The Cincinnati Bengals will get to test out their new toy on Thursday night.Rookie receiver John Ross is expected to make his pro debut on "Thursday Night Football" versus the Houston Texans, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.Ross, the ninth overall pick in this year's draft, earned just one catch and two rushes during the preseason before spraining his knee in the team's final exhibition game - holding him out of the Bengals' lineup in Week 1.The speedster from Washington set a new record in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, clocking in at 4.22 seconds.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mike Tolbert has no problem sharing some secrets about his former team.The fullback spent five years with the Carolina Panthers, but will now face them in Week 2 as a member of the Buffalo Bills.Tolbert knows there's a code about sharing details from the Panthers' playbook, but that won't stop him from helping the Bills gain every possible advantage."There's a rule out there that snitches get stitches, but I'm gonna get a lot of stitches," Tolbert said Wednesday, according to Nick Veronica of The Buffalo News.Tolbert might not have to be all that forthcoming. Both the Bills' new head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane also made the trip north to Western New York from Carolina this offseason.- With h/t to NFL.comCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing drew a 10-game suspension Wednesday for a PED violation - the second drug-related infraction of his career. For one former teammate of Cushing's, the news didn't come as a surprise.Former Texans fullback Vonta Leach responded to the news with a tweet claiming that Cushing has "always juiced." Though Leach has since deleted the tweet, it was captured and saved by various Twitter users.Cushing blamed his previous violation on overtraining, an excuse Leach appeared to scoff at in his online message.Leach and Cushing were teammates in the 2009 and 2010 seasons.- With h/t to RedditCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Since its inception, Thursday Night Football has disappointed with a number of terrible games, and this week's matchup between the Houston Texans and Cincinnati Bengals isn't doing much to reverse that trend.The clubs combined for home losses by a 49-7 scoreline in Week 1, submitting arguably the two worst performances across the league.While it's probably just best to avoid a wager on what should be a brutal game, if you must place a bet, here's where to look.Houston Texans (+6.5) at Cincinnati BengalsIf the five turnstiles who comprised the Texans' offensive line last week make the trip to Cincinnati, this one is going to be over quick. Without star tackle Duane Brown due to a contract holdout, the Houston line allowed a franchise-record 10 sacks by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Coach Bill O'Brien opted to pull ineffective starter Tom Savage and give the ball to highly touted rookie Deshaun Watson midway through Sunday's loss, but neither quarterback did much to inspire confidence behind that woeful line.It appears the mobile Watson will get the start, but the Bengals' pass rush should have an easy time getting to the former Clemson star and making his night miserable. The Bengals' offensive line wasn't exactly a dominant outfit either in Week 1, and the tandem of J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney could have a monster game for the Texans.With both offenses looking terrible, it seems unlikely that a shootout will break out on just three days' preparation. The Texans are 7-2 against the spread in their last nine games against the Bengals, and it seems like taking the points is the prudent play here. Bengals 17, Texans 14Thursday picks record: 1-0

The recent history of the NFL could've been very different had Dak Prescott arrived on time for one of his flights.Prescott's ascension to stardom was one of the most compelling stories of the 2016 season, as he took over for an injured Tony Romo as the Dallas Cowboys' starting quarterback and never looked back en route to the Pro Bowl and Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.In another life, Prescott's star campaign could have occurred with the Denver Broncos. However, the quarterback recently revealed that he missed a flight en route to a pre-draft dinner with the Broncos, which obviously soured the organization on him."I didn’t make it to the gate," Prescott said to Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "The door shut and I had to wait. I got there later that night, but missed the initial dinner. I still had the visit, but I’m sure the quarterback not making the flight doesn't go over too well. When I got on the flight, I knew that was probably over with."The fortunes of both the Broncos and Cowboys were certainly intertwined during the 2016 draft. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was fixated on selecting Paxton Lynch - whom the Broncos chose with the 26th overall pick - but eventually opted for Prescott in the fourth round.In any event, the Broncos may be wondering what could've been Sunday, with the two teams scheduled to square off at Sports Authority Field.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Houston Texans appear to have made a decision at starting quarterback, as Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported Tuesday that Deshaun Watson will get the start Thursday against the Cincinnati Bengals.While the club has yet to make it official, the agent of Week 1 starter Tom Savage weighed in Wednesday, expressing his displeasure with the decision to pull his client during Sunday's loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars."I'm still trying to figure this out ... 31 plays and you're getting benched?" Neil Schwartz told Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio. "It makes no sense."Many expected Watson to automatically claim the starter's role after the former Clemson star was taken by the Texans with the 12th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. That didn't materialize in training camp or preseason, as Savage won out over the highly touted rookie. Schwartz took issue with such a quick hook after his client was named the No. 1 option heading into Sunday."Tom earned the right to be the starter," Schwartz said. "It wasn't given to him. And he's worked hard every day in training camp and the exhibition season to be the starter - on the field and off the field - to maintain a leadership role. After 31 plays you bench him? I have an issue."Schwartz wasn't done there, going into great detail about his shock that Savage was yanked so quickly in the proceedings."I watched all 31 plays, because that was the extent of what Tom saw in the first half," Schwartz said. "I can't figure out why (Bill O'Brien) is benching Tom. I went through every single play and I even went one step further. I asked two different NFL personnel people (or) coaches on two separate teams to evaluate and break down their film to see if I was missing something. He went 7-for-13 ... 12 of the 13 balls touched receivers' hands. The only ball that didn't was the strip-sack fumble that they called incomplete (upon replay). Seven were completions, five were drops."After the Texans allowed an incredible 10 sacks to the Jaguars on Sunday, it would make sense that the mobile Watson would get the nod until the club fixes its offensive line issues. That could be a while, however, as star tackle Duane Brown continues his contract holdout.Regardless, it probably wouldn't be a shock to see both quarterbacks in some capacity Thursday against the Bengals.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite submitting arguably the best performance of Week 1, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith believes this season will be his last with his current franchise.Smith revealed on "In Depth with Graham Bensinger" that he's getting the feeling the Chiefs are aiming to move on from him at the end of this year."For sure," Smith said when asked if 2017 feels like his last year with the Chiefs. "It absolutely does. Without a doubt."Smith was dismayed by the Chiefs' decision to trade up 17 spots with the Buffalo Bills during the this year's draft to choose quarterback Patrick Mahomes II with the No. 10 pick.Following the selection, many believed Smith would operate as a placeholder until Mahomes is ready to take the reins."It's a tough pill to swallow," Smith said. "It's like, man, (we) could've added this or this or this position or this player."The quarterback also blasted the San Francisco 49ers, where he spent the first seven years of his career after being selected first overall in the 2005 draft.

Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald refused to speak about his contract status Wednesday after returning to the team before its season opener against the Indianapolis Colts.Donald was rendered inactive for the game, ostensibly due to his absence during the preseason as he held out for a new deal. He is expected to play Week 2 against the Washington Redskins."The way I chose to handle to handle it is the way I chose to handle it. And I'm here now," Donald said Wednesday, according to NFL Network's Andrew Siciliano.Donald is the Rams' best defensive player by a significant margin, but his club didn't miss him too much Sunday in a 46-9 rout of the Colts.The 26-year-old is widely considered the NFL's best defensive tackle after earning three consecutive Pro Bowl selections and two consecutive appointments to the All-Pro first team.Donald will earn $1.8 million in base salary during the 2017 season and holds a $3.2-million cap hit.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell is in a contract year, but isn't asking for special treatment as he aims for top-tier quarterback money next summer, he told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.Bell will be paid $12.1 million in base salary during the 2017 campaign, making him the highest-paid running back in the NFL by a wide margin. However, he missed most of the team's preseason activities due to his demand for a contract that would put him on par with the highest-paid players in the league.The Steelers' standout returned just days before the Steelers' season opener against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday and was used sparingly during their 21-18 win, rushing for 32 yards on 10 carries, while adding 15 receiving yards on three catches.Bell isn't worried about his usage, however."I'm just trying to run the plays that are called to the best of my ability and make plays when the opportunities present themselves," he said. "I just have to get better at that and hopefully will do that this week."Bell said he wants to be out on the field as often as possible, but is doing his best to be a team player with the Steelers focused on another deep playoff run this year."However they plan to use me, I'll be available," he added. "I'll do the best that I can. ... Of course, I want to be out there every play. I'm just executing the game plan and doing what I'm told."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL Foundation will contribute $1 million to Hurricane Irma relief efforts, joining several teams in trying to raise money toward helping those affected by the tropical storm.Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross contributed $1 million earlier on Wednesday, joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers among teams that have donated.Sunday's contest between the Dolphins and Buccaneers was postponed because of the hurricane.The foundation released the following statement Wednesday:

Week 1 did little to quiet the plethora of questions circulating around several teams entering the 2017 NFL season.Soft matchups led to convincing season-opening performances and 1-0 records. As bettors, fantasy managers, and fans alike try to determine if certain clubs are worth believing in, more needs to be seen.Here are five teams that may or may not be misleading fans following a convincing Week 1 victory.Los Angeles RamsWhat we think we know: Competent offense with shutdown defenseWhether it was new head coach Sean McVay or the inept Indianapolis Colts' defense, sophomore quarterback Jared Goff's career day has the Rams looking like a potentially dangerous offense.Goff looked every bit a No. 1 draft pick while connecting with the new wide receiver trio of Cooper Kupp, Sammy Watkins, and Robert Woods all day long, causing many fantasy managers to clamor to the waiver wire for Kupp and suddenly believe in a still-healthy Watkins.Even with everything going the Rams' way, running back Todd Gurley struggled to average 2 yards per attempt on the ground. He finished the game ranked as Pro Football Focus' (PFF) No. 31 running back. Should he continue this inefficiency on the ground, it would hinder the passing game moving forward.It's easier to believe in the play of the defense - one which returned two Scott Tolzien interceptions for touchdowns - but the Rams should have a much tougher task in Week 2, against a Washington Redskins team that will be looking to make amends after a disappointing start.Buffalo BillsWhat we think we know: McCoy can do it on his ownThe Bills, equipped with a new head coach and multiple new players both on offense and defense, faced little resistance while cruising past the New York Jets.The overhauled defense recorded just one sack but two interceptions, while limiting journeyman placeholder Josh McCown to 187 passing yards and one goal-line rushing touchdown.The offense managed just 224 passing yards, led by receiver Jordan Matthews' 61 yards, but leaned on running back LeSean McCoy's 110 rushing yards (159 total). Matthews was the team's top-graded wide receiver, finishing at No. 30 for the week.The Bills' 21 points were uninspiring against the team many predict to go 0-16 this season. McCoy's 27 Week 1 touches were topped just twice in the past three seasons. The Bills have little option but to continue feeding him the ball both on the ground and through the air, but it's a recipe for disaster with no viable secondary option on the roster.Minnesota VikingsWhat we think we know: Bradford can throw downfieldSam Bradford maintained his usual efficiency against the Saints, but the Vikings quarterback took far more chances than ever before, moving the ball quickly and easily downfield against the team which allowed the most passing yards in 2016.Just three signal-callers averaged more completed air yards, according to NFL.com's Next Gen Stats, with Bradford's air-yard differential ranking second for the week.The Saints showed they still have the same issues that plagued them at the end of last year, with not a single member of their base secondary finishing with a PFF grade higher than 50.6.Bradford's Week 1 style of play could have simply been a matter of taking what the defense gave him, but his willingness to air it out to receivers Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen deep down field will open the door for rookie running back Dalvin Cook, who is PFF's No. 2 running back.Baltimore RavensWhat we think we know: Unbreakable defenseWhile fans were quick to crown the Ravens' defense after Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton threw four interceptions and coughed up a fumble, the uninspiring play of Baltimore's offense has largely gone overlooked.Consistently starting with tremendous field position, the Ravens' offense managed just two touchdowns on the day, with quarterback Joe Flacco - fresh off a preseason of rest for an injured back - going a poor 9-for-17 for 121 yards through the air with an interception of his own.Dalton has been prone to dud games such as this in his career. More needs to be seen from the Ravens' defense against superior opponents. The offense faces further concern with running back Danny Woodhead succumbing to yet another hamstring injury.Carolina PanthersWhat we think we know: Pass rush remains eliteThe Panthers' pass rush remains elite after finishing second in team sacks in 2016. They were able to get to 49ers quarterback Brian Hoyer four times in a 23-3 route. The immobile Hoyer had little chance behind the porous 49ers offensive line.The Panthers' defense will be better tested by Bills dual-threat quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who was sacked just twice by the Jets in Week 1, while scrambling eight times for a total of 38 yards.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett recounted his detainment by Las Vegas police on Aug. 27 in an exclusive interview with ABC News, saying he was "terrified" while being pinned down after leaving a casino and calling the incident "un-American."Bennett was in Las Vegas to attend the Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor fight. He believes he was racially profiled and says an officer threatened to shoot him in the head.During the incident, he said he immediately thought of other black people who have been killed by police officers in recent years."I'm just thinking in my head, there's like, Tamir Rice, Eric Garner, all these people, these people that have been through this," Bennett told ABC News' Byron Pitts."I'm terrified," he added. "I'm literally just, like, worried if I make the wrong decision ... if I move too fast, if I twitch, and somebody says I'm resisting ... because I'm a big guy, you know what I'm saying?"Bennett said that when he explained the incident to his 10-year-old daughter, she cried, fearful for his safety.The Seahawks star called his treatment by police "un-American," in contrast to his protest of the national anthem, which some have given the same label."I think it's un-American what happened to me, having guns drawn on me. I say it's un-American what happened to Eric Garner. It's un-American, what happened to Trayvon Martin. It's un-American that there's ... no equality for people."Bennett added, "What I'm doing is ... it's the most American thing that you could do, is fight for equality for everybody, and have a unity for the country."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing has been suspended 10 games for a violation of the NFL's policy on performance enhancing substances, the team announced.Cushing was previously suspended for four games in 2010 after testing positive for substances banned by the NFL.If Cushing were to be suspended for a third time, he would be sanctioned for at least two years.The NFL released the following statement:

Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians said running back Kerwynn Williams will receive the start in Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts and be followed by Andre Ellington and then Chris Johnson in the backfield rotation, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.After replacing injured running back David Johnson in the season opener, Williams received five carries but managed just 10 yards, though he did find the end zone late in the game. He added two yards by catching his lone target of the day.Ellington has played in 54 career games to Williams' 22, but failed to record a rushing attempt in Week 1. He caught two-of-three targets for 35 yards, and has averaged 9.1 yards on 114 career receptions.Johnson was re-signed after it was announced Johnson would be missing a significant amount of time. He ran the ball just 25 times last season for a career-low 3.8 yards per attempt. He didn't catch a single pass.While Arizona's opponent, Indianapolis, was crushed 46-9 by the Los Angeles Rams in its season opener, the defense did hold running back Todd Gurley to just 40 yards on 19 attempts, though both Gurley and backup Malcolm Brown each scored a rushing touchdown.Gurley added 56 yards on five receptions.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ray Lewis is arguably the most important player in Baltimore Ravens history, and head coach John Harbaugh believes the Pro Football Hall of Fame should induct the 13-time Pro Bowler as soon as possible.The Hall announced its 108 early nominees for the 2018 class Tuesday, and Lewis was one of 11 first-year eligible players. Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Ronde Barber, Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher, and New England Patriots defensive lineman Richard Seymour join Lewis among the first-year nominees."Ray Lewis is a definitely first-ballot, unanimous selection to the Hall of Fame, without question," Harbaugh said to ESPN's Jamison Hensley on Wednesday. "There's no doubt about that."Lewis won the second Super Bowl of his career under Harbaugh's tutelage in 2012, helping the Ravens to a 34-31 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII.His off-field history, however, includes a misdemeanor charge of obstruction stemming from previous murder charges in connection to a January 2000 killing in Atlanta. Some believe that should hinder Lewis' candidacy, but Harbaugh dismissed that notion."If anybody votes against him, then there's an agenda," Harbaugh said.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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

The Oakland Raiders and offensive tackle Donald Penn are closing in on a two-year contract extension, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Penn is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season.The veteran tackle held out during training camp, in large part due to his demand for a new contract. During Penn's absence, Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie said the two sides wouldn't negotiate a new deal until he rejoined the team.Penn earned the second Pro Bowl selection of his career in 2016, anchoring one of the NFL's premier offensive lines.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco was essentially granted an extra week of recovery from a back injury which held him out of the entire preseason, as his defense did much of the heavy lifting during his team's 20-0 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in the season opener.Speaking before Wednesday's practice, Flacco said he'll be fully ready for Week 2's home game against the Cleveland Browns."I’m not going to say I’m 100 percent - but there’s no limitations come Sunday," Flacco said, according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN.While letting his defense do most of the damage against mistake-prone Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton, Flacco didn't inspire confidence while going 9-for-17 for just 121 yards.For him, coasting through the week and making it through to Monday morning in good health was more important than padding stats in a blowout."I was definitely very happy with how I woke up the next day and on Tuesday and how I feel today standing here," said Flacco. "I felt like I came out of the game great - just getting better and better."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck won't be going anywhere, according to his agent, Will Wilson.Early Wednesday morning, ESPN's Mike Greenberg said there has been a gap between Luck and the Colts, and the franchise quarterback's time in Indianapolis could be coming to an end."Quite simply and succinctly, there's no truth to that comment at all," Wilson said, according to ESPN."Andrew did a long-term deal and he did it for a reason: He wants to be with the Colts and he's committed to the Colts. It's as simple as that. He looks forward to the opportunity to play when he's ready. He wants to get out there when he's ready, obviously. He's just going through rehab; it's the process he's going through."On Wednesday's show, Greenberg cited a "general sense" from around the league that Luck is growing tired of the Colts."Even with that enormous contract and that enormous talent, we could be seeing, right before our eyes, the end of the Andrew Luck era in Indianapolis," he saiLuck signed a six-year, $140-million contract in June 2016.He'll remain sidelined for Week 2 following offseason shoulder surgery, after watching his team get dismantled 46-9 by the Los Angeles Rams in the season opener.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Suspended Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon will end his latest rehabilitation treatment on Sept. 21 and hopes to get another shot at restarting his NFL career, former Olympian Tim Montgomery, who trains the Gordon, told Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com."He's coming," Montgomery said. "I think he's going to be there this season."Gordon was denied reinstatement in May, prompting him to enter a 90-day program on June 21 - believed to be his fourth known trip to rehab - to help convince the NFL to lift his indefinite ban for multiple violations of the league's substance-abuse policy."He's been clean, so we're hoping after 90 days he's reinstated and they put him back in the league, which it looks like they're going to do that,'' said Montgomery.The 26-year-old was told he could reapply for reinstatement again in the fall, though any such reinstatement would likely be on a conditional basis, in a similar way to how the NFL handled Martavis Bryant's return from suspension, first clearing him to return to the team and then granting full reinstatement several months later.With Gordon facing what could be his last shot at returning to the NFL, Montgomery believes he has made significant strides since earlier in the year."From what I've seen, he's in a different place than what he was six, seven months ago,'' said Montgomery. "He's come a long, long way from when we first started working together.''Gordon - who led the league in receiving yards in 2013 - hasn't played since Dec. 2014.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Steelers opened the season with a narrow 21-18 road win over the Cleveland Browns, with Ben Roethlisberger going 24-for-36 for 263 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.As the team gets set to host the Minnesota Vikings in Week 2, Roethlisberger's looking for a little help."I expect it and hope it'll be sold out, loud, crazy. You know, we need to bring back that homefield, Heinz Field mystique, if you will," Roethsliberger said, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler."It was always that way when I first got here, the first few years when I was here and not saying we've lost it, but teams need to fear coming into Heinz Field. One, because of the fans and the craziness and two, because of our play."Savvy fantasy managers and bettors are well aware of the home/away splits of Roethlisberger.Just last season, he threw for nearly identical yardage totals at home and on the road, despite playing two more road games. He had a touchdown to interception ratio of 20:5 at Heinz field, compared to 9:8 elsewhere.With two extra road games played in his career, he has won 15 more games, thrown 43 more touchdown passes and 17 fewer interceptions at home.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Scott Tolzien or Jacoby Brissett?Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano said Wednesday he's not yet prepared to answer that question ahead of Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals, adding that both Tolzien and Brissett will get first-teams reps in practice this week to determine who will start, according to Zak Keefer of the Indy Star."We'll get both QBs some work and see who emerges," said Pagano, according to Bob Kravitz of WTHR.com.Tolzien started the season opener but threw two pick-6s and was unable to get the offense moving against a strong Los Angeles Rams defense - though one missing star defensive tackle Aaron Donald.Brissett took over for Tolzien in the fourth quarter and led the Colts to their only touchdown drive of the day, which included a 50-yard pass to wide receiver Donte Moncrief to help set up the score from rookie running back Marlon Mack.Andrew Luck remains sidelined as he recovers from shoulder surgery, and Pagano said the star quarterback won't practice Wednesday, according to Kevin Bowen of 1070 The Fan.Luck has already been ruled out for Week 2, and the Colts don't appear any closer to deciding who will hold down the fort until he returns.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross pledged to donate $1 million to help with recovery efforts in Florida following Hurricane Irma, the team announced Wednesday."The devastation throughout Florida was heartbreaking, but I am inspired by the resilience and spirit of our state to help rebuild," Ross said in a statement. "Our most heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to those impacted by Hurricane Irma and we are committed to helping in long term recovery efforts."The Dolphins also announced efforts that include using their volunteer program - the "Miami Dolphins Special Teams" - to help with rebuilding projects around Florida.As well as Ross' pledge, the Dolphins have partnered with AARP Foundation and will match every dollar raised, with "100 percent of the money raised going directly into the community."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As the Los Angeles Chargers get set for their longest homestand of the season, they need to prepare for foreboding signs overlooking StubHub Center.Ex-San Diego Chargers fan Joseph McRae designed five anti-NFL messages to be displayed on a digital billboard outside the Los Angeles stadium over the next three weeks.McRae had previously launched a GoFundMe campaign with the message: "This isn't just for San Diego fans. This is for Oakland fans and St. Louis fans as well. Your cities didn't deserve this and most importantly, you didn't deserve this," according to Troy Hirsch of FOX 5 San Diego."Have you been an NFL fan your whole life only to have your team suddenly taken away from your city? You may have been the most loyal and dedicated supporter but it didn't matter in the end. Have you ever wanted to tell the NFL how you actually feel? This is your chance," McRae wrote.The campaign raised over $10,000.While McRae's five ads will also feature fans of the Oakland Raiders and the former St. Louis Rams, he claims the root of his disdain is with Chargers owner Dean Spanos."If anything we should be uniting so that Dean sells the team and the Chargers have a real chance at success!" McRae wrote in his campaign.McRae has been told by the billboard company that the ads will be displayed for the full three weeks, despite any potential efforts made by the NFL to have them taken down or blocked.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

AFCAlex Smith was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for Week 1 after throwing four touchdowns in prime time against the New England Patriots. The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback overcame a poor start, torching the Patriots for 368 yards and ending the game with a 148.6 passer rating.Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Calais Campbell was named Defensive Player of the Week in the AFC. The veteran pass-rusher was a nightmare for the Houston Texans' offensive line all game long, finishing with four sacks in his first regular-season game for the Jaguars following a big-money move in free agency.Oakland Raiders kicker Giorgio Tavecchio took home Special Teams Player of the Week honors. In his first game as the starter following an injury to Sebastian Janikowski, Tavecchio went 4-for-4 on field goals, including a 52-yarder.NFCMinnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford's dissection of the New Orleans Saints' secondary earned him NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. In what was maybe the best game of his career, Bradford completed 84.4 percent of his passes and threw for 346 yards and three touchdowns, finishing with an impressive 10.8 yards-per-attempt average.Los Angeles Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson was named Defensive Player of the Week. Johnson had a starring role in the Rams' dominant performance over the Indianapolis Colts, returning an interception for a touchdown and forcing a fumble.Detroit Lions kicker Matt Prater was named Special Teams Player of the Week. Prater only made one field goal, but it was from an insane distance of 58 yards out. The kicker also displayed his accuracy in a painful way for one cameraman.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Covers.com is the biggest and best source for sports betting information, providing unrivaled and original content sports bettors cannot live without.Longtime Las Vegas oddsmaker Peter Korner sizes up this week’s NFL schedule and picks out some of the lines making him go “hmmm...” in Week 2, including a curious opening number put up by one sportsbook for the Vikings-Steelers game that may end up being a better number than their repost.

Kenny Stills protested during the national anthem last season, and while he's not doing so this campaign, the Miami Dolphins wide receiver doesn't understand why more NFL players aren't taking some kind of action.In a Twitter rant Tuesday, Stills called for players who aren't doing their part to fight racial inequality and police brutality to ask themselves what's stopping them:

ESPN's "The Fantasy Show" takes a unique approach to injury reports.As part of a segment called "Show me where it hurts," host Matthew Berry brought out people dressed in skeleton and muscle bodysuits to help explain the injuries New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and Baltimore Ravens running back Danny Woodhead are dealing with.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's NFL Editors, including Jack Browne, Michael McClymont, Mitch Sanderson, and Arun Srinivasan.1. Green Bay PackersBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan1st4th1st4thPrevious Rank: 5thThe Packers' defense has teased us before, but its shutdown of Russell Wilson and Co. should have Aaron Rodgers giddy. - Browne2. New England PatriotsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan3rd2nd3rd2ndPrevious Rank: 1stIt's far too early to write the Patriots off but they looked far from their dominant form during Thursday's shocking loss. Which likely means Bill Belichick has a new unstoppable scheme up his sleeve. - Srinivasan3. Pittsburgh SteelersBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan7th1st4th1stPrevious Rank: 2ndIt's been literally years since we saw Brown, Bell, Bryant, and Big Ben on the field together, and they fell far short of the hype. The talent is there, but the Steelers can't keep playing down to their opponents. - Browne4. Kansas City ChiefsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan4th5th2nd7thPrevious Rank: 9thThe Chiefs vaulted up the standings due to their rousing defeat of the defending champions. It was a complete performance from K.C. and a warning shot to the rest of the league - McClymont5. Atlanta FalconsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan8th3rd5th5thPrevious Rank: 3rdThe Super Bowl hangover kicked in early with the Bears coming within a caught pass of knocking off Atlanta. But the Falcons are still 1-0 as they continue to adjust to offseason changes. - Sanderson6. Oakland RaidersBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan5th6th7th3rdPrevious Rank: 6thOakland survived a Week 1 test on the road. The defense bent but did not break and now must build on the performance. - McClymont7. Dallas CowboysBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan2nd8th6th6thPrevious Rank: 8thEzekiel Elliott's suspension was placed on hold and the All-Pro running back looked every bit as prolific as he was during his tour-de-force rookie season. - Srinivasan8. Seattle SeahawksBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan6th7th8th8thPrevious Rank: 4thThere's no shame in losing to the Packers at Lambeau, but the Seahawks couldn't muster much offense in a winnable game. - McClymont9. Denver BroncosBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan9th9th9th9thPrevious Rank: 11thYear 2 of the Trevor Siemian era got off to a strong start. The Broncos' defense would be very happy with 24 points from the offense every week. - McClymont10. New York GiantsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan11th11th11th10thPrevious Rank: 7thThe Giants looked positively lost without Odell Beckham Jr., so here's to a quick recovery from an ankle injury that sidelined him during the opener. - Srinivasan11. Tampa Bay BuccaneersBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan10th13th13th12thPrevious Rank: 13thThe debut of DeSean Jackson in Tampa was delayed a week due to reasons bigger than football. Jameis Winston and Co. will be chomping at the bit to put up points against the Bears. - Sanderson12. Detroit LionsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan13th10th12th15thPrevious Rank: 16thThe Giants, Falcons, Vikings, and Panthers await. It's a killer stretch that should determine whether Detroit is a contender or not. - Browne13. Tennessee TitansBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan 14th14th10th16thPrevious Rank: 12thThe Titans abandoned their run-first model, letting Marcus Mariota make 41 pass attempts. Jacksonville's dominant-looking defense will be a tougher test in Week 2. - Sanderson14. Carolina PanthersBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan15th15th15th11thPrevious Rank: 15thThe re-tooled Panthers didn't have an explosive breakout performance in San Francisco but the defense looked vastly improved, keeping the 49ers to just three points. - Sanderson15. Baltimore RavensBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan12th18th17th14thPrevious Rank: 17thDespite the win, the Ravens can't keep losing key players at this rate and still make a playoff push. Danny Woodhead looked set for a massive role before going down for four-to-six weeks. - Browne16. Arizona CardinalsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan17th19th19th13thPrevious Rank: 10thThe year could not have gotten off to a worse start. David Johnson might be gone till December, and the team's playoff hopes might have left with him. - McClymont17. Minnesota VikingsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan16th17th16th19thPrevious Rank: 23rdLet's not get too carried away with Sam Bradford's destruction of a poor Saints pass defense. Still, he looks better than he ever has - with a big assist from the unbelievably underrated Stefon Diggs. - Browne18. Philadelphia EaglesBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan18th21st14th17thPrevious Rank: 20thCarson Wentz seems intent on fooling us all again, putting together a stellar performance against the Redskins. Will this version of Wentz last for 15 more games? Time will only tell. - Srinivasan19. Miami DolphinsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan24th12th22nd18thPrevious Rank: 19thJay Cutler's debut has been delayed by a week as the Dolphins anxiously await what they have in store, against a talented Chargers front seven. - Srinivasan20. Houston TexansBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan19th16th24th20thPrevious Rank: 14thWhatever the game plan was in Week 1 - it didn't work. Why delay the inevitable at this point? Start the rookie. - Sanderson21. Los Angeles ChargersBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan20th20th18th22ndPrevious Rank: 21stThe talented Chargers begin the year last in the division and return home for Week 2 to a rested Dolphins team that has been waiting for them in L.A. - McClymont22. Jacksonville JaguarsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan23rd22nd20th21stPrevious Rank: 26thLeonard Fournette looks legit and the defense appears unstoppable. It could be tough to keep winning games with only 125 passing yards, but the blue print has been laid. - Sanderson23. New Orleans SaintsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan21st23rd23rd24thPrevious Rank: 18thThe Saints' offseason moves clearly set their sights on a return to the playoffs. Monday night's demoralizing performance in Minnesota has quickly sobered those expectations back to another likely 7-9 finish. - Sanderson24. Washington RedskinsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan22nd26th25ht23rdPrevious Rank: 24thKirk Cousins needs to be much better for the Redskins to feel better about the upcoming game of contract roulette set to take place this summer. - Srinivasan25. Los Angeles RamsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan26th27th21st25thPrevious Rank: 30thSean McVay might be the offensive genius he was touted as if he can get 300-yard performances out of Jared Goff. He'll be motivated to stick it to his old team in Week 2 and could have the Rams at a surprising 2-0 in the process. - McClymont26. Buffalo BillsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan25th25th29th27thPrevious Rank: 28thBuffalo stuck to its run-heavy offense against New York and it worked to great effect, but it's important not to overvalue a victory over the moribund Jets. - Srinivasan27. Cleveland BrownsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan27th29th26th26thPrevious Rank: 28thPlaying the Steelers relatively close and DeShone Kizer flashing potential is a win for the Browns, though the actual wins will need to happen sooner rather than later. - Browne28. Cincinnati BengalsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan28th24th28th29thPrevious Rank: 25thDear Kevin Zeitler and Andrew Whitworth, please come back, I miss you more than you could ever know. With all my love, Andy Dalton. - Browne29. Chicago BearsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan29th31st27th30thPrevious Rank: 31stTarik Cohen will make the Bears' offense watchable this season, but Chicago won't have many more chances to snatch victory like it did in the dying moments against Atlanta. - Browne30. Indianapolis ColtsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan30th28th30th31stPrevious Rank: 22ndHow a franchise can rely so heavily on two players over a 20-year period is incredible. Every practice and game Andrew Luck misses lowers Chuck Pagano's chances of making it to the end of the season. - Sanderson31. San Francisco 49ersBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan31st30th31st28thPrevious Rank: 29thThis was always going to take time. The 49ers need to focus on small victories, like scoring a touchdown next week on the road in Seattle. - McClymont32. New York JetsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan32nd32nd32nd32ndPrevious Rank: 32ndThe Bills were one of the few winnable games on the schedule. Buckle in for a long season. - SrinivasanCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While he was still teasing Pittsburgh Steelers fans and fantasy football owners with his contract holdout, Le'Veon Bell jokingly applied for a gig at Dairy Queen.On his first off-day of the season, Bell followed through with the career option.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced its list of 108 nominees that will be considered for the 2018 induction class - with one name that seemed to be amiss.Among the names listed was receiver Steve Smith. The problem is that the Steve Smith that most would assume will eventually be enshrined in Canton (Steve Smith Sr.) only retired last season, so he can't be eligible.There is, however, a Steve Smith who is technically eligible after retiring in 2013. A former second-round pick by the New York Giants, the lesser-known Smith played six seasons between the Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, and St. Louis Rams, making 245 catches for 2,641 yards in his career - which certainly isn't Hall of Fame-worthy.Some debate as to how the name got on the list was quickly sparked among NFL media and a handful of theories have come up.Perhaps the Hall just saw Smith's name and got excited?

Surprise, surprise. The Houston Texans are making another change at quarterback.Deshaun Watson will reportedly replace Tom Savage under center for Thursday night's Week 2 contest, becoming the team's ninth different starter in three-plus seasons under head coach Bill O'Brien.The others: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Ryan Mallett, Case Keenum, Brian Hoyer, Brandon Weeden, Brock Osweiler, and T.J. Yates.With the Texans using a first-round pick on a quarterback for the first time since taking David Carr with the top selection in 2002, it was assumed the team would have more patience in developing Watson. Some sort of red-shirt process seemed to have been laid out in the preseason with teammates and coaches agreeing Savage would be the sensible starter.Related: Hopkins endorses Savage over Watson as Texans' starting QB"He's a rookie, and he's not nearly where he needs to be to be a full-time starter in this league, but you can tell he's got a lot of qualities you like," O'Brien said in June following OTAs.Savage got that start last Sunday, but lasted only one half, throwing for just 63 yards against the Jacksonville Jaguars while being shut out. Watson looked good, but not great, in replacement duty, throwing a touchdown and an interception without performing remarkably different from Savage. The abrupt lineup change could be chalked up to O'Brien's notorious impatience with quarterbacks, though if Watson was prepared to start at half, why didn't he just start the game?Throwing quarterbacks into action before they are ready is sometimes viewed as a necessity for struggling teams that have drafted one in the first round, but it can also ruin an inexperienced passer and make them gun shy. That's exactly what happened to Carr in Houston's expansion era, taking 76 sacks as a rookie.In that regard, putting Watson into the game on Sunday was a particularly risky move given the 10 sacks the Jaguars' defense recorded and the fact that Texans starting left tackle Duane Brown is currently holding out.Part of the reason Watson may be getting the start is because the decision isn't coming from the coaching staff. Just about an hour-and-a-half before Watson became the reported starter, O'Brien refused to name his first-string quarterback, claiming he didn't have to name one publicly.O'Brien also reportedly disagreed with the Texans' decision to sign Osweiler as their starter in 2016, though he let the 26-year-old quarterback last 14 ugly games before pulling the hook.The extra risk involved with pushing Watson into the spotlight is his status as a first-round pick, which essentially excludes him from being pulled. If Watson is truly expected to be the franchise quarterback, once he takes over, he can't have the reins taken away. And if he can't succeed as a starter, the Texans' coaching staff will be to blame.Likely the biggest reason O'Brien has kept his job after the Osweiler fiasco is because he was reportedly against the idea from Day 1, but if he is the one to jump the gun on starting Watson, his tenure in Houston will most certainly end. O'Brien has had three straight years of 9-7 records and poor quarterback play after being hired with a "QB guru" reputation.Watson failing as a rookie wouldn't mean his career is totally over, but the Texans are heavily invested after trading a 2017 first-round pick to get the Clemson star.The 12th overall pick has lived up to expectations in the past, making it to two straight national championship games and winning a series of individual college awards. However, the weight of an entire organization could now rest on his shoulders after just a single half of NFL action. There is no way the Texans planned for this to happen so soon - but it looks like it's happening anyways.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bruce Arians is not as optimistic about David Johnson's return from wrist surgery as some have reported.Johnson was placed on injured reserve Tuesday and is reportedly expected to miss 8-to-12 weeks, but Arians has his eyes on a Week 16 comeback for his star running back.The Arizona Cardinals head coach told Sirius XM NFL radio that he is "hoping we can get (Johnson) back by Christmas."The team plays the New York Giants at home on Christmas eve in Week 16.Johnson had 91 total yards Sunday before being injured and led the league in all-purpose yards and touchdowns in 2016.Chris Johnson was re-signed in a corresponding move. He had played with the Cardinals the last two seasons and was released at the end of training camp; a move Arians called "the toughest cut to make."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 2.Updated rankings (including PPR) will be released Thursday, with the final version coming down Sunday morning.Standard

The Houston Texans will start rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson on Thursday against the Cincinnati Bengals, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and James Palmer.Head coach Bill O'Brien refused to name a starter at his press conference Tuesday and hinted that he will not be officially announcing his quarterback before game time.Watson completed 12-of-23 passes for 102 yards with one touchdown and one interception in his NFL debut against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday after replacing starter Tom Savage in the second half.The Texans drafted Watson 12th overall last spring, putting him on course to eventually be the starter, but O'Brien alluded in the preseason that the rookie needed more time to develop before taking over. Savage's 63-yard performance with no points scored through one half may have changed the team's course.Savage made one of his two career starts against the Bengals last season, completing 18-of-29 passes for 176 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in a 12-10 win.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Seattle Seahawks were limited to just 248 yards of total offense in their season-opening loss to the Green Bay Packers.Wide receiver Doug Baldwin, who finished the day with four receptions for 63 yards to lead Seattle, didn't need to look far for his team's most glaring issue."We had some issues offensive line-wise. Not to take anything away from the Packers defensive line, they did a heck of a job and Dom Capers did a great job of having a scheme for us," Baldwin said to Steve Toree of SiriusXM Radio.Baldwin thinks the Seahawks will be able to solve the issue from within."But, like you said, we have to get those things corrected, and I think we will. We have the talent. We have the guys who are resilient enough to go back to work and put it together for us and so I’m not really concerned about it.”The Seahawks return home for Week 2 for a much more favorable matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.The 49ers surrendered 314 total yards of offense to the visiting Carolina Panthers in Week 1, while finishing the week as just one of two teams to not record a single sack.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Week 2 game between the Tennessee Titans and Jaguars will remain in Jacksonville at EverBank Field, the Jags announced Tuesday, following considerations to move the game due to Hurricane Irma."This is about bringing our city and community together. This is about getting back to normal operations," said mayor Lenny Curry, according to Ryan O'Halloran of the Florida Times-Union.The Jaguars also announced that owner Shah Khan will be donating $1 million to the First Coast Relief Fund and that 5,000 tickets will be donated to first responders and residents who dealt with the effects of the hurricane.The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' home opener against the Chicago Bears will also be played as scheduled after the Florida team had its Week 1 game against the Miami Dolphins canceled.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

David Johnson will officially miss the next eight weeks after the Arizona Cardinals placed the star running back on injured reserve Tuesday.Johnson is reportedly set to be out two-to-three months after he undergoes wrist surgery. He incurred the injury Sunday against the Detroit Lions after picking up a total of 91 yards on 17 touches.The 25-year-old will be eligible to return Week 11 when the Cardinals face the Houston Texans, missing both of his team's prime-time contests, but his return to action could be even later.The third-year back was moved to IR to make room for the return of veteran runner Chris Johnson, who was released at the end of training camp.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien said it could be a game-time decision on who will start at quarterback Thursday against the Cincinnati Bengals."I don't think there's any rule that says I have to announce the starting quarterback," said O'Brien, according to team writer Deepi Sidhu.Tom Savage drew the start in Sunday's season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but was pulled after going 7-for-13 for just 62 yards while losing a fumble.Rookie Deshaun Watson entered in his place and finished the game 12-for-23 with 102 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and one recovered fumble.Watson is dealing with an ankle injury that is deemed minor, but further complicates the issue surrounding the starting quarterback with the Texans having a short rest period before Week 2."The health of any player is a determining factor," O'Brien said.O'Brien, having become well known for his short leash on quarterbacks in recent years, is hoping he won't have to flip-flop his starter throughout the 2017 season."You do your best to stick with the decision," said O'Brien.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens running back Danny Woodhead is expected to miss six-to-eight weeks with a hamstring injury, making him a candidate to be placed on injured reserve, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.It was reported earlier on Tuesday that Woodhead would be out four-to-six weeks with the injury, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. If Woodhead is placed on IR, he would be eligible to return after eight games.Woodhead left Sunday's victory over the Cincinnati Bengals with the injury and did not return.The 32-year-old has been plagued with injuries in recent years, missing the majority of the 2014 and 2016 seasons because of ailments.With Woodhead sidelined, expect Javorius Allen to see an increase in snaps to go along with Terrance West in the backfield.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Both Tom Savage and Deshaun Watson have yet to be informed who will be the starting quarterback for the Houston Texans' Thursday game against the Cincinnati Bengals.Despite a rough outing in Week 1 in which Savage threw for just 62 yards, lost two fumbles, and was replaced at halftime by Watson, he's holding out hope that he'll get the call."Nobody wants to be benched," Savage said Tuesday, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. "I'll be ready to go."Savage won the starting gig in training camp, but completed just seven of his 13 passes in the opener. He knows such play doesn't warrant a heads up from his coach on who will start in Week 2."No, I'm not waiting to have that conversation," Savage said, via Mark Berman of FOX26. "I don't think he owes either of us any explanation. You just got to be ready. It's called being a professional."Both the Texans and Bengals will be searching for their first win on Thursday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Covers.com is the biggest and best source for sports betting information, providing unrivaled and original content sports bettors cannot live without.The NFL is back with Week 1 in the books and thank goodness it’s behind us. Outside of a few games, Week 1 was a painful watch. Few games were competitive in the fourth quarter and many offenses looked uglier than Jason Whitlock’s fedora collection.Low scoring is the story of the weekend with the Houston Texans, San Francisco 49ers, Cincinnati Bengals, Seattle Seahawks, New York Giants and the Indianapolis Colts all failing to put double digits on the scoreboard.Last season, the St. Louis Rams – a squad with a historically horrendous offense – averaged a league-worst 262 yards per game. Eight teams tallied fewer than 250 yards of total offense in Week 1.It’s no surprise that the under was the best betting trend of the first weekend of the NFL season. The under went 2-10 on Sunday and finished 5-10 for the week. The average points scored per game is 40.4 after the first 15 contests. The average points scored per game in Week 1 last season was about 4.5 points higher at 44.8.NFL Week 1 Average Points Scored & TotalsYear PPG Total Diff O/U Record201740.445.7-5.35-10201644.944.909-7201545.345.309-7201444.845.7-0.97-9201346.445.60.88-8201249.443.95.59-720114740.66.411-4-1The data tells us oddsmakers were hitting it out of the park with their Over/Under lines in Week 1 from 2013 to 2016. The differential between the average total and the average game score was less than a point in each year and the Over/Under record was never more than a game off an 8-8 mark.We can also see that scoring in Week 1 is on a three-year decline and there’s a gulf of 8.5 points between the high year of the sample in 2012 when the average points scored per game was 49.4 and this season.Bettors will be asking themselves if the low scoring will continue into Week 2. Oddsmakers adjusted to the Week 1 results by setting the lowest average game totals in Week 2 since 2011.Despite Vegas’ re-calibration, sharp bettors still think there are opportunities moving forward betting the under on the league’s worst offenses.Covers Expert Ted Sevransky says he has concerns about the offensive production from the six teams held under 10 points in the first week.“All six teams had significant offensive line concerns coming into the season, and all six of them failed their first test pretty badly,” Sevransky says. “I have already bet Unders on several of their matchups this week [Week 2] and may still bet more.”Let’s review each of these offensively-challenged sides and where they play in Week 2.Cincinnati BengalsQuarterback Andy Dalton turned the ball over five times in what, very well, could have been his worst career outing as a pro player. The Bengals put up a goose egg on the scoreboard marking the first time they’ve been shut out since Week 7 in 2014.After the game Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said, “I don’t know if I’ve ever been in such a disappointing football game.”Dating back to last year, the Under is now 8-1 in Cincy’s last nine regular season games. The Bengals have had a middle of the pack offense for the last three years. It’s safe to assume they’ll finish with around the 15th best offense again this season.The lowest total (38.5) on the board is Thursday night’s game between the Texans and Bengals.Houston TexansHouston allowed 10 sacks and turned the ball over four times against Jacksonville on Sunday. Texans coach Bill O’Brien benched his starting quarterback after the first two quarters of the season.We don’t know yet if the Texans will stick with rookie DeShaun Watson under center or if they’ll go back to Tom Savage on Thursday against Cincinnati.The offensive line is a major concern and it sure would help if the team could come to terms with their best lineman. Left tackle Duane Brown, a three-time Pro Bowler, is still holding out for a new contract.Five of the Jags’ 10 sacks on Sunday came when they rushed just four defenders.Indianapolis ColtsQuarterback Andrew Luck is ruled out against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2 which means bettors are likely to see another week with Scott Tolzien under center for the Colts. Without Luck, there’s a good argument to be made that Indy is the least talented team in the league.The total for the Cards-Colts game opened at 44.5.New York GiantsThe G-Men are another case of a club that was missing its best player in Week 1. Receiver Odell Beckham Jr. didn’t play because of an ankle sprain, although the Giants lack of scoring punch isn’t a one-game problem.New York hasn’t scored more than 20 points in a game since Week 12 of last season and that game was against the Cleveland Browns. The Under is now 8-1 in the Giants’ last nine regular season games.The line on this game has yet to be released as oddsmakers wait to hear on the availability of Beckham Jr.Seattle SeahawksThe offensive line continues to be a problem for the Seahawks. Their starting left tackle went on the IR in preseason and there was no real effort made at replacing him besides looking at their own depth chart.Seattle’s offense used to be run-orientated but last year the club finished 25th in rushing yards per game. There’s still a lot of talent on the offensive side of the ball and Green Bay’s defense may prove to be an above average unit as the season progresses.Seattle hosts its division rival San Fran on Sunday and the total is set at 43.5.San Francisco 49ersSpeaking of those Niners – they’re coming off a game which they failed to find the end zone once. The Niners abandoned the run game after the Panthers scored on their first possession in the second half to make it 20-0.A 70-30 pass/run ratio isn’t going to lead to many wins or scores for the 49ers considering Brian Hoyer is their starting quarterback and Pierre Garcon projects to be their best receiver.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This was supposed to be the last hurrah. One last shot at glory.It was supposed to be the year in which the Cardinals proved the 2016 season was just a blip on the radar, a glitch in the matrix. They would rebound from their disappointing 7-8-1 finish and look more like the club that went 13-3 in 2015 and reached the NFC Championship game.That all might be gone now that the franchise's star player, David Johnson, is set to have surgery on a dislocated wrist, a development that could put him on the shelf for two-to-three months.The season already looks far too much like 2016 than 2015. Like last season, Arizona suffered a disheartening Week 1 loss. Now they'll have to navigate the majority of the season without their rudder.

It would be fair to question whether J.J. Watt will play in Thursday's game after he revealed he "busted the bone through the skin" in one of his fingers on Sunday.Well, question no more."Whatever. It's still inside my body. It's still attached," Watt said Tuesday, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.That's as clear a message as any that Watt - a player who missed all but three games last season - wouldn't dare miss the Houston Texans' Thursday night showdown with the Cincinnati Bengals.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 bid recommendations are based on a $100 budget.QuarterbackCarson Wentz, EaglesNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Chiefs63%$15While Wentz is widely owned, fantasy managers should scour their waiver wire just in case they can acquire his services for free. His 39 pass attempts in Week 1 were slightly higher than his 2016 season average, and his completion percentage saw a dramatic uptick.The Eagles' offense is expected to remain pass-heavy, and the sophomore completed a passing touchdown to running back LeGarrette Blount - something not even Tom Brady could do last season.Sam Bradford, VikingsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Steelers25%$10Bradford started another season exceptionally well, completing 84.4 percent of his 32 passes in the opener - and unlike last year, when he led the league in efficiency, Bradford didn't rely solely on short and safe passes against the Saints. His average yards per attempt of 10.81 was more than 4 full yards above his career average, as he made full use of Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen downfield.Jay Cutler, DolphinsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Chargers28%$8An extra week of preparation, much of it in Los Angeles, should give the Dolphins an early-season advantage. Even though they'll now open with two road games before heading to England to play the Saints, the schedule for at least the next three weeks is still tilted in their favor.Other QBs: Deshaun Watson, Alex Smith, Tyrod Taylor, Jared Goff, DeShone KizerRunning BackJavorius Allen, RavensNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Browns4%$20Allen outsnapped Terrance West in Week 1, and his workload instantly ballooned following Danny Woodhead's departure from the game due to injury. Woodhead hasn't been a quick healer in recent years and the Ravens reportedly expect another extended absence. Allen's averaged just 3.7 yards on the ground for his career, but 7.7 yards per reception - and the latter is much more important in Joe Flacco's pass-happy offense.Tarik Cohen, BearsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Buccaneers15%$17Cohen finished Week 1 as Pro Football Focus' third-ranked running back. He racked up 66 rushing yards on just five carries and amassed 47 receiving yards while catching 8-of-12 targets. He even managed to find the end zone. Cohen's likely to remain in the lesser half of the Bears' backfield timeshare with Jordan Howard, but should see the bulk of the work in the passing game.Kerwynn Williams, CardinalsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Colts9%$12David Johnson has reportedly been ruled out for up to three months due to a wrist injury, and Williams is the most likely candidate to fill the bulk of the resulting void. The Cardinals' rushing attack will use a committee that also features Andre Ellington and Elijhaa Penny, though, capping Williams' upside. Ellington is the preferred - and cheaper - fill-in for PPR leagues.Thomas Rawls, SeahawksNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. 49ers62%$9With Rawls absent for Week 1, the Seahawks relied on the tandem of Eddie Lacy and Chris Carson, and accomplished nothing on the ground versus the Packers. The true problem is the Seahawks' offensive line, but Seattle will at least be forced to see if Rawls has better luck than his replacements.James White, PatriotsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Saints50%$8Investing FAAB dollars into the mercurial Patriots backfield can be a fool's errand, particularly when chasing the flavor of the week. Mike Gillislee was widely owned even before his three opening-night touchdowns, but White - who led the backfield in snaps - is available in half of leagues. As the top dual-threat option on the team, he's got plenty of appeal.Other RBs: Jacquizz Rodgers, Giovani Bernard, Chris Carson, Marlon Mack, Darren SprolesWide ReceiverCorey Davis, TitansNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Jaguars46%$18Just seven wide receivers saw more than Davis' 10 targets in Week 1. The rookie quickly emerged from the crowded Titans receiving corps as quarterback Marcus Mariota's favorite option. His next three games are against strong pass defenses, but owners need to act now to benefit from his soft schedule for the rest of the season.Kenny Golladay, LionsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Giants20%$16Golden Tate saw five more targets and caught six more passes than Golladay, but the rookie was the one who hauled in two touchdowns - both on fantastic plays - to earn the trust of Matthew Stafford and his coaches. Those who were unwilling to believe the preseason hype should be all-in now.Cooper Kupp, RamsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Redskins28%$13Whether it was Kupp, head coach Sean McVay, or the Colts' defense, Week 1 put the very best of quarterback Jared Goff on display. We can now believe he has the ability to lead a strong passing attack, even if he can't do it every game. With an average of 19 yards per reception, Kupp will benefit every week that Goff is on the mark.Nelson Agholor, EaglesNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Chiefs15%$10Agholor's eight targets in Week 1 were more than he'd seen in a single game entering this season. His tremendous preseason display seems to have redeemed him in the eyes of Wentz and the coaching staff. Alshon Jeffery won't be so quiet every week, but Agholor has clearly moved into the No. 2 role for now.Paul Richardson, SeahawksNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. 49ers15%$8Richardson received more targets than Doug Baldwin in Week 1. The Seahawks' offense won't be this inept every time, but Richardson's strong performance showed versatility for any game script.Allen Hurns, JaguarsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Titans10%$8Hurns and Marqise Lee each received four targets in a game that Allen Robinson exited early with a season-ending injury. While Lee went without a reception, Hurns hauled in 3-of-4 passes and gained 42 yards. He did struggle in 2016, but he's just two years removed from a 1,031-yard sophomore season.Other WRs: Josh Bellamy, Marvin Jones Jr., Ryan Grant, Jermaine Kearse, Brice ButlerTight EndCharles Clay, BillsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Panthers11%$6Clay struggled to maintain consistent fantasy-relevant performance in his first two years with the Bills and quarterback Tyrod Taylor, but the team's shallow receiving corps has created more work than ever for the 6-foot-3, 255-pound target. He has five touchdowns in his past five games dating back to last season and should remain the No. 1 red-zone choice.Coby Fleener, SaintsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Patriots53%$5Fleener's role may take a hit once wide receiver Willie Snead returns from his early-season suspension, but the trade of Brandin Cooks opened up some more room. Fleener caught 5-of-6 targets against a very tough defense in Week 1 and is already one-third of the way to matching his touchdown total from last year.Jared Cook, RaidersNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Jets19%$5Cook ranked behind both Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree in targets Sunday, but he hauled in all five he received, converting four of them for first downs. His usage will be somewhat volatile based on game scripts, but it's reasonable to expect a floor near his 5.6 standard fantasy points from Week 1.Other TEs: Zach Miller, Austin Hooper, Seth DeValve, George Kittle(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Matt Williamson is a former scout for the Cleveland Browns and spent 10 years at ESPN as a scout and co-host of "The Football Today Podcast." Find him on Twitter @WilliamsonNFL.Week 1 of the 2017 NFL season is in the books. We certainly know much more now than we did analyzing the offseason and preseason, but it's also very important that we don’t overreact to that first slate of games.More than ever, many of the league’s top players played few snaps in the preseason, so this was their first experience playing an entire game since the 2016 season.There was rust and there was fatigue, but both should be far less of an issue as the season goes along. Also, teams have yet to put true tendencies on film, which greatly affects game planning.But what did we see this past week that we can believe and what was a fluke? Below are some facts and fiction.FACT: Ignoring a bad offensive line in the offseason is a terrible ideaYes, this past draft class was poor for incoming offensive linemen and the free agency market showed us that quality (and even subpar) starting linemen will get overpaid in a league starving for offensive line play. However, the Giants and Bengals decided that their leaky lines didn’t need fixing, and instead they would just improve the offense by improving the skill position players.Houston also fits this mold, as they invested in Deshaun Watson and D’Onta Foreman rather than offensive line help. Compounding matters with these franchises, Cincinnati allowed Andrew Whitworth and Kevin Zeitler to depart in free agency, while the Texans have their best lineman, Duane Brown, holding out. In Week 1, in embarrassing fashion across the board, these three teams combined to score 10 points, with the Bengals being shut out by Baltimore.Now, there are many other incriminating stats that can be cited as to how awful these three offenses were in their debut, but let’s just say it's safe to say that blocking is still rather important in today’s NFL.Fiction: The Detroit Lions are a contenderComing off an impressive victory over the Arizona Cardinals, many will now look at Detroit as a team ready to take the next step and contend in the NFC. While this is the right way of thinking about the Lions' offense, Detroit’s defense will keep this franchise from contending in 2017.Matthew Stafford was excellent as his offense put up 35 points on a great Cardinals defense. Stafford is progressing well under Jim Bob Cooter and his massive new contract is justified. His supporting cast on the offensive side of the ball is also strong enough, although this remains a very Stafford-reliant team overall. As was often the case last year, Stafford rallied his team back when it mattered most and excelled from the no-huddle.But this defense was among the very worst in the league in 2016 and remains problematic, even though the secondary coverage and pass rush were strong in this contest. Carson Palmer was rested a great deal during the preseason and in training camp. He didn’t play well in Week 1 and threw three interceptions. His left tackle, John Wetzel, was an utter disaster.The Lions won’t be as fortunate every week as they were on Sunday when the Cardinals lost their most important player, running back David Johnson, for 2-3 months with a significant wrist injury. It could be a long year for Arizona, whose offense scored just 10 points in this game. Unfortunately, the same is true for the Lions' defense.Fact: Sam Bradford is legit - and so are the VikingsOver his career, Bradford has been highly polarizing. You could make a very strong case that no quarterback in recent memory had more excuses made for him. Or, you could be more logical and realize that Bradford was mostly in dreadful situations throughout his career, suffered season-ending knee injuries in back-to-back seasons, and had to adapt on the fly to new offensive system after new offensive system.Bradford became a Viking just days before the 2016 season began. The year before, he was in Chip Kelly’s system in Philadelphia and quietly played well in the second half. That had to be a massive adjustment for the former first overall selection, but Bradford still thrived in his new home. That is, until the Vikings' offensive line was so decimated that this team couldn’t run the ball in any capacity or throw downfield with any semblance of regularity.Still, Bradford made the best of it and was remarkably accurate while he learned the new offense on the fly. But as he showed on Monday night, Bradford is capable of greatness when the conditions are at least at a league-average level. The Vikings now have an offensive line that isn't just a giant sieve, and Bradford is throwing to the best receivers of his career.Of course, it was against a Saints defense that has struggled mightily in recent seasons, but that should not detract from how incredibly Bradford threw the football or how explosive Minnesota’s offense has become in the past year. He is playing like the first pick in a draft - and the Vikings are a major contender because of it.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles are signing place-kicker Jake Elliott off the Cincinnati Bengals' practice squad and placing kicker Caleb Sturgis on injured reserve/designated to return, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport on Tuesday.That makes Elliott the only healthy kicker on the Eagles' roster.The Bengals selected Elliott with their fifth-round pick in the 2017 draft. He played four years for Memphis, going 21-for-26 from all distances last season and making two of his three attempts from outside 50 yards. Over his four years, he went a combined 10-for-16 from 50-plus yards.Sturgis suffered a hip flexor injury in Week 1 against the Washington Redskins. The IR designation requires him to sit out at least eight weeks.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hard Rock Stadium will be "good to go" for the Miami Dolphins next month when they play their first game of the season in the facility, team president Tom Garfinkel said Tuesday. There was fear damage from Hurricane Irma would cause a delay in access to the stadium, but only minor damage occurred, according to Garfinkel.