topping the NFL in passing yards. The Steelers' defense should be much improved this season, and the offense more balanced. Don't buy into the Jaylen Samuels love. Conner will be a workhorse, so jump all over him at 25-1.AK: I originally liked Saquon Barkley at a better number, but his odds shortened to 4-1. Next in line for me is Joe Mixon at 10-1.New Bengals head coach Zac Taylor comes from the Sean McVay coaching tree, and the common belief is that more passing production is coming under his watch. But if Taylor follows his old boss' playbook, he’ll be running almost exclusively 11 personnel with Mixon as the main guy. And remember, the Rams finished among the top 10 in running-play percentage last year. Some people forget that!There’s a lot to like about last season’s AFC North rushing leader.TC: I'm on the opposite side with Mixon. Keep reading ...CJC: I'll keep this AFC North party rolling and sing the praises of Nick Chubb, who will become a household name by the end of the season if that hasn't happened already. Chubb was Pro Football Focus' top back last year, and he ranked fourth in rushing yards (82.3 per game) starting in Week 7, which was the first time he received more than three carries. Thanks, Hue Jackson.Chubb was on a 1,317-yard pace during those 10 weeks. He should be even better after a full offseason as the team's top back, and with the Browns' explosive passing offense providing wide-open rushing lanes. Chubb is a superior rusher to the suspended Kareem Hunt, and I love his value at 12-1.AK: Wait, Hue Jackson ruined an offense? That's surprising.CJC: Baker Mayfield wasn't the only rookie packing Hue's bags on the way out last year.Who is the top value play?TC: When Mark Ingram's odds were released at 50-1, I thought it was a mistake. The Ravens will field one of the NFL's top rushing offenses for the second straight year. Quarterback Lamar Jackson's athleticism will partly fuel the team's rushing strength, but don't sleep on the addition of the underrated Ingram.Last season, Gus Edwards led the Ravens in rushing with 718 yards. Ingram is a major upgrade over "Gus the Bus," and he should be given 250-plus carries in Baltimore's run-first offense. The veteran has topped 1,000 yards in two of his last three seasons. He's a good bet to eclipse that mark again in 2019, and at 50-1, there isn't a better value play on the board.AK: There’s another running back at 50-1 who’s badly underpriced: the Packers’ Aaron Jones.Remember when he was the most talented back on Green Bay's roster last year and Mike McCarthy didn’t play him? Good times. All he’s done since is average 5.5 yards per carry despite flip-flopping roles, and now Jones will be the lead back behind an offensive line Pro Football Focus ranks as the No. 8 unit in the league. I know Aaron Rodgers will get his chances, too, but Jones is going to win a lot of bettors and fantasy players money this year.CJC: I went out of the box with my QB picks, so I'll stay higher on the board here and go with Dalvin Cook at 20-1. The health risk is there, but he's the most talented running back at that price, and the Vikings' offense will feature him much more than it did during his injury-plagued 2018 season.After Minnesota fired pass-happy offensive coordinator John DeFilippo and installed Kevin Stefanski, Cook averaged 82.7 yards per game, and he was given PFF's third-highest rushing grade. Small sample size alert, I know, but he finished as a top-five back in 2017, too, before tearing his ACL. Under Stefanski and new assistant head coach Gary Kubiak, Cook should receive plenty of opportunities to prove himself in 2019.TC: The lock of the year was Jackson going with Cook here. I wish I loved anything as much as he loves the Vikings this season.Who is the one player bettors should avoid?TC: I have to disagree with Alex on Mixon at 10-1. Mixon is a great back, but he's running behind arguably the NFL's weakest offensive line. The Bengals are also projected to be one of the league's worst teams, with their win total set at 6.5.Mixon put up 1,168 rushing yards last year on a six-win team. Look for a slight regression from him this season with the Bengals playing from behind often. Hard pass.AK: Whatever man, I thought we were friends.Maybe it’s a cop-out, but I want nothing to do with Melvin Gordon at 16-1. He finished just 180 yards shy of the league leader, Le’Veon Bell, back in 2017, which was also his first season playing all 16 games. Given his injury history, price, and still ongoing holdout, I’ll pass on Gordon and go to bed with my mind at peace.CJC: Derrick Henry at 12-1 may trick some bettors into thinking they're getting in early on the next great back. They aren't.Let me make something clear: At 240 lbs with 4.54 speed in the 40-yard dash, Henry is a unique talent. But he's an incredibly limited back who's only been successful when presented with open field. And until he improves his receiving and pass protection, Dion Lewis will continue to take snaps away from Henry.Given Lewis' presence and Henry's lack of versatility, the fourth-year pro shouldn't be one of the favorites to win the rushing crown. Don't let the short odds convince you otherwise.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien didn't commit on Wednesday to the team keeping Jadeveon Clowney in its plans, adding momentum to trade rumors involving the Pro Bowl edge rusher."We haven't really seen him since the end of the season, so I really don't know," O'Brien told reporters at Texans training camp. "I can do my best to answer your question, but, really don't know."Clowney, who hasn't inked his franchise tender, has stayed away from all team activities throughout the offseason. Since he isn't signed, the 2014 first overall pick can't be fined."When he arrives, we'll handle it when he arrives," O'Brien added. "That's his prerogative, he doesn't have to be here right now. That's part of the franchise tag and all those different things."Clowney is seeking a long-term extension, but the Texans don't seem motivated to give him one. Reports earlier in the offseason suggested O'Brien wasn't as enthusiastic about giving Clowney a lucrative deal as former general manager Brian Gaine.Clowney has been extremely productive over the last three seasons while recording 24.5 sacks, but his checkered injury history could be a stumbling block in negotiations. He's battled knee problems throughout his career.Barring an extension or trade, the 26-year-old is expected to sign his tag and report to the Texans at the end of the preseason."At some point he'll come in, I believe," said O'Brien. "But that's up to him."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Aaron Rodgers is tired of the media's scrutiny of his relationship with new Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur.In an interview with former Green Bay fullback John Kuhn on Packers.com, Rodgers hit back at the reports of disconnect between the two men that have dominated the team's offseason."It’s fake news, John," Rodgers said with a laugh. "That's the media cycle these days. Unfortunately, the media - other than, obviously, yourself - there's a lack of integrity, I think. There's a rush to put up headlines that are clickbait because the ad revenue is based on the amount of visits you get to your website."" ... when you're in a really low news cycle like in June and July when there's not much football going on, that's the kind of stuff that comes out. We don't need to spend any time talking about it because it's complete ridiculousness."Last week, Rodgers criticized the Packers' decision to hold joint practices with the Houston Texans, which the NFC North team hadn't taken part in since 2005."I wouldn't mind if they didn't do it for another 14 years," Rodgers said, per Tom Silverstein of the Journal Sentinel.Meanwhile, LaFleur said he "absolutely 100 percent" would want to work out with another team again.That public disagreement followed concerns that Rodgers and LaFleur were struggling to get on the same page regarding the first-year head coach's offensive scheme due in large part to it limiting the quarterback's ability to audible at the line of scrimmage.While Rodgers and LaFleur have consistently praised each other during the first several months of their relationship, the star quarterback said in June that it would be unwise for the Packers "to ask me to turn off 11 years (of recognizing defenses)."Asked by Kuhn about what's most important when developing a relationship between play-caller and quarterback, Rodgers pointed to building mutual faith in each other's skills."I think it's just trust - trust in the call that's coming in, and him trusting my experience and any adjustments that go along with the play call," Rodgers said.The first live-action look at Rodgers in LaFleur's scheme will come Thursday against the Baltimore Ravens, as the two-time MVP is set to play "a quarter or so" alongside the rest of the starters.- With h/t to CBS SportsCopyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Miami Dolphins running back Kenyan Drake left Tuesday's practice early with an injury and was spotted wearing a walking boot Wednesday.Head coach Brian Flores confirmed Wednesday the injury will keep Drake out a while, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. Flores said the team is hopeful the four-year pro will be available for its regular-season opener against the Baltimore Ravens.Drake told ESPN's Cameron Wolfe the injury is "nothing crazy" but admitted he'll miss some action."I'll be back," he said.The Dolphins will count on Kalen Ballage at running back in Drake's absence. The 2018 fourth-round pick has been splitting carries with Drake throughout training camp.Ballage took six carries for 23 yards and a touchdown in last week's preseason opener. Drake ran the ball four times for 12 yards.Drake finished 2018 ranked second on the team, behind Frank Gore, in rushes (120) and yards (535) while leading the club in rushing touchdowns with four. Ballage had just 36 carries for 191 yards and a score in his rookie season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kenny Stills and Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross discussed the controversy over Ross' fundraiser for President Donald Trump and put the issue to bed, the wide receiver said on Tuesday."We agreed to disagree and that was it," Stills said after practice, according to Hal Habib of The Palm Beach Post.Stills criticized Ross on social media last week after the owner hosted an event for Trump's re-election at his home in the Hamptons, which the 27-year-old perceived as hypocritical.In the tweet, the veteran posted a screenshot of the mission statement for Ross' nonprofit, the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality (RISE).Stills said he texted Ross, who then called the wideout to talk about the disagreement."There's not much to argue about," Stills said. "He has his feelings about it and he stands firm in that and I respect that. But I disagree and I told him there's no hard feelings. There's no beef and let's win some games this year."Stills also said he'll no longer be involved in RISE after Miami's first preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday.He opened up about stepping away despite a lauded history of social activism, saying he was turned off by "everything that's kind of taken place from the time of the first protest all the way to now."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns have undergone a remarkable turnaround from the butt of NFL jokes to the darlings of the league.Entering 2019, the Browns bandwagon is already at max capacity. It's reached the point that detractors are already calling the team - which went 7-8-1 a year ago - overrated."It went from having excitement over Bud Light coolers being opened to now people waiting to see us lose so they can say, 'Oh, they got too hyped up,'" Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield told Zach Frydenlund of Complex Sports."You've got to believe in it and take it one week at a time. Because I wouldn't say that everybody wants to beat us," he added. "I think in the media and everything that comes with the hype around our team right now, people want to see us lose, just because the hype is so real. But we've got to go out there and take it one week at a time. We're trying to win every week."The Browns are currently the betting favorites to win the AFC North and are a top-four favorite to come out of the AFC after adding star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. via trade during the offseason. They're also scheduled to play in four prime-time games this season.While Cleveland seems poised to end a 16-year playoff drought, Mayfield wants to keep things in perspective."I'd say the chatter doesn't matter. The expectations for us within the locker room last year were higher than what we accomplished. Outside the locker room, people threw us in the trash before the season. They didn't expect much out of us just because, the year before that, (the) Browns were 0-16," he said. "So, you know, you can only go up from there. And I think now we need to have the same mentality. It stays within that locker room."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2019 Fantasy Football Draft Kit 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.Scroll down to see his updated 2019 rankings for both standard and PPR leagues.Standard

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2019 Fantasy Football Draft Kit and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, and Anchor.In this episode, Boone is joined by Jason Moore of The Fantasy Footballers to discuss how to approach quarterbacks in this year's fantasy drafts, including their pick for the QB who will help lead you to a title.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2019 Fantasy Football Draft Kit and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.theScore's Justin Boone breaks down the best ways to approach your draft depending on where you're selecting in the order.Here's a look at how to attack the draft if you've been assigned one of the first four picks in a 12-team PPR scoring league.Average draft position (ADP) data courtesy of Fantasy Football Calculator and is based on 12-team leagues with PPR scoring.Round 1Picks: 1.01-1.04If you own one of the top four picks, congratulations, you're locked into an elite running back. Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey, and Alvin Kamara are the clear top three at the position.Ezekiel Elliott would be in the conversation if it weren't for his holdout, which puts his regular-season availability at risk. Though it still seems like a deal will get done before Week 1, after last year's Le'Veon Bell saga, it's hard to justify spending an early pick on a back threatening to sit out real games.McCaffrey, who proved himself to be a workhorse a year ago, was also a top-three back in all fantasy formats with 326 touches, 1,965 yards from scrimmage, and 13 touchdowns. However, there's no bad choice among this group.RosterPlayerRoundRB1Christian McCaffrey1stOthers to consider: Saquon Barkley, Alvin Kamara, David JohnsonRound 2Picks: 2.09-2.12At the end of the second round, several low-end WR1s remain on the board. Even with his penchant for drama, it's hard to pass on Antonio Brown, but with foot injuries causing him to miss valuable practice reps with his new team and his Week 1 status still uncertain, we'll take a more reliable option.Keenan Allen played a full 16-game schedule the last two seasons and finished as a top-15 fantasy receiver both years. The campaign before that he was on pace for 134 receptions, 1,450 yards, and eight touchdowns before an injury sidelined him after eight games. The gap between Allen and elite fantasy receivers is narrow.RosterPlayerRoundRB1Christian McCaffrey1stWR1Keenan Allen2ndOthers to consider: Antonio Brown, Mike Evans, George KittleRound 3Picks: 3.01-3.04Travis Kelce and George Kittle offer such an advantage at tight end that both players warrant consideration in the second round. Kelce is often selected there, while Kittle tends to fall into the third. We'll gladly take the latter and enjoy owning one of the few players who can provide week-winning results at the position.Not only did Kittle break the single-season yardage record for tight ends in 2018, he showed remarkable consistency doing it. The 25-year-old posted 70 yards or more 11 times and has big-play ability rarely seen in players his size.RosterPlayerRoundRB1Christian McCaffrey1stWR1Keenan Allen2ndTE1George Kittle3rdOthers to consider: Aaron Jones, Kerryon Johnson, Amari CooperRound 4Picks: 4.09-4.12With a balanced approach through three rounds, we're free to go in any direction with our next pick. Unless running backs like Mark Ingram or Chris Carson fall to the late fourth, you'll normally want to capitalize on the value at receiver.Tyler Lockett is coming off an outstanding season with 965 yards and 10 touchdowns on just 57 receptions. That kind of efficiency won't last, but Doug Baldwin's departure gives Lockett a chance to repeat those numbers thanks to increased volume and a starting role in the slot. He's a top-20 wideout attached to one of the game's better quarterbacks.RosterPlayerRoundRB1Christian McCaffrey1stWR1Keenan Allen2ndWR2Tyler Lockett4thTE1George Kittle3rdOthers to consider: Kenny Golladay, Chris Godwin, Tevin ColemanRound 5Picks: 5.01-5.04Normally, you'd want to address running back a little earlier than this since the productive fantasy starters tend to dry up before this point. Michel's injury history has kept his price low and many fantasy managers may not realize he's back at practice and looking good.The Patriots are even trying to incorporate him more in the passing game, which - outside of the health issues - is the only other question mark surrounding his fantasy outlook. New England has had one of the NFL's best rushing attacks over the last few seasons and Michel's touchdown ceiling gives him top-12 upside. We'll just need to make sure we can find enough depth at running back to protect us in case he misses time again.RosterPlayerRoundRB1Christian McCaffrey1stRB2Sony Michel5thWR1Keenan Allen2ndWR2Tyler Lockett4thTE1George Kittle3rdOthers to consider: Tevin Coleman, DJ Moore, Tyler BoydRound 6Picks: 6.09-6.12If there's one thing you should know going into drafts in 2019, it's that you'll be able to find starting-caliber fantasy receivers in the fifth-to-seventh round.Here we're able to grab Allen Robinson, who's been a fantasy star in the past and should be more comfortable in the Bears' offense entering his second season in Chicago. Robinson came on as the year progressed, topping 75 yards in four of his final eight games, including two 100-yard performances. He's overqualified as the WR3 in our starting lineup.RosterPlayerRoundRB1Christian McCaffrey1stRB2Sony Michel5thWR1Keenan Allen2ndWR2Tyler Lockett4thWR3Allen Robinson6thTE1George Kittle3rdOthers to consider: Miles Sanders, Robby Anderson, Dante PettisRound 7Picks: 7.01-7.04With receiver and tight end sorted and no plans to draft a quarterback until later, we can start to find some high-upside depth at running back. Rashad Penny isn't even the best running back on his own team, but the Seahawks led the league in rushing attempts last season and will likely be near the top of that category again in 2019.Penny has taken a more professional approach to his sophomore campaign and has a chance to create a dynamic one-two punch with Chris Carson. And if anything were to happen to Carson, we'd be talking about Penny as a top-10 fantasy back.RosterPlayerRoundRB1Christian McCaffrey1stRB2Sony Michel5thWR1Keenan Allen2ndWR2Tyler Lockett4thWR3Allen Robinson6thTE1George Kittle3rdBenchRashad Penny7thOthers to consider: Latavius Murray, Christian Kirk, Sammy WatkinsRound 8Picks: 8.09-8.12As we continue to focus on upside, Curtis Samuel checks every box. In fact, with positive reports continuing to come out of Panthers' practices, he might not be available in this range for long.When Samuel's playing time went up late last season, he posted 70 yards and/or a touchdown in five of his final seven performances. I've actually projected Samuel to see more targets than teammate DJ Moore, though Moore still has the higher fantasy ceiling. With Moore's ADP in the fifth, Samuel is a steal three rounds later.RosterPlayerRoundRB1Christian McCaffrey1stRB2Sony Michel5thWR1Keenan Allen2ndWR2Tyler Lockett4thWR3Allen Robinson6thTE1George Kittle3rdFLEXCurtis Samuel8thBenchRashad Penny7thOthers to consider: Dede Westbrook, Royce Freeman, Sterling ShepardRound 9Picks: 9.01-9.04This was the most difficult decision of the draft. After waiting at quarterback, Cam Newton represented good value in the ninth, but the need to position ourselves against a potential Michel injury led us to favor Damien Harris.The Patriots' third-round pick profiles as Michel's direct backup, with James White playing his usual passing-down role. Harris is a big back with the ability to handle the load if called upon. While we hope that doesn't happen, with both Michel and Harris, we've now secured New England's early-down back throughout the season.RosterPlayerRoundRB1Christian McCaffrey1stRB2Sony Michel5thWR1Keenan Allen2ndWR2Tyler Lockett4thWR3Allen Robinson6thTE1George Kittle3rdFLEXCurtis Samuel8thBenchRashad Penny7thBenchDamien Harris9thOthers to consider: Cam Newton, Jaylen Samuels, Marquez Valdes-ScantlingRound 10Picks: 10.09-10.12With the quarterback talent still running deep, we can continue to fill out our bench. DeSean Jackson earned rave reviews in the offseason and will give the Eagles exactly what they need as a big-play field-stretcher.The 32-year-old can still fly. He kicked off the 2018 season with three 100-yard games in the first month and was the WR17 in PPR leagues after eight weeks. No one should be surprised if we see a similar start now that he's paired up with a better quarterback in Carson Wentz.RosterPlayerRoundRB1Christian McCaffrey1stRB2Sony Michel5thWR1Keenan Allen2ndWR2Tyler Lockett4thWR3Allen Robinson6thTE1George Kittle3rdFLEXCurtis Samuel8thBenchRashad Penny7thBenchDamien Harris9thBenchDeSean Jackson10thOthers to consider: Donte Moncrief, Keke Coutee, Peyton BarberRound 11Picks: 11.01-11.04We're going to put off drafting a quarterback one more round in favor of taking another player who might not stay at this ADP much longer.With Jerick McKinnon sidelined indefinitely, Matt Breida is now unchallenged as the 49ers' No. 2 running back. It's a role that could be rewarding after San Francisco's running backs compiled the fifth-most yards from scrimmage during a down 2018 season, according to Rotoworld's Rich Hribar.Breida has an opportunity to produce RB3/flex stats while also offering significant upside if starter Tevin Coleman gets hurt.RosterPlayerRoundRB1Christian McCaffrey1stRB2Sony Michel5thWR1Keenan Allen2ndWR2Tyler Lockett4thWR3Allen Robinson6thTE1George Kittle3rdFLEXCurtis Samuel8thBenchRashad Penny7thBenchDamien Harris9thBenchDeSean Jackson10thBenchMatt Breida11thOthers to consider: Justice Hill, Dion Lewis, John BrownRound 12Picks: 12.09-12.12Finally, we are ready to select our starting quarterback. Even in the 12th round, there are several quality options to choose from.As Jason Moore of The Fantasy Footballers pointed out on a recent episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, Dak Prescott has been a top-12 quarterback in each of his three seasons as a pro. That makes him less of a late-round upside pick and more of a pure value selection. And after Amari Cooper's arrival halfway through 2018, Prescott was the QB6 in fantasy the rest of the way.If Prescott has already been taken, you could easily pivot to Mitch Trubisky or Josh Allen, who both possess top-12 upside thanks to their rushing skills.RosterPlayerRoundQB1Dak Prescott12thRB1Christian McCaffrey1stRB2Sony Michel5thWR1Keenan Allen2ndWR2Tyler Lockett4thWR3Allen Robinson6thTE1George Kittle3rdFLEXCurtis Samuel8thBenchRashad Penny7thBenchDamien Harris9thBenchDeSean Jackson10thBenchMatt Breida11thOthers to consider: Josh Gordon, Mitch Trubisky, Josh AllenLate roundsThe truth is, after the 10th round or so, you no longer need to pay close attention to ADPs. You should be focused on filling out your bench with as many high-upside players as possible with your sights set on running backs and receivers. Quarterbacks or tight ends can always be streamed or acquired by trading a bench player. Save your final two picks for a defense and a kicker.Players to consider: Darwin Thompson, Tony Pollard, Giovani Bernard, Chase Edmonds, Malcolm Brown, Michael Gallup, Kenny Stills, Tre'Quan Smith, Parris CampbellCopyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Like Tom Brady and Antonio Brown, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has yet to determine which helmet he'll wear during the 2019 season.The model that Rodgers has worn for his entire career is no longer approved for use in the NFL, but unlike Brown, the veteran passer isn't raising hell about it."There's a connection to a helmet, for sure," Rodgers said to Tom Silverstein and Ryan Wood of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "I loved my helmet, and every one that I've worn. I don't know that I would want to retire if I couldn't wear my helmet. I obviously didn't because I'm here today. I'm sure (Brown) can find one that he really likes."With the Schutt AiR XP Pro helmet he wore in the past now prohibited by the NFL, Rodgers is choosing between an approved Schutt model and a VICIS helmet. He's yet to decide between the two, but said "it's not difficult at all" to make a switch.Meanwhile, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said Rodgers will play a quarter or so in Thursday's Week 2 preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears Green Bay Packers fans will get a glimpse of their team's starting quarterback leading a new offense on Thursday.Coach Matt LaFleur told reporters on Tuesday that the Packers' starters, including pivot Aaron Rodgers, will play "a quarter or so" against the Baltimore Ravens, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky.Rodgers played in one preseason game last year, attempting only four passes in a Week 2 contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Since 2014, the 35-year-old hasn't appeared in more than two preseason games.Green Bay beat the Houston Texans 28-26 in its first preseason game this August, with the majority of the Packers' starters on the bench. Backup quarterback DeShone Kizer went 8-for-13 passing with 102 yards and one touchdown.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Asked Tuesday about the political divisiveness plaguing the United States, Team USA basketball head coach Gregg Popovich offered his thoughts on the definition of patriotism."Patriotism means a lot of things to different people," Popovich said, according to ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk. "There's people who are truly committed in that sense and people who are fake. The show of patriotism I think is a bit inappropriate and that is not something that I think we want to emulate. Because someone hugs a flag doesn't mean they're patriotic."Being a patriot is somebody that respects their country and understands that the best thing about our country is that we have the ability to fix things that have not come to fruition for a lot of people so far."Popovich then brought up Colin Kaepernick, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback who's ostensibly been blackballed from the NFL since 2016 after kneeling during the American national anthem as a form of protest against police brutality."To negate that part of what we're able to do is ignorant on anybody's part who tries to make those people look unpatriotic," said Popovich, who served in the United States Air Force."Like a Kaepernick. That was a very patriotic thing he did. He cared about his country enough to fix some things that were obvious, that everybody knows about but does nothing about."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It seems that Antonio Brown's ongoing fight to wear a helmet that's no longer approved by the NFL is nearing its end.Brown's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said they've located helmets of the Oakland Raiders wideout's preferred Schutt Air Advantage model that have been manufactured within the past 10 years and are working to get them certified and cleared for usage."Hopefully we're going to get this behind us soon," Rosenhaus said, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal's Michael Gehlken.Although the NFL banned the 10-year-old model Brown asked to wear, the league will reportedly allow the headgear if he can find a version of the helmet that fits and is less than 10 years old.Brown addressed his pursuit of the helmet in his return to Raiders camp Tuesday."We're working with the NFL ... to make sure I put on the right equipment-approved helmet, and I'll be ready to go shortly," Brown told reporters.Earlier Tuesday, Brown solicited the help of Twitter to find a version of his preferred helmet model that was manufactured in or after 2010. The helmet needs to be certified before Brown can wear it on the field.Rosenhaus shot down prior reports that Brown would walk away from the game if he's unable to wear his preferred helmet, saying the star's absence has been due to his ailing feet."I don't think there was ever any legitimacy to the retirement talk," Rosenhaus said, according to Gehlken.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard provided an update Tuesday on Andrew Luck's injury woes.Ballard said Luck first suffered a calf injury and has developed an ankle issue while attempting to recover from that initial ailment, according to The Athletic's Stephen Holder.However, the team isn't ready to make a decision about the quarterback's Week 1 status, ESPN's Mike Wells reports.Luck's injury doesn't require surgery, Holder adds, and his timetable is week-to-week.Ballard did confirm, though, that the quarterback is unlikely to suit up during the preseason, according to Wells. He'll need to get in a certain amount of practice time in order to be cleared for the season opener.Colts owner Jim Irsay said earlier Tuesday that Luck's absence from training camp has been due to a bone injury in his lower left leg.Luck went through a similar ordeal two years ago with a shoulder injury that was initially believed to be minor but wound up sidelining him for the entire campaign. Ballard, however, insisted this ankle issue is a different scenario."This is not 2017," he said, according to Holder. "I've thought about this a lot ... We've talked a lot about building a team."Indianapolis battles the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1, which is less than one month away.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Amari Cooper has missed the last week of training camp while dealing with a plantar fascia irritation, a source told Cowboys insider Mike Fisher.Though plantar fascia injuries - and particularly plantar fasciitis - are usually long term in nature, Cooper is expected to heal shortly from a small muscle strain, Fisher adds.Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett said the wideout will be evaluated on a daily basis, but he still isn't ready to practice yet, according to ESPN's Ed Werder."We don't think this is a long-term thing," Garrett told reporters on Tuesday. "But we just want to be deliberate in bringing him back."The 25-year-old excelled in Dallas' offense after being acquired from the Oakland Raiders last October. He finished the 2018 season with 75 catches, 1,005 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns between the two clubs.Cooper and the Cowboys are also negotiating a long-term contract extension, and the team is reportedly offering him top-five money.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Two Super Bowl champions over the past decade have come out of the NFC East, but a champ hasn't repeated in the division since the Philadelphia Eagles won four straight titles from 2001 to 2004.Oddsmakers and bettors expect that trend to continue, with Philadelphia priced as the odds-on favorite to knock the Dallas Cowboys from their 2018 perch.The Eagles opened with even odds at the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook in March, but their price has been trimmed to 5-8 a few weeks before the season. Bettors also love them in the Super Bowl market, where Philadelphia has been bet from 20-1 to 12-1, tied for the fourth-shortest championship odds.Philly's only competition in the NFC East appears to be Dallas, which opened with 3-2 division odds before being nudged to 8-5. The Cowboys could enter the year without star running back Ezekiel Elliott. He's still holding out, and his backups didn't impress during Week 1 of the preseason.Then there's the Washington Redskins and New York Giants, two teams that are both 18-1 to win the division and 200-1 to win the Super Bowl, tied for the second-longest odds in each category. Both clubs would need miracles at quarterback to make a push for the division crown. Washington is mired in a three-way battle at the position, while Giants fans can only hope the Daniel Jones era looks more like his preseason debut than his Duke career.Here are the best bets, value plays, and picks to avoid in the NFC East for 2019.TEAMWIN TOTALNFC EAST ODDSSUPER BOWL ODDSEagles10 (-140)5-812-1Cowboys9 (Even)8-520-1Redskins6 (+105)18-1200-1Giants6 (+125)18-1200-1Best betRedskins under 6 wins (4-5)It's been a long 13 seasons since the Redskins last won a playoff game, but a seven-win campaign last year has generated some optimism for 2019. Don't buy it.Washington's biggest strength is its defense, but early injuries and inexperienced youth complicate the unit's ceiling in 2019. Derrius Guice and Adrian Peterson, both carrying red flags, are likely the best pieces on an offense devoid of star power, and the Redskins can't afford to risk Trent Williams holding out into the season and weakening an already shaky offensive line.The team's biggest hole is at quarterback, as last year's 1-6 finish coincided with Alex Smith's gruesome leg injury. Rookie Dwayne Haskins' early development hasn't drawn rave reviews, Colt McCoy is 7-20 as a starter, and Case Keenum finished dead last in QBR (44.5) and passer rating (81.2) among QBs with at least 14 starts in 2018.That all spells potential disaster for Washington, a team that advanced metrics projected as one of the league's worst last year. Expect the Redskins' record to reflect that this season.Value playCowboys over 9 wins (Even)After drafting Elliott and quarterback Dak Prescott in 2016, the Cowboys have won at least nine games in each of the past three seasons (13, nine, and 10). They almost fell short last year, but closing out the season 7-1 kept the streak alive.That successful stretch coincided almost perfectly with the acquisition of standout receiver Amari Cooper, whose career resurgence gave Prescott the weapon he's been missing since Dez Bryant's decline. Meanwhile, Dallas' defense is stocked with talent and widely forecasted to be one of the league's best in 2019.As bettors fade the Cowboys in response to Elliott's holdout, grab the over while you can. Dallas opens the season against three below-average run defenses from 2018, and the team could easily be 5-2 heading into its Week 8 bye.Bet to avoidEagles to win the Super Bowl (12-1)Advanced stats favored the Eagles last year when they finished 11th in Pro Football Focus' offensive grades and fifth in defensive grades despite pedestrian yards and points totals on both sides of the ball. That suggests Philly could bounce back in 2019 with performances more in line with the team's recent above-average play.But "bounce back" doesn't mean "top-five team," which is the price bettors are paying on the Super Bowl futures market.It would likely take an MVP-level season from Carson Wentz, who's 12-1 to win the award, for that wager to pay off. Can he stay healthy? And if he does, can he outperform his 62 QBR over 11 games in 2018?There are too many questions in Philly - including the quarterback, an inconsistent offensive line, and offseason departures hampering the defense - for a short-odds bet, even with a tantalizing ceiling.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Antonio Brown wasn't ready to practice Tuesday but the Oakland Raiders expect his foot problems to be resolved by the regular season."Oh yeah. Yep," head coach Jon Gruden told reporters when asked if he expects Brown to be available for Week 1."We've had a pretty good understanding, in spite of what people think ... of what's going to happen."Brown returned to the Raiders' facility after days of speculation about both his ability and willingness to play football.The 31-year-old has been dealing with blisters and frostbite on both feet, caused by a cryotherapy chamber mishap while he was in France.But it was a grievance Brown filed against the NFL last week that made greater waves around the league. He reportedly threatened to retire if he couldn't wear a helmet model the NFL deemed outdated."I'm battling with a foot injury and (I) see my face all over the news, all the talk, but (the Raiders) are doing a good job of supporting me," Brown said.The seven-time Pro Bowler added that he's been visiting a foot specialist, doing rehab, and has undergone procedures to accelerate his recovery over the past week."A lot better, working toward 100 percent," he said. "It's been a process with the feet. Any time you've got a lot of blisters, it's hard to change direction, cut and run, and be able to do what I do naturally."Brown instructed reporters to "stay tuned" when he was asked when he'll be ready to return to the field.The star wideout was the Raiders' signature acquisition of the offseason. Oakland acquired him from the Pittsburgh Steelers for a pair of draft picks after a falling out with the organization led him to demand a trade.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the start of the NFL season just over three weeks away, Thomas Casale, Alex Kolodziej, and C Jackson Cowart go over their favorite bets to lead the league in passing yards. Included are best bets, value plays, and players to avoid.Odds to lead the NFL in passing yardsPlayerOddsMatt Ryan5-1Patrick Mahomes11-2 (+550)Andrew Luck6-1Aaron Rodgers15-2 (+750)Ben Roethlisberger8-1James Winston10-1Baker Mayfield12-1Drew Brees12-1Carson Wentz14-1Deshaun Watson20-1Philip Rivers20-1Tom Brady20-1Jared Goff22-1Derek Carr33-1Jimmy Garoppolo33-1Kirk Cousins33-1Kyler Murray33-1Matthew Stafford33-1Russell Wilson66-1Cam Newton75-1Dak Prescott75-1Sam Darnold75-1Andy Dalton100-1Mitchell Trubisky100-1Nick Foles100-1Lamar Jackson200-1Who is the best bet to lead the NFL in passing yards?TC: Aaron Rodgers at +750 looks like the best bet on the board. Mike McCarthy's playbook had grown predictable, and while Matt LaFleur is an unproven head coach, expect Green Bay's offense to be more Rodgers friendly in 2019. Davante Adams is a stud, and Geronimo Allison and Marquez Valdes-Scantling give the Packers an underrated group of receivers.Rodgers has thrown for 4,000-plus yards in seven of the nine seasons when he's played 15-plus games. Expect that trend to continue this year, putting him in the hunt at +750.AK: I’d love to watch Rodgers go absolutely bonkers this season, too. However, my best bet is Jameis Winston at 10-1. Is Winston the franchise quarterback everyone assumed he’d become? I don’t think so. But this prop is all about production, not prestige.And I’m sorry to tell you, but the Buccaneers' defense will again frequently force the team's offense to throw the ball a ton. While the loss of DeSean Jackson hurts, Tampa's skill-position talent is still above average with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and O.J. Howard leading the way. This a huge show-me year for Winston, and he’s in store for a big one in terms of production.TC: I agree about Winston not being a franchise quarterback, but like Alex said, that doesn't matter when it comes to betting. It's all about numbers, and Winston could lead the NFL in pass attempts. Good pick.CJC: You're dead on about pass attempts, which is why I'm all over Kyler Murray at 33-1. The last three quarterbacks to lead the NFL in passing yards also led in pass attempts, and Murray is positioned for insane volume in Kliff Kingsbury's up-tempo, pass-happy offense.David Johnson made waves in May when he said Kingsbury wants to run 90-to-95 plays per game. Even 80 plays would be 10 more than last year's leading team. The Cardinals will play in plenty of garbage time, too, and Murray possesses the arm to take advantage of lazy coverage as talented pass-catchers support him. I'm gushing at anything above 20-1.Who is the top value play?TC: Deshaun Watson at 20-1 is mustard. The Texans' offense plays at a fast pace, and Watson should be in plenty of shootouts this season. Houston's defense finished 28th versus the pass in 2018, and the unit is still trending downward, especially with Jadeveon Clowney's future with the team uncertain.The Texans field an explosive trio of receivers in DeAndre Hopkins, Will Fuller, and Keke Coutee. The ceiling for Houston's passing game is through the roof if those wideouts stay healthy, especially with newly added running back Duke Johnson catching passes, too. Watson is dripping with value at 20-1.AK: I’m pretty low on the Texans this year, but that has more to do with their defense. You might want to personally tape bubble wrap around Will Fuller, Tom.I think the price on Jared Goff at 22-1 should be shorter. He racked up 4,688 passing yards last season during a year when the Rams dominated. If the team's defense regresses - and I think it will - Goff should post even better passing stats. Goff plays in Sean McVay’s system for crying out loud. I could probably put up 2,500 yards with 17 touchdowns if I get my hands on that playbook.CJC: Love Goff, and he's my best bet behind Murray. If Murray and Goff aren't enough value for you, try Lamar Jackson at 200-1.I know what you're thinking: We're talking about passing yards, not total yards. But that's already firmly baked into the 200-1 price. At those odds, give me the no-doubt starter for a team that averaged an NFL-high 70.2 plays per game last year. The Ravens want to limit Jackson's rushing volume in 2019, which will likely lead to more opportunities for over-the-top play-action looks with his cannon arm. Jackson is an intriguing long shot at 200-1.AK: I will come to your door and anoint you the NFL king if Lamar Jackson leads the league in passing. Literally anoint, and give you a robe and crown.TC: Wow, Kyler Murray and Lamar Jackson. CJC's picks aren't boring, that's for sure.Who is the one player bettors should avoid?TC: For me, it's Drew Brees at 12-1. Brees finished 13th in this category last year. Now at 40 years old, he's no longer being asked to put the Saints' offense on his back. In 2018, the veteran failed to top the 217-yard mark in seven games because the Saints rarely play from behind. New Orleans is 10-1 to win the Super Bowl and projected to be favored in 15 games this season, so the Saints should be playing with the lead most weeks. The days of Brees passing for 5,000-plus yards are over. Don't waste your money.AK: Brees seems to be the guy for this category, and I don’t hate it. I’ll do you one better: Ben Roethlisberger at 8-1 is ludicrous. He’s one of the first quarterbacks I dug into because I was curious about where his odds would land. I can’t picture a scenario when JuJu Smith-Schuster, James Washington, James Conner, Vance McDonald, and Donte Moncrief put Big Ben over the edge. While I think the Steelers will be fine overall without Antonio Brown, Roethlisberger will need to pull a rabbit out of his hat to lead the league in passing yards again.CJC: You stole my pick, Tom. Brees is option No. 1, 2, and 3 for me to avoid.Another guy I'm steering clear of is Andrew Luck at 6-1. Tuesday's injury news didn't help, but Luck was already too much of a risky bet while hoping for 16 games of production. Only one passing leader since 1990 has missed a game, and even with his questionable health, Luck is still getting the third-shortest odds on the board. Stay away.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Antonio Brown returned to the Oakland Raiders' facility Tuesday for the first time since reportedly threatening to retire over an equipment mandate.

New York Giants president John Mara is making it clear who he wants to see behind center for his team this upcoming season.When asked about his ideal vision for this year, Mara voiced his support for starting veteran quarterback Eli Manning over rookie Daniel Jones."I hope Eli has a great year and Daniel never sees the field," Mara said Tuesday, according to SNY's Ralph Vacchiano. "In an ideal world, you would like to see that. But at the end of the day, it's gonna be a decision by the head coach as to when, or if, Daniel ends up playing this year."Mara also said that if Jones doesn't take a snap, it means the Giants are "having a great year and Eli's having a great year."New York selected Jones sixth overall in April's draft. The rookie completed all five of his throws for 67 yards and a touchdown in his preseason debut.Head coach Pat Shurmur said Jones' debut performance won't have an impact on who starts Week 1 of the regular season, although it was reported before camp that the team had already decided Manning would play behind center.Even with Jones likely to ride the bench, Mara was impressed with the Duke product, stating: "He's everything we thought he would be."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay revealed Monday that Andrew Luck's absence from training camp is due to a bone injury in his lower left leg."I think after the (Kevin Durant injury) everyone's erring on the side of caution, but quite frankly this is not even in the Achilles tendon. It's in another area. It's a bone," Irsay told SiriusXM NFL Radio, according to ESPN. "You know I'm not good at these things. ... It's a small little bone."Irsay didn't specify which bone is ailing.Luck has been hampered during training camp due to pain in his calf.The 29-year-old quarterback isn't expected to participate in joint practices with the Cleveland Browns this week, head coach Frank Reich said, according to Andrew Walker of Colts.com. Luck sat during the Colts' preseason opener and it's becoming increasingly likely he'll miss Saturday's game against the Browns.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Quarterback Dak Prescott reportedly turned down an offer of $30 million per year from the Dallas Cowboys, a source told NFL Network's Jane Slater.Prescott is apparently seeking an extension that will pay him $40 million per year, although a deal is more likely to get done in the $34 million-$35 million range, Slater reports.Russell Wilson currently has the highest average annual salary in the league at $35 million.It was reported last week that the Cowboys extended offers to Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, and Amari Cooper that would have put each player in the top five at their respective positions.Prescott, a fourth-round pick, threw for 3,885 yards last season with 22 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He's started all 48 games for the Cowboys in the past three years.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Redskins are apparently committed to holding on to Trent Williams.Washington has told multiple teams that it doesn't intend to trade the disgruntled offensive tackle, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Teams have reportedly inquired about Williams but the Redskins have rejected all offers.Head coach Jay Gruden told reporters earlier this offseason that he "seriously (doubted)" Williams would be dealt despite the tackle's continued holdout.Williams hasn't attended team activities throughout the summer, as he is reportedly unhappy about the way Washington handled a medical situation of his. The 31-year-old had a growth on his head - initially feared to be malignant - removed in the spring.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

An arbitrator ruled against Oakland Raiders wide receiver Antonio Brown on Monday in his grievance to wear a helmet no longer approved by the league.Brown released a statement following the ruling, in which he said he plans to play this season despite reportedly threatening to retire if he wasn't allowed to wear his preferred helmet.

The NFL finally relented on its stance against sports betting, as Sportradar announced Monday an expanded partnership with the league that will include exclusive distribution of real-time data to sports-betting operators.Sportradar has been the exclusive distributor of the NFL's official play-by-play data and Next Gen Stats to media companies since 2015. After Monday's deal, the provider can now sell real-time data to licensed sportsbooks in the U.S. and internationally.The deal will allow Sportradar to provide live audio-visual game feeds to sportsbooks in select international markets. It also includes use of the Sportradar's integrity services to monitor irregular betting activity across all NFL games, including the preseason.Sportsbook operators are positioned to benefit from real-time data but often face substantial costs to do so. Still, Monday's move will provide the betting industry access to live NFL data for the first time.The NFL is the last of the four major leagues to license live data for sports betting and is yet to officially embrace a sports betting sponsorship. The league partnered with Caesars Entertainment Corporation as a casino sponsor in January.Last week, with the NFL's approval, the Redskins partnered with NBC Sports Washington to produce four free-to-play "Predict the Game" telecasts during the preseason, which emulate live betting options for a chance to win prizes.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Wide receiver Rishard Matthews announced his retirement from the NFL on Monday, days after he parted ways with the New Orleans Saints on a "left team" designation.Matthews wrote on Instagram that the "endless training" that kept him away from his family and the "brainwashing" of football culture led to his decision.

Denver Broncos safety Su'a Cravens took to Twitter on Monday to chastise his former team, the Washington Redskins, for what the player called "mishandled injuries" and withheld information.Cravens, a second-round draft pick of the Redskins in 2016, stepped away from football in 2017 after complaining of vision stability issues following a concussion sustained in his rookie season. The team put him on its exempt list shortly after. He was reinstated and traded to the Broncos in 2018.Cravens referenced Redskins left tackle Trent Williams' own battle with the team over a medical issue in his tweetstorm.

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette has made a lot of changes ahead of the 2019 season.The 24-year-old lost weight and adopted a healthier diet, but Fournette said his main focus was straightening out his personal life."I just tried to focus on my personal life - getting the bad people out of my life, focusing on myself so I wouldn't have to worry about no problems coming into the season or even coming to camp," Fournette said on SiriusXM NFL Radio.Fournette has said he's looking for a "clean start" after an admittedly "bad year" in 2018.He got ejected and then suspended after throwing punches with Shaq Lawson of the Buffalo Bills in Week 12, and was disciplined and criticized by Jaguars executive Tom Coughlin for his behavior on the bench in a late-season game. In April of this year, he was arrested for driving with a suspended license.Fournette has also struggled to stay on the field due to injuries. He played in eight games last season and averaged 3.3 yards per carry. But he expects better in his third season."I know football's going to take care of itself. I put my mind into working hard every day, do what I have to do," Fournette said. "But it's really the personal things, just trying to be in a better place."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Brady can relate to Antonio Brown.The New England Patriots quarterback and Oakland Raiders receiver are but two of several players being forced to switch helmets this season after the NFL prohibited the use of their preferred headgear.Brown has reportedly threatened to retire over the rule banning his favorite model, and Brady is also struggling with the change."I've been experimenting with a couple different ones, and I don't really love the one that I'm in, but I don't really have much of a choice," Brady said Monday on WEEI's "The Greg Hill Show."Brady said he'd been wearing the same helmet since at least 2004. But a grandfather clause that allowed him to play in the Riddell VSR-4 helmet model last season has now expired."You get used to the same helmet for a long period of time. My last helmet, I wore it the last four Super Bowls, so it was a pretty great helmet for me. I hated to put it on the shelf," he said. "It's kind of what I'm dealing with."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins had a less-than-stellar preseason debut for the Washington Redskins, completing 8 of 14 passes for 117 yards and two interceptions in a loss Thursday.The first-round pick is competing with veterans Case Keenum and Colt McCoy for the starting job, and head coach Jay Gruden admitted the rookie still has some work to do before he can leapfrog the more experienced passers."I'd say the vets probably have a little bit of a leg up on him, just because they're vets and they've played," Gruden told The MMQB's Albert Breer."... Just because of their knowledge of third-down and red-zone concepts. There's a lot Dwayne still has to learn, but he can get there," Gruden added.Keenum, acquired via trade this offseason, is learning a new system and McCoy has yet to appear in a game since breaking his leg late last season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Brady and his wife, Gisele Bundchen, put their Massachusetts home up for sale for a cool $39.5 million last week, leading some to speculate that the New England Patriots quarterback could be getting set to leave town.However, Brady insisted the move doesn't mean much."You shouldn't read into anything," he said on WEEI's "The Greg Hill Show" on Monday morning, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss. "My house is a little bit of an expensive one, so it doesn't fly off the shelf in a couple weeks."Brady signed a two-year, $70-million extension with the Patriots in early August, but both of those seasons void after the 2019 campaign, meaning the 42-year-old is essentially playing on a year-to-year basis.Despite the opportunity to become a free agent next offseason, Brady tried to allay any fears Patriots fans may have about his future."I think I'm at a point in my life where there's a lot of considerations that go into playing," he said."I have a very busy professional life, I have a very busy personal life. Any decision that's made has to consider everything. I'm certainly at a place - where I've been in the same place for a long time - and I love playing for the Patriots. I have such a great relationship with Mr. Kraft, Coach Belichick, and our team. We'll just worry about that when that happens. This isn't the time to worry about it."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2019 Fantasy Football Draft Kit and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.It's impossible not to let emotions affect your fantasy decisions. If a player let you down last year, you'll likely pass on drafting him this season - but that's not always a wise choice. Here are seven players coming off disappointing campaigns whom we expect to rebound in 2019.Average draft position (ADP) data courtesy of Fantasy Football Calculator and is based on 12-team leagues with PPR scoring.More from this series

In his grievance hearing Friday, Antonio Brown and his camp threatened to hold the NFL liable if he suffers a head injury in a league-mandated helmet, a source told The Athletic's Daniel Kaplan.Additionally, Brown argued the NFL outlawed his model because it exceeded the 10-year age limit, even though it wasn't specifically tested against the league's safety standards.The star receiver recently left Oakland Raiders training camp after refusing to switch helmets. He reportedly told the club that he is prepared to walk away from the game if he can't don his preferred model.Brown is one of 32 players who were forced to find new helmets this offseason because their previous designs fell short of meeting the National Operating Committee for Standards and Athletic Equipment's criteria. Last year, the NFL provided a one-year grace period to players using outdated helmets. Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers were among those who had to find new models.Brown wore the Schutt Air Advantage helmet throughout his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The NFL has taken an increased interest in helmet safety because of the concussion conundrum it has faced over the last several years.An arbitrator is expected to rule on Brown's grievance this week.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Theo Riddick suffered a slight shoulder fracture Thursday during his preseason debut with the Denver Broncos, sources told Mike Klis of 9News.The running back is reportedly expected to be out six-to-eight weeks, meaning he'll likely miss at least two games to begin the regular season.Riddick, 28, signed with the Broncos early in training camp after he was cut by the Detroit Lions. He figured to slot in behind Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman on the depth chart and receive snaps on passing downs.In his first exhibition game with Denver, Riddick lost two yards on one carry and failed to haul in either of his two pass targets against the Seattle Seahawks.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receivers coach Darryl Drake died Sunday morning at the age of 62, the team confirmed in a news release.A cause of death was not announced."We are at a loss for words following Darryl Drake's passing this morning," Steelers president Art Rooney II said. "Darryl had such an impact on the players he coached and everyone he worked with throughout his entire career. He was a passionate coach and had a tremendous spirit toward life, his family, his faith, and the game of football."Our prayers and thoughts are with his wife, Sheila, his three daughters, his grandchildren, and (his) entire family during this difficult time."Drake was entering his second season with the Steelers and had been present throughout training camp. The team canceled Sunday's scheduled practice."Darryl was a close friend and had a tremendous impact on my coaching career," said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. "He was an amazing husband, father, and grandfather, and it is difficult to put into words the grief our entire team is going through right now."Darryl loved the game of football and every player he ever coached. We will use our faith to guide us and help his family throughout (this) difficult time."My heart and our prayers are with his wife, Sheila, and Darryl's entire family."Before joining Pittsburgh, Drake coached wide receivers for the Arizona Cardinals from 2013-17 and the Chicago Bears from 2004-12.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Cowboys believe rookie Tony Pollard will serve as an adequate replacement for Ezekiel Elliott if the two-time rushing champion continues his holdout."He looks confident out there," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Saturday after the team's preseason opener, according to ESPN's Todd Archer. "We know he's inordinately understanding, what it is he does and what he can do. We've seen him do it. We know he's capable, if he really needs to, (to) carry the whole load."Pollard, 22, saw brief action against the San Francisco 49ers, rushing for 16 yards on four carries. The fourth-round pick out of Memphis sits atop the Cowboys' depth chart while Elliott awaits a new contract.Although he put up big numbers in the passing game in college, Pollard was never deployed as a primary ball carrier for Memphis; he had just 139 rush attempts over three seasons with the Tigers.When Dallas drafted Pollard, Jones compared his skill set to that of Alvin Kamara, who became a star with the New Orleans Saints despite spending his collegiate career at Tennessee in a time-share.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Jets signed kicker Taylor Bertolet on Saturday and announced Chandler Catanzaro is retiring.Catanzaro, 28, signed with the Jets this offseason after splitting last year with the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was best known for his three-year stint with the Arizona Cardinals from 2014-16; he and Stephen Hauschka both missed chip shots in overtime of a memorable 6-6 tie with the Seattle Seahawks.Catanzaro made his only field-goal attempt in the Jets' preseason opener but missed two extra points. The Jets then worked out Bertolet, Blair Walsh, and Chris Blewitt.Bertolet has spent time with the Los Angeles Rams, Denver Broncos, and Jets since 2016 but has never appeared in a regular-season game. He played for the AAF's Salt Lake Stallions earlier in 2019.The Jets lost Pro Bowl kicker Jason Myers to the Seahawks in free agency this offseason.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL is back, and we're here to examine the good and the bad from the first week of preseason action.WinnersDaniel JonesThe rookie quarterback turned draft night jeers into preseason cheers with a spotless debut in the New York Giants' victory over the Jets. Jones completed all five of his passes for 67 yards, including a beautiful touchdown toss to Bennie Fowler threaded through tight coverage. The Giants drew widespread criticism when they reached in the draft to take Jones sixth overall, but now a chunk of the Big Blue faithful is clamoring for him to start Week 1 of the regular season over Eli Manning.Patriots rookiesThe early returns on the Patriots' highly regarded rookie class were overwhelmingly positive in their 31-3 rout of Detroit. First-round receiver N'Keal Harry made a couple of sweet grabs, third-round edge rusher Chase Winovich had 1.5 sacks, and fourth-round quarterback Jarrett Stidham looked comfortable and tossed a touchdown on his birthday. But the night belonged to Jakobi Meyers, an undrafted receiver from NC State who was the talk of training camp. He reeled in six catches for 69 yards and two touchdowns - all game-highs.NFL OfficialsThe league's new pass interference challenges garnered plenty of offseason attention, but only one call was overturned in the first 17 exhibition games. Granted, some coaches may have thrown their red beanbags just to test the system - Vic Fangio of the Denver Broncos challenged a call in the Hall of Fame Game because he wanted to be the first coach to force such a review - but it's still a good sign for officials that replay confirmed all but one of their judgments. Adam Gase of the New York Jets is the only coach to successfully challenge pass interference so far.Paxton LynchUnless you're a Broncos fan, you have to feel good for Lynch, who aided his comeback attempt with the Seattle Seahawks by burning his old team. Lynch went 11-of-15 for 109 yards and a touchdown against Denver, adding another score on the ground. The former first-round pick is battling Geno Smith for the backup job behind Russell Wilson, so his strong performance could have real implications. He should get another extended look in Week 2 of the preseason with Smith recovering from a procedure to remove a cyst from his knee.LosersJaguars QBsOne of Gardner Minshew, Alex McGough, or Tanner Lee is going to be backing up Nick Foles in Jacksonville. Here's how they performed against the Baltimore Ravens while Foles sat out:QBCMP-ATTYDSTD/INTMinshew7-14460/0McGough3-8190/1Lee0-300/1The Ravens did not play Earl Thomas, Tony Jefferson, Marlon Humphrey, Jimmy Smith, Brandon Carr, Tavon Young, or Anthony Levine Sr. - in other words, their entire secondary. Minshew is probably the favorite in the backup race given that the Jaguars spent a 2019 draft choice on him.Dwayne HaskinsTwo interceptions put a damper on the 15th overall pick's night versus the Cleveland Browns. Haskins checked out of the contest after going 8-of-14 for 117 yards, but the turnovers overshadowed those numbers. Haskins is competing with Case Keenum for the Washington Redskins' starting job, and his veteran counterpart threw a touchdown without committing any giveaways. Right now, it looks like Keenum has the upper hand.Detroit LionsDetroit looked lifeless in its 31-3 loss to the Patriots, even by preseason standards. The Lions surrendered nine sacks, including six in the first half. Their running and passing games both accomplished virtually nothing offensively, and they scored their only three points in the fourth quarter. To make matters worse, Jermaine Kearse reportedly broke his leg, weakening a receiving core that already lacked depth, and backup quarterback Tom Savage left after hitting his head against the turf.Eddy PineiroThe Chicago Bears' kicking competition is pretty straightforward: Make your field goals and you'll make the team; miss and you'll be cut. In the preseason opener, Pineiro missed one. He finished 1-for-2, making a 23-yarder and hooking a 48-yarder. Elliott Fry converted his lone try, a 43-yard attempt on the heels of an unexpected timeout from the Carolina Panthers, who intentionally iced him to help the Bears.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2019 Fantasy Football Draft Kit and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Every game night during the preseason, theScore gets you caught up on the most important fantasy performances from around the league.Let's preface this by saying: Don't overreact to the opening week of the preseason. It's the first time these players are taking the field for NFL game action in seven or eight months.It's also worth mentioning that a lot of starters sit out the first week of exhibition contests, so we should get a more complete picture of where everyone stands over the next couple of outings.That being said, there's still plenty of information to gather from these performances, especially when it comes to rookies.Chiefs' offense is even scarier Defensive coordinators faced the nearly impossible task of slowing down Patrick Mahomes and Co. a year ago. If Saturday night was any indication, their jobs could be even more difficult this season.Mahomes opened up with a 36-yard strike down the sideline to Travis Kelce on Kansas City's first offensive snap of the game, and he didn't look back, orchestrating a seven-play, 78-yard touchdown drive. Mahomes was almost flawless in the brief appearance, completing all four of his pass attempts for 66 yards while scrambling for 10 yards on the ground.But Mahomes dazzling isn't surprising. He's my top-ranked fantasy quarterback, and that's taking into account expected regression after a 5,097-yard, 50-touchdown campaign.No, the reason the Chiefs are leading this article has more to do with their new additions.Rookie receiver Mecole Hardman flashed his game-breaking speed on a touch pass early in the second quarter that he took 17 yards for a score. His tight ends provided some nice blocks downfield, but Hardman hit the boosters while blowing past everyone and across the goal line. Though he likely won't receive enough playing time to be a regular fantasy contributor, unless Tyreek Hill or Sammy Watkins go down, Hardman is yet another dangerous weapon for Mahomes.Running back Darwin Thompson also impressed in his first preseason action. With Damien Williams not in the lineup, Carlos Hyde got the start and turned two carries into two yards, including a one-yard TD to cap off the opening drive. Then Thompson went to work.During the pre-draft process, I wrote: "Thompson is another smaller back with some fight in him; a souped-up third-down back who can handle the wear and tear of more touches if needed."We saw that Saturday night when the rookie rushed five times for 22 yards while battling defenders between the tackles, and even leaping over them. His best play came on a short pass that he turned into a 29-yard touchdown.We have a long way to go before Thompson receives a significant role in the Chiefs' backfield. But with Williams already missing some practices due to a hamstring issue, and Andy Reid changing his tune by suggesting the team could use a committee approach, using a late-round pick on Thompson isn't a bad investment. If his solid performances continue throughout the preseason, you may not be getting Thompson in the late rounds for long.At worst, Hardman and Thompson bring more depth to Kansas City's attack, while offering massive fantasy upside if everything breaks their way in 2019.Instant Impressions

The Oakland Raiders took the field without Antonio Brown as they opened their preseason on Saturday night.Following reports that Brown is suffering from a foot injury that a cryogenic chamber incident caused, and that the All-Pro receiver is fighting to wear a banned and outdated helmet model, head coach Jon Gruden defended his unhappy player."There's been a lot of reports out there. I can't say I agree with all of them," Gruden said following a 14-3 win over the Los Angeles Rams. "But I support this guy. I think that's what needs to be said."This foot injury wasn't his fault. This was a total accident. It really wasn't his fault and it's a serious injury. I know some people are smarting at it, but it's really not a laughing matter. The guy was hurt, he's innocent, and he didn't do anything wrong. And the helmet thing is a personal matter to him. He has a strong feeling about what he's worn on his head and we're supporting him."Brown spent two hours in a hearing on Friday with an independent arbitrator. He was arguing to use a 10-year-old helmet model that the NFL recently outlawed because it no longer meets league standards.Last year, the NFL provided a one-year grace period for players using outdated helmets. Those players are now required to wear helmets that meet the league's safety standards.Brown has reportedly threatened to retire over the helmet issue, but Gruden hopes his star receiver will return to camp soon."Whatever his decision is, we'll stand by it, but we're confident that he's going to be a huge factor for the Raiders for years to come," Gruden said.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Bills have signed veteran cornerback Captain Munnerlyn, the team announced on Saturday.Buffalo placed corner E.J. Gaines on injured reserve with a core muscle injury.Munnerlyn, a 10-year veteran, spent the past two years with the Carolina Panthers. He becomes the latest in a long line of players to reunite with former Panthers defensive coordinator and current Bills head coach Sean McDermott.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Cardinals have released defensive end Darius Philon, the team announced Saturday.Philon was arrested Friday on an aggravated assault charge, Andie Hagemann of NFL.com reports, citing the Maricopa County Public Record.The arrest stems from an incident in May outside of a Phoenix strip club, where the 25-year-old apparently threatened to shoot a dancer, according to Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic.Philon was set to enter his fifth season and first with the Cardinals. The former sixth-round pick spent the previous four years with the Los Angeles Chargers.He was penciled in as a starter on the Cardinals' defensive line. Philon's departure leaves the unit thin and rookie third-round pick Zach Allen will likely be expected to pick up much of the slack.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Lions have signed quarterback Josh Johnson in light of a head injury to top backup Tom Savage, the team announced Saturday.Savage was checked for a concussion after leaving the preseason opener Thursday night. Head coach Matt Patricia confirmed Saturday that the quarterback is in the concussion protocol, according to team writer Tim Twentyman.Detroit worked out Johnson and former Pittsburgh Steelers pivot Landry Jones before electing to ink the former. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.The first pick in last year's AAF quarterback draft before that league folded, Johnson saw NFL action for the first time in five years last season. The 33-year-old started three games for the Washington Redskins following injuries to Alex Smith, Colt McCoy, and Mark Sanchez.The Lions will mark Johnson's 13th NFL team.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Houston Texans could be without wide receiver Keke Coutee for a while after he suffered an ankle injury in their preseason opener."No, I don't expect either one of them to be back soon relative to what soon means," head coach Bill O'Brien said Saturday about Coutee and backup quarterback AJ McCarron, who's dealing with a thumb injury, according to the Houston Chronicle's Aaron Wilson."Like tomorrow? No. A week from now? Probably not. We'll just keep playing it by ear. I don't put out an injury report during this time of year. When we have to do that, we'll do that."Coutee left the exhibition tilt after getting rolled up under a Green Bay Packers defender. He was carted to the locker room but a report indicated the second-year wideout avoided a major injury.Hamstring ailments kept Coutee out of the lineup for all but six games during his rookie year, in which he caught 28 passes for 287 yards and one touchdown. If healthy, he'll likely serve as the Texans' primary slot receiver in 2019.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2019 Fantasy Football Draft Kit and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Every game night during the preseason, theScore gets you caught up on the most important fantasy performances from around the league.Let's preface this by saying: Don't overreact to the opening week of the preseason. It's the first time these players are taking the field for NFL game action in seven or eight months.It's also worth mentioning that a lot of starters sit out the first week of exhibition contests, so we should get a more complete picture of where everyone stands over the next couple of outings.That being said, there's still plenty of information to gather from these performances, especially when it comes to rookies.Washington makes his caseAntonio Brown continues to be a lightning rod for controversy, but the Steelers no longer have to deal with the distractions. Instead, Pittsburgh's focus is on finding a new No. 2 receiver to pair with ascending star JuJu Smith-Schuster.Based on reports coming out of training camp, Donte Moncrief is the favorite to secure that job, but sophomore James Washington did his best to keep the competition alive with a monster performance Friday night.Washington caught four of his five targets for 84 yards and a touchdown while showcasing his ability to make plays all over the field.His first grab was a 43-yard bomb down the middle of the field.He followed that up with a 22-yard snag in between several defenders to keep the Steelers' drive alive after being pinned down in their own end on third-and-21. The forgotten play on the night will be the touchdown that Washington nearly had on that same drive; unfortunately, he was unable to keep his left foot entirely inbounds while toe-tapping.He made good on his opportunity next time down the field, scoring on a back-shoulder toss from Mason Rudolph.It's important to note that Smith-Schuster, Moncrief, and rookie Diontae Johnson weren't in the lineup for this game, allowing Washington plenty of runway to make his case for a starting role.Though it's a positive step for the young wideout, Moncrief remains the receiver I'll be targeting in fantasy as an upside WR4 with an ADP in the 11th round. Washington is worth a dart throw in the late rounds, but he still needs to beat out Johnson for the No. 3 role before we gain confidence in him as a regular contributor.Earlier this week, NFL.com's Amber Theoharis reported that some within the Steelers organization view Johnson as ahead of Washington. This outing definitely helped Washington's cause.Instant Impressions

Antonio Brown's absence from the Oakland Raiders stems from not only a foot ailment, but also the receiver's reluctance to give up his preferred helmet model.However, the Raiders expect the unhappy receiver to rejoin the team in the near future, a team official told Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.Brown has reportedly threatened to retire over the helmet spat. He had a two-hour hearing with an independent arbitrator on Friday in which he argued for wearing the 10-year-old helmet, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.Brown has been seen sparingly at Raiders training camp, and appeared to be wearing the outdated helmet when he attended practice on July 30, according to Gehlken.The Raiders return to practice Monday and Tuesday after playing the Los Angeles Rams in preseason action on Saturday.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Devin Bush showcased exactly why the Pittsburgh Steelers selected him with the 10th overall pick in April's draft on Friday.In his first half of preseason football, the inside linebacker was heavily involved in the action, recording 10 tackles, a fourth-down stop, and nearly added a pick-6.

Sean McVay brought excitement into the NFL but has taken it out of the NFC West race, with the Los Angeles Rams winning a combined 24 games and two division titles in the past two years.The rest of the division is catching up, and bettors are eyeing one team in particular to make a sizable leap in the NFC.After winning four games last year, the San Francisco 49ers have become a favorite of fans and bettors alike this offseason. Their division odds have been slashed from 7-1 to 4-1 at the Westgate LV SuperBook, and their NFC title odds have moved from 25-1 to 20-1.Don't forget about the Seattle Seahawks, though, after a 10-win season in Year 1 of an offensive reinvention. Even the Arizona Cardinals are frisky, though their 2019 potential will likely fall short of bettors' expectations.Here are the best bets, value plays, and picks to avoid in the NFC West for 2019.(Over prices in parentheses)TEAMWIN TOTALNFC WEST ODDSSUPER BOWL ODDSRams10.5 (+130)4-710-1Seahawks8.5 (-120)7-230-149ers8 (-140)4-140-1Cardinals5 (-140)20-1100-1Odds courtesy of the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBookBest betCardinals under 5 wins (6-5)This might be the least fun bet in the entire NFL, especially with how exciting Kliff Kingsbury's offense projects to be with No. 1 pick Kyler Murray leading the way. Yet, the Cardinals face a tough road to six wins with a rookie QB, a shaky offensive line, and one of the worst defenses in the NFL.Somehow, despite finishing with the worst record in 2018, Arizona faces one of the league's tougher schedules in 2019. The Cardinals weren't favored in the opening lines of any of their 16 games, and they might go the entire season without giving points if they stumble early - which feels inevitable in Murray's first few starts.Teams have had success with rookie quarterbacks as of late, but those teams had a much stronger infrastructure than Arizona does. Don't fall for the trap - take the plus-money value on maybe the NFL's worst team.Value playRams to win the Super Bowl (10-1)Let's address the red flags first. Todd Gurley is clearly hurt; Jared Goff stumbled late last year and could regress; the defense was inconsistent and lost key pieces this offseason; The Super Bowl hangover looms for this team.It's no wonder the Rams' Super Bowl odds have gone from 6-1 in January - shortest of any team - to 10-1, tied for third behind the Patriots (6-1) and Chiefs (6-1). Yet we're hunting for value, not certainty, and 10-1 odds on the reigning NFC champs is too good to pass up.Los Angeles' backfield may actually be better in 2019 with Gurley aided by Memphis dynamo Darrell Henderson. Goff's second-half slump ties with the injury of Cooper Kupp, who has bounce-back campaign written all over him. The defense added Pro Bowler Eric Weddle and linebacker Clay Matthews and still boasts reigning Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald.And that Super Bowl hangover that always knocks out the runner-up? The Patriots just beat these Rams after losing in the championship game the year before. Sign me up at 10-1 for the best team in the NFC and maybe the entire league.Bet to avoid49ers to win the NFC West (4-1)You know the team that everybody says is "under the radar" until, you know, they're firmly on the radar? This year, it's the 49ers, who seem destined to improve but to an uncertain degree.The Niners' offense was supposed to boom under Kyle Shanahan in 2018, but injuries to Jimmy Garoppolo and seemingly every running back on the roster gave way to a four-win season. That side of the ball should be better, but what suggests San Fran's battered offensive corps will avoid re-injury in 2019? And what about that miserable defense, ranked 32nd by Pro Football Focus?Bettors have already sucked the value out of the 49ers' odds to win the division and conference, and this team isn't ready to win the Super Bowl. If you're sold on a Niners run, bet them to make the playoffs (12-5), but don't jump the gun on a division crown.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.