Could LeBron James have played in the NFL?That's a question several sports fans asked themselves during the NBA legend's prime. James himself has played with the idea. There's no question that his size, physicality, and athletic ability would make a mouth-watering weapon for football teams. But James isn't the only star athlete whose game could translate to the NFL.With that in mind, we've built a football squad with players from other sports. Athletes at any level of football weren't considered, and for the sake of variety, no more than three players from the same sport are allowed.OffenseQuarterbackShohei Ohtani (MLB)It wasn't easy to pick a quarterback, with NBA Finals MVP Nikola Jokic and Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards also being strong options. Jokic boasts elite vision and passing skills, while Edwards has an absolute cannon. But Ohtani's two-way ability was the ultimate difference-maker. The 2021 AL MVP has put on a show in MLB for the Los Angeles Angels, dominating the sport both as a hitter and pitcher. He finished in the top four for MVP and Cy Young in the American League in 2022 and has arguably been even more dominant this season.NFL teams have been looking for dual-threat quarterbacks more than ever, and having someone under center who can do more than just pass is a must.Running backConnor McDavid (NHL)McDavid is fast. The Edmonton Oilers megastar has won Fastest Skater at the NHL All-Star Skills Competition three times in his career and often makes some of the NHL's top defensemen look slow. The 6-foot-1, 193-pound McDavid's elusiveness makes him a perfect fit at running back. No other hockey player has dominated the sport as much as the 2015 No. 1 pick, who has three career Hart Trophies as the NHL's Most Valuable Player.Wide receiversFred Kerley (sprinter)

In a betting context, it's incredibly hard for a team to reach the Super Bowl and then go 12-3-1 against the spread the following season. But the Bengals did it. It's even wilder considering they didn't cover the first two games of the 2022 season.What it means is the betting market continued to undervalue Cincinnati no matter the week-to-week evidence that we were doing so. The market's uncertainty about Cincinnati was exemplified in the playoffs when the team was overvalued at -7.5 relative to the Ravens in the wild-card round, then undervalued before an upset win in Buffalo, and then concern over a hobbled Patrick Mahomes dropped the line below a field goal in the AFC Championship Game.The most interesting betting market circumstance occurred with the unfortunate cancellation of Week 17's game against the Bills. Because that game wasn't played, the market was unable to evaluate whether Buffalo should have been favored in Cincinnati. Because there was no data point, the Bills were favored by almost a touchdown in the divisional round. A convincing Bengals win over Buffalo on that fateful Monday night might have pulled the playoff spread under a field goal.2023 season oddsMARKETODDS(O/U)Win total11.5 (+120)Division+130Conference+500Super Bowl+1100Estimated rating74/100Nestled in behind the Chiefs in the ratings, I'm happy to make the case the Bengals are every bit as good. We've seen enough Chiefs-Bengals matchups over the last two seasons to know there's little separating them. Cincinnati is back on the road for the regular-season duel in Week 17.Schedule outlookWEEKOPPONENTLOOKAHEAD LINE1@CLECIN -2.52BALCIN -3.53LARCIN -7.54@TENCIN -4.55@ARICIN -7.56SEACIN -4.58@SFSF -19BUFCIN -110HOUCIN -9.511@BALCIN -112PITCIN -4.513@JAXCIN -114INDCIN -915MINCIN -516@PITCIN -2.517@KCKC -318CLECIN -3.5Complicating things for Week 1 is that the Bengals open this season away to the Browns, who Joe Burrow needed five tries to beat - often losing handily - until a December victory when Cincy's quarterback was just OK (18/33, 239 yds, 2 TD, INT).The Bengals are only -1 at home to Buffalo in Week 9 lookahead lines. If Cincinnati is the better team - as we expect - then that's a good buy right now.How much is home-field advantage worth these days? You can bet the Bengals -2.5 at Cleveland in Week 1, and if you wanted to get a bet down on the Week 18 rematch, you'd have to give just one more point at home. It's a pretty important point - crossing the most key number in football betting, but Week 18's frequent weirdness limits how far oddsmakers are willing to adjust. After all, the Bengals' other two divisional matchups cross -3 and do so for more than a point.What's to like about the BengalsIs "they cover all the time" something you might like about the Bengals? A 32-17 mark against the spread is ridiculous.Offensively, the Bengals continue to positively tinker with their offensive line, adding Orlando Brown Jr., much to the dismay of incumbent left tackle Jonah Williams. Cincinnati has done well to trim around the edges - backup tailback, tight end - to keep the core happy.What's not to like about the BengalsUnfortunately, a 65% cover rate in the past doesn't actually mean anything for the future. The Bengals are lined 1.5 games higher than they were last summer, and their conference and Super Bowl odds are cut in half.The Bengals face two challenges relating to defensive personnel. The first is that the secondary is getting awfully young with Jessie Bates and Vonn Bell departed. Plus, cornerstone Chidobe Awuzie is coming off a torn ACL from October.This could be hidden with exceptional pressure from the defensive front, but only three teams had fewer sacks than the Bengals last season. And while they made a point of using their first pick on Myles Murphy, it's still a concern.Other notable betting marketsPLAYERMARKETODDSJoe BurrowMVP+750Offensive POTY+3000Most passing yards+900Most passing TD+450Joe MixonMost rushing yards+3500Most rushing TD+2500Ja'Marr ChaseMVP+10000Offensive POTY+1000Most receptions+600Most receiving yards+600Most receiving TD+400Trey HendricksonDefensive POTY+8000Most sacks+5000Sam HubbardDefensive POTY+10000Most sacks+10000Myles MurphyDefensive ROTY+2000Zac TaylorCoach of the Year+2500Defensive-line usage will be interesting for Murphy's chances at Defensive Rookie of the Year, as Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard are pretty entrenched, but the club used a first-round pick on Murphy anyway.Burrow is right behind Mahomes for most passing touchdowns, and his favorite target - Ja'Marr Chase - is the favorite to haul in the most TD receptions. Chase is awesome, but he had 100-plus yards in just a third of his games last season. Burrow feeds other pass-catchers too, making short prices for Chase to best the league's numerous star receivers lack value.This feels like it's setting up for Burrow's MVP season, but he's an eyelash behind Mahomes for the favorite there too, so it's not like that bet carries a ton of value in any sneaky way.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 Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner called out former Pro Bowl corner Asante Samuel on social media on Tuesday after the retired defensive back said Gardner's reputation is inflated because he plays in the Big Apple.Gardner was voted the NFL's second-best cornerback by league executives, coaches, scouts, and players, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.Samuel didn't agree with the rankings, stating in a series of tweets that Gardner, as well as Hall of Fame corner Darrelle Revis, are products of the New York media.

Unlike Denver, the Raiders are bringing in a head coach who underachieved but wasn't fired while the veteran star quarterback took a major step back. Maybe it was the two victories over the Broncos, or the inexplicable win over the Patriots, or maybe Raiders owner Mark Davis didn't want to pay another coach, but Josh McDaniels is back again despite going 11-28 in his last 39 games as a bench boss.The Raiders' new quarterback is Jimmy Garoppolo ... maybe. The expectation is that Garoppolo's foot will be ready for the season, and if it isn't - given the quarterback depth chart - Las Vegas is in big trouble. Even if Garoppolo plays 15 games for just the third time in his career, is that enough to change the Raiders' results for the better?A 6-11 record was disappointing last season, but the Raiders still salvaged an 8-9 record against the spread, and that's the key point. For bettors, it doesn't matter if a team is bad as long as we know how bad they might be - and especially if they're not as bad as the betting market thinks.2023 season oddsMARKETODDS(O/U)Win total6.5 (-135)Division+1200Conference+2200Super Bowl+6000Estimated rating42/100A rating in the low 40s is pretty close to where the Raiders were at the end of last season when they benched Derek Carr for the last two games under the guise of getting a look at Jarret Stidham. Stidham played quite well but they didn't retain him, opting to go with former Patriot Brian Hoyer and Purdue rookie Aidan O'Connell. With no other notable roster augmentation, positioning the Raiders any higher than last year seems optimistic.Schedule outlookWEEKOPPONENTLOOKAHEAD LINE1@DENDEN -42@BUFBUF -83PITPIT -1.54@LACLAC -5.55GBLV -1.56NELV -17@CHICHI -18@DETDET -4.59NYGLV -1.510NYJNYJ -2.511@MIAMIA -5.512KCKC -514MINMIN -115LACLAC -2.516@KCKC -8.517@INDLV -218DENDEN -1The Raiders appear to be underdogs in their first four games, and if they don't win any of those, that streak may go on.What's to like about the RaidersLet's assume Garoppolo is healthy and remembers McDaniels' offensive system from four years ago. He's familiar with success in a run-heavy offense. While the position of running back has been devalued, Josh Jacobs led the NFL in rushing last year, and only six teams had more yards per attempt. Powerful running and quick passing to Davante Adams, Hunter Renfrow, and a pair of good tight ends could keep the chains moving.You could do worse than Maxx Crosby, who headlines a pass-rusher group the Raiders just bolstered with the seventh overall pick. The idea is that Tyree Wilson provides a boost to the sack column, non-Crosby division. Since quarterback pressure makes everything else easier, having this as a strength is better than any alternative.What's not to like about the RaidersThe Raiders only had 27 total sacks, third-fewest in the league last year. That means there's a long way to go before they're impacting games beyond a couple big splash plays. As great as those tackles for loss are, there are so many other plays to defend without effective pressure. When our staff ransk your secondary second-worst in the league, it's a bad sign for the other plays from scrimmage.We've touched on Garoppolo's injury and alluded to his past. We haven't addressed Jacobs' contract situation. Addressed in depth here, the possibility exists that he sits out to start the season. But even if he's back by Week 1, there may be some irreparable damage to Jacobs' relationship with the organization, including a hindrance to preparation behind a new quarterback. Normally, we'd make the argument that a replacement-level tailback could run for big numbers, but Jacobs seemed to win the rushing title despite an offensive line that graded out as mediocre at best.Other notable betting marketsPLAYERMARKETODDSJimmy GaroppoloMVP+8000Comeback POTY+3000Most passing yards+3500Most passing TD+3500Davante AdamsOffensive POTY+2000Most receptions+750Most receiving yards+1200Most receiving TD+1400Josh JacobsOffensive POTY+6000Most rushing yards+1500Most rushing TD+1300Maxx CrosbyDefensive POTY+1500Most sacks+2500Michael MayerOffensive ROTY+4000Most rookie receiving yards+5000Tyree WilsonDefensive ROTY+900Josh McDanielsCoach of the Year+3500Like the Broncos, the Raiders have a quarterback with better odds to win Comeback Player of the Year than MVP. The best thing Garoppolo has going for him is a receiver who's among the top choices to lead the league in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns. Adams led the league in receiving touchdowns and was third in yardage, even with quarterback play that wasn't deemed good enough.Quick - how old is Crosby?If you're within one year of his current 25 years of age, give yourself a round of applause. It's possible he's yet to peak as a pass-rusher, and he should have Wilson and/or Chandler Jones balancing opponents' blocking schemes. He's more likely to make the leap into the high teens for sack totals than be anointed defensive player of the year, even though the odds suggest otherwise.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 Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara agreed to plead no contest to a lesser misdemeanor charge of breach of peace for his role in a 2022 assault in Las Vegas, according to court documents obtained by TMZ.As part of the agreement, charges of felony battery and misdemeanor conspiracy to commit battery will be dropped. Kamara will be required to do 30 hours of community service and pay $105,000 to Darnell Greene to cover his medical expenses, according to legal analyst Gabe Feldman.Kamara and three other men were indicted for an incident that took place Feb. 5, 2022, at a hotel before the Pro Bowl in Las Vegas. The 27-year-old was originally arrested in February 2022 after participating in the Pro Bowl. Kamara pleaded not guilty in March 2023. Surveillance video that became public in November shows Kamara and the other men attacking Greene.A judge is expected to sign off on Kamara's plea agreement later in July."Alvin is pleased that this matter is behind him and looks forward to a successful NFL season," Kamara's attorney, David Chesnoff, said Tuesday, according to ESPN's Katherine Terrell.Kamara is still subject to a possible suspension by the NFL under the league's personal conduct policy."We have been closely monitoring all developments in the matter, which remains under review," an NFL spokesman said Tuesday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

One year ago, it was understood that the Broncos had acquired one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL with still some time left in his prime. Seventeen games later, we're wondering whether the Broncos' latest big-money hire can salvage Russell Wilson's remaining years.So, how much is Sean Payton worth? Under Nathaniel Hackett, the Broncos initially had a team total of 10 wins and were the second favorite to win the division. But after they won just five games all season, Denver's rating was in the bottom quartile of the league, lingering in the low 30s in our educated guess of how the market views each team.With Payton taking over, bettors will need to be agile in trying to assess his effect on this team. Of course, Payton had to think enough of Wilson to come out of quasi-retirement with his pick of head coaching gigs.2023 season oddsMARKETWin total8.5 (+105)Division+500Conference+2200Super Bowl+4000Estimated rating52/100With a flat win total of 8.5 in a top-notch division like the AFC West, we can assign the Broncos a market rating of 52 out of 100. That's a big jump from where they ended last season, but it's lower than where they were one year ago with a comparable roster.Schedule outlookWEEKOPPONENTLOOKAHEAD LINE1LVDEN -42WSHDEN -3.53@MIAMIA -3.54@CHIDEN -1.55NYJNYJ -16@KCKC -77GBDEN -3.58KCKC -3.510@BUFBUF -611MINDEN -212CLEDEN -113@HOUDEN -414@LACLAC -315@DETDET -216NEDEN -217LACDEN -118@LVDEN -1I'd hypothesize that the tight lines late in the schedule are due to oddsmakers not wanting to go too far toward either pole of the Broncos' potential. By example, using just a win total translation to point spreads, the good version of the Broncos should be at least a field-goal favorite at home against the Patriots. Meanwhile, if they're as bad as they were last year, the Broncos would be getting more than a field goal in Detroit.What's to like about the BroncosSean Payton - the genius.The case for a big first season in Denver is that Payton won a Super Bowl with a previous reclamation project, Drew Brees. Brees broke all sorts of records with different, seemingly interchangeable skill position players as Payton dialed up the plays that always made the Saints a threat to score.Outside of dealing Bradley Chubb last season, the Broncos have only made upgrades to the roster. They added former 49er Mike McGlinchey to the offensive line, and a Javonte Williams-Samaje Perine combo will be better than Denver's backfield last year after Williams' ACL injury. Even a full offseason for second-year tight end Greg Dulcich is promising.What's not to like about the BroncosSean Payton - overrated.In 16 seasons - the vast majority with a future Hall of Fame quarterback - Payton only made the playoffs nine times. He got to the NFC championship just thrice, winning once for a single Super Bowl. It's a resume that looks a lot like Mike McCarthy's but with worse public relations. How hopeful would anyone be if Denver had hired McCarthy?I'll guess we'll know in Week 1 which side of the ledger the Broncos will sit this season. They allowed a league-high 63 sacks last season. Wilson looked panicked on a weekly basis, unable to find anyone downfield and often uninterested in taking off. That would be noticeable very quickly.Other notable betting marketsPLAYERMARKETODDSRussell WilsonMVP+3500Offensive POTY+7500Comeback POTY+2000Most passing yards+3500Most passing TD+2000Javonte WilliamsOffensive POTY+6000Comeback POTY+4000Most rushing yards+3500Most rushing TD+7500Jerry JeudyOffensive POTY+6500Most receiving yards+5000Most receiving TD+4000Courtland SuttonOffensive POTY+6500Most receiving yards+8000Most receiving TD+5000Justin SimmonsDefensive POTY+10000Marvin MimsOffensive ROTY+5500Most rookie receiving yards+4500Sean PaytonCoach of the Year+900If Wilson has a transformative season, he'll contend for the Comeback Player of the Year. However, it will have to be so good that he tops any player coming back from injury. If that's the case, Payton will get the most credit for guiding a career Wilson season.The Broncos need Wilson to have an outstanding season in order for them to surpass their season win total of 8.5. That's why Payton is the second favorite to win Coach of the Year. If you're bullish on Payton's effect on the Broncos in Year 1, that's probably the best way to back Denver in a tough division and even tougher conference. If you're looking to fade Payton, game-by-game betting on the Broncos' opponents will provide ample opportunity.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 Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay is looking for first-round quarterback Anthony Richardson to play early and often in order to get better."As you guys know, Peyton (Manning)'s year, we were 3-13, the first year," Irsay said on "The Pat McAfee Show" on Monday. "That's a guy who played a lot of college games and was really prepared as much as he could be for the league. So, for Anthony Richardson, it's going to be tough. We know that. But he has to play to get better. I mean, there's no question. Gardner (Minshew) could come out and play better early on, him just being a veteran, but we have to get Anthony on the field. And that's (head coach) Shane (Steichen)'s call when he decides to do it."The Colts selected Richardson with the No. 4 pick in this year's draft after the 21-year-old appeared in 22 contests at Florida. In his lone season as a starter, Richardson threw for 2,549 yards, 17 touchdowns, and nine interceptions to go along with nine touchdowns and 654 yards on the ground.While inexperienced, Richardson is one of the rarest athletes the NFL has ever seen at quarterback, earning a 10.00 RAS. His arm is exceptionally strong, he runs a 4.43-second 40-yard dash, and he has the requisite frame to make the most of these gifts if he develops as the Colts hope.Richardson gives the club a young signal-caller to build around for the first time in years. Indianapolis has churned through veteran quarterbacks since Andrew Luck's retirement in 2019, starting the likes of Jacoby Brissett, Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, and Matt Ryan.The Colts open their season with a home matchup against the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars, one of Minshew's former teams.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Kansas City Chiefs superfan who went on the run following his arrest for armed robbery last year has been apprehended.Xaviar Michael Babudar, better known as "ChiefsAholic," was arrested in Lincoln, California, on July 7, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Missouri. He was charged with one count of bank theft and one count of transporting stolen property across state lines.Babudar, 28, was initially arrested in December in connection with an armed robbery at the Tulsa Teachers Credit Union in Bixby, Oklahoma. He was scheduled to be arraigned in March but failed to show up for a court hearing and allegedly removed his ankle monitor, leading to him being placed on the Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers' Most Wanted Fugitives list.Following his December arrest, FBI investigators began reviewing bank and casino transaction records to determine the extent of Babudar's potential criminal activities.The FBI determined that Babudar had purchased and redeemed more than $1 million in chips from casinos in Missouri, Kansas, and Illinois between April and December 2022, according to the court affidavit. Investigators reviewed unsolved bank robberies in the Midwest during that time period and placed Babudar's cell phone in the same locations of robberies in Nebraska, Iowa, Tennessee, and Oklahoma, as well as two attempted robberies in Minnesota.In the Iowa robbery, Babudar allegedly stole $70,000 from Great Western Bank in Clive on March 2, 2022, and transported the stolen money across state lines to Missouri, according to the affidavit. The affidavit states that the same amount of money was deposited into Babudar's bank account over the next six weeks.Babudar made a court appearance Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California in Sacramento. His case will be presented to a federal grand jury to determine whether he'll be indicted on any additional charges.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chargers' 2021 season ended with an overtime loss to their division rival that kept them out of the playoffs and, more specifically, a play sequence that led many to wonder whether head coach Brandon Staley was ready for big-time football games.Somehow, the Chargers' 2022 season ended even worse. It started with the refusal of Staley and upper management to sit his injury-riddled stars in a meaningless Week 18 game that they lost anyway and saw Mike Williams get hurt and miss their first playoff game in four years. Undaunted, the Chargers went to Jacksonville and took a 27-0 lead. They lost as short favorites, 31-30.The Wild Card Weekend disaster was a stunner for Chargers' bettors after a season where they were actually profitable, going 11-5-1 against the spread. It was even more impressive given a complete lack of home-field advantage. Since moving, the Chargers have gone 16-26-1 against the spread at home, and they went 3-0-1 at SoFi Stadium to finish the season - a big indication that the market has removed any respect for when they're the hosts.2023 season oddsMARKETWin total9.5 (-105)Division+350Conference+1200Super Bowl+2500Estimated rating63/100A market rating of 63 out of 100 tells us that bettors don't want to be hurt again by the Chargers, but they're also not ruling them out. A 10-7 record seems good enough, but how the organization handled the end of the season makes the team hard to trust.Schedule outlookWEEKOPPONENTLOOKAHEAD LINE1MIALAC -2.52@TENLAC -3.53@MINLAC -1.54LVLAC -5.56DALLAC -17KCKC -5.58CHILAC -5.59@NYJNYJ -210DETLAC -2.511@GBLAC -2.512BALLAC -213@NELAC -1.514DENLAC -315@LVLAC -2.516BUFBUF -117@DENDEN -118KCKC -2At a quick glance, the Chargers are currently lined to be the favorite in 12 of 17 games. But before you hammer that over 9.5 win total bet, remember the Bolts' season is loaded with coin-flip lines. They could have 14 games that go off within a field goal, and their season might close with 10 straight games lined at -3 or tighter.What's to like about the ChargersFor those paying close attention, Brandon Staley wasn't the biggest target for derision on the Chargers' coaching staff. Division opponent Russell Wilson has the buzzword attached to him, and Chargers offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi refused to let Justin Herbert cook. Herbert was 39th out of 40 quarterbacks in average depth of target with Lombardi calling plays, an insane stat given he might have the best deep arm in the league - something we know only because of Herbert's throws on frequent third-and-longs. Lombardi is out, and Kellen Moore comes over from Dallas with an eye on going deep.You need protection to go long. The Chargers get all-world left tackle Rashawn Slater back after he missed almost the entire season, and everyone will have their fingers crossed that Williams can stay healthy opposite first-round pick Quentin Johnston. Corey Linsley and Keenan Allen also missed time. You never knew which top-flight defender would be out each week. A bounce-back year from J.C. Jackson is critical, as both he and Joey Bosa combined for nine games played.What's not to like about the ChargersMaybe it's a coincidence that the Chargers constantly have ample injuries while never reaching their potential, but the Herbert era started on short notice after Tyrod Taylor took a faulty needle injection, and the organization threw betting markets into chaos before Week 18 when it refused to rest the stars. Why would we think that Bosa, Jackson, Derwin James, Khalil Mack, Asante Samuel, Slater, Linsley, Williams, Allen, Herbert, and Austin Ekeler all stay reasonably healthy?Covering as an underdog in close losses to the Chiefs is cool and all, but at some point the team needs to get over the hump that is Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid.The lack of anything that would qualify as home-field advantage likely costs the Chargers one full win each season.Other notable betting marketsPLAYERMARKETODDSJustin HerbertMVP+1300Offensive POTY+3500Most passing yards+650Most passings TD+1100Austin EkelerOffensive POTY+3500Most rushing yards+3500Most rushing TD+1400Mike WilliamsOffensive POTY+7500Most receptions+8000Most receiving yards+4500Most receiving TD+3500Comeback POTY+5500Keenan AllenOffensive POTY+7500Most receptions+3500Most receiving yards+6000Most receiving TD+5000Comeback POTY+8000Joey BosaDefensive POTY+4500Most sacks+5000Comeback POTY+8000Derwin JamesDefensive POTY+6000Quentin JohnstonOffensive ROTY+2000Most rookie receiving yards+600Tuli TuipulotuDefensive ROTY+5000Rashawn SlaterComeback POTY+7000Brandon StaleyCoach of the Year+2500It's telling that so many Chargers are listed at shorter than 100-1 to be the Comeback Player of the Year.Ekeler led the NFL in overall touchdowns last season but was beat out by Jamaal Williams in the rushing TD category. At 14-1, Ekeler is worth a look to turn a couple of the receiving scores into rushing ones.The ship has sailed on Staley ever winning a Coach of the Year award, as the team has too much talent for any success to seem like it was due to the coach.With so much support around them, you could do worse than take fliers on both Johnston and Tuli Tuipulotu to win rookie of the year awards.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 Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Star quarterback Joe Burrow is among those who are looking forward to the next chapter in the budding rivalry between the Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs."The best thing about that is it's all settled on the field," Burrow told Complex Sports' Kameron Hay. "So we'll see them in December."The Bengals and Chiefs met in the last two AFC title games. Cincinnati earned a berth in Super Bowl LVI with a win in the 2021 postseason meeting. However, it was Kansas City that captured the AFC crown last year before going on to beat the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII.Bengals wideout Ja'Marr Chase fanned the flames after naming Burrow as the top passer in the NFL. The 26-year-old Burrow put Mahomes ahead of himself in the rankings. It led to Chase saying "Pat who?" when asked about the reigning MVP.The LSU product has led the Bengals to a 3-1 record against Mahomes and Kansas City, including postseason matchups.While the Bengals have been unable to claim a Super Bowl title, Burrow doesn't feel the club is far from getting over the hump."I think we've put a great plan together the last couple of years, now we just have to finish it off," he said.The 2020 No. 1 overall pick has elevated the Bengals into consistent title contenders following an injured-shortened rookie campaign. Burrow worked his way back to lead Cincinnati to the franchise's third-ever Super Bowl appearance. The Bengals posted a 12-4 record with Burrow passing for 4,475 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions with a 100.8 passer rating.Cincinnati is working towards signing Burrow to a long-term extension this offseason. The Bengals picked up the fifth-year option in Burrow's rookie deal in April, which will keep him under contract through the 2024 season.The next chapter of the budding rivalry is set to take place in Week 17 when the Bengals return to Arrowhead Stadium to face the Chiefs on New Year's Eve.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

To the victors go the spoils.As such, the Super Bowl champion Chiefs get the honor of being the starting point for our 2023 season preparation. As we go team by team between now and the Hall of Fame Game, it makes sense to begin with a look at the favorites to win Super Bowl LVIII.The Chiefs went 14-3 straight up in 2022 but continued a consistent trend over the Patrick Mahomes era. Kansas City's record against the spread was just 5-11-1. So, while it seems like a good idea to bet on the Chiefs to cover each week, it's wildly unprofitable. In fact, they're 19-29-1 ATS since winning their first Super Bowl as a group. At -110 prices, that would result in a loss of 12.9 units over the last three regular seasons.Even a 2-1 ATS record in the playoffs last year spoke to some predictable circumstances. The Chiefs couldn't cover a big number in the divisional round against the Jaguars, but Mahomes' ankle injury depressed a line against the Bengals that would've normally been at least -3 in the AFC Championship Game, allowing Kansas City to cover with a field goal win.The market thought so highly of the Chiefs that they were short favorites in their Super Bowl win over the Eagles - who had lost once all year with Jalen Hurts under center. With a second Super Bowl under Andy Reid's lengthy belt, there's no reason to believe the Chiefs are going to be underrated anytime soon.2023 season oddsMARKETWin total11.5 (-135)Division-160Conference+350Super Bowl+600Estimated rating75/100A 75 out of 100 is the highest number we'll see for an estimated market rating, and it'll be up to the Chiefs if they can earn an 80 - the level of a clear-cut, historically great team.Unfortunately, a -160 price to win the AFC West shows just what a deal last season's plus-money payout on the same bet was.Schedule outlookWEEKOPPONENTLOOKAHEAD LINE1DETKC -6.52@JAXKC -33CHIKC -9.54@NYJKC -25@MINKC -46DENKC -77LACKC -5.58@DENKC -3.59MIAKC -5.511PHIKC -312@LVKC -513@GBKC -5.514BUFKC -3.515@NEKC -416LVKC -8.517CINKC -318@LACKC -2They have some much-hyped opponents to start the season in the Lions and Jets, but even if those teams aren't what many hope, there's still plenty of meat on the bone that is the Chiefs' schedule. Sure, they're currently favored in every game this season, but unlike last season when they were projected as double-digit favorites three times and closed -10 or higher six times, the slate is tough enough that the Chiefs aren't double-digit favorites at any time, according to early lines.What's to like about the ChiefsNeeding to go toward a depth-centric approach before last season - and the trade of Tyreek Hill - the Chiefs clearly have put forth a plan to fill holes on the defensive line (George Karlaftis, Felix Anudike-Uzomah) and at wide receiver (Skyy Moore, Rashee Rice). That said, they hope intel from their new backup quarterback will be critical to their success.Former Tom Brady clipboard-holder Blaine Gabbert is now patting Mahomes' back, but he's told Reid that former Buccaneers left tackle Donovan Smith's rough last season was due to injury, and he should be back to his top-10 form at the position. With Smith on one side and Jawaan Taylor replacing Andrew Wylie on the other, relatively inexpensive options can keep the Chiefs where they need to be.What's not to like about the ChiefsBeyond the aforementioned matchups, a schedule that includes the Dolphins, Bills, and Bengals is loaded with big-time matchups before even looking within the division. Even cases for "easy wins" involve road matchups against the Vikings and Packers. It'll feel like the Chiefs are involved in the biggest game every week, but bettors have to pay a premium on Kansas City winning 12 games, and this team could be just as good as last year but finish 11-6 or 10-7.If the players expected to plug the holes - Smith, Kadarius Toney, Isiah Pacheco - aren't able to stay healthy, and the other depth pieces don't pan out in bigger roles, then the Chiefs' great record in close games could regress.Other notable betting marketsPLAYERMARKETODDSPatrick MahomesMVP+700Offensive POTY+3000Most passing yards+450Most passing TD+225Travis KelceOffensive POTY+4000Most receiving yards+2200Most receptions+1100Most receiving TD+500Isiah PachecoMost rushing yards+5000Most rushing TD+3500Chris JonesDefensive POTY+3000Sacks+2500Nick BoltonDefensive POTY+10000Rashee RiceOffensive ROTY+4000Most rookie receivingyards+1800Felix Anudike-UzomahDefensive ROTY+2000Andy ReidCoach of the Year+5000Unsurprisingly, on top of being the favorite for MVP, Mahomes is also atop the oddsboard in the statistical markets, while Travis Kelce is the third choice for most receiving touchdowns. It's good news/bad news for Reid in the Coach of the Year market, as he's the biggest long shot. He's too good to get credit for working some sort of magic since he's already built a machine with the highest expectations in the league.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 Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are signing tight end Josh Pederson, the son of head coach Doug Pederson, the team announced Monday.Pederson joins his dad after playing in the USFL for the Houston Gamblers this year. The 25-year-old caught 24 passes for 329 yards in 10 appearances with the Gamblers.He went undrafted in 2021 following a four-season stint at Louisiana-Monroe. With the Warhawks, Pederson racked up 1,191 yards and 11 touchdowns on 99 receptions in four years. He's since spent time with the San Francisco 49ers, New Orleans Saints, and Kansas City Chiefs but has yet to appear in an NFL game.Jacksonville's tight-end room is headlined by Evan Engram, who received the franchise tag this offseason after posting career highs with 73 catches and 766 yards in 2022. The team's depth chart at the position also features second-round rookie Brenton Strange and Luke Farrell, among others.Last season, in Doug Pederson's first year with the franchise, the Jaguars made their first playoff appearance since 2017.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams says he feels "ready to go" in his return from an ACL and LCL tear that cost him the majority of the 2022 season.Williams said Sunday that the "plan" is for him to be medically cleared for training camp, according to ESPN's Jeff Legwold.It's the latest positive update in the running back's recovery after head coach Sean Payton mentioned in May that he expected Williams to be ready for training camp.The 23-year-old suffered the season-ending knee injury in Week 4 of the 2022 campaign. Through four games, he rushed for 204 yards and averaged 4.3 yards per carry.Drafted in the second round in 2021, Williams tallied 903 yards and four touchdowns on the ground in his first season.Denver signed running back Samaje Perine to a two-year contract this offseason to reinforce its backfield.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Cincinnati Bengals running back Corey Dillon is frustrated he hasn't been inducted into the team's Ring of Honor yet."It's damn near criminal what (Bengals Ring of Honor voters) are pulling off, to be honest with you," Dillon told Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic.Season-ticket holders vote on Bengals Ring of Honor inductees. Two more honorees will be announced later this month, and Dillon is expected to be snubbed again."Did I not play for them? I don't know, bro. I'm curious about that. Because it looks like they are glossing over me. For what reason? Because I left? That's not a good enough reason," Dillon said.He added: "I'm pretty sure they will put f-----g Jon Kitna in there before they put me. Matter of fact, Scott Mitchell will end up in that motherf----r before I do."Dillon played seven seasons with the Bengals and is the team's all-time leading rusher. He broke Jim Brown's rookie single-game rushing record when he ran for 246 yards against the Tennessee Oilers in 1997.The four-time Pro Bowler also broke Walter Payton's single-game rushing record with 278 yards against the Denver Broncos in 2000. Adrian Peterson broke that record in 2007.He also hasn't been seriously considered for the Hall of Fame. Dillon's never been a semifinalist for the prestigious honor but has the numbers to make a strong case: He's one of just six running backs in the Super Bowl era to collect at least four 1,110 rushing-yard seasons at a 4.6 yards per carry clip."I'm not one of these borderline guys sitting on my ass reminiscing, talking about, 'Oh, if I had this, shoulda, coulda, woulda.' No. I'm justified," Dillon said about not being considered for the Hall of Fame.He won a Super Bowl with New England Patriots in 2004. That year, he ran for 1,635 yards, his most in a single season.Dillon had 11,241 rushing yards and 82 touchdowns in 150 career games.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott said he feels a greater sense of urgency to end the franchise's Super Bowl drought as he enters his age-30 season."One thousand percent," Prescott said when asked if turning 30 makes him more eager to win, according to team writer Nick Eatman. "Just understanding injuries and what I've been throughout my career and understanding that you don't have forever to play this game. I'm blessed for every moment that I get. Just trying to take it with a sense of urgency."Prescott's posted a 61-36 regular-season record throughout his career but has only two wins in six playoff appearances. The Cowboys, who've won five Super Bowl titles, haven't reached the NFC title game since the 1995 season.A fourth-round pick in 2016, Prescott started every game in his first four NFL seasons but has since missed 17 contests due to injury, including five in 2022. The two-time Pro Bowler turns 30 on July 29."Just being 30 doesn't necessarily bother me," Prescott added. "Knowing that I am the old guy, going into Year 8, seeing some of the young guys, some of the rookies and seeing the difference in eight years. It's fun and challenging at times, knowing that I stay connected and stay in the now with what's cool and whatnot. But this game is beautiful. It doesn't matter how old you are because you play this game like a kid."Prescott, who's signed through the 2024 season, set career single-season highs with a 68.8% completion rate and 37 touchdown passes in 2021. However, the Mississippi State product wasn't able to replicate those numbers last year, completing 66.2% of his passes for 23 touchdowns against a league-high 15 interceptions.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has a lot of respect for Detroit Lions fans, and he seems ready to give those supporters what they deserve in 2023."My rookie year, we went 3-13-1, (Lions fans) were still there for us," St. Brown recently said, according to Gilberto Manzano of Sports Illustrated. "And now the hype is crazy. When I go back for OTAs and whatnot, you go to the grocery store, you go to the restaurant, whatever you're doing that day. If a fan sees you, they're super excited."The Lions went 9-8 last season, up from 3-13-1 in 2021. It was their first winning campaign since 2017. Detroit, which hasn't made the playoffs since 2016, finished 2022 with the NFL's fifth-ranked scoring offense but struggled defensively, allowing the fifth-most points.With the Lions bolstering both sides of the ball this offseason, many around the NFL now see Detroit as the favorite to win a wide-open NFC North."(The fans) have big expectations, but I feel like no matter what, they're always going to be there for us," St. Brown said. "That's something, as a player, I really appreciate because there's definitely those bandwagon fans that you see with the big teams that win a lot."He added, "With the Lions, they haven't really won anything in years. To be a player on a team with a little bit of hype, fans are excited, it's fun."St. Brown was quarterback Jared Goff's main target in 2022 and led the team with 106 receptions, 1,161 yards, and six touchdowns en route to a first career Pro Bowl nod. The 2021 fourth-round pick leads a solid Detroit offense that welcomed multiple playmakers this offseason, including first-round running back Jahmyr Gibbs, second-round tight end Sam LaPorta, and veteran running back David Montgomery.The Lions also used a first-round selection on linebacker Jack Campbell this year and signed safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson and cornerback Cameron Sutton, among others.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Houston Texans offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil is excited by the "whole new vibe" first-year head coach DeMeco Ryans is building with the team."DeMeco came in with that energy he brought from San Fran and just changed the whole vibe around the building," Tunsil said Friday, according to NFL.com's Nick Shook. "And that's something that we needed, especially since these last past three years, we've been in a rut. So DeMeco comes in the building, he brought some new coaches, we've got some new players. ... It feels great to be there."The Texans kicked off a new era this year, hiring Ryans to be their fifth head coach since 2020. He served as the San Francisco 49ers' defensive coordinator in the last two seasons. The 2022 Assistant Coach of the Year's coaching staff includes new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and defensive coordinator Matt Burke.Houston drafted quarterback C.J. Stroud second overall and edge rusher Will Anderson with the No. 3 pick after acquiring that selection in a trade with the Arizona Cardinals.It didn't take long for Stroud to impress his new teammates."He handles himself well," Tunsil said. "He came in the building with these unbelievable leadership skills, and he's killing it. How I describe C.J.: dawg. He's a straight dawg. He comes in there ready to work, he handles the huddle perfectly, and he goes out there and balls, man. You've got to appreciate that, especially in a young quarterback."Tunsil played his first three NFL seasons for the Miami Dolphins, who traded him to the Texans during the 2019 offseason. The 2016 first-round pick has earned three Pro Bowl berths while making 50 starts since joining Houston.The Texans went 3-13-1 in 2022, their third straight season with four or fewer wins.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on Spotify, Apple, Google, and Stitcher.In this episode, Boone discusses some of the super-deep sleepers he's stashing in dynasty and redraft leagues.

With NFL training camps on the horizon, theScore's football editors rank all 32 teams by their total talent at each major position group. Depth charts are projections of teams' post-training camp rosters.We conclude the series with defensive backs.Position Group Rankings

With NFL training camps on the horizon, theScore's football editors rank all 32 teams by their total talent at each major position group. Depth charts are projections of teams' post-training camp rosters.Next up are defensive fronts.Position Group Rankings

With NFL training camps on the horizon, theScore's football editors rank all 32 teams by their total talent at each major position group. Depth charts are projections of teams' post-training camp rosters.Next up are offensive lines.Position Group Rankings

With NFL training camps on the horizon, theScore's football editors rank all 32 teams by their total talent at each major position group. Depth charts are projections of teams' post-training camp rosters.Next up are rushing groups.Position Group Rankings

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.theScore staff took part in a 10-team, 12-round mock draft to offer some insight on what to watch for in each round.This is a half PPR scoring league with the following roster spots: QB, RB, RB, WR, WR, WR, TE, FLEX, BN, BN, BN, BN. We omitted defenders and kickers, as they're normally selected in the final two rounds.Draft participants: Dane Belbeck, Navin Vaswani, Brandon Wile, Gianluca Nesci, Justin Boone, Caitlyn Holroyd, Alex Chippin, Daniel Valente, Caio Miari, Brenden Deeg.Round 1PickPlayerTeam1Justin Jefferson (WR1)Belbeck2Ja'Marr Chase (WR2)Vaswani3Christian McCaffrey (RB1)Wile4Austin Ekeler (RB2)Nesci5Cooper Kupp (WR3)Boone6Bijan Robinson (RB3)Holroyd7Tyreek Hill (WR4)Chippin8Stefon Diggs (WR5)Valente9Travis Kelce (TE1)Miari10A.J. Brown (WR6)DeegRound 1: If you've been paying attention to ADPs this offseason, then you shouldn't be surprised by any of the picks in the opening round. For those who are just getting back into fantasy after the July 4 weekend, this year's drafts have been much more receiver-heavy at the top - so make sure you adjust.My pick: The decision in the middle of the first round isn't an easy one, and it ultimately came down to Kupp, Robinson, and Hill. While Robinson and Hill might be more exciting selections, people seem to forget how dominant a healthy Kupp was the last two years. The Rams star led all WRs in fantasy points per game (21.6 in half PPR scoring) in 2021 and was sitting in the same spot, averaging 20.3 FPPG last year before an ankle injury ended his season in Week 10.Round 2PickPlayerTeam11CeeDee Lamb (WR7)Deeg12Nick Chubb (RB4)Miari13Garrett Wilson (WR8)Valente14Tony Pollard (RB5)Chippin15Davante Adams (WR9)Holroyd16Jonathan Taylor (RB6)Boone17Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR10)Nesci18Jaylen Waddle (WR11)Wile19Saquon Barkley (RB7)Vaswani20Chris Olave (WR12)BelbeckRound 2: The run on wideouts continued with 12 receivers chosen over the first two frames, compared to just seven running backs. Team Miari is the only squad without a receiver thus far - though tight end Kelce produces like an elite WR. Regardless, it'll be interesting to monitor how he fills out his receiving corps the rest of the way.My pick: In the middle of the second round, we get a player valued as a late-first-round pick in my projections. Taylor is one year removed from posting over 2,000 yards from scrimmage and 20 total touchdowns. Don't let an injury-riddled 2022 campaign make you forget about his fantasy ceiling. Even with a rookie quarterback at the helm, the arrival of Anthony Richardson is a massive upgrade for the Colts' offense from the trio of Matt Ryan, Sam Ehlinger, and Nick Foles.Round 3PickPlayerTeam21Josh Jacobs (RB8)Belbeck22DeVonta Smith (WR13)Vaswani23Tee Higgins (WR14)Wile24Derrick Henry (RB9)Nesci25Rhamondre Stevenson (RB10)Boone26Mark Andrews (TE2)Holroyd27Patrick Mahomes (QB1)Chippin28Deebo Samuel (WR15)Valente29DK Metcalf (WR16)Miari30Jalen Hurts (QB2)DeegRound 3: Our first quarterbacks go off the board in this round, with Mahomes and Hurts taken over Allen. That follows my rankings, which recently changed to account for the uncertainty of Diggs' situation in Buffalo. Allen is still a locked-in top-three fantasy QB, but Mahomes and Hurts have more comfortable outlooks entering the season.My pick: Stevenson is coming off a breakout season as a low-end RB1 in fantasy, propelled by the third-most receptions among running backs. The result is even more impressive when you factor in a slow start where he only took the field on 25% of the snaps in Week 1 and a final month derailed by an ankle issue. The addition of a qualified offensive coordinator in Bill O'Brien should help inject life into the Patriots' offense, leading to more scoring opportunities for Stevenson, who's positioned for another top-12 fantasy finish.Round 4PickPlayerTeam31Jahmyr Gibbs (RB11)Deeg32Amari Cooper (WR17)Miari33Breece Hall (RB12)Valente34Travis Etienne (RB13)Chippin35Calvin Ridley (WR18)Holroyd36Josh Allen (QB3)Boone37Keenan Allen (WR19)Nesci38Najee Harris (RB14)Wile39Christian Watson (WR20)Vaswani40Aaron Jones (RB15)BelbeckRound 4: Team Valente went with three straight wideouts to start the draft and gets rewarded by having a potential top-12 RB in Hall fall to him. Had it not been for the ACL tear last season, Hall would likely be a first-round fantasy pick in 2023. Most of the reports from beat writers and injury analysts concerning his recovery are leaning on the favorable side, with Hall expected to be back to form in September. He's an excellent value in the third round.My pick: Coming out of the first four rounds with just one receiver is risky, but there wasn't a WR or TE in this range that enticed me enough to pull the trigger. Instead, we'll take an elite QB in Allen, who was likely passed up by other managers for the reasons we mentioned in Round 3.Round 5PickPlayerTeam41Lamar Jackson (QB4)Belbeck42Joe Burrow (QB5)Vaswani43Terry McLaurin (WR21)Wile44Jerry Jeudy (WR22)Nesci45D.J. Moore (WR23)Boone46Joe Mixon (RB16)Holroyd47Drake London (WR24)Chippin48Justin Fields (QB6)Valente49Christian Kirk (WR25)Miari50J.K. Dobbins (RB17)DeegRound 5: My Allen pick looks even better when you see Jackson, Burrow, and Fields all selected one round later. Jackson has a strong chance to challenge the top fantasy QBs this year, thanks to a new offensive coordinator in Todd Monken and the Ravens finally investing in their receiver room. Fields and Burrow are a tier behind Jackson, making them a little pricey for the fifth round.My pick: The Bears' pass volume is a concern for fantasy after they put up a league-worst 377 passing attempts - the lowest total we've seen from an NFL offense since 2004. However, their roster also got an influx of talent from first-round tackle Darnell Wright, to depth pieces like Tyler Scott and Robert Tonyan, to a true No. 1 option in Moore. The 26-year-old is an underrated star and will help Fields take a gigantic step forward in his career, just like we saw when Allen got Diggs and Hurts got A.J. Brown. Expect the volume to increase and Moore to dominate targets.Round 6PickPlayerTeam51Mike Williams (WR26)Deeg52Kenneth Walker (RB18)Miari53Alexander Mattison (RB19)Valente54T.J. Hockenson (TE3)Chippin55Justin Herbert (QB7)Holroyd56Brandon Aiyuk (WR27)Boone57George Kittle (TE4)Nesci58Miles Sanders (RB20)Wile59Dameon Pierce (RB21)Vaswani60DeAndre Hopkins (WR28)BelbeckRound 6: With receivers flying off the board in the early rounds, you'll see some quality running backs still available in this stretch. Mattison is taking over for Dalvin Cook in Minnesota and has a shot to produce similar top-15-type fantasy numbers. Sanders signed a long-term deal to be the focal point of the Panthers' backfield, where it's been suggested he'll see more pass-catching opportunities. Meanwhile, Walker and Pierce are coming off solid rookie seasons and should be decent RB2s in fantasy if they can hold off challenges from Zach Charbonnet and Devin Singletary, respectively.My pick: My love for Aiyuk has been well-documented in my articles and on theScore Fantasy Football Podcast. While he officially broke out with a 1,000-yard effort last year, the offseason hype around him has been deafening. Many people close to the 49ers, including teammate Deebo Samuel, have suggested that Aiyuk could emerge as a superstar this season. After waiting a bit to address my receiving corps following my first-round pick of Kupp, I'm happy to chase potential career years from Moore and Aiyuk.Round 7PickPlayerTeam61Chris Godwin (WR29)Belbeck62Cam Akers (RB22)Vaswani63Marquise Brown (WR30)Wile64Michael Pittman (WR31)Nesci65Treylon Burks (WR32)Boone66Diontae Johnson (WR33)Holroyd67Tyler Lockett (WR34)Chippin68Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR35)Valente69Mike Evans (WR36)Miari70Kyle Pitts (TE5)DeegRound 7: Checking back on Team Miari after they were the only roster without a receiver through two rounds, and things have turned out just fine. Metcalf, Cooper, Kirk, and now Evans provide him with four quality options at the position. While you shouldn't feel forced into a single strategy in your drafts, keep in mind it's easier to come away with a star-studded lineup in a 10-team league.My pick: Receivers remain in sight, and there are still plenty of good ones available in Round 7. Burks might be my most drafted player so far in 2023, and if you're curious why, just check out my breakout candidates column, which has his picture at the top.Round 8PickPlayerTeam71Kadarius Toney (WR37)Deeg72D'Andre Swift (RB23)Miari73Darren Waller (TE6)Valente74James Conner (RB24)Chippin75Jahan Dotson (WR38)Holroyd76George Pickens (WR39)Boone77Trevor Lawrence (QB8)Nesci78Dallas Goedert (TE7)Wile79Jordan Addison (WR40)Vaswani80David Montgomery (RB25)BelbeckRound 8: This round was loaded with possible league-winning picks. Toney could turn into Mahomes' No. 1 wideout. Swift has the best chance to start in Philly's backfield. Waller is likely to be the most targeted pass-catcher for the Giants. Conner has consistently put up top-15 fantasy RB numbers when healthy. Lawrence is on the verge of joining the elite producers at his position. Dotson, Pickens, and Addison are all promising young WRs with very high ceilings.My pick: My hope in this round was to secure a tight end, but Pitts and Waller went before my pick. While Goedert was an option, a receiver like Pickens possesses far more upside if he can continue his development from Year 1 to Year 2. Despite being a polarizing fantasy asset, it doesn't take much to envision Pickens building off his 52-801-4 rookie stat line and becoming an impact starter.Round 9PickPlayerTeam81Isiah Pacheco (RB26)Belbeck82Gabe Davis (WR41)Vaswani83Quentin Johnston (WR42)Wile84Rachaad White (RB27)Nesci85Dalvin Cook (RB28)Boone86Brandin Cooks (WR43)Holroyd87Michael Thomas (WR44)Chippin88James Cook (RB29)Valente89Alvin Kamara (RB30)Miari90Zay Flowers (WR45)DeegRound 9: While the running backs in this round have some question marks, they represent nice value at this stage of the draft. Pacheco needs to prove he's healthy. White needs to avoid the Buccaneers adding a veteran before the season. Kamara has a court case and possible suspension to sort out. Dalvin Cook needs to find a new team, and his brother James needs to overcome a budding committee with Damien Harris and Latavius Murray. Even so, every back taken in this round has top-24 fantasy potential this year.My pick: Dalvin Cook doesn't come without risk, but he has far more left in the tank than some of the other free-agent running backs like Ezekiel Elliott and Leonard Fournette. If Cook lands on the Dolphins or another team with a starting job available, his value will skyrocket back into the top-five rounds. He's an intriguing redraft pick in this range and a sneaky dynasty buy.Round 10PickPlayerTeam91Javonte Williams (RB31)Deeg92Deshaun Watson (QB9)Miari93Elijah Moore (WR46)Valente94Brian Robinson (RB32)Chippin95AJ Dillon (RB33)Holroyd96Devon Achane (RB34)Boone97Zach Charbonnet (RB35)Nesci98Anthony Richardson (QB10)Wile99Evan Engram (TE8)Vaswani100David Njoku (TE9)BelbeckRound 10: As we preach every year, the later rounds should be dedicated to pure upside as you attempt to unearth the next fantasy diamond. Williams, Watson, Moore, Dillon, Achane, Charbonnet, and Richardson all fit that description here.My pick: Scooping up Achane a round after Dalvin Cook gives me an excellent path toward locking down the Dolphins' starter one way or another. Even if Cook signs in Miami, Achane could offer weekly flex production as a game-breaking change-of-pace weapon.Round 11PickPlayerTeam101Rashod Bateman (WR47)Belbeck102Samaje Perine (RB36)Vaswani103Antonio Gibson (RB37)Wile104Odell Beckham (WR48)Nesci105Dalton Kincaid (TE10)Boone106Khalil Herbert (RB38)Holroyd107Courtland Sutton (WR49)Chippin108Jamaal Williams (RB39)Valente109Tyler Boyd (WR50)Miari110Romeo Doubs (WR51)DeegRound 11: Team Valente, Team Miari, and Team Vaswani began the draft by taking just one running back in the first five rounds - and all three managers have filled out their RB depth charts nicely. Team Valente has two strong starters, a breakout candidate, and a reliable veteran in line for added touches in the opening weeks (Hall, Mattison, James Cook, Jamaal Williams). Team Miari's lineup features four incredible talents that could carry his team to a title if they hit (Chubb, Walker, Swift, Kamara). And Team Vaswani has one elite back paired with two young breakout candidates and an underrated veteran poised for a bigger opportunity on his new team (Barkley, Pierce, Akers, Perine).My pick: My failure to find the right value at tight end has forced me into the late-round approach at the position. Thankfully, there are multiple TEs with big-time ceilings going outside the first 10 rounds. Kincaid is an obvious choice here as a first-round rookie with high-end pass-catching skills who stacks with my starting QB, Allen. His volatility will likely cause me to grab another upside tight end before the draft is done.Round 12PickPlayerTeam111Damien Harris (RB40)Deeg112Jameson Williams (WR52)Miari113JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR53)Valente114Pat Freiermuth (TE11)Chippin115Allen Lazard (WR54)Holroyd116Greg Dulcich (TE12)Boone117Skyy Moore (WR55)Nesci118Elijah Mitchell (RB41)Wile119Rashaad Penny (RB42)Vaswani120Jerick McKinnon (RB43)BelbeckRound 12: Running backs are normally the best targets in the final rounds because they're one injury away from achieving fantasy starter status. While all four backs taken in this round are great picks, Chiefs wideout Skyy Moore might be my favorite choice in this frame. The drumbeat about Moore's increased involvement in the offense has been non-stop this offseason, and Kansas City's pecking order behind Kelce is wide-open. Make sure you get Moore on at least one of your teams this year.My pick: Entering the season with Kincaid as my sole option at tight end would be foolish. Fortunately, Dulcich is there to give me another shot at finding a TE1. As a rookie, Dulcich finished with the 18th-most fantasy points per game at his position. Now he's getting talked up by his new head coach Sean Payton, who has a history of producing quality fantasy tight ends. Dulcich might be THE breakout tight end in 2023.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Carlton Davis issued a warning to those doubting the team's ability to compete without Tom Brady."Anybody who feels we've lost Tom and lost something is going to be in for a rude awakening," Davis told Tyler Dunne of Go Long. "Tom was a great addition for us, but, obviously, it's a team sport. Obviously, you need components to be successful. We still have those components. And I'm only getting better."Davis promised that the Bucs are going to "wreck shit" in 2023 by creating an abundance of turnovers.Brady's retirement following the 2022 campaign leaves the Bucs with a lot of unanswered questions in their quarterback room. Veteran Baker Mayfield is expected to compete with Kyle Trask for the starting job.Even with Brady in the fold last season, Tampa Bay could only muster a 8-9 record before being bounced in the wild-card round. The offense struggled for consistency throughout the campaign, finishing 25th in points scored per game.However, the defense remained stout as the unit ranked 13th in scoring and ninth in yardage. Davis contributed one interception and 12 passes defended.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With NFL training camps on the horizon, theScore's football editors rank all 32 teams by their total talent at each major position group. Depth charts are projections of teams' post-training camp rosters.Next up are the receiving corps.Position Group Rankings

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on Spotify, Apple, Google, and Stitcher.In this episode, Boone discusses five crowded backfields with significant fantasy potential and the running backs to target on each depth chart.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen doesn't see any reason to continue talking about the Stefon Diggs situation that took over headlines on the first day of minicamp.Diggs was surprisingly absent on the first day of minicamp earlier this month, which prompted head coach Sean McDermott to say he was "very concerned" about his star receiver. Diggs' agent said the wideout had been in for his medical testing prior and had spoken to his head coach before leaving. Diggs later reported for on-field work the following day, with McDermott stating that he believed the situation had been resolved.Allen believes the entire situation was overblown by the media."I love him. That's my guy," Allen said on "Bussin' With the Boys." "The media has blown this so far out of proportion. We are in minicamp. We're not playing a game for four months. He doesn't show up one day. He's still there - coach asked him to go home. We were in talks and discussions of trying to resolve some things, and it wasn't anything major, and (the) media just blew it up. They're still talking about it, like, let it go. There's no reason to continue talking about it."It was later reported that the three-time Pro Bowl receiver was frustrated with his role in the team's offense and his voice in play-calling. Diggs' 2022 campaign ended on a sour note as he appeared to be upset on the sidelines with his quarterback during the team's playoff defeat to the Cincinnati Bengals.Diggs, who has made the Pro Bowl in each of his three seasons with Buffalo, recorded 108 receptions for 1,429 yards last season. He signed a four-year, $96-million extension last year that keeps him under contract through 2027.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.theScore's Justin Boone was first overall in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition in 2019 and finished among the top seven each of his last seven years in the contest.Follow the links below to see his 2023 rankings.Half PPR

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.theScore's Justin Boone was first overall in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition in 2019 and finished among the top seven each of his last seven years in the contest.In an effort to help you find trades that could improve your fantasy team, we present the Dynasty Trade Value Chart.You can use this chart to compare players and build realistic trade offers. Values are based on 12-team PPR leagues.Follow the links below to see the trade values for each position.Dynasty Rankings & Trade Values

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Devon Allen says he's "definitely" the fastest player in the NFL, per TMZ Sports.Allen is a three-time U.S. national champion in the 110m hurdles and a two-time Olympian, finishing fifth at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro and fourth at the 2020 Games in Tokyo.The 28-year-old most recently competed at the USATF NYC Grand Prix, running the 110m hurdles in 13.04 seconds - the fourth-fastest time in the world this year.

After three weeks of practice, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Calvin Ridley is already beginning to impress his teammates."You just watch him out there, he's a mismatch nightmare. In my opinion, I don't think anybody can guard him in the league." Jaguars wide receiver Jamal Agnew told talkSPORT.The Jaguars acquired Ridley at the trade deadline, but he was serving an indefinite suspension for violating the league's gambling policies.Ridley was fully reinstated following the season and is eligible to take the field for the Jaguars in 2023.The Alabama product came out the gate running after being selected with the No. 26 pick by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2018 NFL Draft. He combined for 1,687 receiving yards in his first two seasons, then followed that up with a career year, hauling in 90 catches for 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns."Just the way he moves, you can see," Agnew said, per talkSPORT. "His route running, he can run, catch anything you throw to him, he's just different, man.Ridley slots into a wide-receiver room that includes Christian Kirk, who had the first 1,000-yard receiving campaign of his young career last season.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mike Evans isn't done trying to add his name to the NFL's record books.The Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver - who owns the record for most 1,000-yard seasons to start a career with nine - is only two campaigns shy of Jerry Rice's historic mark for most consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 yards at any point in an NFL journey."I think about it," Evans recently told Ari Alexander of KCPR 2 Houston at the wideout's youth football camp in Texas. "It's right there, so I'm going to definitely try to get that. I'm already one of one right now. I hope I can pass the great Jerry Rice and his record."Rice, widely considered the greatest wide receiver in NFL history, also holds the records for most career receptions (1,549), receiving yards (22,895), and touchdown catches (197) by a significant margin."Obviously, nobody will pass his records - probably ever total," Evans added. "But that 1,000-yard streak record would be cool to have."Evans has put on a show since the Buccaneers drafted him seventh overall in 2014. Despite Tampa Bay starting six different quarterbacks from 2014-22, the Texas A&M product has caught 683 passes for 10,425 yards and 81 touchdowns.Tampa Bay will have another QB under center in 2023 to replace Tom Brady, who retired this offseason. But Evans is confident his production will remain the same."I should be getting 1,000 yards if I'm healthy every year," he said. "I want to be one of the tops in the league. I want to be winning games. That's what I care about."Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask are expected to compete for Tampa Bay's QB1 role at training camp. Mayfield signed with the Buccaneers this offseason, joining his third different team in the last two years. Trask has attempted only nine passes since entering the NFL as a second-round pick in 2021."Kyle's improved a lot. I'm really impressed with what I've seen from Baker," Evans said. "Whoever the quarterback will be, I'm positive they're going to make the right choice, and we're going to win some games."Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Indianapolis Colts waived cornerback Isaiah Rodgers and pass-rusher Rashod Berry on Thursday, the team announced."We have made the following roster moves as a consequence of the determination that these players violated the league's gambling policy," Colts general manager Chris Ballard said in a statement. "The integrity of the game is of the utmost importance. As an organization, we will continue to educate our players, coaches, and staff on the policies in place and the significant consequences that may occur with violations."The NFL banned Rodgers, Berry, and free agent Demetrius Taylor indefinitely on Thursday for violating the league's gambling policy. The three players will be suspended through at least the conclusion of the 2023 season for betting on NFL games in 2022.Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere was also suspended six regular-season games for placing non-NFL bets at the team's facility.Rodgers apologized earlier in June and said he took "full responsibility" for his actions after the NFL opened an investigation into whether he'd violated its gambling rules. A sportsbook account was reportedly opened under the name of an associate of Rodgers and the account placed approximately 100 bets over an undisclosed period of time, including wagers on Colts games. Most of the bets were reportedly in the $25-$50 range, but there was at least one low four-figure bet.Rodgers won a $1,000 prop bet on a Colts running back's over/under rushing yards, according to ESPN.The 25-year-old Rodgers spent his first three NFL seasons with the Colts, who drafted him in the sixth round in 2020. He had one season left on his rookie contract, which was worth $3.4 million for four years.The UMass product started nine games for Indianapolis and returned 18 kickoffs in 2022. He set a career high with three interceptions in 2021.Berry, an undrafted rookie in 2020, made his last NFL appearance in 2021 on the Detroit Lions. He spent most of 2022 on the Jacksonville Jaguars' practice squad before joining the Colts in January.The league has suspended several players for violating its gambling policy recently. Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams was among five players punished in April for gambling violations. The 2022 first-round pick received a six-game ban for gambling on college sports while in the team facility.The NFL's gambling policy prohibits personnel from gambling in any manner while in a club or league facility. The league highlighted its gambling protocols on a conference call earlier in June.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tennessee Titans offensive lineman Nicholas Petit-Frere will be suspended six games for violating the league's gambling policy, he said in a statement to ESPN's Adam Schefter."The NFL plans to announce another round of sanctions regarding its gambling policies, and I will be included in this group of players receiving a six-game suspension," Petit-Frere wrote.The 23-year-old is adamant that he didn't wager on NFL games, and the suspension is the result of betting on other sports while at the team's facility. He apologized for his actions, insisting he didn't "knowingly break the rules.""I want to apologize to my family, coaches, teammates, and the Titans fans. I have always strived in every stage of my life to follow the rules. ... Even after attending a league presentation, I was unaware about the specifics around placing bets from a team facility," Petit-Frere added.Several players across the league have been handed suspensions for betting on sports this offseason. Detroit Lions receiver Jameson Williams was also suspended for the first six games of next season for gambling on college sports at his team's facility. Williams said he was unaware of the rule.The NFL suspended Isaiah Rodgers and Rashod Berry of the Indianapolis Colts and free-agent defensive tackle Demetrius Taylor indefinitely Thursday for betting on league games in 2022. The Colts subsequently waived Rodgers and Berry after the announcement of the discipline.Tennessee selected the 6-foot-5, 315-pound offensive lineman out of Ohio State in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He started 16 games for the Titans during his rookie campaign.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts cornerback Isaiah Rodgers and linebacker Rashod Berry have been suspended indefinitely for violating the NFL's gambling policy, the league announced Thursday, per Bryan Fischer of Fox Sports.The league also suspended free-agent defensive lineman Demetrius Taylor indefinitely. The three players will be banned through at least the conclusion of the 2023 season for betting on NFL games in 2022, the league said. They can petition for reinstatement next year.Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere has also been suspended six regular-season games for placing non-NFL bets at the team's facility.It was reported earlier this month that Rodgers was under investigation for possible violations of the league's gambling policy. The Colts cornerback later apologized, stating he takes "full responsibility" for his actions.A sportsbook account was reportedly opened under the name of one of Rodgers' associates, with roughly 100 bets placed on the account, including some on Colts games.The bans are the latest crackdowns by the NFL on gambling violations. Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams was among five players punished in April for gambling violations. Williams received a six-game ban for gambling on college sports while in the team facility.Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Calvin Ridley was suspended indefinitely in March 2022 for gambling, though he was reinstated earlier this year.The NFL reinforced its gambling protocols on a conference call earlier this month, highlighting six key components. That included no betting on the NFL, no gambling at the team facility or hotel, and no joining a sportsbook during the season, among other rules.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With NFL training camps on the horizon, theScore's football editors rank all 32 teams by their total talent at each major position group. Depth charts are projections of teams' post-training camp rosters.We begin with the quarterback rooms.Position Group Rankings

Kevin Byard and the Tennessee Titans are back on firm ground after a shaky start to the offseason.The safety skipped the team's voluntary activities after the front office asked him in March to take a pay cut. However, Byard believes the friction between the two sides is in the past."I think we're in a good place right now," Byard said on the "Bussin' With The Boys" podcast, per NFL.com's Eric Edholm.He added: "When my agent reached out and had a conversation, it was very easy to be emotional because I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel a (certain) way about it. ... But at the same time, you can't be emotional in business."Byard, who didn't take a pay cut, signed a five-year, $70.5-million contract in 2019. He's set to have a $19.6-million cap hit this season and a $17.8-million hit in 2024.The Titans' request came after they appointed Ron Carthon as their general manager in January. Tennessee released offensive tackle Taylor Lewan, wide receiver Robert Woods, linebacker Zach Cunningham, and kicker Randy Bullock in February to clear $38 million in cap space.Byard, a third-round pick in 2016, has started 105 games for the Titans. The Middle Tennessee product has recorded 627 tackles and 27 interceptions.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New England Patriots have signed wide receiver DeVante Parker to a new three-year deal, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.The agreement is worth up to $33 million, Rapoport adds. It also reportedly includes $14 million in guarantees, as well as per-game roster bonuses.Parker had one year remaining with a $6.2-million cap hit on his previous deal, according to Over The Cap.The Patriots acquired the 30-year-old Parker in a trade with Miami last April. New England sent a 2023 third-round pick to the Dolphins in exchange for the wideout and a 2022 fifth-rounder.Parker hauled in 31 catches for 539 yards and three touchdowns across 13 games last season. He missed four contests due to a knee injury and a concussion.The Patriots signed wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster to a three-year deal in free agency to help soften the loss of Jakobi Meyers, who departed for Las Vegas. They also drafted former LSU wide receiver Kayshon Boutte in the sixth round.Free-agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins visited New England earlier in June but is reportedly in no rush to sign with a team.Parker has 5,266 receiving yards and 27 touchdowns in 106 career games.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Commanders wideout Jahan Dotson has a chip on his shoulder ahead of what he expects to be a promising campaign."Honestly, I feel like this is my breakout year," Dotson said on the "2nd Wind Podcast." "It's what I've been working hard for, and I've got to make them feel me."The second-year receiver explained his motivation to increase his production next season stems from being overlooked by sports analysts."I'm never mentioned, and I keep that in the back of my head. That's what I work for. ... They don't say my name, and that's what I want. I take it personal," the Penn State product said.The 23-year-old feels that he was overlooked in the 2022 draft despite being selected 16th overall by the Commanders. He channeled that by hauling in four touchdowns in the first four outings of his rookie campaign.Dotson suffered a setback in Washington's Week 4 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, sustaining a hamstring injury that caused him to miss the next five contests. Yet the 5-foot-11, 184-pound receiver regained his hot pace by finishing with 21 receptions, 344 yards, and three scores in the team's final five games.After getting acclimated to the league in his first season, Dotson is confident that the duo of him and Terry McLaurin can be "right at the top" of the NFL. Washington's receiving group also features Curtis Samuel and Dyami Brown.Washington's offense is changing this offseason. Eric Bieniemy was named the team's new offensive coordinator, and the Commanders will again have a new opening-day starter at quarterback. Sam Howell and Jacoby Brissett are expected to compete for the gig in training camp.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce believes he's underpaid but accepts his situation given the team's success."My managers and agents love to tell me how underpaid I am," Kelce told Vanity Fair's Tom Kludt. "Any time I talk about wanting more money, they're just like, 'Why don't you go to the Chiefs and ask them?'"Kelce earns an average of $14.3 million annually, the third-highest total among his position group, yet not on par with the salaries of some of the league's top receivers.The 34-year-old acknowledges that his production has come at a discount for the Chiefs despite being a four-time first-team All-Pro and recently winning his second Super Bowl title with the franchise."You see how much more money you could be making, and, yeah, it hits you in the gut a little bit. It makes you think you're being taken advantage of," Kelce said.Kelce watched last offseason as Kansas City traded star wideout Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins, who then signed him to a four-year, $120-million extension. Tempted by the prospects of being a free agent, Kelce admits that he enjoys winning too much to go chasing after a raise."When I saw Tyreek go and get ($30 million) a year, in the back of my head, I was like, man, that's two to three times what I'm making right now," Kelce said. "I'm like, the free market looks like fun until you go somewhere and you don't win. I love winning. I love the situation I'm in."Reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes offered high praise, calling Kelce more like a brother than just another teammate."Travis is definitely the best player I've thrown to," Mahomes said.Kelce, who signed a four-year, $57.25-million extension in 2020, intends to play out his contract, which runs through the 2025 season. While he's uncertain of what his next chapter will be after football, he's eager to get "his face out from under the helmet."The 6-foot-5, 250-pound Kelce hauled in 110 receptions (third in NFL), 1,388 yards (eighth among all pass-catchers), and 12 scores (second in the league) last season.No other tight end has posted seven 1,000-yard seasons, and his 16 touchdowns in the postseason trail only Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice (22). The Cincinnati product has hauled in 814 receptions, 10,344 yards, and 69 touchdowns over 10 seasons with the Chiefs. He sits 596 yards and seven TDs behind Tony Gonzalez for the franchise's all-time record in each category.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With Saquon Barkley still in the midst of a contract dispute with the New York Giants, quarterback Daniel Jones just wants his star teammate back in the backfield."We're talking all the time, staying in touch, getting together when we can," Jones told Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post. "I know he's got a lot going on, and I really hope the two sides can come together."Barkley has yet to sign New York's $10.1-million franchise tag in hopes of negotiating a long-term contract. The two sides have until July 17 to come to terms on an agreement.As a result of Barkley's contract status, the rusher missed OTAs and minicamp. However, he and Jones worked out together in New Jersey on Sunday."Saquon is always working hard, he's always going to be in good shape, he's always going to look good," Jones said. "Anyone who has been around him is going to expect that from him."Barkley racked up 1,650 scrimmage yards last season, which ranked seventh in the league. It was his best season since he led the league with 2,028 scrimmage yards as a rookie in 2018.The 26-year-old Barkley's resurgence helped the Giants end a five-year playoff drought, but they lost 38-7 in the divisional round against the Philadelphia Eagles.Jones is hoping to improve upon that result next season."We feel like we made progress last year and took a step," he said. "But what we do from this point on, you start over. It's about what you do now. We had a good spring, and we have to roll that into training camp and make sure we do everything we can."Jones signed a four-year, $160-million contract this offseason. He has a 21-31-1 record in 53 career starts, totaling 13,311 yards and 72 touchdowns.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Miami Dolphins made an offer for free-agent running back Dalvin Cook, a source told Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.Cook is interested in joining Miami, according to Jackson, but the terms of the reported offer are unclear.Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel declined to comment on his team's potential interest in Cook earlier in June.Cook currently has "multiple offers" on the table, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.The four-time Pro Bowler has been linked to multiple teams since the Minnesota Vikings released him June 8. On Monday, he shared a video of Jets tight end Tyler Conklin saying there's room for Cook in New York.

Free-agent running back Leonard Fournette said he dodged a potentially serious incident after his car caught fire while he was driving.Fournette shared a video showing his SUV torched on the side of a highway Tuesday."It was one of those days today, but I would like (to) thank God," Fournette wrote. "My car caught on fire while I was driving, but I am still blessed."

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr said the conclusion of his tenure with the Las Vegas Raiders didn't sit well with him.The 32-year-old's time with the Silver and Black came to an unceremonious end after the team benched him for the final two games of the 2022 season."I was very upset, I was mad," he told the Fresno Bee's Anthony Galaviz."You spend nine years in a place, you have all the records, and you can play at a high level. ... I would have said I don't even want the money, (I just want) to play two more times in front of our fans. I didn't get that opportunity. So it definitely lit a fire inside me to keep going."Carr led the club to a 6-9 record last season, passing for 3,522 yards, 24 touchdowns, 14 interceptions, and a 60.8% completion rate. He holds the Raiders' passing records with 35,222 yards and 217 TDs. Las Vegas released him in February after failing to find a trade partner.The four-time Pro Bowler said his mind was completely made up regarding his departure."Once they made my wife cry, that was pretty much over," he said.New Orleans signed Carr to a four-year, $150-million contract in March."I'm happy to be somewhere where we're in a stable organization that's been proven for years," he said. "And I hope that the Raiders find something good there too, where they can keep that stability for the next guys because I know how important it is, and I care about my old teammates."Carr's addition is expected to bring some stability to a Saints team that's run through a carousel under center since Drew Brees' retirement in 2021.Carr will make his Saints debut against the Tennessee Titans on Sept. 10.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi believes quarterback Russell Wilson is in a good place after the team's offseason program."I don't know what's going to happen, but we're really happy with where he's at," Lombardi said, according to the Denver Post's Ryan McFadden.He added: "(Wilson is) used to doing things a certain way, and we're presenting a new way of doing things. It's a new year, new coaching staff and a new scheme. We have a lot of time to figure out the best plan for all these players."The 34-year-old passer is entering his second season in Denver following a dismal debut. The nine-time Pro Bowler was traded to the Broncos by the Seattle Seahawks, where he played 10 seasons, compiling a 104-53-1 record and winning a Super Bowl. He signed a five-year, $242.5-million contract extension last September.Wilson posted a career-low 16 passing touchdowns, a 60.5% completion rate, and was sacked a single-season high 55 times last year. He finished with a 4-11 record in his first year in the Mile High City. The Broncos fired head coach Nathaniel Hackett in Week 15 and finished with a 5-12 mark. In the offseason, the team brought in Super Bowl-winning coach Sean Payton to replace him.Meanwhile, Lombardi reunites with Payton after previously serving as his offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach with the New Orleans Saints. He spent the last two seasons as the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers.The 52-year-old Lombardi hopes that he can continue his previous success with quarterbacks: He has been instrumental in helping both Drew Brees and Justin Herbert surpass 5,000 passing yards in a single season.Lombardi also pointed to injuries as a contributing factor to Wilson's struggles last season.Garett Bolles, Javonte Williams, and Tim Patrick are among several key contributors that suffered season-ending injuries in 2022. Wilson himself dealt with shoulder and hamstring ailments that sidelined him for two games last year.Denver's new offensive coordinator understands the challenge ahead of him as the club aims to improve from a league-worst 16.9 points per game average in 2022."No matter where you're playing, you have to score enough points to win," Lombardi said. "It's never easy."Denver will open the 2023 season against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sept. 10.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson is focusing on learning as much as he can this offseason from Aaron Rodgers and other veterans on the roster."It's been really special," Wilson told Rich Cimini of ESPN. "I try to be as much of a sponge as I can be and make sure I'm learning and spending time with Randall (Cobb) and Allen (Lazard)."The Jets were proactive this offseason, surrounding Rodgers with familiar faces. They signed Lazard to a four-year, $44-million deal and inked Cobb to a one-year contract.Wilson is entering his second season in the league after a phenomenal rookie campaign. He hauled in 1,103 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 83 catches. Wilson is expected to take another step forward in his sophomore year and be Rodgers' go-to target.The 22-year-old Wilson believes learning from guys like Lazard and Cobb will help him transition to catching passes from the four-time MVP."People that have been around Aaron, so that I can make sure I'm picking up all the nuances of the offense and trying to put myself to where I'm feeling 100 percent comfortable out on the field. But it's been really fun, man, and obviously, he can deal, and it's a lot that comes with it though. It's fun to play, man."Rodgers failed to make the playoffs last season for the first time since 2018 but didn't have a wideout on the roster with Wilson's talent. He threw for 3,695 yards with 26 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Free agent Melvin Gordon is disappointed by the running-back market in the NFL."It's just so tough for running backs right now," Gordon recently said, according to USA Today's Scooby Axson. "You have a lot of running backs that's out there and we just don't get no love. It's literally the worst position to play in the NFL right now. It literally sucks."The running-back market has mostly been quiet around the NFL this offseason, with several high-profile RBs still unsigned, including Ezekiel Elliott, Kareem Hunt, Leonard Fournette, and Dalvin Cook, whom the Minnesota Vikings released on June 8.Though two running backs - Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs - were drafted in the top 12 this year, the value of the RB position had taken a big hit in previous years. No running backs were selected in the first round in 2022, and the four Round 1 RBs selected from 2019-21 were all taken outside the top 20.San Francisco 49ers star Christian McCaffrey leads all running backs with a $16-million average annual salary. Only four NFL positions have their highest-paid player earning less than that per year: kicker ($6 million), fullback ($5.4 million), punter ($3.68 million), and long snapper ($1.58 million).Gordon, a first-round pick in 2015, appeared in 10 games for the Denver Broncos last year before being cut in November. He later joined the Kansas City Chiefs' practice squad but didn't play for them. The 30-year-old remains unsigned."I still want to play. I still got some tread left on the tires," Gordon said. "(Chiefs) coach (Andy) Reid kind of sat me down and he told me, 'You still can play.' It's about the right situation."He added: "It's hard training knowing that you're not gonna be on a team. It's tough mentally. But I talked to some players that went through it and I'm just taking their advice, being a sponge, and it kind of helps you get through it."Gordon played his first five NFL seasons on the Los Angeles Chargers, earning Pro Bowl berths in 2016 and 2018. The Wisconsin product, who initially joined the Broncos in 2020, rushed for 318 yards (3.5 per carry) and two touchdowns and had fumble issues before being waived last season.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A misdemeanor assault charge against Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams for shoving a crew member at Arrowhead Stadium last year was dismissed, a spokeswoman for the Kansas City municipal court said Friday, according to Robert A. Cronkleton of the Kansas City Star.The case is now considered closed.Adams shoved Park Zebley, a freelance photographer working for Monday Night Football, on his way to the locker room following the Raiders' loss to the Chiefs on Oct. 10. The receiver apologized later that night.Zebley filed a civil lawsuit against Adams, the Raiders, and the Chiefs, among others over the incident. Zebley said in the complaint that he was diagnosed with concussion symptoms and feared for his life following the ordeal. The lawsuit is still pending, according to Cronkleton.Adams played his first season as a member of the Raiders in 2022 after being acquired in a trade from the Green Bay Packers.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's almost July and several high-profile free agents remain available in the NFL on both sides of the ball. Here's what a team rostering the top current unsigned players at each position would look like:OffenseQuarterbackTeddy BridgewaterBridgewater battled injuries and started only two games in 2022 while backing up Tua Tagovailoa on the Miami Dolphins. He finished the year with four touchdowns to four interceptions in 79 pass attempts. But the 30-year-old - who's reportedly generated interest from multiple teams, including the Detroit Lions - made 14 starts for the Denver Broncos in 2021, accounting for 20 TDs. He's the most reliable QB option in the market at the moment, having an edge over the likes of Carson Wentz, Matt Ryan, and Joe Flacco.Running backsDalvin Cook