The Cleveland Browns fired head coach Hue Jackson on Monday, the team announced.Jackson was under contract through the 2019 season and the Browns are on the hook for his remaining salary, Schefter adds. His .205 winning percentage is the second worst in NFL history among coaches with at least 40 games, according to ESPN Stats & Info. His percentage with the Browns, however, is just .088.General manager John Dorsey was concerned about the growing rift between Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Haley, and rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield being pressured to support one of the two coaches when he deals with the media, according to Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports. However, owner Jimmy Haslam had been wanting to retain Jackson as of early Monday morning, adds NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Haley was also let go on Monday.The Browns had gone 3-36-1 under Jackson since the start of the 2016 season. They finished fourth in the AFC North each of the past two years and currently occupy the same spot at 2-5-1 through eight games, having lost their last three matchups.Jackson is the sixth straight Browns head coach to be fired following the second game of a season against the rival Pittsburgh Steelers.The Browns rank 24th in the league while averaging 21.1 points scored and 24th with 26.3 points allowed per game this season.Marty Schottenheimer was the last Browns head coach to compile a record better than .500 in his tenure with the team. He went 44-27-0 over 71 games from 1984-88.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley indicated he has no interest in the Cleveland Browns' vacant head coaching job.Head coach Hue Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Haley were both fired by the Browns on Monday, leading to speculation that Riley could be a candidate to fill Jackson's shoes."Knew that was coming," Riley said via Joe Mussato of The Oklahoman."The truth is for me, I love Oklahoma. I love coaching here. I love coaching college football. I certainly don't have that itch right now."Riley's been linked to the Browns ever since his former quarterback Baker Mayfield was selected first overall in the most recent NFL draft.This is the head coach's second season with Oklahoma, where he's posted a stellar 19-3 record to date.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Here's a look at the well-designed and well-executed plays that made our list in Week 8:Passing Design of the Week: Heinicke's quick thinking nets Panthers 3 pointsCarolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton played a huge role in his team's 36-21 win over Baltimore, but his backup, Taylor Heinicke, makes our list in this category.With five seconds left in the first half, the Panthers faced a fourth-and-7 near midfield. The plan was to try a Hail Mary, but since Newton was dealing with shoulder soreness, the Panthers had Heinicke come in to attempt the long heave.However, rather than playing coverage, the Ravens decided to bring pressure, prompting Heinicke to make a split-second decision that paid off. Instead of waiting for his receivers to get downfield, the quarterback flipped a quick pass to tight end Greg Olsen (No. 88):Since the Ravens rushed six players and had everyone else deep, Olsen found himself wide open on the left side and quickly motioned for the pass. After receiving it, he was able to get out of bounds, stopping the clock and putting the Panthers in position to convert a field goal on the final play of the half. They did just that moments later.Rushing Design of the Week: Pin-and-pull pays dividends for PetersonIf you simply looked at the box score from Washingtons 20-13 victory over the New York Giants, you could be excused for thinking you'd traveled back to 2012.Veteran running back Adrian Peterson has shown new life in the nation’s capital - and he turned in another solid performance on Sunday, carrying the ball 29 times for 149 yards and a touchdown. The scoring play came late in the fourth quarter on this well-executed running play that uses a "pin-and-pull" element at the line of scrimmage:Many teams are turning to this pin-and-pull element on zone-blocking plays - rather than having each offensive lineman flow in unison to one side of the field - because traditional zone blocking often asks a lineman to block someone to the inside who's aligned well outside of them - not an easy task. Instead, the pin-and-pull allows other linemen to pull around the initial "pin" to block on the outside.Here, tight end Jeremy Sprinkle (No. 87) and right tackle Morgan Moses (No. 76) block down as the "pins." That allows right guard Brandon Scherff (No. 75) and center Chase Roullier (No. 73) to pull to the outside in front of Peterson. Roullier, in particular, executes a perfect block at the second level, which you can see with this replay angle:Overall, it's a tremendously blocked play that gets Peterson into the secondary untouched and ultimately into the end zone for six.Coverage Design of the Week: Bates reads Winston for pick-6Hitch/Seam, or "Hoss," is a passing concept that's a staple for many of today's offenses. It's a two-receiver combination that pairs an outside hitch route with an inside seam route, often in the slot.Teams like going to this design because it has an answer for any type of coverage, whether man or zone. Against a two-high safety look, such as Cover 2 or Cover 4, you can potentially hit the hitch route on the outside against a corner playing off the receiver, or you can throw the seam route in front of the safety before he breaks on it.But to throw the seam, you have to be quick - and you need to make sure the safety's not reading your eyes. On Sunday in Cincinnati, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston did not follow that advice:Here, Tampa Bay tries the Hoss to the right, but rookie safety Jessie Bates (No. 30) reads Winston’s eyes and breaks on the seam route perfectly, stepping in front of the intended target and returning the interception for a touchdown. The mistake by Winston got him sent to the bench, while the pick-6 helped the Bengals prevail despite some late-game heroics from backup Ryan Fitzpatrick.Pressure Design of the Week: Chiefs hound KeenumDon’t look now, but the Kansas City Chiefs are becoming a more complete team every week. Their offense has produced since opening day, but their defense is showing signs of improvement.In their victory Sunday over the Denver Broncos, the Chiefs' D forced two critical fourth-quarter turnovers. The first was this strip-sack of quarterback Case Keenum by outside linebacker Dee Ford (No. 55):On a third-and-9, Chiefs show pressure before the snap, putting seven defenders near the line of scrimmage, including linebackers Anthony Hitchens (No. 53) and Breeland Speaks (No. 57) over the left tackle, and linebacker Dorian O'Daniel (No. 44) outside the right tackle. Meanwhile, Ford's in a wide-9 alignment well outside the left tackle.Upon the snap, both Hitchens and Speaks drop into overage as the Chiefs rush just four, but their potential blitz from the inside combined with Ford’s wide alignment creates confusion and allows the latter to get isolated on left tackle Garett Bolles (No. 72). Ford gets around the big left tackle and all the way to Keenum, knocking the ball loose for Speaks to recover.If this defense - which also intercepted Keenum in the fourth quarter on Sunday - can be opportunistic and give Patrick Mahomes more short fields to work with, the Chiefs will be tough to beat.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.

Aaron Rodgers was reportedly quite angry that he wasn't given the opportunity to finish Sunday's loss to the Los Angeles Rams with the ball in his hands.With Rodgers' Green Bay Packers trailing 29-27 late in the fourth quarter, Ty Montgomery opted to return a kickoff he caught in the end zone instead of taking a knee and handing the ball to his star quarterback. Montgomery subsequently fumbled on the return and Los Angeles recovered the football before running out the clock to seal the victory."Aaron was hot," one Packers coach said, according to Michael Silver of NFL.com. "And he had a right to be. He yelled, 'Take a f---ing knee!' He was very, very mad."According to Silver, a group of Packers players and coaches had witnessed Montgomery throwing a tantrum on the sideline during the Packers' previous offensive series after being removed from the game."They took him out (the previous drive) for a play and he slammed his helmet and threw a fit," one Packers player reportedly said. "Then (before the kickoff) they told him to take a knee, and he ran it out anyway. You know what that was? That was him saying, 'I'm gonna do me.' It's a f---ing joke."I mean, what the f--- are you doing? We've got Aaron Rodgers, the best I've ever seen, and you're gonna take that risk? I mean, it's (No.) 12! All you gotta do is give him the ball, and you know what's gonna happen."Related - Packers' McCarthy: Montgomery was supposed to take touchbackMontgomery had previously returned three kickoffs in the game, averaging 22.7 yards.Now third in the NFC North with a record of 3-3-1, Green Bay will have a road game in Week 9 against the New England Patriots.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Panthers safety Eric Reid remains angry with Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins for the actions he took as a member of the Players Coalition, and Reid expanded on the reason for the feud Sunday.Following an Oct. 21 victory over the Eagles, Reid said Jenkins sold him and Colin Kaepernick out, alluding to the group agreeing on a partnership with the NFL that would contribute $90 million to groups and causes the coalition endorses.Related - Eric Reid blasts Malcolm Jenkins over Players Coalition split: 'He sold us out' Reid elaborated on his ire toward Jenkins following Carolina's win over the Baltimore Ravens."We were brought in under the premise that the NFL wanted to use their resources to help the black community,” Reid said, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. "We established within the first five minutes of that meeting that we weren't there to negotiate an end to the protest. After about an hour and a half of talking, (Texans owner) Bob McNair says, 'I think the elephant in the room is this protesting.' (Bills owner) Terry Pegula follows up with, ‘Yeah, I’ve already lost two sponsors from my hockey team. We need to put a Band-Aid on this and we need a black figurehead to do it.'"(Eagles owner Jeffrey) Lurie says, ‘We can do more for the black community (than) you can ever imagine with our resources.’ Bob McNair then says, ‘Yeah, just make sure you tell your comrades to stop that protesting business.'"Reid left the Players Coalition in late 2017, largely due to Jenkins' actions. He confronted Jenkins prior to the Oct. 21 game, then called him a neocolonialist afterward.Reid is continuing to kneel during the national anthem, a protest of police brutality and systemic inequality that he's kept up since the Panthers signed him in September.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Vita Vea has avoided serious injury after the team initially feared he tore his ACL, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Vea reportedly underwent an MRI that confirmed his ACL is intact.The 23-year-old has played sparingly during his rookie season, recording two tackles in four games.Vea was selected 12th overall by the Buccaneers in the 2018 NFL Draft. He was named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2017.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley is a leading MVP candidate, but he doesn't care about your fantasy football team.With his team holding a 29-27 lead over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, the Rams recovered a fumble on a kickoff return and looked poised to score again with just over a minute remaining. On third-and-10 from the Packers' 21-yard line, Gurley had a clear path to the end zone on an outside run. But he stopped running and was tackled, and then on the next play the Rams took a knee to run out the clock.Gurley's decision to stay out of the end zone proved costly for some, as the Rams entered the game as 7.5-point favorites, and fantasy owners were hoping Gurley would add to another tremendous day. However, the two-time Pro Bowler simply doesn't care."Man, forget fantasy and forget Vegas," Gurley said, via ESPN's David Purdum. "We got the win, so that's all that matters."

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald apologized for spiking the ball after scoring on a two-point conversion during Sunday's victory over the San Francisco 49ers.Fitzgerald said he was upset by his eldest son electing to go to the Arizona State Fair instead of the Cardinals game."I was a little frustrated and had a heavy heart today," Fitzgerald said, according to ESPN's Josh Weinfuss. "My feelings were a little hurt, so I was carrying that around all day. So, when I got in there, I kind of let it out. To all the kids that are watching, I'm sorry. I set a bad example today."It's the first time Fitzgerald has spiked the ball in his 15-year career.Fitzgerald and the Cardinals now head into their bye week before resuming their season against the Kansas City Chiefs on Nov. 11.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is expected to play in Monday's game against the Buffalo Bills despite battling through back and ankle injuries, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The five-time Pro Bowler was listed as questionable on the team's injury report.Gronkowski has recorded 26 receptions for 405 yards and a touchdown this season.The Patriots are on a four-game winning streak and could extend their lead in the AFC East with a victory over the Bills on Monday.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.Boone and Woods recap all the action from Sunday and take an early look at Week 9 waiver wire adds.Topics for this episode include:

The Green Bay Packers were denied one last shot to slay the giant.Trailing 29-27 with 2:09 left in the fourth quarter Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams, Packers returner Ty Montgomery received the kickoff 1 yard into the end zone and opted to return it. He fumbled on the play and the Rams recovered, clinching the victory.The fumble deprived the Packers a chance of driving for a game-winning field goal with one timeout and the two-minute warning in their back pocket."The plan was to stay in (the end zone) and give the ball to Aaron Rodgers," head coach Mike McCarthy said in his postgame press conference.Rodgers had given Green Bay a 27-26 lead earlier in the fourth quarter with a 40-yard strike to Marquez Valdes-Scantling.After the game, Rodgers tried to take some of the blame off of Montgomery."That play didn't lose the game, but it definitely took away an opportunity for us to go down and win it," he said.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

MINNEAPOLIS - Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints paid Minnesota back for their last-second loss in the playoffs last season, using two key turnovers, including a 45-yard interception return for a touchdown by P.J. Williams, to fuel a 30-20 victory over the Vikings on Sunday night.Alvin Kamara scored twice, Will Lutz made three field goals and Sheldon Rankins had two of the four sacks by the Saints (6-1), who needed only 120 passing yards by Brees to beat the Vikings (4-3-1) this time with far less tension down the final stretch.Stefon Diggs had 119 receiving yards and a score in his curtain call after the ''Minneapolis Miracle'' catch in the NFC divisional round here in January, but he stopped his drag route in a miscommunication with quarterback Kirk Cousins right before Williams picked the ball off for the pivotal third-quarter touchdown.Adam Thielen had another record-setting performance for the Vikings with 103 yards and a score, but his red-zone fumble in the second quarter was returned 54 yards by Marshon Lattimore to set up the go-ahead touchdown for the Saints.The Vikings had the edge on both sides of the ball during the first half. Harrison Smith handed Brees his first interception of the season after 231 attempts without one, putting the Vikings in position to stretch a 13-10 lead.Late in the second quarter, Thielen drove forward for extra yards after a short completion and had the ball pried loose by Williams and Alex Anzalone at the 14. Lattimore scooped it up and raced the other way, before Laquon Treadwell took him down. Treadwell then slammed his helmet on the turf in frustration, drawing a devastating 15-yard penalty to give the Saints the ball at the 18 with 57 seconds remaining before halftime. Kamara soared into the end zone two plays later.The Vikings started the second half with the ball and went for it on fourth-and-1 at their own 45. With an empty backfield, Cousins had Treadwell open over the middle, but Lattimore broke up the pass to change possession and set up Lutz's second field goal.SIZZLING STARTThe first prime-time kickoff of the season at U.S. Bank Stadium created an extra-energetic atmosphere, and the pregame hype video montage with replays of the last-snap catch and run by Diggs for the winning touchdown in the playoffs against the Saints only enhanced it.Defensive end Everson Griffen, returning from a five-game absence for mental health treatment, led the sprint out of the replica Vikings ship for introductions. Diggs was saved for last. Then the action came fast and furious.Kamara capped the opening touchdown drive by catching a forward flip on a jet sweep play with both backup quarterbacks, Teddy Bridgewater and Taysom Hill, lined up as wide receivers. Hill had taken a turn at quarterback earlier and threw a 44-yard pass to Michael Thomas, his second highlight-reel reception during that drive.Thielen climbed over the neck of Williams for a tricky third-down catch on the ensuing possession for the Vikings, who kept on attacking the third-year nickel cornerback. Diggs beat him with a back-shoulder grab at the goal line and again four plays later on a toe-tap touchdown at the edge of the end zone on fourth down.Williams had a pass interference penalty on the next drive for the Vikings. That set up a short scoring run by Latavius Murray, who tossed the ball back to Cousins earlier on that possession for a 28-yard flea-flicker throw to Thielen.THIELEN ITThielen tied Calvin Johnson's all-time NFL record of eight straight 100-yard receiving games, set in 2012 with Detroit. He also matched Patrick Jeffers with a fifth consecutive game with 100-plus yards and at least one touchdown, a mark set in 1999 for Carolina.INJURY REPORTSaints: CB Eli Apple, acquired this week in a trade with the New York Giants, made his debut at CB. He started in place of Ken Crawley, who was on the inactive list but not on the injury report this week.Vikings: CB Xavier Rhodes (foot) was one of six starters held out with injuries, giving rookie Holton Hill his first start. LB Anthony Barr (hamstring), SS Andrew Sendejo (groin), LG Tom Compton (knee), LT Riley Reiff (foot) and RB Dalvin Cook (hamstring) were the others. ... Backup RB Roc Thomas left with a hamstring injury.UP NEXTSaints: Return home to host the Los Angeles Rams (8-0) next Sunday.Vikings: Stay home to face the Detroit Lions (3-4) next Sunday.---More AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP-NFLCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New England Patriots have internally discussed the possibility of reacquiring linebacker Jamie Collins from the Cleveland Browns, a source told The Athletic's Jeff Howe.Collins spent the first three-plus seasons of his career with the Patriots, helping them capture Super Bowl XLIX before being traded to the Browns for a third-round pick in 2016.Related: Pats reportedly offering high draft picks for premium receiverThe Patriots reportedly want to improve their front seven, a unit that's been struggling this season. New England has recorded only nine sacks, and the team's run defense ranks 20th while allowing 114 yards per game. Collins has posted 55 tackles, two sacks, and one interception over eight contests with Cleveland this year.The 29-year-old Southern Miss product signed a four-year, $50-million contract with the Browns ahead of the 2017 season and has two more campaigns left on that deal.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Giants sit at 1-7 following a 20-13 loss to the Washington Redskins and are going through yet another lost season. However, that doesn't mean Eli Manning is ready to abandon ship.The 15-year veteran has been the subject of rampant trade speculation, but his contract includes a no-trade clause, something Manning isn't willing to relinquish."I want to stay here," Manning said postgame.Manning has led the Giants to two Super Bowl titles, but after going 3-13 last season, New York currently owns the worst record in the league and appears on the brink of a rebuild.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston was benched in favor of Ryan Fitzpatrick during the third quarter of Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals.Winston was removed from the game after throwing his fourth interception, which was returned by Bengals safety Jessie Bates 21 yards for a touchdown.The former first overall pick was suspended for the first three games of the season and has struggled since returning to the lineup, having now thrown 10 interceptions in four games.Winston was 18 of 35 for 276 yards, one touchdown, and four interceptions, while adding 18 rushing yards on three carries when he was pulled.In relief, Fitzpatrick completed 11 of 15 passes for 194 yards and two touchdowns and helped the Buccaneers battle back from an 18-point deficit to tie the game with a minute left.The Bengals won the game on a last-second field goal.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri passed Hall of Famer Morten Andersen on Sunday to become the NFL's all-time scoring leader with 2,547 points.Vinatieri moved into first place on a 25-yard field goal in the second quarter of the Colts' game against the Oakland Raiders, eclipsing Andersen's mark of 2,544 career points.

Jacksonville Jaguars safety Barry Church is accepting blame for what he calls a mistake involving himself and three teammates at a night club in London ahead of his team's Week 8 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.Church, safeties Ronnie Harrison and Jarrod Wilson, and cornerback D.J. Hayden were reportedly the four Jaguars players the Metropolitan Police detained for failing to pay a tab at The London Reign Showclub early on Saturday morning."There was definitely a misunderstanding, but as far as my actions are concerned, I take full responsibility," Church said after Sunday's loss, according to Zac Boyer of the Associated Press. "I don't want to be a distraction or anything like that to my team and my teammates, but we handled it as a private matter within the team and we'll just go from there."Church and his teammates were released from custody on Saturday, with the nightclub reportedly dropping charges once the bill was paid. He wouldn't elaborate on whether any punches were thrown in the incident, or say how long police held the players."It’s just disappointing how it went down," Church said. "I didn’t want to be a distraction or anything like that, but hey, it happened. I took full responsibility for it with my teammates, and we just weren’t able to pull a victory out today. It just kind of adds to it. That’s what happened."The Jaguars fell to 3-5 after their fourth straight defeat, this time losing 24-18 to the Eagles.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy has cleared the concussion protocol and is expected to play against the New England Patriots on Monday night, the team announced.McCoy was pulled from the Bills' Week 7 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts after suffering the injury in the first quarter.The 30-year-old is averaging a career-worst 3.9 yards per carry this season and hasn't scored a touchdown. He has 329 yards from scrimmage on 76 total touches over six games.He missed Buffalo's Week 3 game against the Minnesota Vikings due to cracked rib cartilage.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Carl Lawson will miss the rest of the season after tearing his ACL in Sunday's game with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The second-year pass-rusher had 8.5 sacks in his rookie season, and while he has struggled to put up similar numbers this season, he's a key cog in the Bengals' defense.Sam Hubbard is likely to take on an expanded role in Lawson's absence behind veterans Carlos Dunlap and Michael Johnson.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Week 8 of the NFL season rolls ahead on Sunday, featuring games that are garnering lopsided betting handles. Will Bernanke, the lead analyst at CG Analytics in Las Vegas, gave theScore a glimpse at where the money is going.Indianapolis Colts at Oakland RaidersOpening odds: Colts -1 (-110) / 50.5Current odds: Colts -3 (-120) / 51The Indianapolis Colts are only 2-5 this season, but the public is all over them on Sunday when they travel to play the Oakland Raiders, a team dealing with a rash of injuries in Week 8. Indy opened as a one-point favorite before the money rolled in during the week, pushing the Colts to three-point chalk on Sunday afternoon."It's all Colts here, as 86 percent of the money is on them," said Bernanke. "This could be one of our biggest liabilities of the day. Lots of rollover and parlays tied to Indianapolis."San Francisco 49ers at Arizona CardinalsOpen: PK / 43.5Current: 49ers -2 (-110) / 40.5A pair of 1-6 squads meet on Sunday when the San Francisco 49ers head to Arizona, where they'll face a Cardinals team that narrowly beat them in Week 5. The majority of the money is on the Niners, even through they're on a five-game losing skid."This is another lopsided one - 82 percent of the money is on the 49ers," said Bernanke.Green Bay Packers at Los Angeles RamsOpen: Rams -9 (-110) / 56.5Current: Rams -7.5 / 58The spread in this game is the largest hole the Green Bay Packers have faced as underdogs during Aaron Rodgers' career. He'll be tasked with handing the Rams their first loss of the season, though the public is just looking for the Packers to stay within striking distance."Yeah, this is a weird one - 88 percent of the money is on the Packers," said Bernanke. "There was a dead move that went from -9 to -7.5 and didn't cross any key numbers, but they like the 'dog here."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 New England Patriots are offering "high draft choices" for a premium wide receiver, Jay Glazer of FOX Sports reports.One potential target is Denver Broncos veteran Demaryius Thomas, who was drafted by Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels in Denver, sources told Michael Giardi of NFL Network.New England ranks fourth in scoring offense, averaging 30.6 points per game but is reportedly looking for someone to bolster a group that features Josh Gordon and Julian Edelman.Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver DeSean Jackson reportedly asked for a trade, while the Oakland Raiders recently traded Amari Cooper to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a first-round pick.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson suffered an MCL sprain in Sunday's win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in London, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reports.Johnson could miss about a month with the injury, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports, though he'll be aided by the team's upcoming bye week.The 28-year-old needed to be carted off the field in the first quarter, and was replaced by Halapoulivaati Vaitai.The loss of Johnson comes at a time when left tackle Jason Peters is also banged up. The veteran was dealing with a biceps injury coming into Week 8, and also briefly left Sunday's game with a head injury.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Green Bay Packers have made safety and impending unrestricted free agent Ha Ha Clinton-Dix available for trade ahead of the Oct. 30 trading deadline, according to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports.Clinton-Dix, like many of his cohorts in the Packers' secondary, has had an up-and-down season thus far. Through six games, the 25-year-old has recorded 23 tackles and three interceptions.Clinton-Dix is in the final year of his rookie contract. Green Bay drafted him 21st overall in 2014.A product of Alabama, Clinton-Dix said earlier in the season that he doesn't expect to be with the Packers in 2019.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 8.You can also listen to the Week 8 preview episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast.Standard

Chicago Bears pass-rusher Khalil Mack is inactive Sunday versus the New York Jets due to the ankle injury he's battled the last couple of weeks.Mack, who has played at a superstar level for Chicago since being acquired from the Oakland Raiders during the preseason, first suffered the injury Oct. 14 against the Miami Dolphins. He played last week in the Bears' loss to the New England Patriots, but was clearly hindered by the ailment.The 27-year-old has five sacks and four forced fumbles in six contests, jumping into contention for his second career Defensive Player of the Year award.Sunday's affair will mark the first time in Mack's career that he's been inactive for a game.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Pierre Garcon is generating interest ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The team is currently listening to offers and have received calls from at least three teams, Schefter reports.Garcon has caught 21 passes for 230 yards this season.The veteran receiver signed a five-year, $47.5 million contract with the 49ers in March 2017.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Bills are unlikely to trade running back LeSean McCoy before Tuesday's deadline, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Buffalo has spoken to at least three unidentified teams about a trade according to Schefter, but none were willing to match the asking price and the Bills are unwilling to move the Pro Bowler for a subpar offer.The veteran is under contract through the 2019 season and will carry a $9.05-million cap hit next year.McCoy is reportedly expected to suit up for Monday night's game against the New England Patriots despite suffering a concussion last week.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Chargers edge rusher Joey Bosa may be further behind than initially anticipated in his recovery from a foot sprain.Bosa hasn't played this season due to the injury and it was previously believed he'd return for Week 9. But a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter that Bosa isn't "anywhere near ready to play right now" with the Chargers on their bye week.The 23-year-old met with a specialist in September, who confirmed Bosa would be week to week while dealing with the injury.Bosa, the Chargers' third overall selection in the 2016 NFL Draft, was named to his first Pro Bowl in 2017 after recording 12.5 sacks and four forced fumbles.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Oakland Raiders have assured Derek Carr that he'll remain the team's starting quarterback for the foreseeable future, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Oakland appears to be undergoing a rebuilding effort, most recently trading Amari Cooper to the Dallas Cowboys for a first-round pick on Monday. The Raiders are now armed with three 2019 first-round picks, leading some to speculate they could take a quarterback in the upcoming draft.However, Carr has reportedly been given assurances that the Raiders do not intend to trade him with the Oct. 30 deadline looming.A report emerged that Carr had developed a fractured relationship with his teammates amid a rough start to the season. Carr denied this notion, taking to Twitter to defend himself and the Raiders.The quarterback signed a five-year, $125-million extension with the Raiders in June 2017.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns may consider coaching staff changes as head coach Hue Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Haley have struggled to get on the same page, despite the team's attempts to improve their relationship, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.If the disconnect is not reconciled, a move will likely be made.Rapoport said that Browns ownership will have to make a decision on Jackson's future due to his awful 3-35-1 record, but that firing Haley would also be a consideration.Cleveland has lost three of its last four games, the most recent of which was an overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.After the defeat, Jackson said he intended to get more involved in the offense, though he later clarified that he wouldn't be taking over play-calling duties.Haley was hired as the first offensive coordinator in Jackson's three-year tenure. The Browns are scoring 21.6 points per game this season, 21st in the league, and up seven points from their league-worst mark in 2017.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are set for a huge boost following their bye week, as running back Leonard Fournette is expected to return in Week 10 after missing the majority of the season with a hamstring injury, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Fournette has appeared in just two games this season, carrying the ball 20 times for 71 yards. In his absence, the Jaguars have struggled to replicate their AFC South-winning form from last season, slipping to 3-4 ahead of their London game with the Philadelphia Eagles.Jacksonville recently traded for running back Carlos Hyde, with the move reportedly motivated by frustration from the team's coaching staff regarding Fournette's inability to stay healthy.Hyde is set to make his Jaguars debut against the Eagles, and the Jaguars apparently envision using both him and Fournette moving forward.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Bears edge rusher Khalil Mack is a game-time decision for Sunday's contest against the New York Jets due to an ankle sprain, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson is not expected to play due to a groin injury, according to Rapoport. Robinson is listed as questionable on the team's injury report.Mack suffered the injury during an Oct. 14 loss to the Miami Dolphins and played through it against the New England Patriots on Oct. 21.Mack, who hasn't missed a game during his career, has recorded 20 tackles, five sacks, four forced fumbles, and an interception during six games this season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Four members of the Jacksonville Jaguars were detained on Friday night following an incident at a bar in London, England over the payment of a bill."We are aware that four of our players were detained over restitution of a bill. The matter is being resolved and the players are with the team. Any discipline will be handled internally," the Jaguars said in a statement obtained by Brent Martineau of CBS47/FOX30.The players reportedly tried to leave the London Reign Showclub without paying their tab, according to Mike Sullivan of The Sun. The club features burlesque dancers and circus performers.London police said Sunday morning that the players involved have been released without being charged."The bill has been paid and the matter has been resolved. Team has said discipline will be handled internally," NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported Sunday morning.Those involved were defensive backs Barry Church, Ronnie Harrison, D.J. Hayden, and Jarrod Wilson, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, though the team declined to name the four players. There's no word on whether their status will be affected for the Jags' game against the Philadelphia Eagles at 9:30 a.m. ET on Sunday.Telvin Smith, Myles Jack, Leon Jacobs, Dante Fowler, and T.J. Yeldon were also at the club, but weren't detained, added Rapoport.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver DeSean Jackson requested a trade before the league's deadline, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The Buccaneers are refusing his request, according to Rapoport.Jackson has caught 23 passes for 526 yards and three touchdowns this season and is on pace to eclipse 1,000 yards for the sixth time in his career.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers corner Richard Sherman and running back Matt Breida are expected to play Sunday versus the Arizona Cardinals, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported late Saturday night, citing a source.Sherman missed last week's loss to the Los Angeles Rams and has been listed as questionable due to a calf injury.Breida has been limited by an ankle injury in recent weeks and was also listed as questionable.The two would be welcome additions in a battle of 1-6 NFC West clubs.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy is listed as questionable for Monday night's game against the New England Patriots, but is expected to play, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.McCoy exited the Bills' Week 7 game versus the Indianapolis Colts on the second play of the game and was placed in concussion protocol. He was a limited participant in practice throughout the week.In his six games this season, the 30-year-old has rushed for 244 yards and accumulated 85 receiving yards. He is yet to find the end zone.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

How real is the likelihood of a Super Bowl being played in London? NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has the answer."I think without a franchise it's probably difficult," Goodell said on Good Morning Football Weekend on Saturday, per NFL.com's Nick Shook."That's been talked about a lot. ... But the ownership really feels strongly that that's a reward for our fans. I think if you had a franchise (in London), I think it would come into play."Goodell cited logistics as the biggest hangup to placing a franchise in London."I've always said this in the last few years: I believe that the fan base is here for a team," he said. "Just in numbers and passion, I think the business community/commercial community is strong enough. The political support we have for this is extraordinary. It think all of those elements are here. The one I'm still not comfortable yet is the competitive side. How do we do this to not only be fair to the team that's playing here, but the teams that have to come over to play?"The NFL has played at least one regular-season game in London in each of the past 10 years. The series was expanded to four games last season. Three such games will be played in England this campaign.The league has awarded Super Bowls to cities and franchises with new stadiums of late.The Minnesota Vikings' U.S. Bank Stadium opened in 2016 and played host to last year's Super Bowl. The Atlanta Falcons' Mercedes-Benz Stadium opened in 2017 and will be the site of this year's big game, while the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers will open a new stadium in 2020 and are scheduled to host Super Bowl LVI in 2022.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots running back Sony Michel is listed as doubtful for Monday's game against the Buffalo Bills, while tight end Rob Gronkowski is questionable.Michel returned to practice Saturday after being held out throughout the week. The rookie running back suffered a knee injury in the second quarter of Sunday's victory against the Chicago Bears.If Michel can't play, James White and Kenjon Barner will likely see increased touches. Michel has rushed for 422 yards and four touchdowns on 95 carries.Gronkowski missed Sunday's game against the Bears due to a back injury and is also dealing with an ankle problem. The star tight end has caught 26 passes for 405 yards and a touchdown in six games this season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Bills have listed running back LeSean McCoy as questionable with a concussion for Monday's game against the New England Patriots.McCoy was a limited participant in practice all week.If the 30-year-old is unable to play Monday, Chris Ivory will get the majority of carries in his absence.McCoy has rushed for 244 yards on 63 carries but is still looking for his first touchdown of the year.Bills head coach Sean McDermott told reporters earlier Saturday that the team will "take it one day at a time" with McCoy, according to ESPN's Mike Rodak.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Free-agent wide receiver Jeremy Maclin is undergoing surgery on a hamstring/glute injury and will be sidelined for the rest of the season, reports Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.Maclin reportedly expects to be ready for the 2019 season, though he could struggle to attract interest at the age of 31.A one-time Pro Bowler, Maclin posted 440 yards and three touchdowns last season for the Baltimore Ravens. He spent the previous two campaigns with the Kansas City Chiefs and the five before that with the Philadelphia Eagles.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Each week, we take a look at five last-minute additions for your fantasy team heading into NFL Sunday.David Moore, WR, Seahawksat LionsJames Chance / Getty Images Sport / GettyDavid Moore entered the Seahawks' Week 7 bye with three touchdowns over his previous two games. The seventh-rounder from the 2017 draft appeared in just one game as a rookie, but he's averaging 17.7 yards per reception during his second NFL season.Lately, he's playing considerably more while outperforming veterans Brandon Marshall and Jaron Brown, sliding in as Russell Wilson's No. 3 option behind Doug Baldwin and Tyler Lockett. He was on the other end for 16.2 percent of Wilson's targets over his two breakout games.Seattle has passed on 51 percent of its plays, a percentage that ranks last in the league, according to Sharp Football. But Moore's big-play potential makes him worth a dart throw as an injury or bye-week replacement.Martavis Bryant, WR, Raidersvs. ColtsHarry How / Getty Images Sport / GettyMartavis Bryant, a Raiders offseason trade acquisition who was later released and subsequently re-signed, will have the opportunity to fill the void left behind after Oakland dealt Amari Cooper this week.Tight end Jared Cook and receiver Jordy Nelson rank first and second among Raiders pass-catchers in receptions, targets, and yards. However, Bryant's 15.7 yards per catch on 14 receptions leads the group.The Colts' defense has been among the best in the league this season at preventing big gains through the air, as the unit hasn't allowed a 40-plus yard completion over seven games. Which means a strength will meet a strength this week, because the Raiders' offense ranks in the top half of the league in pass plays of both 20- and 40-plus yards, and Bryant is proving trustworthy as the deep threat while posting a career-best catch rate of 66.7 percent.Trenton Cannon, RB, Jetsat BearsElsa / Getty Images Sport / GettyTrenton Cannon, a sixth-round pick in April's draft, led the Jets with 69 receiving yards during the team's Week 7 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. That performance, accompanied by Wednesday's news of veteran Bilal Powell undergoing season-ending neck surgery, should create a permanent role for the rookie as the complement to Isaiah Crowell in the Jets' backfield.Jets quarterback Sam Darnold ranks just 18th in the NFL with 2.78 air yards per completion, according to Next Gen Stats, as he's relying on targets closer to the line of scrimmage. With Terrelle Pryor released, Quincy Enunwa ruled out of Sunday's game due to an ankle injury, and Robby Anderson in jeopardy of missing the Week 8 matchup with the Chicago Bears, New York could be leaning on Cannon even more in a possession role.Kenjon Barner, RB, Patriotsat BillsJonathan Daniel / Getty Images Sport / GettyKenjon Barner will serve as the Patriots' No. 2 running back behind James White while Sony Michel recovers from a knee injury.New England is favored by 14 points on the road against the Bills. The Patriots are the largest favorite of the week, and a significant early lead would surely see them turn to their rushing offense for the majority of Monday night's divisional matchup. Barner received 10 carries while rushing for 36 yards in his first meaningful usage of the season under a similar game script in Week 7 against the Chicago Bears.Barner has scored just three career touchdowns and hasn't been much of a threat as a pass-catcher. But it's possible he gets 15-plus carries on Monday, which would provide fantasy managers with a decent return while using Barner as a FLEX play.Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Billsvs. PatriotsBob Levey / Getty Images Sport / GettyKelvin Benjamin's best game of the 2018 season so far came in Week 7 with veteran quarterback Derek Anderson starting for the Bills. He caught four of five targets for 71 yards to put himself back on the fantasy radar.Benjamin has totaled 19 receptions, 266 yards, and one touchdown over his last three games with Anderson as his quarterback dating back to their time together with the Carolina Panthers. Last week showed that successful connection could continue for as long as rookie Josh Allen is sidelined.The 6-foot-5 receiver is in line to benefit from the flip side of the game script that could lead to Barner's success. Benjamin should see a season-high in targets in Week 8, though he has a tough matchup against Patriots No. 1 cornerback Stephon Gilmore.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

I don't think there's been a weekend this season where the college football and NFL cards have both looked so promising. Let's stay hot, shall we?Here are my five picks for Week 8. Be sure to shop around for the best numbers available.Top PlaysNew York Jets at Chicago BearsWager: Under 45It's pretty obvious what you're going to get out of Jets quarterback Sam Darnold: Average to above-average play against bad defenses and average to below-average play against good ones.Despite the last couple of weeks - in which Chicago's allowed 69 points - the Bears still have a stout unit. What's killed them is speed. They've been poor at tackling in space, and have therefore allowed huge chunk plays. It's a fixable problem and shouldn't be an issue against a Jets skill corps that doesn't inspire much fear beyond deep threat Robby Anderson.Last weekend versus New England, the Bears only allowed 24 points on 10 possessions. Two of the Patriots' touchdowns came via special teams.With Chicago hosting a rookie quarterback and looking at a chance to get back in the saddle, I don't think these offenses will get past the number.Green Bay Packers at Los Angeles RamsWager: Over 56.5How can the Rams be stopped? Green Bay could have a couple of extra bye weeks and, based on the matchup, it might not matter. The Rams still have the top offense in yards per play and have feasted on so-so defenses all season long. Even in a game in which they posted a season-low 5.4 yards per play, they managed to hang 39 on the road against the San Francisco 49ers last week. And if there's any quarterback I want in a shootout as a long underdog, it's the one on the opposite sideline, Aaron Rodgers.Denver Broncos at Kansas City ChiefsWager: Over 53.5Similar to Los Angeles, nothing predictive suggests Kansas City's offense is slowing down, never mind against a Denver team in a tricky spot.Teams traveling west to east for early starts haven't proved much of anything over the years, but the Broncos have been giving up points aplenty in this situation since Vance Joseph took over. It was a trend we highlighted in Week 5.In the last meeting in Denver on Oct. 1, the Broncos wanted to establish the running game early, which kept Patrick Mahomes on the sideline and chewed up clock. It worked - until the Chiefs took the lead and Denver was forced to throw the ball.I expect Kansas City to score at will (again) and leave the Broncos no choice but to try to do the same. A week after the Chiefs' defense showed up in prime time against the Cincinnati Bengals, I'll look for a slight letdown and another boatload of points at Arrowhead.Extra PointsSeattle Seahawks at Detroit LionsRecommended Pick: Seahawks +3With the number moving to +3, I'll take a stab at the Seahawks. Russell Wilson is finally getting some protection recently and Seattle's offense hasn't revolved around the quarterback scrambling for his life to extend plays. The Lions' defense is still concerning, and playing on these road teams off a bye has been quite profitable of late.New Orleans Saints at Minnesota VikingsRecommended Pick: Vikings PKI would've leaned toward the Vikings at the -2.5 opener and I like them even more at a pick 'em.Top plays: 15-5-1 (75 percent)Overall record: 24-10-1 (70.6 percent)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.

Several big-name players have already been traded ahead of the NFL's Oct. 30 trading deadline, including Amari Cooper landing with the Dallas Cowboys for a first-round pick, and Carlos Hyde being shipped to the Jacksonville Jaguars.But the fun likely isn't over yet.This year's deadline could see more action than in the past, with a host of star players possibly on the trading block. Here are seven trades we'd like to see:Le'Veon Bell ➡️ Philadelphia EaglesLet's finally put this painful saga to bed.Both the Steelers and Le'Veon Bell desperately need a fresh start, and with James Conner proving himself capable of being the team's featured back, Pittsburgh should feel comfortable moving on.The Steelers are unlikely to get the level of compensation they would have received in return even a year ago for the franchise-tagged back. Bell hasn't played all season and he probably isn't in football shape. He'll also be a free agent after this season with an injury and suspension history, and he turns 27 in February.Still, the risk is worth it for the struggling defending champion Philadelphia Eagles. Jay Ajayi is on injured reserve, and Corey Clement and Darren Sproles have had issues staying healthy. Carson Wentz has played well since returning from his 2017 ACL tear, but he still needs more support than a 21st-ranked rushing attack.Bell would be an enormous upgrade, and because the Eagles' roster remains among the league's best despite a 3-4 start, the team can afford to give up several mid-round picks while pushing for another deep playoff run.Potential trade package: Bell for third- and fifth-round picksChandler Jones ➡️ New York JetsHarry How / Getty Images Sport / GettyTrade rumors are surrounding Patrick Peterson in Arizona, but the star cornerback is committed to the Cardinals. So what about the team's other game-breaking defensive player?Chandler Jones has quietly cemented himself as an elite pass-rusher since joining the Cardinals in a trade with the New England Patriots. He's produced 34.5 sacks in 39 games in Arizona, and at 28 years old, Jones should be a double-digit sack producer for at least the next two or three seasons.The New York Jets need a threat off the edge and a pass-rusher who can consistently win one-on-one matchups. They're tied for 20th with 15 sacks through seven weeks.This move would be about 2019 and beyond for the Jets, a team unlikely to make a playoff push this season. Fortunately, Jones is under contract through the 2021 season and is a relative bargain considering he makes $7 million less per year than Khalil Mack.Potential trade package: Jones and a fourth-round pick for two third-round picksJanoris Jenkins ➡️ Houston TexansThe Houston Texans have brought themselves back from the brink after starting the season 0-3, rattling off five wins to sit atop the AFC South on the back of a rejuvenated defense.J.J. Watt and Co. have allowed just 59 points over the team's past four games. However, the once-struggling pass defense hasn't faced a strong aerial attack during that time. Few remain on the schedule, but the Texans can't stand pat and wait for a team like the Patriots to carve them up in the postseason.The Texans are the fourth-best team in the league against No. 1 receivers, according to Football Outsiders' DVOA metric. But they rank 29th against opponents' No. 2 receiver, and 16th against every other receiver. And Houston lacks strong depth at cornerback after Johnathan Joseph was injured on Thursday night.Janoris Jenkins' play has fallen off following his 2016 Pro Bowl appearance, but he still has a nose for the football (82 passes defenses and 18 interceptions during his career) and that should be highlighted behind Houston's strong pass rush. The Texans should also be able to get Jenkins for a good price after the New York Giants let go of Damon Harrison for a fifth-rounder in a cap-shedding move.Potential trade package: Jenkins for a fourth-round pickTyrod Taylor ➡️ Jacksonville JaguarsJason Miller / Getty Images Sport / GettyIt's obvious that the Jacksonville Jaguars' last drops of patience with Blake Bortles have finally evaporated. Head coach Doug Marrone benched his starting quarterback for Cody Kessler after Bortles had another ineffective and turnover-filled performance in the first half against the Houston Texans in Week 7. But he's still sticking with Bortles this week after naming him the starter again.The Jaguars don't have an option beyond Bortles, which is a trap of their own making. Teddy Bridgewater and a host of other veterans were available this offseason, but Jacksonville placed all its chips on Bortles while only bringing in Kessler as competition.Tyrod Taylor struggled in his short stint as the Cleveland Browns' starter in 2018, but he has a history of managing games effectively (he threw just 16 interceptions in three seasons starting for the Buffalo Bills). His presence could allow the Jaguars to play as desired and rely on their rushing attack and defense.With Baker Mayfield entrenched as their starter, the Browns can afford to trade Taylor, and the freefalling Jaguars can't allow their hole under center to drag down a championship-caliber roster.Potential trade package: Taylor for a fifth-round pickChris Harris ➡️ Pittsburgh SteelersThe Denver Broncos' most recent win ended their four-game losing streak and pushed them back to 3-4. But they still sit far behind the 6-1 Kansas City Chiefs and the 5-2 Los Angeles Chargers in the AFC West, and shouldn't get cold feet about selling off valuable assets while looking toward 2019 and beyond.Aside from Von Miller, cornerback Chris Harris is probably Denver's most impactful defender, and he should garner significant trade interest from contending teams that need an upgrade in the secondary. Harris is Pro Football Focus' seventh-ranked corner, and although he'll turn 30 years old in 2019, he's been remarkably durable. He relies more on his smarts and technique than athleticism to lock down opposing receivers.Pittsburgh could use the consistency Harris offers. Despite recently making moves to fortify the secondary, the Steelers haven't been able to fix the back end of their defense, and they're giving up the sixth-most passing yards per game in the league.Former first-rounder Artie Burns simply shouldn't be starting on a team with championship aspirations. Joe Haden and Harris would give the Steelers a versatile and experienced cornerback duo, and while the price might be high, Pittsburgh needs to be active while pushing for the AFC's top tier.Potential trade package: Harris for third- and a sixth-round picksDemaryius Thomas ➡️ Cleveland BrownsJustin Edmonds / Getty Images Sport / GettyBaker Mayfield's stats don't look good at first glance. The Cleveland Browns' rookie quarterback has thrown almost as many touchdowns (six) as interceptions (five). He's also fumbled four times (losing two), and perhaps most worryingly, is only completing 57.8 percent of his passes. The only quarterbacks with a lower completion percentage than Mayfield are the three passers taken directly after him in the 2018 draft.However, Mayfield's numbers would look a lot better if his pass-catchers could, well, catch passes. The Browns have the highest percentage of dropped passes in the league at 7.4 percent, and they also own the worst mark on third down at nearly 10 percent, according to ESPN. The rookie quarterback needs some more reliable weapons to play alongside receiver Jarvis Landry and tight end David Njoku.Demaryius Thomas isn't a slam-dunk option for Cleveland. He'll turn 31 in December, his average of 11.3 yards per catch in 2018 is the lowest of his career, and he'll have an enormous $17.53-million cap hit in 2019. Thomas also isn't the most sure-handed wideout, and he has four drops of his own this season, according to The Washington Post.But none of that should matter too much to the Browns, and it should help to lower Thomas' price.While he's no longer a Pro Bowl-caliber receiver, Thomas is still a huge upgrade over rookie Antonio Callaway. He might just be a rental for the rest of the season if a one- or two-year extension can't be reached, but the cap-rich Browns can afford to make this kind of move to improve the situation around their young franchise pivot.Potential trade package: Thomas and a sixth-round pick for a fourth-round pick.Gareon Conley ➡️ Indianapolis ColtsThe fire sale in Oakland should continue, and Jon Gruden could ship out another former first-round pick.It would perhaps be premature for the Raiders to give up on talented cornerback Gareon Conley. But he's already been benched and wasn't on the field for a single defensive snap against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 6. He also missed the majority of his rookie season due to injury.The Indianapolis Colts would be a good landing spot for Conley, who showed good instincts for zone coverage, Indy's preferred defensive style, during his standout career at Ohio State.The Colts' defense is an up-and-coming unit, but one that needs an infusion of talent at cornerback to free up playmaking safety Malik Hooker.Potential trade package: Conley for a 2019 third-round pickCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Defensive end Everson Griffen returned to the Minnesota Vikings this week after a five-week absence to attend to his mental health and he's slated to be in the lineup Sunday against the New Orleans Saints, the team announced Friday.Head coach Mike Zimmer said on Friday that he hadn't made a determination as to whether Griffen would play Sunday, but the team announcement says otherwise.Griffen was a full participant in practice all week and stated that he feels he's in strong physical shape, but still needs to get into football shape."Yeah, I feel good. I feel good. I was working out. I was able to work out and do the things I have to do, but playing this game of football it requires more than just working out," Griffen said on Wednesday."You got to push somebody, hit somebody, get your timing back. It's more to go on the football just in running and training by myself. I'm able to play football, but I still have to get back in the pass rush flow and my run flow and stuff like that."Griffen was treated at a mental health facility after a number of incidents involving police and medical personnel.The Vikings went 3-2 without their three-time Pro Bowler in the lineup.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Seattle Seahawks will likely welcome back a familiar face to their defense on Sunday.Veteran linebacker K.J. Wright is expected to make his season debut against the Detroit Lions after sitting out the first seven weeks while recovering from offseason arthroscopic knee surgery.Wright was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday, but he wasn't on the Seahawks' injury reports Thursday and Friday."I am glad to be back. Very glad," Wright said on Thursday, via John Boyle of Seahawks.com.The Seahawks' defense lost venerable figures Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor, Michael Bennett, and Cliff Avril this offseason, and star safety Earl Thomas suffered a season-ending leg injury in Week 4.Wright, a Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion, should slide in next to Bobby Wagner in the middle of Seattle's defense.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Linebacker Anthony Barr is one of four Minnesota Vikings players ruled out for Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints.Barr injured his hamstring during the fourth quarter of the Vikings' win over the New York Jets in Week 7.Safety Andrew Sendejo, guard Tom Compton, and running back Dalvin Cook will also miss Week 8.Barr has recorded 29 tackles and one forced fumble this season. Linebackers Eric Wilson and Devante Downs will likely fill in for him against New Orleans.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Denver Broncos running back Royce Freeman, who's battling an ankle injury, is one of four Broncos players who have been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic.Right tackle Jared Veldheer, wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton, and safety Darian Stewart will also miss the contest because of various ailments.Freeman and Phillip Lindsay have reignited Denver's ground attack this season, with the two rookies combining for 745 yards and six touchdowns rushing through seven games.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 8 rankings. You can also listen to the Week 8 preview episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast.StartAndrew Luck, QB, Coltsat RaidersAndy Lyons / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Colts' attack has taken a big step forward over the last month with their offensive line play improving. Luck has thrown 15 touchdowns over that four-game stretch and now gets a Raiders defense that's allowed multiple passing scores in five of their six games. Any offseason doubts we had about Luck's recovery can be put to rest, he's a steady QB1 once again.Boone's projection: 305 passing yards, 3 TDsOther QBs to start

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles has come under scrutiny for a series of poor performances this season.Bortles was benched during Sunday's loss to the Houston Texans with Cody Kessler taking his place. After mulling over his options, Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone reinstated Bortles as the starter for Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles.With mounting criticism being levied against him, Bortles says he'll continue to play the only way he knows how."You've just got to go play. I don't think you can worry about it," Bortles said via ESPN's Michael DiRocco. "You can't play the position and play the game constantly worrying about, 'What happens if I make a mistake?'"I've always kind of played fearless and not scared to make the mistake. I think that's allowed me to make some plays, but in saying that, I've got to also be smart and obviously take calculated risks and make sure whatever I'm doing is putting us in position to score."Bortles has completed 60.6 percent of his passes for 1,735 yards, nine touchdowns, and eight interceptions as the Jaguars have stumbled to a 3-4 record.Although Bortles has already been pulled this season, he's not overly concerned with the outside noise as he's tasked with turning the season around."There's been pressure it seems like since I got to Jacksonville, so it's kind of normal," Bortles said. "I think there's pressure at every position at all times in the NFL. If you're not getting the job done or playing well or being successful they'll eventually replace you and find somebody else that can."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.