Patrick Mahomes believes his new reworked deal is a fair compromise that will advance quarterback salaries without affecting the Kansas City Chiefs' salary cap."I don't want people to be negotiated against me, and so that's the reason that you do something like I did this last week," Mahomes said Wednesday, according to ESPN's Adam Teicher.He added: "Just trying to keep the market moving in the right direction, (trending) in the right direction, so not only me but other quarterbacks in other positions can get paid the money that they deserve."Mahomes will take in $210.6 million guaranteed between 2023 and 2026 - the most guaranteed money over a four-year span in NFL history - on his reworked deal. The two-time MVP had fallen to the eighth-highest-paid quarterback before renegotiating his contract."I thought we found a good one in this negotiation that we did (because) we will be able to still keep cap space for other guys to get signed," he said.The 28-year-old said in the offseason that he cares more about winning championships than money. He's also stressed the importance of being aware of salary-cap effects and personal legacy while negotiating contracts."You have a lot of great players that I want to be here so we can win a lot of Super Bowls," Mahomes said, per the Associated Press' Dave Skretta. "I want to make a lot of money, but I also want to win."Mahomes led Kansas City to three of the last four Super Bowls, winning two.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants left tackle Andrew Thomas and pass-rusher Azeez Ojulari won't play in the team's Thursday night matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, the team announced Wednesday.Both players are dealing with hamstring ailments. Neither played in New York's come-from-behind win against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2 due to their injuries.The team also officially ruled out running back Saquon Barkley due to an ankle sprain that's expected to sideline him for three weeks, and offensive lineman Ben Bredeson, who's battling a concussion.Thomas, a second-team All-Pro in 2022, didn't allow a sack or quarterback hit in the team's Week 1 loss to the Dallas Cowboys but was flagged twice, per PFF.Ojulari, meanwhile, is looking to rebound in 2023 after appearing in just seven games last season. The 23-year-old edge defender assisted on one tackle against the Cowboys.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Orleans Saints safety Marcus Maye received a three-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy, the team announced Wednesday.The Saints didn't provide any other details about Maye's violation.New Orleans signed Maye to a three-year, $22.5-million contract before the 2022 campaign. The 30-year-old racked up 60 total tackles, a forced fumble, and a pair of pass deflections in 10 games last year.New Orleans' defense has effectively limited opponents to start the 2023 season. The team ranks fourth in yards allowed per game (262) and is tied for fifth in points yielded per contest (16). The Saints have also tallied four takeaways - tied for fifth in the NFL.Tyrann Mathieu will continue to anchor one safety spot, leaving a combination of Ugo Amadi, J.T. Gray, and Jordan Howden to fill the other. Lonnie Johnson, listed at cornerback on the team's roster, has also previously played the safety position.Maye has 13 total tackles, one interception, and one sack through two games this year.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Another week, another pair of teams - Eagles and Cowboys - advanced along our parallel paths. It wasn't that easy for some in the world's largest survivor contest - a constant reminder not to take anything for granted going forward.

We cashed in our Week 2 teaser of Eagles -1 and Patriots +8.5. Let's continue the momentum by finding the key numbers and matchups this week.For the first time all season, there are multiple double-digit spreads - Cowboys (-12) @ Cardinals, Bears @ Chiefs (-12.5), and Giants @ 49ers (-10). But remember, there's little value in teasing those big favorites.Don't forget our weekly reminder: teasers provide value for bettors by capturing key winning margin numbers: three, six, and seven. It never makes sense to tease a game through zero because you lose valuable win probability. Games are hardly won by less than a field goal or end in a super-rare tie.Let's use the Saints' (+2) matchup against the Packers to show how a teaser provides value.Alt. Spread Odds+3-143+4-175+5-196+6-232+7-289+8-337There's a massive increase in the price when the key numbers six and seven are crossed. A teaser leg of Saints +8 at -280 offers far greater value than getting the Saints at an alternate spread of +8 at a -337 price.As always, to cash the two-team, six-point teaser, we must pair Saints +8 with another teaser leg. Our "teaser basket" shows the most valuable teaser legs of the week based on key numbers.Teaser BasketTeam Spread Teaser legDolphins-6.5-0.5Bills-6.5-0.5Ravens-7.5-1.5Saints+2+8Seahawks-6pkSteelers+2.5+8.5Rams+2+8As outlined earlier, there's value in including Saints +8 as one of our teaser legs. Not only because it crosses key numbers, but the matchup is favorable, too. The Saints are 2-0 after narrowly escaping the Titans and Panthers. Derek Carr is adjusting to a new system. He's done enough to lead his offense to wins. New Orleans' defense has been phenomenal, though, only letting up one touchdown through eight quarters.The Saints are traveling to Green Bay to face a surprisingly stout Packers team. Jordan Love has shown promise to start the season, which will create a tougher test for the Saints defense. However, New Orleans getting two points doesn't make sense, so teasing the spread past a touchdown is worth it.The Commanders are off to a surprising 2-0 start - their best since 2011 - with wins over the Cardinals and Broncos. Washington will be competitive this season, but everyone should pump the brakes after two shaky victories over lackluster teams. It'll be a different story when the Bills come to the nation's capital Sunday.There were concerns for Buffalo after its loss to the Jets in Week 1, but it followed that up with a 28-point win over the Raiders. Even more important, Josh Allen attempted 37 passes without an interception against Las Vegas. The Bills are the contender people thought they were. Expect them to rain on Washington's early season parade in a dominant win.A teaser of Saints +8 and Bills -1 will earn us back-to-back weeks with a win.Sam Oshtry is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X, formally known as Twitter, @soshtry for more betting coverage.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.In an effort to help you find trades that could improve your fantasy team, we present the Trade Value Chart.You can use this chart to compare players and build realistic trade offers. Values are based on 12-team leagues.Follow the links below to see the trade values and rest of season rankings for each position.Trade Values

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on Spotify, Apple, Google, and Stitcher.In this episode, Boone discusses the latest news and goes over the players you can drop to make room on your roster.

New Orleans Saints running back Jamaal Williams is expected to miss time after suffering a hamstring injury, head coach Dennis Allen said, according to team reporter Erin Summers.The Saints did not provide a timetable for when Williams could return to action.Williams went back to the Saints' locker room during the second quarter of the team's victory on Monday against the Carolina Panthers. He was listed as questionable to return but ultimately didn't see another snap.The 28-year-old exited the game with 29 rushing yards on nine carries.Williams is playing in his first season in New Orleans after signing a three-year, $12-million contract as a free agent in March. The BYU product found a new home after leading the league with 17 rushing scores to go along with 1,066 yards with the Detroit Lions in 2022.The veteran Williams was expected to hold the feature tailback role while Alvin Kamara serves a three-game suspension for his role in fight outside a Las Vegas nightclub in 2022. Kamara will be eligible to return to action when the Saints host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Oct. 1.Williams ran for 45 yards in the Saints' season-opening win over the Tennessee Titans to begin the seventh campaign of his career. He is currently on his third team after the Green Bay Packers drafted him in the fourth round in 2017.New Orleans received some positive news in the backfield. Rookie Kendre Miller should be good to go this week after missing the first two games with his own hamstring ailment, Summers reports. The Saints are expected to lean on Miller and Tony Jones Jr., who replaced Williams on Monday night.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson isn't happy with his team's 14-game losing streak against the New England Patriots heading into their Week 3 matchup."It's time that things change around here," Wilson said Tuesday on the "Bart & Hahn" show, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN."I don't like talking about it too much, but this is one of the first steps. Fourteen straight is unacceptable. That's unacceptable. I'm 0-2 against them. That's unacceptable."New England has won 34 of its last 40 games against New York. With a victory over the Jets on Sunday, the Patriots would tie their longest win streak against any opponent in franchise history."I inherited - I walked into a team that, we haven't beaten the Patriots," Wilson said. "I feel like that's why they brought me here, brought me and Sauce (Gardner) here and the guys here - to make things like that change. It's time we do what we get paid for."He added: "It'll fuel me throughout the week, honestly."Wilson had eight catches for 127 yards in two games last season against the Patriots.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas and Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Derrick Brown got into a postgame altercation Monday.

The Cleveland Browns are exploring the possibility of adding Los Angeles Rams running back Cam Akers and free agent Kareem Hunt, among others, following Nick Chubb's season-ending knee injury, sources told Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.Hunt is visiting the Browns on Tuesday, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN.Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said Tuesday the team would "look at options there in terms of who (they) bring in."Akers appears likely to leave Los Angeles after being a healthy scratch Sunday. Head coach Sean McVay said Monday that the Rams have held discussions with other teams about the former second-round pick. Akers rushed for 29 yards on 22 carries in Week 1.Bringing in Hunt would give the Browns the advantage of adding a running back familiar with their offense. The 28-year-old spent the last four seasons in Cleveland, with his best work coming in 2020 when he put up 841 yards on the ground and 11 total touchdowns. Hunt visited multiple teams as a free agent this offseason but remains unsigned.Any incoming running back would likely arrive as depth after Stefanski named Jerome Ford the No. 1 rusher with Chubb sidelined. Stefanski declined to comment on potentially reuniting with Hunt.Ford averaged over 6 yards per carry in Monday's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, totaling 106 yards on 16 attempts. He also caught three passes for 25 yards and a touchdown.Chubb was carted off the field in the second quarter of Monday's defeat after colliding with Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. It's believed Chubb suffered multiple torn ligaments, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.theScore's Justin Boone was first overall in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition in 2019 and finished among the top seven each of his last seven years in the contest. Follow the links below to see his rankings for Week 3.Updated rankings (including Standard and PPR) will be released Thursday, with the final version coming down Sunday morning.Half PPR

Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb will undergo season-ending knee surgery after sustaining an injury during Monday's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed Tuesday, according to Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot.Chubb was carted off the field following a violent collision with Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick early in the second quarter. He was in visible pain, and the ESPN broadcast declined to show a replay of the hit due to its gruesome nature.He suffered MCL, PCL, and LCL damage in the same knee while playing for Georgia in October 2015.The four-time Pro Bowl tailback rushed for 64 yards prior to his exit Monday. Chubb entered the matchup with 106 yards following Cleveland's season-opening win over the Cincinnati Bengals.Cleveland will lean on Jerome Ford as its featured back, Stefanski said, per Cabot. Second-year man Pierre Strong Jr. is the only other running back on the roster.Stefanski wouldn't say if the team would be interested in bringing back veteran Kareem Hunt, who played for the Browns from 2019-22, but did say the team will look to add another back. Hunt ran for 468 yards and three touchdowns while adding 210 yards and another score through the air last season.Chubb rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of the past four seasons. He racked up a career-high 1,525 yards to go along with 12 touchdowns in 2022. He also added 27 receptions for 239 yards.The 27-year-old signed a three-year, $36.6-million contract extension with the Browns in July 2021.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mike Tomlin recognizes that the Pittsburgh Steelers' offense needs to improve after its struggles through the first two games but says there won't be any major changes coming."Offensively, we have to get our mojo back. ... We lost that, to be blunt, in the last couple weeks," Tomlin said Tuesday, according to The Athletic's Mike DeFabo."We're not going to have knee-jerk reactions and make wholesale changes," he added, per ESPN's Brooke Pryor.Pittsburgh's offense was the talk of the preseason after Kenny Pickett and Co. shined in exhibition action. However, the club has scored just two offensive touchdowns in the regular season."It starts with coaching. We've got to coach better," Tomlin said.Offensive coordinator Matt Canada has received plenty of criticism, and fans chanted for his termination during Monday's 26-22 victory over the Cleveland Browns.

Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick was released from hospital Monday night after undergoing precautionary scans for what's believed to be a chest contusion, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports.Head coach Mike Tomlin confirmed Tuesday that Fitzpatrick was back at the team facility, according to ESPN's Brooke Pryor. He left the door open on the star safety's participation in Week 3."He was taken to the hospital as a precaution. They feel good about where he is," Tomlin added, per Pryor. "We'll see where the week leads us."Fitzpatrick didn't finish Monday's win against the Cleveland Browns due to a chest injury. Tomlin said postgame that the defensive stalwart was taken to a local hospital to be evaluated, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The three-time Pro Bowler appeared to be fine following a violent collision with Browns running back Nick Chubb, who suffered what is reportedly feared to be a season-ending knee injury.However, Fitzpatrick was later ruled out for the remainder of the game after heading back to the Steelers' locker room for X-rays, according to the ESPN broadcast.The Steelers star made a touchdown-saving tackle after Browns running back Jerome Ford ran for 69 yards. He appeared to be favoring his chest before leaving the game.Damontae Kazee and Miles Killebrew are among the Steelers' options to fill in for the star defensive back.The Alabama product turned in a career-high six interceptions to go along with 96 tackles last season.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There's an old phenomenon where accomplished people or organizations eventually become victims of their own success. Expectations are so elevated that if they fail to meet them, it's seen as a failure.The Eagles have become a victim of their own success. It's hard to replicate a magical 14-win season and a trip to the Super Bowl. Even with most of the roster still intact, sustained success is difficult in the NFL.Anyone who's read the headlines about the Eagles or has checked the latest odds would think the sky is falling in Philadelphia. However, the Eagles are 2-0.Yet, their odds have lengthened from +250 to win the NFC to +350. They also jumped from +650 to win the Super Bowl to +750.Philadelphia's two wins haven't been pretty by any stretch. But the Eagles beat two teams that, at the very least, should be in playoff contention.It's not a secret that Philadelphia's offense, particularly quarterback Jalen Hurts, has struggled at times. Part of that, though, is working out the kinks of a new play-caller.It's unreasonable to be seriously concerned after two wins through two games. The Eagles have a relatively easy schedule in the next few weeks with contests against the Bucs, Commanders, Rams, and Jets, which should help as they continue to work things out.Just because Philadelphia isn't blowing inferior opponents out like it did last year doesn't mean it's no longer the best team in the conference.The 49ers are the biggest competition to the Eagles, like they were last year. But oddsmakers now believe San Francisco is the team to beat in the NFC. The 49ers are the favorite to win the conference at +225 following a dominant win over the Steelers and a closer victory against the Rams.While it's early, San Francisco has looked like the NFL's most complete team. The 49ers' defense, particularly their pass rush, is dominant. However, their offense was a greater question mark with a still unproven Brock Purdy returning from elbow surgery.The last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft has looked the part of a franchise quarterback so far this season, proving last year's campaign was no fluke.Purdy has thrown for over 200 yards in both games and has no turnovers. He's moved up the MVP ladder from +4000 before the season into the top 10 at +2000.The Cowboys' rise up the Super Bowl oddsboard is a little more questionable. They're now tied with the Eagles for the third-best odds to win the Super Bowl at +750 and have the second-best odds to win the NFC at +350.Dallas' 70 combined points in its first two blowout wins is impressive. But the Cowboys' opponents were the Giants and Jets, two teams that'll likely be on the outside looking in of the playoffs.Dallas' defense is legit, and Dak Prescott, who's thrown zero interceptions after leading the NFL in picks last season, is playing well. But it's surprising that the gap between the Cowboys and the Eagles has shortened as much as it has after Dallas' two victories over below-average opponents. The Cowboys were always a contender, but the Eagles were the preseason favorites.Dallas plays the Cardinals this week, so it might be some time before we really figure out how elite the Cowboys are.The AFC has seen little movement atop the oddsboard as the Chiefs and Bills - both of whom are 1-1 - remain favorites. Unsurprisingly, the Bengals have undergone the most notable movement. They now have the fifth-best odds in the AFC to win the Super Bowl at +1800 after having the third-best odds at +1200 before the season.The Ravens' odds shortened thanks to a 2-0 start, including a win over the Bengals. Baltimore is now +600 to win the AFC - tied for the third-best odds with the Dolphins - and +1300 to win the Super Bowl.After their latest loss and an 0-2 start, the Chargers moved from +2200 to win the Super Bowl to +3000.Sam Oshtry is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X, formally known as Twitter, @soshtry for more betting coverage.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For those of us deep in the weeds on how point spreads are made, Week 2 is significant. Each team gets a second data point - a big one since we finally saw them play in Week 1. The betting market then reacts to actual play instead of preseason analysis. It's very helpful in calibrating what bettors think of the teams.For example, in Week 1, the Dolphins and Chargers could only be compared to each other and Los Angeles was a 3-point favorite. All we knew for sure was that the two teams were deemed to be close, as they started the season with roughly the same expectations. We knew the market thought they were at least decent - not the favorites for their division this offseason, but still lined at 9.5 wins. Sure enough, they gave us a thriller.A week later, both teams were field goal road favorites against league-average teams. This tells us that the Chargers and Dolphins needed an increase in their estimated rating, marching in lockstep up the board.How ratings workEvery week, we'll look at what the betting market thinks of each team based on the closing lines from that week's games. The "rating" column is an educated guess at the oddsmakers' rating to create a point spread, with the specific number being the percentage chance that the team beats an average opponent on a neutral field. Ratings aren't rankings. The closing line is considered a better reflection of a team's value than one 60-minute game.The range column is my evaluation of what each team is capable of. It's our job as handicappers to determine where within its range a team will play based on things like the situation, on-field matchups, and roster/injury issues. The earlier in the season, the wider range a team may have.Market ratings and our rangeTEAMRATINGRANGE49ers7560-80Chiefs7460-80Eagles6760-80Cowboys6760-80Bills6655-75Bengals6560-80Chargers6550-70Dolphins6550-70Ravens6050-70Browns6040-60Lions5645-65Jaguars5650-70Saints5440-60Vikings5235-55Broncos4840-60Patriots4835-55Falcons4835-55Titans4835-55Steelers4640-60Seahawks4640-60Raiders4630-50Giants4440-60Packers4340-60Rams4135-55Buccaneers4125-45Commanders4035-55Bears3925-45Jets3835-55Panthers3630-50Colts3525-45Texans3325-45Cardinals2220-40We've got movement at the top, with the Chiefs rising again because of the return of Travis Kelce and Chris Jones. The 49ers got a major increase after annihilating the Steelers, but that change sent their point spread with the Rams through -7. That big number cost San Francisco bettors when Los Angeles kicked a last-second field goal to cover the spread.Ahead of Thursday Night Football, the Eagles went from -7.5 to -5.5 against the Vikings, based almost entirely on Philadelphia's injury report. Its banged-up secondary kept Minnesota in the game long enough to middle those spreads.The Ravens covered in Week 1, so you would expect their rating to go up. However, they had so many injuries that we're compelled to move them down, especially since they closed as 3-point underdogs in Cincinnati. Winning that game outright should send them back up for next week as they're favored by more than a touchdown against the Colts.The easiest way to understand how these market ratings have changed from last week is to think about:

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Every Monday during the season, theScore's Justin Boone runs down the recommended waiver-wire pickups.Roster percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. Free Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are based on a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 50% of leagues are considered.Quarterbacks Steph Chambers / Getty Images Sport / GettyMatthew Stafford, RamsNext UpRosteredFABat CIN35%$1A healthy Stafford has helped power the Rams' offense in the opening weeks, despite not having star wideout Cooper Kupp available.Stafford threw for over 300 yards in each of the first two outings, even while facing the 49ers' daunting pass rush in Week 2.With Sean McVay at the top of his game as a play-caller, Stafford should continue to sling it against a Bengals defense that doesn't have the same bite it once did.Russell Wilson is just above the 50% rostered mark, but he should be considered a streamer this week if available.Risky streaming options: Derek Carr at GB (40% rostered), Baker Mayfield vs. PHI (15% rostered), Sam Howell vs. BUF (20% rostered)Risky streaming options (if starter is out): Gardner Minshew at BAL (1% rostered)Desperation streaming options: Kenny Pickett at LV (31% rostered), Bryce Young at SEA (15% rostered), C.J. Stroud at JAX (9% rostered), Desmond Ridder at DET (5% rostered), Ryan Tannehill at CLE (7% rostered), Jimmy Garoppolo vs. PIT (16% rostered), Mac Jones at NYJ (23% rostered), Zach Wilson vs. NE (4% rostered), Josh Dobbs vs. DAL (2% rostered)Desperation streaming options (if starter is out): Jake Browning vs. LAR (0% rostered)Long-term stashes: Taylor Heinicke (0% rostered)Injured-reserve stashes: Kyler Murray (24% rostered)Running backs Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyJerome Ford, BrownsNext UpRosteredFABvs. TEN11%$49Nick Chubb suffered a knee injury that was so bad they elected not to show the replay during the broadcast. While we wait for a diagnosis, it's safe to assume he'll be out for an extended stretch and maybe the rest of the season.Ford is the next man up and someone the Browns were high on throughout the offseason. He'll face a tough challenge the next two weeks with the Titans and Ravens on deck before Cleveland's bye.The only thing preventing us from making this a max-bid scenario is the potential for the Browns to sign a veteran free agent like Leonard Fournette, Kenyan Drake, or Darrell Henderson. Kareem Hunt, who spent the previous four seasons in Cleveland, also remains on the market.If the team doesn't add anyone, Ford would be in the low-end RB2 conversation. And if we don't hear reports about the Browns bringing anyone in Tuesday, then Ford would be worthy of a 75-100% bid on the wire.Roschon Johnson, BearsNext UpRosteredFABat KC38%$9Johnson gets the nod as the top running back add because he's one of the few ball carriers who can take over the starting job on his team without an injury.The fourth-round rookie has already passed D'Onta Foreman on the depth chart, turning the veteran into a healthy scratch in Week 2. Now he's in a timeshare with Khalil Herbert.While playing 40% of the snaps through two games, Johnson has compiled 97 yards from scrimmage on 17 touches, including eight receptions and a touchdown.You can consider Johnson a risky flex option at the moment, but he's better kept on your bench as an upside stash who could turn into a top-24 fantasy back if he overtakes Herbert.Craig Reynolds, LionsNext UpRosteredFABvs. ATL0%$5With David Montgomery expected to miss a few weeks with a quad injury, Reynolds finds himself in an intriguing position.The Lions haven't shown a willingness to make explosive rookie Jahmyr Gibbs a workhorse, and when Montgomery went down, it was Reynolds who stepped into his role.If Detroit doesn't sign a veteran free agent, Reynolds is positioned to be an RB3/flex - handling some of the hard carries between the tackles and potentially serving as the goal-line back.Matt Breida/Eric Gray/Gary Brightwell, GiantsNext UpRosteredFABvs. SF2%/0%/0%$3/$1/$0Saquon Barkley is going to be sidelined for three weeks with an ankle sprain, which is the only reason why we're highlighting his backups.Breida hasn't been productive with his snaps in a while, Brightwell is more of special teamer, and rookie Eric Gray has yet to get an opportunity in the offense.A matchup on a short week with the 49ers' defense is hardly the place to look for fantasy production from this group.Breida is the most likely to lead the backfield in touches, but he's a desperation flex. Gray is worth a stash in deeper leagues, but just keep your expectations low. It's also possible the team will bring in a veteran free agent.Zack Moss and Justice Hill are close to or above the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.With all the injuries to starting running backs, free agents like Leonard Fournette (3% rostered), Kareem Hunt (11% rostered), Kenyan Drake (0% rostered), and Darrell Henderson (0% rostered) can be stashed in case they sign this week.High-upside backups like Jaylen Warren (40% rostered), Tyjae Spears (17% rostered), Elijah Mitchell (47% rostered), Sean Tucker (4% rostered), Tank Bigsby (39% rostered), and Ty Chandler (5% rostered) should be rostered in most leagues.Risky flex options: Chuba Hubbard at SEA (19% rostered)Risky flex options (if healthy): Kendre Miller at GB (13% rostered)Dart-throw flex options: Tony Jones Jr. at GB (0% rostered), Latavius Murray at WAS (1% rostered), Damien Harris at WAS (39% rostered), De'Von Achane vs. DEN (45% rostered), Devin Singletary at JAX (19% rostered), Rico Dowdle at ARI (1% rostered), Trayveon Williams vs. LAR (0% rostered), Deuce Vaughn at ARI (9% rostered)Other backups to roster: Zamir White (5% rostered), Clyde Edwards-Helaire (14% rostered), D'Onta Foreman (18% rostered), Michael Carter (3% rostered)Deep stashes: Pierre Strong Jr. (1% rostered), Ronnie Rivers (0% rostered), Jaleel McLaughlin (1% rostered), Jordan Mason (0% rostered), Elijah Dotson (0% rostered), Chris Rodriguez (0% rostered), Keaontay Ingram (1% rostered), Zonovan Knight (0% rostered)Injured-reserve stashes: Jeff Wilson (25% rostered)Wide receivers Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyJosh Reynolds, LionsNext UpRosteredFABvs. ATL12%$9We spotlighted Reynolds as a deep sleeper this summer after he posted strong numbers in the opening month of last season before getting injured.The 28-year-old is at it again with four catches for 80 yards on seven targets in Week 1, followed by five receptions for 66 yards and two touchdowns on six targets in Week 2.The Lions have a soft schedule over the next six weeks, making Reynolds a quality flex option during that stretch.We'll have to reevaluate his status when Jameson Williams returns from his suspension in Week 7, but at this rate, Reynolds will continue to have a role in the offense the rest of the season.Tutu Atwell, RamsNext UpRosteredFABat CIN25%$9Despite being overshadowed by his teammate Puca Nacua's outrageous stat lines, Atwell has been almost as productive with six catches for 119 yards in the opener and seven grabs for 77 yards on Sunday.His 17 targets through two games have him tied for 15th among receivers during that span.With Matthew Stafford dealing, Atwell deserves a spot as a WR3/flex option in your lineup.Tank Dell, TexansNext UpRosteredFABat JAX5%$7After posting three receptions and 34 yards in his debut, Dell benefitted from veteran Noah Brown being placed on injured reserve before Week 2.The result was a seven-catch, 72-yard, one-touchdown performance on 10 targets. It also could have been more as Dell came close to another score.This might be the beginning of Dell taking a high-volume role in the Texans' offense. Just know that players his size (5'8, 165 lbs) don't have a great track record of long-term fantasy production.For now, you can deploy him confidently in your flex spot.Zay Jones, Rashid Shaheed, Romeo Doubs, and Rashod Bateman are close to or above the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.Risky flex options: Jayden Reed vs. NO (10% rostered), Kadarius Toney vs. CHI (49% rostered), Skyy Moore vs. CHI (49% rostered), DeVante Parker at NYJ (2% rostered), Kendrick Bourne at NYJ (45% rostered), Robert Woods at JAX (9% rostered), Darius Slayton at SF (3% rostered), Isaiah Hodgins at SF (5% rostered)Risky flex options (if healthy): Darnell Mooney at KC (42% rostered)Dart-throw flex options: Jonathan Mingo at SEA (12% rostered), K.J. Osborn vs. LAC (9% rostered), D.J. Chark at SEA (12% rostered), Marvin Mims at MIA (23% rostered), Jalin Hyatt at SF (12% rostered), Curtis Samuel vs. BIF (10% rostered), Adam Thielen at SEA (39% rostered), Tyler Boyd vs. LAR (39% rostered), Josh Downs at BAL (2% rostered), Donovan Peoples-Jones vs. TEN (11% rostered), Allen Lazard vs. NE (37% rostered), Allen Robinson at LV (17% rostered), Chase Claypool at KC (2% rostered), Calvin Austin at LV (3% rostered), Michael Gallup at ARI (24% rostered)Other receivers to roster: Rashee Rice (36% rostered), Jameson Williams (29% rostered)Deep stashes: Trey Palmer (1% rostered), Michael Wilson (1% rostered), Cedric Tillman (0% rostered), Nelson Agholor (0% rostered)Tight ends Wesley Hitt / Getty Images Sport / GettyJake Ferguson, CowboysNext UpRosteredFABat ARI38%$2Ferguson hasn't exactly capitalized on his starting opportunity so far. His 11 targets through two weeks have turned into just 22 yards and a touchdown.That should change against a Cardinals defense that allowed Logan Thomas (4-43) and Darren Waller (6-76) to finish as top-13 weekly tight-end scorers.If you're looking for a streamer, Ferguson should be near the top of that list given the matchup.Hunter Henry is just above the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.Streamer options: Juwan Johnson at GB (37% rostered), Zach Ertz vs. DAL (10% rostered), Luke Musgrave vs. NO (25% rostered)Streamer options (if healthy): Logan Thomas vs. BUF (3% rostered)Risky streamer options: Taysom Hill at GB (9% rostered), Hayden Hurst at SEA (35% rostered), Gerald Everett at MIN (38% rostered), Kylen Granson at BAL (0% rostered), Cade Otton vs. PHI (2% rostered)Dart-throw streamer options: Tyler Conklin vs. NE (4% rostered), Adam Trautman at MIA (4% rostered), Durham Smythe vs. DEN (1% rostered)Deep stashes: Cole Turner (0% rostered)Defenses Michael Hickey / Getty Images Sport / GettyWeek 3 streamersTeamNext UpRosteredChiefsvs. CHI38%Jaguarsvs. HOU15%Seahawksvs.CAR8%Favorable upcoming schedules: Chiefs DEF (39% rostered), Chargers DEF (8% rostered), Vikings DEF (4% rostered)Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. 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The Kansas City Chiefs and quarterback Patrick Mahomes have agreed on a restructured deal that will guarantee him $210.6 million between 2023 and 2026, his agency told Adam Schefter of ESPN.It's the most money in NFL history guaranteed over a four-year span. The two sides will revisit the deal after the 2026 season, Schefter adds.Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts, Justin Herbert, and Joe Burrow all signed lucrative deals this offseason, which eclipsed the guaranteed money Mahomes signed in 2020. Mahomes' original contract only fully guaranteed him $141.4 million, according to Spotrac. However, the pact contained triggers that guaranteed additional money as the contract progressed.He was the eighth highest-paid quarterback in the NFL before reworking his deal.The 28-year-old has become the face of the league since the Chiefs traded up to select him with the 10th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Mahomes exploded onto the scene when he took over the starting job in 2018, throwing for over 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns.Mahomes has won two MVP and Super Bowl trophies in seven seasons. The Chiefs have reached five straight conference championships, with a regular-season record of 64-18 during that span.The two-time first-team All-Pro has 24,772 passing yards and 196 touchdowns with a 65-17 record in 82 career games.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Detroit Lions defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson is feared to have suffered a torn pectoral in Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks, sources told NFL Network's Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport.The 25-year-old is reportedly expected to be out the lineup indefinitely and could potentially miss the remainder of the season."There's a chance he comes back this season," head coach Dan Campbell said Tuesday, according to 97.1 The Ticket's Will Burchfield.Gardner-Johnson appeared to favor his shoulder after walking off the field during Seattle's opening drive. Following treatment from team trainers, he was able to return to the game. He finished the contest with a team-leading eight tackles.Detroit signed Gardner-Johnson to a one-year, $6.5-million contract this offseason. He joined the Lions after posting 67 tackles and six interceptions last season for the Philadelphia Eagles. The Florida product began his pro career with the New Orleans Saints from 2019 to 2021.With their prized free agent sidelined indefinitely, the Lions are expected to lean on rookie Brian Branch, Tracy Walker, and Ifeatu Melifonwu.Walker, in particular, was mentioned by the Lions head coach Tuesday as someone who could step up."That's why Tracy Walker's here," Campbell said.The injury to Gardner-Johnson is among multiple ailments stemming from the Lions' Week 2 matchup. Linebacker James Houston is reportedly set to miss the next six-to-eight weeks after fracturing his ankle. Running back David Montgomery sustained a thigh injury that is considered day-to-day.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's football editors.1. Dallas Cowboys (2-0) Cooper Neill / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 2The Cowboys exposed both the Giants and Jets in the first two weeks. With Dak Prescott taking care of the ball and Micah Parsons playing at an MVP level, Dallas has the league's best point differential by far (plus-60).2. San Francisco 49ers (2-0)Previous Rank: 1No other team can beat opponents in so many ways. The 49ers rode another dominant Christian McCaffrey performance and two late takeaways to a win over the Rams. It's hard to find many flaws in San Francisco right now.3. Philadelphia Eagles (2-0)Previous Rank: 3The Eagles may not look as dominant as last year - at least not yet - but Week 2 showed how hard it can be to stop Jalen Hurts and Co. Led by D'Andre Swift, Philly amassed 430 total yards, the team's highest mark in its last seven games (including playoffs).4. Miami Dolphins (2-0)Previous Rank: 5The first weeks proved what we already expected before the season: The Dolphins can match up against any team if healthy.5. Kansas City Chiefs (1-1) Mike Carlson / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 4The Chiefs have yet to score more than 20 points in a game. But the returns of Travis Kelce - who caught a TD in his season debut - and Chris Jones - who had 1.5 sacks after ending his holdout - should help the reigning champs regain their best form.6. Baltimore Ravens (2-0)Previous Rank: 6Despite a series of injuries to key players, Baltimore looked better in Week 2 after an unimpressive win over the Texans in the opener. Lamar Jackson has completed 74.5% of his passes so far, the NFL's second-best rate.7. Buffalo Bills (1-1)Previous Rank: 7The Bills gave the answer their fans were expecting with a blowout win over the Raiders after a disappointing season-opening loss. Buffalo now visits the Commanders before hosting the Dolphins in a game that should give us a good idea of how competitive this team will be.8. Cincinnati Bengals (0-2)Previous Rank: 8Is it time to hit the panic button? Granted, Cincy also started last season 0-2 before going on a 12-2 run. However, Joe Burrow just aggravated a calf injury that forced him to miss camp, and he recently said the ailment is one of the reasons for the Bengals' slow start.9. Seattle Seahawks (1-1)Previous Rank: 14Coming off a disappointing Week 1 loss, Seattle saw its most talented players on both sides of the ball make game-changing plays in a thrilling win over Detroit. The Seahawks finally looked like the team that made the playoffs last season.10. Detroit Lions (1-1) Gregory Shamus / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 9Detroit is one of the NFC's most competitive teams, but as coach Dan Campbell strongly pointed out, the defense needs to play better. The Lions allowed a combined 57 points in two games while recording just one sack.11. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1)Previous Rank: 11Jacksonville's offense hasn't been as good as we'd hoped, but it's early. Trevor Lawrence and Calvin Ridley should soon become one of the league's best QB-WR duos. The defense doing its part thus far is promising.12. Cleveland Browns (1-1)Previous Rank: 10The Browns' defense seems to be a real force, but it's tough to know if the offense is going to be able to keep up - especially without Nick Chubb. Deshaun Watson hasn't proven capable of carrying this group.13. New Orleans Saints (2-0)Previous Rank: 16New Orleans has found a way to close out games when it matters most. Credit goes to a stingy defense that has made opposing quarterbacks miserable with four sacks in each of the team's matchups.14. New York Jets (1-1)Previous Rank: 12It's going to be tough sledding for the Jets without Aaron Rodgers. Zach Wilson isn't a starting-caliber quarterback, and there is no obvious option to replace him.15. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1) Joe Sargent / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 17The Steelers' defense stepped up to knock off the Browns and save this team from the dreaded 0-2 start. It was an important win, but major questions remain about whether the offense is capable of doing its part.16. Los Angeles Chargers (0-2)Previous Rank: 13The Chargers' offense seems to be legit. This team can never seem to put it all together, though, as Brandon Staley's defense has been shredded through two games.17. Atlanta Falcons (2-0)Previous Rank: 23The Falcons will have a hard time throwing the ball with any sort of consistency, but is it even going to matter? Bijan Robinson is already a superstar.18. Washington Commanders (2-0)Previous Rank: 20Opening the season with games against the Cardinals and Broncos is about as easy as it gets, but give credit where it's due: The Commanders are much improved. Eric Bieniemy's offense is going to give this team a chance.19. Green Bay Packers (1-1)Previous Rank: 15There will be bumps in the road, but it's pretty clear this Packers team has everything it needs to compete in the immediate aftermath of the Aaron Rodgers era. Jordan Love can play.20. New York Giants (1-1) Christian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 21Storming back to knock off the Cardinals was an exciting first win for the Giants and potentially a promising sign for the offense getting things together. That such a comeback was even needed against one of the league's weakest teams is slightly concerning, though.21. Tennessee Titans (1-1)Previous Rank: 25Once again the NFL's most pesky underdogs, the Titans are going to be a tough opponent every week. Can they get enough out of the passing game to make some noise in the AFC playoff picture?22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0)Previous Rank: 26Tom who? Baker Mayfield has led the Buccaneers to a 2-0 start with a pair of victories over the NFC North despite the imposing shadow of the sport's most accomplished player.23. Los Angeles Rams (1-1)Previous Rank: 22It was a spirited effort for a feisty Rams group that gave the 49ers all they could handle last weekend. Puka Nacua and Kyren Williams continue to be excellent complements to Matthew Stafford.24. Minnesota Vikings (0-2)Previous Rank: 19Despite back-to-back dazzling outings from Justin Jefferson, the Vikings remain winless. Minnesota will be in tough against the Chargers, who are also seeking their first victory.25. New England Patriots (0-2) Maddie Meyer / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 18New England is winless after two contests for the first time since 2001. Mac Jones is showing signs of improvement, but the Patriots have struggled to overcome the early holes they find themselves in.26. Las Vegas Raiders (1-1)Previous Rank: 24After riding high to open the season, the Silver and Black were humbled in their second road game against the Bills. The Raiders will need to establish their ground game to take some pressure off Jimmy Garoppolo.27. Indianapolis Colts (1-1)Previous Rank: 29The health of Anthony Richardson is the top priority for Indianapolis. Fortunately, Gardner Minshew stepped up alongside a defensive unit that racked up six sacks and 10 tackles for loss against Houston.28. Carolina Panthers (0-2)Previous Rank: 28Carolina remains the only winless club in the NFC South. The Panthers show glimpses of promise but continue to endure growing pains as rookie quarterback Bryce Young adjusts to being the face of the franchise.29. Denver Broncos (0-2)Previous Rank: 27The Broncos came heartbreakingly close to their first victory. Getting in the win column only gets more difficult with a road trip to take on the red-hot Dolphins this weekend.30. Houston Texans (0-2) Carmen Mandato / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 30C.J. Stroud displayed some of the potential that helped him become the No. 2 pick this past draft. Houston's young roster will continue to endure growing pains in DeMeco Ryans' debut season on the sideline.31. Arizona Cardinals (0-2)Previous Rank: 32The Cardinals have given their opposition as much as they could handle each week. Despite shutting the Giants out for the first half, Arizona is struggling to put together a complete game to secure an elusive win.32. Chicago Bears (0-2)Previous Rank: 31Nothing seems to be going right for the Bears given the influx of talent they added in the offseason. Although Justin Fields has established a connection with D.J. Moore, the defense floundered in yet another lopsided loss.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. 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Star pass-rusher T.J. Watt became the Pittsburgh Steelers' all-time sack leader Monday night.Watt climbed to the top of the franchise list with 81.5 sacks after hauling down Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson late in the second quarter.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on Spotify, Apple, Google, and Stitcher.In this episode, Boone discusses the latest injuries and the top players available on the waiver wire.

New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley sprained his ankle in Sunday's 31-28 win over the Arizona Cardinals and is expected to be sidelined for three weeks, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Barkley suffered the injury in the final seconds of the contest while being tackled during a run. He was unable to put weight on his right leg while being helped off the field. The 26-year-old's postgame X-rays came back negative. An MRI on Monday showed Barkley only sustained an "ordinary" sprain, Schefter adds.Barkley's injury is a big blow to the Giants' offense, which hasn't looked great two games into the season. New York lost its season opener to the Dallas Cowboys 40-0 and didn't score its first points until the third quarter versus Arizona in Week 2.Despite the slow start Sunday, the Giants rallied from a 21-point deficit to beat the Cardinals, with Barkley being an integral part. The Pro Bowl tailback finished the game with 92 scrimmage yards and two total touchdowns.Injuries have been an issue for Barkley throughout his career, as the Penn State product missed 20 games from 2019-21. He managed to stay healthy in 2022 and finished the campaign with 1,650 scrimmage yards to go along with 10 scores.Barkley has racked up 6,224 total yards and 39 touchdowns in 62 appearances since the Giants selected him second overall in 2018.New York visits the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday Night Football in Week 3. The Giants then face the Seattle Seahawks and Miami Dolphins in the following weeks.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle entered concussion protocol, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Waddle was evaluated for a concussion after taking a big hit late in the club's Sunday night victory over the New England Patriots. He didn't return to the contest. The 24-year-old had a team-high 86 yards on four receptions before Miami ruled him out.Waddle will have several days to clear protocol ahead of the Dolphins' next game, a Sunday afternoon showdown against the 0-2 Denver Broncos in Miami.Through two contests, Waddle has eight catches on 11 targets for 164 yards. He hasn't scored a touchdown this season.Waddle posted back-to-back seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards, including a 1,356-yard campaign last year. The speedster has tallied 187 receptions, 2,535 yards, and 14 touchdowns over 35 career games.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said he expects more from his top defensive players following Sunday's 37-31 overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks."We're not winning our one-on-ones," Campbell said about Detroit's pass rush. "You can really say some of that in the back end, too. The guys that have their one-on-ones, we gotta win those. Defensively, we need our most reliable players to be reliable. That was a big thing that came out of that game. It certainly looks and tastes a lot worse when you lose that game, but ultimately, you can argue we spotted them 14 points on offense, and that's hard on your defense."Campbell didn't specifically name any players, saying "they know who they are."The 47-year-old coach added: "I just expect more. I expect more reliability out of those guys."Detroit allowed 57 points combined in its first two games this season while recording just one sack. It's also only forced one turnover this year.The NFC North club upset the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium 21-20 in Week 1. The Lions led the Seahawks 21-14 in the third quarter but were unable to keep that lead, and quarterback Jared Goff threw a pick-6 in the fourth quarter."The picks will come. ... It's more about us forcing them," Campbell said. "The way we hit, we bite the ball, we gotta get strips, we have to make a conscious effort. These are things we work in practice, but if you want it, you gotta emphasize it. So what we're emphasizing is not being emphasized. So we gotta go back, and there's gotta be a different way to do it."The Lions, who've aggressively addressed their defense in recent years, also had a bottom-five unit in the first two seasons under Campbell and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, who both joined the club in 2021.After drafting edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson second overall in 2022, Detroit used a first-round pick on linebacker Jack Campbell and a second-round selection on defensive back Brian Branch this year. The club also signed safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson and cornerback Cameron Sutton in free agency.The Lions host the Atlanta Falcons in Week 3.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's hard to imagine this early in the season, but all six divisional games each team plays have playoff implications at stake - especially for the AFC North and NFC South, two divisions expected to have close finishes.Monday night's doubleheader showcases two divisional matchups with the Saints at Panthers and Browns at Steelers.For a more traditional breakdown of the games and some best bets, check out Matt Russell's piece.Saints @ Panthers (+3), 39.5, 7:15 ETThe NFC South is one of football's weaker divisions. Last year, the Buccaneers won the division with a losing record (8-9) and it could be a similar situation this year.The Saints opened the season as the favorites, and remain so, despite the Falcons and Bucs' surprising starts.NFC South OddsTeam OddsSaints+125Falcons+170Bucs+450Panthers+1200The Falcons and Bucs are both 2-0 with some impressive showings, despite perceived quarterback uncertainty prior to the season.The Falcons already have a head start in the division race because of their Week 1 win over the Panthers. The Bucs have yet to play a divisional opponent.The Panthers looked like a team starting a rookie quarterback in their season opener. Bryce Young had moments where he showed why he was selected No. 1 but his inexperience was also evident.Carolina has the longest odds to win the division right now at 6.5. If the team does come in last place in a developmental season, the other NFC South contenders need to rack up wins in their two games against the Panthers.That's what the Saints are tasked with Monday night. New Orleans looked impressive in the team's first victory against Denver. Derek Carr was poised and trusted his weapons Chris Olave and Michael Thomas to make plays.The division favorite will look to build on that performance while Young searches for his first career win.Carr aired the ball out for 305 yards in the season opener, while Young only had 146. Carr's passing yards line is set at 230.5 for tonight, while Young's is 188.5.TheScore Bet offers a special for Carr and Young to each record over 274.5 passing yards at +2500 ($10 to win $25). It also offers Carr to throw over 1.5 touchdowns and the Saints to win at +160.Conversely, there's another special for Young to throw over 1.5 touchdowns and the Panthers to win at +450.Browns @ Steelers (+2), 37.5, 8:15 ETUnlike the NFC South, the AFC North is one of the most competitive divisions in football with four teams who all have a legitimate chance at making the playoffs.The Bengals were the clear favorites to win the division before the action began. However, after an 0-2 start, the Bengals moved to the third spot at +350, swapping with the Browns after Cleveland's Week 1 victory. It should be noted, though, that Cincinnati started 0-2 last season and still won the division and made the AFC title game.AFC North oddsTeam OddsRavens+145Browns+200Bengals+350Steelers+750The Ravens' odds shortened and they became the favorites after a 2-0 start, including a 27-24 win over the Bengals on Sunday.The Steelers still have the worst odds - and they've lengthened after an ugly season-opening loss to the 49ers.Pittsburgh can rewrite its narrative and potentially gain some ground in the division race against a Cleveland team that looked unstoppable in Week 1.The Ravens and Browns already have a head start with 1-0 division records, and the Browns could gain even more ground with a win tonight. However, the line favoring the Browns by only two points suggests Pittsburgh's embarrassing loss and Cleveland's dominant Week 1 performance were more of a fluke than the norm.Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett struggled in Week 1, throwing for 232 yards and two interceptions. TheScore Bet offers a special for Pickett and Deshaun Watson to each throw over 274.5 passing yards at +2800, which are incredibly long odds considering neither quarterback came close to that last week.If you think the Steelers will upset the Browns and Pickett will have a bounce-back performance, you can bet on him to throw over 1.5 touchdowns and the Steelers to win at +325.Sam Oshtry is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X, formally known as Twitter, @soshtry for more betting coverage.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow expects his team to bounce back from its slow start to the season - just like last year."We've done it before," Burrow said after Cincy's 27-24 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2, according to bengals.com. "Obviously, you don't want to start 0-2, it's not what we're planning on, not what you want to do at all. But now we're going to bounce back, that's what we do, it's all there is to it."The Bengals kicked off their 2023 campaign with a disappointing 24-3 defeat to the Cleveland Browns, compiling only 142 total yards on offense in the performance. Burrow finished the game with a career-low 82 passing yards while completing just 45.2% of his passes. The 2020 first overall pick played better versus Baltimore, tossing 222 yards and two touchdowns against an end-zone interception. However, it wasn't enough to prevent Cincy from suffering its second loss in as many games.The Burrow-led Bengals have been in this position before, as they started the 2022 season 0-2. The 26-year-old also showed optimism last year before the team bounced back to finish the campaign with a 12-4 record. Burrow then led Cincy to its second consecutive AFC title game appearance."We just didn't play well enough to win either of these games," Burrow added. "We've got to find ways to make those plays down the stretch to win these kinds of games. Every time you play an AFC North team, it's going to look like that. You're going to have seven possessions, so you're going to have to make the most of them."Burrow, who finished fourth for MVP last season, mentioned a calf injury that sidelined him during training camp as one of the reasons for Cincinnati's slow start in 2023. He aggravated the injury in Week 2."I'm still confident," Burrow said. "I feel really confident in all the guys we have in that room. Like I said, we're going to have to see how that calf feels the next couple of days. I don't know how it's going to feel. We'll see."The Bengals host the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football in Week 3.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Jets running back Breece Hall said he knows why the team couldn't get anything going in its loss to the Dallas Cowboys."I only got four touches," said Hall, according to Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. "That's why we struggled. It is what it is. We just got down early today and just abandoned the run."Hall reportedly tweeted four football emojis after the game. The tweet has since been deleted.The Jets only ran for 64 yards in Sunday's game. Quarterback Zach Wilson led the way with 36. Hall had four carries for 9 yards, and no Jets running back eclipsed 10 rushing yards in the game.New York's offense struggled, totaling only 215 yards and 12 first downs. Wilson had a rough first start of the 2023 season, completing less than 50% of his passes for 170 yards and three interceptions.The Jets will take on the New England Patriots in Week 3.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David said his team knew what play the Chicago Bears were running on Shaquil Barrett's game-sealing pick-six in the fourth quarter."Big play," David said, according to Greg Auman of Fox Sports. "I mean, they called a screen, same formation. Everybody knew what was coming."He added: "Playmakers make plays. (Barrett's) number was called, and he made the play."Trailing by three points, the Bears had the ball deep in their territory with 2:24 remaining in the game. Chicago called a screen pass that Barrett intercepted and returned for a touchdown to all but ice the contest.The Buccaneers' defense swarmed the Bears' offense all day, sacking quarterback Justin Fields six times. Chicago averaged just 4.6 yards per play with only 14 first downs.Fields struggled throughout the game, finishing with 16 completions on 29 attempts for 211 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. The 24-year-old ran for just three yards, his fewest in any of his starts since entering the league as a first-round pick in 2021.Chicago's offense is off to a slow start in 2023, scoring just four touchdowns through two games. The Bears have now lost 12 straight games dating back to last season.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Cowboys defense isn't short on confidence."You just witnessed the best defense in the world, we don't care about nobody else. They've got to come match our energy," defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence said to NFL Network's Omar Ruiz following the team's 30-10 victory over the New York Jets on Sunday.The Dallas defense finished the rout with one fumble recovery, three sacks, five tackles for loss, five QB hits, seven pass breakups, and a trio of interceptions. Lawrence had one tackle for loss and one deflection to pair with his two solo tackles."This is expected for where we want to go," star pass-rusher Micah Parsons said according to team reporter Nick Harris. "(This game) just means that you're improving. Finishing games, closing them out, smothering people, not giving them that hope and dream that they can come back in this game when they're on the same playing field as us."Parsons finished the contest with four tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, four QB hits, and one deflection. The 24-year-old also forced and recovered a Dalvin Cook fumble."I'm very happy with where we're at right now," Parsons added.Jets quarterback Zach Wilson, who was thrust into the starting role after Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles in Week 1, never found his rhythm. The third-year passer finished with 170 yards, one touchdown, and three picks on 12-of-27 passing.Through two games, the Cowboys have outscored opponents by a combined 70-10 on the back of their productive defense. The unit has forced two fumble recoveries, 10 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, 17 QB hits, 15 pass breakups, and five interceptions.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill had some harsh words for New England Patriots fans after his team's win on Sunday night."Those fans are some of the worst fans in the NFL," Hill said, according to Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN. "And I'm going to stand on that; they are real nasty. Some of the things they were saying, I wouldn't say in church. So yeah, it felt great to wave goodbye to the fans, and I'll do it again. Bye."This isn't the first time Hill has had trouble with Patriots fans. In 2018, when Hill was with the Kansas City Chiefs, a man was charged with disorderly conduct after throwing a beer at Hill after he scored a touchdown at Gillette Stadium.The seven-time Pro Bowler did score a touchdown, but it was a quiet night for his standards as he only hauled in five catches for 40 yards.The Dolphins jumped out to an early lead, but New England fought back in the second half to make the game interesting. The Patriots were down 24-17 with a chance to tie the game in the final minutes, but Miami shut New England's offense down to secure the victory."It feels good, man," Hill said. "It always feels good to beat probably one of the greatest coaches of all time."To come in here in a tough environment, to win a game like this on a Sunday night, it feels good - especially the way this team played, the way this team battled through adversity."The Dolphins will take on the Denver Broncos in Week 3.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We've got a Monday Night Football doubleheader and, unlike years past, we don't need to be up until the wee hours to take in both games. We only need a pair of screens. So, with our space split in half, let's get right to a side and a prop for each matchup.Saints @ Panthers (-3, 39.5)The Saints won but didn't cover against the Titans in Week 1. But considering Tennessee's win over the Chargers on Sunday, that result looks better despite New Orleans scoring just 16 points.The Panthers were beaten handily by the Falcons. Worryingly, Bryce Young made some throws over the middle and didn't pick up on veteran defensive back Jessie Bates III lurking for a pair of interceptions. New Orleans has plenty of experience in its secondary and repeatedly jumped routes on Ryan Tannehill passes last week. Until Young proves he can burn defenses that watch him in the pocket, the run game is going to struggle too.Offensively, the Saints have a bounty of receiver depth that's going to be nearly impossible for the Panthers to match up with now that cornerback Jaycee Horn is out for this game. Derek Carr spreads it around and the Panthers can't keep up.Pick: Saints (-3)Michael Thomas: Over 4.5 receptions (-105)Michael Thomas' return to relevance was quiet in Week 1, but he saw eight targets from Carr and caught five of them. While Chris Olave is the star, Thomas is the reliable receiver on his patented intermediate slant routes. That will come in handy on the road, so look for Thomas to pile up a similar number of catches in Week 2.Browns @ Steelers (+2, 38.5)The Steelers got smoked in Week 1, but that actually benefits us in two ways. Pittsburgh's 30-7 loss immediately gives Mike Tomlin his team's attention - which is usually a profitable time to bet on the Steelers. Tomlin has a great record against the spread as an underdog. When the market is selling his team, that's when it exceeds expectations. In hindsight, being short home underdogs to the 49ers was probably too high an expectation last week. But the Steelers now face virtually the same point spread against the Browns.Cleveland enjoyed a nice win over an ill-prepared Bengals group - whose offense still wasn't back to form against the Ravens on Sunday - but putting the Browns on the same level as the 49ers is silly. If this line is built more on the assumption that Pittsburgh should be downgraded, remember that Tomlin is 19-3 on Monday Night Football. There's no reason to believe the Steelers won't give their best effort.On the field, the Steelers' depth in the front seven means they can withstand the loss of Cameron Heyward, while the Browns have the greater challenge of replacing a top-tier right tackle in Jack Conklin. T.J. Watt wrecks the game on that side of the ball, while the offense looks better after a full week of preparation.Pick: Steelers moneyline (+115)Deshaun Watson: Under 199.5 passing yardsThe Steelers offense won't suddenly be more explosive, but mere functionality means longer possessions. The Browns had a shocking 14 possessions in Week 1 because of how quickly the Bengals gave them back the ball. With all those chances, Deshaun Watson mustered just 154 yards on 29 pass attempts. Offensively, the Browns should keep the dropbacks to a minimum with Watt looming over a backup tackle. So we'll bet against Watson having just his third 200-yard game in eight starts for Cleveland.Matt Russell is the lead betting analyst for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on social media @mrussauthentic.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their significance moving forward.Bengals have a problem Dylan Buell / Getty Images Sport / GettyKeep that panic button nearby.We'll reserve total judgment for at least another few weeks, as everything about this Bengals team still has the makings of a full-fledged wagon. But you're simply not paying attention if you aren't at least raising an eyebrow at the offense's failures in the early weeks after Joe Burrow's return from a calf injury.Burrow started the season with a stinker in Cleveland, completing 14 of 31 passes for a career-low 82 yards and no touchdowns. Whether it was rust, the sloppy weather, or a combination of the two, it was just one game. The results weren't any better early in Sunday's loss to the Ravens, though.Seemingly unable to create much outside of structure, and intent on getting the ball out of his hands faster than we've ever seen, the star quarterback was 8-of-11 for just 35 yards in the first half before opening the third quarter with an interception on a brutal decision over the middle of the field.Burrow got a little more comfortable from there, leading a pair of touchdown drives to help the Bengals make a game of it, but he was seen with a noticeable limp as the clock ran out in the fourth quarter. In his postgame media availability, he revealed he'd aggravated the calf injury.It'll likely be a few days before we get any sort of meaningful update on Burrow's status heading into next week. Avoiding any missed time would, of course, be the ideal scenario. But even that wouldn't be enough to restore full confidence in this offense.Calf injuries have a tendency to linger. Burrow's clearly not himself right now, and it's fair to wonder when he'll even have a chance to be if the treatment plan is to simply have him battle through it - especially as the weather starts to get colder.Unfortunately for the Bengals, shutting him down for any significant period of time feels even less palatable now that they've started 0-2. This team needs to win now if it's going to avoid falling too far back in an ultra-competitive AFC. There's really no easy answer for this dilemma.Allen steadies the ship Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images Sport / GettyJosh Allen's season couldn't have started much worse. All of the quarterback's most frustrating qualities were on display throughout a reckless performance last Monday night, with his three interceptions and five sacks being the difference in a shocking loss to the Jets.The way the Bills superstar bounced back this week tells us he learned all the right lessons from that disaster.Allen was clinical in Buffalo's blowout win over the Raiders, completing 31 of 37 passes for 274 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. He was smart, patient, and precise. Most notably, he finally just dialed it back a little bit.The Raiders seemingly made a point of taking away the big plays downfield, as many teams have begun to do against these unicorn quarterbacks. Allen was far more willing to adjust on this day, though, efficiently working his progressions underneath and taking what the defense gave him. The result: his best passer rating (124.5) since Week 2 of last season.Allen isn't magically going to become a quick-game specialist from the pocket, nor should he. His rare combination of all-time arm talent and unique playmaking traits will always make him most valuable when he's shredding defenses downfield. But opponents, like the Jets in Week 1, aren't going to present the opportunity for such plays if they don't have the faintest respect for the possibility of him showing some patience in the pocket.Not every defense will be as hapless as the Raiders', and there will be times when Allen simply can't help himself from trying to make magic. But more performances like this would go a long way toward allowing him to achieve his true potential as a passer.Factor in the emergence of James Cook, who is quickly establishing himself as a dynamic every-down back, and there may be no stopping this version of the Bills' offense. It's on Allen to make sure this is the one we see, however unspectacular, when defenses don't give him another option.Fins all the way up Maddie Meyer / Getty Images Sport / GettyIt's about time we jump on the Dolphins' bandwagon.The offense, as we've now seen through two completely different games, has an answer for anything you throw at it. In Week 1, it was one explosive play after another against the same Chargers defense that was thought to have solved Miami's passing game last December.Mike McDaniel and his staff learned from the humbling outing against L.A.'s press-man coverage, adjusting for the rematch with some creative pre-snap motions to get receivers off the ball and into their routes on time. The result was a near flawless 466-yard performance from Tua Tagovailoa and a statement win to start the season.Bill Belichick had a different approach in mind Sunday night, regularly deploying three deep safeties to take away any and all opportunities down the field. To his credit, it largely worked as intended - the Dolphins were forced to stay patient, attack the short areas of the field, and really grind it out on offense. But that's fine with them. Tua demonstrates some majestic timing and precision in control of this offense at all levels, and his playmakers are unparalleled.And don't forget: This Shanahan-style system can scheme it up in the run game, too. Raheem Mostert took full advantage of the light boxes, running for 121 yards and two touchdowns, including a 43-yard fourth-quarter score that proved to be the game winner.The defense was a bit of a different story coming out of the opener, having surrendered 233 rushing yards to the Chargers - an uncharacteristically poor effort for a Vic Fangio unit. Those issues appear to have been rectified in short order, though. Miami bottled up the run game throughout, limiting Rhamondre Stevenson and Ezekiel Elliott to a combined 63 rushing yards. Fangio's pressure schemes were effective up front in the pass game, forcing Mac Jones into a frustrating night in which he averaged just 5.5 yards per attempt.It may take some time for Miami to get the love it deserves on the national level, with the majority of the football world gravitating toward teams led by the consensus group of elite passers. But the Dolphins have as much balance as anyone else, and a quarterback approaching top-10 status himself.There's no reason Tua can't contend for an MVP in this offense, and there's no reason the Dolphins can't hang with the big dogs in the AFC looking ahead to January.0-2 club members Justin Edmonds / Getty Images Sport / GettyYou know the drill: Start 0-2 and you're in big trouble.Since the 1990 expansion of the playoff format, only 31 of 270 teams to start a season with consecutive losses have managed to rebound and make the playoffs, according to The Associated Press. Last season's Bengals were the first team to complete the turnaround since the Seahawks in 2018.It would probably be wise to exercise a bit more patience with the NFL having expanded to a 17-game season, but the general point remains - there is only so much time to dig yourself out of an early-season hole. Here's a look at who is sitting 0-2 through two games, and who they've got on the schedule for virtual must-win scenarios next week.

Raheem Mostert scored two touchdowns as the Miami Dolphins put the New England Patriots in unfamiliar territory with their 24-17 victory on Sunday night.The loss to the Dolphins marks the first 0-2 start the Patriots have endured in over twenty years with the last occurrence coming in 2001.More to come.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley is believed to have sprained his ankle in Sunday's 31-28 victory over the Arizona Cardinals, sources told NFL insider Jordan Schultz.The Giants are reportedly under the impression that he dodged a serious injury. Barkley will undergo an MRI on Monday to confirm, Schultz adds.Barkley suffered the injury while being tackled during a run in the final seconds of the contest. The 26-year-old was helped off the field unable to put weight on his right leg.

Los Angeles Rams running back Cam Akers was a healthy scratch in Sunday's 30-23 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.Akers could end up being traded, Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reported Sunday, according to Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk.The 24-year-old seemingly reacted to the reports on social media:

Los Angeles Rams receiver Puka Nacua made history Sunday by breaking the all-time rookie record for the most catches through the first two games of a career.Nacua topped Earl Cooper's previous mark of 19 catches in the second half of the 30-23 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. He later caught five more passes to extend the record to 25 receptions.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow said he aggravated his calf injury toward the end of Sunday's 27-24 loss to the Baltimore Ravens."I'm not sure how it's going to feel in the next couple of days," said Burrow, according to Mike Petraglia of Jungle Roar Pod. "It's pretty sore right now, but (there is) no telling how it's going to feel, so I think we're going to take it day-by-day."Burrow was seen limping as he walked onto the field following the loss, which dropped Cincinnati to 0-2. He added that he tweaked his calf on the play before his second touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter.Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said the plan was for Burrow to return if the team got the ball back at the end of the game, according to James Taylor of NFL Network.The 26-year-old originally suffered the calf strain in late July and returned to practice in early September.Burrow struggled against Baltimore following a poor Week 1 performance. He threw for 222 yards and two scores but threw one crucial red-zone interception and averaged just 5.4 yards per attempt.The former No. 1 pick - who signed an NFL-record five-year, $275-million extension ahead of the regular season - finished the season-opening loss to the Cleveland Browns with 82 yards on 31 attempts.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. suffered an ankle injury during a 27-24 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.Head coach John Harbaugh said postgame that he doesn't believe Beckham's injury is serious.Before exiting the game, the star wideout hauled in three passes for 29 yards.Beckham signed a one-year, $15-million deal with the Ravens in the offseason. Baltimore also drafted wide receiver Zay Flowers in the first round of the 2023 draft in an effort to improve quarterback Lamar Jackson's passing attack options.Injuries have nagged the former Pro Bowler for several years. He's suffered multiple ankle ailments and ACL tears throughout his career that forced him to miss time.The 30-year-old had two receptions for 37 yards in the Ravens' Week 1 victory over the Houston Texans.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson won't return to Sunday's game against the Houston Texans after suffering a concussion.Gardner Minshew replaced the No. 4 overall pick, who headed to the locker room early in the second quarter.Richardson was in the midst of a strong game, rushing for two first-quarter touchdowns to help the Colts take an early lead over their division rivals.He appeared to hit his head on the ground while being hit on his second rushing score.

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is active for the team's Week 2 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.The rookie passer appeared on the team's injury report Friday with a right shoulder injury and was questionable to play in the game.Stroud completed 63.6% of his passes in the team's season opener against the Baltimore Ravens for 242 yards. He didn't throw any touchdowns or interceptions.The No. 2 pick in April's draft will face a Colts defense that surrendered 241 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns to Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence a week ago.While Stroud is good to go, he'll be without left tackle Laremy Tunsil, who won't suit up for the club due to a knee issue. The 29-year-old played 100% of the team's offensive snaps in Week 1.Tunsil is on a growing list of Houston offensive linemen that aren't available: Right tackle Tytus Howard is unavailable for several weeks with a broken hand, rookie center Juice Scruggs is on short-term injured reserve, left guard Kenyon Green is done for the season with a shoulder injury, and center Scott Quessenberry is out for the year with a torn ACL and MCL.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper is unlikely to face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The Browns listed Cooper as questionable on Saturday due to a groin injury."Aggravated his groin," head coach Kevin Stefanski said Saturday, according to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. "We brought him inside. We'll evaluate him over the next 48 hours."Cooper had core muscle surgery in the offseason. The 29-year-old sat out Thursday's practice on a regular day of veteran rest but was a full participant at Friday's session.A four-time Pro Bowler, Cooper caught three passes for 37 yards in Cleveland's Week 1 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. He led the Browns with 1,160 receiving yards and nine TD catches in 2022 after joining the team in a trade from the Dallas Cowboys.Cleveland's wide receiver depth chart also features Elijah Moore - who amassed a team-high 43 receiving yards in Week 1 - Donovan Peoples-Jones, and third-round rookie Cedric Tillman, among others.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.theScore's Justin Boone was first overall in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition in 2019 and finished among the top seven each of his last seven years in the contest. Follow the links below to see his rankings for Week 2.Half PPR

SSSQ is a weekly look at under-the-radar fantasy players to consider starting and potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut.Consult our Week 2 rankings for the rest of your lineup decisions. You can also listen to the Week 2 preview episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast.StartDaniel Jones, Giantsat Cardinals Rich Schultz / Getty Images Sport / GettyEverything that could have gone wrong in the Giants' opener absolutely did, coming away on the embarrassing side of a 40-0 loss to the division-rival Cowboys.However, that result said more about Dallas than New York.Fortunately, the Cowboys' defense isn't following the G-Men to Arizona this week - where the Giants are four-point favorites over the Cardinals.Fantasy managers will need to show some faith to put Jones in their starting lineups after such a poor performance in Week 1. But head coach Brian Daboll will get his team back on track against this softer opponent.Jones finished as a top-10 fantasy QB despite two subpar matchups versus the Cowboys last year, and we're still projecting him to be in that range this season.Boone's projection: 248 passing yards, 2 passing TDs, 41 rushing yardsOther QBs to start

The Green Bay Packers are set to be without two of their top offensive weapons in Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons.Running back Aaron Jones and wide receiver Christian Watson are both expected to miss the Week 2 matchup due to hamstring injuries, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.Jones suffered the injury in the team's Week 1 win over the Chicago Bears. He ended the week as questionable but failed to practice in all three sessions.Meanwhile, Watson's absence will mark his second straight game missed. The former second-round pick led the Packers in touchdown receptions last season with seven.AJ Dillon is expected to receive a larger workload out of the backfield with Jones sidelined.Green Bay is off to a 1-0 start with Jordan Love firmly established as the starting quarterback.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Aaron Rodgers is doing everything possible to keep the door open on a playoff return.The New York Jets quarterback underwent an innovative surgery on his torn left Achilles that could possibly get him back on the field faster than expected, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero report.Rodgers had an Achilles "speed bridge," which involves an internal brace being placed on the ailment in the procedure. The alternative surgery was created with the intention that athletes could return from a torn Achilles in roughly four months, Rapoport and Pelissero add. However, the procedure does not guarantee a faster recovery, and Rodgers' age and rehab will also be a factor.There is reportedly also the possibility that the veteran gets platelet-rich plasma injections.Rodgers left the door open on a possible playoff return earlier this week, stating "anything's possible" during an appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show." He also alluded to the fact that his rehab plan would "shock" people."There's a lot of different ideas about the overall length of the rehab," Rodgers said Friday. "I think what I like to say is just because somebody hasn't ever done it a certain way doesn't mean it's not possible. Definitely some odds stacked against me based on age, but I like it."The 39-year-old tore his Achilles just four snaps into his highly anticipated Jets debut on Monday night. The Jets turned to Zach Wilson in the prime-time victory over the Buffalo Bills.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler has been downgraded to out for Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans due to an ankle injury, the team announced Saturday.Ekeler, who racked up 164 scrimmage yards and scored a touchdown in L.A.'s Week 1 loss to the Miami Dolphins, didn't practice this week. He was originally listed as doubtful.The 28-year-old led the NFL in total touchdowns in the last two seasons, recording 38 TDs in 2021 and 2022. With Ekeler likely sidelined, Joshua Kelley is expected to carry the load at running back for the Chargers. Kelley rushed for 91 yards and one touchdown while picking up eight first downs on 16 carries in Week 1.The Chargers also may not have one of their defensive cornerstones versus the Titans, as Joey Bosa is listed as questionable with a hamstring injury.Bosa was a limited participant at Friday's practice after missing Wednesday's and Thursday's sessions. Injuries limited the four-time Pro Bowler to five appearances and 2.5 sacks in 2022. He racked up only one tackle in the opener against the Dolphins.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Trust me, I'm content with a 5-5 start in Week 1 of our player props. Sure, we dropped a half-unit, but it's a small price to pay to note that the under might be the way to play this week with so much usage uncertainty and star quarterbacks yet to find their form.Joe Burrow: Under 265.5 passing yards / Under 11.5 rushing yardsJoe Burrow shouldn't be worried about an awful Week 1 performance. However, it'd be thoroughly impressive if he surpassed this total after recording 2.1 yards per pass attempt and 82 total passing yards last week, especially since he totaled just 217, 215, and 207 yards in three meetings versus the Ravens last season.As a bonus, Burrow is also lined at 11.5 rushing yards, which is his usual total when healthy. If he's still not comfortable scrambling after recording one carry last week, he'll be less likely to take on a lurking Roquan Smith.Justin Fields: Under 61.5 rushing yardsNFL defensive coordinators seemingly spent the offseason trying to handle the proliferation of mobile quarterbacks, with Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson, Daniel Jones, and Josh Allen having all been slowed so far. Justin Fields currently has the most quarterback rushing yards, but the Buccaneers have linebackers with the ability to cover the width of the field when Fields takes off.Bijan Robinson: Over 2.5 receptions (-130)Bijan Robinson wasn't drafted eighth overall to carry the ball 30 times. He was picked that high because he can help Desmond Ridder by catching short passes and doing cool stuff afterward. Sure enough, he caught six balls, including a highlight-reel touchdown, after being lined at 2.5 in Week 1. Robinson's lined at 2.5 again, and we'll be betting this until the sportsbooks adjust considerably. He's also 10-1 to have 50-plus receiving yards against the Packers, who gave up 11 receptions to Bears tailbacks last week.Zack Moss: Over 47.5 rushing yardsZach Moss was tabbed to be the Colts' starting running back this summer once it was clear Jonathan Taylor wouldn't be available. Then Moss broke his arm.One intrepid bettor was overwhelmed by Indy's main issue in Week 1:

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell can find a silver lining despite his team's disappointing start to the 2023 season."Although the results these first two weeks have not gone our way, I do think that there's some encouraging things about our team right now from a standpoint of certain aspects of how we're playing," O'Connell said Friday, according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk."Whether it be Kirk (Cousins') performance last night, the way our pass game continues to keep us in football games despite a lot of things that negatively affect us as far as turning the football over with the fumbling issue. Our team's fight to be an onside kick away from having a chance to win that game in a very, very tough place to go win on a short week."Minnesota suffered a 34-28 defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday Night Football, just four days after the team was upset by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home in Week 1.The Vikings turned the ball over four times versus the Eagles. They now have a minus-6 turnover differential in 2023, easily the worst in the NFL. Minnesota has suffered six fumbles this year."There is, no doubt, some major, major areas of improvement from a standpoint of ball security," O'Connell added. "You just can't be minus-6 after two games in the turnover differential. It goes against everything we do believe with our football philosophy."We're already in the process of finding new and, hopefully, more results-based ways of getting back to the basics of drilling and techniques and fundamentals of every rep we take to make sure ball security becomes a premium."The Vikings didn't suffer their second loss last season until Week 11. They finished the campaign first in the NFC North with a 13-4 record.Cousins has completed 72.7% of his passes for 708 yards and six touchdowns against just one interception in 2023. Reigning Offensive Player of the Year Justin Jefferson already has 309 yards on 20 receptions but has yet to catch a touchdown.The Vikings have struggled to move the ball on the ground after releasing four-time Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook during the offseason. They've amassed only 69 rushing yards (2.7 per carry) through two games in 2023.Minnesota hosts the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 3.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.