Reuben Foster's ex-girlfriend, Elissa Ennis, says the San Francisco 49ers tried to impede Foster's arrest for domestic violence against her on Nov. 24.While appearing on "Good Morning America" on Thursday, Ennis said the team attempted to intervene by telling police she was the same woman who previously recanted allegations against the linebacker."Even when I called the police, the 49ers came up there (to the hotel) ... I have pictures of the 49ers coming up there trying to talk to the police, telling them I'm the same ex-girlfriend that set up there and lied," Ennis said.Later Thursday, the team denied any wrongdoing."The 49ers fully cooperated with authorities, assisted in locating Mr. Foster, and in no way impeded their investigation," the team said in a statement obtained by Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle.Foster was released shortly after his arrest. The Washington Redskins claimed him two days later and said they held their own investigation into the domestic violence claims. For now, the former first-round pick remains on the commissioner's exempt list and is ineligible to play.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In addition to being the Eagles' most memorable play in Super Bowl LII, the "Philly Special" is also regarded by Philadelphia fans as the top moment in franchise history, according to a new survey.Framebridge surveyed 700 fans of select NFL teams to see what they would rank as the top moments in their franchise's history. Here are some of the findings:

The task for this week was simple: Explain how the Houston Texans became the hottest team in football.After an 0-3 start to the season, the Texans have reeled off nine consecutive victories, placing them firmly in the mix for a first-round bye in the AFC. There's been a number of reasons for that success, including a defense that ranks third in points allowed and fourth in takeaways.But more than anything, it's impossible to ignore what quarterback Deshaun Watson is doing. While other young pivots like Patrick Mahomes, Jared Goff, Dak Prescott, and Carson Wentz are grabbing headlines, Watson's growth and maturation are flying under the radar. The second-year QB is making things happen despite coming off ACL surgery, playing behind an offensive line that's seen its share of struggles, and losing receiver Will Fuller to a season-ending injury.During the pre-draft process last year, one of the knocks on Watson was arm strength, which was fueled in part by a 49-mph throw at the combine. Many people focused on that number and ignored the fact that Watson had consistently used touch, timing, and placement to deliver on deeper balls at Clemson. The skeptics contended that he wouldn't complete them against NFL coverages and tighter throwing lanes.They were wrong.Let's review the tape from last week's game against the Cleveland Browns. On an early third-and 15, watch as Watson delivers a deep out route to DeAndre Hopkins despite a very narrow throwing window:In the box score, this throw went for 17 yards, but the ball traveled much farther than that - from the left hash mark of Cleveland's 39-yard line to the right sideline at the 14-yard line.The throw also required Watson to drop the ball over the underneath defender but away from the safety over the top - a difficult combination of velocity and trajectory. Oh, and he needed to do all that while sliding away from his target before releasing the pass. It's something you expect to see from a veteran quarterback, rather than one who's playing in his first full NFL season.Another pre-draft concern with Watson was his processing speed. During the course of a play - which usually lasts just a few seconds - quarterbacks must digest a ton of information, process it quickly, and make the right decision. Plus, all of that must happen while large humans strive to cause them bodily harm. At Clemson, Watson displayed flashes of processing ability, but also tossed 17 interceptions during his junior year before leaving. And there were moments during his rookie season when he locked eyes onto the first read or seemed slow when trying to diagnose a coverage rotation.This season, there's been progress and flashes of something special. In the example below, Houston faces a second-and-11 against Cleveland. The Texans line up with Watson in the shotgun, three receivers to the right, and Hopkins to the left (red arrow). This is the play design:NFLThe Texans are employing a three-level read on the right side, commonly referred to as a "sail" concept. There's a deep ("go") route on the boundary, an intermediate out pattern, and a short option in the flat. Meanwhile, Hopkins is running a backside post.Before the snap, there's a single deep safety in the middle of the field, and another down near the box. This indicates that Cleveland is running either a Cover 1 or Cover 3. If it turns out to be Cover 3 (the outside cornerbacks dropping deep), the go route would open up the sideline for the out patterns. If it's Cover 1 (everyone playing man coverage except the high safety), the same thing would happen downfield, while the out patterns would be running away from their defenders.However, neither of those take place, as Cleveland rotates into a Cover 2 at the last second. That means both outside linebackers drop off the line of scrimmage into underneath zones, and the safety in the box drops back as well. Based on the new coverage, this becomes a "middle of the field open" look between the two deep safeties. That means the backside post route to Hopkins is the play, instead of the shorter sideline routes.NFLWatson diagnoses this coverage on the fly, and then makes an anticipation throw around the dropping middle linebacker (yellow circle) to the post route:By watching this play from the end-zone angle, you can see Watson "throw the receiver open." He leads Hopkins to the open spot in the zone, releasing the ball before the WR even clears the linebacker underneath him:Again, this is special.As mentioned earlier, Watson struggled with his eye work and manipulation during college, which extended into his rookie year. Too often, he'd lock onto his primary read and fail to manipulate defenders away from it. But it's another skill he's improved this season, which we'll highlight in the following play against the Browns. Here, the Texans run a mirrored passing concept, which puts a deep out and a short flat route on both sides of the field:NFLThe Browns show (and stay in) a Cover 1 look before the snap. Watson wants to throw one of the deeper out routes, but he needs to keep the safety - who's responsible for both sides of the field - from getting there in time to help. Watch as Watson first opens up and looks to the right side, briefly freezing the safety, before finding Hopkins along the left sideline:Last year, Watson would have locked onto Hopkins immediately and led the safety to the football. Instead, the maturing QB gives his star receiver a one-on-one matchup and an opportunity to make the catch over the cornerback.Finally, there's Watson's trump card - his athleticism. His growth as a pocket passer is making him an all-around quarterback, but his special physical traits enable him to change any game in the blink of an eye:In the play above against Tennessee in Week 12, the Texans lead by 10 and are looking for the knockout blow. They try to run a play-action boot concept to the right, but immediate pressure prevents Watson from rolling outside. He quickly adapts and turns into a runner, outracing the bulk of the defense for a 34-yard gain up the middle. The ability to deliver on plays like this - which could go for a loss with a less mobile quarterback - is yet another reason that Watson's so tough to defend.It's impossible to win nine consecutive NFL games without contributions from the entire roster, but Watson's growth in his second pro season is the biggest factor for the hottest team in the league.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold will make his return to the starting lineup in Week 14 against the Buffalo Bills after missing the last three games with a foot injury, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The prized rookie has practiced in full all week, taking his reps with the first-team offense.Darnold practiced for the first time last week since suffering the injury, albeit on a limited basis.The No. 3 overall pick in April's draft leads the league with 14 interceptions despite the missed time. He's completed just 55 percent of his pass attempts for 1,934 yards and 11 touchdowns.New York lost all three games that veteran Josh McCown started in Darnold's place, extending the team's losing streak to six.Sunday's matchup features an intriguing battle between two top-10 rookie quarterbacks, as the Bills will start No. 7 overall pick Josh Allen.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Russell Beckman, a Packers fan and Bears season-ticket holder, is hoping a judge will grant his request to wear Green Bay gear on the sidelines at Soldier Field.Beckham filed a lawsuit in federal court in June 2017 accusing the Bears of violating his First Amendment rights by barring him from wearing Packers apparel during pregame warmups in Chicago.The lawsuit is still pending, but with the Bears hosting the Packers on Dec. 16, Beckham's legal team is seeking a temporary restraining order and injunction to prevent the Bears from keeping him off the sidelines during the game, according to Corilyn Shropshire of the Chicago Tribune.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers dismissed the notion that former head coach Mike McCarthy, who was fired hours after a 20-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 13, didn't make every player take responsibility for their actions."There’s always been a great deal of accountability under Mike's program for the last 13 years," Rodgers told PackersNews.com's Ryan Wood.Rodgers added: "I used to always tell him, I said, 'Hey, if you need to call on somebody in the meeting to let everybody know we're all on equal playing field, call on me first. Call me out.' Just so everybody knows nobody is off-limits, we're holding everybody to the same standard. And I feel that’s the way it always was."The question of accountability within the organization - and specific to Rodgers himself - arose after Winston Moss, a longtime assistant coach, suggested Tuesday that Rodgers and others weren't being held to a high enough standard.

The Cleveland Division of Police has launched an internal investigation into how the department responded to the February incident involving former Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt, according to ESPN's Michael Rothstein.The police announced the investigation Wednesday evening, stating that part of the probe involves looking into how the NFL obtained Hunt's police report without officially filing a records request."Following an internal review, it has been determined that in February 2018 a member of the Cleveland Division of Police provided a copy of the police report involving the Feb.10, 2018 assault incident at The 9 to a representative from the National Football League," the department said in a statement. "The report did not go through the official public records request process."It was originally reported that the league did not file an official request for the records until Nov. 30, the day the video was released. In response to the report, the NFL said that it obtained documents prepared by the officers who responded to the incident."In addition, NFL representatives also made requests for surveillance video to the hotel property," NFL vice president of communications Brian McCarthy said. "We also obtained and reviewed the material developed by the police, which included the written reports prepared by the officers who responded to the incident, and later the interviews that were recorded by body cams and the recordings of the 911 calls."Hunt was waived by the Chiefs on Nov. 30 after video surfaced which showed him kicking and shoving a woman in February.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt has been scrubbed from Madden NFL 19.Hunt was released from the Chiefs on Friday after video surfaced showing him pushing and kicking a woman in a Cleveland hotel in February.Anyone who had Hunt on their Madden roster will have him replaced with a generic player, according to EA Sports."The updates have fully gone through now so Hunt has been removed from the game and players who were using him for Ultimate Team have their replacement player," EA spokesperson Brad Hilderbrand told CNN.Hilderbrand added that the replacement player's ratings and attributes are the same, so the move shouldn't impact on-field performance.EA Sports previously removed former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice from Madden following his domestic violence arrest in 2014."Ray Rice is probably the closest analog as that incident happened during the season as well," Hilderbrand said.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ezekiel Elliott was surprised to learn he'd been fined $13,369 by the NFL for placing $21 in a Salvation Army kettle after scoring a touchdown on Thanksgiving Day.Elliott avoided any punishment when jumped into the big red pot in 2016."I didn't really expect a fine, really don't care about the fine," the Dallas Cowboys running back said, according to Todd Archer of ESPN."It's all for a good cause and we're trying to bring awareness to the Salvation Army and if the NFL doesn't like that, then, I mean, that's on them. I'll pay their little fine."He does, however, plan to appeal the fine.It's not the first time Elliott has faced off with the league office. He was suspended for six games last season - after a lengthy battle through the court system - for violating the league's personal conduct policy."I mean a lot of things they do define ridiculous but that's not really any of my business, not anything I can change," Elliott said. "So I'm just going to keep being focused on this season, focused on leading this team, focused on going out there and winning ballgames."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast hosted by Justin Boone and David P. Woods.Find the show on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, and Anchor.In this episode, Boone and Woods are joined by Josh ADHD of Fantasy Insiders and RotoGrinders to discuss the biggest fantasy questions heading into Week 14.Topics include:

Thrust back into the spotlight now that he's the default starting quarterback for the Washington Redskins, Mark Sanchez took to the podium Wednesday and, inevitably, was asked about the Butt Fumble.It's perhaps the most memorable play of his now 10-year career, and Sanchez was prepared for the question.

The Denver Broncos confirmed Wednesday that wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders suffered an Achilles injury that will end his 2018 season.The injury is a devastating blow to the 6-6 Broncos, who've won three straight games to get back in the AFC playoff race.Sanders has been enjoying another strong year in Denver, with 71 receptions for 868 yards and four touchdowns. He eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in three of the last four seasons.The 31-year-old has one year left on his contract, but his 2019 salary isn't guaranteed.Sanders is the second Broncos star to go down over the last three days, as cornerback Chris Harris Jr. fractured his fibula in Sunday's Week 13 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants safety Landon Collins will be placed on injured reserve after suffering a shoulder injury against the Chicago Bears in Week 13, a source told ESPN's Josina Anderson.The 24-year-old suffered a torn labrum and will undergo season-ending surgery, sources told Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.Collins missed snaps during the Giants' 30-27 overtime victory over Chicago on Sunday, but he was able to finish the game.The two-time Pro Bowler has recorded 96 combined tackles, one forced fumble, and five tackles for a loss this season.Safeties Michael Thomas and Sean Chandler should see increased playing time in Collins' absence.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Interim Green Bay Packers head coach Joe Philbin didn't think associate head coach and linebackers coach Winston Moss was the right fit for his team.The Packers fired Moss hours after he questioned the Packers' leadership situation on Twitter, but Philbin claimed his dismissal was about more than just a tweet."It's never about one thing," Philbin said Wednesday, via ESPN's Rob Demovsky. "Again, I think it's important, as I said to the team, we've got to be professional, accountable, respectful and punctual. Those are the four things that we've got to do the next four weeks. And if we do all those things, we'll be in good shape."It wasn't about - again, you're talking to a guy who's never tweeted in his life, doesn't even know what Twitter is - so again, it's not about a tweet or anything like that. I just think the fit right now isn't where it needs to be."Philbin, who was Green Bay's offensive coordinator prior to Mike McCarthy's firing on Sunday, said he couldn't speculate whether Moss' tweet was a product of frustration from not being named interim head coach."I think it's important obviously that everybody's on the same page, that we're all moving forward in the same direction," Philbin said. "As you know, Winston's an excellent football coach. I've known him a long time. Respect him; outstanding family man. So it wasn't an easy decision, but I just didn't feel like the fit right now was where it needs to be. So ... (we) came to that decision."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky has missed the last two games with a shoulder injury, but he could be ready to go this Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams."I feel strong that he will play but I gotta see more," head coach Matt Nagy told Chicago Tribune's Brad Biggs.Nagy "felt good" about where Trubisky was at during practice Wednesday, but wouldn't confirm whether or not he would take first-team reps.Trubisky said he feels "really close" to 100 percent, via Larry Mayer of the team's website.The Bears have gone 1-1 with Chase Daniel behind center. In his two starts, Daniel has thrown for 515 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. In Week 13 against the New York Giants, Daniel was sacked five times and fumbled four times.Before being sidelined, Trubisky had thrown for 2469 yards, 20 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Green Bay Packers handed Mike McCarthy the pink slip following a loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, setting into motion the odds for the next head coach to be fired. We give our three best bets for who will get canned next, as BetOnline.ag released its odds on Wednesday morning.Todd Bowles - New York Jets (+150)The odds on this prop bet fluctuate each week as coaches gain or lose momentum, and, in turn, preserve their job or find themselves on the hot seat, depending on the results of any given game. The Jets' Bowles, however, has been a constant name on the prop list all season.Following consecutive five-win campaigns, Bowles was given an opportunity to right the ship and rebuild the roster when he earned a contract through 2020. There's been little to show for that act of faith, as the Jets sit 3-9 on the year, haven't won in roughly two months, and are coming off a game in which they blew a 16-point lead to the Tennessee Titans.A number of last week's head coaches in jeopardy netted potential job-saving wins to earn some extra time. The Jets are mired in a six-game losing streak and are underdogs in all four games to finish out the season, so there's a reason Bowles is the favorite to be cut loose.Marvin Lewis - Cincinnati Bengals (+400)On the heels of back-to-back losing seasons, Lewis unconventionally earned a two-year contract extension with the Bengals following a 2017 season in which they continued to trickle down the AFC North pecking order. That type of security played a big role in Lewis' odds opening up at +7500 to be the first head coach fired in 2018; there was no way a franchise would part ways with a head coach during the early stages of a new, multi-year deal. Now, entering Week 14, Lewis is third on the list behind Bowles (+150) and Arizona's Steve Wilks (+300).Cincinnati is currently on a four-game skid and has lost six of its last seven. Some circumstances are out of Lewis' hands, as starting quarterback Andy Dalton hit injured reserve two weeks ago and star wide receiver A.J. Green was lost for the season after reinjuring his toe in Week 13. But there's also the aforementioned losing streak, which drove Cincinnati in the wrong direction and perhaps led to a staggering dip in crowd attendance.The 2019 year on Lewis' contract is a team option, so the Bengals will likely let him finish out the final four games of this season. But through the combination of other coaches previously on the hot seat - Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Dirk Koetter, Jacksonville Jaguars' Doug Marrone, Baltimore Ravens' John Harbaugh, and Denver Broncos' Vance Joseph - picking up wins last week, Arizona perhaps opting not to part ways with a first-year head coach, and the off-chance Bowles picks up a win against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday to earn himself more time, we'll take a shot on what is a decent price for a head coach who might not win another game this season.Ron Rivera - Carolina Panthers (+1200)Firing a two-time NFL Coach of the Year? It could certainly happen, especially when considering a first-year owner is watching the season unravel before his eyes.It took one month for the Panthers to go from sleepers to sleepwalking. A 6-2 start to the season has quickly turned to 6-6 with four straight very Panthers-like losses - a blowout against the Pittsburgh Steelers on prime time, a questionable decision to go for two when down one point late to the Detroit Lions, the Seattle Seahawks' comeback in Charlotte, and last week's death knell of Cam Newton's four-interception performance against the Buccaneers.The Panthers' final four games aren't exactly cakewalks, either. They have to go on the road for the third time in four weeks to play the improved Cleveland Browns before three straight divisional games, two of which come against the high-flying New Orleans Saints.Joe Person of The Athletic discussed the Rivera situation on ESPN's The Gerry V show, saying he doesn't think first-year owner David Tepper has the type of ego that would prompt him to blow things up just to "make his mark" on the franchise."But this is a production-based business. Anytime a team goes south, especially with a new owner who did not hire these gentlemen, then there's going to be questions that need to be asked," he added.One more loss to make it five straight and the Rivera odds become that much more intriguing with three divisional games on deck ... if it even gets that far.Alex Kolodziej is theScore's betting writer. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 11 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AlexKoIodziej.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Denver Broncos running back Phillip Lindsay has emerged as one of the breakout stars of the 2018 season and has left 31 other general managers wondering how he slipped under the radar.Lindsay went undrafted out of Colorado and landed in his own backyard. The 24-year-old has now unexpectedly seized the starting role and hasn't looked back, rushing for 937 yards and eight touchdowns, adding 25 receptions for 189 yards and another score.Broncos general manager John Elway couldn't be happier with how Lindsay has produced thus far."I'd take 53 of him," Elway said on Orange and Blue 760. "The way he plays the game and his attitude toward the game and the competitiveness, he's been absolutely tremendous this year and we're thrilled to have him."Elway's journey to the NFL starkly contrasts with Lindsay's. One of the most lauded college prospects of the 1980s, Elway was selected first overall in the 1983 NFL Draft before earning two Super Bowl victories during his Hall of Fame career. With two different paths to the NFL, Elway couldn't help but be impressed with Lindsay's tenacity en route to his breakout season."He's a guy who is an underdog and plays with a chip on his shoulder, and that's what I like about him," Elway said. "I think that his size was the one thing that was his drawback, but you look at his heart and you look at his ability and the speed."Lindsay was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week and has emerged as the focal point of the Broncos' offense. If he can continue to lead the Broncos into the playoffs - the team currently rides a three-game winning streak - Elway will surely revel in his hidden gem shining on the big stage.H/T NFL.comCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The XFL announced Wednesday the eight cities that will field teams when the league launches in 2020.Seven of the eight cities already have an NFL franchise, with St. Louis being the lone exception:

Dallas Cowboys center Travis Frederick likely won't play this season, but he feels "very good" about a 2019 comeback."I'm doing pretty well. Things have started to move along in the right direction," Frederick told 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday. "I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to play football at this point this year, but I feel very good about where I'm headed moving into next year."In August, Frederick was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, an autoimmune disease that weakens muscles and attacks the body's nervous system."I have certainly made progress, but at this point in the season, having not been able to do my football movements. ... Even if I was 100 percent strength-wise to be able to come back and play. ... I'm still six or eight weeks out from that," Frederick said.The Cowboys lead the NFC East with a 7-5 record. They placed Frederick on injured reserve in early October, and Joe Looney has taken over at center in relief of the four-time Pro Bowler.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Safety Jamal Adams isn't pinning the New York Jets' 3-8 record on the shoulders of head coach Todd Bowles."There are other problems in that building. I feel for him. I really do," Adams told NJ.com's Darryl Slater. "It’s not his problems that are going on right now. Hopefully, it’s going to change next year. We’ve got to change it. It needs to be changed, because to me, we’re running out of time."Adams believes the culture of the organization needs to be altered in the offseason."If something in life is going wrong and you don’t fix the problem, it’s not going to change," Adams said. "So there needs to be change."After starting the season 3-3, the Jets have dropped five straight games, leading to speculation that Bowles won't be around for 2019.Bowles has a 23-36 record over four seasons with the Jets. The front office may be looking for a coach better suited to develop future franchise quarterback Sam Darnold.Adams, the sixth overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, is ready to have an honest conversation among players about the team's faults."If people don’t speak up, it’s going to stay the same," he said. "We all have to speak up, and we all have to say what’s on our minds. It’s not really time for: ‘Oh, don’t say this, don’t say that.’ No, we need to say this, and we need to say that."The LSU alum has been a bright spot on a Jets defense ranked 23rd in yards allowed per game. He's accumulated 88 tackles, three forced fumbles, and one interception this season, and Pro Football Focus ranks him third overall in his position group.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Oakland Raiders are signing veteran running back C.J. Anderson, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Anderson visited the Kansas City Chiefs earlier in the week, but they elected to sign Charcandrick West instead.The 27-year-old rushed for 104 yards on 24 carries in nine games with the Carolina Panthers this season. He was released on Nov. 12.Anderson was named to the Pro Bowl in 2014 and helped the Denver Broncos win Super Bowl 50.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Green Bay Packers have let go of another coach.Green Bay announced it dismissed associate head coach and linebackers coach Winston Moss mere hours after he opined on the Packers' leadership situation on Twitter.Note the time stamps on the following tweets:

The Washington Redskins have reportedly found their backup for Mark Sanchez.Washington will sign 32-year-old journeyman quarterback Josh Johnson, according to ESPN's John Keim.Johnson hasn't seen game action since 2011. He spent four years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2008-2011) and was later employed by the Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals, San Francisco 49ers, Indianapolis Colts, Buffalo Bills, New York Giants, and most recently, the Houston Texans in 2017 - always as quarterback depth.He was the first player selected in the Alliance of American Football's inaugural quarterback draft last week. However, co-founder Bill Polian told SiriusXM NFL Radio that Johnson was released from his contract Tuesday so that he could sign with the Redskins.Washington quarterbacks Alex Smith and Colt McCoy were both lost for the season with leg injuries. McCoy's ailment occurred Monday night, leaving Sanchez as the only passer on the roster.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Video contains coarse languageThe referee involved in a postgame spat with Buffalo Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes has been placed on administrative leave, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, who added that the NFL is still reviewing the matter.Game official Roy Ellison and Hughes got into a heated exchange following the Bills' loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.In a video of the interaction, Hughes can be heard shouting, "you called me a b----. I'll catch you. Trust me, I'll catch you. I'll catch you, guarantee it!"

theScore's Justin Boone is coming off his fifth top-10 finish in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition. Follow the links below to see his early rankings for Week 14.Updated rankings (including PPR) will be released Thursday, with the final version coming down Sunday morning.To find out who the top pickups are, you can consult our Week 14 Waiver Wire column. You can also listen to the latest episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast.Standard Rankings

The Washington Redskins lost quarterbacks Alex Smith and Colt McCoy to serious injuries in rapid succession but are unlikely to pursue one obvious replacement-level candidate.Redskins head coach Jay Gruden was asked Tuesday if the team is considering signing Colin Kaepernick, but it sounds like the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback will remain a free agent for now."He's been talked about and discussed, but we'll probably go a different direction," Gruden said during his media availability, noting that the team worked out quarterbacks last week and Tuesday.Gruden added, "Do we want to go with a guy that's familiar with my terminology who we worked out last week, or with a new guy to back up (Mark) Sanchez with a similar skill set, or go with a guy and teach basically a whole new kind of offense with a new offensive line and with a lot of those zone reads? ... Not a lot of time to really get a brand-new quarterback and new system installed and taught."McCoy broke his fibula during Monday's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Smith broke his fibula and tibia during a Nov. 18 loss to the Houston Texans.Mark Sanchez took over for McCoy on Monday, going 13-of-21 for 100 yards and an interception.Gruden noted McCoy underwent surgery on his fibula and doesn't expect the Redskins to place him on injured reserve, potentially allowing McCoy to return by the end of the season if healthy.Sanchez is the only quarterback on Washington's roster at the moment.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The long-rumored divorce finally happened.After losing in Week 13 to the Arizona Cardinals, one of the worst teams in football, the Green Bay Packers parted ways with longtime head coach Mike McCarthy. For Packers fans - and perhaps even their quarterback - the move was well-received. Despite winning a Super Bowl at the start of this decade, Green Bay's recent seasons were filled with mediocrity and too much offensive stagnation for a team with an all-time great passer in Aaron Rodgers.Joe Philbin's now taking over as the interim head coach after rejoining the Packers in January as their offensive coordinator. However, McCarthy continued calling plays in 2018 and it's unclear how much he relied on the OC during games. So, with Philbin stepping into those shoes, what can Packers fans expect moving forward?First, it's worth highlighting the reasons for Green Bay's offensive regression in recent years. When McCarthy took over back in 2006, he installed a version of the West Coast offense that seemed - by the standards of that time - modernized. For example, the Packers employed the shotgun formation at one of the highest rates in the league during McCarthy's first season before many other teams caught on.However, jump ahead to 2018, and the veteran coach had failed to incorporate other successful modern concepts being run across the league.One of those is a "rub" (also known as a "pick play”) concept, which is used to create separation for receivers. As pointed out by Bill Barnwell of ESPN, just two of Rodgers' 21 touchdown passes this season featured a rub, and both came near the goal line.There's also Green Bay's (lack of) jet motion under McCarthy. This concept sees a player motion toward the quarterback at the snap and is growing in popularity across the NFL. The high-scoring Los Angeles Rams under Sean McVay use the jet sweep - the play most associated with jet motion - more than any other team, while the Packers didn't even run it once until mid-October this season, according to Barnwell.Another bug in Green Bay's system has been McCarthy's love of the slant/flat passing concept. A staple of the West Coast passing game, this simple route design pairs a slant route from the outside receiver with a flat route from the inside pass-catcher.This concept may have been considered creative earlier in McCarthy’s career, but his overreliance on it became a Twitter meme this season:

The Buffalo Bills released wide receivers Kelvin Benjamin and Andre Holmes on Tuesday, the team confirmed.Buffalo acquired Benjamin in an October 2017 trade with the Carolina Panthers in exchange for a 2018 third-round pick. Benjamin failed to produce as expected, however, recording 23 catches for 354 yards and a touchdown in 12 games this year.Holmes signed a three-year contract with the Bills in March 2017 but also failed to produce during his two seasons, catching 12 passes for 157 yards and no touchdowns in 2018.

Former Seattle Seahawks cornerback Brandon Browner was sentenced to eight years in a state prison after pleading no contest to attempted murder, according to TMZ Sports.The 34-year-old was charged with attempted murder for an incident in July during which he allegedly broke into the apartment of an ex-girlfriend, chased and dragged her, and smothered her in a carpet.He also pleaded no contest to two counts of willful child endangerment, as the woman's children were present for the reported incident.Browner fled the residence but was later arrested. Charges of robbery, burglary, and false imprisonment were dropped as a result of his plea.He had been in custody since the arrest and was credited with 300 days for good behavior.The two-time Super Bowl champion last played 16 games for the New Orleans Saints in 2015.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants safety Landon Collins has been ruled out of Sunday's game against the Washington Redskins with a shoulder injury, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Collins suffered the injury during Week 13's overtime win against the Chicago Bears.The 24-year-old recorded 96 tackles, a forced fumble, and four pass deflections in 12 games this season.Collins has been named to the Pro Bowl in consecutive seasons.Michael Thomas and Sean Chandler are likely to see increased snaps in Collins' absence.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Junior wide receiver A.J. Brown announced Tuesday his decision to forgo his final season of eligibility at Ole Miss and declare for the 2019 NFL draft.The 6-foot-1, 225-pound wideout will wrap up a productive career with the Rebels; he accumulated 85 receptions, 1,320 yards, and six touchdowns in 2018, leading his team in each of those categories.Brown was named to the All-SEC first team in 2017 and figures to be part of the 2018 squad as well.The former four-star recruit is widely expected to be a first-round pick and stands a chance to be the first player selected at his position this coming April. Brown possesses ideal size and strength for a receiver prospect.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Need a cheat sheet or some help spotting situational edges with a new week of NFL action fast approaching? We've got you covered.Here are five situational spots to consider as you do your homework for Week 14.Expect Brees and the Saints to bounce backThe New Orleans Saints are aiming to get back on track following a 13-10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, the fewest points in a game for the Saints all season. Also looking to right the ship is quarterback Drew Brees, who finished 18-for-28 with 127 yards and a 71.6 QBR for his worst statistical game of the year. History shows that when Brees performs below his standards, you can expect him to bounce back in the following game.Under head coach Sean Payton, Brees has led the Saints to a 29-4 record against the spread following a game in which he posts a QBR worse than 80.0. This angle's only popped up once this season - after Brees finished with a 77.2 QBR in a win over the New York Giants in Week 4. The following game, he went 26-for-29 with 363 yards, three touchdowns, and a season-high 153.2 rating in a 43-19 rout of the Washington Redskins.Despite playing on the road, there might not be a better opponent for Brees and the Saints to rebound against than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs' porous defense did rise to the occasion in its previous two games, racking up six interceptions and using pressure to force errant throws en route to a pair of wins. Tampa won't be able to rattle Brees, however; he's the NFL's least-sacked qualified passer this season.Don't be surprised if everything turns up New Orleans - and points - on Sunday.Letdown spot for the Chargers?The Los Angeles Chargers erased a 16-point lead late in the third quarter and hit a time-expiring field goal to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers last weekend in the biggest win of the season for L.A. Laying 14 points at home to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 14, the Chargers have a couple of angles opposing them, similar to the ones that factored into last week's Arizona Cardinals-Green Bay Packers game.We want to play on double-digit favorites against non-conference opponents (54 percent), and fade double-digit favorites playing conference opponents (44.9 percent). Following the Bengals' 21-10 home loss to the Denver Broncos, we also want to play double-digit underdogs off double-digit losses, as Arizona's outright win as a 13.5-point underdog at Green Bay last weekend moved that angle to roughly 56 percent.Fade the Patriots' offense on the roadThe New England Patriots have been one of the better "under" teams this season, going over the number in just four of their 12 games. Strangely, the Pats' scoring offense is outside the top five and hasn't been involved in too many shootouts. In fact, fading New England's offense when playing on the road has been a pretty profitable angle dating back to last season.Over the last nine games away from home, the Patriots' team total has gone under in eight, as they're averaging just 22.2 points per game over that span. Bet365 is currently hanging 28.5 on New England's team total for Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins - a pretty nice cushion for under bettors.Steelers' offense shows up following a lossPittsburgh lost to the Chargers 33-30 last Sunday in another large point total for the Steelers, who fell to the Broncos a week prior.That's been the theme: Play Pittsburgh's team total over following a loss.With Sunday's 30-point performance, the Steelers are now 5-1 to the team total over following a loss, ironically averaging 30 points per game. They'll be set up for this angle again on the road against the Oakland Raiders. This is a great matchup for Pittsburgh's offense against a Raiders defense that's last in the league in quarterback sacks.Seahawks get optimal spot on Monday Night FootballCenturyLink Field is the toughest venue in the NFL to play in as a visitor, especially late in the season; the Seattle Seahawks are 21-9 against the spread in their last 30 home games in the month of December. They'll be laying three points when they host the Vikings on Monday Night Football, already a challenging spot for Minnesota considering starting quarterback Kirk Cousins is 5-12 straight up in prime-time games over his career.Alex Kolodziej is theScore's betting writer. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 11 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AlexKoIodziej.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After another week full of sacks, stops, and stuffs, let's look at the standout defensive linemen from Week 13:Defensive Lineman of the Week: DT David Onyemata, New Orleans SaintsThree different players recorded three sacks in Week 13, but while the Colts' Denico Autry and the Jets' B.J. Hill profited off the coverage behind them, Onyemata's trifecta of takedowns was of a much higher quality.Though the Saints' offense laid an egg, the defense - led by Onyemata, who added four tackles, three quarterback hits, and a forced fumble - actually put together an admirable performance.He took advantage of Cowboys left guard Xavier Su'a-Filo on all three of his sacks, with his second serving as the most impressive:Here, Onyemata is lined up with an outside shade over Su'a-Filo. Once the ball is snapped, the defensive tackle places his first step on the inside edge of the left guard to influence Su'a-Filo to stay skinny with his set and draw out his hands. It works.After his first step, Onyemata expands back to the outside edge of Su'a-Filo while perfectly executing a cross-chop-to-club move, keeping his feet and hands in coordination while knocking Su'a-Filo off-balance and leaving him unable to recover. From there, Onyemata gets his hips on track to the quarterback and finishes with the sack.Onyemata blew past Su'a-Filo in two steps, which is an impressive feat for a 300-pound man.His dominance did not stop when the Cowboys decided to run the ball, though, as there was no hiding from the Manitoba product:On this play, Onyemata is once again aligned with an outside shade over Su'a-Filo. Once the ball is snapped, Onyemata comes out of his stance and engages the guard at the point of attack, as his quick hands allow him to latch onto Su'a-Filo's chest and attain proper hand positioning.From there, Onyemata executes a bull-jerk, or push-pull move to beat the block and make the tackle at the line of scrimmage.Onyemata is going to haunt his opposition's nightmares for a considerable time after this performance.Pass Rush of the Week: DE Joey Bosa, Los Angeles ChargersBosa has been healthy for only three weeks but this is already his second appearance as a "Defensive Line All-Star."Bosa's fourth-quarter sack against Pittsburgh on Sunday night was especially impressive, as he beat Steelers right tackle Matt Feiler with a deft spin move before bringing down Ben Roethlisberger:On this play, Bosa has a wide outside alignment over Feiler. Once the ball is snapped, Bosa explodes out of his stance and pushes vertical, looking to stress Feiler's pass set. But Feiler was quicker out of his stance and beat Bosa to the intersection point, the spot between the defensive end's alignment and the apex of the quarterback's drop.Still, Bosa feints as if he is going to use a rip move to shorten to the corner and bend toward the quarterback, attempting to get Feiler to react or lean outside, which is exactly what happens. This opens the space necessary for Bosa's counter-spin.Bosa's counter-spin is hit fluidly with little wasted motion, allowing him to maintain his momentum and balance through the move so he can continue pursuing the quarterback and finish with a sack.Run Defender of the Week: DL Kenny Clark, Green Bay PackersIt came in a loss that effectively ended Green Bay's playoff hopes, but Packers lineman Kenny Clark put on a winning performance versus Arizona, especially against the run.Finishing with seven tackles, six stops, and a pass breakup, Clark used his active hands and raw power to consistently reset the line of scrimmage and make plays in the run game. Here's an excellent example:On this play, Clark is aligned as a 0-technique, head-up over center Mason Cole. Once the ball is snapped, Clark explodes out of his stance and initiates contact with inside hand placement, allowing him to control the action at the point of attack.From there, Clark resets the line of scrimmage by creating knockback with his initial strike. He then finds the running back, sheds the block, and makes the tackle at the line of scrimmage.The Packers' season is bleak, but Clark's future is bright, as he's developed into arguably the best defensive lineman on the roster - which is saying something, because Mike Daniels is outstanding.Not only has Clark taken the next step in his pass-rush development (career-high six sacks this season), but he's become a dominant run defender, which he showcased repeatedly against the Cardinals.In the Spotlight: DL B.J. Hill, New York GiantsHill surprised just about everyone with three sacks against the Bears.That's not to say he's a bad player - he's not - but rather, he had just two NFL sacks coming into the game. In fact, he had more than three sacks in an entire season only once in his college career - his sophomore year at North Carolina State in which he had 3.5 sacks.Hill was certainly aided by New York's coverage on the back end of his third sack and was essentially unblocked on his first. His second sack, however, was all about skill:Here, Hill is aligned across from Chicago right guard Bryan Witzmann. Once the ball is snapped, Hill comes out of his stance and takes a short initial step toward Witzmann's outside edge, forcing his momentum outside and leaving him susceptible to an inside move.Hill executes a club move to beat Witzmann's hands. Hill's sloppy footwork - he doesn't gain enough ground with his third step - almost gives the right guard time to recover, but the lineman is able to bully his way through the contact for the sack.While Hill's performance Sunday was impressive, it's likely an aberration in terms of his career. Nevertheless, it does highlight the fact he's had a successful rookie season and will be needed to help mitigate the loss of Damon Harrison.John Owning is a football writer at theScore. He has written for Bleacher Report and Football Insiders. He was also the lead NFL content editor at FanRag Sports. John provides analysis on the Dallas Cowboys for the Dallas Morning News and edits for The Quant Edge. Find him on Twitter @JohnOwning.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL is considering three separate Kareem Hunt off-field incidents as it works toward a final decision on disciplining the former Kansas City Chiefs running back, sources told ESPN's Dan Graziano.Hunt's discipline is likely to be a multi-game suspension that stretches into next season, Graziano added.The second-year rusher was waived by the Chiefs after a video surfaced that showed him kicking a woman during a hotel fight in February. He went unclaimed on waivers.The other incidents involving Hunt were a nightclub beating in January and an altercation at an Ohio resort in June. The league previously questioned him regarding the latter situation, but it was apparently unaware of the former until this week.Hunt remains on the commissioner's exempt list for the time being, and it's unknown when the NFL will reach a decision on his punishment.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin confirmed that running back James Conner will not play Sunday against the Oakland Raiders.Tomlin also told reporters that Conner suffered an ankle sprain and not a contusion as previously believed.Conner is excelling as the team's lead back, rushing for 909 yards and 12 touchdowns in 12 games this season.Tomlin said the Steelers' plan is to operate with a running back by committee, but noted that Stevan Ridley, Jaylen Samuels, and Trey Edmunds will all be afforded opportunities to take the lead during practice.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Every Monday during the season, theScore's Justin Boone will run 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.Fantasy Podcast: Week 13 takeaways, early look at waiver wireQuarterbacksRonald Martinez / Getty Images Sport / GettyDak Prescott, CowboysNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. PHI56%$7Prescott followed up his best outing of the year with a quieter fantasy day against the Saints last Thursday. But that display had more to do with New Orleans' defensive improvement than it did with Prescott, who has put up the eighth-most fantasy points among quarterbacks since Amari Cooper's arrival. The Eagles are in the bottom 10 when it comes to defending passing attacks; Prescott threw for 270 yards and found the end zone twice when these two teams met in Week 10. Consider him a low-end QB1 this week.Jameis Winston, BuccaneersNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. NO57%$4In an extremely shocking turn of events, Winston hasn't given up the ball in either of his last two contests. Turnovers were the main issue plaguing his performance; if he can continue to protect the rock he might win back some of our trust. You can never be completely comfortable starting Winston in fantasy - especially against an increasingly stingy Saints defense - but this game's projected point total of 57 raises his already enticing ceiling. Just be mindful of the risk-reward of having him in your lineup.Other options: Baker Mayfield vs. CAR (59 percent owned), Lamar Jackson at KC (46 percent owned), Josh Allen vs. NYJ (5 percent owned), Ryan Tannehill vs. NE (6 percent owned)Running BacksJoe Sargent / Getty Images Sport / GettyJaylen Samuels, SteelersNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat OAK9%$100Samuels was a player I highlighted in the offseason due to Le'Veon Bell's potential holdout. I liked his diverse skill set and was intrigued by his dual eligibility as an RB and TE in Yahoo leagues. With Bell deciding to take the year off and James Conner already ruled out for Week 14 with an ankle sprain, Samuels will finally get his chance to start. The Steelers' starting running back has been an endless source of fantasy points regardless of the name on the jersey. Samuels will be ranked as a high-end RB2, giving you an astronomical advantage where you can play him as a tight end.Jeff Wilson Jr., 49ersNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. DEN1%$100With everything on the line at this point in the season, you have to be aggressive with your waiver wire bids. That means using the No. 1 priority if you have it or maxing out to get a player you think can make a difference in your starting lineup. Wilson saw an unexpected workload Sunday after his starter was injured. Matt Breida aggravated his ankle injury in warmup and again later in the game, so Wilson ended up seeing 23 touches in a relief performance and totaled 134 yards from scrimmage. Head coach Kyle Shanahan announced Breida won't play in Week 14, vaulting Wilson into the RB2 conversation as a potential surprise fantasy star.Justin Jackson, ChargersNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. CIN23%$100With Melvin Gordon sidelined, Austin Ekeler led the Chargers' backfield with 49 snaps while Jackson saw the field on just 14 offensive plays. But the seventh-round rookie outshined Ekeler in almost every way, finishing with 82 yards and a touchdown on nine touches; Ekeler struggled to solve the stout Steelers run defense, ending the day with 43 scoreless yards on 18 touches. Gordon will likely miss at least one more week and it's against a Bengals defense giving up the most fantasy points to running backs. Ekeler should have more success this time out but Jackson has earned more work. With such an easy opponent, we might see both backs end up as top-30 options.LeGarrette Blount, LionsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat ARI42%$49Until Kerryon Johnson returns to practice, this is Blount's backfield. The veteran has done his part the last two games, amassing 35 carries for 149 yards, one catch for 15 yards, and two touchdowns. Those numbers came against the Bears and Rams, far more challenging opponents than this week's adversary in the Cardinals. Arizona has permitted a league-high 17 rushing touchdowns in 2018. This is also a favorable matchup for Theo Riddick (56 percent owned), who has at least 58 yards from scrimmage in his last two contests. Blount will be an upside RB3 while Riddick remains a bankable PPR asset.Chris Thompson, RedskinsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. NYG49%$9On Monday night we got our first look at Thompson since he went on the shelf after Week 8. Adrian Peterson remained the lead back but Thompson brings an added dimension to the backfield. Remember, he posted 128 yards and then 93 yards in the first two games of the year. In Week 14 he gets a Giants defense that's been very generous to opposing backs; the dynamic Tarik Cohen collected 186 yards from scrimmage against New York this past Sunday. Losing both Alex Smith and Colt McCoy is a major knock on the Washington offense but Thompson is still a flex play with matchup-based upside.Other options: Rex Burkhead at MIA (24 percent owned), Gio Bernard at LAC (24 percent owned), Rashaad Penny vs. MIN (30 percent owned), Ty Montgomery at KC (13 percent owned), Jalen Richard vs. PIT (39 percent owned), Royce Freeman at SF (49 percent owned), Nyheim Hines at HOU (26 percent owned), Kenneth Dixon at KC (11 percent owned), Wayne Gallman at WAS (1 percent owned), Malcolm Brown at CHI (12 percent owned), Charcandrick West vs. BAL (0 percent owned)Wide ReceiversIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyChris Godwin/Adam Humphries, BuccaneersNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. NO46%/50%$100/$75With DeSean Jackson inactive, Godwin went off for 101 yards and a touchdown. That's the third time D-Jax has been out of the lineup over the last two years and Godwin was equally dangerous in the other two contests with stat lines of 3-98 and 7-111-1. Perhaps the Buccaneers' coaching staff should take the hint. If Jackson stays sidelined, Godwin will be a borderline WR2 the rest of the way. Humphries has been consistent for a while now, with 50 yards in seven of his last eight contests, while averaging a touchdown per game over his last five appearances. He should be treated as a WR3 in this high-powered Tampa passing attack.Courtland Sutton, BroncosNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. SF49%$100Sutton has shown up on this list for far too long. The Broncos rookie has 50 yards or a touchdown in eight of his last nine games and is coming off his best performance as a pro, hauling in four passes for 85 yards and a score. Hopefully, that will be the catalyst for his ownership to clear the 60 percent threshold. He'll be in the WR3 range with WR2 upside each week thanks to some excellent matchups over the final month.Tre'Quan Smith, SaintsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat TB43%$19Whether he returned too early from his foot injury or was just shut out by the Cowboys' secondary, Smith failed to dent the box score last Thursday. His best games have come at home, so another road contest is worrisome, though his opponents - the Buccaneers - are not. After this week, the Saints will engage in two more potentially high-scoring affairs during the fantasy playoffs, as they take on the Panthers and Steelers. Smith is a volatile WR4 with a massive ceiling and a zero-catch floor; the kind of player you might turn to if you're a significant underdog.Dante Pettis, 49ersNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. DEN4%$19Pettis is yet another rookie who's been heating up in recent weeks. He's benefitted from Marquise Goodwin and Pierre Garcon sitting out, resulting in a four-catch, 77-yard, one-touchdown day versus the Bucs and a five-catch, 129-yard, two-score afternoon in Seattle on Sunday. Pettis didn't get as much hype as some of the other rookies in his class, but the second-rounder is showing he belongs in the starting lineup. As long as the veterans remain on the sidelines, Pettis will be a WR3 in fantasy.Antonio Callaway, BrownsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat CAR13%$9If you want to own a piece of the rising Browns offense, Callaway is one way to invest. He’s overcoming his early-season rookie mistakes and taking on a larger role. After delivering 62 yards and a score in Week 12, he put up a season-high 84 yards on the Texans. Callaway can be viewed as an explosive WR4/flex option.Other options: Josh Doctson vs NYG (14 percent owned), Curtis Samuel aat CLE (18 percent owned), Mike Williams vs. CIN (48 percent owned), Tyrell Williams vs. CIN (38 percent owned), Anthony Miller vs. LAR (34 percent owned), Zay Jones vs. NYJ (2 percent owned), Michael Gallup vs. PHI (6 percent owned), Kenny Stills at NE (30 percent owned), DeVante Parker at NE (10 percent owned), John Ross at LAC (9 percent owned)Tight EndsElsa / Getty Images Sport / GettyRhett Ellison, GiantsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat WAS1%$3There's not much out there for tight end-needy owners. If Evan Engram (59 percent owned) is able to return from his hamstring injury, I'd bid heavily to get him. Otherwise, you're looking at dart throws like Ellison, who has 119 yards over the last two weeks, but can't be used with confidence. That's where we're at with the tight end - backups like Anthony Firkser, Levine Toilolo, or Demetrius Harris found their way into the top 10 this week.Ian Thomas, PanthersNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat CLE1%$2Greg Olsen is done for the year after suffering a torn plantar fascia in Sunday's game. In his absence, Thomas stepped up by catching all five of his targets for 46 yards. Thomas was a disappointment when Olsen was out of the lineup earlier in the season, but perhaps the rookie will be a little more seasoned down the stretch. He'll be ranked in the same range as several of the names below, all of whom are streamers at best.Other options: Mark Andrews at KC (2 percent owned), Jonnu Smith at JAX (23 percent owned), Chris Herndon at BUF (13 percent owned), C.J. Uzomah at LAC (26 percent owned), Dan Arnold at TB (1 percent owned)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's football editors, including Mike Alessandrini, Jack Browne, Michael McClymont, and Arun Srinivasan.1. Los Angeles Rams (11-1)Previous Rank: 2The Rams return to the top of the NFL thanks to the Saints' flop and Aaron Donald, who continues to make NFL linemen look like high schoolers. - Browne2. New Orleans Saints (10-2)Previous Rank: 1New Orleans was bound to have an off night. If that ends up being a three-point loss on the road against the NFL's second-ranked scoring defense, the team will be OK. - Srinivasan3. Kansas City Chiefs (10-2)Previous Rank: 3Peyton Manning should be getting nervous. With four games left, Patrick Mahomes has a great shot at breaking The Sheriff's single-season passing touchdown mark. - Browne4. New England Patriots (9-3)Previous Rank: 4New England's dynamic backfield isn't getting enough credit. James White, Rex Burkhead, and Sony Michel combined for 229 total yards against the Vikings. And let's not forget career 1,000-yard rusher Tom Brady. - Alessandrini5. Los Angeles Chargers (9-3)Previous Rank: 5Keenan Allen rarely gets the love other top receivers do, but with Melvin Gordon out, he's been the driving force of a scary Chargers offense. - Browne6. Houston Texans (9-3)Previous Rank: 7Even on a day where they registered just one quarterback hit, the Texans' defense was still frightening, cooling off the red-hot Baker Mayfield. No one wants to see Houston on the schedule. - Srinivasan7. Chicago Bears (8-4)Previous Rank: 6Even when the Bears lose, they win. They lost no ground in the NFC North race despite an upset loss to the Giants, and Mitchell Trubisky's expected back next week. - McClymont8. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-4-1)Previous Rank: 8Breathe, Steeler Nation. The Raiders are up next ... followed by the Patriots and Saints. - McClymont9. Dallas Cowboys (7-5)Previous Rank: 13The rest of the NFL is officially on notice after the Cowboys shocked the Saints with an incredible defensive effort. Byron Jones, Demarcus Lawrence, and rookie Leighton Vander Esch are studs. - Alessandrini10. Seattle Seahawks (7-5)Previous Rank: 10Seattle's slow start to the season has been forgotten. These aren't the Seahawks of old, but they could still make some serious postseason noise. - Browne11. Minnesota Vikings (6-5-1)Previous Rank: 9Dalvin Cook averaged nine yards per carry on nine rushes Sunday. The Vikings probably should've stuck to the run. - McClymont12. Baltimore Ravens (7-5)Previous Rank: 14Lamar Jackson is 3-0 as a starter. What's that, Joe Flacco? You're ready to come back? Wouldn't want you to aggravate your hip. Better sit this one out. - McClymont13. Carolina Panthers (6-6)Previous Rank: 11Cam Newton was dreadful against the Buccaneers and the Panthers don't look nearly as intimidating as they did in the first half of the season. A game against the Browns might be the remedy for the team's ills. - Srinivasan14. Indianapolis Colts (6-6)Previous Rank: 12A completely ineffective running game couldn't help Andrew Luck out during his worst game of the season, and the Colts were blanked. Next up on the schedule: the searing-hot Texans. - Srinivasan15. Philadelphia Eagles (6-6)Previous Rank: 15The champs' season is on the line next week in Dallas. Lose, and they can essentially kiss their title defense goodbye. - Alessandrini16. Denver Broncos (6-6)Previous Rank: 18Who will get to 1,000 yards first, Saquon Barkley or Phillip Lindsay? The fact that this is a question highlights how remarkable the undrafted free agent's season has been. - Browne17. Tennessee Titans (6-6)Previous Rank: 19The Titans should be relieved that they escaped with a win, even though Marcus Mariota still hasn't returned to his peak form. - Srinivasan18. Miami Dolphins (6-6)Previous Rank: 22Adam Gase's squad is on its way to yet another mediocre seven- or eight-win season. Ho hum. - Alessandrini19. Washington Redskins (6-6)Previous Rank: 16Well, at least NFL fans were gifted with a Mark Sanchez appearance on Monday Night Football. - Alessandrini20. Green Bay Packers (4-7-1)Previous Rank: 17Mike McCarthy was never going to win the power struggle with Aaron Rodgers. The Packers' season is shot, but at least they can get a jump on competing in 2019. - McClymont21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-7)Previous Rank: 28If James Winston was consistently as dominant as he was against the Panthers, the Buccaneers wouldn't resemble a full-scale Jekyll and Hyde production. - Srinivasan22. Cleveland Browns (4-7-1)Previous Rank: 20Guess Baker Mayfield woke up feeling harmless Sunday. - McClymont23. Cincinnati Bengals (5-7)Previous Rank: 21No Andy Dalton or A.J. Green. A once-promising season has gone down the drain fast. - McClymont24. Atlanta Falcons (4-8)Previous Rank: 23A lost season continues to get uglier as the Falcons couldn't find any answers against Lamar Jackson and Co. - Srinivasan25. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-8)Previous Rank: 27This was the terrifying Jaguars defense we had come to expect. However, it's too little, too late. - Srinivasan26. New York Giants (4-8)Previous Rank: 26When the Giants' offense obtains a high-quality quarterback, look out. Right now, OBJ looks like New York's best one. - Alessandrini27. Buffalo Bills (4-7)Previous Rank: 24Josh Allen isn't perfect, but he's improving with each game. Coming into the season, that's all Bills Mafia could've realistically asked for. - Alessandrini28. Detroit Lions (4-8)Previous Rank: 25Just how bad are the Lions? We'll get a true gauge with their next two games against the Cardinals and Bills. - McClymont29. New York Jets (3-9)Previous Rank: 29We're tired of watching Josh McCown. Hopefully, Sam Darnold is healthy enough to start this week. It's imperative for him to end his rookie campaign on a high note. - Alessandrini30. Arizona Cardinals (3-9)Previous Rank: 32Steve Wilks' rookie season has been a struggle, but the Cardinals showed heart in their upset win over the Packers. - Browne31. San Francisco 49ers (2-10)Previous Rank: 30The insane amount of injuries gives the 49ers' offense a pass, but what's the defense's excuse? The unit has too much talent to be producing this poorly. - Browne32. Oakland Raiders (2-10)Previous Rank: 31The Raiders still have to play the Steelers, Broncos, and Chiefs. Jon Gruden should start looking at who he wants at No. 1 overall. - BrowneCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Green Bay Packers' decision to fire head coach Mike McCarthy hours after Sunday's loss to the Arizona Cardinals surprised many, including Aaron Rodgers."I was as shocked as many of you were, I'm sure," the franchise quarterback told the media Monday.It's been suggested that a fractured relationship between McCarthy and Rodgers - as well as the team's disappointing 4-7-1 record - contributed heavily to the coach's dismissal."I hope that's not the reason," Rodgers said when posed the question. "I think him and I, like any relationship, we have our amazing times, we have our times when we butt heads. But the basis ... was built on mutual respect and communication."The 14-year veteran had played for McCarthy for the past 13 seasons. He said the reports of their deteriorating relationship were "frustrating" and that the two made an effort to meet more this year than in any other season."As much as what was made, conjecture about him and I's relationship, it was always built on mutual respect and communication. That's why this is a different day for myself and the guys in the locker room," he said."We accomplished a lot together. We had some incredible moments."The Packers will move forward with offensive coordinator Joe Philbin as the interim coach for the remainder of the season. Rodgers said he does not need to be involved in the hiring process for the permanent replacement and he doesn't see a problem with learning a new offensive system so late in his career."I think my football aptitude, I'm able to adjust if we need to. I've been in the same system for 14 years, so obviously I have a lot of comfort in this, but whoever they bring in, I'm sure will be somebody with their own ideas and we'll adjust accordingly when we get there," he said.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Redskins quarterback Colt McCoy will miss the rest of the season with a fractured right fibula, ESPN's Lisa Salters reported during the Monday Night Football broadcast.

The Philadelphia Eagles used a late charge to surge past the depleted Washington Redskins 28-13 on Monday Night Football.The Eagles improved to 6-6 and into a virtual tie with the Redskins for second place in the NFC East. They both trail the 7-5 Dallas Cowboys with four games to go.More to come.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It seems the entire NFL had their eyes on Monday Night Football, because players from across the league chimed in on social media after 33-year-old Adrian Peterson broke off a 90-yard touchdown run.The 11-year veteran showed everyone he's still got it.

Washington Redskins quarterback Colt McCoy was taken to the locker room early in the second quarter of Monday night's game against the Philadelphia Eagles with an apparent lower leg injury.McCoy hit his right shin against a defender's leg before exiting the contest. The Redskins declared McCoy questionable to return.Backup and recent signee Mark Sanchez took over under center.More to come.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals star receiver A.J. Green will be out for the rest of the season, as he's expected to undergo surgery on torn ligaments in his toe, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. The injury will keep him sidelined for three-to-four months.The perennial Pro Bowler was carted to the locker room after picking up the toe injury early in Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos.

Former Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt was accused of being involved in a Kansas City nightclub beating in January, a police report obtained by TMZ Sports revealed.In the report, filed four days after the Jan. 7 incident, the man who made the accusation states that he came to the defense of a friend who was being shoved by three men, including former Chiefs running back George Atkinson. The man said Atkinson, who played for Kansas City at the time, then punched him in the shoulder.The man stated he fought back before Atkinson and his group, which included Hunt, struck him in the head and body multiple times. He told police he suffered a broken rib, broken nose, and multiple bruises and contusions as a result of the incident.Neither Hunt nor Atkinson were arrested and no charges were filed. Police told TMZ Sports that the man ultimately stopped cooperating with the investigation after filing the report.Hunt was released by the Chiefs after a video was published of him kicking and shoving a woman in February. He's also being investigated by the NFL for a separate incident in which he punched a man at an Ohio resort."I just want to let the world know how sorry I am for my actions. It's been a tough time for me and I'm extremely embarrassed because of that video," Hunt told ESPN's Lisa Salters in an interview Sunday. "I'm definitely not that kind of person."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt went unclaimed on waivers, making him a free agent, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Several teams did consider putting in a claim on Hunt but decided against doing so, Rapoport adds.Hunt was waived after a video surfaced that showed him kicking a woman in a hotel in February.The 23-year-old is still on the commissioner's exempt list, preventing him from practicing with any team or playing in a game as the NFL resumes its investigation of the incident.Hunt led the league in rushing last year as a rookie. He piled up 824 yards with seven rushing touchdowns in 11 games for Kansas City this season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Kansas City Chiefs signed running back Charcandrick West on Monday to fill the roster spot created by Friday's release of Kareem Hunt.Veteran free agent C.J. Anderson had a good workout with the Chiefs and will be available if needed, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.West, 27, played for the Chiefs from 2014-17, rushing for 999 yards and seven touchdowns over 49 games. He added 75 receptions for 552 yards and another five scores.The Chiefs originally signed West as an undrafted free agent out of Abilene Christian. He had a brief stint with the New York Jets this preseason and reportedly worked out for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in October.Anderson has been on the market since he was released by the Carolina Panthers following Week 10. He totaled 104 rushing yards and scored just one receiving touchdown over nine games after signing as a free agent in the offseason.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers will have as much involvement in the hiring of a new head coach as he did in the firing of Mike McCarthy: none."Aaron was no part at all of the decision to move on," chief executive officer Mark Murphy told reporters Monday, according to Jason Wilde of Madison.com.The Packers dismissed McCarthy on Sunday following a jarring loss to the lowly Arizona Cardinals. Green Bay went 4-7-1 under McCarthy this season and is likely to miss the playoffs for a second consecutive year.Rumors persisted throughout the year that the franchise quarterback was at odds with his head coach and offensive play-caller. Anecdotes from several former Packers including ex-offensive lineman Jeff Saturday lent credence to those notions:

The Green Bay Packers' 20-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday turned out to be the final nail in the coffin of Mike McCarthy's tenure as head coach."Up until yesterday, we were hopeful to get a big win (and) turn the season around. The performance yesterday really sealed it for me," team president and CEO Mark Murphy said at Monday's press conference."We did not play well. To lose to a 2-9 team at home, a team from Arizona at home, that was not a good performance."Murphy wouldn't comment on whether the decision would have changed or been delayed if kicker Mason Crosby had succeeded on his 49-yard field-goal attempt as time expired. He missed and the Packers dropped to 4-7-1, good for third place in the NFC North.Murphy said the Packers had been in this situation with McCarthy before and a key win here or there may have changed things. But when asked if the front office would have preferred to make the move at the end of the season, he said no."To me, it just felt that it had run its course," Murphy said. "It wasn't anything that he particularly did wrong."General manager Brian Gutekunst, who took over the role in January after previously acting as director of player personnel and college scouting, said the team's underwhelming 2018 season called for a change."We've had certain expectations and standards here for a long time. To come out at home against a team we felt we should beat, it wasn't up to our standard. I don't think we played well most of the season. Things weren't changing as they needed to change," Gutekunst said, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky.McCarthy had been Packers head coach since 2006. He led the team to nine playoff appearances, including a franchise-record eight straight and a victory in Super Bowl XLV.Gutekunst doesn't think the Packers will have any trouble finding quality candidates to replace McCarthy."This is going to be an attractive job," he said. "This is the Green Bay Packers, this is one of the cornerstones of the National Football League, and there's a Hall of Fame quarterback."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Arizona Cardinals receiver Christian Kirk was placed on injured reserve after breaking his foot in Week 13 on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers, head coach Steve Wilks announced Monday.Kirk left in the fourth quarter during the Cardinals' 20-17 victory. He finished the game with three receptions for 54 yards.The rookie ends his season with 43 catches, a team-leading 590 yards, and three touchdowns in 12 games played. The injury's a big blow to an already underwhelming Cardinals offense that ranks last overall in points and yards this season.Chad Williams and J.J. Nelson will likely be in line for more snaps at receiver.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Seattle Seahawks paid tribute to former teammate Richard Sherman after Jaron Brown's four-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter of Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers.Wide receiver Doug Baldwin played the part of Sherman in the recreation of the cornerback's famous tip to then-Seahawks linebacker Malcolm Smith for an interception against the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game in February 2014.