New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is upset with what he considers a lack of consistency in offensive passive interference calls.Gronkowski, who's tied for the NFL lead in offensive pass interference calls against in 2015 with Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans, was frustrated after Sunday's 33-30 loss to the Carolina Panthers."If the consistency was there 100 percent, then I'd be cool with whatever it is," he told ESPN's Mike Reiss. "One week, we're told we can play, it really isn't going to be called, they can hold and you can slap off their hands. Then the next week, if you touch the guy, it's a PI. I just wish I knew the consistency, so I can base my game off and practice and be prepared for the game and know the rules going in from week to week."Gronkowski is among the most physical tight ends in the league and excels as a blocker, which perhaps speaks to his frustration with the calls in Sunday's loss."As long as you know what kind of game is going to be called, from the beginning; my favorite time is when it's allowed to just be played," he said. "I can go full speed, linebacker is ready for me, boom, we bump, it's just straight-up football. Sometimes I feel like the game of football can get taken away. There is definitely physical (play) that is involved in getting open sometimes."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 5.Updated rankings (including PPR) will be released Thursday, with the final version coming down Sunday morning.Standard

In search of his first win this season, New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning has yet to abandon all hope as October rages onward.Despite being billed by some as a sleeper Super Bowl contender, the Giants have instead fallen asleep at the wheel, stumbling out of the gate to an 0-4 start.Manning hasn't given up on his team, however."I still think we're a good team," Manning said to Mike Francesa of WFAN.Despite sporting a -35 point differential, Manning believes the Giants have been merely unlucky."We're playing pretty good football, but we're not playing great football," Manning said. "There's not many mistakes being made. Guys are doing the right things. We've just got to do it better."New York will have a chance to secure its first win Sunday against the also-winless Los Angeles Chargers.- With h/t to Sports IllustratedCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL reduced Chicago Bears linebacker Danny Trevathan's suspension from two games to one, after he successfully appealed the sanction.Trevathan was disciplined for an illegal helmet-to-helmet hit on Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams, rendering him briefly motionless on the field. The Bears linebacker drew a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on the play but was not ejected.Trevathan's appeal was heard by Derrick Brooks, who was jointly appointed by both the NFL and NFLPA. Brooks was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014, after earning 11 Pro Bowl selections and a Super Bowl victory during his career as an outside linebacker with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Adams was hospitalized Thursday and stayed overnight. The Packers' receiver is in the concussion protocol and may miss Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys.Trevathan will not play in Monday's game against the Minnesota Vikings.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins, New York Giants linebacker Mark Herzlich, and New York Jets linebacker DeMario Davis were among the players in attendance at the NFL and NFLPA meeting on Tuesday to discuss the importance of social activism, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.The NFL and NFLPA released a joint statement regarding their role in social activism:

Colin Cowherd earned himself some enemies Tuesday after spending three minutes of his show explaining why he considers Philadelphia "the dumbest sports city in America."

DeSean Jackson isn't used to not being the top option in a passing attack.The Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver hasn't made a major impact on the stat sheet this season and things boiled over Sunday. Jackson admitted he voiced his frustration on the sideline against the New York Giants, where he finished with only two catches."It's just part of being a playmaker in this league that wants to make plays," Jackson said, according to Jenna Laine of ESPN. "Anytime I get the opportunity to get the ball, I just want to make good plays and help my team win the game and just create big plays. It was just a part of that."Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston has leaned on Mike Evans, Adam Humphries, and Cameron Brate in the passing game this season, leaving Jackson to try to find his place in the offense."(It's) definitely hard, feeling like being a veteran in this league 10 years in, but I'm not gonna abort ship," Jackson said. "I'll stay on course, stay on plan. Eventually, it will come together. We just gotta continue to go out keep beating, beating away and the things you need to do to get better."Jackson has topped 1,000 yards receiving in three of the past four seasons and, despite having a long way to go to reach that mark in 2017, the veteran is hopeful he and Winston will eventually build a connection."I wish I had the answer for you," Jackson said. "We're professionals. We're NFL players. We get paid to do a job, to go out there and execute the plan. Hopefully it will come together. It's just a work in progress. It's still early in the season, we've played three games. Eventually sooner (rather) than later, we can connect."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Bears handed rookie Mitchell Trubisky the starting quarterback job on Monday, exactly one week before he will make his pro debut against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football.After sitting for the first four weeks of the season, Trubisky believes he's prepared for the job.In his first day of media availability since being named the team's new starter, the rookie said, "I feel like I'm ready," according to Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun Times.The Bears struggled to a 1-3 start with veteran Mike Glennon under center. After a poor performance on Thursday night against the Green Bay Packers, the club opted to turn to the rookie with just 13 career college starts under his belt."We're in this new era where young quarterbacks are expected to come in right away and produce like veterans have," Trubisky said.Fellow first-round pick Deshaun Watson is playing well for the Houston Texans, and DeShone Kizer was named the opening-day starter for the Cleveland Browns.Trubisky was the highest-picked quarterback in this year's draft and received rave reviews for his four-game performance in the preseason. Now, he'll get a chance to display his talent in regular-season action."He has the skill set," said Glennon, who has been relegated to Trubisky's backup. "He just has to go out there and play ... He's good enough. He just has to have confidence in himself because he's good enough."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." Every Monday, Williamson will look at four major developments from the previous weekend of action in the NFL.How will the Vikings' offense look moving forward with rookie RB Dalvin Cook sidelined for the season?This is a big worry. Cook had been exactly what Minnesota’s offense needed after featuring the NFL's worst rushing attack in 2016, although much of that ineptitude was due to the offensive line.Minnesota still has excellent wide receivers - and Sam Bradford should be back soon - but this just doesn’t seem like the type of team that prefers to win through the air. Without Cook, Minnesota should remain quite competitive in a difficult division, but the drop-off at running back is going to be massive.Before leaving early in the third quarter against Detroit, Cook had already racked up 444 yards on the season. The balanced style of play the Vikings had been displaying will have to change - and probably for the worse.Can the Titans recover from Sunday's humiliating loss in Houston?Sure, Tennessee can recover. However, if you recall, even though the Titans soundly defeated the Jaguars in Week 2, this team won just two of six games against divisional opponents in 2016.Tennessee got throttled on Sunday for many reasons, and has to be better within in the AFC South moving forward. But obviously, there are other problems here that were exposed against the Texans. Namely, the Titans didn’t seem prepared to deal with Deshaun Watson's dual-threat abilities and the scheme that Bill O’Brien has adeptly built around the rookie QB.Tennessee’s secondary is still a work in progress, and now Marcus Mariota has an injured hamstring. The Titans need to control games on the ground to recover from this embarrassing defeat. They are capable, but it won’t be easy.Are the Raiders in trouble, or can they recover?Outside of Khalil Mack, Oakland’s defense has been an area of concern for some time now. The secondary is talented, but very young. The linebackers are not talented. At best, this looked like a middle-of-the-league defense. But most of us thought the Raiders' offense would keep the team competitive.After scoring just 20 points over the past two weeks, though, that theory is very much in jeopardy. Michael Crabtree was missed in Week 4 and Amari Cooper, who's dropping far too many passes, has been one of the more disappointing players in the league through four games.Marshawn Lynch, with just 151 rushing yards on 45 attempts, certainly has not been the savior many thought him to be for Oakland’s ground game. And Derek Carr also deserves his share of the blame - and is now dealing with a back injury that could sideline him as long as six weeks.In a very difficult AFC West, the Raiders can’t afford to fall too far behind Kansas City and Denver. So the answer to this question is yes, there is time to recover, but that doesn’t mean Oakland isn’t in trouble.Is Jared Goff a top-10 quarterback in the league right now?What Goff has done through four games in 2017 is impressive - and there's reason to believe the Rams finally have their true franchise quarterback. But is he one of the top 10 players at the most important position on the field?Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady have their own tier. Drew Brees, Matt Ryan, Matthew Stafford, and Russell Wilson are all better than Goff. And although he hasn’t stepped on the field yet this season, so is Andrew Luck. That’s seven.Goff is outplaying Ben Roethlisberger by leaps and bounds, but are we ready to say he's the superior player? I can’t give you that one, but I am open to the suggestion that he's passed Philip Rivers and Eli Manning. However, I am also putting Cam Newton and Bradford over Goff for the time being.That is nine quarterbacks who are “better” than Goff right now, and I'm torn on Carson Palmer, who's still quite effective when given some semblance of protection. Kirk Cousins is probably in the discussion, as is Alex Smith, but I will give Goff the nod over those two right now and certainly for the long term.So, the answer is no - Goff is not yet a top-10 quarterback. However, he's now lumped firmly within with the “Next Generation” - a promising group consisting of Carr, Mariota, Dak Prescott, Jameis Winston, Carson Wentz, and Watson. That is rather good company for Goff, especially when considering where he would have ranked in his rookie season.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tennessee Titans signed free-agent quarterback Brandon Weeden on Tuesday with starter Marcus Mariota considered day to day with a strained hamstring.Tennessee was rumored to have worked out Weeden and fellow free-agent passers Matt Barkley, Matt McGloin, and T.J. Yates on Tuesday, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, after Mariota exited Sunday's game with the injury.If Mariota isn't able to play in Week 5 versus the Miami Dolphins, the Titans would need another quarterback behind backup Matt Cassel.Weeden last threw a pass in 2015. Tennessee would be the 33-year-old's fourth stop since being drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 2012.In relief of Mariota, Cassel went 4-for-10 with two interceptions in a Week 4 blowout loss to the Houston Texans.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite suffering a scary injury on a helmet-to-helmet hit from Chicago Bears linebacker Danny Trevathan last week, there is a chance Davante Adams could return to the field Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys."I think he goes," one source told Adam Schefter of ESPN.Adams suffered a concussion on the play and Trevathan was suspended two games for the hit. The Packers wideout stayed in the hospital overnight Thursday.The return of Adams would make it more challenging for the Cowboys' secondary to deal with the Packers' plethora of talented wideouts. He has 16 receptions and a pair of touchdowns on the season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Predictably, Mike Tomlin wasn't happy with Antonio Brown's antics Sunday.The Pittsburgh Steelers coach shared his feelings after his receiver toppled a Gatorade cooler on the sideline."This is not Antonio's first rodeo," Tomlin said, according to Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL Network. "Be a professional."Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was also disappointed about the situation."He got upset because he was open, which I can understand, sometimes that happens," Roethlisberger said on The Cook and Poni radio show, as transcribed by Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. "I was disappointed because it’s not like I intentionally missed him, it’s not like I intentionally didn’t throw it to him. I was doing what my reads tell me to do, I don’t even want to say I made a mistake, because I was reading the side I was supposed to read. It’s just unfortunate that it happened, and it’s unfortunate that he acted and reacted that way."Brown finished the game with only four catches for 34 yards, making it his worst statistical performance of the season. The reason for his frustration could also be the difficulty he's had finding the end zone in 2017, as Brown has only posted one touchdown after recording 12 a year ago.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Everyone believed a New York team had a good chance to earn the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Nobody thought it would be the Giants.The G-Men fell to 0-4 with a loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, opening the door for them to throw in the towel on the 2017 campaign and tank for the first overall pick.That notion would have seemed crazy just a few weeks ago. The Giants entered the season with high expectations, coming off a playoff year where they finished 11-5, but some bad fortune has derailed their season.Giants receiver Odell Beckham still appears limited by an ankle issue and New York lost its last two contests on heartbreaking last-second field goals. The offensive line remains a complete disaster, and the Giants would realistically have to go 10-2 the rest of the way to even have a chance at the playoffs.Look at their remaining schedule; there's no way that's happening with games against the Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, and Dallas Cowboys, among others.Instead, their best option is tanking - and there's plenty of reason to do so. Eli Manning is showing his age more than ever, and it'd be wise to draft his successor. Sure, it's possible that last spring's third-round pick, Davis Webb, could be that guy, but that seems like a long shot. Picking up Sam Darnold or Josh Rosen would put New York in a much better position when Manning eventually retires.The Giants also have some control over their destiny in the race for last place. There are currently three other winless teams: the Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Chargers, and San Francisco 49ers. The Giants face two of them in the next five weeks. If the Giants can fall to the Chargers on Sunday, it will put them in an even better position to draft first overall next April.There's one problem with this plan: The Giants are better then the other 0-4 teams, with a defense that could actually carry them to some wins. New York will have to get creative if they want to get this done. Perhaps Beckham's ankle just doesn't heal right and he has to miss some time, or maybe Ben McAdoo continues passing up easy field goals early in games only to fail on fourth down.The Giants are out of the race for the playoffs, but the battle for the top pick could be just as entertaining.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

An NFL spokesman poured cold water on the rumor that the league is considering moving the Chargers back to San Diego."There is no discussion of returning to San Diego from the league or the club," Joe Lockhart said Tuesday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.The Chargers have drawn sparse crowds in their first three games since moving to Los Angeles. Playing at the 27,000-seat StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., the Chargers have placed tarps over unsold sections and taken the field in front of crowds dominated by fans of visiting teams.Philadelphia Eagles tackle Jason Peters joked that the Chargers will play "16 away games" this season.The Chargers are one of four 0-4 teams in the league.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Following this week's shooting in Las Vegas, New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton can't help but speak out about gun control.Payton first delivered this early-morning tweet:

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.With most teams having played a quarter of their season, here are the major developments so far.The Rams are McReal(Photo courtesy: Action Images)Coaching makes a bigger difference in football than in any other pro sport, and no team makes this more obvious than the Los Angeles Rams.Sean McVay has immediately changed the football team he inherited from Jeff Fisher. During Fisher’s run as head coach of the Rams, the defense was the only feared aspect of the football team. They were generally in the top half of the league in defense, but their offense was usually near the bottom.The ceiling collapsed on the Rams in 2016. The offense ranked dead last, and the defense could no longer keep the team in games. Fisher was fired and McVay, who helped turn fourth-round draft pick Kirk Cousins into Washington’s franchise player, was hired to cure the Rams' offensive woes.McVay’s “quarterback-friendly” attack has paid immediate dividends. One of his greatest strengths as an offensive mind is understanding what players do well. Todd Gurley, who looked like a below-average back last season, has regained his reputation as one of the premier runners in the league. He isn’t just a runner, either - currently, Gurley leads the Rams in rushing, catches, and receiving yards.On Sunday, Jared Goff found his running back on a well-designed seam route for a touchdown. This play showed me multiple things. Goff threw an accurate ball into a small window to a running back, which isn’t easy. Not just a typical tailback, Gurley ran a perfect route, caught the ball naturally like a receiver or tight end, and outran the defense to the end zone.Lastly, it displayed McVay’s judgment and creativity on that side of the ball. It didn’t take him long to see Gurley's rare talent as an overall athlete, and then design concepts to use him out of the backfield.The NFC West already looks like a two-team race. The Seahawks will be in the hunt in December as usual, but they'll be pushed to their limits by the L.A. Rams. This team has a stout defense, the league's most improved quarterback, a running back whose unique talent is finally being appreciated, and a 31-year-old head coach who is wise beyond his years.The Bills are better than expected(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Of course the Bills are in first place in the AFC East. And sure, it’s only four games, but their fans have been starving for a football team to challenge the Patriots for nearly two decades.Nearly every analyst, including myself, had Buffalo as the third-best team in this division behind the Dolphins and the defending Super Bowl champions - but it turns out the Dolphins can't score and the Patriots' defense is a mess. This leaves the door open for the Bills to enter the conversation as a legitimate contender for a division championship.The Bills have a lot of the pieces necessary to get to the playoffs. Primarily, they're winning the turnover game - they're plus-6 in turnover differential, tied for second in the league. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor has been extremely efficient too. He'll never be a 5,000-yard passer, but he is fairly accurate, smart, a dual threat, and protects the football. Through four games, he has five touchdowns to only one interception, with a QB rating over 100.Like the Rams, the Bills don’t have a premier wide receiver, and their offensive coordinator has also centered the offense on an explosive, multi-threat running back. Rick Dennison has found multiple ways to get tailback LeSean McCoy the ball. McCoy, like Gurley, leads his team in rushing and receptions.The Bills also have a tight end who's still gliding under the radar of most NFL fans. Charles Clay is on pace to catch over 70 passes this year. At 255 pounds, he is more athletic and versatile than people realize. Clay beat Falcons safeties twice on big plays Sunday in man-to-man coverage.Defensively, head coach Sean McDermott has quickly transformed this unit into the stingiest group in the league. The Bills are only giving up 13.5 points per game. Free-agent acquisition Micah Hyde has made an immediate impact and leads the Bills with three interceptions. The defense has six interceptions total, and has only given up one touchdown through the air.It’s still early, but the Bills look like they could be formidable down the stretch. They have an elite tailback, a dangerous quarterback who protects the football, and a defense that gets turnovers and doesn’t give up many points. Through four games, McVay and McDermott - both rookie head coaches - are the leading candidates for Coach of the Year.The Patriots look average(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)OK, the word “average” might be misleading - the Patriots' offense looks as good as ever, despite being without star wide receiver Julian Edelman. It's ranked near the top of the NFL in almost every category.The Patriots' defense, on the other hand, has been shockingly bad. Under Bill Belichick, the Patriots have had some top-five defenses and some ranked in the middle of the pack, but they've never had a unit at or near the bottom of the league. That’s where they are right now, though: 31st in total defense.It's even more surprising because New England led the NFL last year in the most important defensive category, points given up. Since Belichick’s teams are always well coached, we know this isn’t the issue. There is definite concern in Foxboro, however, and the Patriots only have themselves to blame.Over the last year, the Patriots have changed key pieces of their front seven. They “lost” Chandler Jones, Jamie Collins, Rob Ninkovich, Chris Long, and Jabaal Sheard to trades, retirement, and free agency. Despite receiving several high draft picks in the Jones and Collins trades, the Patriots haven't replaced those key members. They've struggled to stop the run, and they miss Ninkovich’s tenacity as a pass-rusher.On the back end, New England has one of the best secondaries in the NFL - at least, on paper. Stephon Gilmore looked like a perfect addition to a unit that already had veterans Devin McCourty, Patrick Chung, and Malcolm Butler as starters.Instead, these four may be the most underperforming unit in all of football. Teams have consistently confused them by motioning to three-man bunch sets, and the miscommunication has left offensive players wide-open for big plays. These mental miscues must be driving Belichick and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia crazy.New England has multiple issues on defense: Talent along the front seven is down from past Belichick teams, and poor communication in the back end is making this group look incompetent. Despite all this, the Patriots will be in the mix as we enter January, but unless they can figure out a way to stop people, their run at a sixth title won’t last long.That other L.A. team is in rough shape(Photo courtesy: Action Images)When Pete Carroll restored the USC program's status as a national powerhouse during the first decade of this millennium, Los Angeles had all but forgotten about the NFL. The NFL had not forgotten about the country’s second-biggest media market.After 21 years of politics, the Rams returned to Southern California. A year later, the San Diego Chargers, who had one of the more rundown stadiums in the league, moved north to La La Land as well.The Rams, who already had a history in the city, struggled in their first season. They hadn’t made the playoffs since 2004, so it was easy to see why L.A. Coliseum wasn’t full on Sundays. If they continue to win under McVay, though, new Rams fans will slowly fill the empty seats. By the time the new stadium is completed in 2020, there's a good chance the Rams’ move to Los Angeles will already be deemed a success.The Chargers, on the other hand, are in real trouble. They're playing at the StubHub Center, which has a capacity of 30,000, but the demand for tickets is so thin that 3,000 seats are covered with tarps. Against Philadelphia last weekend, Eagles fans turned StubHub Center into their home field.Rarely can you say that an NFL stadium doesn’t have a bad seat in the house, but that's true of the Chargers’ temporary new home. In other NFL cities, fans pay outrageous prices for upper-deck seats where players look like ants on the field. The Chargers are getting under 20,000 Bolts fans in a stadium that allows viewers to be extremely close to the action.The team isn’t exactly giving L.A. residents good reasons to show up. The Chargers are 0-4, and continue to lose close games. This is nothing new for Philip Rivers’ team. As the Chargers quarterback enters the final few years of his career, hope is hard to come by. At some point, with a lack of wins and public support, this team will be left behind.The Chargers are adrift in a city that doesn’t want or need them. Los Angeles is huge, but it already has USC and UCLA drawing 75,000 and 67,000 fans, respectively, on Saturday. Professionally, the Rams own a decided advantage because of history, being the first to market, and a superior on-field product. The Chargers are playing in L.A., but they aren’t L.A.’s team, and this story won't go away.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Panthers signed former Pro Bowl safety Jairus Byrd on Tuesday to fill in for veteran Kurt Coleman, who is expected to miss at least two games with a sprained MCL.Byrd, a former second-round draft pick by the Buffalo Bills, was a Pro Bowl selection in three of his first five seasons. He signed a six-year, $54-million contract with the New Orleans Saints in 2014, but was released this past offseason after his play declined substantially during his time in Louisiana.Byrd spent some time with the Panthers during this year's training camp.Coleman sprained the MCL in his left leg in Sunday's game against the New England Patriots.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

DeShone Kizer is defending his team after Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones said he doesn't think the Cleveland Browns have a roster that can win."(Jones) is not in our locker room," Kizer said, according to Pat McManamon of ESPN. "He doesn't know what the talent looks like. He doesn't know the grind that we put in. He doesn't know the camaraderie that we have. I look forward to hearing his comments once we do figure this out."The Browns lost to the Bengals on Sunday, leaving head coach Hue Jackson still searching for his first win of the season. Jackson was also asked about Jones' remarks, but asserted he would rather focus on his team."I can't comment on (that)," Jackson said. "I have a lot of respect for Adam and a lot of those players over there, as you guys know. And they're going to feel the way they feel. We got work to do. That's all I can say. I'm not going to get caught up into what anyone else is saying about our football team or where we are. We just got to work to get better. That's where my focus is."The Browns could have a good opportunity to capture that elusive first win this weekend when they take on the New York Jets, and their odds will increase if first overall pick Myles Garrett is healthy enough to make his debut.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.QuarterbackDeshaun Watson, TexansNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Chiefs34%$12Clearly, Watson is the real deal. If what he did against the Patriots two weeks ago wasn't enough proof for you, how about his record-setting five-touchdown (four passing, one rushing) performance in Week 4? He's still a rookie, and there will surely still be bumps in the road, but Watson is the quarterback you want to target on the waiver wire this week.Jared Goff, RamsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Seahawks22%$3What a difference a coach can make. Now freed from Jeff Fisher's stale philosophies, the former No. 1 overall pick is thriving under Sean McVay. Temper your expectations a bit with the Seahawks up next, but Goff is certainly on the radar as a QB2 and possible starter in deep leagues.Running BackAlvin Kamara, SaintsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidBye46%$40Still unowned in a shockingly high number of leagues, Kamara is this week's top add wherever available. It's clear that Sean Payton loves his rookie - and it's also clear that Adrian Peterson is rapidly falling out of favor while Mark Ingram is merely a replacement-level talent. The Saints have a bye this week, but afterward could feature Kamara (who caught all 10 of his passing targets in Week 4) in an even bigger role. It's not out of the question that he'll become a true lead back by November.Latavius Murray, VikingsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Bears17%$30Dalvin Cook is out for the year with a torn ACL, which means free-agent signing Latavius Murray is next man up in Minneota. Murray is far less dynamic than Cook, and there are reasons for concern about the fading Vikings offense, but the former Raiders rusher is worth a sizable bid purely for the volume he should see. Remember, too, that Jerick McKinnon remains in the mix and could have some deep FLEX value purely based on passing-down work.Thomas Rawls, SeahawksNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Rams29%$10Chris Carson has a broken bone in his leg and will miss an extended period of time, if not the rest of the season. Accurately forecasting which Seahawks rusher will take Carson's place as the starter isn't be easy (which is why all three candidates are included on this list), but the good news is it probably won't be the most important decision fantasy owners make this year. A timeshare is likely, which could mean none of the trio is a viable fantasy option. For now, though, Rawls looks like he'll get first crack at being the starter (at least in title, if not in number of carries), based on Pete Carroll's comments.Eddie Lacy, SeahawksNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Rams19%$10With Rawls inactive in Week 4, Lacy took over for the injured Carson and notched 52 yards on 11 carries against a weak Colts defense. The formerly portly tailback will probably need Rawls to fall flat on his face to have any consistent fantasy value.C.J Prosise, SeahawksNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Rams16%$5Far more of a receiving threat than Rawls or Lacy, Prosise was injured in Week 4 but is expected to return against the Rams. He has the highest upside of this trio, but staying healthy has been a major problem for him. Considering Prosise will likely come cheapest on the waiver wire, he should perhaps be the Seahawks running back that fantasy owners zero in on.Alex Collins, RavensNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Raiders10%$10Collins broke out for 82 yards on nine carries in Week 4, including a 50-yard run during which he looked like a better player than Terrance West, whom the Ravens presumably want Collins to replace. The problem is that Collins also fumbled, something that's been a problem for him dating back to college. If he can hold onto the ball, Collins could seize a workhorse role in Baltimore. Don't bet all your FAAB on it, though.D'Onta Foreman, TexansNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Chiefs28%$5Foreman rushed 13 times for 45 yards against the Titans in Week 4 and remains purely a handcuff to Lamar Miller.Wendell Smallwood, EaglesNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Cardinals58%$5A popular add last week, Smallwood then watched as a revitalized LeGarrette Blount outgained him on slightly fewer snaps in Week 4. If Smallwood is still available in your league, he's worth adding purely because he should continue seeing work, but Blount is the Eagles rusher you really want.Wayne Gallman, GiantsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Chargers3%$5With Paul Perkins and backup Orleans Darkwa banged up, the rookie Gallman got some run in Week 4 and may have looked like the best Giants rusher all season - though that isn't saying much. Gallman is a middling prospect, but he's worth adding in deep leagues purely because of the possibility he remains ahead of Perkins.Elijah McGuire, JetsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Browns2%$3McGuire rushed 10 times for 93 yards and one touchdown against the Jaguars in Week 4, while adding 38 yards through the air. But can you really count on anyone in the Jets' offense?Wide ReceiverWill Fuller, TexansNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Chiefs32%$12Fuller is the best of a somewhat uninspiring group of waiver wire receivers this week. In his first action of 2017 in Week 4, he matched his rookie touchdown total of two. He's still mostly a deep threat, and is clearly behind DeAndre Hopkins in the pecking order, but Fuller at least offers upside that several others on this list don't.Devin Funchess, PanthersNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Lions25%$10Funchess scored twice in Week 4, which begs the question: Is he emerging as Cam Newton's preferred weapon or is the Patriots' defense just that bad? Funchess has seen 19 targets over his past two games, so the volume is definitely there, but let's see if he can score against a better defense before we get too excited.Tyler Lockett, SeahawksNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Rams42%$4Slowed by injury early in the season, Lockett is now playing the majority of passing snaps in Seattle and Russell Wilson is looking his way. Doug Baldwin remains the clear No. 1 target in this offense, but Lockett's athletic upside makes him worth an add.Cooper Kupp, RamsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Seahawks43%$4Kupp gets the Seahawks next, which remains a tough matchup. But the way to attack Seattle's secondary is in the slot, where Kupp does most of his damage. If you believe in this Rams passing attack, the rookie receiver is certainly worth a modest bid.Josh Doctson, RedskinsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidBye11%$1Doctson is merely a bench stash for deep leagues, but his upside makes him someone to keep an eye on.Mike Williams, ChargersNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Giants7%$1Like Doctson, Williams is only worth adding as a speculative stash in deep leagues.Tight EndEvan Engram, GiantsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Chargers46%$6Brandon Marshall looks washed up, which has led to Engram's emergence as the Giants' possession receiver - a valuable complement to Odell Beckham Jr. in one of the NFL's most pass-heavy offenses. The rookie should be owned in all leagues.Austin Seferian-Jenkins, JetsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Browns7%$1Perhaps a better real-life story than fantasy prospect, Seferian-Jenkins beat alcoholism, worked his way into the mix in New York, and has seen 10 targets in two games played this season. With a dream matchup against the Browns on tap, ASJ is a streaming option this week.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Miles Killebrew's heart is with those in his home state of Nevada.The Detroit Lions safety awoke Monday morning to news of a mass shooting in Las Vegas. A native of nearby Henderson, Nev., Killebrew revealed that of the hundreds of people wounded at a shooting at a country music concert, six are friends of his."It was heartbreaking. I had texts asking if my family was OK, and I didn't know what they were talking about. So I was able to read and see what was going online, and my heart was broken," Killebrew said Monday to Kyle Meinke of MLive.com."That's when I started reaching out to people who I knew back home. That's when I got news of things that were happening. I was able to see online what was going on. It's senseless."Among the wounded is a friend who Killebrew considers a soulmate. His mother is a country music fan and could have been present at the Route 91 Harvest Festival; however, she traveled to Minnesota for Killebrew's game against the Vikings on Sunday."Just love who's around you right now, because this day and age, you never know what's going to happen," Killebrew said."Just show some love to the people around you, if you can. Sometimes that's all you can do."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Oct. 2 edition of Monday Night Football will be remembered as the night the Kansas City Chiefs moved to 4-0, but it should be remembered as the one Jay Gruden cost his own team a chance to pick up a signature road win.Down by three late in the fourth quarter, the Washington Redskins were driving into Kansas City territory before running into a third down, and that's where Gruden inexplicably handed the Chiefs a win on a silver platter.Gruden took a timeout with 57 seconds left. He then called a deep pass to the end zone on third down, guaranteeing Kansas City an opportunity to possess the ball again with plenty of time left, regardless of whether or not Josh Doctson made this catch.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck will return to practice on a gradual basis this week, general manager Chris Ballard revealed Monday. Luck has yet to practice this season as he recovers from offseason shoulder surgery."We'll slowly start working him back into practice this week," Ballard said via Mike Chappell of CBS 4. "We'll see how much he gets."But we've got a plan in place to where we want him to start getting him reps and then, in time as we can get him incorporated back into team work and all that, we'll get him back on the field."Luck underwent surgery following the 2016 season and many believed he'd be able to return for the start of the 2017 campaign. The Colts' superstar was removed from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list on Sept. 2, but has yet to take the field."Andrew's doing good, he’s doing really good," Ballard said. "I've watched him throw the ball and he’s starting to get his motion back, getting his lower body to start working with his upper body."His strength levels are getting back to where they need to be."Jacoby Brissett started the past three games, completing 59.1 percent of his passes for 683 yards, two touchdowns against two interceptions. Scott Tolzien was benched after a disastrous performance during the team's season-opening 46-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.It's highly unlikely Luck will take the field Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, but for a Colts team that often looked lost in his absence, his return to practice is the first positive development since January.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden believes cornerback Josh Norman will miss a couple weeks after suffering a fractured rib Monday against the Kansas City Chiefs, ESPN's Lisa Salters reported during the broadcast.There was an initial fear that Norman also suffered a lung injury, a source told JP Finlay of NBC Washington, but he was cleared of any damage to his lungs.Norman was taken to the locker room during the second quarter and underwent X-rays at halftime. He was originally deemed questionable to return.The veteran was injured while attempting to tackle Chiefs wide receiver Chris Conley in the second quarter.During the first half of the game, Norman delivered a crushing, legal open-field hit on Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.Norman recorded two tackles prior to leaving the game.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Oakland Raiders and the NFL Foundation will donate $50,000 to the Las Vegas victims' fund, following Sunday's horrific mass shooting.Stephen Craig Paddock, a 64-year-old accountant, killed 59 people and injured 527 others in the deadliest mass shooting in United States history, reports Sally Ho and Regine Garcia Cano from The Associated Press. Paddock fired from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, using automatic weapons.The NFL Foundation released the following statement:

The first quarter of the NFL season has concluded, and many new stars have emerged to the forefront.This year's rookie class is making a sizable imprint on the league, with some players genuinely vying for Pro Bowl status.Below are three players who could receive an invite to Orlando if they continue at their current pace.Malik Hooker, S, Colts The Colts' secondary has largely been in disarray over the past few seasons, but Hooker is changing the trajectory of the defense. Selected 15th overall, Hooker is immediately showing star potential, recording three interceptions in as many games - tied for the league lead as October begins.With Vontae Davis working his way back from injury, Hooker is the new anchor of the Colts' secondary. If he continues to develop his ball-hawking prowess throughout the season, Hooker should be flying down to Orlando in January.Kareem Hunt, RB, Chiefs Hunt remains the NFL's leading rusher with 401 yards prior to Monday's game against the Redskins and will only extend his lead after the contest. In no uncertain terms, Hunt has been the league's breakout star and is looking to win the rushing title in his rookie season, a feat that Ezekiel Elliott pulled off for the Dallas Cowboys en route to Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors last year.The third-round pick is showing off breakaway speed that wasn't evident from his 4.62 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine and has assuaged any fears of the Chiefs' offense regressing with Spencer Ware out due to injury. Hunt is the real deal, and is on pace to join the elusive 2,000-yard club, an accomplishment that could see him win the NFL MVP, let alone a Pro Bowl selection.Tre'Davious White, CB, Bills The Bills' patience during the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft is paying dividends, trading down 17 spots to select White, the player they wanted all along. After Stephon Gilmore signed with the Patriots during free agency, there was some concern over who'd step up as the Bills' No. 1 corner.There is no longer any concern.

Seattle Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril is expected to be sidelined for "a while" due to serious stingers in his neck, head coach Pete Carroll said Monday, according to Gregg Bell of The News Tribune.Avril has experienced some numbness down his arm as a result of the stingers, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The former Pro Bowler exited Sunday night's affair against the Indianapolis Colts because of his ailing neck.Avril, who's in his 10th NFL season, has just one sack this year, but posted a career-high 11.5 sacks in 2016.The 31-year-old helped Seattle win the Super Bowl in the 2013-14 season, his first campaign with the Seahawks.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr is expected to miss 2-6 weeks with a transverse process fracture, head coach Jack Del Rio revealed Monday, according to Field Yates from ESPN."It could be as short as two weeks - it could be longer," Del Rio said during his press conference.EJ Manuel will start in Carr's absence. Manuel went 11-of-17 for 106 yards and an interception after taking over for Carr during Sunday's 16-10 loss to the Denver Broncos.Del Rio tried to remain optimistic, opining that could Carr could return in two weeks, saying, "there's a real good chance he'll miss this week," per Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.It was initially believed Carr suffered back spasms, while he reportedly got kneed in the kidney, which merely caused numbness in his legs, according to NFL Network's Michael Silver.Del Rio said Carr's X-rays were "encouraging," while an MRI on Monday was inconclusive. However, Carr had a CT scan Monday afternoon, which revealed the transverse process fracture.It's a devastating development for the Raiders, who have lost their last two games after a 2-0 start and will need to battle for contention in the AFC West.The Raiders begin their schedule without Carr on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Seattle Seahawks placed running back Chris Carson on injured reserve with a broken leg, a source told ESPN's Field Yates.During an appearance on KIRO-AM, head coach Pete Carroll revealed that Carson suffered a fracture below his knee. The rookie running back sustained the injury during Sunday's 46-18 win over the Indianapolis Colts.Carson, who emerged as the Seahawks' lead back after being drafted in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL Draft out of Oklahoma State, will undergo ankle surgery on Tuesday and the Seahawks believe he could return later in the season, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.The 23-year-old rushed for 208 yards on 49 carries in four games.Eddie Lacy, J.D. McKissic, and Thomas Rawls will all vie for increased carries in Carson's absence.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Flags were lowered to half-staff and a moment of silence is planned to honor the victims of the Las Vegas shooting before Monday night's game between the Chiefs and Redskins.The deadliest shooting in modern U.S. history Sunday night left at least 58 concertgoers dead and more than 500 injured. It also caused ESPN, which broadcasts Monday night games, to reverse course and show the national anthem before the game.ESPN shows the anthem on rare occasions, such as the season's first Monday night game, which fell on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. But it also aired the anthem before last week's Cowboys-Cardinals game following leaguewide protests among players.It was unclear what plans the Chiefs and Redskins had made for the anthem Monday night.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Marcus Mariota has avoided major injury.The Tennessee Titans quarterback is considered day to day with a strained hamstring, head coach Mike Mularkey said at his Monday press conference. The coach could take right up until gametime of Week 5 to determine his starter."I'm going to take it day by day with Marcus and make sure we're smart with him," Mularkey said.Mariota left Sunday's game against the Houston Texans with a hamstring injury and was slated to undergo an MRI to determine its severity.Backup QB Matt Cassel replaced Mariota and Mularkey said the team could look at bringing aboard another quarterback as a precaution.The Titans were blown out by the Texans 57-14, and Tennessee's two touchdowns were by way of Mariota runs. They'll face the Miami Dolphins next week.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals corner Adam Jones got a first-hand look at the rebuilding Cleveland Browns on Sunday, and he's concerned for their head coach.Hue Jackson, the Bengals' former offensive coordinator, was hired to oversee the Browns last year, and he's since compiled a record of 1-19. The latest loss was a 31-7 defeat at the hands at the also previously winless Bengals.And for a game between a pair of 0-3 teams, it was rather uncompetitive."I know you say (the Browns are) getting a lot of talent, but I don't know," Jones said after the game, according to Dan Labbe of the Cleveland Plain Dealer."From watching today and watching film, I probably shouldn't say this, but it's going to be hard to win with that group."Jones then defended Jackson, who coached the Bengals' secondary in 2012."He's one of the guys that you would ... if we had to go to Iraq right now and he had to pick friends to go, I would (go with him) because I know what type of leader and person he is," Jones said."I'm just saying all-around football, I don't know if Hue has enough to win."Jackson responded to Jones' comments on Monday, stating that he respects his former player but "can't get caught up in that," according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Seattle Seahawks lost a key piece when running back Chris Carson went down with a leg injury on Sunday night. The reaction from fantasy football fans sent teammate Richard Sherman into a rage.Sherman voiced his displeasure with the fantasy football community's approach to injuries in a postgame rant."I think a lot of people, a lot of fans out there have looked at players even less like people because of fantasy football and things like that," Sherman said, according to ESPN's Brady Henderson. "You go and say, 'Oh man, this guy got hurt.'"You're not thinking, 'Hey man, this guy got hurt - he's really physically hurt and he's going to take time to recover and it's probably going to affect his mental state and his physical state and now he has a long, rigorous rehab.' You're thinking, 'Oh, man, he's messing up my fantasy team.'"In fantasy football, players can be added to and dropped from a lineup with a click of a mouse. Players are often selected via a mock draft, and valuable picks are considered wasted if they succumb to injury or poor play."I think that's why you see the frustration from a lot of players saying they don't care about your fantasy team," Sherman continued. "They don't care about how it affects your fantasy team because these are real players, this is real life. This is real life and this is their real job and that's affecting their well-being."It's safe to say Sherman does not play fantasy football.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Atlanta Falcons could be without receiver Mohamed Sanu for two-to-three weeks due to a hamstring injury, ESPN's Vaughn McClure reports, citing a source.Sanu underwent an MRI on Monday morning to determine the severity of the injury and head coach Dan Quinn will address the situation later in the afternoon.The Falcons have their bye next weekend, and it comes at the right time, as fellow wideout Julio Jones is also battling a hip flexor injury. Jones isn't expected to miss any game action.Atlanta faces the Miami Dolphins in two weeks, followed by a Super Bowl rematch against the New England Patriots in Week 7.Sanu has 163 yards and a touchdown through four games this season.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.A clash between two of the NFL’s most storied teams highlights Week 5 of the NFL season. Covers checks in on the opening lines for a quartet of contests, with insights from Scott Cooley, odds consultant for offshore sportsbook Bookmaker.eu.Green Bay Packers at Dallas Cowboys (-2.5)Through the first four weeks of the season, Dallas still can’t seem to find the form it had during a 13-3 SU regular season in 2016. On Sunday, the Cowboys (2-2 SU and ATS) were in a dogfight throughout with the Los Angeles Rams and ultimately fell short 35-30 as a 5-point home favorite.Green Bay got through the first month at 3-1 SU (2-2 ATS), with the only loss coming at defending NFC champion Atlanta. Last week in the Thursday nighter, the Packers bounced the Bears 35-14 as a 7.5-point chalk.“This rivalry has renewed in great fashion the last few years, and this game will easily be our biggest handle of the season from a public perspective,” Cooley said of this 4:25 p.m. ET clash on Sunday. “Neither team is probably as good as perceived, and they are very close in our power ratings. Peg Dallas as a short favorite and see where the action takes it.”New England Patriots at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+4)Much like Dallas, New England was dealt a stunning home loss in Week 4 and has now lost two of its three home games this season. The Patriots (2-2 SU, 1-3 ATS) tumbled to Carolina 33-30 as a 9-point fave, and now hit the road on a short week, playing in the Thursday night game.Tampa Bay (2-1 SU, 1-2 ATS) got a Nick Folk 34-yard field goal as time expired to edge the New York Giants 25-23, but the Bucs fell a tick short of covering as 2.5-point chalk Sunday.“We’re expecting this number to inflate with the Patriots coming off a loss. But it’s doubtful it will grow to -5, and unlikely it will drop below -4,” Cooley said. “Our team was pretty consistent on this number and it feels right. Squares will think this is a steal spread, backing the Pats.”As Cooley predicted, the number did bump up a tick later Sunday night, to Patriots -4.5.Arizona Cardinals at Philadelphia Eagles (-6)Philadelphia is looking solid through four weeks, having already posted a pair of road victories. On Sunday at San Diego, the Eagles (3-1 SU, 2-2 ATS) held on for a 26-24 win as a 2-point underdog.Arizona (2-2 SU) hasn’t covered in any of its four games this season. The Cardinals needed overtime Sunday in an offensive slog against San Francisco, winning 18-15 laying 6 points at home.“My best guess is that this will climb a bit on the favorite side,” Cooley said. “Arizona is just not a good team, while we’ve been quite impressed with the Eagles, particularly in their road victories against decent competition. Some of our oddsmakers wanted this at -7.”By late Sunday night, it was already trending that way, with Bookmaker.eu moving the Eagles to -6.5.Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams (no line)Los Angeles is arguably one of the biggest surprises so far this season, getting out of the box 3-1 SU (2-2 ATS) while piling up a ton of points. The Rams went into Dallas on Sunday as a 5-point pup, but came away with a 35-30 victory, getting six field goals from Greg Zuerlein.Seattle finally showed signs of life on offense in the second half of the Week 4 Sunday night game. The Seahawks (2-2 SU, 1-3 ATS) scored 36 points over the final two frames against Indianapolis, rolling to a 46-18 victory laying 12.5 points at home. With Seattle in the Sunday nighter, Bookmaker.eu is waiting until Monday to post the line on Seahawks-Rams.“Depending on how the Sunday night game goes, we’ll likely open Seattle as short chalk on the road,” Cooley said. “The Rams have surprised most, and the Seahawks haven’t exactly impressed in the early goings (prior to Sunday). That said, the public won’t think twice about backing the ‘Hawks at a favorable number.”Patrick Everson is a Las Vegas-based senior writer for Covers. Follow him on Twitter: @Covers_Vegas.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Seahawks left tackle Rees Odhiambo has been hospitalized after suffering a cardiac contusion - or a bruised heart - during Sunday night's game against the Indianapolis Colts, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports, citing a source.Odhiambo told the team he had trouble breathing following the game and was attended to by medical staff. He was hit in the chest during an interception return in the third quarter.The Seahawks' offensive line has been much maligned. If Odhiambo has to miss any time, Matt Tobin, who was acquired via trade this offseason, would likely slot into the starting lineup.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer announced Monday morning that rookie running back Dalvin Cook suffered a torn ACL on Sunday - an injury that will sideline him for the rest of the season.Cook's left knee gave out while he tried to make a cut during Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions. He walked gingerly off the field, but was unable to avoid a major injury."I expect him to come back and be the same that he was," Zimmer added.Cook won the starting job after being selected with the Vikings' second-round pick in this year's draft.After four games, he ranks as the league's third-leading rusher with 354 yards and two touchdowns.Cook's injury is the latest in a long list of blows to Vikings stars. Starting quarterback Sam Bradford hasn't played since Week 1 due to a knee injury, and former first-round pick Teddy Bridgewater has been out since shredding his knee during the 2016 preseason.Former franchise running back Adrian Peterson also tore his ACL late in the 2011 season. He rebounded the next year by nearly breaking the single-season rushing record.Offseason signing Latavius Murray had been backing up Cook and figures to be first in line to take over at running back moving forward.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Seahawks running back Chris Carson has a fracture in his leg just below his knee, head coach Pete Carroll revealed on ESPN 710 on Monday morning. Carson suffered the injury Sunday night against the Indianapolis Colts."He's going to be out," Carroll said.The rookie runner was carted to the locker room late in Sunday's game with an air cast on his left leg. After the game, Carroll said the injury was "significant."In a crowded Seahawks backfield, the seventh-round pick had grabbed hold of the starting job since vaulting to the top of the depth chart with a 20-carry, 93-yard, and one-touchdown performance in Week 2.With Carson out, Thomas Rawls, Eddie Lacy, C.J. Prosise, and J.D. McKissic will grapple for the lead-back role. McKissic took four carries for 38 yards and a score against the Colts, while Lacy garnered 11 rushes for 52 yards. Rawls and Prosise have been hampered by injuries.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.Washington at Kansas City Chiefs (-7, 49.5)Washington vies for their second straight dominating prime-time performance against an AFC West opponent on Monday night when they face the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Washington handed the Oakland Raiders their first loss of the season under the lights on Sunday night, forcing three turnovers and limiting Derek Carr. and Co. to just 128 total yards of offense in a 27-10 rout."There was some fundamental clinic tape in that game that I am very, very impressed with," Washington coach Jay Gruden said of his defense that limited the Raiders to 32 rushing yards and did not allow them to convert on third down last week (0-for-11). "Now the standards are set very high around here now. The ability to maintain it is going to be critical for us." That improved defense could have a tall task in corralling electrifying rookie Kareem Hunt, who stepped in for the injured Spencer Ware in the preseason and leads the NFL with 401 rushing yards. The third-round selection ran for 172 yards in a 24-10 win over the Los Angeles Chargers last week and is the first rookie since 1981 to record six touchdowns through his first three career games. Kansas City averages a league-leading 162.0 rushing yards, and its 397.3 yards of total offense is third-best in league.TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN.COVERS POWER RANKINGS: Washington (-0.5) - Kansas City (5.5) + home field (-3) = Kansas City -8LINE HISTORY: The Chiefs opened as 7-point home chalk and that number dropped to 6.5 on Monday before returning to the opening number later in the week. The total hit the betting board 49.5 and has yet to move. View the complete line history here.WHAT SHARPS SAY: "The Redskins are coming off a dominating home win last Sunday night versus the Raiders, but now Washington must travel and play another national TV night game against an AFC West opponent. The Chiefs are the only undefeated team remaining in the NFL this season. Washington QB Kirk Cousins missed two days of practice earlier in the week due to the birth of his first child." - Covers Experts' Steve Merril.INJURY REPORT:Washington - WR Jamison Crowder (Probable, Hamstring), TE Jordan Reed (Probable, Shoulder), RB Samaje Perine (Probable, Hand), S D.J. Swearinger (Questionable, Hamstring), DL Jonathan Allen (Questionable, Shoulder), DL Matt Ioannidis (Questionable, Shoulder), S Montae Nicholson (Questionable, Shoulder), CB Josh Norman (Questionable, Shoulder), RB Rob Kelley (Questionable, Ribs), LB Mason Foster (Questionable, Shoulder), T Ty Nsekhe (Early Nov, Abdominal).Kansas City - OL Parker Ehinger (Probable, Knee), OL Eric Fisher (Questionable, Back), LB Kevin Pierre-Louis (Questionable, Groin), Ol Cameron Erving (Questionable, Calf), LB Dee Ford (Questionable, Hip), WR De’Anthony Thomas (Questionable, Shoulder).ABOUT WASHINGTON (2-1 SU, 2-1 ATS, 1-2 O/U): Kirk Cousins threw for 365 yards and three touchdowns last week while boasting a 150.7 passer rating to earn NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. Fresh off his best start of the season, Cousins could also see the returns of two key offensive cogs on Monday as tight end Jordan Reed (ribs, shoulder) and running back Rob Kelley (ribs) each have expressed confidence in getting back to action after a one-game absence. Their respective understudies did quite well in their stead, with veteran tight end Vernon Davis reeling in a touchdown pass and fourth-year back Chris Thompson amassing 188 all-purpose yards and a score in last week's rout. Washington's ground game could pay dividends against a Kansas City defense that is 21st in yards per carry (4.3) and 19th in rushing yards per game (111.7).ABOUT THE CHIEFS (3-0 SU, 3-0 ATS, 2-1 O/U): Kansas City has recorded at least one touchdown of more than 50 yards in an NFL-record nine straight regular-season games, with 11 scores in total coming in that stretch. "We've got big-play guys that can go, when given the opportunity. (They) can take it the distance," quarterback Alex Smith said. Second-year wide receiver Tyreek Hill (team-leading 16 receptions, 253 yards) was responsible for six of those touchdowns while Hunt has three. Tight end Travis Kelce, who has one of those scores, is looking to rebound after a one-reception, one-yard performance on the heels of making eight grabs for 103 yards and a touchdown the previous week.TRENDS:* Washington is 1-6 ATS in their last 7 Monday games.* Chiefs are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall.* Under is 5-1 Washington's last 6 Monday games.* Under is 6-1 in Chiefs last 7 games in October.* Washington is 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 Chiefs at a rate of 56 percent and the Over is picking up 55 percent of the totals action. View full consensus data here.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's Trubisky time in Chicago.The Bears have made a change at quarterback, benching the underperforming Mike Glennon in favor of rookie Mitchell Trubisky for their Week 5 contest against the Minnesota Vikings.It will be the first career start for the No. 2 overall pick in this year's draft.Related: Why Bears can't waste any more time before turning to TrubiskyTrubisky had impressed in the preseason, completing 67 percent of his passes for 364 yards and three touchdowns, but took a backseat to Glennon when the regular season began. The Bears targeted Glennon in free agency to be their starter for the 2017 campaign, but he's committed eight turnovers in the first four games.The Bears were embarrassed 35-14 by the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night as Glennon threw two interceptions and lost two fumbles.With 10 days between games, the Bears are afforded extra time to prepare Trubisky for the Monday night matchup with the Vikings.While Minnesota boasts the superior defense, the Vikings may be without starting quarterback Sam Bradford once again, while rookie running back Dalvin Cook suffered a knee injury Sunday and is out for the season.The Bears will play the Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, and New Orleans Saints in subsequent weeks before their bye.The only other rookie quarterbacks that have seen the field this season are No. 12 overall pick Deshaun Watson of the Houston Texans and the Cleveland Browns' second-round pick, DeShone Kizer. Kizer has started every game this season in Cleveland, while Watson has electrified the Texans' offense, accounting for five touchdowns in a 57-14 blowout win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

They thought they were past this.The Tampa Bay Buccaneers thought they solved their kicking woes when they cut Roberto Aguayo, their second-round pick of a year ago, and made veteran Nick Folk their full-time kicker this offseason.But old problems re-emerged Sunday. First, Folk missed an extra-point attempt that would have put the Buccaneers up 14-0 on the New York Giants. Then, he missed two of his next three field-goal tries, a 46-yard attempt and a 49-yard try. His only make was a 20-yard chip shot.The missed opportunities allowed the Giants to claw back into the game and take a 17-16 lead."(Kickers) have to make it. That's what they get paid to do," Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter said after the game, according to Joey Johnston of The Sports Xchange.Folk redeemed himself with a game-winning 34-yard field goal as time expired, but even that kick barely snuck inside the upright."In the end, that's all that matters, but I've probably never felt worse after a game-winning kick," Folk said afterwards."We left plenty of points out there and the game didn't have to be that close," Koetter added.The Bucs will have just three days to sort out their kicking situation before hosting the New England Patriots on Thursday night.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. came out of Sunday's loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a little worse for wear.Beckham left the field in the second quarter after dislocating his right index finger when the ball hit him in the hand."Just popped out. It's not the first time," Beckham said after the game, via Jordan Raanan of ESPN. "It's not a comfortable feeling. You run off and your finger is out of place."He returned to the game and hauled in seven catches for 90 yards, but also appeared to re-aggravate the ankle injury he picked up in the preseason, one that forced him to miss the opening game of the season.Beckham was tended to on the field by medical staff, but avoided significant injury to the ankle."It's good. I came down in kind of the same motion that injured it. But came out of it fine," Beckham said. "At the moment, the pain that you go through right then and there … you'll overcome it. Just at the time, it was something that scares you for a second. It's the same motion that happened, so … I'll be all right."The Giants fell to 0-4 after the 25-23 loss to the Buccaneers and will search for their first win of the year next week against the Los Angeles Chargers.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Bills receiver Jordan Matthews is expected to undergo thumb surgery after leaving Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons with an injury, Bills sideline reporter Sal Capaccio reports.Matthews will have surgery to insert a pin into his thumb and, as a result, could miss a month of action, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.The fourth-year pro was acquired via trade during the offseason and, in four games, has recorded 10 receptions for 162 yards and a touchdown. He exited Sunday's game after hauling in two catches for 10 yards and his first score as a Bill.Through four games, quarterback Tyrod Taylor has struggled to find a rapport with his new receivers. Running back LeSean McCoy and tight end Charles Clay lead the team in yards and receptions, while newcomers Andre Holmes and Zay Jones have single digits in catches.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Atlanta Falcons may not have to return to action without Julio Jones.The star receiver exited Sunday's contest with a hip flexor injury, but with the Falcons on a bye in Week 5, the team doesn't expect him to miss any upcoming games, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports, citing a source.Jones was taken to the locker room just before halftime of Sunday's 23-17 loss to the Buffalo Bills. He finished the game with three receptions for 30 yards.The Falcons' next game comes in Week 6 against the Miami Dolphins.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If you're a supporter of the Indianapolis Colts, you must be wondering what went awry. A strong start saw the road underdogs keep pace with the Seattle Seahawks into the second half, and a win seemed to be in reach as the two sides sat tied at 18 with 4:57 remaining in the third quarter.How quickly things change.In just under a quarter and a half, the Seahawks put up 28 unanswered points to turn the once-close prime-time affair into a blowout. Russell Wilson put on a second-half clinic en route to a 46-18 win, finishing the night 21-of-26 passing for 295 yards and two touchdowns, each of which coming during the fourth-quarter explosion.Impressive as the star quarterback's display may have been, it would be wildly incorrect to overlook the contributions of the vaunted Seahawks defense, which also came alive in the second half. Marcus Smith forced a fumble that Bobby Wagner returned 21 yards for a touchdown, giving Seattle a 32-18 lead as it pulled away. The play also cemented a standout performance from Wagner, who's arguably the NFL's premier inside linebacker alongside Carolina's Luke Kuechly.Wagner finished with six tackles, half a sack, and three quarterback hits, which was indicative of his all-around dominance. It could even be argued that he's the best defensive player on the Seahawks' star-studded, historically dominant unit.

Of all the remaining winless teams, most people would point to the New York Giants as the most surprising.The Giants went 11-5 last season en route to the playoffs, yet head coach Ben McAdoo isn't stunned by an 0-4 start to 2017."I'm not surprised. I'm not shocked," McAdoo said after Sunday's loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to Gary Myers of the New York Daily News. "You can't carry things over from one year to the next. We talked about that in the offseason."The Giants have been trying to overcome offensive line issues and an injury to Odell Beckham to start the season, but it's still somewhat surprising they haven't at least secured one victory.Beckham seemed slightly more perplexed about the record than McAdoo."I would've never thought we would go 0-4, but it is what it is," Beckham said. "That's what our record is. We can't sit here and cry about it. You just have to keep trying to get better each and every day, get the first win, and see what happens from there."Giants quarterback Eli Manning is trying to remain positive, despite the frustration of losing back-to-back games on last-second field goals."You just keep fighting for a win," Manning said. "That's all you do every week. The record doesn't matter. You want that feeling. You want that feeling after the game. We need it. We want it. But nothing is going to be given to us. We got to go out there and get wins. We got to go out there and play good football. It is tough to lose two games in a row on field goals - on walk-off field goals."New York will have a chance for its first win against another winless squad next week, when the Giants host the Los Angeles Chargers. Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The idea of going home often seems much better than when you actually arrive there, and that was the case for three particular teams in Sunday's action.The New England Patriots, Atlanta Falcons and Dallas Cowboys all hosted games in which they were more than 6.5-point favorites, yet all three shockingly fell in defeat.Each loss highlighted a glaring problem for each team, and unless they are addressed soon, don't expect any of them to make a deep run this season.PatriotsIt's official, the worst defense in the league belongs to the Patriots. That seems unfathomable for a team coached by defensive mastermind Bill Belichick, but Sunday's 33-30 loss to the Carolina Panthers means the defending Super Bowl champions have given up 30-plus points in three of four games this season. Cam Newton had looked ordinary through three games, but looked like he was back in college Sunday, exploding for 316 yards and three scores. It's simple to say that Belichick will get things fixed, but four games is not a small sample size, and the results have been horrific thus far.Area of concern: DefenseFalcons(Photo courtesy: Action Images)Jermaine Dupri once stated in his classic banger, "Welcome to Atlanta", that "Sunday, is when I get my sleep in," and hopefully for Falcons fans, they followed suit this weekend. Outside of Bills' supporters, there probably weren't many people who expected Buffalo to storm in to Atlanta Sunday and physically dominate the Falcons, but that's exactly what happened. The Falcons have played with fire in two of their three wins this season, and it finally bit them against the Bills. Matt Ryan has thrown five interceptions in his last two games, and it's becoming clear that the Falcons will go only as far as their quarterback takes them.Area of concern: Matt Ryan's turnoversCowboysIt's hard to say what the Cowboys defensive film room studied ahead of Sunday's game versus the Los Angeles Rams, but apparently Todd Gurley wasn't on the tape. The standout running back absolutely shredded the Cowboys defense for 121 yards on the ground and 94 yards receiving in the Rams 35-30 win. Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott and Dez Bryant did their part for the home team, but the defense couldn't stop the Rams from moving the ball into Cowboys' territory all game. They held strong to avoid touchdowns, but Greg Zuerlein's seven field goals proved to be enough. Jared Goff looked very comfortable, which is scary considering Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers are next on the schedule.Area of concern: DefenseCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.