Every Madden fanatic has their favorite player to play with, whether it be a running back from their hometown or a tight end from their favorite team.But there are some Madden 18 players so objectively fun to use that it's impossible for anyone not to love embarrassing their friends with them.Here are the game's five most fun players:Tyreek Hill, WR, ChiefsWhen it boils down to it, Madden is all about speed. And if you love speed, Hill is your man.Only John Ross (98 speed) is faster than Hill (97 speed), and the Chiefs receiver is more agile and is a more dangerous returner. Throw in the fact that Hill can also run the ball, and you have maybe the most fun player in Madden 18.Marshawn Lynch, RB, Raiders(Photo courtesy: Action Images)What's better than playing as Lynch, running over a bunch of defenders, and yelling "Beast Mode!" at the top of your lungs?Answer: absolutely nothing.Lynch may not be rated as highly as he used to be (83 overall), but no running back can run harder (88 strength) or cause more virtual pain (98 trucking).Bobby Wagner, LB, SeahawksFor defense lovers out there, it doesn't get much better than Wagner - especially if your preference is to survey the field from the middle linebacker spot.While Wagner is among the more athletic linebackers in the game, capable of covering downfield, his unreal tackling (97) and hit power (95) ratings mean you can routinely make splash plays in run defense.Carson Wentz, QB, Eagles(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Sure, other quarterbacks have better arms or are better runners, but Wentz is an ascending star in both the real and virtual football worlds.The quarterback has jumped up to 85 overall since the start of the year. He has the arm strength and accuracy to make all the throws you want, in and out of the pocket, and is one of the faster, stronger QBs in the game.Plus, when you play as Wentz, you aren't just getting him. Jay Ajayi, Alshon Jeffery, and Zach Ertz headline arguably the most talented offense in the NFC.Tavon Austin, WR, RamsSometimes, real-life football and Madden don't line up. Austin is a bust for the Rams - a gadget player who has never developed or found a significant role.But in a video game, only his ratings matter: 95 speed, 94 acceleration, 89 elusiveness, 98 juke move, 93 spin moves. He's listed as a running back on Madden 18, so players can use his crazy speed to kill stretch and break defenses.Austin is a big play waiting to happen, even if using him effectively and in exciting ways is a tough pill for Rams fans to swallow.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has been cleared from the concussion protocol and will play in Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Flacco suffered the concussion after getting hit in the head by Miami Dolphins linebacker Kiko Alonso during Thursday's 40-0 win.He returned to practice Wednesday.Ryan Mallett took over for Flacco, going 3-of-7 for 20 yards and a touchdown against the Dolphins.It's a great development for the Ravens, who are looking to close the gap on the division-leading Pittsburgh Steelers in the second half of the season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed that newly-acquired quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo may have to wait until next year for his debut.Related: 49ers to have Garoppolo active as backup vs. Cardinals"I can't promise you guys that he'll play this year," Shanahan said Wednesday. "I know that we have a guy that we're excited about, and I know has the ability to help us and help this team in the future. That's what I mean by 'well we didn't do this just to save this year.'"Shanahan also said Garoppolo will only play Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals in the event incumbent starter C.J. Beathard gets injured.San Francisco acquired Garoppolo from the New England Patriots in exchange for a 2018 second-round pick.The 49ers are one of two winless teams this year, but Shanahan was adamant that Garoppolo was brought in as a future asset as opposed to a last-ditch effort to turn the 2017 campaign around."We didn't bring Jimmy here to save our season. We brought him here to improve our organization."Mired in the initial steps of an extensive rebuild, the 49ers seemingly received the quarterback of their future, and are in no hurry to trot Garoppolo out during a lost season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Adidas will be outfitting NFL players in personalized cleats for Veterans Day.Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller, Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, and Seattle Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham are among the players who will be sporting the "Squadron" cleats in honor of active U.S. military and veterans. The designs and graphics on the cleats are exclusive to each player.

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan says he plans to have recently acquired quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo active Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, but he won't start, according to Jennifer Lee Chan of Niners Nation.C.J. Beathard will make a third consecutive start under center for the 49ers. He's completed 58 of 110 pass attempts for 647 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions.With Brian Hoyer being released shortly after Garoppolo's acquisition, the 49ers were left shorthanded, as practice team quarterback Nick Mullens is the only other option to back up Beathard.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Browns were, once again, the laughingstock of the sporting world Tuesday after a reported miscommunication between Cleveland and Cincinnati quashed an agreed-upon trade involving Bengals quarterback AJ McCarron.It's admittedly fun to imagine the faces of Cleveland's front-office staff when they realized their error, but the Browns should be feeling relief along with their embarrassment. Messing up is all that saved them from blowing a significant portion of their hard-earned draft capital on a mediocre player.And mess up they certainly did. The Browns and the Bengals worked out the logistics of the trade with minutes to spare before the 4 p.m. deadline, reports Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.However, while the Bengals sent their paperwork to the league, the Browns did not - apparently because they thought they could send Cleveland's paperwork to Cincinnati and the Bengals would forward it to the league. When the Browns realized their mistake, it was too late.So sure, point and laugh, but Cleveland's ineptitude saved it from sending a second- and third-round pick to the Bengals for their backup quarterback - that is, a man who wasn't able to beat out Andy freakin' Dalton.(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)The attempted move was clearly a Hail Mary from head coach Hue Jackson, who helped develop McCarron as the offensive coordinator in Cincinnati. Jackson is well aware his job is on the line if he doesn't rack up a few wins before the end of the season, and McCarron - who knows his system - would have provided a glimmer of hope.He's also set to become a restricted free agent this offseason, so part of the reason for the staggering price was the fact Cleveland could have used the first-round tender of about $4 million to keep him in 2018, according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk.Even taking that into account, though, the 27-year-old has done little to show he's anything more than a stopgap starter - which means he's certainly not worth two premium picks.McCarron saw some action in place of an injured Dalton late in the 2015 season. In three out of those four starts, he averaged under than 6 yards per attempt. Cleveland's struggling offense would only amplify his lack of arm strength and questionable decision-making.Accidentally failing to acquire him allows the Browns to attack the quarterback position in any way they see fit (that actually complies with league rules). They're almost certain to get a top-three draft pick, or they could pursue a quarterback in free agency - though Jackson likely won't be the man to choose the franchise's next savior.So sure, mock the Browns for passing on Carson Wentz and Deshaun Watson, and for missing out on Jimmy Garoppolo. And yes, definitely still laugh at them for not knowing how their own league's trade procedures work.But, in the end, it's better to be lucky than good. And the Browns got really lucky this time around, despite their best efforts.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Covers.com is the biggest and best source for sports betting information, providing unrivaled and original content sports bettors cannot live without.Longtime Las Vegas oddsmaker Peter Korner sizes up this week’s NFL schedule and picks out some of the lines making him go “hmmm...” in Week 9.

O.J. Simpson busted out his old Buffalo Bills No. 32 jersey for Halloween.TMZ Sports snapped these photos of the former NFL running back - and recent parolee - handing out candy and posing for pictures with trick-or-treaters at his Las Vegas home on Tuesday night:

Matt Williamson is a former scout for the Cleveland Browns and spent 10 years at ESPN as a scout and co-host of "The Football Today Podcast." Find him on Twitter @WilliamsonNFL.While Tuesday's trade deadline brought huge news around the NFC - the 49ers landed their potential long-term franchise quarterback at the cost of a second-rounder, the Eagles fortified their backfield with Jay Ajayi, and Ezekiel Elliott's suspension was reinstated - don't overlook the Seahawks' addition of Duane Brown.Seattle reportedly sent a 2018 third-round pick and a 2019 second-rounder to the Texans for Brown (the deal originally included Jeremy Lane, the same 2019 selection, and a lower 2018 pick, but Lane apparently failed his physical and was dropped from the deal). It may be a steep price for a 10-year veteran, but it makes perfect sense for the Seahawks - and greatly increases their chances of winning the Super Bowl this season.Unlike many franchises, the Seahawks have been willing to deal early draft picks. They know they are a strong team year in and year out, and their picks are consistently near the end of the round. That's produced mixed results, but this is an aggressive organization that wants to win now.Whether or not you agree that left tackle is the most important spot on the offensive line, it's inarguably been a huge problem for the Seahawks of late. They are currently playing with Rees Odhiambo as Russell Wilson's blind-side protector, and it's been a disaster. He's been one of the NFL's worst left tackles this season, as was George Fant a year ago.It's actually Brown's former teammates - namely Jadeveon Clowney - who made it very apparent Sunday that Seattle was greatly in need of an upgrade at the position.(Photo courtesy: Action Images)In a thrilling game in which the Seahawks finally prevailed, Seattle's franchise QB was under constant duress, as he has been for most of the past few seasons. Contrary to popular belief, Seattle has used resources to try to improve their ever-ailing offensive line, but it remains the biggest weakness of an otherwise strong team.The lack of pass protection is a huge problem, and the lack of a running game is making it worse. While Wilson's amazing escapability helps compensate for the former issue, the Seahawks are playing with fire by consistently putting him under so much pressure.At home against Houston, Seahawks backs combined for just 5 yards rushing on 16 carries. Think about that for a minute. It is pretty difficult to be that inept on the ground. Before long, the Texans realized that Wilson needed to pass on nearly every down, which, in turn, put Seattle's franchise quarterback in even more peril. Wilson is playing at an MVP level and was up to the task, but it's still a dangerous recipe.That's why no one should be happier about acquiring Brown than Wilson. The 32-year-old might not be quite the same player he was a few years ago, but he was an upper-tier protector as recently as 2016, and he's still far better than anyone Seattle has had at left tackle for some time. Since returning from his holdout, Brown's shown well thus far this season - another encouraging sign.Adding him should go a long way toward entrenching the Seahawks as one of the NFC's best teams. If they can get a few years of consistently above-average play from their new left tackle while the rest of the young offensive line presumably improves, their status as contenders should be secure for the next few years. In the meantime, with all due respect to the one-loss Eagles, Seattle's the team to bet on in the NFC.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Rob Gronkowski dominates on the football field, but his rap skills could use some work.The New England Patriots tight end came out on the losing end in a rap battle against actress Gina Rodriguez, star of the CW series "Jane the Virgin," on Tuesday's episode of "Drop the Mic."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Houston Texans defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, who's emerged as the leader of the defense following injuries to J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus, isn't happy about his team's activity at the trade deadline.The Texans sent three-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle Duane Brown to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for draft picks."Everybody was upset," Clowney said, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.The Texans were originally supposed to receive cornerback Jeremy Lane from the Seahawks, but after he failed his physical, the trade was altered to include superior draft selections.Brown has one more season left on his current contract at a base salary of $9.75 million.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Papa John's founder and CEO John Schnatter says the NFL's handling of player protests is costing him sales."The NFL has hurt us," Schnatter said, according to ESPN's Darren Rovell. "We are disappointed the NFL and its leadership did not resolve this."Executives said Papa John's, which has been the official pizza sponsor of the NFL since 2010, pulled most of its NFL television advertising. The league responded by giving the company additional future spots."Leadership starts at the top and this is an example of poor leadership," Schnatter said, adding that he thought the issue was "nipped in the bud" a year and a half ago.Papa John's shares fell to their lowest point in eight months Wednesday, according to Bloomberg's Craig Giammona and Eben Novy-Williams.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ever since Kyle Shanahan took over as 49ers head coach and Brian Hoyer was signed as 2017's stopgap under center, free-agent-to-be Kirk Cousins was expected to eventually land in San Francisco. Those rumors were put to rest, however, with the 49ers' trade-deadline acquisition of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.Cousins' current team, the Washington Redskins, seems unwilling to make a long-term commitment to the 2012 fourth-round pick, as he's played each of the past two seasons under the franchise tag.The two sides could reach a deal well before the 2018 free-agent season, but here are five teams that will be waiting eagerly if things don't work out with Washington.Arizona CardinalsCarson Palmer is signed to a base salary of $12.5 million for 2018, but the Cardinals have an out following the 2017 season that would leave just $6.625 million in dead cap. The 37-year-old will be sidelined by injury for most of the remainder of the season, so retirement seems well within the range of possibilities too.Arizona should be an enticing option for any free-agent quarterback, as they'll be able to wrap themselves in the safety blanket that is running back David Johnson. The receiving corps is rather lackluster, but signing Cousins could help the Cardinals entice 34-year-old Larry Fitzgerald to return for one more season.Denver BroncosThe Broncos have very little money tied up in the trio of Trevor Siemian, Paxton Lynch, and Brock Osweiler, leaving them free to target next summer's most expensive option.Wide receivers Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders offer plenty of firepower, and the defense will help convert a competent offense into an AFC contender.Pittsburgh SteelersBen Roethlisberger will likely flirt with retirement again this summer, particularly if the Steelers are able to send him off with a Super Bowl victory this season (or if he has a second five-interception game).Cousins could then opt to chase his first championship as the leader of an offense featuring running back Le'Veon Bell and wide receivers Antonio Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Martavis Bryant. The Steelers would provide Cousins with the best weapons he's ever had and give him his best chance to win in the short term.Jacksonville JaguarsThe Jaguars are equipped with a league-best defense and their selection of running back Leonard Fournette with the fourth pick of the 2017 draft has been vindicated. The only thing standing between them and a playoff spot this season is quarterback Blake Bortles, who has seven giveaways through seven games.The Jaguars made the mistake of picking up Bortles' fifth-year option before the start of this season, putting them on the hook for $19 million in base salary next year. Should he truly play them out of contention this season, though, they'll have no choice but to finally move on.Cousins would certainly help lure franchise wide receiver Allen Robinson to re-sign.Miami DolphinsAs head coach Adam Gase continues to voice his frustrations with the Dolphins' offense, Tuesday's trade of running back Jay Ajayi was the team's first unconventional attempt to remedy the league-worst unit.Quarterback Ryan Tannehill will offer some improvement if he's able to return at full health next season, but the Dolphins could choose to cut him after this year - creating just $4.6 million in dead cap - and sign the superior Cousins instead.With Jarvis Landry (not moved at Tuesday's deadline), DeVante Parker, and Kenny Stills all candidates to return next year, Cousins could thrive in the gunslinging system Gase wants to run.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Free-agent quarterback Brian Hoyer signed with the New England Patriots on Wednesday, the team announced.The 32-year-old inked a three-year deal, a source told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.Hoyer played for New England for three seasons after joining the franchise as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He'll slide in as Tom Brady's backup, replacing the recently traded Jimmy Garoppolo, who was sent to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday in exchange for a second-round pick.Hoyer started six games for the 49ers, but struggled, throwing four touchdowns to four interceptions and completing just 58 percent of his passes.However, the 32-year-old knows the Patriots' system and has proven capable of performing well in short stints.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Matt Williamson is a former scout for the Cleveland Browns and spent 10 years at ESPN as a scout and co-host of "The Football Today Podcast."Are the Buffalo Bills playoff-bound?The Bills are 5-2, just a half-game behind New England in the AFC East. The Steelers and Patriots are the only two AFC teams with a superior record.This is a very well-coached team with a distinct recipe for victories. Running the ball is a key component of Buffalo's offense, but the unit's also gotten good performances from Tyrod Taylor. Not only has he avoided crucial mistakes, he's mixing in big plays. They've also given him an additional weapon with the acquisition of wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin from Carolina.On defense, the Bills are not sophisticated, but they are fundamentally sound.But the key is turnovers. The Bills are plus-14 in turnover differential and the next-closest team, Jacksonville, is only plus-8.No club is getting more out of its roster than Buffalo, but how sustainable is this success? You have to expect the turnover margin to regress to the mean to some degree, and while coaching can go a long way, this team isn't loaded with talent. The Bills even traded Marcell Dareus in a salary dump just a few days ago.Their offseason plan was obviously oriented toward building for the future - Buffalo's loaded with draft picks and salary-cap space - and it's an exciting outlook, but contention could be a little farther off than it appears. The Bills might end up in the 2017 playoffs, but this could just as easily be the high-water mark of their season. Regardless, Sean McDermott deserves strong consideration for coach of the year.Is Deshaun Watson a top-8 quarterback?Let's get this out of the way: I wasn't a fan of Watson coming out of Clemson and I am still slow to come around on this young man. But even I can’t ignore what Watson's brought to the table for the Texans. He's making a ton of plays, improving by the week, and making those around him better (though he's probably the luckiest quarterback in the league in terms of getting away with "interceptable" passes).What he's doing can’t be denied, but a top-eight quarterback? That's too rich so early in his career.With Aaron Rodgers and Andrew Luck on the shelf, we won’t count them. Obviously, Tom Brady is better than Watson, as are Drew Brees, Matthew Stafford, and Russell Wilson. Ben Roethlisberger, Philip Rivers, and Eli Manning are declining, and while it's actually debatable whether they're still better than Watson, it's almost like comparing apples to oranges.Matt Ryan isn’t playing nearly as well as last year, but let’s safely put the reigning MVP over the rookie right now. Carson Wentz and Dak Prescott are much further along in their development and are better all-around players. What about Derek Carr?Tyrod Taylor, Alex Smith, Kirk Cousins, and Cam Newton have their warts, but Taylor and Smith are having very strong years. Cousins has also played well and Newton's career has featured its share of high points.Watson is doing great things, but he'll need a more significant body of work to get ahead of some of these names in the quarterback pecking order.Is Minnesota the 2nd-best team in the NFC?The form of this question indicates that the 7-1 Eagles are the class of the conference. That is probably fair at this point. But are the Vikings the superior team right now to Seattle, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Carolina, and Dallas - the latter of which appears to be without Ezekiel Elliott for the next six games?It is pretty incredible that Minnesota is 6-2 despite playing the majority of the year with a backup quarterback and without Dalvin Cook. Stefon Diggs has also missed significant time. But unlike last season, the Vikings' offensive line hasn’t crippled the entire undertaking, and Mike Zimmer's defense is in the conversation as the very best in the NFL.Will the Vikings go to Teddy Bridgewater or back to Sam Bradford if that soon becomes an option? There's a good chance the quarterback situation will become their fatal flaw this year, but at the end of October, the Vikings are indeed the NFC's second-best outfit and one of the best half-dozen or so teams in the league.Where do the Buccaneers go from here?Dirk Koetter's seat must be getting really warm.Tampa Bay scored just three points at home against the Panthers on Sunday. Still, only three offenses are averaging more yards per game than Tampa Bay (which put up 60 points combined in Week 6 and 7). The real culprit in their 2-5 record is the defense.The Buccaneers are a very heavy zone-based defense and are not particularly complex on this side of the ball. The problem is that Tampa doesn’t rush the passer nearly well enough to play that style, and the secondary is often overmatched. It's possible for Tampa Bay to go back to the drawing board and design more pressure-happy packages, but that would put a lot of stress on an already struggling defensive backfield.One thing that might reduce the strain: leaning more heavily on Doug Martin and the running attack to shorten games.To get back on the winning track, Koetter's only option might be trying to outshoot the Buccaneers' opponents in high-scoring affairs. Unfortunately, while Jameis Winston is extremely promising, he's so up-and-down at this stage that he likely couldn't pull it off consistently enough to save Tampa Bay's season.Any way you cut it, this organization has underachieved and is now in big trouble.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Denver Broncos will replace Trevor Siemian with Brock Osweiler in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles, head coach Vance Joseph plans to tell his players at a meeting Wednesday, sources told Mike Klis of 9News.The Broncos make the change after Siemian produced three straight games with two or more turnovers. With Denver sitting at 3-4, time was running out to make a change in hopes of jump-starting its 18th-ranked passing game.Whether Osweiler can provide an upgrade remains to be seen. The former second-round pick of the Broncos proved in Houston that he was unlikely to be a long-term starting option for any team, though he was able to put up solid numbers while playing for Denver in 2015.Joseph said Paxton Lynch, a former first-rounder, wasn't in consideration after returning to practice last week. He missed the first seven games of the season with a shoulder injury.It's been a dramatic 2017 for Osweiler. He was essentially traded from the Texans to the Browns in a salary dump; appeared in line to start in Cleveland but was eventually cut; and landed back where he started, signing with the Broncos, whom he left for Houston two offseasons ago.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Panthers shocked the NFL world at the trade deadline Tuesday by sending Kelvin Benjamin to the Buffalo Bills, leaving Cam Newton without his top receiver.Newton posted a picture of himself, Benjamin, and former Panthers quarterback Joe Webb on Instagram on Tuesday following the blockbuster move, with a caption that read: "Some things you will never understand! Damn I miss my dogs!"

AFCPittsburgh Steelers rookie wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster became the youngest player to win an Offensive Player of the Week Award at just 20 years old. He caught seven of 10 targets for 193 yards and a touchdown while starting over Martavis Bryant against the Detroit Lions.Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap recorded three tackles, a sack, and a pick-6 against Jacoby Brissett and the Indianapolis Colts to bring home the Defensive Player of the Week honor. It was his first interception since 2012, which he also returned for six points.Harrison Butker had his second 5-for-5 field-goal game of the season, bringing his season success rate to 18-for-19 since joining the Kansas City Chiefs as an injury replacement for Cairo Santos. Butker has also made all 11 point-after tries.NFCOnly running back Shaun Alexander has more Offensive Player of the Week Awards than Russell Wilson's six among Seattle Seahawks alumni. He threw for a season-high 452 yards and recorded his second four-touchdown game of the season in a comeback victory over the Houston Texans.Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Jalen Mills recorded an interception for the second time in three weeks and took this one back the other way for six points against the San Francisco 49ers to be named NFC Defensive Player of the Week.Tyrone Crawford becomes the first Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman to win a Special Teams Player of the Week Award. He blocked a kick in a 33-19 rout of the Washington Redskins.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears Anquan Boldin has two choices after the Bills failed to find a trade partner for the receiver before Tuesday's deadline: stay retired or play for Buffalo. At least, that's what general manager Brandon Beane says.Beane said Tuesday that Boldin - who retired in August after signing a one-year deal with the Bills, but then decided he wanted to resume his career elsewhere Oct. 26 - won't be released outright in order to keep him away from Buffalo's competitors."We made a commitment to Anquan, and he made a commitment to us back in (training) camp," Beane told SiriusXM NFL Radio, according to Mike Rodak of ESPN. "He left for the reasons he mentioned back in August. We invested in him - invested time and committed to him - and we wouldn't want to just put him out on the market to see him go sign with the Patriots or the Dolphins or anybody that can get in our way or work against us."Asked what he expects the 37-year-old pass-catcher to do now, Beane said, "I think he'll stay retired."The Bills gave Boldin permission to speak to other teams "for the sole purpose of discussing a trade for Anquan."Boldin could still return to Buffalo, but the team would likely struggle to find a role for him after trading for Kelvin Benjamin in a last-minute blockbuster move prior to the deadline.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's NFL Editors, including Jack Browne, Michael McClymont, Mitch Sanderson, and Arun Srinivasan.1. Philadelphia Eagles (7-1)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan1st1st1st2ndPrevious Rank: 1stThe best team in football just got better. Jay Ajayi was hamstrung by the Dolphins' offense; now, he's set to thrive in the NFC's most talented unit. -Browne2. New England Patriots (6-2)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan4th4th2nd1stPrevious Rank: 3rdMuch like batters facing elite starting pitchers, opponents have to catch the Patriots early before they find their rhythm. It's no longer early. - McClymont3. Kansas City Chiefs (6-2)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan2nd2nd3rd4thPrevious Rank: 2ndThe NFL just robbed the world of watching Kareem Hunt and Ezekiel Elliott alternate amazing plays in Week 9. - Browne4. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan3rd3rd4th3rdPrevious Rank: 4thPittsburgh has seemed to figure out it's better when Le'Veon Bell gets plenty of carries and Martavis Bryant is on the bench. Expect more of that. - Sanderson5. Seattle Seahawks (5-2)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan5th5th6th5thPrevious Rank: 6thDeshaun Watson may have gotten all the love - even though the Texans lost - but Russell Wilson played out of his mind in Week 8, producing plays only one or two guys on the planet can make. - Browne6. Los Angeles Rams (5-2)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan6th6th5th6thPrevious Rank: 5thAfter a Week 9 game against the Giants, the Rams will face a gauntlet (vs. Texans, at Vikings, vs. Saints.) We'll know if the Sean McVay-led team is for real soon enough. - Browne7. Minnesota Vikings (6-2)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan7th7th7th7thPrevious Rank: 7thIf Case Keenum can roll the Vikings to a 6-2 record, imagine what a healthy Teddy Bridgewater could/will do. - Sanderson8. Buffalo Bills (5-2)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan8th8th10th8thPrevious Rank: 10thThe Bills keep shedding talent and piling up wins. But they've started off hot in seasons past only to miss the playoffs in the end. - McClymont9. New Orleans Saints (5-2)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan9th9th9th9thPrevious Rank: 9thMarshon Lattimore may earn All-Pro honors during his rookie year and New Orleans has quietly rattled off five straight wins. Don't look, but the Saints are marching in. - Srinivasan10. Dallas Cowboys (4-3)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan10th12th8th13thPrevious Rank: 11thThere was never a good time for Elliott's suspension to be reinstated, but with the Chiefs and three divisional games scheduled during his six-game ban, the Cowboys' season will be decided before he steps back onto the field. - Browne11. Carolina Panthers (5-3)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan11th10th14th10thPrevious Rank: 14thThe Panthers and Falcons have both been wildly inconsistent, inadvertently making Sunday's pivotal matchup one of the games of the year. - Srinivasan12. Atlanta Falcons (4-3)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan12th11th13th12thPrevious Rank: 12thThe Falcons have proven impossible to get a read on, but at 4-3, they have ample time to seize the NFC South - Srinivasan13. Houston Texans (3-4)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan 14th13th11th11thPrevious Rank: 8thIt's a heartbreaking loss, but Texans fans can take solace in the fact that Deshaun Watson is both the present and future of the NFL. - Srinivasan14. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-3)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan13th14th12th15thPrevious Rank: 13thMarcell Dareus ought to improve an already ferocious Jaguars defensive line. This team could be terrifying by end of year. - Srinivasan15. Detroit Lions (3-4)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan15th16th15th16thPrevious Rank: 16thSomeone give Matt Stafford some help. How does a guy throw for 423 yards and score no touchdowns? - Sanderson16. Denver Broncos (3-4)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan16th15th17th17thPrevious Rank: 15thThe Brock Osweiler "era" in Denver could be about to get underway - just a year-and-a-half later than originally thought. The Broncos' defense deserves so much better than this. - Browne17. Tennessee Titans (4-3)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan17th17th20th14thPrevious Rank: 19thComing off their bye week, the Titans will be looking to assure observers that their wins over the Colts and Browns weren't fool's gold. - Srinivasan18. Washington Redskins (3-4)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan18th18th16th18thPrevious Rank: 17thTwo tough losses to division opponents have Washington 3 1/2 games back in the NFC East standings. - McClymont19. Baltimore Ravens (4-4)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan19th20th18th19thPrevious Rank: 26thOne man's trash is another's treasure, and the Ravens may have struck gold with running back Alex Collins. - Browne20. Green Bay Packers (4-3)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan20th23rd19th20thPrevious Rank: 21stMaybe a bye week was all Brett Hundley needed to get this team turned back around. Probably not, though. - Sanderson21. Oakland Raiders (3-5)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan21st21st21st26thPrevious Rank: 20thWhile the defense may be awful, and the coaching leaves a lot to be desired, Derek Carr needs to be held accountable for his overly conservative play. - Browne22. Los Angeles Chargers (3-5)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan23rd22nd22nd22ndPrevious Rank: 22ndThe Patriots were simply too much for the resurgent Chargers to handle. Even with the defeat, L.A. is still the Chiefs' biggest threat in the division, though not a very big one. - Browne23. New York Jets (3-5)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan24th19th26th25thPrevious Rank: 23rdThe Jets are proving to be a stiff test for some of the league's best in a big departure from their preseason projections. - McClymont24. Miami Dolphins (4-3)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan22nd24th24th24thPrevious Rank: 18thThe offense is no better off with Matt Moore than it was with Jay Cutler. This is the ugliest 4-3 team. - McClymont25. Arizona Cardinals (3-4)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan27th25th25th21stPrevious Rank: 24thWhat are the chances of Bruce Arians going back on his word and benching Drew Stanton for Blaine Gabbert within one game? Extremely good, if you ask us. - Browne26. Chicago Bears (3-5)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan25th28th23rd23rdPrevious Rank: 25thNothing will be sadder this season than Zach Miller almost losing his leg on a should-have-been touchdown, so things can only go up from here. - Sanderson27. Cincinnati Bengals (3-4)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan26th26th27th28thPrevious Rank: 28thJoe Mixon, just admit it: You would rather be Le’Veon Bell - or at least you'd rather be on a team as good as his. - Sanderson28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-5)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan29th27th28th27thPrevious Rank: 27thDid you know Ryan Fitzpatrick went to Harvard? Everyone might know soon, since this piece of trivia will get repeated ad nauseam if he starts in place of Jameis Winston. - Srinivasan29. New York Giants (1-6)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan28th29th29th29thPrevious Rank: 29thWhat a lovely week it was in Jersey. With no game, there was no drama or controversy - a welcome change. - McClymont30. Indianapolis Colts (2-6)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan30th30th30th30thPrevious Rank: 30thAndrew Luck doesn't look like he's coming back anytime soon, so the Colts should start thinking ahead to the draft. - Srinivasan31. San Francisco 49ers (0-8)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan31st31st31st31stPrevious Rank: 31stJohn Lynch is really taking to this whole general manager thing, right? Jimmy Garoppolo isn't a sure thing, but he's worth the risk, especially for such a reasonable price. - Browne32. Cleveland Browns (0-8)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan32nd32nd32nd32ndPrevious Rank: 32ndRemember when the Patriots wanted multiple first-rounders from Cleveland for Garoppolo and then traded him to San Fran for a second? Browns just can’t catch a break. - SandersonCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Myles Garrett may be ushering in a new era of NFL players who think about their future when it comes to concussions.The Cleveland Browns star defensive end said he was hesitant to report concussion symptoms after suffering a head injury in a Week 7 loss to the Tennessee Titans. However, after considering what it might mean for his future, Garrett did the right thing and brought the symptoms to his team's attention."It doesn’t really bother me what other people say, whether I’m being a man or not," Garrett said Tuesday after being cleared from concussion protocol, according to Nate Ulrich of the Beacon Journal. "I want to have kids one day, and I want to be able to take care of them how I see fit."I don't want to be constricted by my playing and how football has affected my mind. I’ll play through anything. I’ll play through my foot, my arm, anything that’s affecting me below my neck, because I can’t play around with my brain."Garrett, who missed Sunday's loss to the Minnesota Vikings in London, said he didn't experience any of the symptoms - which include loss of appetite, headaches, dizziness, and nausea - during the game. Family members noticed he was acting oddly that night."I did (hesitate) because I really wanted to play," he said. "I didn’t want to have something like that be a hindrance to me or my team, so once I still felt it that second day, so on Tuesday, I really felt like I should say something."You can deal with a thumb or an arm or a back or a leg. But messing with your mind and allowing those kind of things to carry on, that can do harm for a long time."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore's Justin Boone is coming off his fourth top-10 finish in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition. Follow the links below to see his early rankings for Week 9.Updated rankings (including PPR) will be released Thursday, with the final version coming down Sunday morning.Standard

The NFL trade deadline is typically a time for fans and analysts to fantasize about what could be if teams had the courage to make splashy moves, but this year's edition turned tradition on its head.With plenty of action headlining deadline day and the week leading up to it, here are three winners and three losers:Winner: San Francisco 49ersFirst-year GM John Lynch continued to make his case for rookie executive of the year Monday night, acquiring Jimmy Garoppolo from the Patriots for a second-round pick. As they were able to keep their first-rounder, which will likely be a high selection, and hold onto the New Orleans Saints' second-round pick, Lynch didn't jeopardize the team's future as he brought in a quarterback who would've been among the most coveted free agents.Related: 49ers steal franchise quarterback, remain set for long termThe 49ers can now avoid the crapshoot that is trying to find a good first-round quarterback and direct their attention at the draft to filling other holes. Garoppolo is an ideal fit for Kyle Shanahan's system and is entering the prime of his career at 26 years old.Loser: Cleveland BrownsAfter failing to acquire Garoppolo last offseason and losing out in the sweepstakes to the 49ers, the Browns missed out on yet another quarterback they desired.With no one to blame but themselves, the team couldn't get a deal done with the Cincinnati Bengals for quarterback AJ McCarron - who had success under Hue Jackson in 2015 - because the Browns failed to notify the league office before the 4 p.m. ET deadline.After taking so much criticism for passing on Carson Wentz and Deshaun Watson in the past two drafts, it appears the Browns just can't help but shoot themselves in the foot.Winner: Jay AjayiAjayi was making headlines for the wrong reasons this season, recording no touchdowns and a 3.4 yards-per-carry average through seven games out of the Dolphins' backfield. Now he gets to join the hottest team in the NFL with the Eagles and a backfield that won't rely on him to fill an every-down role.Related: Eagles rob Dolphins, get final Super Bowl piece in AjayiLeGarrette Blount will still take on the heavy lifting in Philadelphia while Ajayi can focus on doing what he can to contribute to Carson Wentz's offense.Loser: Cam NewtonNewton was already short on capable targets in Carolina, and now he's got one less 1,000-yard receiver to throw to. Kelvin Benjamin's move to the Buffalo Bills may work out for him, but as the Panthers sit 5-3, their offense took a major hit.Benjamin and Devin Funchess were the only wideouts on Carolina's roster with more than 11 catches this year, as Newton has struggled to find consistency throwing outside the numbers. He'll need to lean heavily on the run game and rookie playmakers Christian McCaffrey and Curtis Samuel to produce after the catch.Winner: Russell WilsonFinally, Wilson will have more than his own feet to thank for not getting hit. For the first time since letting Russell Okung walk out the door, the Seahawks addressed their terrible offensive line, acquiring left tackle Duane Brown.Though Brown has only played one game this season due to a contract holdout, he immediately becomes the Seahawks' best blocker and gives Wilson, who accounted for 482 of the team's 485 total yards last Sunday, some much-needed protection.Loser: Kirk CousinsCousins has always said the right thing in Washington, never throwing his dysfunctional organization under the bus, but reports have continually surfaced that he wants out and that a reunion with Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco was the preferred destination.There are still plenty of teams that could be interested in Cousins, but with Garoppolo headed to the Bay Area, his reported dream destination is gone.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Houston Texans defensive end Jadeveon Clowney told his team director of communications Amy Palcic that the prison jumpsuit Halloween costume he wore Monday night was not a "shot" at owner Bob McNair's "inmates running the prison" comments.Palcic told Fernando Alfonso III of the Houston Chronicle that Clowney said there "was no hidden meaning behind his Halloween costume. He was not taking a 'shot' at anyone. It was just that – a costume at a Halloween party."Clowney posted a video of himself in the jumpsuit on Instagram Monday night.

After failing his physical following a trade to the Houston Texans on Monday, cornerback Jeremy Lane was dropped from the deal and replaced with draft-pick compensation, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle.The Texans will now get a 2018 third-round pick and a 2019 second-round pick from the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for left tackle Duane Brown and a 2018 fifth-round pick. Lane will reportedly return to the Seahawks but may be released for salary cap reasons.The initial trade was set to send Brown to Seattle for Lane, a 2018 fifth-round pick, and the 2019 second-rounder that stayed in the deal.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan hinted Tuesday that the New England Patriots initiated the shocking Jimmy Garoppolo trade that came down the wire a night earlier.Shanahan, whose Niners were immediately shut down when they inquired about Garoppolo at the NFL draft in April, told reporters his new quarterback became available right before the trade deadline - "to our surprise" - per Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle.Garoppolo was officially acquired from the Patriots on Tuesday in return for a second-round pick."We believe very much Jimmy will be our quarterback of the future," San Francisco general manager John Lynch said, according to Matt Maioco of NBC Sports Bay Area.Lynch added that it took his organization just 10 minutes to agree to the trade."This is too good to not take advantage of," he said, as relayed by David Lombardi of The Athletic Bay Area.

Denver Broncos head coach Vance Joseph told reporters Tuesday that former first-round pick Paxton Lynch isn't a candidate to replace Trevor Siemian as the starting quarterback due to a lack of reps."Paxton hasn't played football since Week 3 of the preseason," Joseph said, as transcribed by Sean Wagner-McGough of CBS Sports. "He's only practiced four days. So right now, he's been inactive the last ballgame. So he won't be in that mix."Lynch returned to practice only recently, spending the first chunk of the season nursing a shoulder injury. He was inactive for Monday Night Football against the Kansas City Chiefs, a game in which Siemian's continued struggles prompted Joseph to reconsider his quarterback situation.With Lynch out of the equation, Brock Osweiler appears to be Joseph's only option if he were to indeed bench Siemian.Lynch has appeared in only three games over his two-year career.The Broncos will take a 3-4 record into Philadelphia to face the Eagles on Sunday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the 2017 NFL trade deadline passing at 4:00 p.m. ET, here's a look at the modest amount, yet significant moves made around the league.49ers pry Jimmy Garoppolo from Patriots for 2nd-round pickAfter failing to find an adequate match this offseason, the New England Patriots finally moved upcoming free-agent quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for what should be a pick early in the second round of the 2018 draft.Read more: Patriots trade Garoppolo to 49ers for 2nd-round pickEagles bolster Super Bowl run by acquiring Jay Ajayi from DolphinsIn a move no one saw coming, the Miami Dolphins parted ways with struggling running back Jay Ajayi, shipping him to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2018 draft. It's a major addition for the NFL's lone 7-1 team.Read more: Dolphins trade Ajayi to Eagles for 4th-round pickSeahawks finally find O-line help by acquiring Brown from TexansThe Seattle Seahawks made a much-needed upgrade to their offensive line, acquiring left tackle Duane Brown from the Houston Texans in exchange for draft picks. Brown instantly becomes the highest-graded member of the Seahawks' offensive line, according to Pro Football Focus.Read more: Texans trade Duane Brown to Seahawks for Lane, picksBills continue pillaging Panthers, bring Benjamin into hurting offenseAfter looking to the Carolina Panthers to acquire a new head coach and general manager in the offseason, the Buffalo Bills dipped back into the well for some much-needed offensive help, acquiring wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin in exchange for 2018 third- and seventh-round picks.Read more: Panthers trade Kelvin Benjamin to Bills for picksOther trades:

The NFL rarely gets a blockbuster move ahead of the mid-season trade deadline, but the San Francisco 49ers made a huge splash Monday, acquiring Jimmy Garoppolo from the New England Patriots for a second-round pick.The trade for Garoppolo will have wide-reaching effects across the entire league. Here are the four main ways the NFL landscape will change:Kirk Cousins loses his top destinationCousins has had one foot out of Washington for some time now, as the Redskins refuse to commit to him long term.A fork in the road is upcoming for both parties, however. The Redskins will either have to give Cousins the significant contract extension he craves before the offseason, or hit him with the franchise tag for the third straight year. The latter is highly unlikely considering the tag would cost $34.5 million.The most logical landing spot for Cousins in free agency was with the 49ers due to his previous relationship with head coach Kyle Shahanan, but now that door is firmly shut.Cousins still has options - the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Denver Broncos could be possible destinations - but the veteran pivot's future has become murkier than ever.49ers become sellers at top of 1st roundAt 0-8, the 49ers were a near-lock for a top-2 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. While trading for Garoppolo should ensure a few more wins over an offense run by CJ Beathard, San Francisco should still come away with a top-5 pick at worst.Prior to acquiring Garoppolo, it was assumed the 49ers would use their first-round pick to grab a franchise quarterback for Shanahan. Now, not only have they become a question mark at the top of the first round, but they could also be a potential trading partner for teams who want to jump up for Josh Rosen, Josh Allen, or Sam Darnold.If 49ers general manager John Lynch can get a king's ransom for his first-round pick and a franchise quarterback in Garoppolo, even the biggest critics of his hiring will have to admit defeat.Patriots' succession plan for Brady unclear once moreThe Patriots may have sent Garoppolo packing, but it appears they did so after exploring every other avenue."We probably had, in my opinion, the best quarterback situation in the league for the last - let's call it two-and-a-half years," head coach Bill Belichick said Tuesday. "It's just not sustainable given the way that things are set up. It's definitely not something that we wanted to walk away from and I felt like we rode it out as long as we could."New England clearly wanted Garoppolo to stick around to be the heir-apparent to Tom Brady. But with the five-time Super Bowl champion having another MVP year at age 40, and with Garoppolo unlikely to want to sit for at least another few seasons, the Patriots had to make a move.While Brady looks far from done, Father Time catches up to all eventually, and usually out of nowhere. New England will try and maximize Brady's window and win more Super Bowls, but what comes after is now a question Bill Belichick will have to find another answer to.Malcolm Butler might not hit free agencyOther than Garoppolo, no one on the Patriots' roster has been subject to trade rumors more than Butler.The cornerback was almost sent to the New Orleans Saints during the offseason, but the move never came to pass. After the Patriots signed Stephon Gilmore, it appeared certain Butler would hit free agency in 2018.But, one of the caveats to that was the presumption New England would be forced to use the franchise tag on Garoppolo. Now, the Patriots are free to use the tag on Butler.Butler, like most on the Patriots' defense, has endured an up-and-down campaign. But, with Gilmore struggling, New England could tag him and rob the rest of the league of one of 2018's marquee free agents.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL rejected a trade that would have sent quarterback AJ McCarron from the Cincinnati Bengals to the Cleveland Browns because the Browns notified the league after the 4 p.m. ET deadline, reports ESPN's Adam Schefter.The Browns argued that the deal should be allowed, but the NFL ruled they were too late.Schefter initially reported that the Bengals attempted to deal McCarron to the Browns, but failed to do so before Tuesday's deadline, as only Cincinnati officially approved it with the league office.The move would have reunited McCarron with head coach Hue Jackson, who was Cincinnati's offensive coordinator in 2014 and 2015. McCarron started four games for the Bengals under Jackson in 2015, going 2-2 in that span.The Browns missed out on yet another quarterback after passing on Carson Wentz and Deshaun Watson in the last two drafts - decisions that have come under heavy scrutiny. They also failed to acquire Jimmy Garoppolo, who was dealt to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday from the New England Patriots, after reportedly desiring the fourth-year pro last spring.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFLPA filed an emergency motion on Ezekiel Elliott's behalf Tuesday that will allow the Dallas Cowboys running back to appeal a judge's decision to reinstate his six-game suspension.

The Carolina Panthers traded wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin to the Buffalo Bills for 2018 third- and seventh-round picks, the Bills announced ahead of Tuesday's deadline.Benjamin rejoins former Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott, who's in his first year as Bills head coach, and general manager Brandon Beane, who previously worked in Carolina's front office.The fourth-year receiver has caught 32 passes for 475 yards and two touchdowns this season and will presumably start in Buffalo once he's up to speed with the playbook.The Bills currently have the 29th-ranked passing offense in the league.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Giants have suspended star cornerback Janoris Jenkins indefinitely for a violation of team rules, the team announced Tuesday.Jenkins will, therefore, miss Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Rams."As a member of this team, there are standards and we have responsibilities and obligations," said coach Ben McAdoo. "When we don't fulfill those obligations, there are consequences. As I have said before, we do not like to handle our team discipline publicly. There are times when it is unavoidable, and this is one of those times."McAdoo said he will review the status of Jenkins' suspension next week.It's the second team suspension of the season for the Giants. New York banned cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie for one game after he got into an argument with McAdoo over his playing time in Week 5Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians says he doubts running back David Johnson will play again this season, according to Kent Somers of AZ Central Sports.Johnson hasn't played since suffering a wrist injury in a Week 1 loss to the Detroit Lions, where he rushed 11 times for 23 yards while catching six passes for 67 yards.Running back Adrian Peterson, acquired mid-season from the New Orleans Saints, leads the team with 155 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 37 attempts through two games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Disgruntled Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant was not traded by Tuesday's 4 p.m. ET trade deadline and remains with the team heading into Week 9.NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports teams called about acquiring the receiver's services, but the Steelers declined.Rumors circulated around Bryant's future with the Steelers following a series of social media outbursts from the receiver.He was benched for the team's Week 8 game against the Detroit Lions, allowing rookie wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster to go off with seven receptions for 193 yards and a touchdown.Bryant has totaled just 18 receptions on a modest 36 targets, recording just 234 yards and a lone touchdown.The Steelers selected Bryant with the 118th pick in the 2014 draft, but a series of off-field issues have limited him to just 28 career games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Matt Williamson is a former scout for the Cleveland Browns and spent 10 years at ESPN as a scout and co-host of "The Football Today Podcast." Find him on Twitter @WilliamsonNFL.The San Francisco 49ers didn't just upgrade their quarterback position - they likely found their next franchise signal-caller.The 49ers sent their second-round pick in the 2018 draft to New England for Jimmy Garoppolo on Monday. Because you can often land a first-round-caliber player in the second without paying him first-round money, Patriots coach Bill Belichick has coveted those early second-round choices over the years. It's certainly a valuable pick. But nonetheless, this is a terrific franchise-altering trade for San Francisco.There had been plenty of speculation that the 49ers would do everything possible to land Kirk Cousins in free agency during the upcoming offseason. That sounds wonderful, and it very well could have worked out, but it certainly wasn't a sure thing. And needless to say, although he wouldn’t have cost San Francisco a premium draft pick, Cousins would have been extremely expensive.Of course, the trade makes little sense if the 49ers can’t lock up Garoppolo for the long term. At 0-8, they didn’t give up a great draft pick to rent a soon-to-be 26-year-old quarterback for the remainder of a losing season. But rest assured, San Francisco will sign Garoppolo long term (or use the franchise tag if need be) - and while he won’t be cheap, he certainly won't get the money Cousins will be asking for.Just as importantly, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan gets his franchise quarterback in the building now rather than later. While Garoppolo won't start immediately, the rest of this regular season and the upcoming offseason will be valuable for him to get up speed and to better understand the system and his new teammates, such as Pierre Garcon and George Kittle.That stability is very important. We saw Matt Ryan take a while to fully acclimate to Shanahan’s scheme, and now Garoppolo is set up well for his new education. And it sure looks like Shanahan has excellent job security. This relationship should flourish.Another benefit of making this move now is that San Francisco won't be in the market to draft a quarterback with its early first-rounder. Therefore, the team can either take an elite prospect at another position (Saquon Barkley, perhaps?), or ransom that selection off to the highest bidder for a plethora of picks.Yet, while that's all great news on the surface, it's most important to determine just what Garoppolo brings as a player. And that might be the best news of all; not only does he have the potential to become a Cousins-level starting quarterback, he could easily wind up being even better.It's no accident that Garoppolo ended up in the NFC, where Belichick will only see him once every four years (unless they meet in a Super Bowl, of course). Unlike Matt Cassel and a litany of other Tom Brady backups over the years, Garoppolo can become a star. He can turn his new franchise around and his fit with Shanahan is outstanding.Sure, we don’t have much to go off in terms of game film on Garoppolo, but we know he isn’t an overwhelming physical specimen. He's a decent athlete and throws well on the move - something that's very important in his new system - but he isn’t an extreme playmaker with his legs. The best comparison in this regard is probably Tony Romo.But quickness is very much a strength for this young man. Garoppolo possesses an extremely fast release and he's a very quick processor of information. He should have no problem orchestrating Shanahan’s offense before the snap with all the motion and movement, while quickly identifying the coverage and a favorable matchup to exploit.Then, Garoppolo shows very good accuracy and precise timing with that quick release to get the ball where it needs to be in order for his receivers to excel after the catch - another huge component in Shanahan's system.While Garoppolo could stand to improve his feel for the pass-rush - and that should come with more playing time - he certainly isn’t bashful about standing in the pocket to wait for his target to separate, even if it means taking a big hit for his team. It's a small sample size to go off of, but he keeps his eyes downfield, which has allowed him to perform well under pressure, excelling both early and late in downs.It's also been reported that Garoppolo is well-respected by his teammates, both on and off the field. Hanging around Brady the last several years surely had a positive effect on him in this regard - and on his work ethic, too - so expect the 49ers to play hard for their new leader.This is a huge move for San Francisco. But it's also the right move at a very manageable cost. The acquisition of Garoppolo gives Shanahan an awful lot to work with. Expect it to pay off huge for both the quarterback and his new team. This is a turning point in 49ers history.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Running back Jay Ajayi is the most notable player who still hasn't scored a single touchdown in the first half of the season.While his 532 total yards have still provided an adequate floor and weekly contribution for fantasy managers, the consensus first-round pick has failed to provide the expected matchup-winning upside.The shocking trade that sent him from the Miami Dolphins to the Philadelphia Eagles on Tuesday will help salvage his fantasy campaign, however. Here's why, and how it will affect the rest of the landscape.Related: Dolphins trade Ajayi to Eagles for 4th-round pickAjayi takes top spot in Eagles' pecking orderAjayi is averaging a career-worst 3.4 yards per rushing attempt on 128 carries through seven games. He's added 67 receiving yards while catching 14 of 20 targets, but he still hasn't found the end zone in any capacity.While the Dolphins rank eighth in red-zone touchdown percentage, according to Team Rankings, Ajayi failed to score on any of his 11 red-zone carries, despite being the only Dolphins player to have a rushing attempt inside the opponent's 20-yard line.Now he joins an Eagles team ranked second in red-zone percentage, and while incumbent goal-line back LeGarrette Blount has received 17 rushes, he's converted just two touchdowns. Both Corey Clement and Wendell Smallwood have also scored red-zone rushing touchdowns on three attempts each.Ajayi will have much better touchdown chances on the league's fourth-highest scoring team. The Dolphins, meanwhile, rank last in the league in that department by more than a full point per game.Philadelphia's committee loses valueBlount's current rate of 4.7 yards per carry on the year is his highest since 2013. He scored his two red-zone touchdowns while also adding an unconventional receiving score.Ajayi's moderate abilities in the passing game will cut into Smallwood's modest role as well. He had 10 receptions on 15 targets for 79 yards with another 143 yards coming on the ground.Smallwood and Clement can be dropped in all leagues, and fantasy managers should be trying to move a soon-to-decline Blount.Dolphins' backfield left flounderingOne of Damien Williams or Kenyan Drake will emerge with the feature role in Miami, but at this point, fantasy managers are left guessing when deciding which one to attack on the waiver wire ahead of Week 9.Williams has outsnapped Drake 74 to 33 on offense this season, and has earned the higher Pro Football Focus grade, particularly as a receiver. His stock is bolstered by the fact he'll likely have a role in the passing game for a Dolphins team typically facing large deficits.There won't be enough red-zone visits for them to split and each provide value. Target Williams for now while waiting to see who emerges with the limited goal-line role.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Suspended Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon is set to meet with the NFL about his potential reinstatement Wednesday, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Schefter originally reported the meeting was scheduled for Tuesday.However, Gordon might not head back to Cleveland.The Browns could look to trade Gordon before Tuesday's 4 p.m. ET deadline, pending his reinstatement, added Schefter, though it's unclear if the meeting taking place Wednesday instead of Tuesday will alter Cleveland's plans.If Gordon is reinstated, it'll almost certainly be on a conditional basis.He was denied reinstatement in May, and later entered a 90-day program - believed to be his fourth known trip to rehab - on June 21 to help convince the NFL to lift his indefinite ban for multiple violations of the league's substance abuse policy.He left rehab Sept. 21 and remained hopeful of getting another shot in the NFL.The pass-catcher hasn't played since December 2014, but was considered an elite talent after leading the league in receiving yards in 2013.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jadeveon Clowney took an apparent shot at Houston Texans owner Bob McNair at the team's Halloween party Monday night.The outside linebacker showed up to the party wearing an orange prison jumpsuit:

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick commented on the team's trade of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to the San Francisco 49ers once all the trade papers were filed Tuesday, offering high praise for the fourth-year player viewed as the future of San Francisco's offense."The 49ers are getting a good player, and they're getting a good person, and they're getting a great teammate, and they're getting a good quarterback," Belichick said, according to Nora Princiotti of the Boston Globe.With 40-year-old Tom Brady looking sure to spend several more seasons at the helm of New England's offense, Belichick stressed it was time for the Patriots to move Garoppolo in "the last window that we had," since he's set to enter unrestricted free agency at the end of the season. The team got back a second-round pick."We probably had, in my opinion, the best quarterback situation in the league for the last - let's call it two-and-a-half years," Belichick said. "It's just not sustainable given the way that things are set up. It's definitely not something that we wanted to walk away from and I felt like we rode it out as long as we could."Belichick described the choice to trade him as "looming for the last couple of years" and said Garoppolo's "career is moving forward" now that he has the chance to be the 49ers' starting quarterback.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen have the perfect couples costume planned for Halloween.During his weekly appearance on WEEI's "The Kirk & Callahan Show," Brady revealed that he and his wife will be dressing up as avocado toast Tuesday night."I think we're some type of avocado and toast," the New England Patriots quarterback said. "I don't know which one. My wife bought the costume."The couple has yet to decide who will wear which costume, though given Brady's love of avocado ice cream, it would make sense for him to dress as the avocado."I don't know what I am going to be (avocado or toast)," he said. "Whatever costume fits."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Odell Beckham Jr. wants to get the old LSU band back together.The New York Giants' star receiver - who's done for the year due to injury - spent Tuesday morning campaigning passionately on Twitter for his team to acquire his former college teammate, Jarvis Landry, from the Miami Dolphins:

While many have been shocked by the brilliant play of Deshaun Watson in his rookie season with the Houston Texans, his former college coach certainly isn't one of them.Dabo Swinney had Watson at Clemson for three years - culminating in a national championship last season - and is no stranger to the quarterback's heroics."He's just doing what he's always done," Swinney told Scott Keepfer of The Greenville News. "He's no different than he was at Gainesville High and Clemson and now with the Houston Texans."Watson has taken the NFL by storm since being inserted as the Texans' starter in Week 2, setting an all-time record by throwing for 19 touchdown passes through his first seven games.It's similar to what he accomplished at Clemson throughout his storied career, including a sophomore campaign that saw him become the first player in FBS history to throw for 4,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in the same season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Every Tuesday during the season, theScore's NFL editors run down the recommended waiver wire pickups.Ownership percentages are based on Yahoo! leagues. FAAB bids are set at a $100 budget.QuarterbackTeddy Bridgewater, VikingsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidBYE3%$8Bridewater is expected to return for a Week 10 meeting with the Washington Redskins, following the Vikings' Week 9 bye. He'll be able to provide the consistency fantasy managers weren't getting from Case Keenum.Blake Bortles, JaguarsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Bengals16%$7The Jaguars have an extremely favorable schedule for the second half of the season, including matchups against the winless Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers. The stout defense is limiting Bortles' need to pass and thus capping his fantasy ceiling, but fewer risks and mistakes offer weekly stability.Jacoby Brissett, ColtsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Texans10%$3It now seems like Brissett will be starting for the rest of the year with Andrew Luck's return growing more and more doubtful. He's coming off his best performance since Week 3, throwing multiple touchdowns for the first time all season. He'll still be hit or miss, but he's worth targeting in favorable matchups.Running BackAlex Collins, RavensNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Titans36%$48Collins topped 100 yards for the first time all season and even added his first two receptions of the year. Limited goal-line work caps his upside for now, but as he continues to prove himself, his role seems likely to grow.Damien Williams, DolphinsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Raiders0%$39Williams will enter a timeshare with Kenyan Drake in the aftermath of the Jay Ajayi deal. Williams is the preferred target in all formats, but particularly PPR leagues. He has played 19.4 percent of the offensive snaps this season, with Drake coming in at a lesser 8.6 percent. Williams' snap share grew to 30 percent in Week 7, with Ajayi at 70 percent and Drake at zero.Marlon Mack, ColtsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Texans45%$28Mack totaled 63 yards on a career-high 14 touches Sunday, scoring his first receiving touchdown. Veteran Frank Gore still put together a high-quality game on the ground, but Mack's growing role should be indicative of the Colts' plans in a lost season.Alfred MorrisNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Chiefs39%$21Ezekiel Elliott's reinstated suspension thrusts Morris back onto the fantasy scene. Darren McFadden is also worth a look in deeper leagues, with managers needing to spend roughly 20 percent of their FAAB budget. Keep in mind, a timeshare for six weeks is all that can be hoped for.Orleans Darkwa, GiantsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Rams48%$14Darkwa came back to Earth against the Seattle Seahawks in the week prior to the Giants' bye, receiving just 12 total touches after recording a 130-yard game on 22 touches against the Denver Broncos. The game script was considerably different, and he should remain a focus in more favorable matchups.Rex Burkhead, PatriotsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidBYE8%$9Burkhead excelled in the passing game in the Patriots' win over the Los Angeles Chargers, catching seven balls for 68 yards, while adding 15 yards on four rushing attempts. The 11 total touches were a season high. The Patriots' backfield remains a diversified four-man committee, but Burkhead appears the best combination of rusher and receiver.Rob Kelley, RedskinsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Seahawks41%$6Kelley found the end zone for the first time this season on Sunday, but he averaged just 2.4 yards per carry on his eight attempts. Chris Thompson maintains 100 percent of the work in the passing game, leaving Kelley as a touchdown-dependent rusher.DeAndre Washington, RaidersNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Dolphins18%$5Washington didn't do enough in Week 8 to usurp Marshawn Lynch as the Raiders' starting running back, leaving him in a share with Jalen Richard for backup duties. Still, he averaged 4.3 yards per carry and 7.8 yards per reception while scoring a touchdown for the second consecutive week. He's worth a hold in case Lynch's struggles continue.Wide ReceiverJuJu Smith-Schuster, SteelersNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidBYE49%$44Smith-Schuster completed is hostile takeover of Martavis Bryant's role as the Steelers' No. 2 receiver. The rookie caught seven of his career-high 10 targets and turned them into 193 yards. He also scored a touchdown for the second consecutive week. He'll be a weekly starter after the bye.Corey Davis, TitansNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Ravens27%$42The Titans and quarterback Marcus Mariota are desperate for a No. 1 option in the passing game. Davis can fill that role in his first game since suffering an injury in Week 2. He could see 10 or more targets per game.Paul Richardson, SeahawksNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Redskins33%$26Richardson upped his season touchdown total to five and recorded his first 100-yard game of the season. He's first on the team in red zone touchdowns while catching six of nine targets.Sterling Shepard, GiantsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Rams57%$22Shepard will be the Giants' No. 1 receiver for the rest of the season. He's seen 10 targets just once on the year, but it should be his new norm. He caught seven passes and recorded 133 yards and a touchdown in that game.Cooper Kupp, RamsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Giants42%$16Kupp saw a career-high 10 targets in the week before the Rams' bye. He caught just four for 51 yards, but he did score his third touchdown of the year. He leads the team with 13 red zone targets, while Sammy Watkins is the second wide receiver with just four.Tyler Lockett, SeahawksNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Redskins39%$11Lockett remains in search of his first touchdown of the season, but he's coming off his first 100-yard game. He's best suited for PPR formats, but he should be owned in standard leagues as well.Robby Anderson, JetsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Bills29%$7Anderson found the end zone for the second consecutive week, while also recording his first 100-yard game. With the Jets' offense at its peak, the entire receiving corps is likely to regress.Kenny Stills, DolphinsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Raiders57%$6Stills recorded his second 10-target game of the season in Week 8, but with DeVante Parker likely to return at any time, his workload will shrink. The Dolphins will likely have more difficulty moving the ball downfield without Ajayi, making the team's No. 3 receiver less appealing than his statistics would indicate.Robert Woods, RamsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Giants28%$5Woods has received just three red zone targets and remains without a touchdown on the season. Still, he has received 44 targets and will easily set a career high in receiving yards. He'll luck into the odd touchdown along the way.Dede Westbrook, JaguarsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Bengals11%$4While Allen Hurns and Marqise Lee have alternated productive weeks in the absence of Allen Robinson, the Jaguars' passing game is in need of a true difference-maker. Westbrook will get that opportunity upon his return and is worth a small bid while waiting to see if he warrants a spot in lineups.Tight EndCharles Clay, BillsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidTBD14%$16Clay's return date remains in question, but he should be stashed in the meantime. He'll immediately get back to seeing up to 10 targets per game as the focus of the Bills' passing attack.Jack Doyle, ColtsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Texans52%$9Doyle has seen more than 10 targets in two of his past three games, scoring a touchdown in each of those outings. He has formed a bond with Brissett and his role will only grow as the receiving corps struggles.Tyler Kroft, BengalsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Jaguars47%$7Kroft has caught 23 of 27 targets this season, while offering modest yardage totals. He's a quality option in the thin tight end market.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The rich get richer.In what's been a shockingly active trade deadline period, the team with the best record in the league, the 7-1 Philadelphia Eagles, sealed their status as a serious Super Bowl contender by acquiring Jay Ajayi from the Miami Dolphins on Tuesday.Related: Dolphins trade Ajayi to Eagles for 4th-round pickDon't be fooled by Ajayi's lackluster 2017 production; the running back remains a rare stud, and he should send the already potent Eagles offense into the stratosphere.He's the same back that produced not one, not two, but three 200-yard rushing games in 2016.In 2017, he's been hampered by terrible blocking, an anemic passing game, and lingering knee issues, leading to a season in which he's averaged just 3.4 yards per tote and has yet to find the end zone.While the 24-year-old's knees remain a concern (though having more capable backups to ease his workload should help), the rest of Ajayi's roadblocks should disappear in Philadelphia.Carson Wentz has blossomed into a stud, head coach Doug Pederson is coming into his own as a play-caller, and the Eagles' offensive line is one of the best run-blocking units in the league - even without star left tackle Jason Peters, who is out for the year.And Philadelphia got this immense upgrade for the meager price of a fourth-round pick. Daylight robbery.Maybe Ajayi's knee issues are much worse than currently known. Maybe Dolphins head coach Adam Gase wanted to send a message to his team following an embarrassing 40-point shutout by the Baltimore Ravens, which was itself preceded by six games of only slightly less pitiful output from the league's 32nd-ranked offense. We don't know.(Photo courtesy: Action Images)What we do know is that the Dolphins are significantly worse than they were before the trade. Kenyan Drake and Damien Williams are underwhelming as backups, let alone as a starting tandem.And while a fourth-round pick is far from worthless, this team set out to win this season, not to sell off assets to build for 2018 and beyond. Why else would the Dolphins pay Jay Cutler $15 million to come out of retirement?But they're tanking now, as top wide receiver Jarvis Landry is also reportedly available for trade - though the four wins they've miraculously managed this season will impede the effectiveness of this plan.While the Dolphins are clearly giving up on this iteration of their team, Philadelphia is all in - and rightfully so.Eagles running backs LeGarrette Blount and Wendell Smallwood have combined to form the fifth-ranked ground attack, but Blount is a limited player and Smallwood is an OK backup at best.Ajayi isn't a home-run threat, but he has great vision and agility, and he's improving as a pass-protector and pass-catcher. He should become Philadelphia's workhorse almost immediately, though Blount and Smallwood should still have solid roles.The Eagles already looked Super Bowl bound thanks to Wentz and an ascendant, opportunistic defense. Now, they have arguably the most complete offense in the NFC, and weren't forced to surrender any significant assets to add the final piece.Bravo, Howie Roseman. Bravo.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Covers.com is the biggest and best source for sports betting information, providing unrivaled and original content sports bettors cannot live without.Each week, Monty Andrews breaks down some of the underlying betting mismatches on the National Football League slate, giving you an inside edge when handicapping the schedule and setting your daily fantasy lineup.

Miami Dolphins linebacker Kiko Alonso won't receive a suspension for his late hit on Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, NFL spokesman Joe Lockhart announced Tuesday, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.Alonso connected with Flacco's head as he attempted to slide, concussing the quarterback. The linebacker received an unnecessary roughness penalty, but wasn't ejected.While Alonso defended himself after Thursday's game, saying there was "no way" he could've avoided making contact with Flacco, the hit was widely criticized and many called for Alonso to be banned.Ravens head coach John Harbaugh is optimistic Flacco will be ready to play in Week 9.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sage Rosenfels is a former 12-year NFL quarterback who writes, does radio, and podcasts about the NFL and college football. Find him on Twitter @SageRosenfels18.October is the month when NFL contenders begin to separate themselves from the pretenders. Every season is a marathon, not a sprint, and while starting hot in September is important, catching fire in October has a much greater effect on your team's postseason aspirations.Remember how terrible the Saints' defense looked versus the Vikings in Week 1? Or how Cam Newton shredded a confused secondary in Foxboro? Or when the Jets were leading the AFC East? Or when Big Ben sounded like he was on the verge of retirement? All of these stories are #fakenews a month later.October has been scary for some teams, while providing tasty treats for others.(Photo courtesy: Action Images)Eagles are flyingSince a Week 2 loss at Kansas City, a place where visiting teams have rarely won during the Andy Reid era, the Philadelphia Eagles have won six games in a row. After not making the playoffs last year, they shot up to the top of the NFL power rankings. They are the lone remaining team with only one loss.How did an 7-9 team turn into a contender? It’s easy to say Carson Wentz, but it goes much deeper than that.In 2016, the NFC East was the most competitive division in the NFL. The Cowboys steamrolled through their non-division games, going 10-0. However, they were only .500 in NFC East contests. The Giants won 11 games to capture a wild-card berth. Washington managed eight wins and missed the playoffs along with the Eagles, who won seven games.Yet, of those seven wins, four were against teams who made the playoffs. With a rookie quarterback, the Eagles beat four playoff teams. Two of those wins came in Weeks 16 and 17 against NFC East rivals.That momentum has gotten them off to a fast start in 2017. Their defense has created 13 turnovers, good for fifth in the NFL, while giving up under 20 points a game. They are stopping the run also, allowing only 70 yards per game, good for third-best in the league.At first glance, the Eagles' biggest concern defensively is their inability to stop the pass. Opposing offenses are racking up over 250 YPG throwing the ball, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Out of necessity, offenses are throwing it over 40 times a game against the Eagles. Why? Because they are behind. Philadelphia is outscoring opponents 44-9 in the first quarter. This has led to nine interceptions. Advantage Eagles.Offensively, the LeGarrette Blount signing was brilliant. Blount doesn't blow you away with flashy runs, but he is very disciplined in the Eagles' zone-running scheme. And Tuesday's acquisition of Jay Ajayi from Miami further solidifies the Philadelphia running game in a way that should allow it to keep opposing defenses honest.The move to trade up to the No. 2 position and grab Wentz looks like one of the best draft-week trades this decade. If you asked most NFL analysts who they'd want as a quarterback for the next 10 years, many would say Wentz.It would be a disservice to think Wentz has brought only Pro-Bowl quarterback play to Philadelphia. He has brought the belief that the Eagles can beat anyone in the league. He proved that last year as a rookie, and has already taken the next step in his sophomore season.There isn't a box left unchecked when you dissect Wentz's play. He has a huge arm, is accurate, can extend plays with his legs, and has learned how to read and manipulate defenses. He seems to have the "it," an impermeable belief in oneself to be successful. That confidence has spread throughout the Eagles organization - and with Wentz, Philadelphia is now capable of beating anybody in the NFL.(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Patriots are back to doing Patriots thingsAfter starting the season giving up 42, 20, 36, and 30 points, respectively, the Patriots' defense has gotten its act together. Their last four opponents have averaged just 12.75 points per game. As a result, the Patriots have rebounded from a rare 2-2 start to again lead the AFC East with a 6-2 record.Last year, New England led the NFL in scoring defense, which I believe is the most important stat in judging a defense. In that category, the Pats went from 32nd in the league to 18th in only four weeks. This more than anything has been the biggest improvement on the team.The real question is why any analyst would expect anything different. The Patriots have a very talented secondary who were making mental errors in September. You would have had to assume that Belichick and Matt Patricia would make adjustments by either teaching their scheme better, or simplifying their concepts to let their players read and react rather than overthink.Whatever these two great defensive minds did after their embarrassing loss to the Panthers has obviously worked.Let's not forget about their offense, either. Tom Brady has been hit and hurried more this year than in recent memory. He is also without Julian Edelman, one of his favorite targets. The result? The Patriots are leading the NFL in yards from scrimmage (411 yards per game), and are seventh in scoring (27 points per game). Per usual, the Patriots are one step ahead of the rest of the league by using non-wide receivers in the passing game.They have four running backs who contribute significantly to the offense. Gronk is being Gronk. Brandin Cooks has taken over Edelman's role as the go-to wide receiver. He has been sure-handed on the short and intermediate routes; aspects of the game which were Edelman's strengths. Cooks also adds the big-play potential that New England hasn't had from its premier receiver since Randy Moss.The Patriots are for real. They have weaknesses, just like every other NFL team. But no quarterback and coach combo does a better job of hiding weaknesses while maximizing their strengths as Brady and Belichick. Per usual, they should be in the hunt for another title.(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Saints are marchingDrew Brees has been counted out so many times in his life that being the underdog is where he feels most comfortable. When the Saints started 0-2, with poor defensive performances against the Vikings and Patriots, many counted New Orleans out of the always competitive NFC South.The Falcons almost won a Super Bowl last year, and the Panthers were the runners-up the previous season. The Bucs looked to be a team on the rise as well, so it was easy to place your bets against the Saints returning to their glory days back when Brees was putting up 5,000 passing yards and winning division titles.Fast forward six weeks, and the Saints are 5-2 (bye week included). Their offense has regained its form as one of the NFL's most dangerous, something Saints fans have become accustomed to during the Brees/Sean Payton era. They are currently third in yards per game and sixth in points per game.Brees, unsurprisingly, is having another stellar year. He has a quarterback rating over 100, a 70 percent completion rate, and is averaging nearly 8 yards per attempt. Like Brady, he is getting his running backs very involved in the passing game, with Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram sitting second and third on the team in receptions.A huge change from seasons past is the Saints' ability to run the football. Through seven games, they are averaging 5.4 yards per carry. I guess they didn't need Adrian Peterson after all.While the offense has regained its form, the defense has been the biggest surprise. Led by Kenny Vaccaro, Cam Jordan, and A.J. Klein, the Saints once again have a credible defense. Vaccaro is having a Pro Bowl year, leading the team in tackles and interceptions. Jordan is the feared pass-rusher that Payton has needed. Klein has been a great offseason acquisition.At the time, Klein's signing wasn't big news. After sitting behind Luke Kuechly for three years in Carolina, Klein made the most of Kuechly's absence last year, and was rewarded with a nice contract by New Orleans. Watching Klein is like watching a 90 percent version of Kuechly.He's not as physically talented, but it's obvious that Klein was paying attention to the details of Kuechly's game. He's smart, instinctual, can cover, and runs sideline to sideline extremely well.When the Saints won their Super Bowl at the end of the 2009 season, their offense was elite and their defense was confusing and opportunistic. This formula is working again, and it finds them leading what will be a very exciting NFC South division race.Other teams that loved OctoberMinnesota VikingsCase Keenum is turning the Vikings into believers one win at a time. He has stayed away from turnovers, and continues to buy extra time in and out of the pocket to create plays down the field for Pat Shurmur's offense.Their defense is ranked third in the league as well.This is how you win when your starting quarterback gets injured.Seattle SeahawksThe Seahawks have won four in a row, thanks to their defense and Russell Wilson carrying the offense on his back.Seattle has been one of the better running teams in the league during the last five years, but rushing the ball is nearly nonexistent today. They may not have a running back reach the 600-rushing-yard mark this year.I love their defense and Wilson, but teams with pathetic rushing attacks rarely make it deep in the playoffs.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Indianapolis Colts have received trade calls regarding wide receiver Donte Moncrief, sources told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.Moncrief - an unrestricted free agent this offseason - has struggled to fulfill his potential after a solid start to his career.The 24-year-old caught 64 passes for 733 yards and six touchdowns in 2015, but injuries have halted his development and he's been a non-factor this year with Andrew Luck sidelined.The Colts appear in fire-sale mode, with star receiver T.Y. Hilton and cornerback Vontae Davis also reportedly on the trade block, though it's believed it would take a substantial offer to acquire Hilton.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.