Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson soured on DeShone Kizer upon learning the quarterback had enjoyed a night on the town less than 48 hours before Sunday's game."Thank you for telling me," he said to reporters when asked about a video that showed Kizer at a bar around 1 a.m. Saturday morning, according to Keith Britton of 92.3 The Fan.

The New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons square off on Sunday Night Football in a matchup between last year's conference champions. To argue, however, that Sunday's game is an exact Super Bowl LI rematch would be completely disingenuous.Here are four ways the Patriots and Falcons are different since Super Bowl LI:The Patriots' defense has fallen off a cliff New England led the NFL in scoring defense last year, surrendering a mere 15.6 points per game. What a difference a year makes.Prior to Sunday's contests, New England ranked 30th in scoring defense, allowing 26.5 points per game. Malcolm Butler, named a second-team All-Pro in 2016, has regressed badly while free-agent signing Stephon Gilmore has been a complete bust thus far. The absence of a meaningful pass rush - with the exception of Trey Flowers, perhaps - has certainly made the Patriots more vulnerable this year as well.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton ripped into his team's offensive line Sunday after the unit surrendered 10 sacks in a 27-0 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars."It is the offensive line. They need to block," Hilton told reporters postgame, according to Charlie Clifford of WISH-TV.Indianapolis failed to control Jacksonville's pass rush all afternoon, as quarterback Jacoby Brissett, despite his mobility, was sacked an alarming 10 times. Hilton, a three-time Pro Bowler, was limited to two receptions for 27 yards, and has just three catches for 46 yards over the last two weeks."We was winning our matchups, the O-line just gotta play better," Hilton said, according to Clark Wade of the Indianapolis Star."As far as receiving, nothing could change," he added. "We got to take some pride up front and block for him."The loss dropped the Colts to 2-5 on the season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While the NFL trade deadline is often largely uneventful, it's the first scheduled date on the league calendar for teams to begin turning in a new direction with significant roster changes.Here's a look at three coaches who could be sent packing before their teams choose what direction that will be.New York Giants, Ben McAdooThe Giants entered the year with Super Bowl hopes but started 0-5 and won't be turning it around without wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall.Cleveland Browns, Hue JacksonThe Browns remained in the relatively early stages of a full-scale rebuild entering the 2017 season, but they were expected to take the next steps with a revamped defense and a second-round pick spent on quarterback DeShone Kizer in the 2017 draft. They're 0-7.Indianapolis Colts, Chuck PaganoSure, Pagano once again gets a little extra slack for the Colts' poor performance, due to the extended absence of franchise quarterback Andrew Luck, but the remaining members of the team have failed to show any improvement in other areas. A 27-0 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars should be the perfect opportunity.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The post-Gus Bradley Jacksonville Jaguars defense has a lot to be excited about.After recording 10 sacks in a 27-0 rout of the Jacoby Brissett-led Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, the Jaguars have 33 sacks this season, giving them a good chance to topple an NFL record set by the '84 Chicago Bears. A unit largely built via shrewd free-agent acquisitions and a few top draft picks over the past two offseasons is on pace to finish this year's campaign with a whopping 75 sacks - surpassing the Bears' 72.Safeties Tashaun Gipson and Barry Church, along with ex-Texan AJ Bouye, have proven key cogs in a stingy Jacksonville secondary that also includes homegrown corners Jalen Ramsey and Aaron Colvin. However, a third-ranked pass defense is not built on solid coverage specialists alone. The unit's front seven has looked just as fearsome - if not more so - through seven weeks, with last year's Denver import Malik Jackson, ageless wonder Calais Campbell, and sophomores Dante Fowler, Yannick Ngakoue, and Myles Jack all getting to the quarterback at least once Sunday.The blossoming defense will look to build on its run when the Jaguars host the Cincinnati Bengals in two weeks.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The quarterback carousel spun again Sunday, and Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson suggested after more struggles Sunday that it could keep going for a while."If you turn the ball over, you're not going to play," Jackson told reporters after losing 12-9 in overtime to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, according to May Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.After gluing him to the bench last week in favor of Kevin Hogan, who threw three interceptions to the Houston Texans, the Browns went back to rookie DeShone Kizer as their starting quarterback against the Titans.Kizer, though, lasted just a half plus a series in the third quarter before he was yanked, with second-year pivot Cody Kessler coming in to replace him. Kessler threw a pick of his own, and failed to muster much offense the rest of the game."DeShone was playing really well up until we turned the ball over in the scoring zone," Jackson said. "I left DeShone in the game and here we come second half, we turn the ball over again."I'm looking at this game, this is a close game. If we can manage and get the ball down the field, we got a chance to win. I owe it to the other guys in the room. I'm not just worried about the quarterback. I know you guys (reporters) are, but I'm not."Jackson added he isn't sure who'll start at quarterback next week, when the winless Browns square off with the Minnesota Vikings in London.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer will undergo surgery to repair a broken arm, and will be sidelined for eight weeks, head coach Bruce Arians announced Sunday.Palmer suffered the injury to his non-throwing arm in the Cardinals' 33-0 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The 37-year-old came into action Sunday completing nearly 62 percent of his passes for 1,856 yards with nine touchdowns and six interceptions. He went 10-of-18 for 122 yards with a pick before exiting versus the Rams.With Palmer on the shelf, Arizona will forge on with Drew Stanton as its starting quarterback, Arians said.The Cards are headed into their bye week, and will take a 3-4 record into a Nov. 5 meeting with the San Francisco 49ers.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Miami Dolphins quarterback Jay Cutler was taken to the locker room during Sunday's game against the New York Jets after taking a big hit from linebacker Jordan Jenkins.Cutler is questionable to return with a chest injury.Backup Matt Moore replaced him on the field.The veteran pivot was in the midst of one of his better performances this season, completing 12-of-16 for 138 yards with two touchdowns to one interception.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cleveland Browns left tackle Joe Thomas missed the first snap of his 11-year career Sunday, after he was forced to leave Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans with a triceps injury.The Browns announced after the game that it's too early to tell if Thomas will be able to return this season. He'll undergo an MRI on Monday.Thomas played 10,363 consecutive snaps, believed to be the longest streak in NFL history, before finally missing one. The injury took place midway through the third quarter.The 32-year-old workhorse has been one of the game's top left tackles since entering the league in 2007, and made his 10th straight Pro Bowl at the end of last season.Thomas acknowledged the end of the incredible streak."It wasn't going to be an infinity streak," he said, according to Andrew Gribble of the team website.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The quarterback carousel continues for the Cleveland Browns.Cody Kessler replaced DeShone Kizer in the third quarter of Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans.Kizer finished 12-of-20 for 114 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions, prompting head coach Hue Jackson to bench him in favor of Kessler.The Browns have yet to find stability at quarterback this season. Kevin Hogan started last week's 33-17 loss to the Houston Texans but performed so poorly, he was relegated to third-string duty.Kizer, selected in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft, won the starting quarterback role during the preseason, and started the Browns' first five games before ceding the job to Hogan. Sunday marked Kizer's sixth start of the year, and it appears that the Browns will need to make another executive decision following Sunday's game against the Titans.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer was taken to the locker room to examine an injury to his left arm in the second quarter of Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Rams in London.Drew Stanton replaced Palmer on the field.The Cardinals declared five minutes into the third quarter that Palmer will not return to the game.Before the injury, Palmer was 10-for-18 for 122 yards and an interception as the Cardinals trailed the Rams 13-0.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Mike Wallace was ruled out for the day early in Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings after a hit from a defender knocked his helmet off.The Ravens announced shortly after that the receiver had been placed in the league's concussion protocol.

NFL lawyer Dan Nash told Judge Paul Crotty of United States District Court for the Southern District of New York that Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott has no chance of winning his case that would vacate a six-game suspension.The NFL suspended Elliott for six games, but the Cowboys' star received a temporary restraining order which delayed the punishment.It appears the NFL is trying to use Tom Brady's "Deflategate" case as precedent for a definitive Elliott ruling. Brady was suspended for the first four games of the 2016 season, after appealing the suspension several times but eventually withdrawing his case in July 2016."[T]hey didn’t want to be here,” Nash told Crotty on Tuesday, via Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio. “They didn’t want to confront the Brady decision because they know under the Brady decision they have no chance of success on the merits, none.”Elliott will be required to make his case again on Oct. 30 in front of Judge Katherine Fallia of the Southern District of New York, who was on vacation when the running back was granted this most recent temporary restraining order.The NFL will not compromise with Elliott in trying to reach a definitive ruling."We're not looking to make a deal, we're very confident our arguments will prevail in court," league spokesman Joe Lockhart said Friday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Elliott will play Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Colin Kaepernick is taking on a multi-billion-dollar behemoth in the NFL, but his lawyer in his collusion lawsuit, Mark Geragos, believes there's a "smoking gun" out there that can take the league down.Geragos detailed how digital evidence will be key to proving the NFL colluded against the quarterback during the "Reasonable Doubt" podcast, with co-host Adam Carolla."What you need is the email from ... (NFL commissioner Roger) Goodell to the owners, you need that smoking gun of the 'don't hire this guy,'" Carolla said, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk."We have very good reason to believe that that exists," Geragos replied.Geragos continued, "The interesting thing will be when the discovery comes, and I expect the discovery to be very quickly. You know, you can't erase stuff anymore like you used to be able to; texts, emails, things of that nature."Kaepernick filed his grievance against team owners under the collective bargaining agreement, and Geragos said this was done to speed up the process because the pivot "wants to play.""I want to move this as quickly as possible," Geragos said.While most assume Kaepernick and Geragos are facing impossible odds to prove collusion happened, the lawyer is confident in their case."Sometimes I just want to tear what little hair I have on the head out when I see legal commentators say, 'Oh, this is an uphill battle, it's that uphill battle,'" Geragos said. "Guys, the conspiracy statute in federal court is much tougher than the collusion standard in the (NFL's) CBA. ... And every day federal prosecutors are able to prove conspiracy."So I do not think it's as uphill a battle as people make it out to be, in fact I think it's fairly obvious at this point that there has been collusion. But I don't need to sit here and litigate it so much as let's see what happens on Sunday in the quarterback situation and whether somebody signs him. I still have a pretty good feeling somebody's gonna sign him."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Marshawn Lynch will have both a close friend and a divisional rival in his corner when he appeals the one-game suspension he was handed for making contact with an official Thursday night.Kansas City Chiefs corner Marcus Peters will testify at Monday's hearing on behalf of the Oakland Raiders running back, Jay Glazer of FOX Sports reports.Lynch ran onto the field during a skirmish between the two teams and, in an attempt to separate Peters, from his angry Raiders teammates, Lynch put his hands on an official.Lynch is currently set to miss Week 8's game against the Buffalo Bills, but fellow Oakland native Peters will be on the appeal call to vouch for his friend.It's the rare occasion in which a Chief will try to help a Raider avoid a suspension.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Putting franchise quarterback Andrew Luck on injured reserve is not in the Indianapolis Colts' plans, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.Luck suffered a setback in his recovery from offseason shoulder surgery last week and he is not expected to practice this week. However, the team does not plan to put him on IR, which would force the quarterback to sit for eight weeks, Rapoport reports.Luck is still expected to play at some point this season, barring any further delays in his recovery.Luck had returned to practice recently, but developed soreness in his shoulder, requiring a cortisone shot. There is no timetable for his return.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater could return for the Week 10 game against the Washington Redskins, which follows Minnesota's bye week, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.Rapoport added this is the earliest date for the young pivot's return and that the Vikings will proceed cautiously despite Bridgewater looking good in his first week of practice since suffering a devastating knee injury 14 months ago.If Bridgewater is able to return in Week 10, the Vikings could be facing a dilemma regarding the starting quarterback position if Sam Bradford is also sufficiently healed from a lingering knee injury.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens receiver Jeremy Maclin will be out for Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings due to a shoulder injury.It will be his second consecutive absence, but he is expected to return after the team's bye week next week.The Ravens will be without Maclin and fellow receivers Breshad Perriman and Chris Matthews and therefore will have to rely on Mike Wallace, Michael Campanaro, Chris Moore, and Griff Whalen, who was signed this week.Baltimore will, however, have defensive tackle Brandon Williams back in the lineup after a four-week absence.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tennessee Titans running back DeMarco Murray and tight end Delanie Walker are officially active for Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns.The Titans were optimistic that Murray would be able to play through a hamstring injury and that Walker would fend off a calf ailment. Both players were previously listed as questionable on the injury report.Murray rushed for 40 yards and a touchdown during Monday's victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Although he's active, it's possible that Derrick Henry will emerge as the lead back Sunday, while Murray works his way back into top form.Walker has caught a team-high 25 passes for 261 yards this season and is a formidable weapon in the Titans' passing game.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette is officially inactive for Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts due to an ankle injury.It appeared Fournette would be good to go earlier in the week after suffering the injury in Week 6, but will be forced to the sidelines for the important divisional clash.Chris Ivory will start in his place.Fournette has essentially been the entire Jaguars offense this season, racking up 596 rushing yards in six games - the second most in the league.However, Ivory has proven himself a capable starter in the past and faces a vulnerable Colts defensive front.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.Atlanta Falcons at New England Patriots (-3, 56.5)Just another regular-season game? Try convincing the Atlanta Falcons, who have to blot out the stinging memory of the biggest one that got away when they visit the New England Patriots on Sunday night for a rematch of last season's Super Bowl. For those living in a cave, Atlanta led the Patriots by 25 points in the third quarter before losing in overtime.Falcons coach Dan Quinn knows his team cannot be too preoccupied with exacting revenge, particularly since it has dropped its last two games - both at home and both to AFC East opponents - and blew a 17-point lead in last week's stunning 20-17 loss to Miami. "It's not anything that you need to use for motivation," Quinn told reporters. "You don't get to go replay it. Yeah, there's a part of that that's motivation, for sure, but it wasn't a driving force for us." New England coach Bill Belichick isn't one for sentiment and doesn't want the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history to be a topic of conversation - particularly when his team already has lost twice at home this season. “We’ve been given really highly strict rules that we are not allowed to talk about that game, so you’re not really going to get any information from anyone about that," tight end Rob Gronkowski told reporters.TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC.COVERS POWER RANKINGS: Falcons (-1.5) - Patriots (-4.5) + home field (-3) = Patriots -6LINE HISTORY: The Patriots opened as 4.5-point home faves and money started to come in on the Falcons pushing the line down as low as three at most books. The total hit the betting board 54 and that wasn’t high enough for bettors and has been bet up as high as 56.5. View the complete line history here.WHAT SHARPS SAY: ‘This is most likely the game Atlanta will want the most this season. The problem, though, is the Falcons’ offense is down 10 PPG from last season which won’t frighten the Patriots pathetic defense. Should the Dirty Birds offense play back to last year’s level you can look for a well-lit scoreboard in this shoot-out.’ Covers Expert Marc LawrenceWHAT BOOKS SAY:’Sharps hit the Falcons early so they haven't backed off from the initial position they had for the Super Bowl. Total has ballooned up as perception of these two teams remains offensive-driven and everyone remembers what happened last February. Squares could care less what’s happened this year, they’re only pulling from that amazing Super Bowl when lining up to bet this one.’ Scott Cooley of BookMaker.eu.INJURY REPORT:Falcons - WR Mohamed Sanu (Probable, Hamstring), K Matt Bryant (Probable, Back), LB Jordan Tripp (Questionable, Concussion), LB Vic Beasley (Questionable, Hamstring), LB Deion Jones (Questionable, Quadricep), DE Takkarist McKinley (Questionable, Shoulder), LB Duke Riley (Questionable, Knee), DT Courtney Upshaw (Questionable, Ankle), LB Jermaine Grace (Questionable, Hamstring), CB Jalen Collins (Eligible Week 12, Suspension), S Quincy Mauger (Questionable, Knee).Patriots - WR Chris Hogan (Probable, Ribs), CB Stephen Gilmore (Questionable, Concussion), LB Elandon Roberts (Questionable, Ankle), OL Shaq Mason (Questionable, Shoulder), RB Rex Burkhead (Questionable, Ribs), DB Eric Rowe (Questionable, Groin), LB Harvey Langi (Questionable, Back), LB Shea McClellin (Questionable Week 9, Undisclosed), OL Andrew Jelks (Questionable Week 10, Knee), OL Tony Garcia (Questionable Week 10, Illness), DT Vincent Valentine (Questionable Week 11, Knee).ABOUT THE FALCONS (3-2 SU, 2-3 ATS, 2-3 O/U): Matt Ryan established career highs in passer rating (117.1) and yards (4,944) en route to winning NFL MVP honors last season, but he's thrown for as many interceptions as touchdowns (six) after tossing 38 scoring passes versus only seven picks a year ago. Quinn said there will be an emphasis on getting the ball into the hands of stud wideout Julio Jones, who has 25 receptions on the season but has yet to reach the end zone. Atlanta has a potent two-pronged backfield featuring Devonta Freeman (five TDs) and Tevin Coleman, who have combined for 566 rushing yards through five games. Nose tackle Grady Jarrett notched three sacks in the Super Bowl but has yet to post one this season.ABOUT THE PATRIOTS (4-2 SU, 2-4 ATS, 4-2 O/U): Tom Brady threw for 466 yards in the stirring Super Bowl comeback and has continued to air it out this season, leading the NFL with 1,959 yards while throwing for 13 touchdowns against only two interceptions. Brady will have the benefit of looking for Gronkowski, who missed the Super Bowl but has 26 receptions and four touchdowns in five games. Mike Gillislee has been the lead back for much of the season, but Dion Lewis had a season-high 11 carries and rushed for 52 yards and a score against the Jets. New England's defense still ranks last in the NFL with 440.7 yards allowed per game but has yielded a total of 31 points over the last two weeks.TRENDS:* Patriots are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game.* Over is 8-1 in Falcons last 9 vs. a team with a winning record.* Over is 6-1 in Patriots last 7 games following a straight up win.* Falcons are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 meetings.View full list of betting trends for this matchup here.COVERS CONSENSUS: The Covers public is siding with the home chalk Patriots at a rate of 51 percent and the Over is picking up 65 percent of the totals action on Covers. View full consensus data here.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Atlanta Falcons have a shot at revenge in Week 7, with a pivotal matchup against their Super Bowl LI opponents, the New England Patriots, upcoming Sunday night.This season, the 3-2 Falcons have been a far cry from the team that made it to the Super Bowl - especially on offense - but owner Arthur Blank doesn't believe they need any closure for the historic collapse against the Patriots."No, no closure," Blank told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. "There's nothing open. I mean, if there's nothing open, there's nothing to close."The Falcons consistently insisted they were over the crushing loss throughout the offseason, but their lackluster play has kept the narrative of a Super Bowl hangover alive.Squandering a 17-point lead in last week's loss to the Miami Dolphins also didn't help matters."Last year is finished," Blank said. "I'd say the franchise had a wonderful year, I mean that truly. Both on and off the field. We finished our stadium, the team had a wonderful year, competed at the highest level. It didn't end the way we wanted to, we certainly didn't conclude the way we wanted to. But we've learned from it, grown from it, I think we're better for it."While Blank doesn't need closure, he's looking for a signature win Sunday."Whenever you play the Super Bowl champs, whether you played in the game or not, you want to have success," Blank said. "You play the champions in any sport ... you watch a golf tournament, when No. 1 in the world is leading, they all want to win the tournament and beat No. 1. So, New England is No. 1 and obviously we'd like to go out there and have a successful result."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.The most important player status you need to know about this weekend not including your fantasy team - Leonard Fournette. Find out why and more betting notes on every game on the NFL board this Sunday.New York Jets at Miami Dolphins (-3, 38)Points are hard to come by for the Miami Dolphins. The Jay Cutler-led offense ranks last in points per game at 12.2 and the under is 5-0 in Miami games this season.Don’t expect a spike in touchdowns this week against the Jets. Dolphins deep-threat DaVante Parker is listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game because of an ankle injury.LINE HISTORY: Most books opened with the Fish as 3-point favorites with a bit of extra juice to back the home side, although there were a few 3.5s on the board. Miami remains 3-point chalk heading into the weekend. The total opened as high as 39 but all shops are dealing 38.5 or 38.TRENDS:*The Jets are 4-0 ATS in their last four games.

Former Washington Redskins general manager Scot McCloughan testified in court earlier this month in a grievance case he filed against the team for firing him in March while opting not to pay him the balance of his contract, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports.The Redskins reportedly cited McCloughan's ongoing issues with alcohol as a reason for just cause for the firing."He's had multiple relapses due to alcohol," a team official told the Washington Post in March. "He showed up in the locker room drunk on multiple occasions. ... This has been a disaster for 18 months."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns have seen glimpses of Myles Garrett's dominance, but a high ankle sprain has forced Cleveland to keep the rookie on a snap count so far this season.However, with Garrett nearing 100 percent, the Browns are ready to let the pass-rusher wreak havoc."He played well (versus Houston) and he played dominant in a lot of phases, and you're going to see him play more this week," Browns defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said Friday, according to NFL.com's Nick Shook. "It was the next step and I was holding my breath it wasn't going to set him back, and it hasn't set him back. He's had a very good week of practice, so we're turning him loose."Garrett playing the majority of snaps is a mouth-watering prospect.Despite playing just 19 snaps in his debut in Week 5, Garrett still recorded two sacks, including one on his very first NFL play. And in last week's loss to the Houston Texans, the 21-year-old racked up another sack and five combined tackles.At 0-6, the Browns don't have a ton of positives, but seeing the No. 1 overall pick prove himself worthy of the selection should keep fans locked in.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Martavis Bryant was reportedly growing unhappy with his usage, so the Pittsburgh Steelers will increase his role Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Rapoport reported last Sunday that Bryant had requested a trade from the Steelers after hauling in just 17 catches for 231 yards and a touchdown through the first six weeks of the season. The receiver and other members of the organization have since refuted that report and the Steelers plan on making him an even bigger part of the game plan on Sunday.Bryant has had to contend with rookie JuJu Smith-Schuster and third-year pro Eli Rogers for starts and snaps to this point in the season.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 updated rankings for Week 7.Standard

National anthem protests continue to be the defining storyline of the 2017 season, and the issue is reportedly becoming so large that everything else has fallen by the wayside.Included in the league business that's taken a back seat is commissioner Roger Goodell's contract extension, league sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN.Goodell's deal is still expected to be completed, but owners are focusing all their attention on fixing the anthem issue, which they believe is affecting everything from TV ratings to merchandise sales."The anthem issue has overridden everything - and I do mean everything," one source told Schefter.Goodell's extension likely would have been finalized at last week's league meetings if not for the anthem issue dominating the conversation. Owners spent only 20 minutes discussing it, added Schefter.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Injured Tennessee Titans stars DeMarco Murray and Delanie Walker will play Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports, citing sources.Murray was expected to be a game-time decision as he plays through a hamstring injury. Walker did not practice Friday due to a calf problem. Both were listed as questionable on Friday's injury report.Murray was clearly hobbled during last week's win against the Indianapolis Colts, but he remained in the contest and carried the ball 12 times for 40 yards and a touchdown. Backup Derrick Henry rushed 19 times for 131 yards and a 72-yard score in the same game.The two share almost identical stats on the season. Murray has 68 carries for 313 yards and two touchdowns while Henry has 62 rushes for 318 yards and two touchdowns.Walker leads the team in catches with 25 and has turned them into 261 yards.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Doctors have informed the Green Bay Packers that they believe star quarterback Aaron Rodgers can resume throwing in six weeks, meaning he has a shot at returning near the end of the regular season, league sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN.Rodgers underwent surgery on his broken right collarbone Thursday and was placed on injured reserve. He will be eligible to return to game action in eight weeks.Brett Hundley is set to start in Rodgers' stead, tasked with keeping the 4-2 Packers in the playoff hunt. The Packers won't push Rodgers to return if they fall out of contention, added Schefter.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette is not expected to play Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts due to an ankle injury, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Fournette did not practice this week as he nursed his sprained ankle suffered against the Los Angeles Rams last Sunday. He had hoped to play, but conceded that the decision would be up to coaches.Chris Ivory is expected to take over the starting role against the Colts.The rookie runner rushed for 596 yards through six games, second most in the NFL. The Jaguars have a bye in Week 8, which should give Fournette ample time to recover.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

One of Brett Hundley's former teammates has very high hopes for the Green Bay Packers quarterback as he makes his first career start Sunday.Free-agent defensive lineman Datone Jones, who played two seasons with Hundley in Green Bay and three years at UCLA, believes Aaron Rodgers' replacement will surprise the doubters."Brett Hundley is a great quarterback," Jones told Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. "He's a future Hall of Famer. I have no bad things to say about Brett Hundley. He's a great guy."Jones admitted he's biased toward his fellow UCLA alumnus, but pointed to Rodgers' mentorship of the third-year pro as reason to believe the Packers will be all right in the veteran's absence."Brett Hundley, he's an all-star," said Jones. "Brett's sat behind Aaron Rodgers for a few years now. He could have easily been one of the top quarterbacks coming out of the draft, so just learning from (Packers head coach Mike) McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers, I don't think he has anything to worry about."Hundley gets his first start at home on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Browns wide receivers Kenny Britt and Corey Coleman were sent home from Houston last week after missing curfew the night before Cleveland's 33-17 loss to the Texans, Mike Garafalo of NFL Network reports.Britt and Coleman were both already set to miss the game with injuries.The wideouts have since apologized after talks with the Browns' coaching staff, added Garafolo.However, Britt is in jeopardy of being cut if his conduct - and likely play - doesn't improve, a source told Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.Britt - who's questionable for Week 7 - has been a major disappointment for Cleveland after a big-money free-agent move this past offseason, catching just eight passes for 121 yards and one touchdown in four games. He had the first 1,000-yard season of his career while with the Los Angeles Rams in 2016.Meanwhile, 2016 first-round pick Coleman is on injured reserve for the second time in as many years, though he could still return later in the year.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nearly a week after Adrian Peterson's sensational debut for the Arizona Cardinals, his new teammates are still showering the veteran running back with praise.Carson Palmer went into detail about Peterson's unique athleticism, saying he can actually hear Peterson's feet as he runs, according to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN."He's putting so much force into the ground with every step," Palmer said. "With a cut, when he's going to sprint, he's just different."He's very unique. He's one of one. He runs so differently and so angry, I guess would be describing it. He runs with so much violence, every run, inside zone, outside zone."Peterson ran for 134 yards and two touchdowns in Arizona's 38-33 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, just days after being traded from the New Orleans Saints.The 32-year-old looked done as part of a three-man rotation in New Orleans, but quickly reacclimated to being the lead dog in the Cardinals' backfield."I don't know how much more force you can put into the ground and create as much explosion as he does," left tackle D.J. Humphries said. "That dude is something special."Humphries added: "If you break down the play you could see me blocking, blocking, blocking, then like as soon as he runs by me, I do like that (turns head quickly) because I felt like somebody was about to run into me or something. He was shot out of a cannon."Peterson has a good chance to keep his revival going Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams' 29th-ranked run defense.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Redskins star cornerback Josh Norman will miss a second straight game after Washington ruled him out of Monday's divisional clash with the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday due to a rib injury.Norman reportedly sustained a rib fracture as well as damage to his lung lining during Week 4.Despite having a bye week and Week 6 to recover, he still isn't ready to return - though he was able to practice in a limited capacity throughout the week.The Redskins' secondary will now have to try to limit the Eagles' ninth-ranked passing attack without their shutdown corner.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Quarterback Marcus Mariota was far from his usual self in the Tennessee Titans' Week 6 win over the Indianapolis Colts. He essentially played on one leg and worked almost exclusively from the pocket as he attempts to get back to full health following a hamstring injury.And the man tasked with stopping him Sunday, Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Gregg Williams - who infamously ran a bounty scheme while with the New Orleans Saints - joked Friday that he hopes Mariota remains immobile."We will see how healthy he is," Williams said, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. "We have played some very mobile quarterbacks. Marcus is extremely mobile. He is very well coached. . . . When we are playing those kinds of guys, we are pretty well versed on making those decisions and trying to make them do what we want them to do, but he is very dangerous when he is out there. I hope his hamstring is hurting a lot."While the comment would likely be viewed as innocuous if it came from another coach, it's a questionable choice of words from someone with Williams' history.The Browns' defense has given up an average of 26.2 points per game this season, the sixth-worst mark in the league.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Cowboys versus the San Francisco 49ers is one of the most storied rivalries in NFL history, and while their Week 7 matchup is unlikely to go down as one of the highlights, it could be remembered for a shocking upset.Here are three reasons why the winless 49ers can pull it off despite being six-point home underdogs:San Fran is dueThe 49ers are 0-6, but they're no pushovers - far from it, in fact, as Kyle Shanahan has his team playing with a never-say-die attitude. After a season-opening 23-3 loss to the Carolina Panthers, the 49ers have been in every game. Yes, they've lost all five, but by a combined 13 points, with two losses in overtime.Moreover, the 49ers are finally coming home after a rough three-game road skid, and the Cowboys may be sluggish coming off a bye and a back-breaking, last-minute loss to the Green Bay Packers in Week 5.Simply put, San Francisco is due for a win, and the 2-3 Cowboys are more than beatable - especially with Ezekiel Elliott's ongoing legal battle and possible suspension still hanging over the team's head.Porous run defenseBut how will the 49ers' offense keep up with Dak Prescott and Co.? By running early and often, that's how. The Cowboys have the 22nd-ranked run defense, giving up 118 yards per game. And they fare even worse in advanced statistics. Football Outsiders' DVOA rankings - which rates defenses based on value, per play - has the Cowboys' run defense dead last in the league.The 49ers have struggled to get Carlos Hyde going in recent weeks, but he's more than capable of taking advantage of such a weak unit. And rookie Matt Breida has looked strong in limited snaps, averaging 4.9 and 5.3 yards per tote in Weeks 5 and 6, respectively.The return of Sean Lee makes Dallas less vulnerable, but while the veteran linebacker is a great player, he isn't a miracle worker. If the 49ers can control the clock, keep the offense in manageable situations, and wear down the defense, it will make rookie quarterback C.J. Beathard's job much easier.The unknownSpeaking of Beathard, the first-year pivot will be making his first NFL start after taking over from Brian Hoyer midway through San Fran's Week 6 defeat to the Washington Redskins.The rook played admirably against Washington, especially considering he was asked to throw 36 times as the 49ers attempted a comeback. Beathard's not blessed with a great arm, but Shanahan is good at tailoring his playcalling to his quarterback's strengths. He won't force Beathard into too many precarious situations.Beathard is more poised than your average rookie after playing in a pro-style offense in college, and Dallas' defense isn't exactly imposing. The Cowboys also have little tape from which to prepare for Beathard. While Deshaun Watson is a far superior quarterback, his revival of the Houston Texans' stagnant offense highlights how a unit can be reinvigorated by just throwing in something new.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore's Jack Browne breaks down five of the most important in-game matchups ahead of Week 7.Evan Engram vs. Bobby Wagner/Kam ChancellorAfter losing most of their receiving corps to injury, the Giants needed a big performance from rookie tight end Evan Engram to stand a chance to beat the Denver Broncos. He delivered, catching five passes for 82 yards and one touchdown in the win for New York.It doesn't get any easier for the Giants and Eli Manning this week against the Seattle Seahawks' Legion of Boom. It's safe to say Richard Sherman and Co. will be able to shut down the Giants' wideouts, so Engram will again be tasked with being the main man.Star linebacker Bobby Wagner and safety Kam Chancellor will likely both take turns against Engram, who boasts otherworldly athleticism and speed. Chancellor will test his physicality, while Wagner has the agility and experience to lock him down underneath.Le'Veon Bell vs. Vontaze BurfictThe Pittsburgh Steelers wisened up and rode Le'Veon Bell for 179 yards on 31 carries in Week 6's win over the Kanas City Chiefs. The star rusher looks to have shaken off any early-season rust and employed his signature patience to devastating effect.However, he's not unstoppable - at least not this season. Bell has been held under 3.2 yards per carry in three of six games, and faces an improving Cincinnati Bengals defense that has been buoyed by the return of linebacker Vontaze Burfict.The Bengals are 2-0 since his return from suspension, and Burfict looks as good as ever, with 19 total tackles. The veteran linebacker will look to hit Bell early and often and make him second-guess his read. The Steelers need Bell to come out on top of this matchup to ease the pressure off the passing game, which is facing the league's second-ranked secondary.Chandler Jones vs. Andrew WhitworthShocking stat: Chandler Jones' 31.5 sacks in the league since the start of the 2015 season, according to Kent Somers of azcentral sports, are more than superstars Khalil Mack and Von Miller.Many don't put Jones in that top tier of edge players, but he's shown why the Arizona Cardinals were right to hand him a huge extension this offseason. He is, however, facing maybe his stiffest test so far in Los Angeles Rams left tackle Andrew Whitworth.The veteran blocker has been key to the Rams' revival this season, locking down Jared Goff's blindside, busting open holes in the running game, and allowing just two sacks. Jones will need to use every move in his arsenal and then some to get the best of the wily Whitworth.Davante Adams vs. Marshon LattimoreIn the Green Bay Packers' Week 6 loss to Minnesota, it was Davante Adams, not Jordy Nelson, who was shadowed by standout Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes for most of the game.With Aaron Rodgers out of the game - and likely the season - Adams will again be the top concern of the opposing defense. Rodgers and Nelson have unbelievable chemistry, and it's likely that the New Orleans Saints fear Adams' raw athleticism instead of what Nelson can do without his best bud.Rookie Marshon Lattimore should be tasked with taking on Adams, and he's proven himself more than capable of holding his own one-on-one with offenses' top weapons. Adams isn't the route runner Nelson is, so this matchup better suits the inexperienced Lattimore.Joey Bosa/Melvin Ingram vs. Injury-hit Broncos offensive lineThere's never a good time to lose three right tackles to injury, but it's especially concerning when you do so the week before facing arguably the best pass-rushing duo in the league.Bosa and Ingram, with their blend of speed, power, and deep repertoires of moves, have already combined for 13 sacks during the Los Angeles Chargers' first six games. They'd be a nightmare for a fully healthy Denver Broncos offensive line.The Broncos lost starting right tackle Menelik Watson (calf) and his backup Billy Turner (hand) during Week 6, and the next man up, veteran Donald Stephenson, tore his calf during practice this week. Longtime guard Allen Barbre will now be forced to slide over to right tackle and take on an elite pass-rusher. The Broncos will have to give him a ton of help if they want Trevor Siemian to survive.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch will miss one week of action, NFL vice president of football communications Michael Signora confirmed Friday.Lynch will appeal the suspension and is expected to have a hearing next week, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The Raiders' veteran shoved an official during Thursday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs and was promptly ejected. He ran for nine yards on two carries before being sent off.Lynch was then found in the stands following his ejection."You made deliberate physical contact with one of our game officials as he was diffusing an active confrontation between players," NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan wrote to Lynch. "You were disqualified for your inappropriate and unsportsmanlike actions. Your conduct included pushing the game official and grabbing his jersey."As a result, Lynch will miss the Raiders' upcoming contest against the Buffalo Bills on Oct. 29.Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington will see increased carries in Lynch's absence.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden expects Rob Kelley to play Monday against the Philadelphia Eagles.Kelley has been battling an ankle injury which kept him out of last Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers."Yeah, he's doing good. If he plays, then yes, he will probably be back at number one. We’ll use all three of them, like we always do," Gruden said Friday.Samaje Perine and Chris Thompson will also gain carries, as Gruden indicated. The coach also said Mack Brown will be added into the mix if Kelley can't play.Kelley has rushed for 131 yards on 29 carries in three games this season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Keep an eye on Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman David Irving ahead of Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers.Irving revealed he plans to protest racial inequality and police brutality ahead of Sunday's game, but wouldn't give up any details."I have made a call," Irving told Drew Davison of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "You'll just have to wait till Sunday."Irving clarified that he doesn't intend to "disrespect the flag," a common complaint among those who are vehement opposition to player protests. The Cowboys lineman added that his protest isn't against the flag."I hope not since it’s not about the flag in the first place, you know?" Irving said.Irving noted that his protest - which is against police brutality - also encompasses other ideas."It's a lot of things,” Irving said. "I can’t even rant to you about anything specifically, but it’s not just about police brutality. That's a part of the big picture."We'll have to wait and see what Irving comes up with Sunday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers safety Mike Mitchell was fined $9,115 for an illegal hit on Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith, as opposed to $48,620, which was erroneously reported Thursday.However, Mitchell was indeed fined $48,620 for a helmet-to-helmet hit delivered on Chiefs running back Charcandrick West, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported.Although Mitchell wasn't flagged for the hit on West, the Chiefs running back suffered a concussion on the play.Mitchell remains eligible to play Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Green Bay Packers placed quarterback Aaron Rodgers on injured reserve (IR) Friday, the team announced in a statement.Rodgers suffered a broken collarbone during Sunday's loss to the Minnesota Vikings.Green Bay hasn't set an official timeline for Rodgers' return, but it's eminently possible that he'll miss the whole season as a result. Rodgers will have to miss at least eight games per terms of the IR designation, before being reactivated.It was reported by ESPN's Rob Demovsky that the Packers are hoping Rodgers will be able to return for a Dec. 17 game against the Carolina Panthers.The quarterback was injured when Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr drove him into the ground while he tried to escape the pocket. Barr said he had no intention of injuring Rodgers on Friday.Rodgers completed 66.3 percent of his passes for 1,385 yards and 13 touchdowns against three interceptions in six games for the Packers.Brett Hundley will start in Rodgers' absence.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Minnesota Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr made it clear that he had no intention of injuring Green Bay Packers star Aaron Rodgers during Sunday's contest.Barr drove Rodgers into the ground, and the two-time MVP suffered a broken collarbone on the play. Rodgers appeared nonplussed by Barr's on-field contrition."By no means was I trying to injure or take out Aaron Rodgers," Barr said Friday to ESPN's Courtney Cronin. "He's one of, if not, the best player in this league. I'm not a dirty player. I don't play dirty. We don't preach that around here."It's unfortunate, the injury. I hate to see anybody get hurt. It's a gift and a privilege to be able to play on the field each week, so I would never try and take that away from anybody, let alone one of the best players in our game."Barr wasn't fined for the hit on Rodgers but drew a $9,115 penalty for a separate one on Packers wide receiver Davante Adams.The Vikings' linebacker clarified that he has little time to react on the field and was merely trying to stop Rodgers from escaping the pocket."I think I hit Jameis [Winston] similar earlier in the season and nobody mentioned it," Barr said. "It's a dirty play in some people's eyes because of the injury. I think if he gets up, we're not having this conversation. I wish him a speedy recovery. [He's] one of my favorite players to compete against, play against."You're running so fast, I'm just trying to make a play. I'm not trying to injure the guy by any means."Minnesota emerged with a 23-10 win over Green Bay.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers first-round linebacker Reuben Foster is expected to play Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys in his first game since suffering a high ankle sprain in Week 1."As long as there aren't any setbacks here in the next 48 hours, I feel pretty confident," head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters on Friday about Foster's chances to play.Foster's return would come at a much-needed time for the 49ers, after they released starting All-Pro linebacker NaVorro Bowman last week.Without Foster or Bowman in the lineup last week, the 49ers struggled mightily against the Washington Redskins' running backs, and will need Foster for plenty of snaps against Ezekiel Elliott this Sunday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Brady is taking the blame for the New England Patriots not putting up the margin of victory that they're used to.The veteran quarterback said he's been struggling with his accuracy and is leaving too many opportunities on the table."When the throws are there, I have to be able to make them," Brady said Friday, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss. "It's disappointing when I don't. ... I wish I hit them all. I'm capable of hitting them all. I need to be able to do that."Brady has recorded a 65.7 completion percentage through six games - ranking 11th in the league among quarterbacks with at least 50 attempts - though he only completed 52.6 percent of his passes against the New York Jets last week.The 18-year pro isn't blaming any missed passes on his injured left shoulder, saying his accuracy "comes down to technique and fundamentals and making sure everything is working."Brady added that the Patriots' 14 touchdowns on 25 trips to the red zone is a ratio that can improve if his accuracy picks up."Some of these games wouldn't be as close if I was playing better in the red area," Brady said. "I think some of those missed opportunities in the pass game with me hitting guys would really help our team. Hopefully I can do a better job for this team."The Patriots face the Atlanta Falcons this Sunday, a team Brady completed 69.4 percent of his passes against in their most recent matchup at Super Bowl LI.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.Obviously, the big news in Big D is Ezekiel Elliott's status. When will his suspension occur? Will it occur? Such things are out of our jurisdiction, but another important question is: How different are the Cowboys with and without Elliott?The answer: Not that different.Obviously, the running back position is far better off with Elliott in the lineup, and Dallas' percentage of run plays is probably greater with the ability to hand it off to him. But, overall, this team has to keep the same formula with and without their star available.And here's why: The Cowboys' defense needs to be protected.The reason is that there's not much talent on that side of the ball. The team's structured more around offense than defense.Sean Lee is a great player, but has missed time and hasn't been at his best when on the field. Byron Jones has a ton of ability and versatility; he's a fine all-around defensive back. DeMarcus Lawrence has been one of the best edge players in the league and an extremely pleasant surprise, while David Irving could be a difference-maker now that he's back from his suspension.Other than that, there are more questions than answers on this side of the ball. Therefore, Dallas, more than most teams, needs to limit the stress it puts on its defense and keep its snaps to a minimum.They did that exceptionally well with a rookie quarterback, great running back, and elite offensive line last year. Even if Elliott is out of the picture, Dallas should still be a run-centric team to help the defense as much as possible.But this offense is a little different from last year. The Cowboys have three elite offensive linemen, but the line as a whole hasn't been nearly as dominant as it was in 2017. Having two new starters in the front five hasn't helped. Still, there's reason to think that this line can regain some dominance as the season goes on. No other unit has the combined star power of Tyron Smith, Zack Martin, and Travis Frederick.(Photo courtesy: Action Images)When it comes to Elliott, though, he's looked less explosive and more sluggish than he did during his rookie season. He doesn't appear to be in the same shape. So he hasn't quite done his part this year. But if he stays on the field, the best could be yet to come. Few backs in the league have his skill set.That has forced the Cowboys into far less manageable down-and-distance situations, and has put more stress on Dak Prescott. That's a worrisome recipe for such a young quarterback, but Prescott has stepped up and embraced the challenge. He was impressive for a rookie, but has clearly taken a big step in year two.Prescott brings a lot to the table as a runner and his presence continues to greatly enhance Dallas' ground game. He also continues to make plays as a runner once the play breaks down. But where he has shined is from within the pocket. He keeps his eyes downfield and is looking to pass first, rather than relying on his athletic ability. That's an encouraging development for the Cowboys' franchise quarterback.As for Prescott’s weapons, it has been a mixed bag. No receiver in the NFL faced a more daunting slate of cornerback matchups to start the season than Dez Bryant. While Bryant looks much healthier in 2017 than last year, he has, predictably, had a tough time thus far.However, he looks to be out of the woods in this regard and might be primed to receive a large workload. Bryant’s best 2017 days should be ahead of him, and on Sunday, the 49ers are unlikely to have an answer for him.The other wideout that should get more exposure is Brice Butler, who should see more snaps at Terrence Williams' expense. Thus far, Williams has played about twice as many. That needs to change.This is a moot point now, but it sure would've been nice to have a young, high-upside guy like Rico Gathers to complement Jason Witten at tight end as well. Gathers is eligible to come off injured reserve from his concussion in Week 9, but that's reportedly unlikely.One thing this offense should do more of is take shots downfield. That's true with or without Elliott on board, But certainly Elliott's presence helps the deep passing game. Dallas has dialed up very few deep balls, but Prescott has been excellent on such throws. More are needed.In the end, the recipe here is clear. Dallas needs to rely on their offensive line to open holes for whoever is carrying the ball. It looks as though it's safe to put more on Prescott's plate, but, in the end, the defense is a liability and needs to be protected. Elliott allows that to happen much easier than the other running backs on the Cowboys' roster, but they may have to make do without him.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Giants shocked the world last week with a win in Denver and likely eliminated almost any remaining players left in survivor pools.With so many upsets this season, it's hard to imagine many survivor pools haven't been decided, and most contests are likely reloading for a second round.With that in mind, going forward, picks will reflect one team that should be selected for a new pool, and one that should be selected should you be one of the few who's still alive in an original pool.Team to pick if still aliveTennessee TitansMarcus Mariota returned to the lineup and the offense immediately looked miles better in Monday's win over the Indianapolis Colts. While the Tennessee Titans looked strong, this pick is helped by the fact it's the Cleveland Browns on the other side of the field. The Browns got run off the field by the Texans last week in Kevin Hogan's first career start, and will be going back to Deshone Kizer on Sunday. It won't matter who's starting, as the Titans are by far the better team.Record: 9-3

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs has been ruled out of Sunday's game against the Baltimore Ravens with a groin injury, the team confirmed Friday.After missing previous practice sessions, Diggs returned to practice Friday but head coach Mike Zimmer was evidently unconvinced by his star receiver's progress.The 23-year-old was off to an excellent start to the season, catching 23 passes for 395 yards and four touchdowns in five games."It's kind of up in the air right now," Diggs said Thursday to Brian Murphy of the Pioneer Press. "Each day I’m going to do more and more. I feel good. (My) body feels fine. It’s not up to me. It’s bigger than me."Laquon Treadwell could see increased targets in Diggs' absence.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.