New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the New York Jets after missing Friday's practice with a knee injury and an illness.Brady was limited on Wednesday and Thursday, too, though there was reportedly little concern he would miss Week 12 at that point.Rob Gronkowski, who's also questionable but declared himself ready to go, was impervious to reporters' attempts to get more information on Brady's status.

Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel expects quarterback Marcus Mariota to start on Monday night against the Houston Texans, according to Titans insider Jim Wyatt.Mariota fully participated in Friday's practice after suffering a stinger during Tennessee's Week 11 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.Earlier in the week, Vrabel denied reports that his starting signal-caller reinjured his elbow. He was hopeful Mariota could return for Monday Night Football.The former No. 2 overall pick was dealing with discomfort related to a pinched nerve over the first portion of the 2018 campaign.Mariota has completed 68 percent of his passes for 1,583 yards, seven touchdowns, and six interceptions over eight starts this season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

(Warning: Story contains coarse language)Damarious Randall doesn't believe the Cincinnati Bengals stand a chance against his Cleveland Browns without star receiver A.J. Green."If they don't have A.J. they're getting their ass beat," the defensive back told reporters Friday, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.Green is questionable for Sunday's game due to a toe injury and hasn't practiced all week. Even if Green suits up, Randall made it clear he doesn't think much of the Bengals, who have dropped four of their last five decisions."I hope he plays, to make the game a little bit more interesting," said Randall, Scott Petrak of The Chronicle-Telegram reports.Randall came to Cleveland in an offseason trade from the Green Bay Packers. He has two interceptions in nine appearances this year.The 3-6-1 Browns will be looking for their first road win of the season when they face Cincinnati.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Rookie quarterback Josh Allen was officially removed from the Buffalo Bills' injury report Friday and will start Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.Allen missed Buffalo's last four games with an elbow injury he suffered in Week 6. He was deemed ready for the Week 12 matchup after fully participating in practice all week.Derek Anderson, Matt Barkley, and the recently released Nathan Peterman all started games in Allen's absence.The 2018 first-round pick recorded two wins in his first five starts as a pro, completing 54 percent of his passes and throwing two touchdowns against five interceptions in the process.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski confirmed he'll start on Sunday against the New York Jets after missing three of the team's last four games.Gronkowski, who's been battling a back injury, declared himself "good to go" on Friday afternoon, according to The Boston Globe's Ben Volin. It was reported during the Patriots' bye week that Gronkowksi was on track to play in Week 12.Injuries have slowed Gronkowski in 2018, and he hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 1. The 29-year-old has recorded 448 receiving yards across seven outings this season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles are severely banged up at the cornerback position heading into their Week 11 divisional tilt.Jalen Mills, Sidney Jones, Avonte Maddox, and Rasul Douglas were absent from Friday's practice, according to NJ.com's Zack Rosenblatt. The Eagles officially ruled out Mills, Maddox, and Jones against the New York Giants and Douglas is listed as questionable.Mills is still considered week to week with a foot injury. Jones aggravated his hamstring knock in Philadelphia's Week 10 loss to the New Orleans Saints. Maddox and Douglas are nursing knee ailments.With Ronald Darby out for the season with a torn ACL, the Eagles will likely be without their top five cornerbacks against New York and star receiver Odell Beckham Jr.Chandon Sullivan, De'Vante Bausby, and Cre'Von LeBlanc are the only healthy cornerbacks currently on Philadelphia's active roster and could all see significant playing time in Week 11. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz could also use safeties Malcolm Jenkins and Corey Graham to cover the slot.The Eagles currently have the NFL's 27th-ranked pass defense, allowing 276.5 yards per game through the air.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh announced Friday that Lamar Jackson will start at quarterback on Sunday versus the Oakland Raiders.Joe Flacco is still nursing a hip injury and did not practice all week, opening the door for Jackson to start his second consecutive game.Jackson made his first career start in last week's victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. The No. 32 pick rushed for 117 yards on 27 attempts, while completing 13 of 19 pass attempts for 150 yards and one interception.The rookie's 27 carries were the most a quarterback has recorded in one game since 1970. He also became just the fourth quarterback to rush for 117-plus yards and pass for 117-plus yards in the same contest.The 5-5 Ravens currently sit 2 1/2 games back of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the competitive AFC North.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Here's a breakdown of the most notable mismatches we expect to see in Week 12.Packers DL Kenny Clark vs Vikings RG Mike RemmersTo the surprise of many, Kenny Clark - not Mike Daniels - has been the Packers' best defensive lineman this season. And with Daniels sidelined by a foot injury, Green Bay will rely on Clark even more heavily.Clark's accumulated 44 tackles, including seven for loss, along with eight quarterback hits and five sacks. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 314 pounds, he's stout enough to hold his ground at the point of attack, and he's quick enough to penetrate and make plays behind the line of scrimmage. He's one of the few 300-plus-pounders who's equally effective against the run and pass.This week, Clark gets a tasty matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. The Packers flip the alignment of their defensive tackles throughout the game, so Clark's set to see time in the A- and B-gaps on both sides of the center. While he should get a favorable matchup no matter where he aligns, Vikings right guard Mike Remmers is a player Clark can dominate.This was showcased in Week 2 when Clark battered Remmers, accumulating four tackles and a sack while making life difficult for Minnesota. On his sack, Clark did an excellent job blending his power, hand usage, and timing to beat Remmers on his way to the quarterback:Here, Clark aligns with an outside shade over Remmers (No. 74). After the ball is snapped, Clark immediately pushes vertical and looks to initiate his bull rush. Without much of a head start, Clark needs to rely on his pad level, hand placement, and raw power to knock back Remmers on contact.Remmers does a great job of anchoring against the bull rush; Clark isn’t able to gain a ton of ground with his initial push. Nevertheless, Clark has another trick up his sleeve.Once Clark feels Remmers sit on his power and begin to exert force forward, Clark uses the momentum against him, employing a push-pull (or bull-jerk) move to yank Remmers over his toes. Clark exits with a swim move to clear contact and continues pursuing the quarterback. The result is a 9-yard sack for Clark.This week, Clark might not even have to resort to Plan B on his bull rushes, as Remmers' ability to stymie power has faded in recent weeks. Here's an example:At first glance, it may look like Remmers did a good job of anchoring against the bull rush, but once you consider that Remmers also has the leverage (lower pad level) and hand-placement advantage at the point of attack - something he won't enjoy often against Clark - it's actually disappointing that he cedes so much ground at the point of contact.If Clark was the one bull rushing on that rep, Remmers would have been on his back with a great view of Clark bringing down Kirk Cousins for the sack.Sunday's going to be a long day for Remmers.Steelers LB T.J. Watt vs. Broncos RT Jared VeldheerT.J. Watt has quietly been one of the most improved edge defenders in the NFL this season, recording an incredible 49 tackles - 10 for loss - with 14 quarterback hits, 10 sacks, and four forced fumbles in his sophomore season. The scary part is that Watt hasn't come close to reaching his potential, as he can still develop in a variety of areas.The switch from right outside linebacker to left outside linebacker has been great for him - he's more effective against the run and can take advantage of the slower-footed right tackle against the pass. This week, Watt will look to take advantage of Jared Veldheer, once a very good offensive tackle whose skill set's declined rapidly this season with the Denver Broncos.Watt will likely give Veldheer problems in pass protection, but he should really have his way with the Broncos right tackle in the run game thanks to his superior hand placement, footwork, and quickness. Veldheer tends to have trouble with quick defenders who can cross his face and penetrate his inside gap, an area where Watt excels. Here's an example:On this play, the Jacksonville Jaguars are trying to run a simple inside zone against a light box, meaning that the Jaguars have more blockers than Pittsburgh Steelers defenders in the box. On paper, this play should be a success for Jacksonville; however, Watt makes sure it's not.Coming off the left edge, Watt initially slow-plays the run, taking his first step directly at the Jaguars right tackle. Then Watt quickly reduces his outside shoulder and darts across the right tackle's face, putting him in position to bring down the ball carrier at the line of scrimmage.Look for Watt to fill up the box score once again against Denver.Panthers RG Trai Turner vs. Seahawks' DTsThe distribution of talent in the NFL means most individual mismatches up front favor the defense. The league has a plethora of high-level defensive linemen, but few elite offensive linemen. That's why Trai Turner facing off against the Seattle Seahawks' defensive tackles is so unique - it's one of the few trench matchups where the O-line has the advantage.Listed at 6-foot-3 and 315 pounds, Turner is one of the most physically dominant presences at the point of attack. The Carolina Panthers right guard leverages his raw strength and hand techniques to consistently move defenders off their spots and into the turf. This typically manifests in the run game, but Turner brings the same intensity to pass protection. Here's a great example:Here, Turner is matched up against Washington Redskins interior defender Matt Ioannidis, who is having a career year. Once the ball is snapped, Turner quickly comes out of his stance and establishes a half-man relationship with Ioannidis, which is crucial in pass protection.From there, Turner latches onto Ioannidis, who attempts to use a "hump" move with his right arm to toss Turner out of the way. Turner doesn't budge. Instead, he rotates to his left and tosses Ioannidis to the ground like a bouncer throwing a rowdy patron out of a bar.This week, defensive tackles Jarran Reed, Quinton Jefferson, and Shamar Stephen will be on the receiving end of similar punishment. Reed is the best of the bunch, but even he doesn't match up well with Turner. None of Seattle's defensive tackles should give Turner much trouble in pass protection, as they don't possess the necessary technique or quickness. The Panthers would be wise to take advantage of Turner's likely dominance Sunday.Browns DT Larry Ogunjobi vs. Bengals C Billy PriceIn his second season, Larry Ogunjobi has developed into a playmaker for the Browns' defense, recording 35 tackles (seven for loss), 13 quarterback hits, and 4.5 sacks. He's made a play behind the line of scrimmage in eight of Cleveland's 10 games.Ogunjobi will look to keep it up against Cincinnati Bengals center Billy Price, who's struggled mightily this year. Price is having trouble playing with leverage, and his hand timing and placement have been inconsistent.That's given Price issues with powerful defensive tackles at the point of attack - and it doesn't bode well against Ogunjobi, who puts a ton of pressure on centers as soon as the ball is snapped, like this:On this play, Ogunjobi lines up as a 0-technique, or head-up on the center. As soon as the ball is snapped, Ogunjobi executes a powerful club move with his right arm to get to the center's edge and a rip move with his left arm to clear contact. He doesn't immediately clear all the contact, but it's enough for him to get downhill and pursue the quarterback for the sack.These moves are tough to block for the even best centers in the NFL, so you can imagine how difficult it is for a rookie to stop them.Price should fare better in the run game because he'll get help from the guards on most plays; however, when Ogunjobi gets matched up with Price one-on-one in the run game, the Browns interior defender should find a ton of success thanks to his superior strength and hand technique.Don't be surprised if Ogunjobi adds another sack and a couple tackles for loss to his ledger this week.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.

New York Jets rookie quarterback Sam Darnold will miss his second straight game due to a foot injury and Josh McCown will again step in against the New England Patriots, the team announced Friday.More to come.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

SSSQ is a weekly look at under-the-radar fantasy players you should consider starting and potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut.For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult our Week 12 rankings. You can also listen to the Week 12 preview episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast.StartLamar Jackson, QB, Ravensvs. RaidersPatrick Smith / Getty Images Sport / GettyWe can all agree there's no way Jackson rushes 27 times again, but against the Raiders' defense, he won't have to. Even if the rookie carries the ball half as many times, he should be able to boost his fantasy numbers by finding the end zone, something he wasn't able to do in his first start. The Raiders have given up multiple touchdown passes to all but one quarterback they've faced this season. It will be a sad day for fantasy owners if the Ravens decide to go back to Joe Flacco once the veteran is healthy, so enjoy Jackson's run while it lasts, he's a low-end QB1 with top-five upside.Boone's projection: 170 passing yards, TD, 84 rushing yards, TDOther QBs to start

Tom Brady sat out the start of the New England Patriots' final practice of the week due to a knee injury, according to Ben Volin of The Boston Globe, indicating that he'll miss the entire session.The star quarterback was limited on Wednesday and Thursday before missing his first practice of the season, leaving backup Brian Hoyer to run the first-team offense.

The Atlanta Falcons' season is all but over after a Thanksgiving beatdown by the NFC South rival New Orleans Saints, but the team's ownership apparently has no issues with head coach Dan Quinn's leadership."We love our coach," owner Arthur Blank told ESPN's Vaughn McClure. "Our coach is not the problem."Thursday's 31-17 loss dropped the Falcons to 4-7. Atlanta started 1-4 amid a rash of injuries, including ones to Pro Bowlers Devonta Freeman, Keanu Neal, and Deion Jones, but managed to rattle off three wins before again succumbing to a losing streak that has likely ended its playoff hopes.While Blank acknowledged the impact of losing key starters on each side of the ball, the 76-year-old doesn't accept that it was the main factor in Atlanta's struggles."It's a reason, but it's not an excuse," Blank said of the injuries. "That's what the coach would tell you. That's what the players would tell you. There have been some crippling injuries, but other guys have stepped up and played the best they can. Some cases, that's good enough. In some cases, not quite."Quinn led the Falcons to two consecutive double-digit win seasons prior to this year and reached Super Bowl in 2016.Atlanta extended its head coach, along with general manager Thomas Dimitroff, through the 2022 season in July.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Gallup took the field for Thursday's Thanksgiving Day game against the Washington Redskins just five days after he learned of the death of his brother, Andrew.Gallup, who finished the contest with two catches for 19 yards, received the game ball for his efforts, according to Todd Archer of ESPN."To go through the tragedy that he did a couple of days ago and be able to turn around and get back here and get ready and come back in time to prepare and get ready for this game, it just shows the character of him," quarterback Dak Prescott said. "It shows the man he is. He battles adversity. I'm just so proud of him and proud of the way he handled this. I don't wish this on anybody, obviously. He is playing for his brother. He is living for his brother. That's what's most important."Gallup learned of his brother's passing following last week's win over the Atlanta Falcons. He remained with his family until Tuesday, when he returned to Texas via owner Jerry Jones' private plane.The 22-year-old will head back to Georgia on Friday for the funeral.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL's three-game Thanksgiving Day slate can bring out the best in players, both in their play and in their celebrations.Here's a look at the most creative dances, reenactments, and charitable endeavors.6. Eddie Jackson's conditioning drill 🏃

NEW ORLEANS (AP) Drew Brees threw four touchdown passes to inexperienced receivers and the New Orleans Saints won their 10th straight game Thursday night with a 31-17 victory over Atlanta that eliminated the Falcons from contention in the NFC South.Tommylee Lewis and Austin Carr each caught their second career touchdown pass, and rookie tight end Dan Arnold grabbed his first, as did rookie receiver Keith Kirkwood. All four entered the NFL as undrafted free agents within the past three years and had combined for zero touchdowns this season before Carr caught the first of his career last Sunday.Meanwhile, the Falcons (4-7) lost three fumbles inside the Saints 20 - something no team facing streaking New Orleans (10-1) can afford this season.Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan was stripped by safety Marcus Williams on a third-and-2 from the Saints 3 and Williams recovered to end Atlanta's opening drive. Julio Jones was stripped by linebacker Alex Anzalone after a catch on the New Orleans 17, and safety Vonn Bell recovered in the final minute of the second quarter to preserve a 17-3 lead going into halftime.The Saints' defense, which had a season-high six sacks, continued to come up with big plays in the second half, with Anzalone breaking up a fourth-down pass in the third quarter and linebacker A.J. Klein intercepting a pass tipped by defensive tackle Tyeler Davison in the fourth.The interception gave the Saints possession on the Atlanta 22, setting up Kirkwood's diving 4-yard TD catch.Just for good measure, Lattimore stripped Calvin Ridley on the Saints 1 after a 29-yard completion that looked as though it would end with a touchdown with about four minutes to go. Defensive back Eli Apple recovered that one.Ryan was under pressure all night from a Saints defense that was bolstered by the return of first-round draft choice Marcus Davenport from a toe injury that sidelined him for three games. Cameron Jordan had two sacks, while Williams, P.J. Williams, Sheldon Rankins and Demario Davis each had one.Ryan finished 35 of 47 for 377 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. But very little came easy. His first TD pass, to Calvin Ridley, came on a fourth-and-goal from the 2 at the end of the third quarter.Atlanta rushed for just 26 yards, while New Orleans finished with 150, led by Alvin Kamara's 89 and Mark Ingram's 52.Statistically, Brees did not have one of his more impressive games, completing 15 of 22 passes for 171 yards with his second interception of the season. The pick was snagged by Damontae Kazee, his NFL-leading sixth this year.But Brees' ability to play to the strengths of unheralded receivers allowed the Saints to cash in on scoring opportunities.Lewis, a third-year pro, was in his first game back after spending nine weeks on injured reserve and had not caught a pass all season before getting wide open for his 28-yard grab that made it 7-0 on the first series of the game. Carr is a second-year pro who played in only one game without a catch as a rookie. Kirkwood made his NFL debut three games ago, when Arnold had his first career reception.INJURIESFalcons linebacker Kemal Ishmael was helped off the field in the third quarter after a punt.UP NEXTFalcons host Baltimore Dec. 2.Saints visit Dallas on Thursday night.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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 updated rankings for Week 12.The final rankings will be released Sunday morning.You can also listen to the Week 12 preview episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast.Standard

Mike Posner and The Legendary Mike Posner Band had the unfortunate distinction of being the halftime performer during Thursday's game between the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears, guaranteeing an entire nation would pick apart their performance with ruthless scrutiny.The Detroit-born Posner has experienced significant success in his career, with one of his music videos getting more than a billion views. But he met the same fate as previous halftime performers Jason DeRulo, Nickelback, and Andy Grammer.That is to say, everyone had fun at his expense on social media:

Ezekiel Elliott stole the show during 2016's Thanksgiving slate by leaping into the Salvation Army red kettle and helping drive donations to the charity.Two years on, the Dallas Cowboys' star running back is considering a repeat performance ahead of Thursday's all-important clash with the Washington Redskins."Any chance of you jumping in the Salvation Army red kettle again?" asked Deion Sanders, according to Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News."I think that's a possibility," answered Elliott.

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 Brandon Marianne Lee of The Athletic to discuss the biggest fantasy questions heading into Week 12.Topics include:

The Detroit Lions may be working on Thanksgiving Day, but that doesn't mean those attending the game can't enjoy the holiday eats.For Thursday's contest against the Chicago Bears, Ford Field is serving a Thanksgiving pizza, complete with turkey, stuffing, gravy, and cranberry sauce.Images of the mashup are already flooding in. Judge for yourself. Would you indulge?

The Chicago Bears will start Chase Daniel at quarterback for their Thanksgiving Day matchup with the Detroit Lions.Regular starter Mitchell Trubisky is dealing with a right shoulder injury he suffered in Sunday night's win over the Minnesota Vikings and was listed as inactive for Thursday's game. The short turnaround apparently didn't allow enough time for a recovery.As a result, Daniel will make just his third career start - in a matchup with playoff implications. The 7-3 Bears currently lead the NFC North by 1.5 games over the Vikings with six contests remaining.The 4-6 Lions are hoping to remain in the hunt for a wild-card spot. However, they'll be without running back Kerryon Johnson and receiver Marvin Jones against the Bears.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Here's a look at the team totals for all 30 teams playing in Week 12, along with our picks and confidence level:Chicago Bears at Detroit LionsBears' team total: 22.5 pointsEven with Chase Daniel taking snaps, the Bears' offense should have its way against a Lions defense that can't stop the run.Pick: Over (-125)

Several members of the Philadelphia Eagles were visibly frustrated during Sunday's 48-7 loss to the New Orleans Saints.Quarterback Carson Wentz punched the air while walking to the sideline following an interception, while safety Malcolm Jenkins flipped two middle fingers toward Saints head coach Sean Payton after he gave up a 37-yard touchdown catch to running back Alvin Kamara on a fourth-and-7 play in the fourth quarter with the game already well in hand for New Orleans.Wentz says the Eagles needs to do a better job of handling their emotions when things aren't going in the team's favor."What I said after the game is that we won't be a team that quits. We won't be a team that lays down," Wentz said, according to Rob Maaddi of The Associated Press. "There's something that we can see on film from how we handled our body language and different things like that, myself included, that's uncharacteristic of who we are. It's really up to the leaders, Malcolm, myself, other leaders to hold everyone accountable and keep plugging along."The reigning Super Bowl champions dropped a second consecutive game in Week 11 to fall to 4-6 on the season and third place in the NFC East.They'll hope to bounce back against the 3-7 New York Giants in Week 12.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A 2014 charge of child abuse and a year-long suspension from the NFL apparently haven't dissuaded Washington Redskins running back Adrian Peterson from physically disciplining his children."I had to discipline my son and spank him the other day with a belt," Peterson told Bleacher Report's Master Tesfatsion in an article published Wednesday.The 33-year-old says he also uses other disciplinary techniques, such as taking away their electronics, sending them to timeout, or having them do wall squats, but he insists spankings are a necessity, particularly for repeat offenses."There's different ways I discipline my kids. I didn't let that change me," Peterson said.Peterson was charged with felony child abuse in 2014 for spanking his then four-year-old son with a "switch," a flexible branch used for corporal punishment, leaving the child with cuts and bruises. He was suspended for all but one game of the 2014 season by the NFL. On top of that, Peterson was given a court-issued two-year probation period, a $4,000 fine, and 80 hours of community service after submitting a no contest plea to a reduced charge of misdemeanor reckless assault.Peterson's agent, Ron Slavin, issued a statement Wednesday night.

Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer didn't watch the Los Angeles Rams' 54-51 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, but, despite the game being widely hailed as a football classic, he doesn't feel like he missed much."Honestly, I didn't watch it," Zimmer said, according to The Athletic's Josh Tolentino. "I was prepping for Green Bay. I'm not a 54-51 type of guy. That's just not my cup of tea."Considering Zimmer has spent the majority of his career as a defensive coach, it isn't surprising that the high-scoring affair wasn't his type of football.The Chiefs-Rams game had the best Monday Night Football overnight rating since 2014, and viewership was up 57 percent from last year's Week 11 Monday night matchup between the Atlanta Falcons and the Seattle Seahawks.The Vikings, last year's NFC Conference finalists, have been underwhelming this season with a 5-4-1 record. While their defense ranks in the top five in defensive yards allowed, their offense has been mediocre, ranking 15th in points per game and 14th in yards per game.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston has been named the starter for Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers after relieving Ryan Fitzpatrick for the second time this year in Week 11.The 24-year-old heads into the stretch run of the 2018 season with the fifth-year option of his rookie contract - worth $20.9 million for 2019 - guaranteed only in the event of injury. If healthy at the end of this season, he could be cut with zero effect on the Buccaneers' salary cap next year.With his option looming, Winston says he's not thinking about what his future may hold."I just know that I'm committed to this team, and committed to doing my best to provide an opportunity for me later," Winston said, according to ESPN's Jenna Laine.Winston returns under center after last starting in Week 8, a 37-34 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Sunday will be Winston's fourth start of the season. He missed the first three games due to suspension and Fitzpatrick's performance over that time allowed him to retain the No. 1 job after his return. The soon-to-be 36-year-old Fitzpatrick had thrown for 1,230 yards over that span."I think we can go back to how this season started - 'FitzMagic' - that was all the talk. He was playing excellent," Winston said. "I can't speak for coach Koetter. I agree with him. We want to win. And any way our individual selves can add to that, we're going to try our best to do that."Fitzpatrick, who's on the seventh team of his NFL career, will be a free agent at season's end. Ryan Griffin, the 29-year-old who has yet to attempt an NFL pass, is the third quarterback on the roster.Winston, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2015 draft, can begin to change the narrative against a 49ers team ranked 15th in passing yards allowed per game and tied for 24th with 21 passing touchdowns surrendered.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was a limited participant in practice Wednesday because of a knee injury, the team announced.Brady wasn't on the injury report two weeks ago, but appeared there Wednesday. The Patriots were on a bye in Week 11 and, therefore, didn't have to produce an injury report.There is no indication that Brady's knee injury could threaten his ability to suit up Sunday against the New York Jets. The 41-year-old has thrown for 2,748 yards with 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 10 outings this season.Patriots running back Sony Michel, who's battling a knee injury, and tight end Rob Gronkowski, who's dealing with ankle and back issues, were also limited.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Bears will likely turn to Chase Daniel as the starter for Thursday's Thanksgiving game against the Detroit Lions, as Mitchell Trubisky deals with an injury to his throwing shoulder, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.The Bears officially listed Trubisky as doubtful, according to Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times. Rapoport added that the 24-year-old probably could've suited up had the game been played Sunday.Trubisky experienced soreness and issues with movement Tuesday morning, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.The young quarterback is dealing with an AC joint sprain but the Bears believe it will be just a one-week injury, sources told Schefter.Chicago promoted Tyler Bray from the practice squad to serve as Daniel's backup against the Lions.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver DeSean Jackson will pay tribute to Rodney King in an upcoming game.Jackson's cleats feature the "Black Lives Matter" slogan and a depiction of King, who was beaten by four police officers following a high-speed car chase through the streets of Los Angeles in 1991. The signs for Normandie and Florence Avenues, site of the 1992 L.A. riots, also appear on the cleats.(Photos courtesy: DeSean Jackson/Instagram)Jackson has used his footwear to protest police brutality in the past, donning custom cleats with caution tape on them during the 2016 season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After the Oakland Raiders traded away Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper, some fans may have thought the franchise is tanking to accelerate its rebuild under Jon Gruden.But apparently, no one sent Derek Carr the memo, as the quarterback said on Wednesday that he has no intention of allowing the 2-8 Raiders to end the season in the NFL's basement."I want to mess up the draft. I don't want the first (overall) pick," said Carr, according to Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle. "I want to win and have people be mad at me for that."Carr already did his best to hurt Oakland's draft status, throwing for 192 yards and two touchdowns in a 23-21 Week 11 win over the Arizona Cardinals, a team also in contention for the No. 1 overall pick along with the two-win San Francisco 49ers.Only one team that currently has a losing record is on Oakland's schedule the rest of the season (Week 16 against the 4-6 Denver Broncos). But with Carr's job potentially on the line, the pivot has everything to play for down the stretch.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees was the leading vote-getter for the 2019 Pro Bowl as of Nov. 20, the NFL announced Wednesday.Brees, who's steered the Saints to a 9-1 record, amassed 487,400 votes. Kansas City Chiefs pivot Patrick Mahomes and Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley were the only other players to receive over 400,000 votes.Top 5 offensive vote-getters:PositionPlayerTeamVotesQBDrew BreesSaints487400QBPatrick MahomesChiefs459325RBTodd GurleyRams402238RBJames ConnerSteelers384643RBSaquon BarkleyGiants363609Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt garnered the most votes among defensive players, followed by Rams defensive tackle and reigning Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald.Top 5 defensive vote-getters:PositionPlayerTeamVotesDEJ.J. WattTexans212514DTAaron DonaldRams201789LBKhalil MackBears178678LBT.J. WattSteelers167030DEDanielle HunterVikings149946The list of leading vote-getters at each position is available here.Fan balloting for the Pro Bowl runs through Dec. 13.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Whether you're serious about making money or just need a break from all the family chatter on Thanksgiving, we've got you covered.Here are our best bets for the three games being played on Thursday:Chicago Bears at Detroit LionsRecommended Picks: Bears -2.5 and Under 44.5Detroit and Chicago meet for the second time in three weeks after the Bears handed their division rival a 34-22 loss at Soldier Field. Chicago racked up a whopping 7.6 yards per play in the win while Detroit managed just 4.2.The Bears' offense will likely have to operate without quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, who is officially listed as doubtful with a shoulder injury. But we're still confident in backing second-stringer Chase Daniel. Chicago's offense has the pieces to move the chains against a Lions defense allowing 6.4 adjusted yards per play, which ranks 31st in the league. Daniel should have no problem handing the ball off to Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen to run wild on a Lions rush defense allowing 4.8 yards per carry, 26th in the NFL.The Lions' offense is still mediocre at best, averaging 5.4 yards per play this season. Detroit will be without running back Kerryon Johnson and wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr., making for a very short list of weapons for quarterback Matthew Stafford.Pinnacle Sports and other shops are hanging -2.5 for those who want to get a good number on the road side. Other places still have 44.5 available on the total.Washington Redskins at Dallas CowboysRecommended Pick: Redskins +7.5Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett is 3-14-1 against the spread when his team plays on a short week (six days or fewer). It's a trend we'll hear about quite a bit, but it has nothing to do with why we like Washington on Thursday.It'll be Colt McCoy leading the Redskins' offense, as Alex Smith is out after suffering a leg injury in the Week 11 loss to the Houston Texans. Washington's offense can't be much worse with McCoy than it was under Smith, a check-down savant who helped the unit muster just 5.1 yards per play heading into Week 12.Before the season, Las Vegas' CG Technology gave bettors a glimpse at how valuable starting quarterbacks were to the point spread, pegging Smith as a three-to-four-point difference against a backup. We don't believe it's that much and think there's value with Washington despite McCoy operating under center.While most shops are holding firm with -7 across the board, a couple of books, including The Greek, are hanging -7.5.Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans SaintsRecommended Pick: Falcons team total over 23.5Is the Saints' defense on the brink of a huge turnaround? The offense has garnered all the love during the team's nine-game winning streak, but the defense has passed the paper test, allowing just 21 points over the last two games and holding three of the previous four opponents to 20 points or fewer.We aren't buying it. For a defense still allowing 6.1 yards per play, how are the Saints keeping teams off the scoreboard? Glad you asked.In a 30-20 win over the Minnesota Vikings in Week 8, New Orleans gave up 6.3 yards per play but benefited from a costly Vikings turnover deep in Saints territory, which changed the complexion of the game.In a 51-14 Week 10 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, the Saints played an A.J. Green-less offense and still managed to surrender 6.6 yards per play, but posted two more turnovers in their own territory.There isn't much to knock on New Orleans in the 48-7 win last weekend, but the Philadelphia Eagles' coaching staff did admit how tough it's been to find a rhythm since acquiring Golden Tate from the Lions.We feel the Saints have been fortunate in their recent defensive surge. Atlanta's offense is already capable of putting up points, and with Drew Brees and Co. feasting the way they have all season, there are opportunities for both more possessions and chances to score in garbage time for the Falcons.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.

Detroit Lions running back Kerryon Johnson and wide receiver Marvin Jones will miss Thursday's game against the Chicago Bears because of knee injuries, the team announced.Johnson, the Lions' ascending rookie, is nursing a sprain he suffered in Sunday's win over the Carolina Panthers. He's averaged 5.4 yards per carry while rushing for 641 yards and three touchdowns through 10 games.Jones, meanwhile, is believed to be dealing with a bone bruise. He reportedly sought a second opinion on the injury last week and missed the Panthers game.The Lions enter Thanksgiving at the bottom of the NFC North standings at 4-6. A win would thrust them back into the playoff conversation.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Monday night's 54-51 shootout between the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams was bad news for Las Vegas sportsbooks.Michael Grodsky, a spokesperson for William Hill, which operates 108 sportsbooks in Nevada, told ESPN's Ben Fawkes the game resulted in a "healthy seven-figure loss" for the book.The over/under of 64 points was the highest for an NFL game since at least 1986, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. Grodsky said 69 percent of customers bet the over.Sportsbook BetOnline.ag also took a big hit."We got killed," BetOnline's Dave Mason told Zack Jones of Forbes. "Over 75 percent of the cash was on the over and that cost the house big time."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman Marshal Yanda said Wednesday he did not spit on an opposing player over the weekend despite accusations to the contrary."I would never, ever spit on another person," he told Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. "That's not how I was raised."A video circulated Sunday after the Ravens defeated the Cincinnati Bengals that showed Yanda spitting while standing near a pile of players including teammates and opposition. At the top of the pile was Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict."That spit hit the ground 100 percent," Yanda said. "It didn't hit anybody."

It's hard to believe the Indianapolis Colts were in serious trouble just 5 1/2 weeks ago.The Colts began the season losing five of their first six contests, putting the level of concern in Indianapolis at a fever pitch. Perhaps quarterback Andrew Luck wouldn't make it all the way back from his lingering shoulder injury. Maybe head coach Frank Reich wasn't the right man for the job. And did Josh McDaniels leaving the Colts at the altar do short- and long-term damage to the franchise?Four victories later, those concerns are a thing of the past. After their 38-10 trouncing of the Tennessee Titans, the Colts are back in the playoff hunt - and they're playing some of the best football in the league.Why the stunning reversal of fortune? It turns out Reich was the perfect guy to lead the Colts to respectability, particularly on the offensive side. He's done that through creatively using one of the more interesting tight end groups in the league.The Colts have three effective weapons at the position, allowing Reich to rely on multiple tight end formations during both running and passing plays.NFL teams typically use the 13 offensive personnel grouping - consisting of one running back, one wide receiver, and three tight ends - four percent of the time, according to Sharp Football. The Colts have used that formation on seven percent of their plays this season, putting them behind only the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Washington Redskins, and Titans.Reich's team really thrives because of how it uses pass-catching option Jack Doyle in two tight-end sets, either with fellow tight end Eric Ebron or the versatile Mo Alie-Cox. When the Colts use 12 offensive personnel (featuring a two-TE package), Luck has a 125.5 passer rating with 10 touchdowns and just two interceptions.Let's look at how those usage numbers play out on the field.On this play from the Colts' Week 10 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, they break the huddle using 12 offensive personnel. Doyle (No. 84) aligns as a fullback in the backfield, while fellow tight end Alie-Cox (No. 81) aligns on a wing to the left.Due to the personnel and the offensive alignment, the Jaguars keep their base defense on the field and put eight defenders in the box:NFLHere's the route design the Colts use.NFLDoyle gets lost in the shuffle, and Luck hits him for an easy gain:Here's another example of how Reich can use 12 personnel to bolster his passing offense.On this play against the Oakland Raiders from Week 8, the Colts face a first-and-10 on Oakland's 26-yard line. This time, Alie-Cox and Doyle align in a two-tight end wing on the left side:NFLAs we saw with the previous example, the Raiders stack the box with eight defenders, but they're in a nickel package with five defensive backs on the field.Here's the route design Reich installs:NFLIndianapolis runs a "scissors" concept, a vertical passing play with a deep post route and a corner route.You expect to see speedy wide receivers executing that route combination. But here, Reich uses Doyle and Alie-Cox to run the scissors. That results in Alie-Cox being matched up against cornerback Gareon Conley (No. 21). He should be able to cover most tight ends on this route, but Alie-Cox beats him to the outside and Luck drops in a perfect throw over Conley's outstretched arms for a touchdown:The route design and alignment combine to give the Colts’ tight ends a vertical passing opportunity. Even though both Doyle and Alie-Cox are working against defensive backs, the formation creates some traffic and gives Alie-Cox a free release off the line of scrimmage, enabling him to beat Conley to the outside.Perhaps Reich’s most creative use of multiple tight-end sets came in Week 10 against the Jaguars. That's when he ran everyone’s favorite play - four verticals - out of a 13 offensive personnel package.The Colts face a second-and-10 at the Jaguars’ 35-yard line late in the first quarter, and they break the huddle with three tight ends: Alie-Cox, Doyle, and Ebron (No. 85). Running back Nyheim Hines (No. 21), who was an elite sprinter for North Carolina State’s track team, is in the backfield:NFLThe tight ends angle their alignment so they're all eligible receivers. The Jaguars, meanwhile, have their base defense on the field, and with three tight ends to the left side, they put two safeties into the box. That forces Jalen Ramsey (No. 20), a cornerback by trade, into an unfamiliar role at free safety.The Colts then shift Hines:Hines now moves into the slot on the left, emptying the backfield. Safety Tashaun Gipson (No. 39), who had been in the box, slides outside.Here are the offensive and defensive breakdowns:NFLThe Colts indeed run four verticals, with two tight ends releasing deep on the right while Doyle runs a curl route. The Jaguars, with their base defense on the field and players in unfamiliar positions, run a basic Cover 3.That creates a bracket on the two inside seam routes around Ramsey. Luck can look at one seam route, and then throw to the other one, all while manipulating Ramsey with his eyes. Which is exactly what he does.The route from Doyle prevents the curl/flat defender from staying with Alie-Cox’s seam route. Then Alie-Cox is open up the seam once he passes the second-level defenders. Luck looks at Hines first on his left, freezing Ramsey in the middle of the field, before coming to his right and throwing the seam to Alie-Cox for a big gain.Reich will also use these tight end-heavy personnel packages to create opportunities down the field for his wide receivers, especially T.Y. Hilton. On this play against the Jaguars, the Colts have a three-point lead late in the fourth quarter and need one more drive or big play to ice the contest. They start a series on their own 25-yard line and use 12 offensive personnel:NFLHere's the route design working off a play-action fake:NFLIndianapolis sets up a two-level read to the right, with the tight end in the flat and Hilton working the middle on a crossing route. Jacksonville is in a zone, and you can see the linebackers - in particular, Myles Jack (No. 44) - bite on the run fake, allowing Hilton to get free behind them for a huge gain:Jack tries to recover and trail Hilton, but the damage has been done.Then there's this play, which we already broke down as part of By Design from Week 11. This is another example of the Colts using play-action off of a multiple tight end package for a huge gain:The situation and personnel plant the idea that a run is coming, which gets safety Kevin Byard (No. 31) reacting to the run fake. Hilton can then attack the middle on a post route, and the Colts score a fairly easy touchdown.By using multiple tight-end packages when the offense might be expecting a run, Reich is creating opportunities for Luck and the rest of the Colts’ offensive weaponry to make plays. Using personnel groupings to keep a defense on its toes is a creative way to exploit mismatches, and Reich is showing a mastery of that art.Mark Schofield writes NFL feature content for theScore. After nearly a decade of practicing law in the Washington, D.C., area Mark changed careers and started writing about football. Drawing upon more than a decade of playing quarterback, including at the collegiate level, Mark focuses his work on quarterback evaluation and offensive scheme analysis. He lives in Maryland with his wife and two children. Find him on Twitter @MarkSchofield.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Need some help spotting situational edges with a new slate of NFL action fast approaching? We've got you covered.Here are five tips as you do your homework for Week 12.A promising Colts-Dolphins first-half overThe Indianapolis Colts have been a decent over play this season, getting past the number in six of their 10 games. Where they've been especially profitable is the first-half total.Colts games have gone over the first half total seven straight times, with an average of 31 points being scored. Additionally, all five of Indy's home games have gone over the first-half total, and the Colts will be hosting a Miami Dolphins defense that's allowing 30 points per game on the road.Patriots in good position to cover spreadThe New England Patriots fall into a couple of favorable spots when they travel to take on the New York Jets.First off, we want to play road teams following a bye week - they are on a 60-28 run covering the spread, and 10 of 15 teams in that situation this season have covered.Second, the Patriots are one of the best bounce-back teams in the NFL, as they've covered the spread in 15 of their previous 19 games following a loss. Look for New England to get back on track Sunday after being outclassed by the Tennessee Titans in Week 10.Thanksgiving favorites on fireShort weeks have favored teams laying chalk in the past, and Thanksgiving Day's been no different. Over the last 15 seasons, Thanksgiving favorites are 27-11 covering the spread, which sets up Chicago (-4 at Detroit), Dallas (-7.5 vs. Washington), and New Orleans (-13 vs. Atlanta) as the plays for Thursday if you want to ride the hot hand.Meanwhile, BetLabs found that both first- and second-half wagers on Thanksgiving favorites have been profitable, too, as those favorites have gone 24-12-2 (first half) and 26-11-1 (second half) at covering the spread over those same 15 seasons.Chargers intriguing despite big spreadGiven the overall balance of the NFL, there aren't many double-digit favorites each week. But when they do make an appearance, there's a specific angle that's been marginally profitable for bettors.Double-digit favorites against non-conference opponents are on a 70-60 (53.8 percent) run at covering the spread. It's not an earth-shattering clip, but there's some substance considering teams laying 10 or more points against in-conference opponents are covering the spread less than 45 percent of the time.This weekend, the Los Angeles Chargers (-12 vs. Arizona) are the lone double-digit favorite that will be facing a non-conference opponent, and they should have their way with rookie quarterback Josh Rosen and the Cardinals, who lost to a bad Oakland team in Week 11.Cousins faltering in spotlightAny casual fan has probably heard by now that Kirk Cousins can't win the big game.And there's some truth to it - following Minnesota's 25-20 loss to the Bears in Week 11, Cousins is just 4-12 straight up in prime-time games. The veteran quarterback will get another shot on Sunday night when his slightly favored Vikings (-3) host the Green Bay Packers.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.

The Dallas Cowboys paid a steep price to acquire Amari Cooper, shipping out a first-round pick to the Oakland Raiders for the No. 1 receiver.Three games into his Cowboys career, Cooper is looking worth the risk.The wideout's numbers aren't spectacular - 14 catches for 169 yards and one touchdown - but Dallas has gone 2-1 with him in the lineup, and Ezekiel Elliott has suddenly found room to run thanks to the passing threat."It seems like he kind of was the missing piece, just because when he got here this offense started rolling," Elliott said, according to Clarence E. Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "It's great having him. He's a phenomenal player. He's going to have a great future here."Elliott has racked up 151 yards and 122 yards rushing in wins over the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons, respectively, to help put Dallas back in contention for the NFC East crown."Definitely. I'd say so. We've talked about that for a couple weeks now," quarterback Dak Prescott said about Cooper's ability to open up the run game for Elliot. "The way teams are playing us and the way they're playing Amari and adjusting their coverages has given us favorable boxes. The offensive line is doing a great job of taking advantage of that. Zeke's finding holes and making people miss."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If Hollywood ever decides to make a movie about Tom Brady's life, the New England Patriots quarterback knows just the actor to play him."I'm going with Mark Wahlberg," Brady said during his weekly appearance on Westwood One Sports radio. "A Boston legend, (from) Dorchester, you know, one of the just 'grind it out' kind of guys."Wahlberg is a huge Patriots fan, so he would probably be thrilled to land the role. The two have also worked together on set before, with Brady making a cameo in the 2015 Wahlberg-produced film "Entourage" and appearing in a scene with the actor in "Ted 2."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins won't be getting over his team's 48-7 loss to the New Orleans Saints anytime soon.Jenkins, who featured for the Saints during the first five seasons of his career, was incensed about the blowout and hinted at a severe lack of effort from the Eagles."It was embarrassing, quite frankly. It was one of those things that I didn't feel like as a team we had a lot of fight. I would rather get thrown out of a game than just lay down and take it," Jenkins said Tuesday to ESPN's Tim McManus. "There were a ton of frustrations, one being obviously me going back to New Orleans - it's a game that meant a lot to me - but just the demeanor of the team really bothered me."At this point in time, we need to figure some things out about ourselves."Jenkins was caught flipping his middle finger at Saints head coach Sean Payton after running back Alvin Kamara beat him cleanly for a touchdown on fourth down. While Jenkins later clarified that he has no ill will toward Payton, he did allude to a number of issues within his own team."Some things are just non-negotiable. We can deal with guys getting beat. Mistakes happen. If you don't win at the point of attack, cool. But if you don't know what you're doing or if you're not giving us everything you've got, especially when our backs are on the wall, then I think that's something as leaders of the team we need to nip in the bud because we're at that moment where we can't carry non-essential personnel," Jenkins said.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tony Gonzalez, Ed Reed, and Champ Bailey headline the 25 modern-era semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's class of 2019.Gonzalez, Reed, and Bailey are eligible for induction for the first time.The 25 semifinalists will be reduced to 15 modern-era finalists before the selection committee meets on Feb. 2 to determine the class of 2019.The other semifinalists include: Steve Atwater, Ronde Barber, Tony Boselli, Isaac Bruce, LeRoy Butler, Don Coryell, Alan Faneca, Tom Flores, Torry Holt, Steve Hutchinson, Edgerrin James, Jimmy Johnson, Ty Law, John Lynch, Clay Matthews, Kevin Mawae, Karl Mecklenburg, Sam Mills, Richard Seymour, Zach Thomas, Hines Ward, and Darren Woodson.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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 12.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 12 Waiver Wire column. You can also listen to the latest episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast.Standard Rankings

Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley got his ankle rolled up on during Monday's win against the Kansas City Chiefs but will be fine going forward, head coach Sean McVay said, according to Greg Beacham of The Associated Press.Gurley was held without a touchdown for the first time this season, rushing for 55 yards on 12 carries and adding three receptions for 39 yards.The Rams are on their bye this week, giving Gurley plenty of time to rest and recover before resuming the season against the Detroit Lions on Dec. 2.Gurley is the NFL's leading rusher with 1,043 yards and 13 touchdowns. He's also caught 43 passes for 441 yards and four touchdowns, serving as the focal point of the NFL's third-highest scoring offense.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey made headlines this summer when he called out several NFL quarterbacks in a GQ interview, including Buffalo Bills signal-caller Josh Allen, whom he called "trash" and a "stupid draft pick." Although his team is currently 3-7 and has the same record as Buffalo, Ramsey isn't backing down from his assessment of the rookie."Everybody who knows me knows why I was so hard on him," Ramsey said, according to ESPN's Michael DiRocco. "If you don't know me, that's on you. If y'all look deep into it, y'all can figure out why I was so harsh."Allen has thrown two touchdowns and five interceptions in six games, adding three rushing touchdowns. He's missed Buffalo's past four games with an elbow injury but is expected to start against the Jaguars.Ramsey hasn't played to his superior standards this season, so it'll be interesting to see whether his renewed commentary fuels Allen on Sunday.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end O.J. Howard will be placed on injured reserve with foot and ankle injuries, the team confirmed Tuesday.Howard will miss the remainder of the year.The 24-year-old recorded 34 catches for 565 yards and five touchdowns in 10 games this season.It's a tough loss for the Buccaneers as the 2017 first-round pick was coming into his own.Cameron Brate will likely see increased targets in Howard's absence.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Denver Broncos have waived cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones, a source told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Jones recorded nine tackles and an interception in seven games.The veteran cornerback signed with the Broncos in August after spending the past eight seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. Jones was named a first-team All-Pro in 2014 and earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2015.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill will start on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts after missing the team's past five games due to a shoulder injury, head coach Adam Gase announced Tuesday, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald.Dolphins reporters at Tuesday's practice said Tannehill appeared to be throwing without limitations.

Alex Rodriguez tried to convince a young Patrick Mahomes to give up football and pursue a career in baseball. Fortunately for the Kansas City Chiefs, Mahomes ignored his advice.Rodriguez, who played alongside Mahomes' father, Pat Mahomes Sr., with the Texas Rangers, shared the conversation he had with the quarterback in an interview with Omnisport."I said, 'Now listen to me now. If you don't hear one thing that I ever tell you, you better listen to this," the 14-time MLB All-Star recalled. "'There is no money, there is no future, there is no history in football. You have to play baseball.'"Well, he reminded me of that recently and, boy, am I glad he did not listen to me."Mahomes, a former high school pitcher, was selected in the 37th round of the 2014 MLB Draft by the Detroit Tigers but chose to play college football at Texas Tech instead."After a lot of talk with my parents and a lot of praying, I knew the best decision for me was to go to college and get to experience college football and baseball," Mahomes told ESPN in 2016. "It was the best decision for me and my future. The biggest advantage is getting all the memories that college gives you and the life of being a college kid."Mahomes leads the NFL in passing yards (3,628) and touchdowns (37) and his 117.9 passer rating is second only to New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (126.9).Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Bears are "cautiously optimistic" that Mitchell Trubisky will be able to play through a right shoulder injury and start Thursday's Thanksgiving matchup against the Detroit Lions, head coach Matt Nagy said on Tuesday.However, Nagy was careful to leave the door ajar for Trubisky to sit, saying he "couldn't make any promises" about the quarterback's status.Trubisky suffered the injury during the fourth quarter of the Bears' Week 11 win over the Minnesota Vikings.The Bears didn't practice on Monday, but the team said Trubisky would've been sidelined had a session taken place, according to Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune.Chicago's offense has been hot lately, averaging the fifth-most points over the last three games (33.3), according to teamrankings.com. Trubisky has played a large role in that recent success, throwing five touchdown passes and only three interceptions, while also running for another score.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 11 takeaways, early look at waiver wireQuarterbacksPatrick Smith / Getty Images Sport / GettyLamar Jackson, RavensNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. OAK19%$3In his first start, Jackson was limited as a passer, throwing for 150 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception in a favorable matchup with the Bengals. But, you don't need to be prolific through the air when you're rushing the ball 27 times. Jackson turned those carries into 117 yards on the ground, making him a low-end QB1 in fantasy this week. Had he found the end zone, he'd be approaching the top five. That's the kind of upside we're talking about with Jackson. He's expected to get at least one more start, which will come against the bottom-feeder Raiders. Hopefully, he does enough in that game to convince the Ravens' coaching staff to let him hold the job for the rest of the season.Baker Mayfield, BrownsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat CIN41%$1Jackson didn't take full advantage of a Bengals pass defense that was allowing the third-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks entering Week 11, but Mayfield will. The first overall pick in this year's draft has started to find his groove, throwing for multiple touchdown passes in four straight games prior the bye. The Browns should be rested and well prepared for their visit to Cincinnati, where Mayfield will be an excellent streaming option.Other options: Andy Dalton at CLE (57 percent owned), Dak Prescott vs. WAS (48 percent owned), Eli Manning at PHI (23 percent owned), Nick Mullens at TB (7 percent owned)Running BacksBrett Carlsen / Getty Images Sport / GettyJosh Adams, EaglesNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. NYG32%$29Adams received a write-up in this section each of the last two weeks as his role in the Eagles' offense grew. Even against a tough Saints run defense, Adams delivered with 53 yards and a touchdown on seven carries, but it was his work in the passing game that should get you excited. The rookie caught three of his six targets for 19 yards, showing he can be more than just a physical ball carrier. Adams should continue to lead this backfield in touches and with softer matchups on the horizon, including the Giants this week, he'll be an intriguing flex play with RB2 upside moving forward.Gus Edwards, RavensNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. OAK4%$21Edwards was a surprise star in Week 11, racking up 115 yards on 17 carries in a hostile takeover of the Ravens' rushing attack. Starter Alex Collins reached the end zone early in the game against the Bengals but was held to 18 yards on just seven rushes. Baltimore's decision to go with the hot hand was unexpected, but the success on the ground wasn't. Jackson provides a dual threat at quarterback and the Ravens are facing one of the easiest schedules the rest of the way. The reason Edwards isn't topping this list is job security. If Collins, Javorius Allen, or Ty Montgomery outperform him early in Week 12, he could tumble right back down the depth chart. He's worth a strong bid since we're in the final stretch of the fantasy season, just understand the risk that comes with investing in Edwards.Theo Riddick/LeGarrette Blount, LionsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. CHI32%/9%$14/$7It appears Kerryon Johnson avoided a season-ending injury, but a knee sprain will sideline him for Thanksgiving and potentially longer. That leaves an uninspiring duo of Riddick and Blount, each limited to the one area where they excel. Riddick is an outstanding pass-catcher and should continue to split his time between the backfield and the slot. The 31-year-old Blount is a power back with little left in the tank, and he'll struggle to find running room versus the Bears' shutdown front. Blount will need a touchdown to return value, while Riddick is best deployed as an RB2 in PPR leagues.Elijah McGuire, JetsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. NE14%$9Since making his season debut in Week 9, McGuire has outplayed starter Isaiah Crowell as a runner and a receiver. With the Jets not challenging for a playoff spot, the team would be wise to turn to McGuire coming out of its bye. If that happens, he'll offer flex value in an offense that doesn't project to spend much time in scoring position.Jalen Richard, RaidersNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat BAL44%$7It’s not ideal to invest in the Raiders, but Richard amassed 93 yards on 14 touches in the win over the Cardinals. He's topped 50 yards seven times this year while catching at least three passes in all but one contest. With the Raiders not expected to contend in many games, Richard's receiving skills will be put to use, giving him upside as a flex option.Royce Freeman, BroncosNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. PIT52%$7Freeman made his return to the lineup with eight touches for 30 yards, but he scored his fifth touchdown in eight games as a pro. While that still makes him too dangerous to trust as more than a touchdown-dependent flex play, look ahead to his playoff schedule when he faces the 49ers, Browns, and Raiders. If something were to happen to Phillip Lindsay, Freeman might turn into a league-winner.Other options: Rashaad Penny at CAR (50 percent owned), Ito Smith at NO (51 percent owned), Frank Gore at IND (25 percent owned), Nyheim Hines vs. MIA (24 percent owned), Giovani Bernard vs. CLE (30 percent owned), Spencer Ware on Bye (10 percent owned), Malcolm Brown on Bye (7 percent owned), Ronald Jones vs. SF (8 percent owned)Wide ReceiversChristian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / GettyCourtland Sutton, BroncosNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. PIT55%$34Sutton's still under 60 percent owned, which forces me to remind you to pick him up if he's available. Sutton has 50 yards or a touchdown in seven straight games. We're witnessing the arrival of a star in Denver.D.J. Moore, PanthersNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. SEA39%$29Outside of Sutton, Moore has the best chance of anyone here to emerge as his team's top receiver down the stretch. The signs were there prior to his 157-yard, one-touchdown display in Week 12. Moore had tied Devin Funchess in targets over the previous three games, and the rookie's 90-yard outing in Week 8 topped Funchess' season high of 77. Moore is a first-round talent with an excellent schedule and is someone you're going to want in your lineup during the fantasy playoffs.Anthony Miller, BearsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat DET42%$19Even in a difficult matchup with the Vikings, Miller scored a touchdown for the fourth time in his last six games. He also saw his snaps increase once again, appearing on 81 percent of the Bears' offensive plays. He's only eclipsed 50 yards once during his rookie campaign, but Chicago has a friendly slate remaining and Miller is emerging as the clear second option in Chicago's passing attack. He's yet another young wideout who has worked his way into the WR3 conversation in fantasy.Tre'Quan Smith, SaintsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. ATL26%$14Ever since his Week 5 breakout on Monday Night Football, we've been waiting for Smith to make his mark on the fantasy landscape. A mix of stingy opponents and bad game scripts prevented him from erupting over the last month. That changed on Sunday when he caught 10 passes for 157 yards and a touchdown. Like his predecessor Ted Ginn, Smith will have a better chance to hit when playing on the fast track at home, but he needs to be owned in every format.Keke Coutee, TexansNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. TEN30%$14The amount of young talent at receiver seems endless. Coutee flashed earlier in the year, but a hamstring injury kept him out of the lineup for three weeks. In his first game back, he hauled in five passes for 77 yards and reminded everyone why he was a sought-after fantasy commodity in the opening month. It's not inconceivable to think Coutee will outproduce Demaryius Thomas the rest of the way.Christian Kirk, CardinalsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat LAC34%$9Kirk is a full-time player in Arizona, as he prepares to one day assume Larry Fitzgerald's place as the Cardinals' franchise receiver. The rookie is off to a good start, with 50 yards or a touchdown in six of last eight contests, highlighted by a 77-yard, one-touchdown outing Sunday. The Cardinals' offense is harder to put your faith in than some of the others in this section, which is the only thing holding Kirk's value back.Other options: Chris Godwin vs. SF (45 percent owned), Marquise Goodwin at TB (41 percent owned), Josh Reynolds on Bye (44 percent owned), Donte Moncrief at BUF (22 percent owned), Mohamed Sanu at NO (43 percent owned), Kenny Stills at IND (31 percent owned), DeVante Parker at IND (14 percent owned), John Ross vs. CLE (13 percent owned)Tight EndsKim Klement / USA TODAY SportsCameron Brate, BuccaneersNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. SF21%$3Breakout star O.J. Howard was forced to exit in Week 11 due to an ankle injury. While the results have yet to be released, Howard is reportedly seeking a second opinion, which normally suggests the player didn't like what he heard from the original doctor. If Howard is out for any amount of time, Brate would be re-established as a borderline TE1 in fantasy. It's a role we've seen Brate deliver in before, especially with Jameis Winston under center.Jonnu Smith, TitansNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat HOU7%$1The fantasy waiver wire is a wasteland for owners in search of tight end help. Outside of Brate, no one offers top-12 value, but Smith has started to come alive for the Titans. He's visited the end zone twice in the last three weeks and continued his increased involvement with a six-catch, 44-yard afternoon in Week 11. Marcus Mariota's injury is a concern for Smith, who could be a solid streaming option if this offense stays on track.Other options: Gerald Everett on Bye (3 percent owned), Chris Herndon vs. NE (7 percent owned), Jeff Heuerman vs. PIT (24 percent owned), C.J. Uzomah vs. CLE (20 percent owned)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.