Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette is expected to play Sunday versus the Tennessee Titans, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Fournette missed the Jags' Week 2 matchup against the New England Patriots with a hamstring injury. In his absence, T.J. Yeldon took the lead role and had 12 touches for 71 yards in a 31-20 victory.A conflicting report emerged from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, however, with a source telling Rapoport that it would be an "uphill battle" for Fournette to be on the field Sunday against the Titans.Fournette carried the ball just nine times for 41 yards in the season opener against the New York Giants.The Jaguars currently rank ninth in the league in rushing yards per game.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Don't be surprised if the Buffalo Bills show up late for their game Sunday.The Bills' Twitter account tweeted a graphic - that has since been deleted - illustrating the team traveling to Minneapolis for their Week 3 showdown with the Minnesota Vikings.There was only one problem - the graphic had Buffalo's plane landing in Wisconsin.Courtesy @buffalobills The 0-2 Bills are off to a rough start in 2018, and are expected to be in tough against the undefeated Vikings.The Vikings' Twitter account had some fun in response to the tweet.

Lynn Redden, a superintendent in Texas, resigned Saturday amid backlash over his comments about the Houston Texans' Deshaun Watson and other black quarterbacks.After the Texans dropped their Week 2 encounter with the Tennessee Titans, Redden wrote "you can't count on a black quarterback" on the Houston Chronicle's Facebook page. He made the comment in reference to a poor throw by Watson toward the end of the game.When asked by the newspaper about the racist post, Redden noted that black quarterbacks have had "limited success" throughout NFL history.Redden was superintendent of the Onalaska Independent School District in Onalaska, Texas.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.Jordan Matthews, WR, Eaglesvs. ColtsMark L. Baer / USA TODAY SportsThe Eagles brought Matthews back into the mix this week with wide receiver Alshon Jeffery still considered unlikely to play as of Friday.In Matthews, the Eagles reacquired the 42nd overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft. He and quarterback Carson Wentz, who's set to return and start this week, connected on 73 of 117 targets for 804 yards and three touchdowns in the quarterback's rookie campaign.With Wentz back and Jeffery still sidelined, receiver Nelson Agholor and tight end Zach Ertz should see the biggest boosts in fantasy production, but Matthews is expected to regain his former role as the primary slot receiver. Meanwhile, the odds favor the Eagles putting up 27 points on the Colts, according to Covers.com.James Washington, WR, Steelersat BuccaneersJoe Sargent / Getty Images Sport / GettyWashington made an impact for the first time in Week 2 when he scored a 14-yard touchdown against the Chiefs. He saw five targets that game after playing just 11 offensive snaps in his NFL debut, according to FootballOutsiders.com.The Buccaneers have been able to build sizable early leads in each of their first two games, while the Steelers fell behind by 21 points in the first quarter of Week 2.Similar conditions would mean the Steelers deploy more three-receiver sets and take deep shots to Washington in hopes of a quick score. Only six teams have allowed more passing plays of at least 20 yards than Tampa Bay's nine through two games.Ito Smith, RB, Falconsvs. SaintsScott Cunningham / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Falcons stood by their running back rotation without starter Devonta Freeman in Week 2. Smith, a fourth-round rookie, played 19 snaps to Tevin Coleman's 40 and carried the ball nine times for 46 yards with a single 8-yard reception.The Falcons and Saints boast an over/under line of 53.5 points this week, with Atlanta listed as a 3-point home favorite. A high-scoring affair would allow both teams to run plenty of plays, giving FLEX appeal to Smith as the No. 2 back.Zay Jones, WR, Billsat VikingsBrett Carlsen / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Bills are listed as a massive 17-point road underdog against the Vikings, which should pave the way for rookie quarterback Josh Allen's passing attack to create some fantasy points in garbage time.Jones caught two of three passes from Allen in Week 2 for 63 yards. And he showed some of the potential that made him a second-round pick in 2017 with a 57-yard haul that was easily a career long.The Vikings' defense has not been immune to giving up big plays with seven passes of at least 20 yards allowed. Jones can exploit this and should benefit most from Allen's likely late-game desperation.Mark Walton, RB, Bengalsat PanthersJoe Robbins / Getty Images Sport / GettyWalton, the 112th overall pick of the 2018 draft, will get his first taste of regular-season action after being inactive throughout the first two weeks.Joe Mixon's injury sets up pass-catching back Giovani Bernard for a greatly expanded role on the ground, but Walton should still see work in a complementary role.Walton and Bernard check in around the same height and weight, but Bernard has just one red-zone carry so far this season after having 10 such totes in 16 games last year, according to NFLSavant.com. Walton could reward brave fantasy managers if he spells Bernard inside the opponent's 20-yard line during Mixon's absence.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Beloved Pittsburgh Steelers great Hines Ward cringed over the recent antics of star receiver and former teammate Antonio Brown."I'm a little embarrassed in the sense that that's not the Steelers' culture," Ward told Zach Gelb of CBS Sports Radio. "We're not really big on kind of having off-the-field issues with a lot of different guys."Brown is coming off a chaotic week that began Sunday during the Steelers' loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. The six-time Pro Bowler was seen feuding on the sideline with offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner, then left the locker room after the game without speaking to reporters. Brown failed to show up for work the next day and tweeted about being traded.Related - Brown breaks silence: 'Obviously I don't want to be traded'"I understand he's a passionate guy and wants to win more than anybody in the world, but in this case I kind of think he's wrong for the outburst," said Ward. "When things aren't going good, a lot of people look at the leaders on your team ... they want to see how you respond to adversity. It's something that I wouldn't have done. I get it, you're frustrated. You want to win. But having outbursts like that doesn't do anybody any justice."Ward and Brown - whose careers overlapped for two years - rank first and second, respectively, in both receiving yards and touchdowns in the franchise's history. Ward won two Super Bowls and made four Pro Bowls over his career with the Steelers.Brown has been far from the only source of drama in Pittsburgh this season, though. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and running back Le'Veon Bell are among the other Steelers stars who've produced a fair share of distraction-worthy headlines over the last several months.The Steelers own a 0-1-1 record heading into Monday night's tilt with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.With h/t to ProFootballTalkCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Legendary pass-rusher Julius Peppers is in line for a larger role after playing just one-third of the Carolina Panthers' defensive snaps through two weeks."He needs to play more and he will,'' defensive coordinator Eric Washington said Friday, according to ESPN's David Newton. "We need to do a better job with the rotation getting Pep in the game in obvious passing situations, and just rotating him in general. But there's no reason why his snap count has been what it is."Peppers, who sits fourth on the NFL's all-time sack list, hasn't dragged down the quarterback once this season. In fact, the 38-year-old has just two tackles - one solo - over the course of his slow start. Peppers and Mario Addison led Carolina with 11 sacks apiece a year ago."It's something I know how to do," Peppers said of sacking the QB. "I'm not that concerned about it. They always say the first one is the hardest to get. They say they come in bunches and all that stuff. I'm not worried about that at all. Right now I'm worried about helping us get a win this week against Cincinnati. The accolades and all of that personal stuff, that'll take care of itself."Peppers' snap count:OpponentSnapsCowboys24 (out of 64)Falcons19 (out of 63)It's possible Peppers' lack of production is related to the shoulder surgery he underwent in the offseason. The nine-time Pro Bowler sat out all four preseason games and only started practicing the week of the season opener while healing from the procedure."It's been so limited so far, I don't know if you can get a good gauge of how it's going," Peppers said of his play in the opening two weeks. "We'll get there."The Panthers are set to take a 1-1 record into their home date with the Bengals on Sunday.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas missed practice Friday while dealing with a personal issue and head coach Pete Carroll said his status remains uncertain for Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys."We'll see how he's doing and make sure he's OK," Carroll told reporters Friday. "He's got some other stuff going on. That's what we're working on. It's personal. That's why we're not going to talk about it."Thomas was not listed on the injury report and his absence from Wednesday's practice was listed as "not injury related."NFL.com's Steve Wyche reports that two players said they expect Thomas to play Sunday.Thomas recorded 11 tackles and an interception over the team's first two games.The standout safety missed the entire summer while holding out for a contract extension. Thomas returned to the team but appeared to still be incensed with the situation, writing "the disrespect has been well-noted and will not be forgotten" on an Instagram post announcing the end of his holdout.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tennessee Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan cleared the NFL's concussion protocol after meeting with an independent physician on Thursday, and will be eligible to play in Week 3 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to Turron Davenport of ESPN.Lewan was ruled inactive for the Titans' Week 2 game against the Houston Texans, but he's steadily improved this week and was a full participant in both Thursday and Friday's practice sessions."Taylor is ready to go. He's cleared and will be playing again. Anybody that we can get back is a boost," Vrabel said.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears the tape hath been watched.After insisting the night prior he needed to "watch the tape" before naming Baker Mayfield his new starting quarterback, Cleveland Browns coach Hue Jackson conceded Friday the rookie was stellar in his debut against the New York Jets."It was as good as I thought live," Jackson said, according to Andrew Gribble of ClevelandBrowns.com. "He made some tremendous throws."Mayfield was brilliant in relief of a concussed Tyrod Taylor, leading the Browns to their first win in 635 days. The No. 1 overall pick threw for 202 yards and helped Cleveland overcome a 14-0 deficit.Jackson stopped short of declaring Mayfield the starter going into Week 4, though. He said he won't announce a quarterback decision before addressing his players, who have the weekend off."We don't play for 10 days," Jackson told reporters, via Omar Ruiz of NFL Network. "As I said, I wanted to really watch the tape and talk to the staff and talk to (general manager) John (Dorsey) and then make a decision from there."The Browns will take a 1-1-1 record into a Sept. 30 tilt with the Oakland Raiders.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

SSSQ is a weekly look at the under-the-radar fantasy players you should consider starting, and the 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 3 rankings.StartRyan Fitzpatrick, QB, Buccaneersvs. SteelersMichael Reaves / Getty Images Sport / GettyWe live in a world where Fitzpatrick has thrown eight touchdowns and has more fantasy points than any other quarterback through two weeks. We're all waiting for the Fitzmagic to run out, but that won't happen this week in a matchup with the lost Steelers defense that was just torched for six scores by Patrick Mahomes in Week 2.Boone's projection: 306 passing yards, 2 TDsOther QBs to start

I should probably quit while I'm ahead.The first two weeks of the NFL season - generally the toughest time of the year to find an edge - were both profitable. Do I want to regress? No. Will I? I mean, I hope not. Let me just try to keep giving out more winners than losers as we move into Week 3.As a reminder, make a conscious effort to shop around for the best numbers before tailing or fading.Top PlaysGiants at TexansWager: Over 41.5Even only two weeks into the season, there are offenses I have a hard time trusting.In the case of the Giants, the glaring issue is the offensive line. It simply can't block, meaning Eli Manning can't let routes develop and his play suffers.But what separates New York from teams like Arizona and Buffalo is that it continues to present potential on a weekly basis. In fact, there isn't one offense in the NFL I want to shake with my bare hands and scream in the face of more than the Giants.I see Odell Beckham, Sterling Shepard, Evan Engram, and Saquon Barkley, and I'm aghast that the Giants have gone 34 straight games without hitting 30 points. Obviously, this group can't be held accountable for that drought, but for new offensive coordinator Mike Shula to not squeeze every last bit of skill out of this cast has been maddening.I'm not as worried about the Texans' offense moving forward. Deshaun Watson hasn't been as good as last season, but he's still moving the ball downfield, and Houston's offense is right in the middle of the pack at 5.2 yards per play. The Texans have scored 17 and 20 points in their first two games, but have turned the ball over three times in plus territory. They've also settled for more field goals, turning just 33 percent of their red-zone trips into touchdowns.This is one play on the board that stuck out like a sore thumb. It's a mystery as to whether these sputtering offenses can get this one over 41.5, but I'm willing to pay a large price to find out.Bears at CardinalsWager: Cardinals +5.5Explosive plays have killed the Cardinals' defense through two games, but Week 4 presents a considerable matchup edge against a team that isn't tailored to create big plays.The Bears have been retooled both in personnel and scheme under head coach Matt Nagy. The pass-catching group is essentially brand new, as the front office made a huge effort in the offseason to give second-year quarterback Mitchell Trubisky more weapons.What we've learned through two games is that despite all these shiny new toys, Trubisky isn't ready to be unleashed.Chicago might have a diverse scheme, but it's not predicated on pushing the ball downfield in a hurry. The 47 points scored this season are a bit deceiving as the defense has accounted for two touchdowns; the offense has averaged just 4.4 yards per play.Arizona's offense, on the other hand, is going to struggle all season. Outside of David Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald, it's tough to find a mismatch in the Cardinals' favor.But in what could be a relatively low-scoring game, I'll take the points for the home team and buy low on Arizona49ers at ChiefsKevork Djansezian / Getty Images Sport / GettyWager: 49ers +6.5While I do believe the Chiefs could end up being one of the season's biggest surprises when all is said and done, I still think they're being overvalued in this spot.It may have been lazy analysis to claim the Chiefs would struggle in 2018 because of the defense. In reality, when your offense is putting up 40 points per game, you don't need a great unit on the other side of the ball.It's also easy to fawn over Patrick Mahomes, and what he and the rest of the Chiefs' offense has accomplished through two games. And that's likely a big reason why the spread on Sunday has jumped more than three points in comparison to the preseason look-ahead lines.Still, Niners quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo gets a real nice matchup against a Chiefs defense that hasn't been criticized like it should because Mahomes and the offense has bailed it out twice this season.Extra PointsBengals at PanthersWager: Under 43.5As a sucker for non-conference overs - and for letting the Panthers' offense dictate my bankroll three-to-five times per year - I actually like the under in this game quite a bit.Carolina is still so hard to trust offensively. There are many horizontal principles in an offense with a quarterback that can heave it, but it feels like every Panthers drive takes up more then six minutes.I love that the Bengals' offense has opened it up, but similar to how I treated the Texans-Giants game, I'll pay to find out if it's real.Chargers at RamsWager: Chargers +7The look-ahead line for this one was Rams -3.5. Am I supposed to believe that - even with some offseason additions and wins over the lowly Raiders and Cardinals - the Rams should magically be giving twice as many points?I like the Rams as much as the next person, but they haven't done anything outside the norm to prove they should be the Super Bowl favorite after double-digit wins against a pair of likely bottom-five teams.We're getting a full touchdown on a team that doesn't have to travel all that far? Yes, please.Top plays: 4-1-1

The Philadelphia Eagles will be without running back Jay Ajayi, who's suffering from a back injury, when they face the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, the team announced.Veteran tailback Darren Sproles will also miss the contest because of a hamstring issue.With Ajayi and Sproles on the shelf, Corey Clement figures to receive most of the work in the backfield, though he's listed as questionable due to an ailing quadriceps.In more positive news, the Eagles are set to return star quarterback Carson Wentz to the starting lineup after a long-awaited recovery from a torn ACL.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Vikings announced Friday that running back Dalvin Cook and defensive end Everson Griffen have been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills.Cook's absence is due to a hamstring injury. The 23-year-old sophomore has rushed for 78 yards on 26 carries through two weeks. He's added 107 receiving yards on nine catches.Backup running back Latavius Murray will be expected to step into the lead role for Minnesota.Griffen will miss his first game of the year due to a knee injury. He's recorded one sack and one pass defensed while starting each of the first two games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A handful of women have shared stories of domestic abuse or aggressive behavior involving LeSean McCoy, ex-girlfriend Delicia Cordon said Friday, according to ESPN's Mike Rodak.In a news conference, Cordon and attorney Tanya Mitchell Graham said four or five women have shared their disturbing stories of the Buffalo Bills running back with Cordon or Stephanie Maisonet, the mother of McCoy's son."In addition to Stephanie Maisonet, the mother of LeSean's son, other women have contacted me about how LeSean has physically abused them, taken back gifts he has given them and exhibited other aggressive behavior toward them and toward his child," Cordon said. "I am grateful for everyone for everyone who has contacted me about their experiences and I hope that by seeing myself and Ms. Maisonet come forward, they too will gain the strength to come forward as well."Cordon has accused McCoy of being involved in a July 10 home invasion that left her beaten and robbed of jewelry. The incident took place at a property Cordon and McCoy legally shared even though their relationship had ended.McCoy was in a different part of the country when the attack took place, but Cordon has insisted he helped orchestrate it and is suing him."To be clear, I believe LeSean McCoy was involved in the attack," Cordon said. "The LeSean McCoy that I know behind closed doors is totally different than the LeSean McCoy in front of cameras."Cordon also said McCoy hasn't cooperated with investigators and cited his refusal to provide requested information about the security cameras at the house.Neither Cordon nor Graham have directly accused McCoy of committing domestic violence against her.McCoy's legal team has motioned to dismiss the lawsuit. The 30-year-old tailback has also denied Cordon's claims on social media while information about the case has come out.Cordon doubled her reward to $40,000 on Friday for anyone who provides information about the intruder that leads to an arrest.Graham said the NFL has not contacted Cordon about the incident.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ryan Fitzpatrick wouldn't take the bait Friday when asked if he should remain the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' starting quarterback once Jameis Winston is reinstated from suspension."When everything happened in the offseason and it became that I was going to start the first three games, that's where all my focus went - into these first three games," Fitzpatrick said, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.The journeyman backup will lead the Bucs into a Monday Night Football affair versus the Pittsburgh Steelers - the evening before Winston returns from a three-game suspension - to cap the Week 3 schedule.Related - Jackson on Bucs' QB situation: 'You can't take the hot man out'Fitzpatrick leads the NFL in passing yardage after two weeks and has thrown eight touchdowns against one interception. His connection with deep-ball specialist DeSean Jackson has been particularly stunning given Jackson's struggles last year while playing with Winston."I just wanted to do whatever I could possibly do to get this team to 3-0 and we're sitting here right now at 2-0 with a chance at it," Fitzpatrick added. "So far, so good. But I am so focused on this game and trying to get it done with Pittsburgh and trying to get to that 3-0 goal that I had set for myself and the team this offseason that that's what I'm focused on."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Colin Kaepernick will receive Harvard University's highest honor in African and African-American studies next month.The former NFL quarterback, along with comedian Dave Chappelle and six others, will be presented with the W.E.B. Du Bois Medal at the sixth annual Hutchins Center Honors on Oct. 11, the university announced Thursday.The W.E.B. Du Bois Medal is awarded to those who "have made significant contributions to African and African-American history and culture, and more broadly, are individuals who advocate for intercultural understanding and human rights in an increasingly global and interconnected world." Past recipients include Muhammad Ali, Maya Angelou, and Oprah Winfrey.In its press release, Harvard highlighted Kaepernick's pledge to donate $1 million to community organizations, which he completed in January. He was recently made the face of Nike's "Just Do It" 30th-anniversary campaign.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Indianapolis Colts will be without running back Marlon Mack, tight end Jack Doyle, and offensive tackle Anthony Castonzo for their Week 3 game against the Philadelphia Eagles, owner Jim Irsay announced Friday.Defensive linemen Denico Autry and Hassan Ridgeway, and cornerback Quincy Wilson were also ruled out.Mack didn't play in the Colts' season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals but returned for Week 2 with 10 carries for 34 yards and a two-yard reception. The sophomore back has been battling foot and hamstring injuries. Rookies Jordan Wilkins and Nyheim Hines should again step up in his absence. Wilkins is the Colts' rushing leader with 101 yards on 24 carries.Doyle has caught nine of 15 targets for 80 yards through two games.The 30-year-old Castonzo is yet to play this season due to a hamstring injury.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bill Belichick praised Josh Gordon but avoided questions about the receiver's off-field history and injury status Friday while welcoming him to the New England Patriots."Josh is a smart kid. He's worked hard, he's picked up a lot," Belichick told reporters, courtesy of Binge Sports' Casey Baker.The Patriots traded a fifth-round draft pick to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for Gordon and a seventh-round selection earlier in the week.Gordon comes to Foxborough with the distinction of being the NFL's leading receiver in 2013, but also with an extensive list of off-field issues that have limited him to 11 games in the four-plus seasons since.As well, the 27-year-old is dealing with a hamstring injury sustained during a promotional event shortly before the Browns decided to part ways with him."I wouldn't talk about a player's personal or injury situations," added Belichick, who's preparing the Patriots to take on the Detroit Lions in Week 3.Gordon participated in his first practice with the Patriots on Wednesday. If healthy and in the lineup, he could give New England a much-needed vertical threat in the passing game.

Here are four of the most one-sided matchups in Week 3 of the NFL season.Ryan Fitzpatrick vs. Steelers' defenseThe most surprising aspect of the first two weeks has been Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offense. With offensive coordinator Todd Monken calling the plays, Fitzpatrick - a journeyman quarterback for most of his career - is performing at an elite level, dicing up defenses with his arm while keeping them honest with his legs.Fitzpatrick has thrown for over 400 yards and four touchdowns with a completion percentage above 70 in each game to start the season, and there's no reason why that should stop against the Steelers - particularly if he can keep slinging it like this:The key to Fitzpatrick's hot start has been his quick decision-making. Through two weeks, Fitzpatrick has the fourth-fastest time to throw (2.25 seconds) and has thrown 63.8 percent of his passes in under 2.5 seconds, per Pro Football Focus. This makes it nearly impossible for a pass rush to generate pressure and will really come in handy against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have the fourth-highest adjusted sack rate in the NFL, per Football Outsiders.The Steelers' defense is known for using a high frequency of zone blitzes to confuse and pressure opposing quarterbacks. However, Fitzpatrick's decisiveness is perfectly suited to expose a defense like Pittsburgh's that relies on pressure to cover up holes in its secondary.When the Steelers dial up a zone blitz, expect Fitzpatrick to look Mike Evans’ way often:Evans has recorded 17 catches for 230 yards and two touchdowns in the first two weeks as Fitzpatrick's most reliable target. Fitzpatrick loves to go to him against the blitz and when the offense needs to move the chains; Evans has accounted for 12 (third-most among receivers) first downs this season.When Fitzpatrick does have time in the pocket, look for him to take advantage of the Steelers' average secondary, which has allowed the sixth-most passes of 15 or more yards (nine) this season.Secondaries' fear of Tampa's quick passing attack has opened up opportunities in the deep passing game. Fitzpatrick’s favorite deep target is DeSean Jackson, who, despite being nearly 32 years old, still possesses some of the best deep speed in the NFL. Thus far this season, Jackson has been targeted five times on throws of 20-plus yards, and he's caught all five for 232 yards and three touchdowns.Steelers safeties Sean Davis and Morgan Burnett will need to play their most disciplined game of the season, or Fitzpatrick is going to take advantage.Fitzpatrick can't maintain this level of play forever, but he certainly can keep it going for one more week against a once-vaunted Steelers defense.Alvin Kamara vs. Falcons' defenseEven when the Atlanta Falcons had Keanu Neal and Deion Jones, they struggled to cover running backs in the passing game. Without Neal and Jones, the Falcons stand little chance of slowing down Alvin Kamara, who might be the best receiving back in the NFL.The New Orleans Saints running back had a tough time on the ground in the first two weeks, rushing for just 75 yards, but he's been a key component of his team's passing attack, recording 15 catches for 165 yards and a touchdown. Here's a sample of what the Falcons should expect:Not only will the Falcons get a steady diet of Kamara out of the backfield and on screens, but the Saints will also flex Kamara out wide, hoping to spread out the defense and exploit one-on-one matchups with their best athlete in space. With Jones healthy, the Falcons had a player who could challenge Kamara in those situations. Without him, Atlanta will be forced to rely on De’Vondre Campbell and Duke Riley.Once Kamara gets into the open field, there may not be a player who is tougher to bring down. He leads the league in forced missed tackles on receptions (eight), per Pro Football Focus. Kamara possesses track-like speed that allows him to run away from slower second-level defenders, along with excellent contact balance to absorb and defeat tackle attempts.Last week, the Falcons had no answer for Christian McCaffrey as he racked up 14 catches for 102 yards. Expect similar output from Kamara this week, and don't be surprised if he takes a short pass for a long touchdown Sunday.J.J. Watt vs. Giants' offensive lineJ.J. Watt is off to a slow start, accounting for just eight combined tackles and zero sacks over the first two weeks.Luckily for him, the Houston Texans are about to play against a New York Giants offensive line that has proven to be the cure for just about any struggling defensive lineman. Through two weeks, the Giants have allowed 26 total pressures, sixth-most in the NFL.After missing most of last season, the former NFL Defensive Player of the Year has yet to return to his old self, but that doesn't mean he hasn’t been effective:< Watt still possesses a deep repertoire of pass-rush moves to go along with impressive lower-body pliability and the quickness to wrap around the edge on speed rushes. In the above clip, Watt shows that he is still one of the more nuanced rushers in the NFL. Lined up in a wide-nine technique outside the Patriots right tackle, Watt explodes out of his stance for three steps.Once he gets into range, Watt feints with a two-hand swipe in an attempt to get the tackle to punch with his hands. Once the right tackle looks to latch on to Watt, the Texans defensive end lowers his pad level and executes a violent rip with his inside hand, allowing him to win the edge and flatten to the quarterback.Playing over 78.2 percent of his snaps on the left edge, here is the player Watt will lock horns with on most snaps:Ereck Flowers is simply one of the worst right tackles in football, and Watt should be able to take full advantage Sunday. Expect Watt to end his sack-less streak when the Giants come to NRG Stadium.Patrick Mahomes vs. 49ers' defenseWith the way Patrick Mahomes is playing, the Kansas City Chiefs' offense is a mismatch for any defense in the NFL.Mahomes has thrown more touchdowns (10) in Weeks 1 and 2 than any other quarterback in NFL history as the Chiefs posted impressive victories over the Los Angeles Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers.No matter what coverage the defense has played, Mahomes has carved it up, using his powerful arm and impressive ball placement to take advantage of the holes on opposing secondaries. He's been excellent in the pocket and on the run, demonstrating the ability to make accurate throws off varying platforms. The Chiefs lead the league with 11 explosive pass plays, per Sharp Football Stats (that is, passes accounting for 15 or more yards).Wide receiver Tyreek Hill has benefited greatly from playing with Mahomes, recording 12 catches for 259 yards and three touchdowns. Hill’s deep speed and suddenness in and out of his cuts make him an impossible cover with Mahomes at QB, as seen here:Hill's always had the speed to outrun deep coverage, but he never had a quarterback with enough arm strength to get it to him once he gets behind a defense. That's clearly no longer an issue.This week, Mahomes and Co. face a San Francisco 49ers defense that's allowed nearly 600 passing yards in two games. While Mahomes would be wise to avoid throwing at Richard Sherman, the rest of the 49ers' secondary is ripe to be picked on:Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon and safeties Jaquiski Tartt and Adrian Colbert all struggle mightily in coverage - a terrible recipe against the most explosive offense in the NFL.Expect Andy Reid to scheme ways to isolate Hill in one-on-one coverage against Witherspoon on the outside, looking to capitalize on the young cornerback's struggles. Travis Kelce should also be in line for a big game against San Francisco's subpar coverage safeties.The Chiefs' offense is eventually going to come back to Earth, but don’t expect that to happen 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.

Rookie quarterback Sam Darnold shouldered the blame Thursday night after the New York Jets surrendered a 14-point lead and fell 21-17 to the Cleveland Browns."From my point of view, I just have to play better, simple as that," Darnold said, according to ESPN's Rich Cimini. "It's not acceptable, the way I played. I know that, and I have to take it like a man. I feel like I'm responsible for some of the stagnant offense we had. I just have to play better, that's it."Darnold threw interceptions on the Jets' final two offensive possessions, ending any hope of a late comeback and raising his total to five for the season. The No. 3 overall pick completed under 50 percent of his throws and finished the night with a 38.2 quarterback rating. He was thoroughly outplayed by No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield."I felt really comfortable throughout the whole game," Darnold said. "I just made stupid mistakes in the fourth quarter and missed opportunities throughout the whole game."After an efficient debut against the Detroit Lions, Darnold has thrown one touchdown and four picks over his last two contests."I thought he competed his butt off yesterday," Jets head coach Todd Bowles said Friday morning of Darnold, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. "Yesterday was one of his better games from a mental standpoint, toughness standpoint, and grit standpoint. ... I thought he grew a lot last night."The Browns picked up their first win of the campaign - and in 635 days - with the victory. The Jets, meanwhile, dropped their second decision in three outings.Darnold and the Jets will look to rebound in Week 4 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In just his first regular-season NFL appearance, Baker Mayfield accomplished what was beginning to seem impossible.The No. 1 pick of the 2018 NFL Draft entered Thursday night's game against the New York Jets late in the second quarter as an injury replacement for starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor and led the Cleveland Browns to a 21-17 win for their first victory in 635 days.Mayfield's presence in the game seemed to make an immediate impact by rejuvenating his teammates, and fans. The 23-year-old completed his first three pass attempts on a drive that concluded with a 45-yard field goal from Greg Joseph to narrow the Jets' lead to 14-3 at the half.Related: Sports world reacts to Browns' 1st win in 635 daysMayfield finished 17-for-23 through the air for 201 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.Running back Carlos Hyde scored two second-half touchdowns, including the clincher with 2:04 remaining in the fourth quarter. Linebacker Joe Schobert and cornerback Terrance Mitchell intercepted Jets rookie starter Sam Darnold on consecutive drives to end the game.Hyde, who turned 28 Thursday, left the stadium immediately after the game for the birth of his child at a Cleveland hospital.Taylor led the Browns to a 0-1-1 record through the first two weeks, but was ruled out due to a concussion early in the second half.Head coach Hue Jackson said after the game he'll have to "watch the tape" before making a decision on Week 4's starting quarterback, according to James Palmer of NFL Network.That matchup will see the Browns travel west for a showdown against the Oakland Raiders.The victory saw the chains come off the variety of Bud Light fridges that promised free beer to Browns fans if the team were to win a game this season after going 0-16 in 2017.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Leading the Cleveland Browns to their first victory in 635 days may not have been enough to guarantee rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield the starting job next week"Obviously, I like to watch the tape," head coach Hue Jackson said after the 21-17 win over the New York Jets. "Baker did some great things. We do not play until next Sunday. We have some days. Let's not get into those debates tonight. Obviously, what he did tonight was outstanding for the football team and his teammates and just the way he competed. I have to watch the tape, and we will go from there."Mayfield entered the game late in the second quarter as an injury replacement for veteran Tyrod Taylor. The No. 1 pick of April's draft led his team to its first score of the game on the first drive of his NFL career.He finished the unexpected debut going 17 of 23 through the air for 201 yards, no touchdowns, and no interceptions.Taylor was ruled out for the game early in the third quarter due to a concussion. He had started just 4 of 14 for a mere 19 yards.The 29-year-old Taylor entered Week 3 having led the Browns to a 0-1-1 record while completing 52.9 percent of pass attempts for 443 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions.The Browns will visit the Oakland Raiders in Week 4.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Videos contain coarse languageCleveland Browns fans were promised free beers if the team won a game this season. The chains came off those fridges on Thursday night.Thanks to a promotion from Bud Light, Browns fans rejoiced for more reasons than one after a 21-17 victory over the New York Jets.

It happened. It finally, actually happened.The Cleveland Browns won their first regular-season game since Christmas Eve 2016 when rookie Baker Mayfield led a comeback over the New York Jets on Thursday night.And the entire sports world was watching. Here's a sample of the in-game, and postgame, reactions from players across the sports landscape.

Warning: Video contains graphic contentNew York Jets running back Isaiah Crowell was having his way with the Cleveland Browns defense in the first half of Week 3's Thursday Night affair.He then seemed to extract a little extra revenge with a controversial celebration of his second touchdown against his former team.

It looks like it'll be up to rookie Baker Mayfield to lead a Cleveland comeback Thursday, as Browns starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor left the game against the New York Jets late in the second quarter to be evaluated for a concussion.Taylor was declared out for the remainder of the game shortly after halftime.He struggled mightily prior to the injury, completing just 4-of-14 passes for 19 yards, with four rushing attempts for an additional 22 yards.The 29-year-old had completed 52.9 percent of 70 pass attempts with two touchdowns and two interceptions through the first two weeks of the season.Mayfield seemed to instantly inject some life to the stagnant Browns offense, lining up in the shotgun on his first play and hitting wide receiver Jarvis Landry over the middle for a gain of 14 yards. He then found tight end David Njoku for 17 yards on the next play.The No. 1 overall pick of April's draft was sacked and coughed up a fumble on the third play of his NFL career, but it was scooped up by offensive lineman Joel Bitonio.The drive concluded with a successful 45-yard field goal from recently-signed kicker Greg Joseph to narrow the Jets' lead to 14-3 at the half.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Video contains graphic contentRevenge is a dish best served ... well, served however Isaiah Crowell just handed it to Cleveland Browns fans.Crowell spent the first four years of his career in Cleveland, but was allowed to hit free agency this offseason. The running back signed with the New York Jets and scored two quick touchdowns on his former team Thursday night.Here's how he celebrated his second score:

Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox feels the lack of national attention he receives is "disrespectful," according to ESPN's Tim McManus.The three-time Pro Bowler has started his seventh NFL season with 2.5 sacks through two games and told McManus he plans to continue using his lack of recognition as motivation to capture 2018's Defensive Player of the Year honors."You think players just overlook stuff, but when you see your name not mentioned, it just puts a bigger chip on your shoulder when you know that you're supposed to be mentioned as one of the top three players at your position and you're not," Cox said Thursday. "I take that with a full spoon and it just puts a bigger chip on my shoulder, ball out, and show the league why my name should be mentioned when they talk about top players in the league."The 27-year-old was selected 12th overall by the Eagles in the 2012 NFL Draft. He has compiled 36.5 sacks over 95 career games, adding seven forced fumbles and nine fumble recoveries with two touchdown returns.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Fanduel has reversed course on its decision to not pay out $82,000 in winnings to a New Jersey bettor."Above all else, sports betting is supposed to be fun," the company said in a statement Thursday, according to The Associated Press. "As a result of a pricing error this weekend, it wasn't for some of our customers."The bookmaker will pay Anthony Prince the full amount of his winnings from a $110 bet. It will also pay 12 other customers who made similar bets at inflated odds during an 18-second glitch in the system.Prince placed a bet on the Denver Broncos at 750-1 odds in the final moments of their Week 2 game against the Oakland Raiders, with the Broncos down two points and already in field-goal range.The bet was placed at FanDuel's sports book at Meadowlands Racetrack in New Jersey. The company had first refused to pay out Prince's profit, citing obvious errors. FanDuel says the computer-calculated odds should have been 1-6, a number that would have paid a profit of $18.35 on the $110 wager.Prince initially said he planned on getting an attorney involved.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns are home favorites for the first time since Week 14 of the 2015 season as they host the New York Jets on Thursday Night Football. Will Bernanke, the lead analyst at CG Analytics in Las Vegas, provided some insight to theScore as to how bettors are approaching the game leading up to kickoff.New York Jets at Cleveland BrownsOpen: CLE -3 (point spread) / 39 (O/U)Current: CLE -3 (point spread) / 40.5 (O/U)After snapping their 1,011-day home underdog streak, the Browns are now looking to finally fill the win column Thursday. The franchise hasn't won a game since Week 16 of the 2016 season and owns a horrendous 1-32-1 record under head coach Hue Jackson, who has led the Browns to a 9-24-1 clip against the spread in two-plus seasons.The wins aren't pouring in yet but there's room for hope. Cleveland is 0-1-1 on the season and could very well be 2-0. The Browns had to settle for a tie in the opener against Pittsburgh as five-point underdogs, then crumbled down the stretch in New Orleans, losing by three but covering the 10-point spread.Standing in the way of Cleveland's first win will be the New York Jets, led by rookie Sam Darnold. The youngest starting quarterback in the Super Bowl era got the season - and his NFL career - off to a hot start with a 48-17 road win over the Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football. The Miami Dolphins put a stop to that momentum, handing the Jets a 20-12 home loss last Sunday.Cleveland's track record of losing games both outright and against the spread hasn't shied bettors away from the Browns in Week 3, at least when it comes to hitting the moneyline.Per Bernanke, 60 percent of the point spread money as of Thursday afternoon was on the Jets, but 71 percent of the moneyline handle was comprised of Browns money. Bettors pushed the total up from 39 to 40.5, with 68 percent of all dollars at the time on the over.As of 2 p.m. ET, the book was looking for the game to go one of two ways, and will ultimately hope for the points to be at a premium."Ideal result would be either the Browns covering the spread or Jets winning outright, with a low-scoring game," Bernanke said.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Attorneys for Delicia Cordon, ex-girlfriend of Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy, announced their client is offering a $20,000 reward for information that will lead to the arrest of the person who broke into her home July 10.Cordon will hold a press conference Friday. The Law Office of Tanya Mitchell Graham released the following statement on Cordon's behalf:"A violent assailant remains at large and it is imperative that anyone with knowledge of the home invasion and attack of Ms. Cordon that occurred on July 10, 2018 come forward and provide any information to help apprehend the violent perpetrator who committed these crimes. As such, Ms. Cordon would like to offer a reward of TWENTY THOUSAND AND NO/100 DOLLARS ($20,000) for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who entered her former residence, beat her in her face with a handgun, hit her cousin in the back of the head with a handgun and stole her jewelry."The attack took place at a residence that McCoy owned and Cordon was living at.Cordon filed a personal injury lawsuit against McCoy and former Pitt football player Tamarcus Porter in August, stating they are "liable for the assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress suffered by the plaintiff."She also previously said McCoy knew of the attack but did not accuse him of being the assailant.McCoy's attorneys said last week: "There is no alleged link between the assailant and either Mr. McCoy or Mr. Porter," per ESPN's Mike Rodak.Stephanie Maisonet, the mother of McCoy's 6-year-old son, filed an affidavit Tuesday, stating McCoy asked for her help in carrying out a home invasion where Cordon would be present. Maisonet also said she reported McCoy to child services for physically abusing their son and attached a photo of the child with apparent bruises to his jaw.McCoy has denied Maisonet's statement and any involvement in the attack against Cordon.No charges have been filed against McCoy.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Here's a look at the key tactical showdowns that will ultimately decide the outcomes of three NFL games this coming week:Bengals' pass attack vs. Panthers' secondaryOne of the more surprising elements of the 2018 season to date has been the success of Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton and the offense as a whole. Cincinnati is 2-0 following victories over the Indianapolis Colts and Baltimore Ravens, while Dalton is tied for third in the league with six touchdowns and his adjusted net yards per attempt of 7.90 ranks seventh.If the Bengals hope to start 3-0 for the first time since 2015, they’ll need to pass a big test in Carolina, which features a stout defense led by a tough front and linebacker Luke Kuechly. However, the Panthers' secondary has been known to experience breakdowns in coverage from time to time.To mask that deficiency, Carolina employs a zone-heavy defense that led the league by playing zone on 70 percent of snaps last season, according to Pro Football Focus. Much of that time, Carolina uses a Cover 3 scheme, which can be attacked using "exit/enter" concepts in which a receiver runs through a zone to occupy a defender, allowing a second pass-catcher to move into the vacated space. Atlanta ran that type of play successfully against Carolina's Cover 3 last week:On the play above, the Falcons line up with three tight ends and only a single receiver, Marvin Hall (No. 17), who runs a deep vertical route down the left side. Hall is followed deep by the cornerback on his side, James Bradberry (No. 24), while Austin Hooper (No. 81) runs a deep out route on the same side of the field. That puts Hooper into the area vacated by Bradberry, who's still chasing Hall. Essentially, as Hall exits the zone, Hooper enters to find plenty of space.Fortunately for the Bengals, their playbook already features a similar design, as evidenced by this play against Baltimore in Week 2:Here, the outside receiver runs a post route while Tyler Boyd (No. 83) runs the deep out route from the slot. The Ravens are in a Cover 4 look, but the idea is the same. The post route occupies the cornerback, which allows Boyd to find space on the outside working away from the safety who's trying to cover him from the middle of the field.Chargers' run game vs. Rams' defensive frontA battle of Los Angeles awaits as the 1-1 Chargers will "visit" the 2-0 Rams. The Chargers' offense features star running back Melvin Gordon, but could find it tough to establish consistency on the ground against the Rams' defensive front. With players like Aaron Donald, Ndamukong Suh, and Michael Brockers up front, the Rams have the talent to disrupt almost any run concept.Last week, the Rams held David Johnson and the Arizona Cardinals under 100 yards rushing by stopping inside-zone plays, outside-zone plays, and even power-running designs. Here are some examples. This first play is an outside-zone running play from the Cardinals, which the Rams shut down before it had any chance to get going.Outside linebacker Samson Ebukam (No. 50) does a very good job of setting the edge here, maintaining outside leverage and forcing Johnson (No. 31) to turn inside - right into the waiting arms of Donald (No. 99), who does a great job of fighting off two blockers and making the tackle for a loss.Next, when the Cardinals tried to use a power-blocking scheme on this counter play - pulling linemen to get in front of the running back - the Rams were also ready with an answer. On this play, Arizona tries to run Johnson to the left side by pulling right guard Justin Pugh (No. 67) and even tight end Gabe Holmes (No. 85) across the formation:NFL / NFLHowever, the play gets slowed down from the start, thanks to immediate penetration from Suh (No. 93). He drives the center backward and right into the path of Holmes, preventing the tight end from helping on the play. From there, Brockers (No. 90) and linebacker Ramik Wilson (No. 52) clean up the play to allow just a minimal gain:Finally, here's an example of the Cardinals trying to run a third way: with an inside-zone play. But Donald and Suh use their hands to stand up their blockers while keeping their eyes on the backfield, allowing them to identify the play and then shed their blockers for the stop:This was a third-and-2 play, on which Arizona gained just 1 yard and was forced to punt.Clearly, the Rams have the ability up front to turn an offense into a one-dimensional unit. But if the Chargers can find a way to get any sort of ground game established, it will allow them to keep the playbook open and keep Rams DC Wade Phillips guessing.Indy's Frank Reich vs. Philly DC Jim SchwartzFamiliar faces will square off in Philadelphia this Sunday when the Colts travel east under new head coach Frank Reich to take on Reich’s old team, the Eagles. If the defending champions hope to improve to 2-1 in Carson Wentz’s return, the defense will need to slow down familiar plays that Reich is now using in Indianapolis.On that note, it shouldn't be surprising that Indy's offense - which employs quick passing designs, multiple tight end formations, and some Air Raid concepts - looks similar to what the Eagles ran last year when Reich was their quarterbacks coach. One specific example is a "mesh concept," which incorporates two underneath crossing routes. It's designed to create traffic and a natural rub against man coverage, or to give the underneath receivers a chance to find space against zone coverage.Indianapolis loves involving its tight ends with this design, and here are a couple examples. In their Week 1 loss to the Bengals, the Colts converted a third-and-3 using the mesh concept with three tight ends in the game:On this play, Erik Swoope (No. 86) chips the backside defensive end before getting into his crossing route. Quarterback Andrew Luck hits him for a big gain.Here's another mesh concept from the Colts, this time from Week 2 against Washington. The two crossing receivers are tight end Jack Doyle (No. 84) and receiver T.Y. Hilton (No. 13):This time, Luck hits Hilton for only a short gain, but it's enough to convert the second-and-4.Whether Wentz is victorious in his return might just depend on whether his defense can contain plays it's seen the Philadelphia offense run against it throughout training camp and practices.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.

One thousand and eleven days.That's how long the Cleveland Browns have gone without being favored to win a football game at home. But, behold! The Browns are three-point favorites for Thursday night's home encounter with the New York Jets. And as the only team in the last 16 years to not have a winning home record as a favorite (25-25), Cleveland can finally join the rest of the NFL with a victory.This matchup is tough on the eyes - so thank goodness for betting. Here are some details to consider from a wagering angle.New York Jets at Cleveland BrownsTime: 8:20 p.m. ETOdds: CLE -3 (point spread) / 40.5 (O/U)This is right on par with CG Technology's look-ahead lines released back in May. Cleveland was originally pegged as a 2.5-point favorite over New York before being bet up to 3.5 in some places.If good teams win but great teams cover...The Browns are neither.If there's any consolation, Cleveland has been better against the spread than it has straight up in two-plus years under head coach Hue Jackson, but not by much. The Browns, 1-32-1 overall under Jackson, own a 9-24-1 record against the spread.Also, Jackson literally does not know what it feels like to be a home favorite. In fact, the Browns have been favored once with him as head coach - they were -1 in Indianapolis last season and lost, 31-28.Prior to Jackson's arrival, Cleveland had covered just six of its 18 home games while laying chalk since 2010 and are 7-19 against the spread at home the last 26 overall.More than just playoff chancesBy now, you're probably familiar with how tough it is for an NFL team to make the playoffs after starting the campaign 0-2 (in case you're unfamiliar, only 8.5 percent of teams in this situation have clinched a postseason bid since 2009).In the case of the Browns, they probably want the underdog role on Thursday. Winless teams in Week 3 who are favored by three points or fewer are 5-24-1 against the spread.A tough situation for Sam Darnold?Darnold passed his first true test with flying colors in Week 1. As the youngest starting quarterback in the Super Bowl era, the USC product immediately injected hope into the Jets' fan base after leading the team to a 48-17 rout of the Detroit Lions on the road in primetime.A letdown at home in Week 2 against the Miami Dolphins has the Jets 1-1 on the season, and another tough matchup for the rookie looms in Week 3.Per Pro Football Reference, rookie quarterbacks playing on Thursday with just three days of rest are 4-10 straight up while underdogs of three points or fewer are 1-3 against the spread.Opposing Darnold under center will be Cleveland's Tyrod Taylor. Since being promoted to starter in Buffalo back in 2015, he's 13-7 against the spread at home and 7-2 in his last nine.The last time a home team was favored following an 0-16 seasonAfter the Lions wore the dunce cap in 2008 with the first 0-16 season in NFL history, they weren't home favorites until Week 8 of the 2009 season. The result? They lost outright, 20-10.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Antonio Brown finally broke his silence Thursday following a whirlwind few days that included a tweet some interpreted as a request to be traded from the Pittsburgh Steelers."Obviously I don't want to be traded," the superstar receiver told reporters in the Steelers' locker room Thursday, according to Sean Gentille of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.The tweet, which immediately went viral, was in response to a former Steelers public relations employee doubting the six-time Pro Bowler's ability to replicate his production elsewhere.

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 3.The final rankings will be released Sunday morning.Standard

The Dallas Cowboys are worth $5 billion, making them the most valuable franchise in the NFL, according to an updated list of estimates published Thursday by Forbes.Jerry Jones' team is followed by the New England Patriots, New York Giants, Los Angeles Rams, and Washington Redskins.RankTeamWorthOwner1Cowboys$5BJerry Jones2Patriots$3.8BRobert Kraft3Giants$3.3BJohn Mara/Steve TischT4Rams$3.2BStan KroenkeT4Redskins$3.2BDan SnyderThe Buffalo Bills, which are worth an estimated $1.6 billion, are the least valuable franchise in the league. The Detroit Lions ($1.7 billion), Cincinnati Bengals ($1.8 billion), and Cleveland Browns ($1.95 billion) are the only other franchises valued under $2 billion.The Seattle Seahawks hold the median value with an estimated worth of $2.58 billion.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Joe Flacco isn't a fan of the NFL's new tackling rules designed to keep him and other quarterbacks safer."It's a violent sport - it's meant to be that way," the Baltimore Ravens signal-caller said Wednesday, via ESPN's Jamison Hensley. "I definitely have feelings for those guys over there because not only are they penalizing people and affecting outcomes of games but they're also taking paychecks away from people and they're acting like it's no big deal. But it is a big deal. That's a lot of money for anybody. So, there's a lot of issues with it, I think."Defensive penalties involving quarterbacks have been a major issue over the first two weeks of the season.Several flags have been thrown for harmless-looking shoves or tackles, including one against Clay Matthews of the Green Bay Packers that changed the outcome of last week's game versus the Minnesota Vikings."This is football, man," said Flacco. "We all sign up to get hit. We all sign up where you might get hurt. That's what makes this league a little bit different than any other in professional sports."New Orleans Saints defensive tackle David Onyemata felt the weight of the new rules after Week 1, as he was fined more money than he made on his game check.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns are listed as betting favorites versus the New York Jets, snapping a string of 18 straight home games where they were underdogs.As of Thursday morning, the Browns were listed as 3-point favorites, according to ESPN's Ben Fawkes. The Browns and Jets will kick off Week 3 under the lights on Thursday Night Football.Cleveland, which hasn't won a game since Week 16 of the 2016 season, was most recently a home favorite in Week 14 of the 2015 season. Led by Johnny Manziel at quarterback, the Browns won with a 24-10 effort against the San Francisco 49ers.The Browns sport a 0-1-1 record through the opening two weeks of the regular season, while the Jets head to the Dawg Pound with a 1-1 mark.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Every customer who stopped by Casella's Italian Delicatessen in Scottsdale on Tuesday afternoon had their meal paid for by Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.Joe Casella, who opened the deli with his wife Tina in 1977, has terminal cancer, according to KTAR News. Wanting to help Casella and his family in their time of need, Fitzgerald offered to pay for all orders from 12-5 p.m. and asked customers to make a donation.

Jordan Matthews has experienced some big life changes since the last time he suited up for the Philadelphia Eagles.The 26-year-old wide receiver, who rejoined the Eagles on Wednesday after spending last season with the Buffalo Bills, married Washington Spirit forward Cheyna Matthews in February and welcomed son Josiah in August. Matthews told reporters that his time in Buffalo is the reason he became a father."When I was in Buffalo, there was like nothing to do there, except ... have fun with your wife," Matthews said, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia. "She got pregnant. So we always say we got a Buffalo baby. Ain't nothing to do there, except each other."

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 Patrick Daugherty, NFL writer for Rotoworld, as they discuss the biggest fantasy questions heading into Week 3.Topics include:

Seconds from halftime in Week 2, Vontae Davis had a revelation: he was done with football."I went to the bench after that series and it just hit me. I don't belong on that field anymore," Davis said to Domonique Foxworth of The Undefeated.The 10-year veteran shocked the NFL universe on Sunday when he walked out on the Buffalo Bills halfway through a 31-20 beating.Though he celebrated a drive-killing tackle early in the contest, Davis said he couldn't shake a foreboding feeling."I didn't feel right, I didn't feel like myself," he said. "Football is not for me."Despite the backlash and criticism he has heard since his decision, Davis said he has no regrets about both his retirement and the manner in which he announced it."I didn't expect them to understand. That moment was shocking to me as well," he said. "My intention was not to hurt my teammates. In that moment, my intuition was telling me I don't belong on that field anymore."The Bills signed the two-time Pro Bowler to a one-year, $5-million contract in February.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Even though Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers doesn't need to be at his best to give opposing defenses headaches, it's possible that he won't be in top form at any point this season.Rodgers suffered a knee injury during Week 1's victory over the Chicago Bears and played Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings with a brace.Asked whether the injury would get worse if he continues to play on it, Rodgers sounded mildly worried."Yeah, obviously that's a concern," Rodgers said Wednesday, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky. "Hopefully it goes the other way though."Rodgers will rehab his left knee leading up to Sunday's game against the Washington Redskins."Obviously it won't be 100 percent, so I'll just adjust accordingly to how I'm feeling and try to get through," he said."It just depends on how the week goes with the rehab and the recovery. Obviously, I'd love to be better than I was last week as far as health-wise but there's some factors that are out of my control."Rodgers hasn't seemed that much worse for wear since suffering the injury, engineering a dramatic comeback win over the Bears in Week 1 and completing 71.4 percent of his passes for 281 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's tie against the Vikings. That may not be enough to help Packers fans rest easy.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin revealed Wednesday that wide receiver Antonio Brown faced the consequences for missing Monday's meetings."He and I met yesterday for an extended period of time," Tomlin said, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. "I'll leave the nature of that conversation between us. There was discipline involved for his missed meeting on Monday."Brown returned to the team facilities Wednesday.Following Sunday's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, a former Steelers public relations employee tweeted that Brown is only successful because of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, to which the star receiver responded, "Trade me, let's find out."Both the Steelers and Brown's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, confirmed that the wide receiver did not actually request a trade."AB is a very passionate football player. I think we all know that, the fans know that," Roethlisberger said. "That's what makes him special, is his passion for this game and the passion to be great. We're not going to want to take that away from him."When he gets frustrated in games, just tell him to stay with me, talk to me, communicate with me. ... If I missed you on something, if you're getting open and I didn't see you, let's just talk and communicate. He does a great job of doing that."Brown is expected to speak to reporters Thursday.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Baltimore Ravens have been fined $200,000 for violations of the NFL's policy on coach-to-player communications during the 2018 preseason, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.The violations occurred when multiple players were on the field while wearing helmets with coach-to-player headsets. The technology only allows coaches to speak directly to the quarterback between plays and one designated player on the defensive side of the ball.The Ravens released a statement Wednesday regarding the fine.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick now has a beer named in his honor.On Wednesday, St. Petersburg Brewing Company in Florida unveiled a new beer dubbed the "Fitzmagic Double IPA."The beer takes its name from Fitzpatrick's nickname, though Miami Dolphins safety Minkah Fitzpatrick recently filed a trademark application for "FitzMagic" with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson responded to a racist comment directed toward him by a Texas school superintendent on Tuesday.Onalaska (TX) superintendent Lynn Redden was incensed by Watson's decision to hold onto the ball during the final play of Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans as the clock expired. Redden then took to Facebook to disparage Watson."That may have been the most inept quarterback decision I've seen in the NFL," Redden wrote. "When you need precision decision making you can't count on a black quarterback."Watson responded Tuesday to reporters. When asked if he had experienced racist incidents in his career, Watson simply replied, "of course.""This is everyday life, I guess. I'm all about love so I don't focus on none of that, I love all people," Watson said via NFL Network's James Palmer.Texans head coach Bill O'Brien was infuriated by Redden's remarks and came to his quarterback's defense Tuesday."I don't want to waste a lot of time responding to outdated, inaccurate, ignorant, idiotic statements. I'll just let Deshaun's proven success on the field, his character off the field speak for itself. He's one of the greatest guys I've ever coached. He represents everything that's right about football, about life. His teammates respect him, his coaching staff respect him. In this day and age, it's just amazing that this B.S. exists," O'Brien said via Mark Berman of FOX 26."Our fans love Deshaun and we're really concentrating on the Giants. But I felt like I wasted a minute and a half responding to that B.S."Redden apologized for his comment but hasn't been formally disciplined by the school district.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Maroon 5 will perform at the Super Bowl LIII halftime show Feb. 3 in Atlanta, two sources told Variety."The offer has been extended and they've pretty much accepted," a source told Us Weekly.The NFL has gravitated toward more pop-centric acts for recent Super Bowls, with the likes of Justin Timberlake, Lady Gaga, and Katy Perry performing.Maroon 5 is currently on tour, with a break scheduled between a New Year's Eve show in Las Vegas and an Australian leg that begins Feb. 19.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Two games into the season, fantasy owners are still trying to get a handle on the 2018 landscape.Those who can accurately assess shifting player values will be in a position to take advantage on the trade market.Let's take a look at seven players to either buy into or sell heading into Week 3.If you're looking for players who might be available as free agents, check out our Week 3 Waiver Wire column.BuySam Greenwood / Getty Images Sport / GettySony Michel, RB, Patriots The first-rounder is off to a predictably slow start after missing time due to a knee injury. After sitting out the opener, Michel was thrown into the fire in Week 2, leading the backfield in carries against a stout Jaguars front. His stats were unimpressive, but the usage is a great sign that the team wants him to take on a significant role moving forward.The Patriots have a generous schedule over the next month and are due for some positive regression on the ground. New England is one of seven teams who have yet to score a rushing touchdown this season, a surprising result given they finished among the top six in rushing scores each of the last two years.Michel was my favorite 2018 RB prospect not named Saquon Barkley and has legitimate Alvin Kamara-level upside with his combination of speed, vision, patience, and a willingness to initiate contact when needed. Even with Rex Burkhead and James White seeing touches, Michel has an RB2 ceiling in the Pats' high volume offense, making him an intriguing trade target.Devin Funchess, WR, Panthers When Greg Olsen went down with a foot injury in 2017, Funchess emerged as the top target in Carolina, ending the year as the WR21.After Olsen suffered another foot injury in Week 1, Funchess once again stepped up, nearly doubling his production in the second game of the season. Funchess' targets rose from five in the opener to nine on Sunday, seven of which he caught for 77 yards.Don't be scared off by the fact three other receivers caught touchdowns from Cam Newton in Week 2. Capitalize on that by acquiring Funchess before he begins making regular trips to the end zone like he did a year ago when he scored eight times.David Njoku, TE, Browns Tight ends can often be difficult to trade for since it's a one-off position, and owners who secure a decent starter aren't willing to part with them. Fortunately, no one is going to mistake Njoku for a reliable option at the moment.The sophomore has just 33 yards over the first two games and has yet to find pay dirt. However, opportunity is everything and Njoku's 14 targets are fifth-most among tight ends. We know the talent is there for a breakout, so if the passes continue in his direction, it's only a matter of time before his stats improve. Josh Gordon's departure will also help clear a path for him to maintain a more consistent role in the offense.Frustrated owners will think they have you fooled when you come looking for a trade, and the asking price is almost certain to be below his preseason value.Aaron Jones, RB, PackersPrior to the season, I outlined a scenario where the Packers would struggle to run the ball during their first two games against an underrated Bears defense and a dominant Vikings unit. That would allow Jones, a more explosive back, to return from his two-game suspension as the savior.Jamaal Williams only managed 47 yards on 15 carries versus the Bears, followed by a 59-yard effort on 16 carries against the Vikings. He's capable of getting you what's blocked, but not much more.It may take some time, but Jones will now have a chance to recapture his rightful place as the Packers' lead back with much easier opponents like the Redskins, Bills, Lions, and 49ers on deck.SellChristian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / GettyDavid Johnson, RB, Cardinals It's been a disappointing start for Johnson, playing in a new system that doesn't appear to be tailored to his skill set.A touchdown helped salvage his opening day fantasy performance, but in Week 2, he was held under 50 rushing yards and saw just two targets in a blowout loss to the Rams. New head coach Steve Wilks promised Johnson would be used more as a receiver, though the lack of success by the offense as a whole is equally to blame.If you can find a running back-needy owner who is willing to pay close to draft day price for Johnson, it might be best to move him now before everyone realizes how bad the Cardinals' attack will be this season.Josh Gordon, WR, PatriotsEveryone is excited about Gordon being traded to the Patriots, and rightfully so - there's no better landing spot for the troubled wideout. But despite their history of reclamation projects, there's no guarantee this experiment will work out for Bill Belichick and company.Gordon has one touchdown since 2013 and is a single misstep away from a season-ending suspension. He'll be tasked with learning a complicated playbook on the fly, one that many players have failed to grasp, especially at the receiver position.Even if he does make an impact, he'll be limited by target competition from more established pass-catchers like Rob Gronkowski, Chris Hogan, and Julian Edelman, who returns from suspension in Week 5.Gordon offers immense upside and risk all wrapped into one. If you want to gamble on him, I won't talk you out of it. My approach will be to shop Gordon around all week long while the shine of Tom Brady and the Patriots is nice and bright.Adrian Peterson, RB, Redskins If you believe a 33-year-old Peterson will be fantasy relevant for a full 16-game schedule, I would love to hear your argument.After putting up 166 yards and a touchdown in his first game with the Redskins, AP cooled off considerably with just 50 total yards against a vulnerable Colts run defense. We saw these types of up-and-down performances during his stint with the Cardinals late last season.Peterson is still able to channel enough power and vision to deliver around half the time in high volume games, which isn't enough to be counted on as a fantasy starter. Make the most of his early-season success and trade for another asset before its too late.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFL stadiums have received a creative reimagining courtesy of one graphic designer.A series of infographics put together by a designer at Homes.com shows the stadiums of last season's division winners as "house for sale" listings. Each features an estimated home sale price based on the median price per square foot of the stadium's location, as well as the actual square footage of the venue.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.