A loss for Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets could result in a lot of free drinks at one bar in Wisconsin.Jack's American Pub, located in Milwaukee, is promising to cover customers' bar tabs every time the former Green Bay Packers quarterback starts and the Jets lose this season, according to Christian D'Andrea of USA Today Sports.The promotion does come with some stipulations, though. Tabs must be opened at least 15 minutes before kickoff (food isn't included) and customers have to stay for the entire game to have their drinks covered. The Jets matchup also can't coincide with a Packers game which, as D'Andrea notes, will only happen four times this season.Rodgers led the Jets to a 32-24 victory over the New York Giants in his preseason debut with his new team, completing five of eight pass attempts for 47 yards and a touchdown.The Jets open the regular season on Sept. 11 with a Monday Night Football matchup against the Buffalo Bills.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The views from the top of the Empire State Building inspired Dalvin Cook on Monday: The New York Jets running back wants fans to expect this team to break their 55-year Super Bowl drought."I think it's very realistic," Cook told Steve Serby of The New York Post. "Obviously you look at the roster, you look at the people we've added and the things that we already had, just combining that in one, and I think it's something to be excited about. We just gotta go out there and do our part."The Jets signed Cook to a one-year deal worth up to $8.6 million in mid-August. Cook had interest from other teams but believed the Jets were his best chance at winning the ultimate prize."That's why I came," Cook said. "That's why I'm here, to help any way I can to get to where we need to go, and that's holding up the trophy, and that's what we're trying to do," Cook said.Cook spent the previous six years with the Minnesota Vikings after being selected in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft. The 28-year-old made four Pro Bowls during his stint in Minnesota and signed a five-year, $63-million contract extension with the team in 2020.Minnesota's rushing offense struggled in 2022, ranking 29th in yards per game, which motivated the team to make a change at running back. Cook struggled with a shoulder injury all season but enters the 2023 campaign healthy after undergoing surgery in February.Jets running back Breece Hall was activated off the PUP list earlier in August and is expected to be ready for Week 1. Hall was off to a hot start in his rookie campaign before suffering a torn ACL in Week 7."I think the ceiling is high for him," Cook said. "He's in a great spot of maturing through the injury and coming out being a better player. I've been through that as a young player."Cook was asked if he and Hall make the best running back duo in the NFL."In my eyes, I think so," Cook said.The Jets open their season on Sept. 11 against the Buffalo Bills.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera wishes he'd played Sam Howell earlier during the quarterback's rookie season in 2022.The Commanders began last year with Carson Wentz as the starter and later turned to Taylor Heinicke after an injury sidelined Wentz following Week 6. Heinicke and Wentz finished the campaign with nine and seven starts, respectively.Washington didn't play Howell - a fifth-round pick last year - until its regular-season finale against the Dallas Cowboys. The North Carolina product finished that contest with 169 passing yards and 35 yards on the ground while accounting for two touchdowns to help the Commanders upset the Cowboys and snap a three-game losing streak at the time."All we f-----g talked about was the quarterback, what the quarterback did, who he was," Rivera recently said while describing a conversation he had with his wife, Stephanie, after Howell's first NFL start, according to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated."I kept saying, 'F--k, if I would have known this, I would have played him sooner.' When you only have so much time to show it, it's hard. But after that game, everything told me this kid, give him the opportunity and see what he does with it."Rivera admitted that Heinicke - who signed with the Atlanta Falcons in free agency - was a determinant in his decision to play Howell in Week 18."Taylor told me, 'Coach, this guy's got arm talent. I can't throw the ball like he does,'" Rivera said. "I think the world of who Taylor is. For him to tell me that, that's what drove me to play (Howell) against Dallas. It was really how honest and up front Taylor was about this thing."The Commanders, who've started a league-high 12 different quarterbacks over the last five seasons, named Howell their starter for the 2023 season Aug. 18.In addition to Howell, Washington's quarterback depth chart features Jacoby Brissett and Jake Fromm.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones is downplaying Calais Campbell's claims that his trash talk is "kind of disrespectful.""I don't know about that," Jones said of Campbell during an appearance on WEEI's "Jones & Mego." "But I definitely enjoyed watching him growing up because he was a Jaguar. He's a really good player, and I try to keep it loose out there. The guys that have played with me and played against me know that it's all fun and games. That's the most important part for me is having fun, and I'm really just having a good time."Campbell, who played the Patriots as a member of the Baltimore Ravens in 2022, criticized Jones for his trash talk in July."Philip Rivers was a good trash-talker, but he was never disrespectful," the Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman said. "Mac Jones, actually, was kind of disrespectful. I'm like, 'Hold on, man.' Just trash talk to the highest level."Jones said Monday he has no hard feelings with Campbell from last year.The Florida native tweaked his ankle during New England's contest against Baltimore in 2022 after being hit by Campbell following a pass attempt. Jones missed three games because of the injury.Campbell has appeared in 227 regular-season contests since the Arizona Cardinals drafted him in the second round in 2008. He played his first nine NFL seasons with the Cardinals before spending time with the Jacksonville Jaguars (2017-19) and Ravens (2020-22). The 36-year-old signed a one-year contract with the Falcons in March.Meanwhile, Jones has tossed 36 touchdowns against 14 interceptions across two seasons with the Pats, including 14 scores in 2022. The Alabama product earned a Pro Bowl berth and finished second for the Offensive Rookie of the Year award after being drafted 15th overall in 2021.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Being the main guy isn't something new for Anthony Richardson, but the Indianapolis Colts quarterback is expecting a lot of support from his teammates as the team tries to meet high expectations in 2023."People always talk about how I'm the franchise," the No. 4 overall pick said Monday, according to Mike Chappell of FOX59. "I see it that way, but (teammates) are here before I was here. They're part of the franchise as well."The Florida product, recently named Indianapolis' Week 1 starter, said he's used to being surrounded by high expectations throughout his football career."People were always saying I was the face of the school," he said. "There was a lot of pressure, not only from in Gainesville but just from Gator fans in general. They always want the best. Wearing 15, being the quarterback, and then growing up in Gainesville, everybody expects so much from you."The Colts historically have fielded some of the most talented quarterbacks of all time, but the franchise has been desperately looking for stability at the position since Andrew Luck retired in 2019. Indy has used seven different starting QBs in the last four seasons."Everybody wants me to come here and win a Super Bowl my first year. I wish I could, and I hope I can," said Richardson, the Colts' highest-drafted player since taking Luck first overall in 2012."I know (the Colts) invested a lot in me. But I'm not the only person on this team. They invested a lot into the other players. They invested a lot into this staff."Coming off a 4-12-1 season, the Colts hired Shane Steichen as head coach this past offseason. Indianapolis ranked 30th in points scored and 28th in points allowed in 2022.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Cardinals released quarterback Colt McCoy, the team announced Monday.Arizona will likely look toward Joshua Dobbs or rookie Clayton Tune to begin the season as its starter. However, head coach Jonathan Gannon refused to name his next QB1 on Monday, describing the decision as a "competitive advantage," according to Paul Calvisi of 98.7 Arizona Sports. The Cardinals kick off their 2023 season on the road against the Washington Commanders on Sept. 10."We've got a plan in place, but I want to see them both play football still. ... I feel good where we're at," the first-year head coach added, per PHNX Cardinals.Kyler Murray is set to miss at least the first four games of the season after the team chose to keep him on the physically unable to perform list to begin the 2023 campaign, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. The 2019 first overall pick tore his ACL while scrambling last December in a game against the New England Patriots.The Cardinals recently acquired Dobbs in a trade with the Cleveland Browns, while Tune was a fifth-round choice in the 2023 NFL Draft.McCoy, 36, spent the past two seasons in Arizona, where he started six games and posted a 3-3 record as a starter. He passed for 780 yards and one touchdown with a 68.2% completion rate in 2022.Prior to his tenure with the Cardinals, McCoy enjoyed stints with the Commanders, Browns, San Francisco 49ers, and New York Giants.The Texas product has racked up 7,975 passing yards, 34 touchdowns, and 32 interceptions, with a 79.9 career passer rating.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Few thought much of the Giants before the 2022 season, but they cleared their win total and cashed tickets at +220 to make the playoffs. However, the big winners were those who backed Brian Daboll to win Coach of the Year. It was about more than just an improvement to their record, as Daboll got credit for making Daniel Jones capable of leading the Giants to the postseason.Doug Pederson did the same for the Jaguars, but Trevor Lawrence had almost too much pedigree. It wasn't nearly as surprising that the former Clemson star had a quick turnaround in him. In both cases, a terrible previous head coach likely helped Daboll's and Pederson's candidacies. Joe Judge and Urban Meyer primed the Giants and Jags to need saving.It also helps if a head coach gets credit for captaining a ship through turbulent times. Kyle Shanahan finished second in voting last year after the 49ers had to turn to a third quarterback - a little-known "Mr. Irrelevant" out of Iowa State - and never missed a beat with Brock Purdy. Mike Vrabel won the award a year earlier after winning the AFC South after Derrick Henry got hurt.Unfortunately, someone key will get hurt, but it's nearly impossible to guess who. This type of candidate will have to be pinpointed midseason, and we'll try to guess who'll thrive without their star.Coach of the Year oddsCOACHODDSDan Campbell+800Sean Payton+900Matt LaFleur+1200Arthur Smith+1400Matt Eberflus+1400Robert Saleh+1400Mike McDaniel+1800Dennis Allen+2000Frank Reich+2000Mike Tomlin+2000Shane Steichen+2000Zac Taylor+2000Brandon Staley+2500Brian Daboll+2500Demeco Ryans+2500Doug Pederson+2500Jonathan Gannon+2500Kevin Stefanski+2500Pete Carroll+2500Bill Belichick+3000John Harbaugh+3000Josh McDaniels+3000Kevin O'Connell+3000Kyle Shanahan+3000Mike Vrabel+3000Nick Sirianni+3000Ron Rivera+3000Sean McDermott+3500Sean McVay+3500Mike McCarthy+4000Todd Bowles+4000Andy Reid+5000The name atop the board here makes little sense, as Dan Campbell leads the favorites to win the NFC North. Meanwhile, Sean Payton's the second choice on the premise he can turn around something that might not be salvageable. The good news is, with vulnerable favorites, there should be an opportunity down the oddsboard to find a good price on a candidate that makes more sense.Best betsMatt LaFleur (+1200)We don't have to go far down for a reasonable candidate. LaFleur's case is somewhat unusual, but so is watching a future Hall of Fame quarterback leave while having a ready-incubated replacement. He's not taking over for anyone, but if he can get enough out of Jordan Love and a fleet of young receivers, then LaFleur should get the credit for the Packers' success. Like the Giants last year, the Packers are rated as a below-average team, and simply making the playoffs will be considered something of a coup.So, how can Green Bay pull that off? For starters, there's nothing wrong with having NFL players in their early 20s if they can play. An uptick in team speed starts with Christian Watson, who became an attractive target for Aaron Rodgers, while Jayden Reed might be a dangerous rookie out of the slot. Sometimes, deploying a variety of options can keep NFL defenses off-balance, and Love showed well in the preseason. While that guarantees nothing, you rather your new quarterback succeed in the tuneup than struggle. Love, as something of a blank canvas for LaFleur's tutelage, could very well improve on Rodgers' pedestrian 2022 season of 3695 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.With that said, does he need to? Green Bay got almost 1900 yards rushing out of Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon, and its defense returns an important playmaker in Rashan Gary. Lost in the hand-wringing about Love replacing Rodgers is that the Packers have as much room to improve on defense. If they're able to get better on both sides of the ball, they'll contend in the NFC North, and LaFleur will get a sizeable amount of recognition for it.Mike Tomlin (+2000)The common thread amongst most Coach of the Year candidates is a young quarterback, one who might be lacking the fangs and claws to turn from the star of a PG-rated movie into a rated-R hero. Enter Kenny Pickett in his second season and Tomlin - a well-respected head coach who's never won this award - with a team that's rated last in the AFC North.It's a small sample size, but just two preseason incompletions amongst a handful of impressive throws has Steelers fans excited about the 2022 first-round pick in his second season. It won't take much for Pickett and some quality outside targets in George Pickens and Diontae Johnson to make the Steelers' offense more explosive.Like the Packers, the room to improve on offense - having managed just 4.9 yards per play - is matched by the return of a defensive star to full health. With T.J. Watt hopefully back in the fold for a full season, the Steelers should improve on their middle-of-the-pack opponent yards per game and points allowed per game metrics from last season.Contending in a loaded AFC North will be tough, but the Steelers have the schedule for a hot start. Being in the mix late will be all the more impressive to voters who'll realize Tomlin should have one of these awards at some point.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.

The Cleveland Browns have made a move at kicker, acquiring Dustin Hopkins from the Los Angeles Chargers for a 2025 seventh-round pick, both teams announced Monday.As a result, the Browns released 2022 fourth-round selection Cade York following struggles in the preseason, a source told NFL insider Jordan Schultz.York was the highest-drafted kicker since 2016 after being selected by the Browns at No. 124 following a standout career at LSU. The 22-year-old completed 81.8% of his field-goal attempts and 97.6% of his extra-point kicks in three seasons with the Tigers.But York failed to become the answer to Cleveland's long-standing kicker issues. He had four field-goal misses in eight attempts during the preseason, including a blocked potential game-winner against the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday.The 32-year-old Hopkins became available after losing the Chargers' top job to Cameron Dicker, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Hopkins is entering his ninth NFL season, having joined the Chargers midway through the 2021 campaign following six-and-half years with the Washington Commanders. He made nine of his 10 field-goal attempts and all 12 of his extra-point kicks with L.A. in 2022.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We made it through the preseason, and whether it's because teams rarely allowed anyone of market significance to play in games or dodged meaningful injuries in camp, there's minimal change in how we rate the teams.While preseason final scores are meaningless, some information can be gleaned from dress rehearsals to help confirm what we might have already thought of a team's season-long prospects as we look at the betting markets to make or miss the playoffs in each conference.Make/Miss NFL playoffs oddsTEAMMAKEMISSEagles-425+34049ers-400+320Cowboys-240+200Lions-175+150Saints-165+140Seahawks-120+100Falcons+105-125Vikings+105-125Packers+170-200Bears+170-200Giants+180-210Panthers+180-210Commanders+290-360Rams+290-360Buccaneers+380-450Cardinals+1100-1800Chiefs-525+400Bills-275+225Bengals-250+210Jaguars-200+170Ravens-165+140Jets-130+110Chargers-105-115Dolphins-105-115Browns+110-130Steelers+130-155Broncos+190-220Titans+250-300Patriots+270-340Colts+360-450Raiders+450-600Texans+500-700Best bet: To make the playoffsFavorite: Seahawks (-120)It seemed last year like the NFC was asking around for volunteers to make the postseason, and the West appears to be a two-horse race with the loser of the division title likely to still make it in as a wild card.Jaxon Smith-Njigba's injury is supposed to be short-term, so with DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett still around, missing a first-round selection isn't going to change how we value a Seattle team that snuck into the playoffs last season.Thanks to astute dealings to add picks, the last two drafts were good for the Seahawks, as they seem to have scored two quality tackles and two dangerous corners. The thing we like most is the revamping of a porous run defense last season, as the team brought back Bobby Wagner and Jarran Reed while adding Dre'Mont Jones. At -120, this is a decent price to back Seattle, who is still on the rise.Underdog: Packers (+170)You're more likely to find a surprise playoff team in the NFC than the weighty AFC, and even with the Seahawks claiming a wild card, there are still two spots left for the rest of the NFC. As a bonus for Green Bay, the NFC North provides the combination of lacking a rock-solid favorite - meaning the Packers could mess around and win the division - and being competitive enough that second place should have a record that results in a wild card.Green Bay's schedule includes the NFC South, and because the team finished third last season, the Cowboys, Eagles, 49ers, and Seahawks are avoided in other in-conference matchups.Long shot: Titans (+250)The more we saw out of the Texans' and Colts' rookie quarterbacks this preseason, the more it looked like it will take some time for their offenses to get up to speed. The Titans are nobody's idea of exciting, but Mike Vrabel will get the most out of a veteran group that is under the radar since he sat Ryan Tannehill, Derrick Henry and DeAndre Hopkins for the preseason.Tennessee is +350 to win the division, so it's a minimal drop in payout to add the safety net of a wild card, even if its competition is steep. Having a healthy defense with hopes for full seasons out of Harold Landry, Kristian Fulton, and Amani Hooker should make the Titans more like the 2021 version of themselves that won the division.Best bet: To miss the playoffsFavorite: Panthers (-210)You don't want to overreact to the preseason, but we were already worried about the Panthers when looking at the depth chart around Bryce Young. The first overall pick didn't play as much as expected in their three warmup games, attempting just 24 passes and carrying the ball four times. If that was to protect him from a shaky offensive line, that doesn't bode well for this coming season.Meanwhile, it's worth questioning whether Frank Reich was an inspired hire to develop Young. We're getting a manageable price on a team with little chance to make the postseason because it's in the league's worst division and there will be a wide-open conference wild-card race.Underdog: Saints (+140)If you know what to make of the Saints, you're better than I am. We're getting an underdog price on Dennis Allen to miss the playoffs because New Orleans is the nominal favorite to win the NFC South, which is wild considering he's 18-47 as a head coach.Sure, Derek Carr is an upgrade at quarterback, but there are plenty of other question marks. The defense was fourth in opponent yards per play last year, and the Saints only won seven games. So what if that unit takes a step back? If the offense doesn't get resurgent years from Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas, then Carr might end up in a similar situation as he had with the Raiders - a coin flip to make the playoffs in the season's final weeks.Long shot: Bills (+225)Betting on a quality team to miss the playoffs probably requires it to be in a tough division, in a tough conference, with a tough schedule. It helps this bet that the Bills showed some flaws to end last year and have to play the Bengals, Chiefs, Chargers, and Eagles on the road, and there are also the divisional games and a visit from the Cowboys. A record of 10-7 would be good with those 11 games on the slate, but in a loaded AFC, it might not be enough for playoff participation.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.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is having difficulty narrowing the generational divide with his young teammates, his wife said on her podcast "The Morning After With Kelly Stafford.""He's like, 'The difference in the locker room has changed so significantly,'" Kelly Stafford said. "They have a lot of rookies on their team, they're very young. ... But he's like, 'I feel like I can't connect.'"She added, "I think Matthew feels it the most because he's so old and like a leader on the team. But he's like, 'I don't know how to lead people I have no connection with. I have to somehow find a way to connect to them.'"Kelly Stafford also said that her husband's teammates seem too focused on their phones and don't interact with one another or play games together in the locker room.Matthew Stafford, 35, is among the few holdovers from the Rams' Super Bowl LVI winning roster. Aaron Donald and Ernest Jones are the only starters on defense to remain from the 2021 squad."They say 'sir' to him and shit," Kelly Stafford said. "He's like, 'No, we're on the same level here, we're both playing in the league. Let me get to know you.'"The Rams added 14 players in the 2023 NFL Draft and currently have 22 undrafted free agents on the roster ahead of Tuesday's 53-man roster deadline. Stafford is one of five players on L.A.'s roster over the age of 30, joining Donald, Rob Havenstein, Cooper Kupp, and Tyler Higbee.The franchise parted ways with several veterans in the offseason, including sending Jalen Ramsey to the Miami Dolphins in a trade.L.A. shut Matthew Stafford down near the halfway mark of last season after he bruised his spinal cord. He threw for 2,087 yards, 10 touchdowns, and eight interceptions, posting an 87.4 passer rating in nine games.The Rams open the season against the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 10.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2023 Fantasy Football Draft Kit 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 his biggest takeaways from the final week of preseason games.

Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Derek Barnett is gauging his trade interest around the league amid likely limited playing time with the NFC champions, sources told Jeremey Fowler of ESPN.Philadelphia is hoping to keep the 2017 first-round pick but understands its deep pass-rushing group could limit Barnett's opportunities, adds Fowler.The 27-year-old has failed to live up to his draft status in six seasons with the Eagles. He had his least-productive campaign as a pass-rusher in 2021, earning just two sacks, but he did tally a career-high 46 total tackles. Barnett suffered a torn ACL in Week 1 last year.Barnett's best season came in 2019, when he racked up 6.5 sacks, 22 quarterback hits, and two forced fumbles.The Eagles boast one of the NFL's best front sevens, with Brandon Graham, Fletcher Cox, Josh Sweat, and Haason Reddick headlining the group.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With 10 days until the NFL opener, there's still plenty of time to make predictions and bet season-long futures based on those bold or safe predictions.There are countless player props to bet on, including over/under for players' passing yards, rushing yards, receiving yards, touchdowns, and many more.After scouring through them all, I identified my best player prop bets of the season. Let's look at some worthy investments that'll pay off by the end of the 2023 campaign.Best betsTrevor Lawrence over 4000.5 passing yards (-140)Lawrence took a massive jump from Year 1 to Year 2. The former No. 1 overall pick's stock is only rising as he emerges just outside the upper echelon of NFL quarterbacks.He had a disastrous rookie campaign on an Urban Meyer-coached Jaguars team. He threw for 3,641 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions while completing less than 60% of his passes.Last year - his first under Doug Pederson - Lawrence threw for 4,113 yards and completed 66% of his throws. He also tossed 25 touchdowns to only eight interceptions.Lawrence improved as a decision-maker while putting up impressive stat lines. He threw for less than 200 yards in just five of his 19 starts, including playoffs. It's surprising oddsmakers are expecting a slight regression from Lawrence.The former Clemson superstar is just scratching the surface. There's a reason he was hailed as a generational player prior to the 2021 NFL Draft.Carson Wentz took a massive step forward in Pederson's offense in the coach's second year in Philadelphia. Wentz materialized as an MVP candidate before injuring his knee late in that season.In Year 2 with Pederson, I expect another leap from Lawrence. His 4,113 passing yards last season ranked ninth among quarterbacks. Lawrence has the arm strength and necessary weapons to rank near the top of the league in passing yards. He won't just surpass 4,000 passing yards - he's going to crush it.Miles Sanders over 925.5 rushing yards (-105)Sanders recorded 1,269 rushing yards with the Eagles last season, the fifth-most in the NFL, before joining the Panthers in March.Sanders proved he's one of the best running backs in the league. But as is often the case with good running backs, regression is inevitable and often swift. While Sanders probably won't rush for over 1,200 yards this season, a line of 925.5 is disrespectful.Sanders is entering his fifth season, and while he isn't rushing behind the Eagles' incredible offensive line anymore, the Panthers have a solid unit up front. Carolina has the 16th-ranked offensive line, per PFF.The Panthers won't want to put too much pressure on first-year quarterback Bryce Young, which means they'll rely on the run game.Young is also mobile, which means Carolina can get creative with its play-calling and implement read options. Philadelphia did that often with Jalen Hurts and Sanders. When the defense has to worry about two rushers in the backfield, it helps both of them.The only obstacle Sanders could face in his quest for another 1,000-yard season is health concerns. Last year was the first since his rookie season that Sanders played every game.Miniscule injuries have kept him sidelined in the past, and as running backs continue to take beatings, those injuries usually pile up. Sanders suffered a groin injury in training camp but is expected to be available for Week 1.As long as he's healthy, Sanders should be in store for another 1,000-yard season.Aaron Rodgers over 28.5 passing touchdowns (-105)While the preseason buzz surrounding the Jets has been exhausting, and that is solely due to Rodgers' presence, many are questioning whether he's still a top quarterback in the league after a poor 2022 season.Let me be the first to assure the skeptics Rodgers still belongs in the top tier of quarterbacks despite his advanced age of 39. It's important to look at Rodgers' 2022 season with the necessary context. After public disputes and reconciliations between Rodgers and the Packers, the 18-year run between the two was coming to an unavoidable conclusion.That fraying relationship carried over to the field. Rodgers also dealt with inexperienced receivers, which was one of his issues with management.Rodgers' trade to the Jets was a fresh start and a rejuvenation he desperately needed in the final years of his playing career. Rodgers is just a couple of years removed from back-to-back MVP seasons, where he tossed 48 and 37 touchdowns, respectively.A refreshed, motivated, and potentially vengeful Rodgers is scary for the rest of the league. The Jets' offense is filled with lethal weapons. While the offensive line is a concern, it won't inhibit the four-time MVP from accumulating absurd numbers.Even in a down year last season, Rodgers threw 26 touchdowns. The Jets' offense will go as far as Rodgers takes it, and I fully expect him to throw at least 30 touchdowns.Allen Lazard over 625.5 receiving yards (-110)After a rough practice for the Jets' receivers, "Hard Knocks" cameras captured Randall Cobb - a longtime Rodgers confidant - telling the group that if Rodgers doesn't trust you, he won't throw you the ball.Luckily for Lazard, he earned Rodgers' trust in Green Bay last year. The Jets knew there were certain players they needed to acquire in free agency to attract Rodgers to New York. Lazard was one of them.Lazard had 60 receptions for 788 yards in 2022. He was targeted 100 times. Lazard was Rodgers' primary option, even though he's not good enough to be a No. 1 receiver.Garrett Wilson is, though, and he'll command so much of the defense's attention that it'll free up Lazard. Rodgers and Lazard created a rapport that'll carry over to this season.Dak Prescott under 4000.5 passing yards (-125)Prescott has thrown for over 4,000 passing yards twice in his seven-year career. He also threw 15 interceptions last season, the most in the NFL.The Cowboys learned that their offense is at its best when the ball is out of Prescott's hands. The offense was most effective when it relied on the run game duo of Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard. Elliott is no longer in Dallas, but Pollard remains, and one of the best offensive lines in football is still intact.In the 10 games Prescott attempted at least 30 passes, he threw multiple interceptions in six of them. Prescott threw zero interceptions in only one of those 10 games.In order to limit Prescott's interceptions, the Cowboys need to limit his passing attempts. Fewer attempts will lead to fewer passing yards.Sam Oshtry is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on Twitter @soshtry for more betting coverage.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The defending conference champions are the favorites to win the AFC and NFC.The Eagles and the Chiefs each won 14 games last year, which led the NFL and earned them the one seeds en route to Super Bowl appearances. Unsurprisingly, the Chiefs are the favorites (+400), and the Eagles are the second favorites (+500) to have the most regular season wins.Both organizations returned their core pieces while retooling at positions of need. The Eagles are +250 to win a weaker NFC, while the Chiefs are +350 to win a deep and star-quarterback-heavy AFC.Earning the No. 1 seed, a bye, and home-field advantage creates a much easier path to the Super Bowl. Winning the most regular season games is the most straightforward route to repeat as conference champs.But returning to the Super Bowl is much harder than making it once. Only eight teams in NFL history have returned to the Super Bowl following a loss. Only three teams that won the Super Bowl since 2004 have returned the next season, and none repeated as champs.While the Chiefs and Eagles may be the favorites to win the most games, there are inevitable roadblocks.Most regular season wins oddsTeamOddsChiefs+400Eagles+500Bengals+750Bills+75049ers+800Cowboys+1100Ravens+1200Jaguars+1500The Eagles have one of the hardest schedules in the NFL. They play their division opponents - all of whom are potential playoff contenders - twice. The NFC East is also paired up with the AFC East, by far the best division in football.The Eagles have a November stretch against the Cowboys, Chiefs, Bills, 49ers, and then Cowboys again - four of the six teams with the best odds to win the Super Bowl. This year won't be smooth sailing for Philadelphia. Philadelphia and Dallas share many of the same opponents, which, as a result, eliminates the Cowboys from having the most wins.The Bills also have an extremely challenging schedule playing in the AFC East. Facing the Jets, Dolphins, and Patriots twice in a season isn't a recipe to get to 13 or 14 wins.The Bengals are as complete as any team in the AFC and have a manageable schedule. The only concern is Joe Burrow's health. Burrow suffered a calf injury early on in training camp and his status for the start of the season is uncertain despite optimistic reports about his progress.It's hard to predict an AFC team will have the most wins in the league given how deep the conference is. Some really good teams are going to miss the playoffs, and some great teams are going to have worse records strictly because of an elevated level of competition.It's a different story in the NFC with mostly lackluster quarterbacks and few Super Bowl contenders.The 49ers have the second-highest projected win total in the NFC behind the Eagles and the fourth-highest in the NFL.San Francisco has a reasonable schedule and, other than quarterback, the best roster in football. If the 49ers had a reliable quarterback situation, they'd be the favorites to win the Super Bowl. Last year, San Francisco won 13 games, one game behind the best record in football. It's safe to assume the 49ers will earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC this season with either 13 or 14 wins.Pick: 49ers +800Fewest regular season wins oddsTeam OddsCardinals+220Buccaneers+700Texans+850Rams+950Commanders+1000Raiders+1000Colts+1400Patriots+1500Only two teams this century have gone winless - the 2008 Lions and 2017 Browns. But every year there are a few teams that win three or four games. It's usually easy to predict who's in competition for the No. 1 pick in next year's draft.The Cardinals have the lowest win total at 4.5, two full games lower than the next lowest at 6.5.The Cardinals' roster is atrocious, and after a four-win season, bringing in a new coach can only change so much. After a promising start to his career, Kyler Murray's regression is concerning. His future in Arizona is murky. This season is crucial in determining if the Cardinals need to make a change at quarterback just two seasons removed from his five-year extension.Murray doesn't have the necessary surrounding talent to drag Arizona to the playoffs, but, in a prove-it year for him, can silence some critics en route to at least five wins.Three seasons removed from a Super Bowl win, the Bucs are now the bottom feeders of the NFL as Tom Brady decided to retire for good. Baker Mayfield will start the season under center with Kyle Trask lurking as the backup.The Bucs are doomed for a disastrous season, but it might be a blessing in disguise if it can help them land a top pick and a quarterback to turn the franchise around.When rookie quarterbacks struggle, their teams struggle. The Texans and Colts are strutting out C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson, respectively, with the former considered a more sure thing than the latter.The Colts won four games last season, while the Texans won three. Other than quarterback, neither team made drastic roster improvements expected to lead to immediate turnarounds. Stroud or Richardson aren't the second coming of Brady, and it's rare for a rookie quarterback to lead his team to a plethora of wins in the first year.I believe Richardson is in for a rough welcome to the big leagues, which will lead to lots of ugly losses.Pick: Colts +1400Sam Oshtry is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on Twitter @soshtry for more betting coverage.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2023 NFL preseason is finally in the books, and this year's exhibition slate once again provided exciting and head-scratching moments for each team.Here are the biggest winners and losers from the preseason:Winner: Rookie QBsWhat more could you want from a young group of quarterbacks in their first NFL action? Each of the first-round signal-callers looks the part heading into their first regular-season game, with Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, and Anthony Richardson easily winning starting jobs with the Panthers, Texans, and Colts, respectively. Growing pains are to be expected, but it's easy to see why these three flew off the board on draft night.It's not just the top picks making early impressions, either. Sixth-round pick Tanner McKee is already outplaying Marcus Mariota in Philadelphia. Dorian Thompson-Robinson, a fifth-round selection out of UCLA, ran away with the backup job in Cleveland. Raiders fourth-round pick Aidan O'Connell looked like a seasoned vet in his extended preseason action. And the Packers were so confident in fifth-rounder Sean Clifford as a reliable backup from Day 1 that he never even faced veteran competition. There's also Bears undrafted free agent Tyson Bagent, who beat out P.J. Walker to serve as Justin Fields' understudy after two seasons as the starter at Division II Shepherd.It's only preseason, of course, but might this quarterback class end up proving to be deeper than anyone could've imagined?Loser: Kyle Shanahan/John Lynch Michael Reaves / Getty Images Sport / GettyTrey Lance being traded to Dallas for a fourth-round pick is a colossal disaster for the 49ers. Nobody can argue against the aggressiveness in pursuit of a franchise quarterback, and perhaps this story would've had a different ending if injuries and a pandemic hadn't limited Lance to 132 pass attempts across three seasons (one in college, two in the NFL) so crucial to his development. The results are what they are, though, and this one stings.Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch spending three first-round picks on a quarterback that provided zero impact has the potential to be the difference in whether this team can capitalize on an extended Super Bowl window. Maybe the stroke of genius (read: luck) in finding a capable starter in Brock Purdy at the end of last year's draft eases the pain a little bit. But the long list of All-Pro talents drafted shortly after Lance, and even at San Francisco's original No. 12 slot (Micah Parsons), makes it easy to dream of what could've been.Winner: Steelers' offenseDon't look now, but Kenny Pickett and Co. are coming. With Pickett under center, the Steelers' offense was virtually unstoppable this preseason while producing several big plays. Pickett, a first-round pick last year, completed 13 of 15 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions this preseason. Pittsburgh scored a touchdown in all five drives with the second-year passer on the field.Pickett isn't the only Steelers second-year player who looked good, as 2022 second-round receiver George Pickens also turned heads. Two of Pickens' three catches this preseason were for 30-plus yards, including a 33-yard catch-and-run touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Granted, it's just preseason. But the Steelers bolstered their offensive line and are expecting a lot from Pickett in Year 2 after an inconsistent rookie season. A solid passing attack could make Pittsburgh and its solid defense playoff contenders in 2023.Loser: ColtsJonathan Taylor was one of the many running backs upset with his contract situation this offseason. Much like the others, his team doesn't seem all that inclined to address the matter with a long-term deal. But this saga features a truly special level of weirdness, thanks in large part to some bizarre public comments from Jim Irsay. The Colts owner weighing in on the running back market, and seemingly downplaying the concerns of top runners league-wide, appeared to have increased bubbling tensions with his own superstar playmaker. Taylor requested a trade out of Indianapolis days later, and the organization has since granted him permission to seek out a deal. Dylan Buell / Getty Images Sport / GettyIt remains to be seen whether he'll find another team willing to both surrender premium draft picks and give him the contract he desires. One thing is certain, though: the Colts, and Irsay specifically, have really messed this one up. Laugh at the idea of running back contracts all you want, but there's something to be said for keeping your best player happy. Taylor is still just 24. And, if ever there were a team that could justify guaranteeing three years of a new running back contract, it's the notoriously cap-rich Colts, who now have a rookie at quarterback. Just pay the man.Winner: Jets hype trainIt's hard not to be excited if you're a Jets fan. Few teams were as active as New York this offseason, and the team's aggressiveness resulted in the arrivals of quarterback Aaron Rodgers and running back Dalvin Cook, among others. Suddenly, the Jets - who missed the playoffs for the 12th straight season in 2022 despite boasting a top-five defense - are thinking about the Super Bowl.The already sky-high offseason expectations became even higher after Rodgers - in his first preseason start since 2018 - tossed a perfect touchdown to Garrett Wilson on Saturday to cap his second and final drive during his preseason debut with the team. Rodgers is happy in New York after almost two decades with the Green Bay Packers, and his connection with Wilson has been hot throughout training camp. New York's O-line still has question marks, but Rodgers, surrounded by one of football's most promising receivers and an elite defense, could be the answer to most of the Jets' problems.Loser: AFC bubble teamsOur limited exposure to clubs throughout the preseason has provided some confirmation that the AFC is unfathomably loaded. We know all about the top dogs: the Chiefs, Bills, and Bengals are the class of the conference and, once again, bona fide Super Bowl contenders. But how the other playoff spots get sorted out will be one of the most interesting stories of the upcoming season. David Eulitt / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Jets, as discussed above, are a potential powerhouse. And with the Dolphins still on the rise and the Patriots unveiling a professional offense after last year's mess, every AFC East team has playoff aspirations. The same can also be said for the AFC North, with a new-look offense potentially pushing the Ravens over the top, Pickett's development boosting the forever competitive Steelers, and the Browns having constructed a wildly talented roster around Deshaun Watson. Even if you consider the Jaguars, Chiefs, and Chargers the only playoff-caliber clubs from the remaining two divisions, that's 11 contenders for seven spots. There won't be any bad teams sneaking into the bottom of the AFC playoff picture this year.Winner: Trevor LawrenceLawrence finished this year's preseason with 13 completions on 16 attempts for 128 yards and one touchdown against one interception. But he isn't on this list necessarily because of his stats. The 2021 No. 1 pick, who broke out last season and led Jacksonville to the playoffs, should particularly be happy with what he's seen from Calvin Ridley. The Jaguars acquired Ridley from the Atlanta Falcons last year while the wideout was still suspended. After not playing at all in 2022, the now-reinstated Ridley turned heads at training camp due to his speed and route-running ability. He's also already making big plays with Lawrence:

As expected, C.J. Stroud will be under center for the Houston Texans in Week 1.The Texans tabbed the No. 2 overall pick as their starting quarterback for the 2023 season following Sunday's preseason game against the New Orleans Saints, the team announced.

The contract dispute between Saquon Barkley and the New York Giants this year didn't change how the star running back feels about the franchise - he still wants to finish his career with the team."Oh, yeah. I don't think that really changed," Barkley said Sunday when asked if he wants to be a Giant for life, according to Paul Schwartz of The New York Post. "They know how I feel. I'm not really too focused on that right now."Barkley, who's previously said he intends to only play for the Giants during his NFL career, negotiated a long-term deal this past offseason for several weeks after New York franchise tagged him. The 26-year-old publicly expressed his frustration with the then-stalled negotiations on multiple occasions, and his Week 1 availability was reportedly in question at one point.The two sides eventually signed a one-year deal worth up to $11 million in July. Barkley said he doesn't have anything against the Giants despite the contract battle."It's in the past. I can't control that," he said. "I know I came out and tweeted 'It is what it is,' and that's what I truly felt at the moment."Barkley added: "Once I made the decision I was going to show up and I was going to be there and do my job, you got to put all that aside. Got to be mature about it."The Penn State product put on a show in 2022 en route to helping the Giants reach the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Barkley finished the campaign with a team-high 1,650 scrimmage yards and 10 total touchdowns, earning the second Pro Bowl berth of his career.The former Offensive Rookie of the Year has racked up 4,249 rushing yards (4.5 per carry) and 29 touchdowns in 60 games since New York drafted him second overall in 2018. He's also caught 247 passes for 1,820 yards and eight scores.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Aaron Rodgers is happy about his preseason debut with the New York Jets."Didn't get hurt, scored, it was a good night," Rodgers said after Saturday's 32-24 victory over the New York Giants, according to Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports.Rodgers played two offensive drives in his first preseason start since 2018. The 39-year-old completed five of eight pass attempts for 47 yards and a touchdown.The four-time NFL MVP, who joined New York in an offseason trade from the Green Bay Packers, received a big ovation from fans at MetLife Stadium after officially taking the field for the first time with his new team."I had some butterflies, for sure. That's always normal. ... I loosened up pretty good when I got the ovation when I took the field, that was a special moment to have that kind of support," Rodgers said.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2023 Fantasy Football Draft Kit and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.*If anything noteworthy happens in the Sunday night matchup between the Texans and Saints, we'll add it below.Steelers' offense continues to shineAfter a 2022 campaign in which it appeared coordinator Matt Canada held back the Steelers' offense, we have to acknowledge the significant leap forward this unit has made entering this season.Improvements to the offensive line and the development of multiple young skill position players are helping the cause - led by Kenny Pickett.The sophomore quarterback had a nearly flawless preseason. He completed 13 of his 15 pass attempts for 199 yards and two scores over three outings and helped his team find the end zone on all five drives he took the field.Wideout George Pickens is also making strides toward becoming a more consistent impact player. He was at it again this week with a 35-yard reception, Pickett tossing the ball up and letting his acrobatic receiver do the rest to get the team down to the goal line.Not to be outdone, Diontae Johnson had a 33-yard grab in the game, bumping his preseason average depth of target up even more - something that would be a boon for his fantasy projections if it continues into September.The same thing happened for tight end Pat Freiermuth this month, which could be a sign the Steelers will be more aggressive throwing downfield in 2023. Concerns about Freiermuth's usage and playing time are also fading after seeing how Pittsburgh deployed him over the last few weeks.And in the backfield, Najee Harris' ADP still feels a little high since backup Jaylen Warren seems to have a regular role on passing downs while earning a few more touches on early downs, as Nathan Jahnke of Pro Football Focus broke down.The result is a much more exciting Steelers' offense, and one fantasy managers should try to acquire.Instant impressionsJaguars on the attack - This is your weekly reminder that Trevor Lawrence and the Jags will field an extremely potent offense in 2023. Lawrence looks confident and in command, with Calvin Ridley's arrival likely having a big effect on him. Ridley has racked up 71 yards on five catches over the last two contests and is poised to make a triumphant return to the fantasy world in a few weeks. His presence takes some pressure off Zay Jones, Christian Kirk, and Evan Engram, allowing them to play more suitable roles. Travis Etienne is the unquestioned starter in the backfield, but Tank Bigsby is proving to be a perfect complement (even though the rookie fumbled Saturday). Both backs were very productive on their touches in the preseason finale and should be drafted at or ahead of their current ADPs.Richardson's rushing on display - Anthony Richardson's comfort in the Colts' passing scheme is still a work in progress, but don't be discouraged by his 35% completion percentage this week. The rookie showcased his poise in the pocket by escaping pass-rushers and making plays with his arm and legs. He had 38 rushing yards on five carries/scrambles, which is the exact thing that'll boost his fantasy floor and provide a sky-high fantasy ceiling when the passing numbers catch up. If Jonathan Taylor leaves via trade, it could mean even more work for Richardson, especially around the goal line. It's something he's used to after scoring nine rushing TDs during his final year in college. He should go off the board as a top-10 quarterback in your drafts.Committee backfield in Indy? - While we're on the topic of the Colts and the Taylor situation, it's worth mentioning Deon Jackson started this week's game at running back. However, rookie Evan Hull played more snaps with the starting unit, and we can't forget Zack Moss is expected back soon from a broken arm. I like Hull's potential, given his athleticism and pass-catching ability. But if Indy moves Taylor, you should expect the team to get a back in return or sign a veteran free agent. The Colts released Kenyan Drake recently, but Kareem Hunt has worked out for them and reportedly remains in contact. Leonard Fournette is also lurking.Young's sneaky rushing upside - Bryce Young doesn't have the same kind of rushing ceiling as fellow rookie quarterback Richardson. Still, seeing him collect 21 yards on the ground against the Lions this week was encouraging. If he can tack that onto his stats, he'll finish much higher than I currently have him in my rankings. The more important preseason takeaway for Young is that he continues to look comfortable, even when under fire by the oncoming pass rush. His long-term potential as a pro remains high, and his underrated receiving corps of Adam Thielen, Jonathan Mingo, and D.J. Chark will be fantasy options this season.Love's sneaky rushing upside? - We could almost copy and paste the previous paragraph since Jordan Love also flashed rushing production this week with the same 21 yards on the ground. The drumbeat around Love has been upbeat this summer, and the collection of young pass-catching talent around him is intriguing. If he can add a little more with his legs than expected, he'll be a high-end QB2 for fantasy.Moore making life easier for Fields - In case you still need convincing, DJ Moore is an incredible football player who can turn any touch into a house call. The Bears wisely secured his services this offseason in an effort to aid Justin Fields' development. On Saturday, Moore provided more evidence of why he's the right man for that job by catching what should have been a 15-yard pass between four defenders and turning it into a 40-yard gain. Even if you doubt Fields' ability as a passer, the upgraded talent around him will help this offense thrive.Rodgers on point - We're still down on Aaron Rodgers' fantasy outlook for 2023. However, in his first preseason action with the Jets, he found Garrett Wilson at the side of the end zone for a touchdown that seemed reminiscent of the Rodgers-Davante Adams connection in Green Bay. The future Hall of Famer is about to catapult Wilson to elite fantasy status.Baker cooking in Tampa - Don't look now, but Baker Mayfield completed all six of his passes for 43 yards and a score this week, putting a bow on a decent preseason for him. Mayfield isn't going to replace Tom Brady. But based on what we've seen, he should be able to keep Chris Godwin and Mike Evans afloat for fantasy. Godwin showed he's ready for a bounce-back campaign by catching four passes for 30 yards and the aforementioned touchdown. With Mike Evans on the sidelines, Trey Palmer continued to stand out with his opportunities. The rookie soared over a defender for a beautiful catch downfield this week and is positioned to have a regular role after Russell Gage's season-ending injury.Roschon making a move - Khalil Herbert will start the season as the lead back in Chicago, but how long he stays atop the depth chart will depend on whether rookie Roschon Johnson can challenge him. It appears Johnson is already working as a third-down back ahead of D'Onta Foreman. Those who are patient and stash Johnson through the first part of the season could be rewarded with a starting running back down the stretch.Harris vultures a touchdown - James Cook has been one of the biggest risers since training camp began, but he's also benefitted from Damien Harris being sidelined with a knee injury. Harris made his debut this week, and it didn't take long for him to replace Cook in the red zone and steal a score. While Cook appears locked in as the lead back in Buffalo, Harris' presence could cap the sophomore's TD ceiling and limit his breakout.Chargers' depth chart becoming clear - For those keeping track at home, Josh Kelley has the edge over Isaiah Spiller for the No. 2 RB job, which isn't overly surprising based on what we saw last year. But Josh Palmer ahead of first-round rookie Quentin Johnston in the receiving corps - at least to start the year - might be slightly more eyebrow-raising. Johnston's talent should win out once he's more comfortable in the offense, but he belongs on your bench until he begins to ascend. That's good news for fantasy managers with Mike Williams and Keenan Allen.Don't sleep on Musgrave - Despite being overshadowed by some of the other big names in his rookie tight end class, Luke Musgrave is already the clear starter in Green Bay. As for the other fantasy-relevant rookies, Sam LaPorta rested with the Lions' starters - a sign of where he stands already in their offense. Dalton Kincaid isn't playing full-time snaps yet, but the first-rounder is running a ton of routes and will be used like a receiver often, elevating his fantasy outlook. Don't be afraid to draft rookie tight ends in the late rounds this year.Patriots trade Strong to Browns - The Patriots cleared up their clogged backfield by sending Pierre Strong to Cleveland, where he'll compete for the No. 2 job behind Nick Chubb. A hamstring injury has kept Jerome Ford out most of the month, and his availability for Week 1 is unknown. Strong will likely settle in as a depth piece behind Chubb and Ford when everyone is healthy.Other preseason standouts who caught my eye this week - 49ers RB Jordan Mason, 49ers RB Tyrion Davis-Price, Dolphins RB Salvon Ahmed, Broncos QB Jarrett Stidham, Commanders TE Cole Turner, Seahawks RB DeeJay Dallas, Raiders WR Kristian Wilkerson, Cowboys QB Will Grier, Cowboys WR Tyron Johnson, Broncos TE Albert Okwuegbunam, Ravens TE Charlie Kolar, Chiefs RB La'Mical PerineDeeper rookie standouts who caught my eye this week - Bengals WR Andrei Iosivas, Commanders RB Chris Rodriguez, Chargers RB Elijah Dotson, Browns QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Raiders QB Aidan O'Connell, Buccaneers WR Rakim Jarrett, Giants RB Eric Gray, Cowboys RB Hunter Luepke, Seahawks WR Jake BoboPrevious takeaways

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be without center Ryan Jensen for the second consecutive campaign.General manager Jason Licht said the team will place the 2021 Pro Bowler on injured reserve Saturday, ending his 2023 campaign, according to the Tampa Bay Times' Rick Stroud.Players placed on IR ahead of the roster cutdown deadline can't be removed from the list during the season.Jensen suffered a serious knee injury during offseason workouts before the 2022 campaign and hasn't fully recovered. He tore his ACL, MCL, PCL, and meniscus and fractured the tibial head and cartilage in his left knee.The 32-year-old elected not to undergo surgery, instead opting for stem cell treatment, and managed to play in the team's wild-card loss to the Dallas Cowboys to end last season.Robert Hainsey, a third-round pick from the 2021 draft, is expected to replace Jensen in the starting lineup. The 25-year-old started all 17 regular-season contests for Tampa Bay last year and earned a 66.7 overall grade from PFF.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones addressed the trade for quarterback Trey Lance from the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday, saying the arrival of the former No. 3 pick makes sense for his team both short and long term."We view it as an opportunity that could pay dividends this year and will pay dividends (long term)," Jones said, according to The Athletic's Jon Machota."He gives us an opportunity to do what we always like to be doing," Jones added, per Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News. "It would be ideal for Dak (Prescott) to have a young, prospective, developing quarterback who could just be in the room and be on the team with him."The Cowboys sent a fourth-round pick to the 49ers on Friday in exchange for Lance, who became available for a trade after being relegated to QB3 in San Francisco behind Brock Purdy and Sam Darnold.Jones said he didn't hesitate to contact the 49ers after learning of Lance's availability. The 80-year-old added that he didn't talk to Prescott or head coach Mike McCarthy before making the deal."We didn't waste any time. The minute we knew they were serious about trading him, we didn't want the phone to hang up," Jones said, according to Mike Leslie of WFAA. "We just made the decision almost the minute we heard the name, let's get him."Prescott is signed through the 2024 season and is expected to begin negotiating a new contract soon. The two-time Pro Bowler is 61-36 as a starter but is coming off a season in which he tossed a league-high 15 interceptions in 12 games.Jones downplayed the idea that the trade for the unproven Lance gives Dallas leverage with Prescott. The passer's $40-million average annual salary currently ranks ninth among quarterbacks, according to Spotrac."It didn't cross my mind, period, about an impact here regarding Dak," Jones said. "I know Dak wants us to do anything we can do to improve this team. We're going to do it."Jones, who praised Prescott and Dallas' quarterback room, also said he doesn't have high expectations for Lance in Year 1 with the Cowboys."Candidly, I don't want to plan on, count on, or wish for help from him this year," he said.Lance has failed to meet the expectations since entering the NFL in 2021. The North Dakota State product started four games in two seasons with the 49ers, who made a trade involving three first-round picks to move up in the draft to take him at No. 3.The 23-year-old presumably will have a chance to compete with Cooper Rush for the No. 2 quarterback role in Dallas. The Cowboys went 4-1 with Rush replacing an injured Prescott in 2022.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy praised Trey Lance and highlighted the importance of his former teammate - who was traded to the Dallas Cowboys on Friday - to his impressive rookie season in 2022."Happy for him that he's able to go into a good situation, and we all feel like it's a good fit," Purdy said of Lance, according to NFL.com's Christian Gonzales. "But at the end of the day, I can't say how thankful I am to have played and been a teammate with Trey."San Francisco recently began exploring its options with Lance after head coach Kyle Shanahan named Sam Darnold the team's No. 2 quarterback behind Purdy, leaving Lance as QB3. The Cowboys acquired Lance - the 2021 third overall pick - in exchange for a fourth-round selection.Lance, who spent most of his rookie campaign backing up Jimmy Garoppolo, began the 2022 season as the 49ers' starter but lost the role after suffering a season-ending ankle injury in Week 2. Purdy eventually took over after Garoppolo - Lance's immediate backup - also went down with an injury.With Purdy under center as a seventh-round rookie, the 49ers reached the NFC title game last season."I love Trey, everything that he's done for this organization, and obviously for myself," Purdy added. "I know I've told you guys a bunch of times before, but going in last year and then him just being by my side from the get-go sideline, meetings in the locker room, wherever we are at, man, he's been a real one and helped me come into the league and welcome me with open arms and showed me the ropes to this whole thing. So can't tell you how grateful I am for him and to have him in my life and to be here with him."Lance started four games and attempted 102 passes across two seasons with the 49ers. In Dallas, he's joining a quarterback depth chart headlined by two-time Pro Bowler Dak Prescott. The Cowboys also roster Cooper Rush, who went 4-1 as a starter in 2022 while replacing an injured Prescott.Dallas visits San Francisco in Week 5 this season.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Las Vegas Raiders and franchise-tagged running back Josh Jacobs agreed to terms on a new deal Saturday, the team announced.The one-year contract is worth up to $12 million, sources told Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Jacobs' upgraded agreement contains a base value of $11.8 million and $200,000 in incentives, adds Pelissero.The deal replaces the $10.091-million tag, which led to a standoff between the Raiders and Jacobs, who has stayed away from the club during offseason workouts and training camp.The reigning NFL rushing champion announced his return on social media:

There are really good futures bets, the kind that keep you interested for the entirety of the season and culminate with some sort of big win. The 2022 Eagles to win the NFC qualified as one of them. But if you can find similarly priced bets that give you the payout early, you can do more with your money for the balance of the season. Those are few and far between, but Philadelphia came through again as the last undefeated team in the NFL last year.Last undefeated teamTEAMODDSEagles+750Chiefs+850Bengals+850Bills+100049ers+1300Cowboys+1300Chargers+1300Seahawks+1400Ravens+1400Browns+1500Dolphins+2000Jaguars+2000Saints+2500Jets+3000Lions+3500Falcons+3500Steelers+3500Packers+4000Broncos+5000Vikings+5000Panthers+5000Giants+6000Patriots+6000Commanders+7500Bears+7500Raiders+7500Buccaneers+7500Colts+10000Titans+10000Rams+15000Texans+20000Cardinals+20000Odds via theScore BetAfter all, you can't lose if you don't play.This market is the only one where when you have your bye week matters. 4-0 after five weeks is just as good as 5-0. The edge is in the six teams that have their week off early - Week 5 or Week 6. In the NFL, a team probably only needs to be undefeated after five or six weeks to be the last to suffer a loss.TEAMBYEOPPONENTSBrowns5CIN / @PIT / TEN / BALChargers5MIA / @TEN / @MIN / LVSeahawks5LAR / @DET / CAR / @NYGBuccaneers5@MIN / CHI / PHI / @NOSteelers6SF / CLE / @LV / @HOU / BALPackers6@CHI / @ATL /NO /DET /@LVWith apologies to Tampa Bay, they're starting the season as touchdown underdogs in Minnesota, have the Eagles in Week 3, and then are projected 5.5-point 'dogs in New Orleans in Week 4. A 4-0 start would be mind-boggling. That leaves three other contenders at mid-level odds.The Browns are slightly longer than even-money in Week 1 and projected between +1 and -5 in their next three games. That makes them around 13-1 to be undefeated going into Week 6, not far off their 15-1 odds to be the last to lose.Seattle's a pretty big favorite in Week 1 against the Rams, then go on the road in a toss-up with the Lions. Then it's back home as decent favorites in Week 3 before going back on the road in another coin flip. All that adds up to a 10.5% implied win probability or odds of +850 to be undefeated before kick-off in Week 6.Best betsChargers (+1300)The Chargers open the season -2.5 at home against the Dolphins but then are projected favorites of -3.5, -1.5 and -5.5 against three teams that many expect to be less valuable than the market suggests. Even at those odds, the Chargers can be calculated to be just longer than +600 (14.3% implied win probability) to be undefeated and headed into their bye. That's a +7.2% difference on their last undefeated odds of +1300.Steelers (+3500)Using projected moneylines, the Steelers' five-win rollover adds up to just shy of +2300 (4.2% implied win probability) with their odds suggesting it's just 2.8% likely. That's a marginal edge, but getting 54% more payout than we should be is pretty enticing.We've been working with the numbers to this point, but it's worth mentioning some on-field stuff with the Steelers, starting with their 8-2 record in games that T.J. Watt played in a year ago. Throw in better offense in Kenny Pickett's second season, and Pittsburgh may come in underrated with an 8.5-win betting market projection. That makes sense when your division features the Bengals, Ravens and Browns, but all of Pittsburgh's divisional road games come after Week 10, making that less of a factor in this market.By comparison, Green Bay's five-game rollover adds up to +3250. Their payout as the last team undefeated is 23% more than those odds suggest.The dark horse teams have to hope everyone else finds a loss on their schedule by Week 6. The Bengals have two coin-flip games to start - in Cleveland and at home against Baltimore. Beyond a tricky opener with the Lions, the Chiefs have to visit the Jaguars and Jets.However, the Eagles are the biggest issue as they look to repeat last year's feat. They'll be favored in their first five games, but that's why they're just +750. Similarly priced last year, the Bills and Chiefs both lost in Week 3 to the Dolphins and Colts, respectively. All it takes is one early slip-up that will barely register on the Richter scale of proven teams, while the Chargers and Steelers have more to prove at the start of the season.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.

The San Francisco 49ers are trading quarterback Trey Lance to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a fourth-round pick, general manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed to Nick Wagoner and Todd Archer of ESPN.Lance was selected third overall by the 49ers in the 2021 NFL Draft. He lost the backup quarterback job to Sam Darnold earlier this week and requested a trade out of San Francisco on Wednesday after a meeting with Shanahan.The head coach said he wanted Lance to stay as the team's third quarterback, but acknowledged that his reps in practice would be limited behind Darnold and starter Brock Purdy."He told us that he would like another opportunity to go somewhere where he had a chance to be the No. 2," Shanahan said Friday, according to NFL.com's Coral Smith. "We thought we got some good deals for him; there was a number of teams involved. To end up getting the fourth was a little better than we anticipated and clears up a lot of money and allows a better situation for him, too."The Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, and Detroit Lions also showed interest in Lance, sources told Dianna Russini of The Athletic. The initial price for Lance appeared to be a sixth-round pick that could become a fifth-rounder before Dallas' winning offer, adds Russini.San Francisco gave up a huge package - three first-round picks and a third-rounder - to move up from 12th overall to land Lance at No. 3 two years ago. With the young signal-caller's time with the 49ers now over, the move is arguably the biggest misstep of Lynch's tenure."Really hard day, such a wonderful young man," Lynch said on the 49ers' preseason broadcast Friday, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. "We took a shot and it didn't work out. We own that. We take accountability for it."He added: "We like our quarterback room. We like Brock Purdy a lot, we like Sam Darnold and we like Brandon Allen. So we wish Trey the best in Dallas."Shanahan permitted Lance to miss practice Wednesday after he was named the No. 3 quarterback. He returned to the team Thursday morning.The North Dakota State product is owed $6.5 million in guaranteed salary over the next two seasons, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Lance will now slot into the Cowboys' quarterback room, which includes Dak Prescott, Cooper Rush, and Will Grier.Prescott signed a four-year, $160-million contract extension in 2021. The two sides have reportedly had talks about another extension to lock up the passer long-term. He's set to have a $59.4-million cap hit in 2024, according to Over The Cap.Lance has battled injuries since entering the league. He suffered a broken finger in the 2021 preseason and dealt with a knee injury that held him to only two starts in six games during the campaign. The signal-caller was named the starting quarterback in 2022 but suffered a season-ending broken ankle in Week 2.Lance's eight total games with the 49ers are the fewest by any top-five pick with the team he debuted with since the common draft era began in 1967, according to Field Yates of ESPN. Ja'Marr Chase, Jaylen Waddle, DeVonta Smith, and Micah Parsons were all selected after Lance.The 23-year-old has 797 passing yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions in four career starts.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2023 Fantasy Football Draft Kit 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 update to theScore Fantasy Football Draft Kit and goes over his bold predictions for 2023, including some that weren't in his annual column.

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch isn't thrilled with star defensive end Nick Bosa's ongoing holdout."I don't like the situation," Lynch said on the "Murph & Mac Podcast" Thursday. "Since our tenure here, we haven't had a holdout anywhere toward this magnitude, so not something I'm comfortable with. We're working really hard to try to change that."He's a special player. He's going to get a special contract, I can tell you that."The reigning Defensive Player of the Year hasn't attended the 49ers training camp amid ongoing contract extension negotiations with the club. He's set to make $17.8 million in the final year of his rookie contract in 2023. On his next deal, Bosa is expected to surpass T.J. Watt and older brother Joey Bosa, among the highest-paid pass-rushers in the league.Bosa is subject to a $40,000 fine for each missed practice, but Lynch said the team will waive those financial penalties when he returns.The 25-year-old quickly emerged as one of the league's premier pass-rushers since the Niners selected him with the No. 2 overall pick in 2019. He recorded 47 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, and nine sacks in his first season and was named the Defensive Rookie of the Year. After a torn ACL wiped out all but two games in 2020, the Ohio State product bounced back to lead the league with 21 TFLs to go along with 15.5 sacks in 2021.Bosa posted a league-high 18.5 sacks as well as 51 tackles, 19 TFLs, and two forced fumbles in 2022 to earn the DPOY award and his third Pro Bowl nod.Head coach Kyle Shanahan doesn't appear concerned about his defensive star missing the preseason."I don't know if Bosa has ever done a training camp, and he has done pretty good," Shanahan said, according to ESPN's Nick Wagoner.San Francisco closes out its preseason Friday against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Niners kick off the regular season on Sept. 10 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Miami Dolphins are in serious negotiations for star running back Jonathan Taylor and have made at least one offer for the 2021 All-Pro tailback that the Indianapolis Colts rejected, a source told the Miami Herald's Barry Jackson.The two sides are reportedly continuing to negotiate a deal.The Denver Broncos and Chicago Bears are among other suitors to have expressed interest in Taylor, Jackson reports.As of Thursday, no team had offered "a first-round or something comparable" to the Colts' asking price, Jackson adds.Indianapolis has given Taylor until Tuesday to find a trade partner, according to ESPN's Stephen Holder. Tuesday is the deadline for teams to get their rosters under the 53-player regular-season limit. Colts owner Jim Irsay initially said in July the team wouldn't entertain trade offers for the halfback.Taylor is set to make $4.3 million in the final year of his rookie contract. He issued a trade demand on July 25 following a meeting with Irsay. The sides have been unable to work toward a new deal for the Wisconsin product, with the club denying a request for an extension in May, a source told Holder.The 24-year-old is currently on the physically unable to perform list after undergoing offseason ankle surgery. Taylor must be placed on the active roster or moved to the reserve PUP list by Tuesday. He'll miss the season's first four weeks if the Colts put him on the reserve PUP.Taylor has departed training camp twice over the past couple of weeks. He left the first time to seek treatment on his ankle at an off-site medical facility. The second time was for an unspecified personal matter.Despite his ongoing rift with the organization, Taylor accompanied the team for its final preseason game Thursday against the Philadelphia Eagles.Miami is kicking the tires on a possible deal for Taylor to bolster its depth at running back. Rookie De'Von Achane is considered week-to-week due to a shoulder injury he sustained in the Dolphins' second preseason contest.Taylor rushed for 861 yards, four touchdowns, and averaged 4.5 yards per carry in 2022 but sat on the sidelines for six games with an injury. He posted 1,000 rushing yards in each of his first two campaigns since being selected in the second round by the Colts in the 2020 draft.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud isn't sweating Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans' decision not to name a starter ahead of the team's preseason finale."I ain't tripping. Just do what's on my plate. I'm not worried about anybody else's plate. I got to focus on what we got going on in this locker room," Stroud said, according to ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime.Houston remains the only team in the league not to have named their starting quarterback ahead of the regular season. The Texans did announce that Stroud would get the start in Sunday's final tuneup contest against the New Orleans Saints.While Ryans has fielded plenty of questions about the starting quarterback competition between Stroud and Davis Mills, the first-year head coach insists that everyone on the roster is battling for a job and has to earn their spot."We know we put a lot of emphasis on a quarterback and that position, but man, we have to see who's going to be starting up front on D-line, who's going to be starting on O-line," he said, according to Houston Chronicle's Brooks Kubena.The Texans are looking for a spark under center after its offense averaged the league's fewest yards per drive in each of the past two seasons. The Ohio State product is one of two first-round selections in the 2023 draft alongside defensive end Will Anderson Jr.Stroud completed seven of 12 passes for 60 yards in the Texans' preseason loss to the Dolphins last week. Ryans said Stroud had improved in regards to operating the offense in the outing.Houston will host the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 10 in their season opener.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns are trading quarterback Josh Dobbs and a seventh-round selection to the Arizona Cardinals for a fifth-round pick, the team announced Thursday.Starter Kyler Murray is recovering from a torn ACL that he suffered in 2022. His status to begin the season is uncertain.Dobbs joins a quarterback room that includes the rehabbing Murray, Colt McCoy, rookie Clayton Tune, and David Blough.McCoy started three games for the Cardinals in 2022 after Murray went down. The soon-to-be 37-year-old completed 68.2% of his passes for 780 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions in four total appearances.Dobbs, 28, joined the Tennessee Titans late in last year's campaign and started two games for the club. He totaled 411 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions with a 58.8% completion rate.The deal is Arizona's third of the day after sending offensive tackle Josh Jones to the Houston Texans and safety-linebacker hybrid Isaiah Simmons to the New York Giants. The flurry of moves comes as we approach Tuesday's roster cutdown deadline.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2023 Fantasy Football Draft Kit and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.theScore's Justin Boone delivers some of his bold predictions for the upcoming fantasy season.Daniel Jones is a top-5 fantasy QBA year after finishing ninth in fantasy points per game among qualified quarterbacks, Jones will take his production to another level. Plenty of credit should go to Brian Daboll and Mike Kafka for their scheme, but the infusion of talent in the pass-catching corps (Darren Waller, Parris Campbell, Jalin Hyatt) should allow Jones to flourish. With his production on the ground (708 rushing yards and seven rushing TDs in 2022), Jones checks all the boxes for a star fantasy QB.Jefferson, Kupp eclipse 2,000 receiving yardsFor the first time ever, we'll witness a receiver hit the 2,000-yard mark, and it'll happen twice in the same year. Justin Jefferson was nearly on pace for it last season before seeing a decline in playing time in the final two weeks. If you take his per-game stats through 15 outings, Jefferson was on pace for 1,990 yards. Meanwhile, an injury derailed Cooper Kupp's chances at history last year, but he's one campaign removed from a 1,947-yard effort. Though he's working his way back from a hamstring injury at the moment, all signs point to him being ready for Week 1. Let the race to 2,000 yards begin!Mattison, Pierce finish as fantasy RB1sVolume is a key element for fantasy running back success, and the number of three-down workhorse ball carriers is declining each year. Enter Alexander Mattison and Dameon Pierce, who project to see as many touches as they can handle in their respective offenses this season. Mattison is taking over for a former bell cow in Dalvin Cook - and in the last five games in which Mattison played at least 50% of the Vikings' snaps, he averaged over 25 touches per contest. Pierce is coming off a strong rookie season as a runner, but his full-time usage in the preseason has boosted his outlook. If the Texans continue to deploy Pierce on passing downs, he'll push for a spot among the top-12 fantasy backs.Multiple rookies crack top-12 tight endsThe trend of rookie tight ends coming up short for fantasy in their first season has begun to shift in recent years, and 2023 might put an end to it for good. Dalton Kincaid, Sam LaPorta, and Luke Musgrave are quality pass-catchers with strong athletic profiles and high draft capital backing them up. All three project to play significant roles in their teams' passing attack right out of the gate. With the current state of the low-end TE1 ranks, these three rookies have an opportunity to become immediate fantasy starters. If you're waiting on the position, don't take a boring veteran with a limited ceiling. Roll the dice on the unknown upside of Kincaid, LaPorta, or Musgrave.Pollard takes home the fantasy RB crownTony Pollard's rise to fantasy stardom is reminiscent of Austin Ekeler's path with the Chargers. After playing second fiddle and sharing a backfield with Melvin Gordon, Ekeler was eventually given the starting role and became a top-three fantasy producer. With Ezekiel Elliott out of the way in Dallas, Pollard can build on his RB8 finish from 2022. The 26-year-old's skill set is ideal - with the potential to deliver elite yardage, reception, and touchdown totals. Don't be surprised when he's being mentioned challenging Ekeler and Christian McCaffrey for the top spot this year.Dotson leads league in receiving TDsJahan Dotson averaged nearly a touchdown per game in the eight contests in which he played at least 70% of the Commanders' snaps last year as a rookie. Even though that kind of pace isn't likely to be sustained over a full season, it showcased the young wideout's ability to find the end zone. Multiple beat writers have documented his chemistry with new starting quarterback Sam Howell this offseason. That was on display over the team's first two preseason outings, with Dotson accumulating seven catches, 106 yards, and a score. Touchdowns can be a volatile stat to project, but Dotson is going to be crossing the goal line often enough to put him in the conversation for the league lead in that category.Howell becomes a weekly fantasy starterDotson isn't the only playmaker in Washington's system. Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel, Antonio Gibson, Brian Robinson, Logan Thomas, and Cole Turner form an underrated collection of skill-position talent who can help their sophomore quarterback thrive. We've seen evidence of that in the preseason, with Howell completing 76% of his passes for 265 yards and three touchdowns while adding another 25 yards with his legs in two appearances. The rushing numbers are particularly notable since it's something he relied on in college and did in his lone start as a rookie (35 rushing yards, TD). If that continues, Howell will have a shot to threaten for a top-12 fantasy finish.Charbonnet outscores WalkerKenneth Walker has returned to practice and appears on track for Week 1 after a groin injury sidelined him for part of August. However, his volume outlook this season could still be in danger with second-round rookie Zach Charbonnet flashing a physical running style and more competent pass-catching skills. A split backfield seems like the direction this is headed. With Charbonnet having a line on the more valuable touches, finishing above Walker in fantasy this year is well within his range of outcomes.Skyy Moore finishes as a top-24 WRTravis Kelce is the de facto No. 1 receiver in Kansas City, but Skyy Moore is making a case to lead the actual receiving corps in targets this year. After a disappointing sophomore campaign, the 22-year-old has drawn positive reviews this offseason and has distanced himself from the pack of rotation wideouts behind him on the depth chart. Moore and Marquez Valdes-Scantling appear to be close to full-time players, with Moore stepping into the slot role that JuJu Smith-Schuster previously held. Even while playing through nagging injuries, Smith-Schuster earned 101 targets a season ago. The stage is set for Moore to win back fantasy managers with a breakout in Year 2.Dobbins scores double-digit TDsWith everyone focused on the Ravens' upgraded passing game, J.K. Dobbins has flown under the radar. But make no mistake, an improved offense will benefit him as much as anyone. New offensive coordinator Todd Monken is expected to increase the pace of play in Baltimore, leading to more opportunities for everyone. If that results in the success we're projecting, Dobbins will thrive - like Mark Ingram did during Lamar Jackson's MVP campaign in 2019 when the veteran ball carrier finished as the RB8 in fantasy on the back of 15 total touchdowns.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy is expected to miss several weeks with a moderate hamstring injury, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.Jeudy was carted off during a joint practice with the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday, per Rapoport.Coach Sean Payton said Jeudy would undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the injury, according to team reporter John Riker.Jeudy is the latest Broncos receiver to be afflicted with a health issue this offseason. Veteran Tim Patrick tore his Achilles in July, KJ Hamler was released due to a heart condition, and Jalen Virgil suffered a season-ending knee injury in a preseason contest against the San Francisco 49ers.The 24-year-old wideout hauled in 67 receptions for 972 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games in the 2022 campaign, leading the team in all three categories.Denver is looking to rebound from a disappointing 5-12 record a year ago in its first year under Payton. The Broncos open their 2023 season at home against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 1.Jeudy has totaled 2,295 yards and nine touchdowns on 157 receptions since being selected with the No. 15 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL is a constantly evolving league with plenty of turnover among its best offensive players. The 2018 offensive All-Pro teams included the likes of Drew Brees, Todd Gurley, Ezekiel Elliott, Julio Jones, and Zach Ertz. As fantasy football players know, a new generation emerges almost every year.However, with fewer true superstars, there's less turnover at the top of defenses. The 2018 All-Pro teams featured Aaron Donald, Chris Jones, J.J. Watt, Khalil Mack, Danielle Hunter, Myles Garrett, Cameron Jordan, Von Miller, and Fletcher Cox. Five years later, only Watt has retired, while the others are at least impact players on their current teams.Defensive Player of the Year oddsPLAYERODDSMicah Parsons+500Myles Garrett+800T.J. Watt+800Nick Bosa+1400Ahmad Gardner+2000Chris Jones+2500Haason Reddick+2500Maxx Crosby+2500Quinnen Williams+2500Aidan Hutchinson+3000Brian Burns+3500Aaron Donald+4000Joey Bosa+4000Chase Young+5000Jaelen Phillips+5000Pat Surtain II+5000Roquan Smith+5000Bradley Chubb+6000Derwin James+6000Fred Warner+6000Kayvon Thibodeaux+6000Matthew Judon+6000Rashan Gary+6000Von Miller+6000Micah Parsons, the emergent youngster in a veteran group atop the oddsboard, recorded 13-plus sacks in his first two seasons. He also finished second to Nick Bosa for Defensive Player of the Year last year.T.J. Watt is the best defensive player in the NFL, but he's not the favorite for an award that rarely skews away from the handful of players atop the oddsboard. Alex Highsmith and Cameron Heyward racked up 25 combined sacks last season, suggesting that Watt isn't just a one-man wrecking crew - the type of characterization that helps win a major award like this one.Best betsNick Bosa (+1400)We won with Bosa last year at 10-1, and now we're getting 14-1 on our money? Sure! Presumably, the reason for the length of Bosa's odds is his contract holdout. However, both sides are patiently working on a deal. Given the relative simplicity of Bosa's job - "See that quarterback? Get him." - I'm not worried about his ability to be in shape and ready to go by the time Sept. 10 comes. At that point, the defending DPOY's odds should be back in the single digits, especially since repeat winners are common for this award. Donald and J.J. Watt won three times each in respective four-year stretches.Quinnen Williams (+2500)Defining the best defensive player is difficult, so it helps if there's a qualitative element at play. Both T.J. Watt and Bosa were the faces of strong defenses on teams with perceived challenges at quarterback.Aaron Rodgers might help the Jets contend this year, but New York's season hinges on the defense being even better than it was last year. In his fourth season, Quinnen Williams was finally given more of a pass-rushing role and doubled his sack total to 12. He made the All-Pro team for the first time, which can act as the first big step toward DPOY contention. He's also gotten attention via HBO's "Hard Knocks." While that sounds trivial, this award is still a vote. Getting on and staying on the radar is half the battle.A few 12-14-sack seasons were enough for Donald to show how dominant he was in his prime from the defensive interior. If William can produce another good statistical season in a big market, it could be enough to push him into the top tier of DPOY contenders.Roquan Smith (+5000)Ideally, we'd like to back defenders charged with causing chaos behind the line of scrimmage. But Roquan Smith has the All-Pro resume to make sense as a contender, and it wouldn't be the first time a Ravens middle linebacker won Defensive Player of the Year. One reason his odds are this long might be that Smith doesn't put up high sack totals or directly create turnovers. However, the Ravens' defense went from giving up 22.9 points per game before Smith joined midway through the season to 14.3 PPG in their next eight games.Like Williams, Smith is a big name that can be seen as the symbolic leader of a top-tier defense. His tackle numbers - third in the NFL last year - will at least provide one statistical attention-getter. If the Ravens are good and if he can force a few more turnovers than usual and chip in with a few sacks again, Smith is the one middle linebacker capable of cashing a big payout for Defensive Player of the Year.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.

The Arizona Cardinals traded safety Isaiah Simmons to the New York Giants for a 2024 seventh-round pick, the team announced Thursday."I don't think it was an issue of what Isaiah did, he did everything that we asked him to do," head coach Jonathan Gannon said."Moving forward, we feel this is the best way we want to play football against other people. We're going to try and put the best guys out there that can function and do the best job."Arizona selected Simmons eighth overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. The Clemson product played linebacker for Arizona to start his career, but the team planned to move him to safety for the 2023 campaign.The 25-year-old was drafted under the Cardinals' previous regime led by head coach Kliff Kingsbury and general manager Steve Keim. Both were fired this offseason, as new general manager Monti Ossenfort hired Gannon to become the Cardinals' head coach.Arizona now has Budda Baker, Jalen Thompson, Andre Chachere, Jovante Moffatt, and JuJu Hughes on the depth chart at safety.It's unclear where the Giants will play Simmons. He was utilized all over the field at Clemson, getting reps at both safety and linebacker. He also saw time rushing the passer.Simmons is entering the final year of his rookie deal with a $6.5-million cap hit, according to Over The Cap. He has 258 tackles and four interceptions in 50 career games.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch expects Trey Lance to remain with the team despite the quarterback's uncertain future."We're very happy with Trey. The most likely option is that he's here," Lynch said Thursday, according to ESPN's Nick Wagoner. "If we can find a landing spot for Trey that is a really good one for him and works for our organization, that's not something that we'd turn a blind eye to. But that's not where our focus is right now. Our focus is on Trey getting back here and us being the best football team."The 49ers have been exploring options for Lance, including a potential trade. San Francisco named Sam Darnold its backup behind Brock Purdy on Wednesday, leaving Lance as the team's No. 3 option under center three years after it drafted him third overall.The Minnesota Vikings, who called the 49ers before the 2023 NFL Draft about a potential Lance trade, remain a potential landing spot, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.San Francisco excused Lance from practice Wednesday after informing him of its decision to tab Darnold as QB2."Trey handled it incredibly well, with class," Lynch said. "He was devastated, and rightly so. When you put your heart and soul into something and it doesn't come to fruition, you're going to be devastated. That's the type of competitor he is. But we're in a good place, he'll be back in the building today, and we're moving forward."After spending most of his rookie year as Jimmy Garoppolo's backup, Lance entered the 2022 season as San Francisco's starter. He lost the job after an ankle injury in Week 2 ended his campaign prematurely.The North Dakota State product has attempted 102 passes since entering the NFL.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFL players and bettors alike need the preseason to get back into rhythm. There's just one weekend left of fatuous football before the real thing starts.Whether you're watching in preparation for the Sept. 7 opening night kickoff or have preseason fatigue by now, we've got you covered.Here's the schedule for the final weekend of preseason football and our best bets.Day (time)Game (spread)O/UThursday (7:30)Steelers @ Falcons (+4.5)38.5Thursday (8)Colts @ Eagles (+4.5)38.5Friday (8)Lions @ Panthers (-4.5)36.5Friday (8:15)Patriots @ Titans (+2.5)38.5Friday (10)Chargers @ 49ers (-7.5)37.5Saturday (1)Cardinals @ Vikings (-1.5)36.5Saturday (1)Seahawks @ Packers (-3)39.5Saturday (1)Browns @ Chiefs (+3.5)41.5Saturday (1)Bills @ Bears (-1.5)38.5Saturday (6)Jets @ Giants (+6)38.5Saturday (6:05)Bengals @ Commanders (-4.5)36.5Saturday (7)Ravens @ Bucs (-1.5)36.5Saturday (7)Dolphins @ Jaguars (-7)40.5Saturday (8)Raiders @ Cowboys(+4.5)38.5Saturday (9)Rams @ Broncos (-6)36.5Sunday(8)Texans @ Saints (-3.5)37.5Odds via theScore BetChargers @ 49ers (-7.5), O/U 37.5The 49ers have the deepest quarterback room in the NFL, which is essential for the preseason. Brock Purdy, Sam Darnold, and Trey Lance all possess starting-caliber traits. While San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan gave Purdy the nod to start this season, all three will see plenty of action Friday night.Shanahan said he plans to play his starters. It's not clear for how long, but even if it's just for a few drives, it's a huge advantage to have the most complete roster in football on the field together.When Purdy sits, Darnold and Lance will play the rest of the game. San Francisco named Darnold as Purdy's backup, making Lance the third-string quarterback.Darnold has completed 16 of 22 passes for 193 yards this preseason, while Lance is 22-for-33 for 285 yards.Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has never played in a preseason game, and he's not about to start this week. The Chargers don't prioritize the preseason the same way San Francisco does.Shanahan acknowledges the importance of preseason for players to get ready mentally and physically. Laying 7.5 points in a preseason game might be hard to fathom. It's the largest spread of the weekend, but expect the 49ers to pour it on the Chargers at home.Pick: 49ers -7.5Jets @ Giants +6, O/U 38.5Aaron Rodgers' Jets debut is coming. Rodgers seldom played in preseason games with the Packers, so the announcement of his involvement came as a shock.Granted, the four-time MVP will likely only play one or two drives, but suffering Jets fans across the New York area will be locked in for his debut in white and green.When Rodgers goes out, it's fair to assume Zach Wilson will take the reins. Wilson's shown improvement in a solid preseason. He's completed 26 of 38 passes for 258 yards and a touchdown. However, the Jets' offense - mostly backups - has looked stale at times throughout the exhibition games.This total is awfully high. The Jets haven't eclipsed 38.5 total points in any of their three preseason games.The Giants' games have featured more points, but they only surpassed 38.5 total in one of their two games, a 21-19 win over the Panthers last week.That was quarterback Daniel Jones' lone appearance in a preseason game this season, where he looked sharp completing 8 of 9 passes.Jones certainly doesn't need any more preseason reps. It'd be surprising if he, or the rest of the starters, played at all against the Jets.Pick: Under 38.5Sam Oshtry is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on Twitter @soshtry for more betting coverage.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel downplayed recent reports about his team's interest in trading for disgruntled Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor."Here's the thing with reports," McDaniel said, according to Adam Beasley of Pro Football Network. "First of all, I think my 2.5-year-old daughter just tweeted a report. ... She said that every player in the National Football League is coming to the Dolphins.""I've said this before: I'm not going to speak about other players," McDaniel added. "And how many times do I have to explain that (general manager) Chris Grier's job is to work? He works at it a lot. ... There's been a consistent pattern where we've talked about all sorts of players, so reports, whatever, it seems like the noise is around the business."The Colts recently gave Taylor permission to seek a trade. The former All-Pro running back is seeking a new contract ahead of the final year of his rookie deal. Six teams reportedly reached out to the Colts, who are seeking a first-round pick or multiple second-rounders.Taylor isn't the only high-profile running back who's been linked to the Dolphins. Miami offered a contract to Dalvin Cook before he signed with the New York Jets and reportedly inquired about the availability of Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs. The Raiders apparently aren't interested in moving Jacobs.The Dolphins' running back depth chart features Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson, and rookie De'Von Achane, among others. Achane, Miami's third-round pick this year, is week-to-week after suffering a shoulder injury during a preseason game against the Houston Texans.Mostert led Miami with 891 rushing yards (4.9 per carry) and three touchdowns on the ground in 2022.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After demoting quarterback Trey Lance to the team's No. 3 quarterback, head coach Kyle Shanahan believes the former first-round pick can still make it in the league."I also don't think Trey, this means that he can't be with us or someone else ever in the future," Shanahan said, according to Grant Gordon of NFL Network. "I mean this is just where camp went right now."The 49ers will explore trade options for Lance, with the Minnesota Vikings a potential landing spot, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The Vikings called the 49ers before the 2023 draft about a potential trade for Lance.Shanahan gave Lance permission to sit out of practice Wednesday after the quarterback received the news."We had such a light practice today, watching how Trey was when we talked, we thought it was better to 'hey, take the day off, clear your head some, we'll talk later in the afternoon and get you back in there tomorrow," Shanahan told KNBR radio.Lance lost the backup quarterback job to Sam Darnold, who signed a one-year deal with the 49ers this offseason. Darnold, a former first-round pick, spent the last two seasons with the Carolina Panthers after being dealt by the New York Jets in 2021.Lance was selected third overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. The 49ers traded three first-round picks to the Miami Dolphins to move up and select the North Dakota State product.The 23-year-old has only started four games in two seasons with the team after dealing with a rash of injuries. He suffered a broken finger in the 2021 preseason and dealt with a knee sprain during the year. He opened as the team's starter last season but broke his ankle in Week 2, ending his sophomore campaign."When he broke his finger, it really kind of messed him up and took away his first year for him," Shanahan said, per Gordon.Shanahan added that Lance will come in after Darnold in the 49ers' final preseason contest against the Los Angeles Chargers.San Francisco kicks off its season Sept. 10 versus the Pittsburgh Steelers.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

All it takes to win the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year is to be historically excellent. Piece of cake, right?Patrick Mahomes won the MVP last season because his team had the best record in the NFL. The Chiefs had great stats despite the preseason assumption that the offence might take a step back. He had qualitative value beyond his quantitative production.Mahomes had nine fewer touchdowns and fewer yards per game than in his previous MVP season in 2018 - when he also won Offensive Player of the Year. Justin Jefferson swooped in to win the latter award last year, combining spectacular highlight catches with the sixth-most receiving yards in NFL history.Offensive Player of the Year oddsPLAYERODDSJustin Jefferson+1100Ja'Marr Chase+1100Christian McCaffrey+1500Nick Chubb+1800Tyreek Hill+1800Garrett Wilson+2000Lamar Jackson+2000Austin Ekeler+2500Deebo Samuel+2500Derrick Henry+2500Jalen Hurts+2500Joe Burrow+2500Jonathan Taylor+2500Josh Allen+2500Justin Fields+2500Stefon Diggs+2500Amon-Ra St. Brown+3000Breece Hall+3000Cooper Kupp+3000Justin Herbert+3000Patrick Mahomes+3000Saquon Barkley+3000Aaron Rodgers+4000Bijan Robinson+4000CeeDee Lamb+4000Davante Adams+4000Deshaun Watson+4000Jaylen Waddle+4000Tony Pollard+4000Travis Kelce+4000Trevor Lawrence+4000Players listed +5000 or longer are not listed

The Miami Dolphins inquired about the availability of Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs and were informed that he wasn't available, sources told The Athletic's Vic Tafur.Jacobs is currently not with the Raiders. He can't participate with the team because he hasn't signed the franchise tag that was placed on him earlier in the offseason.Miami has been linked to other high-profile running backs this offseason, including current Indianapolis Colts runner Jonathan Taylor, who was reportedly made available for trade earlier this week, and Dalvin Cook, who signed with the New York Jets after being released by the Minnesota Vikings.The Dolphins' running back room currently includes Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson, third-round rookie De'Von Achane, and Myles Gaskin, among others.Mostert led the Dolphins' rushing attack last year with 891 yards and three touchdowns on 181 carries.Jacobs, 25, is fresh off a stellar 2022 campaign that saw him lead the league in rushing yards (1,653) and yards from scrimmage (2,053). His efforts earned him his second Pro Bowl nod and first career first-team All-Pro selection.The 5-foot-10, 220-pound back will earn just over $10 million if he signs his franchise tag tender. He can't sign a long-term deal this offseason now that the July 17 deadline has passed, but he can agree to a supplemented one-year deal with the Raiders or another team should he be traded.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson doesn't believe there's any additional pressure after posting career-low totals last season."Do I feel the pressure? No. I don't run from it. I look forward to it. I run to it, if anything," Wilson said Wednesday. "We as a team, we're all in this together. We're all searching for one thing and that's to get better every day. I'm not looking too far ahead. All the guys are trying to learn as much as we can from today's practice and use that experience."Wilson says that "pressure is a privilege" ahead of his 12th NFL campaign. He credits the coaching staff and players for the preparation ahead of his second season with the Broncos.The 34-year-old struggled in his first year with the team, posting 3,524 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, along with a career-low 60.5% completion rate.Denver fired head coach Nathaniel Hackett after Wilson posted a 4-11 record as a starter last year. The Broncos brought in Sean Payton to help turn the franchise's fortunes around and return Wilson back into the form that saw him earn nine Pro Bowl nods during his 10 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks.The Broncos parted ways with multiple draft picks to acquire Wilson in a blockbuster trade with the Seahawks in March of 2022. Denver is in the midst of a seven-year playoff drought, with its last appearance being a Super Bowl 50 victory over the Carolina Panthers.Wilson isn't letting critics sour his optimism ahead of a new season. Instead, the veteran passer is focusing on what he can control."I'm just worried about being the best version of me today," Wilson said.The Broncos will host the Las Vegas Raiders in their season opener on Sept. 10.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Jets wide receiver Corey Davis will step away from the NFL after six seasons, he announced on Instagram on Wednesday.

The Miami Dolphins are among a number of teams that have contacted the Indianapolis Colts to discuss a trade involving running back Jonathan Taylor, a source told Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.Six total teams have reached out to the Colts, with two submitting offers, according to ESPN's Stephen Holder.Indy has reportedly yet to agree to a trade package with any organization. The Colts are looking for a first-round pick or multiple Day 2 picks and would like to make a deal before Tuesday's roster cutdowns.The Colts reportedly permitted Taylor to seek a trade earlier this week.Miami ranked 27th in rushing yards per game last season, a continuation of its recent rushing woes. The Dolphins haven't had a top-20 running attack since 2018.The team re-signed running backs Salvon Ahmed, Raheem Mostert, Myles Gaskin, and Jeff Wilson this offseason. Mostert led the team with 981 rushing yards last campaign.They also selected De'Von Achane in the third round, but he's reportedly week-to-week after suffering a shoulder injury in the Dolphins' second preseason game against the Houston Texans.Taylor only played in 11 games last season after battling an ankle injury. He was a first-team All-Pro in 2021, rushing for a league-leading 1,811 yards and 18 touchdowns.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Francisco 49ers named Sam Darnold their backup quarterback over Trey Lance, report Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.San Francisco signed Darnold to a one-year contract this year. He joined a quarterback depth chart headlined by 2022 seventh-round pick Brock Purdy, who took over as QB1 midway through last season. Purdy underwent elbow surgery during the offseason but is expected to play Week 1.The 49ers' decision leaves Lance's future uncertain, as he's failed to meet the high expectations since entering the NFL as the third overall pick in 2021. The 49ers traded up to select Lance that year in a deal that involved three of their first-round picks.Lance started only two games as a rookie while backing up Jimmy Garoppolo for most of the campaign. The team named him starter for 2022, but an ankle injury in Week 2 ended his season prematurely. He started the preseason opener this year.The 23-year-old wasn't on the field Wednesday to start practice for the club's final preseason game, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports. Brandon Allen was San Francisco's other option under center during practice.The 49ers received inquiries about a potential trade involving Lance in April, but general manager John Lynch said at the time that they weren't shopping the signal-caller. San Francisco will now explore its options ahead of the 2023 season, according to Rapoport.Injuries ravaged the Niners' quarterback room last year. Garoppolo - who replaced Lance after Week 2 - suffered a season-ending ailment of his own later on the season. Purdy took over but then sustained an elbow injury in the first quarter of the NFC title game, which ended with the Philadelphia Eagles claiming a 31-7 victory to advance to the Super Bowl.Darnold, the 2018 No. 3 pick, spent the last two seasons with the Carolina Panthers. He started six games in 2022, passing for seven touchdowns against three interceptions while completing 58.6% of his passes. The 26-year-old joined Carolina following a disappointing three-year stint with the New York Jets.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa offered a fiery response to ESPN NFL analyst Ryan Clark during his media availability Wednesday.Clark, a former 13-year NFL defensive back, accused Tagovialoa of not working out or following recommendations from the team nutritionist on "NFL Live" earlier this week, according to Hal Habib of The Palm Beach Post."Let me tell you what he wasn't doing: He wasn't in the gym, I'll bet you that. ... He is thick," Clark said."He probably knows more about me than I know about myself," Tagovailoa said Wednesday, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel's David Furones. "Ryan has been out of the league for quite some time. It's a little weird when other people are talking about other people and they're not that person."The 25-year-old passer added, "I think we all work hard in the offseason. I'm not someone to talk about myself the entire time, but it takes a lot."Ryan also took aim at Tagovailoa's arm tattoo, which the quarterback said represents his first child."I come from a Samoan family. Respect is everything," Tagovailoa said. "But it does get to a point where, 'A little easy on that, buddy.' Because I think we're a pretty tough-minded people. If we need to get scrappy, we can get scrappy, too.""I'd appreciate if you kept my name out your mouth," he added.After sustaining at least two concussions during the 2022 season, Tagovailoa took up jiu-jitsu to learn how to better protect himself when he falls. He also switched his helmet to a quarterback-specific design and said he lifted heavier weights in the offseason to stay healthier.Doctors and specialists reassured Tagovailoa this offseason that he's not at a greater risk for CTE or head injuries.The Alabama product missed the team's playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills due to a concussion. Tagovailoa led the NFL with a 105.5 passer rating and guided the Dolphins to a 9-8 record and a first playoff appearance since 2016.The 6-foot-1, 227-pound passer posted career highs in his first year under head coach Mike McDaniel. He passed for 3,548 yards and 25 touchdowns, with a 64.8% completion rate in 2022.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk believes the team's receiving corps can be one of the best in the league this season."I've been a part of some special ones," Kirk said, according to team reporter John Oehser. "I've been in the room with a couple Hall of Famers. We have the potential. I wouldn't say we're there yet, but we have the potential top to bottom, not only production-wise but just from a professionalism and character standpoint."He added: "It's just a lot of fun getting to go to work with these types of guys."The 26-year-old spent the first four years of his career with the Arizona Cardinals, where he played with all-time great wideouts Larry Fitzgerald and DeAndre Hopkins.Kirk signed a four-year, $72-million deal with the Jaguars in 2022, making him one of the highest-paid wide receivers in the league. Many criticized the signing, but Kirk went on to lead the team in receptions (84) and receiving yards (1,108).Jacksonville made a splash at last year's trade deadline by acquiring wide receiver Calvin Ridley for a conditional draft pick. Though Ridley was suspended for the entire 2022 season for betting on NFL games, he's now been reinstated and is expected to be quarterback Trevor Lawrence's top target in 2023."Everybody's just bought in," Kirk said. "We're all bought into winning. We all understand that there are a lot of mouths to feed, that we have a lot of talent, and there's only one ball. But nobody really cares about that. Everybody's focused on winning one week at a time and taking this thing as it progresses."The Jaguars' wide receiver depth chart also includes Zay Jones, Jamal Agnew, Kevin Austin, and Tim Jones.Jacksonville kicks off its season Sept. 10 against the Indianapolis Colts.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Disgruntled Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones suggested he could sit out several weeks of the regular season as he seeks a new contract.Jones tweeted a cryptic photo of a sign that reads, "If it's out of your hands, it deserves freedom from your mind also." The All-Pro defender then replied "Week 8" to a post asking when he plans to return to the team.

Ezekiel Elliott recently addressed his decision to sign with the New England Patriots for the first time, explaining that the team's emphasis on the running game was a big factor for him."Just the importance of the back in this offense," the veteran running back told team reporter Tamara Brown. "This is definitely a team that wants to run the ball, wants to be balanced."Elliott signed a one-year deal with the Patriots last week. He spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Dallas Cowboys, who drafted him fourth overall in 2016. Elliott's incentive-laden contract with New England is worth up to $6 million and has a base salary of $1.55 million.The three-time Pro Bowler joined a New England offense that ranked 23rd with 425 rushing attempts in 2022. The Pats, who hired Bill O'Brien as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in January, averaged 21.4 points per game last season, the 17th-best mark in the league.The Patriots' running back depth chart also features Rhamondre Stevenson, Pierre Strong Jr., Kevin Harris, J.J. Taylor, and Ty Montgomery."I think I've been getting along well with the team," Elliott said. "I've known Rhamondre for a couple years or so. It's nice having him in the running back room. I think I've been a good fit and I've been having fun."Stevenson led the Patriots with 210 carries for 1,040 yards (five per rushing attempt) and five touchdowns in 2022. He also caught 421 yards and one score on 69 receptions.Elliott is three seasons removed from his last Pro Bowl campaign. The Ohio State product took the NFL by storm early in his career, leading the league in rushing yards per game in his first three years. However, he's topped 1,000 yards on the ground just once since 2020.Elliott rushed for a career-low 876 yards (3.8 per carry) last year while scoring 12 touchdowns.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2023 Fantasy Football Draft Kit 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, Sigmund Bloom of Football Guys joins Boone to discuss the latest news and their favorite players to target at the end of drafts.

The relationship between the Colts and Jonathan Taylor appears to be coming to an end after Indianapolis reportedly granted their star running back permission to seek a trade.Taylor has one year remaining on his rookie deal and will likely be looking for an extension with his new team.However, given the NFL's league-wide hesitancy to extend running backs, finding a club willing to pony up the reported first-round pick or an equivalent package that the Colts want in return may be a tough task.Taylor's next team odds (if not the Colts)TeamOddsImplied ProbabilityDolphins+22530.8%Bears+45018.2%Ravens+60014.3%Broncos+70012.5%Cowboys+80011.1%Bills+80011.1%Buccaneers+10009.1%Commanders+12007.7%Vikings+13007.1%Eagles+16005.9%Panthers+22004.3%Bengals+22004.3%Chiefs+30003.2%Saints+35002.8%Jaguars+50002%Browns+50002%Patriots+50002%Chargers+50002%Teams above +5000 are not listed. Odds via theScore Bet.The Dolphins are the favorites to land Taylor at +225. They were also the best bet to sign Dalvin Cook before the former Viking decided the Jets were the best fit.Miami's running back corps remains unchanged since the club lost the Cook sweepstakes, which is why they lead the way once again to acquire a high-profile ball carrier.Mike McDaniel's tailback options consist of Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson, and rookie De'Von Achane. The three, as a committee, are serviceable but none of them possess the explosiveness Taylor could bring to an already high-powered offense.The Bears are next at +450, not because they are a team that's a running back way from getting over the hump. Rather, it's because they have the key requirements to get a deal for Taylor done: Cap space and draft capital.Assuming the price for Taylor remains a first-round pick, the Bears own two of those coveted assets in the 2024 draft thanks to the offseason deal that sent their first-overall pick in the 2023 draft to the Panthers. They also have plenty of cap space if they want to give Taylor an extension.Putting Taylor in the backfield behind Justin Fields would give the Bears one of the most - if not the most - dangerous rushing attacks in the NFL.The Ravens are the only team with Super Bowl odds shorter than +2000 and shorter than +700 odds at landing Taylor. Like the Bears, adding Taylor to a ground attack that includes an elite rushing quarterback in Lamar Jackson is a scary thought. John Harbaugh doesn't shy away from using a running back by committee, either. Bolstering a group that includes J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards with Taylor's skillset should keep all three fresh for a deep playoff run.Finally, the Eagles stand out as a long shot to land Taylor at +1600. Last year's Super Bowl runner-ups are favored to represent the NFC once again with odds of +250 to reach the big game - and trading for Taylor would increase their chances even more.The Eagles brought in Rashaad Penny and D'Andre Swift this offseason to backfill Miles Sanders' departure. However, neither Penny nor Swift has shown the ability to stay on the field consistently. Packaging either Penny or Swift in a deal for Taylor is a possibility if the Colts give up on their hopes of a first-round pick in return.An offense with Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Dallas Goedert, the best offensive line in football AND Taylor would make the Eagles Super Bowl favorites.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.