Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool is taking issue with the team's lack of downfield passing attack after Sunday night's 16-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins."I just think we need more go-balls, Claypool said postgame, according to ESPN’s Brooke Pryor. "We got playmakers. I haven't had a go-ball all year. George (Pickens) needs more, (Diontae) Johnson needs more."Although Claypool is frustrated with the lack of deep shots in the passing game, the third-year wideout is not blaming offensive coordinator Matt Canada's decision-making despite the unit's 6.1 yards per pass attempt through seven games (31st in the NFL)."I'm not saying that's on the playcalling, I'm just saying we need to try to find a way to scheme it up," he added.Pittsburgh's offense is apparently going through growing pains as the team adjusts to having rookie Kenny Pickett under center.Pickett's 32 completions on the evening came near the line of scrimmage. The rookie signal-caller averaged just 5.8 yards per pass attempt, finishing the contest with 257 passing yards and one touchdown while throwing two of his three interceptions with three minutes remaining.When asked where the Steelers' passing game could improve, Claypool pointed to taking advantage of their playmakers. "I think if there's a one-on-one, no safety over the top, we should be going to that one-on-one every time, he said, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Gerry Dulac.The Steelers (2-5) will face the Philadelphia Eagles (6-0) on Oct. 30.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their significance moving forward.The Bucs have problems Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyLast week, when the Bucs fell to 3-3 after getting embarrassed by the Steelers, we surmised that Tom Brady could be missing Rob Gronkowski. The rationale was that somehow convincing the future Hall of Famer to again come out of retirement, or finding a different tight end before the trade deadline, could go a long way toward addressing Tampa Bay's passing-game deficiencies over the middle of the field and in the red zone.Anyway, forget that. The idea of any one player from outside the building fixing the offense, even if it were Gronk in his prime, suddenly seems an underestimation of the dire state of things in Tampa Bay. Scoring all of three points in a loss to the Panthers, the consensus worst team in football, is a stunning new low for a Bucs team that had enjoyed nothing but success since Brady's arrival. It's bizarre.Tampa Bay's loss to Pittsburgh as a 9.5-point favorite in Week 6 at the time stood as the biggest upset in the NFL this season. For the Buccaneers to top that unwanted record just one week later without even mustering a touchdown against a team that fired its coach and has begun to sell off players ahead of the trade deadline says it all.Brady, by all accounts, looks fine. Perhaps not his usual elite self, but he's still making big-time throws while also taking care of the ball. The offense as a whole is a different story. The run game, which provided an important element of balance over the last two years, is suddenly nonexistent. And although the talent at receiver is outstanding, it feels like playmakers are never schemed into space. And when they are, costly mistakes - like Mike Evans' dropped deep TD against the Panthers - stall the offense.Things aren't much better on the other side of the ball, either. The run defense, which has always been so dominant under Todd Bowles, is suddenly performing at a league-average level. The pass defense remains stout, but with injuries piling up in the secondary, that unit is starting to fall apart, too.It's all bad in Tampa Bay right now, and there are no clear solutions. If you want a really fun thought exercise, consider the possibility that Brady saw this coming, unlikely as it may seem. Might that explain why he wanted out last offseason?New WRs, same old Chiefs Ezra Shaw / Getty Images Sport / GettyFew players in NFL history have been capable of impacting a game the way Tyreek Hill does on a weekly basis - especially when he was paired with Patrick Mahomes. It was only natural, then, for some to assume there would be at least a bit of a drop-off from the Chiefs following his trade to Miami.We're not about to say that the offense is better without Hill, because that isn't quite possible when it comes to a player of his rare skill set, but Kansas City isn't having any issues ushering in a new era. Sunday's win over the 49ers was the latest demonstration that this unit is still nightmare fuel for opponents.Travis Kelce remains the league's premier tight end and by far Mahomes' No. 1 target in big moments - see the duo's four touchdown connections on Monday Night Football in Week 5. Replacing Hill's presence on the outside has been a group effort, though. By all indications, the Chiefs absolutely nailed their pair of free-agent additions on that front.JuJu Smith-Schuster picked up the majority of the slack in vacant targets, emerging primarily as a reliable chain-mover for Mahomes when defenses sit deep to take away the big play, as they've done across the league this year. He also displayed his ability after the catch against the 49ers, and he finished the day with seven receptions for 124 yards and one touchdown.When teams have had enough of getting diced up by Kelce and Smith-Schuster underneath, rotating down out of their two-high coverages, Marquez Valdes-Scantling goes to work. The former Packers wideout, who also joined as a free agent following the Hill trade, showed off his big-play ability with three catches for 111 yards on Sunday, including a huge 57-yarder early in the fourth quarter to help set up a touchdown that would see the Chiefs pull away.And all this - the best performance for each new wideout in their short time with the Chiefs - against a 49ers defense that started the season on a pace that drew comparisons to historic units like the 2000 Ravens.Mahomes is, of course, the main piece to the puzzle. Any offense that features one of the most talented passers this game has ever seen is bound to be some level of good. But with the near-perfect personnel moves to replace an irreplaceable weapon at receiver and the genius of Andy Reid making the necessary adjustments to put all the pieces together, the Chiefs' offense isn't just good - it's as unstoppable as it's ever been.Hanging 44 points and 529 yards on the 49ers is the kind of statement we probably shouldn't have needed, but it's absolutely one we can't ignore, either.Packers extra cooked? Scott Taetsch / Getty Images Sport / GettyEven if we were counting the Packers out after last week's loss to the Jets (we were), it was only logical to assume they wouldn't lose to Taylor Heinicke and the Commanders, right? ... Right?Ah, well.After barely escaping with an overtime win against Bailey Zappe and the Patriots, the Packers have now been upset in three straight games - against the Giants, Jets, and Commanders.Aaron Rodgers finished this latest defeat with two touchdowns on 23-of-35 passing for 194 yards - a dismal 5.5 yards per attempt. Despite the poor results, which looked even worse before a late surge, Green Bay just kept throwing.The offensive line's issues are a factor here, as was the second-half deficit, but to give Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon a combined 12 carries against a 25th-ranked Washington run defense feels particularly irresponsible with the passing game doing next to nothing.Whatever the explanation, we're long past the point of being able to write this off as Green Bay working out some early-season kinks. The upsets won't continue, but only because the Packers will stop getting so much credit for past achievements. This is a new team, and all indications are that it'll do nothing with what remains of a generational quarterback's career.After consecutive years in which Rodgers seemed to seriously consider retirement, you have to wonder how much this season could impact his thought process for 2023.A new star in Seattle Harry How / Getty Images Sport / GettyKenneth Walker should be your runaway favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year.A preseason injury forced him to miss Week 1 and then slowly work his way into the rotation, so the counting stats aren't quite there yet. Based on what he's done since taking over the starting job in place of Rashaad Penny, though, Walker is trending through the roof.The second-round rookie was one of the best players on the field for the second time in as many weeks Sunday against the Chargers, leading the way to a massive Seahawks win with 168 rushing yards and two touchdowns. The dagger, with Seattle looking to close things out in the fourth quarter, came when he shredded L.A. en route to a 74-yard score.For a young player who missed so much time during the preseason, Walker looks remarkably comfortable at the professional level. His combination of explosiveness, lateral agility, and contract balance are making him as good as any running back league-wide when it comes to creating yards beyond what's blocked for him. And the Seahawks are already doing a hell of a job run-blocking.

Aaron Rodgers isn't ready to punt on the 2022 season despite the Green Bay Packers losing their third straight game Sunday with a defeat to the Washington Commanders.Rodgers told reporters that he still believes the Packers, who sit at 3-4, can make the postseason. Green Bay heads into Week 8 with a Sunday night contest against the 5-1 Buffalo Bills on the road."I'm not worried about this squad. In fact, this might be the best thing for us," Rodgers said, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky. "This week, nobody's going to give us a chance, going to Buffalo on Sunday Night Football, with a chance to get exposed. Shoot, this might be the best thing for us."Rodgers threw for less than 200 yards in Sunday's 23-21 loss to the Commanders, though he pitched in two touchdowns and zero interceptions. However, the Packers could muster only 232 total yards, including 38 yards on the ground.The reigning NFL MVP hasn't been shy to criticize the Packers' struggling offense this season. After last week's loss to the New York Jets, Rodgers told reporters that the plays needed simplifying.Green Bay trails the 5-1 Minnesota Vikings - who spent Week 7 on a bye - for first place in the NFC North.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Chargers cornerback J.C. Jackson suffered a dislocated kneecap in Sunday's 37-23 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Jackson will undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the extent of the damage to his knee, Rapoport adds.The star cornerback was carted off with an air cast on his right leg after going down awkwardly on a touchdown pass to Seahawks receiver Marquise Goodwin in the second quarter.Wide receiver Mike Williams also suffered an ankle injury in the fourth quarter. He was carted to the locker room from the sideline after being helped off the field by trainers in the fourth quarter, according to ESPN's Lindsey Thiry. Williams couldn't put any weight on his right leg exiting the field.Jackson is in the midst of a difficult first season in Los Angeles. The Chargers benched Jackson for the entire second half and overtime during the team's Week 6 victory over the Denver Broncos.Los Angeles signed Jackson to a five-year, $82.5-million deal in the offseason. The 26-year-old recorded 17 interceptions over the previous two seasons with the New England Patriots. He also led the league with 23 passes defended in 2021.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf was ruled out of Sunday's 37-23 win over the Los Angeles Chargers late in the first quarter after being carted to the locker room due to a knee injury.Initial X-rays on Metcalf’s knee were negative, and he'll undergo further testing after the team returns to Seattle, head coach Pete Carroll announced, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Metcalf likely sustained the ailment while trying to make a catch near the end zone early in the contest. He remained on the field for the ensuing third down and returned to Seattle's sideline before departing.

Led by third-string quarterback P.J. Walker, the Carolina Panthers rode a dominant defensive performance to a 21-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday at Bank of America Stadium.The Panthers, who'd won just one game in 2022, limited Tampa Bay to only 46 rushing yards. It was Carolina's first game since trading star running back Christian McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday.The Bucs have now lost four of their last five games.More to come.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers fans won't have to wait long to see Christian McCaffrey in red and gold.The star running back, whom San Francisco acquired in a trade with the Carolina Panthers on Thursday night, will suit up and make his 49ers debut Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs, the team announced.San Francisco's game plan in Week 7 will feature a package of plays for McCaffrey, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The 26-year-old joined his new team Friday.The Panthers sent McCaffrey to the 49ers in exchange for second-, third-, and fourth-round picks in 2023 and a 2024 fifth-round selection.McCaffrey, who in 2019 became just the third player in NFL history to register 1,000 receiving yards and 1,000 rushing yards in the same season, is one of football's most dynamic players. He's rushed for 393 yards (4.6 per carry) and two touchdowns to go along with 33 receptions for 277 yards and one score through six games this campaign.Jeff Wilson leads the 49ers in rushing this year with 400 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. He was limited to only 25 yards on seven carries in last week's loss to the Atlanta Falcons.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Houston Texans have received multiple calls regarding the availability of wide receiver Brandin Cooks, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Additionally, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool has also generated interest but isn't expected to be dealt, barring a shift from the club, Rapoport adds.Cooks has had a quiet start to his third campaign with the Texans. The nine-year veteran has recorded 24 receptions for 235 yards and one touchdown through five games.The 29-year-old pass-catcher has been a staple of Houston's passing attack since being acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Rams in 2020, recording back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.Cooks signed a two-year, $39.76-million contract extension with the Texans in April. He has previously been traded on three separate occasions since being drafted by the New Orleans Saints in 2014. Cooks would tie Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson's record if he's traded for the fourth time.Claypool, 24, is in his third season with the Steelers. The former second-round pick has tallied 23 receptions for 225 yards and one score through six contests. The Notre Dame product has surpassed 800 receiving yards in each of his previous two seasons.The emergence of rookie wideout George Pickens alongside veteran Diontae Johnson has resulted in Claypool receiving fewer targets this season.The Denver Broncos have also received interest in wideout Jerry Jeudy ahead of the NFL's trade deadline on Nov. 1.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Quarterback Mac Jones is expected to start for the New England Patriots in their Week 7 Monday Night Football matchup against the Chicago Bears, a source told The Athletic's Jeff Howe.The 2021 Pro Bowler has missed the Patriots' last three games due to a high left ankle sprain sustained in Week 3. Jones was listed as questionable ahead of Monday's contest after being a limited participant in practices throughout the week.Jones, 24, appeared to struggle before being sidelined. He posted a 1-2 record as a starter while passing for just two touchdowns against five interceptions to go along with 786 yards.Despite his rocky start, the Patriots will hope Jones can return to the promising form he displayed during his rookie campaign. The Alabama product threw for 3,801 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions with a 67.6% completion rate last season as New England made the playoffs.Rookie Bailey Zappe has led the Patriots to a 2-0 mark as a starter in Jones' absence. The 23-year-old has tallied 596 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Panthers declined an offer of two first-round picks for pass-rusher Brian Burns, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Carolina informed the offering team that it's not willing to part with Burns, who is currently in his fourth season with the club. The Panthers picked up the 24-year-old's $16-million fifth-year option for the 2023 season.Burns is expected to be on the cusp of landing a massive extension with the Panthers. He's among a group of pass-rushers that include the San Francisco 49ers' Nick Bosa and Denver Broncos' Bradley Chubb that could reshape the market at their position.The Florida State product has racked up nine sacks in each of his past two seasons. He's tallied 24 tackles, six tackles for loss, and four sacks through six games this year.The Panthers informed teams that they're also not willing to field offers for wideout D.J. Moore, defensive lineman Derrick Brown, or cornerback Jaycee Horn prior to the Nov. 1 trade deadline. Carolina considers them foundational pieces to the franchise going forward.However, Carolina is willing to field offers for linebacker Shaq Thompson and other players on the roster, Schefter adds.The Panthers appear to be in the middle of a rebuild just weeks after firing head coach Matt Rhule and naming Steve Wilks the interim coach. However, general manager Scott Fitterer insists the team isn't tanking the remainder of the season.Carolina recently dealt star running back Christian McCaffrey to the 49ers for multiple mid-round picks in the 2023 draft and a fifth-round selection in 2024. The Panthers also sent receiver Robbie Anderson to the Arizona Cardinals earlier in the week.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Denver Broncos have been fielding multiple trade inquiries regarding pass-rusher Bradley Chubb and wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and K.J. Hamler, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Prospective teams don't believe the Broncos will sell low in any potential trades before the Nov. 1 trade deadline, Schefter reports.Additionally, the Broncos are reportedly open to listen to offers for tight end Albert Okwuegbunam.Chubb, 26, is entering the final year of his rookie contract with Denver. He has racked up 20 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and four tackles for loss through six games this season. He missed all but seven games last season due to an ankle issue. The Broncos exercised the $12.716-million fifth-year option in his contract in April 2021 for this season.Jeudy, who's currently in his third campaign with the Broncos, has struggled to live up to his first-round draft pick expectations since he was selected in 2020. He hasn't surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in a single season and enters Week 7 with 17 receptions for 290 yards and two touchdowns.Similar to Jeudy, Hamler has also struggled to have a significant impact in Denver in his third year with the franchise.The Broncos could be motivated to make a deal before the deadline due to the lack of draft capital they have in the coming years. The team dealt two first-round selections and a pair of second-round picks to the Seattle Seahawks to acquire quarterback Russell Wilson this past offseason.Wilson's addition hasn't worked out through six games, as the Broncos currently hold a 2-4 record. Denver will host the New York Jets on Sunday.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.theScore's Justin Boone was first overall in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition in 2019 and finished among the top seven each of his last seven years in the contest. Follow the links below to see his rankings for Week 7.Half PPR

Former Pro Bowl running back Todd Gurley is "definitely" done playing professional football, he told NFL Network's Andrew Siciliano on Thursday."I don't think there's any question about that one," Gurley said when asked if he's calling it quits. The three-time Pro Bowler sent out numerous tweets earlier in the week thanking former players, fueling speculation about his future.Gurley spent all but one year of his career with the Los Angeles Rams. The 28-year-old led the NFL in rushing touchdowns on two occasions, and he recorded a league-high 2,093 yards from scrimmage in 2017. He was named Offensive Player of the Year that year.The Rams drafted Gurley 10th overall in the 2015 NFL Draft. He was an important fixture of the 2018 team that reached Super Bowl LIII, which the Rams lost to the New England Patriots.Gurley last appeared in the NFL in 2020 as a member of the Atlanta Falcons. He rushed for 678 yards and nine touchdowns on 195 carries.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Last week's lesson: Don't believe everything you read.Before Week 6, Doug Pederson said that Christian Kirk needed nine-to-11 targets per game. So we grabbed the over on Kirk's receptions, and Trevor Lawrence targeted him five times. As a result, we fell to 32-28 on the season, still above water.Christian Kirk over 4.5 receptions (-125)Apparently, we didn't learn our lesson. Or maybe it's a different lesson? Maybe the lesson is that just because one game doesn't see the fruit of our labor doesn't mean it's not in the Jaguars' plans. Back home, and with a second chance to get a prime playmaker involved, we're getting a better price on backing Kirk to go over.Jonathan Taylor over 67.5 rushing yardsPrior to his ankle injury, Taylor's lowest prescribed yardage total was 85.5 versus the Chiefs, including 90.5 against the Titans in the game he got hurt. In fact, we were on the under in that game. However, Taylor was a surprise scratch last week, giving him one more week to heal. Assuming he's OK, we'll try the low total on one of the best backs in the game.Lamar Jackson over 214.5 passing yardsThe Browns' pass defense is bad, and it's getting worse - averaging 7.2 yards per attempt, including 7.6 in their last three games. Meanwhile, the Ravens have sent J.K. Dobbins back to the injured reserve list. While they'll still attack via the run game, if Bailey Zappe hit wide-open receivers for 300-plus yards, then Jackson should have plenty of opportunity to do the same.P.J. Walker under 157.5 passing yardsWe cashed with a Christian McCaffrey over last week on the premise that he was the only player Walker was capable of connecting with. Sure enough, seven of Walker's 10 completions went to McCaffrey, who's now with the 49ers. This total is low, but not low enough, especially since Walker didn't finish the game last week and might have a quick hook while dealing with an ornery Buccaneers' defense.Amon-Ra St. Brown over 71.5 receiving yardsIf you were concerned about a pass rush rattling your quarterback, getting back your starting slot receiver would be a good place to start in alleviating pressure. St. Brown's production suffered with Jared Goff's struggles against the Patriots, and he may not have been 100%. After their bye, and with a full week of practice, look for St. Brown to be Goff's outlet in a game they're expected to trail in.Taylor Heinicke over 13.5 rushing yardsIn their meeting in Green Bay last season, Heinicke took off 10 times for 95 yards, leading the Commanders in rushing. The Packers' defense is fifth in the league in sack percentage and took down Heinicke four times in that game. So they'll generate the pressure to flush him from the pocket, where he'll scramble enough to go over this total.Tee Higgins over 5.5 receptionsHiggins has averaged six catches per game following Week 1, going over 5.5 receptions in three of those four games. We'll let Ja'Marr Chase and A.J. Terrell battle it out on the other side of the field, expecting Joe Burrow to have all the time in the world to find his other starting receiver against the Falcons' ineffective pass rush (last in sack percentage).Zach Wilson under 183.5 passing yardsJustin Herbert and Matt Ryan needed overtime to get anywhere near 250 passing yards against the Broncos' defense, while Derek Carr and Davis Mills couldn't get to 200 yards through the air. So even though Zach Wilson has cleared this total in two of his three games, this is a different ask.With Brett Rypien under center for Denver, I think the offense will actually run more efficiently, if less explosively - though it's hard to imagine it being less explosive the way Russell Wilson has looked this season. Fewer possessions and more time taken off the clock will give the Broncos' defense the rest it needs to stifle the Jets' quarterback.Kenneth Walker over 68.5 rushing yardsIf we were into wild, aggressive pronouncements, we might say something like, "Walker might end up being the best tailback in the league." More conservatively, let's say anyone who watched him in college last year knows that he would have been a first-round pick in another era.Walker has had essentially a game-and-a-half of being the main guy at tailback for the Seahawks and has run for 185 yards on 29 carries. He should be ready for the Chargers' porous run defense on a short week, so look for Walker to run often and for extended lengths of time on Sunday.Clyde Edwards-Helaire under 35.5 rushing yardsIt's easy to understand why the Chiefs want to run the football from a strategic standpoint. However, it's not working with Edwards-Helaire. Outside of the game against the aforementioned Chargers, he's not productive on the ground in neutral game states. Now he's charged with running into the 49ers' top-ranked run defense while also having other options on his own team breathing down his neck for carries.Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there’s a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson will miss Sunday's game against the New York Jets due to a hamstring injury, the team announced.Wilson pushed to play, but head coach Nathaniel Hackett opted to hold out the veteran to allow him "to heal and prevent a lingering injury," according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Brett Rypien will start the Week 7 matchup.Denver will reevaluate Wilson's injury this week to determine if he can play in a London matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars next Sunday, Schefter added.The Pro Bowl signal-caller has struggled in his first season with the Broncos following a blockbuster offseason trade from the Seattle Seahawks.The AFC West club sits at 2-4 through six weeks and owns the worst offense in the league (15.2 points per game). Wilson has thrown for 1,442 yards and just five touchdowns against three interceptions. His 58.6% completion percentage would be by far his worst career mark.It will be the second career start for Rypien, who joined the Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He led Denver to victory over the Jets in 2020.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Bears defensive lineman Justin Jones still has some suspicions about the New England Patriots and their footballs.Jones was asked Thursday by Mark Carman of CHGO Sports to share the first thing that pops into his head when he hears the name Bill Belichick."Deflated balls," Jones replied, referencing the Patriots' 2015 Deflategate scandal.Jones went on to say that he believes the Patriots are still deflating footballs, and he plans on checking them before the Bears' game against New England on Monday."I heard it's still going on," he said. "So I'm gonna check (the footballs) before we go. I'm so serious. I heard it's still going on, so we gonna see. I'm for sure checking. ... We play this game with honesty, man. You know what I'm saying?"

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch traded for running back Christian McCaffrey on Thursday because he believes his team is in a Super Bowl-winning window."You only do this when you have a belief in your team as it's constructed," Lynch said Friday, according to ESPN's Nick Wagoner."We're 3-3 now, so we understand we have a lot of work to do," he added. "And this isn't a magic pill that's gonna fix all of our ills as a team. … We do still very much believe in this team, and that's why we took a swing at an excellent football player."McCaffrey arrived at the 49ers' facilities Friday and joined the team partway through practice. The former Carolina Panther isn't guaranteed to debut in Week 7 against the Kansas City Chiefs, but he made his desire to be on the field known to Lynch.The 49ers rank 18th in total offensive yards per game (340.2) and 20th in points per game (20.3). With the Chiefs averaging a league-best 29.8 points per game, McCaffrey's explosiveness in both the ground and passing game could help San Francisco keep up with Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City offense.Lynch is happy the running back will be on the team for the foreseeable future."It's not every day that you get a guy like Christian at the minimum (salary). And that's essentially where we got him," he said. "But he still has years on his contract after that. … It's not just an 11-game - for lack (of) a better word - rental."The GM compared the "big splash" to the team's acquisition of Emmanuel Sanders in 2019, a move that helped the 49ers record a 13-3 regular season and reach Super Bowl LIV, which it ultimately lost to the Chiefs.Lynch is also glad McCaffrey won't be suiting up for the division rival Los Angeles Rams, who he said have "a propensity to come in late and go big." The Rams were the 49ers' final competition while negotiating with the Panthers.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is set to return Sunday against the Detroit Lions after being omitted from the team's Friday injury report.Prescott missed the last five games due to a thumb injury, with Cooper Rush leading Dallas to four wins in his absence.The 29-year-old suffered the injury in the Cowboys' Week 1 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers."Practice obviously helps, just getting the speed of everything," Prescott said Thursday when asked how he is preparing to get ready for Sunday's game. "I feel like I put myself in a good spot, had a good practice today, and I'm just excited to get back out there."Dallas' passing offense has struggled in Dak's absence, ranking 27th in passing yards per game. The defense has kept the Cowboys afloat, holding teams to only 16.3 points per contest this season.Prescott will return against a Lions defense that is ranked last in yards allowed per game.

Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson will be a game-time decision Sunday versus the New York Jets due to a hamstring injury, head coach Nathaniel Hackett announced.Wilson is listed as questionable on the injury report, as he suffered the injury in the Broncos' Week 6 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers."I'm feeling better every day," Wilson said Wednesday, per CBS Sports. "Obviously, it happened Monday night, but I heal quick. I don't know if it's Wolverine blood or what."The Broncos' passing offense is off to a slow start this season, ranking 21st in yards per game.Quarterback Brett Rypien will start for the Broncos if Wilson cannot go.Copyright © 2022 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 iTunes, Spotify, Google, Stitcher, and Anchor.In this episode, Boone goes over the fallout from the Christian McCaffrey trade and the notable injury updates heading into Week 7.

Baltimore Ravens running back J.K. Dobbins is expected to undergo arthroscopic knee surgery and miss four-to-six weeks, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Dobbins was held out of the second half of the Ravens' 24-20 loss to the New York Giants last week after issues with his knee. He was playing his fourth game since suffering a torn ACL during the 2021 preseason finale."His knee tightened up. It just didn't respond, probably to the turf maybe, I don't know," head coach John Harbaugh said, according to team reporter Ryan Mink. "But it tightened up, and he couldn't go."Dobbins ran for 805 yards and nine touchdowns while averaging six yards per carry as a rookie in 2020 before missing all of last season.The 23-year-old had rushed for 123 yards and one touchdown this season but didn't appear back to his old form, averaging just 3.5 yards per carry.Gus Edwards and Kenyan Drake will lead Baltimore's backfield in Dobbins' absence.Meanwhile, star tight end Mark Andrews and wide receiver Rashod Bateman are questionable for Week 7 due to knee and foot injuries, respectively.Andrews returned to practice Friday after missing the first two sessions of the week. Bateman has been out since getting hurt on Oct. 2.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Trusting the Packers in a teaser again was like milk on a hot day - a bad choice. They're on the "do not bet" list for the foreseeable future, but the other significant loss from last week (Saints +2) is a "would bet again" situation. A 9-point lead in the fourth quarter seemed safe, since the Bengals would have happily kicked a field goal late for a 1-point win. Ja'Marr Chase had other ideas, as the Cincinnati receiver broke free from lackluster tackle attempts to score a spread-covering touchdown.All told, it was nice to get back in the black after a pair of weird weeks where bad beats dug a small hole - particularly in our bread-and-butter spread bets. As usual, the upset special led the way with the Giants' win over the Ravens.BET TYPELAST WEEKSEASON (units)ATS trio2-1 (+0.9)8-8-2 (-0.8)ML upset+24-2 (+5.6)Totals-1.11-5 (-4.5)Teasers-1.22-4 (-2.8)TOTAL+0.6-2.5Best bets ATSLions +7Of all the vulnerable touchdown favorites this week, the Cowboys are most likely to win without covering. My fair price for this game is -5, so the excitement over Dak Prescott's return needs to be tempered.Last season, Prescott returned from injury against the Broncos and completed under 50% of his passes in a blowout loss. How much of an improvement will he be with a Cowboys attack that is 16th in offensive DVOA (according to Football Outsiders)?Dallas has relied on stellar defense, but it's also been able to take advantage of the Bengals', Commanders', and Rams' troubled offensive lines. The Lions' offensive line can hold up, and the Cowboys won't scheme trouble for Jared Goff the way that Bill Belichick did. Even if the Lions face an early deficit, they'll find their way through the back door late.Broncos PKIf Russell Wilson doesn't play, we may even be getting points with the Broncos at home against the Jets. However impressed you are by the Jets' three-game win streak (Steelers, Dolphins, and Packers), the market might be more so, dropping this game down to pick'em. However, Zach Wilson and his 56% completion rate haven't seen the type of defense that can keep Justin Herbert out of the end zone.We've seen enough of the Broncos' Wilson this season to know that he's currently replacement level at best. Brett Rypien hasn't had a chance to play since a 2020 win in the only start of his career, as a rookie, against the Jets. Whether it's Rypien or Wilson, the Broncos aren't bad enough to be a pick'em at home to the Jets.Bengals -6.5The Falcons have avoided regression in their ATS record thanks to a coin-flip win over Cleveland, a backdoor cover in Tampa, and a wounded 49ers defense last week. So they get the headline as "undefeated against the spread."That reputation is why this line opened under a touchdown, but it's been bet up toward where it should be at -7. We're still getting a half-point off a key number with the Bengals, who have improved their run game (albeit in a small sample) and can take advantage of Atlanta's lack of QB pressure (last in sack percentage). Another big game is in store for Joe Burrow.Moneyline upset of the weekOur defined parameter for this section is underdogs paying at least +150.Seahawks +200We're doubling down on this play from the round-robin underdog moneyline parlay. The Seahawks have now shown they can win a low-scoring game, having held the Cardinals to 4.4 yards per play, and their ability to create turnovers (tied for fifth in the NFL) creates optimism about the defense. The Chargers' offense is no more explosive than Seattle's and their 4-2 record feels better than the season they've had. With minimal home-field advantage, Los Angeles is ripe to lose a shootout.Best total betBuccaneers / Panthers under 40 pointsP.J. Walker gets another start, and that's a mistake. Walker couldn't complete a downfield pass against the Rams last week, and now that he doesn't have Christian McCaffrey, what are the Panthers expected to do against Tampa's defense?The possibility of Carolina getting shut out would normally lead us to lay the big number on the Buccaneers, but their offense is still missing something after putting up just 4.5 yards per play in Pittsburgh. Even if Tampa Bay manages an unlikely 30-point explosion on the road against a decent defense, this game still might stay under the number given how few points the Panthers should score.Best 6-point teaserColts +8.5 / Patriots -2The Colts closed upward of 5-point favorites in Week 3 at home against the Titans. While that line was probably inflated, and Tennessee hung onto an early lead for the win, a 7.5-point swing is unwarranted. This was legitimized when bettors pulled the line down off Titans -3. Now at 2.5 points, the best play is to tease this up to 8.5 and hope for two equal teams to play like it.That result would set up a closeout Monday night with a Patriots team that has been wildly underrated in the marketplace for weeks but, for murky reasons, hasn't attracted attention for it. While an adjustment might have come with this line north of a touchdown, there's little chance the Pats won't beat the Bears.Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there’s a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Who says the NFL trade deadline can't be exciting?The San Francisco 49ers made a major splash Thursday night, acquiring Christian McCaffrey from the Carolina Panthers in exchange for a package of picks that includes second-, third-, and fourth-round selections in the 2023 draft.The rare in-season stunner gives McCaffrey the distinct pleasure of leaving a disaster of an organization in Carolina for a much more favorable situation back in the Bay Area, where he starred at Stanford during his collegiate career.As with most deadline deals, the 49ers and Panthers are heading in two opposite directions. But the trade itself doesn't necessarily have a winner and a loser.49ersKyle Shanahan and John Lynch aren't messing around.Adding a do-it-all playmaker of this caliber to a skill group that already features the likes of Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and Brandon Aiyuk, among others, has the potential to make this offense an absolute nightmare to defend, no matter the quarterback.Shanahan, much like his father, has always been known for his ability to manufacture great rushing attacks - in many cases, by way of scheme creativity alone. The long list of no-name runners who have become big-time producers in his wide-zone offense speaks for itself. McCaffrey, far and away the most talented back Shanahan has coached, is a good bet to not only thrive as a ball carrier in that system but maximize it in a way that few others have.The passing game is what has always made McCaffrey truly special, though. In 2019, his second straight year with 100-plus receptions, he became only the third running back in NFL history to record over 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in a single season. And for as much time as we justifiably spend talking about the Shanahan rushing attack, the 49ers coach is just as creative when it comes to scheming up space for pass-catchers, regardless of position, and maximizing yards after the catch. His newest weapon will line up all over the field and get the ball in ways we've yet to see from a running back in this system.The concern here is obvious - several injury issues limited McCaffrey to a combined 10 games in 2020 and 2021. At such a physically demanding position, this naturally leads to questions about whether he's breaking down, but we're not here to play doctor. The reality is that injuries are part of the game, and much of it comes down to poor luck. Plus, he's still only 26. Even if the team needs to scale back his workload for the sake of longevity, a stacked 49ers offense is in a far better position to do so than, say, the Panthers, who had no choice but to run their best player into the ground.McCaffrey's contract is another factor to consider here, but Carolina paying such a big portion through a signing bonus means that, beyond this year, the 49ers effectively inherit a three-year deal worth roughly $12 million per season. That puts San Francisco's commitment in line with what teams owe Aaron Jones and Joe Mixon, who are just outside the NFL's top five highest-paid running backs. And with few-to-no guarantees remaining, a restructured deal with even more team-friendly cap numbers in the short term could be on the table.If you're someone who doesn't value running backs, loves hoarding draft picks, or perhaps both, you probably see this as a steep price for the 49ers to pay. And it is - mid-round picks carry a ton of value in the NFL. But given the slim odds that those assets yield anything close to the value McCaffrey could provide in Shanahan's offense (perhaps more than any player at the position league-wide), it's a worthwhile gamble. Especially considering the 49ers get to start enjoying that value right now.As odd as it may seem for a 3-3 team with losses to the Bears, Broncos, and Falcons to be going all-in with a midseason trade for a star running back, respectfully, have you seen the rest of the NFC? Before injuries hit over the last few weeks, the 49ers' defense was playing like the 2000 Ravens. If that unit can get healthy, and McCaffrey's presence can have the intended impact on the other side of the ball, there's no reason this team can't make a run - multiple, even.And rings are far more fun than picks.Grade: A-PanthersThis move was likely a tough one for both the Panthers and their fans. Frustrating as the last two years have been with McCaffrey battling injuries, he was still the face of that franchise. And at his young age, even for a running back, it's not like he couldn't theoretically have been part of the rebuild.It's easy to see the logic, though. The rather affordable contract that the 49ers are taking on isn't quite the one Carolina was stuck with. As constructed, McCaffrey was set for cap hits of $19.5 million, $19.5 million, and $15.4 million in each of the next three years when accounting for signing-bonus prorations.That's a lot of cap dollars to commit to a running back who, as talented as he may be, spent a ton of time on the sidelines over the last two seasons. And although trading him away leaves Carolina with over $18 million in dead money in 2023, biting that bullet next year rather than bringing him back and likely pushing money into the future to address looming cap issues just wouldn't have been good business. All things considered, the Panthers got assets for a superstar running back while they still could, and that was the right move.Unfortunately, the team pretty transparently leaking that the price tag would be "multiple first-round picks" almost certainly created some unrealistic expectations for a return. Carolina was never going to get one first-round pick for McCaffrey, let alone two. But that doesn't mean the franchise didn't still do fairly well.Given his limited availability since a historic 2019 campaign, few would have been surprised if a lone second-round pick was all the Panthers could get. Also picking up third- and fourth-rounders in the upcoming draft helps recoup some of the value lost in this year's move up for Matt Corral, giving Carolina six total selections in the first four rounds. That's a solid number of lottery tickets for an organization that needs them in the worst way.And there may be more to come - just don't count on a full-scale fire sale.As much as rival teams and their fans would happily offer top picks for Brian Burns and D.J. Moore, the return for the two young stars, in particular, would have to be astronomical for the Panthers to even consider a deal. Keeping such foundational pieces in place is preferable to the risk that comes with shipping them out for draft picks. Plus, those are the kinds of players that can help make the job more attractive to prospective head coaching candidates.Calls about anyone else, though? Carolina should be all ears. Getting a decent return for McCaffrey was just the first, painful step toward a measured rebuild.Grade: B(Cap source: Over the Cap)Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett cleared concussion protocol ahead of Sunday's contest against the Miami Dolphins, the team announced Friday.Tight end Pat Freiermuth and cornerback Levi Wallace also were cleared from concussion protocol.Pickett exited Sunday's win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with Mitchell Trubisky stepping in and leading Pittsburgh to just its second victory of the season.But head coach Mike Tomlin said the rookie will remain the club's starter if healthy. Trubisky was benched for Pickett during Pittsburgh's Week 4 loss to the New York Jets.The 20th overall pick has thrown for 514 yards and one touchdown against four interceptions this season. He's added 41 yards and two scores on the ground.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Jets wide receiver Elijah Moore will not play on Sunday against the Denver Broncos, head coach Robert Saleh announced.Moore has requested a trade, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport."He is excused from meetings, but he is going through a workout and regen regimen over the next three days and will rejoin the team on Monday," Saleh said.Saleh added that trading the disgruntled wide receiver is "not an option."Moore has reportedly been frustrated with his role in the offense and is pushing for a move following a zero-target game against the Green Bay Packers.After being excused from Thursday's practice for a personal day, Moore returned to the team's facility Friday ahead of Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Moore had a promising rookie year after the Jets selected him 34th overall in 2021. He finished the season with 43 receptions, 538 yards, and five touchdowns in 11 games.However, the sophomore receiver out of Ole Miss has received just 29 targets in six games, catching 16 of them for 203 yards and zero touchdowns. Of Moore's 29 targets, 21 came in the team's first three games when quarterback Joe Flacco filled in for an injured Zach Wilson.The NFL trade deadline is on Nov. 1 at 4 p.m. ET.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Brady didn't envision this.Six weeks into the 2022 NFL season, Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offense have floundered, culminating in an embarrassing 20-18 loss to rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett and the moribund Steelers. Head coach Todd Bowles didn't hide his dismay afterward."I think guys that are living off the Super Bowl are living in a fantasyland, and you got to get your hands dirty and go to work like everyone else," he told reporters.Just how bad has it been in Tampa Bay?Brady's QBR is the lowest of his career at 51.8; the only other time it was below 60 was his final season in New England. He's had five games this season with a maximum of one touchdown pass after putting up five such games all of last season. Most importantly, the formerly high-octane offense has been held to 21 or fewer points in five of six games in 2022, tied for the most in football. Over the past two years, Tampa Bay was held below 21 points just five times in total."Not comfortable in the pocket," an NFL scout told me. "Looks like he feels pretty hurried. But I'd like to see him hang in there just another split second longer if he can." Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesTo be fair, injuries have played a significant role for the 3-3 Buccaneers.All-Pro wide receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans have missed time due to injury and suspension, respectively. Future Hall of Famer Julio Jones may not be the Julio of old, but the Bucs certainly expected more than two games from him.The offensive line has been decimated as well. Pro Bowl center Ryan Jensen suffered a knee injury on the second day of training camp that could sideline him the entire season. Guard Aaron Stinnie was also lost for the season with a knee injury. Continuity took a hit when Pro Bowl guard Ali Marpet retired and starting guard Alex Cappa signed with the Bengals."They thought their offensive line would be a strength, like it has been," the scout said. "Losing Cappa hurt and Marpet retiring did too. I didn't see that coming. But losing Jensen was the key for me. Center's just so crucial for any quarterback. (Right guard Shaq) Mason's a good player and he was a good addition, but they don't have a lot of experience up front and Brady feels it."Brady's frustrations boiled over during the Steelers' loss when we saw him berate the offensive line."I don't know if it's motivation, but I do think that it's a bad day when there's more F-bombs than touchdowns," he said on his podcast "Let's Go!" "So, that was not one of my better days."Even the best quarterbacks struggle in this league, but that's rarely been the case for Brady, especially against a 29th-ranked Steelers defense that was winless and without injured Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt."I think there's a lot of times when we're kind of dead, even when we're making good plays," wide receiver Russell Gage told Fox13's Kevin O'Donnell. "Energy and having fun. This game is supposed to be fun." Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesSpeaking of fun, Brady flew to New York on Friday for Robert Kraft's wedding before meeting the team in Pittsburgh a day later. Bowles told reporters Brady "didn't miss anything," and when asked if he thought it was a factor in his play Sunday, Bowles said, "Absolutely not."The poor optics of Brady's attendance at Kraft's wedding, however, are exacerbated by the fact he simply can't find the end zone.Last season, he orchestrated the league's No. 2 red-zone offense - converting touchdowns on a healthy 66% of the Bucs' trips. This year they're just 9-for-18, tied for 21st. There's no better example of their ineptitude than their red-zone series just after halftime, which ended with a 24-yard Ryan Succop field goal. The Steelers committed two penalties but the Bucs couldn't score because of two of their own, while Brady was 1-for-4 for 9 yards. Tampa Bay was 4-of-14 on third down Sunday, which won't win many ballgames."It's incredibly frustrating," Godwin told reporters, including The Athletic's Greg Auman."Honestly, we've got to be better. I think we're too deep into the season to run into the same mistakes that we've had. We've got too many experienced guys for us to keep doing the same things."Jordan Schultz is theScore's NFL insider and senior NBA reporter. Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Video contains coarse languageDespite the Arizona Cardinals finally clicking into gear during a 42-34 win over the New Orleans Saints on Thursday, quarterback Kyler Murray and coach Kliff Kingsbury continued to butt heads.Cameras caught Murray repeatedly yelling for Kingsbury to "calm the f--- down" after Arizona was forced to call a timeout ahead of a red-zone play in the second quarter. Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins stepped in to help ease tensions.

SSSQ is a weekly look at underappreciated fantasy players to consider starting and potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut.For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult our Week 7 rankings. You can also listen to the Week 7 preview episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast.StartDak Prescott, Cowboysvs. Lions Richard Rodriguez / Getty Images Sport / GettyWelcome back, Dak!As a celebratory gift for your return to the lineup, you get to face a Lions defense that ranks last in Football Outsiders' defensive DVOA and has given up the third-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season.Normally, we might be cautious about a passer returning from a hand injury, but that's not the case on a week where Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, and Kirk Cousins are on bye.Prescott is a top-10 fantasy option, thanks to the friendliest of matchups.Boone's projection: 271 passing yards, 2 passing TDs, 18 rushing yardsOther QBs to start

The Carolina Panthers have traded star running back Christian McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers, the team announced Thursday.Carolina will receive second-, third-, and fourth-round picks in 2023 and a 2024 fifth-rounder in exchange for McCaffrey, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The Panthers were also deep in negotiations with the Los Angeles Rams about trading the dynamic playmaker for Day 2 draft selections before reaching a deal with the 49ers, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.San Francisco now owes McCaffrey just $690,000 for the remainder of the 2022 campaign, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. He's signed through 2025 and is on the books for around $12 million over the next three years, with just $1 million guaranteed for injury.The 26-year-old signed a record four-year extension with Carolina in 2020 that made him the league's highest-paid running back in average annual salary ($16 million).McCaffrey has established himself as one of the NFL's premier running backs since being drafted eighth overall in 2017, largely thanks to his versatility. In 2019, the Stanford product became one of just three players in NFL history to collect 1,000 receiving yards and 1,000 rushing yards in the same season. He led the league in touches (403), scrimmage yards (2,392), and total touchdowns (19) that year.Injuries have been an issue for McCaffrey lately, as shoulder and hamstring ailments limited him to just 10 games across 2020 and 2021. The 26-year-old has played all six of Carolina's games in 2022, racking up 393 yards (4.6 per carry) and two touchdowns on the ground while adding 33 catches for 277 yards and one score.The move adds another dynamic weapon to the 49ers, who have one of football's top offensive-minded head coaches in Kyle Shanahan. San Francisco has tried to bolster its backfield in recent years, using third-round picks on Trey Sermon and Tyrion Davis-Price in the last two drafts. Sermon is no longer with the club, while Davis-Price is sidelined with an ankle issue.With 400 yards and two touchdowns, Jeff Wilson leads the 49ers in rushing this season. Dynamic receiver Deebo Samuel has also stepped up in the running game, averaging 5.9 yards per attempt.The 49ers, who rank 10th with 5.7 yards per play, sit first in the NFC West with a 3-3 record. They began the year with Trey Lance under center but turned to Jimmy Garoppolo after Lance suffered a season-ending injury in Week 2.McCaffrey will travel to San Francisco on Friday and is expected to make his 49ers debut Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 7, Rapoport notes. The Niners visit the Rams in Week 8.The trade is the Panthers' second since firing head coach Matt Rhule. Carolina dealt disgruntled wide receiver Robbie Anderson to the Arizona Cardinals earlier this week for late-round picks in 2024 and 2025.The 1-5 Panthers have lost three straight games and currently own the best odds to pick first overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, according to ESPN.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.theScore's Justin Boone was first overall in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition in 2019 and finished among the top seven each of his last seven years in the contest. Follow the links below to see his rankings for Week 7.The final rankings will be released Sunday morning.Half PPR

If you know of anyone else who gave the Steelers a chance to beat the Buccaneers last week, I'd be happy to hear about it. But since we're going for the gusto with this 11-part bet, we needed more than just the Steelers and Patriots to come through.The Dolphins had an outrageous 224 yards more than the Vikings, the Panthers actually led at halftime, and the Broncos had every opportunity to beat the Chargers on Monday night. Another 3-2 week against the spread makes our underdogs 21-7-2 ATS and 13-16-1 on the moneyline. Singular bets are quite profitable this season, but we're here for the big score.How it worksWe parlay five underdogs we like against the spread together in 10 different three-team parlays. Using every combination of a three-team parlay is called a round robin. We'll use a total of 1.1 units to make 11 different bets: 10 three-team parlays and one five-team parlay, each for .1 units. You'll likely double your money if three teams pull off the upset. If four teams win, you're connecting on four separate parlays and will be very pleased with the return. If all five teams win, as they did for us in Week 1 last season, you'll be diving into a silo of gold doubloons like a young Scrooge McDuck.Who to playLions +260The Lions are back where we like to bet them - they're scrappy underdogs getting a significant amount of points. Meanwhile, the Cowboys return to the position where fading them is optimal: as significant favorites.Dak Prescott's return has bumped the line to -7 (it wouldn't have been much higher than -3.5 with Cooper Rush) and the moneyline naturally climbed with it. If Prescott is in midseason form, maybe that's a fair price, but I'm willing to bet against his grip being 100%. If that results in one extra turnover, that might give the Lions a chance to win.Coming out of the Lions' bye week, Amon-Ra St. Brown and a handful of offensive linemen were removed from the injury report. They'll be hoping D'Andre Swift is next, which would make their offense as explosive as it has been all season.Commanders +190Usually, the scary thing about betting on the Commanders is putting your money in the hands of Carson Wentz. However, one of those hands is broken. That means Taylor Heinicke is back, and his familiarity with Washington's offense, which features more weapons than he ever had last season, means the Commanders might not suffer at all by going to the backup.Meanwhile, the strength of Washington's defense is its front, which should be able to torment a Packers offensive line that has struggled for weeks. A predictable Green Bay attack shouldn't scare those willing to fire with the Commanders.49ers +125The line has already come off the opener of KC -3 in the direction of San Francisco, mirroring my projected line of under a field goal. This may indicate that the 49ers are expected to get a more encouraging injury report. If Trent Williams and Nick Bosa can return, we'll see a version of the Niners that looked like it might compete with the Chiefs to be the league's second-best team.The Bills exposed the poor quality of Kansas City's secondary depth, and if the defensive line can't handle what San Francisco does on the ground, the Chiefs will be on their heels when Jimmy Garoppolo drops back to pass. The 49ers will move the ball even better than Buffalo did and win this game outright.Texans +260Hopefully, the Texans spent their bye week basking in their win in Jacksonville, watching it over and over. That would help them realize that Dameon Pierce is awesome and expanding his workload offers some relief for Davis Mills, who should have success against a defense allowing the second-highest passer rating to opposing quarterbacks this season.Since we're asking Houston to win, the Raiders need to be complicit, and that doesn't seem like it'll be an issue. All four of their losses have been close - a dramatic change from last season when they won those tight games. That often comes down to coaching. Since we definitely don't trust Las Vegas to win by margin, a big moneyline price makes Houston worth a shot.Seahawks +200Does anything about the Chargers suggest they're capable of winning by margin? Kenneth Walker III and the Seahawks will march the ball up and down the field, but so will Los Angeles, with neither team able to pull away. As happened Monday in SoFi Stadium, the winner will probably be determined by a lucky bounce on a turnover or special teams, but if we're getting 2-1 odds on one side, we'll happily flip that coin.Here's how the odds look this week:PARLAYODDS (Approx.)DET+WSH+SF+2200DET+WSH+HOU+3500DET+WSH+SEA+3100DET+SF+HOU+2800DET+SF+SEA+2500DET+HOU+SEA+3900WSH+SF+HOU+2100WSH+SF+SEA+1800WSH+HOU+SEA+3000SF+HOU+SEA+2400DET+WSH+SF+HOU+SEA+25000Who are your five underdogs for a football betting lottery ticket?Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there’s a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Quarterback Mac Jones expects he'll be available when the New England Patriots host the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football, sources told ESPN's Mike Reiss.Jones has missed the past three games for the Patriots due to a high left ankle sprain. He reportedly told teammates he's made progress and has one more hurdle to clear in his recovery ahead of the Week 7 matchup.Head coach Bill Belichick didn't offer any information on Jones' status or the Patriots' plans at quarterback."As you know, Mac's been inactive the last two weeks," Belichick said Wednesday. "So there really isn't a conversation to be had here. Hypotheticals and all that, I'm going to stay away from those. We'll see what we are actually dealing with here as we go forward."Jones is expected to be the Patriots' starter when he's healthy enough to play, sources told The Athletic's Jeff Howe.The Patriots initially turned to Brian Hoyer in Week 4, but he was forced out of the contest with a concussion after their second offensive series. Since then, rookie Bailey Zappe has led the offense.The Western Kentucky product started the past two games, establishing a 2-0 record. The 23-year-old has passed for 596 yards and four touchdowns with a 72.9% completion rate.Meanwhile, Jones has thrown for 786 yards, two touchdowns, and five interceptions in his first three contests of the season.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Last season, we rocked and rolled our way to the Super Bowl with music-themed Thursday Night Football player props, joyfully celebrating the start of a new NFL week. This year, we'll use an episode from "Must See TV" cornerstone "Seinfeld" each week to remind us that betting is supposed to be fun, even when an absurd series of events leads to a losing bet."Now you listen to me, I want details, and I want them right now. I don't have a job, I have no place to go. You're not in the mood? Well, you get in the mood!" - George excoriating Jerry for being slow to divulge what happened the night before.In the first of the show's many instances where the characters talk about something without ever saying what they're talking about, episode nine of season two opens with Elaine and Jerry discussing their personal droughts, which might as well have been a conversation about touchdowns on Thursday Night Football lately. We have a vague recollection of them, but the last time we had even an average amount of end zone appearances, most people's "hair was a lot shorter."Some day we hope to score again, but with the banged-up Saints heading to the desert to take on the Cardinals' broken offense, I'm not sure our thirst is getting quenched just yet.'The Deal'Let's start our attempt to combine "this, that, and the other" with this look of intrigue at a Saints' veteran ready to go on short notice. Questionable tags abound about who will be available for New Orleans on a short week, but I think the offense gets distributed more evenly out of the backfield in an attempt to keep Alvin Kamara from wearing out.Since Andy Dalton took over, Mark Ingram has augmented his rushing yards with catches out of the backfield in two of three games. With significant passing targets sidelined, expect Ingram to get double-digit carries. With even slightly less than his four yards-per-carry average and a modest gain on a reception, he should be able to get to 33 yards from scrimmage. Hopefully, it doesn't take long to be "very impressed with the first one."Pick: Mark Ingram over 32.5 combined rushing + receiving yardsA TD that's definitely going to happenGetting any kind of TNF touchdown seems harder than shopping for birthday gifts for a significant other, but this week it's hopefully easier than coming up with a way to win at blackjack."You can't expect to forget the past completely," but knowing that DeAndre Hopkins is making his season debut off a PED suspension and not the nebulous uncertainty of an injury is important to determine how he'll play in his first game of the year.Hopkins hadn't had a 100-yard receiving game before getting hurt against the Packers last campaign, but the Cardinals were 7-0 and seventh in the league in offensive yards per play. Hopkins had seven of his eight total touchdowns in those first seven games.If we hypothesize that Hopkins is the key to unlocking Kyler Murray and the Cardinals' offense, with Saints' top cornerback Marshon Lattimore out, we should grab him at plus-money to score and "it's almost stupid if we didn't!"Pick: DeAndre Hopkins anytime touchdown (+120)A TD that probably won't happen ... but maybe it doesKramer gets Elaine a bench that she coveted for her birthday. So we'll go to the bench to grab our long-shot touchdown. The Cardinals spent a second-round pick on tight end Trey McBride, and after minimal time on the field in the first three games, the rookie out of Colorado State has played an average of 35% of Arizona's offensive snaps in the last three games, sliding in as the team's TE2.When it comes to McBride scoring his first career touchdown, you might be thinking, "Where are you living? Are you here? Are you on this planet? It can't be done!" Maybe not, but a 6-foot-3, 250-pound target that the Cardinals invested in will eventually get a smoldering look from Kliff Kingsbury. It's unlikely, but a bet of $24.26 at +750 would bring back $182, or if you're feeling more like Costanza, risking $12.13 would earn you $91, and it will feel like your birthday.Pick: Trey McBride anytime touchdown (+750)How to bet: The first two bets should be single-unit wagers - to win a unit on minus prices and more than a unit on a plus-money bet. The last wager should be smaller, trying to win back your standard unit size.Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there’s a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore NFL insider Jordan Schultz and football editors Jack Browne, Caio Miari, Daniel Valente, and Dan Wilkins make their weekly predictions for every game on the NFL calendar.Last weekSchultzBrowneMiariValenteWilkins5-98-68-65-95-9Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Chargers cornerback J.C. Jackson was one of the NFL's most sought-after free agents this offseason, but after a shaky start to the year, head coach Brandon Staley benched him on Monday Night Football.Michael Davis took Jackson's place in the second half and overtime of Monday night's matchup against the Denver Broncos."I feel defeated. I just feel like I'm not just being me," Jackson said Wednesday, according to NFL.com's Bridget Condon.Jackson signed a five-year, $82.5-million deal with the Chargers after making his first Pro Bowl in 2021. He did so on the back of eight interceptions and 23 passes defensed with the New England Patriots."It's hard, and it's very disappointing," Jackson added. "Knowing what I can do, and I'm not able to do it. I'm not really playing to my full potential; it's kind of upsetting."Staley's comments on Tuesday matched Jackson's sentiment."It just wasn't good enough in the first half, and we felt like we needed to make a change," Staley said, per Gavino Borquez of Chargers Wire.The Chargers will face the Seattle Seahawks in Week 7. Seattle's offense currently ranks 12th in yards per game (356.0) and ninth in points per game (24.3).Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers center Robert Hainsey had no issue with Tom Brady ripping the offensive line in the midst of Sunday's 20-18 defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers."Everyone can call it what they want, but I want nothing else from a quarterback than that - than the guy who's wanting to tell us what we need to do and step up," Hainsey said Wednesday, according to ESPN's Jenna Laine. "If he was just sitting over there and not (getting) us going and not (trying) to help us - he wouldn't be who he is today."Hainsey went on to say that he loved the fire shown by the veteran quarterback."That's what you want from great teammates and great leaders, and he's the best there is," he added.Brady was caught by the TV broadcast shouting: "You're so much better than the way you're f------ playing" at his offensive line after a drive that featured a sack and third-down stop.

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 iTunes, Spotify, Google, Stitcher, and Anchor.In this episode, Jennifer Eakins of 4for4.com joins Boone to discuss the biggest questions entering Week 7:

Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey isn't focusing on discussions of a potential trade ahead of the league's Nov. 1 deadline."(I'm) keeping that away from me," he said Wednesday, according to The Athletic's Joe Person. "That's out of my control. I'm trying to control everything I can control.""Right now, I'm a Carolina Panther, and I'm giving my all to this place," he added.The Panthers are reportedly taking calls about a potential trade for the star halfback.McCaffrey signed a four-year, $64-million contract extension with the Panthers in 2020 that runs through the 2025 season. Carolina could save $1.2 million in cap space by dealing him, according to Over the Cap."If they keep me in the loop, great, if not, it doesn't matter," McCaffrey said.He added, "I'm focused on playing against the Bucs this week and doing everything I can to prepare for that."McCaffrey has been a dynamic dual-threat out of the backfield as both a runner and receiver for the Panthers. In 2019, he became only the third player in league history to record 1,000 yards each in rushing and receiving.However, injuries limited the former All-Pro halfback to just 10 games between 2020 and 2021.McCaffrey has remained healthy to begin this season. He tallied 670 scrimmage yards (393 rushing yards, 277 receiving) and three total touchdowns through six games.Although Carolina isn't expected to ship out all of its core pieces, the team dealt wide receiver Robbie Anderson to the Arizona Cardinals on Monday in exchange for two future draft picks. The move came almost a week after the Panthers dismissed former head coach Matt Rhule.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson said there's no animosity with quarterback Mitch Trubisky after the two players got into an argument in Week 4.Johnson reportedly yelled at Trubisky to get him the ball more at halftime of their game against the New York Jets. He and the quarterback then had a heated exchange, leading to rookie signal-caller Kenny Pickett being told he would start the second half."I don't want to get too much into detail," Johnson said Wednesday, according to ESPN's Brooke Pryor. "We're both passionate about the game. Stuff happens during football. We're fine, we talked about it. We made up, better over the whole situation. No hard feelings towards each other."That's still my guy at the end of the day. I'm gonna still keep playing for him, cheering for him. Like I said, there's no bad blood between us at all."Pickett was named the starter for the campaign after the Jets game but suffered a concussion in Week 6. Trubisky came on in relief against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and threw for 144 yards and one touchdown to help the Steelers secure their second victory of the year.However, the Steelers plan to go back to Pickett if he clears the concussion protocol in time for their prime-time meeting with the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.Johnson leads the club with 33 receptions and 295 receiving yards.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Denver Broncos running back Melvin Gordon will start Sunday against the New York Jets, head coach Nathaniel Hackett told reporters Wednesday.Hackett said Tuesday that he would have a conversation with Gordon about his role after the running back only logged nine snaps, none of them after halftime, in Monday's overtime loss to the Los Angeles Chargers."It was a great talk," Hackett said. "Love Melvin, have so much respect for him as a pro for all he's done in this league."Gordon ran the ball three times for 8 yards on Monday night, while running back Latavius Murray led the Broncos with 11 carries."This chapter in my life is big adversity. I hate that I'm in the media for the wrong reasons, and not because I'm having a stellar game, and I hate that more than anything," Gordon told Troy Renck of Denver7 on Wednesday.After Gordon spent the previous two seasons with the team, the Broncos re-signed him to a one-year, $2.5-million deal this offseason.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa spoke publicly for the first time since suffering a concussion in Week 4 against the Cincinnati Bengals, and he described clearing the protocol as a taxing but necessary process."It's been a process, that's for sure," Tagovailoa said. "Having to deal with interviews with the NFL and the NFLPA and then having to go see doctors outside with second opinions. A lot of it has been, I'd say, pretty stressful, but all of it is done for player safety."The Dolphins signal-caller was stretchered off the field after his head appeared to slam against the ground following a sack. The 24-year-old didn't describe the concussion as scary given he was unconscious at different points in the evening. He said he remembers up until he was tackled and moments in the ambulance and at the hospital but doesn't recall being carted off.Concern for Tagovailoa's health was already heightened after he briefly left the Dolphins' Week 3 contest against the Buffalo Bills while appearing dazed following a big hit. He missed only three plays before returning for the remainder of the game.Following his time away, Tagovailoa plans to adjust his style of play to preserve his long-term health."Throwing the ball away hasn't been something I've done in the past really well because I'm trying to make plays," he said. "Just learning from that, if it's not there, it's OK to just throw it away."The third-year passer cleared concussion protocol Saturday. He was ruled inactive for Week 6 as a precaution but is set to return for Miami's matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday. Tagovailoa reportedly received four outside opinions while team doctors also unanimously cleared him.Tagovailoa has stuck to his normal preparation routine ahead of his return to action. "I went into last week prepping as if I was going to play. ... No different than this week," he said.Head coach Mike McDaniel is pleased with what he's observed from his starting quarterback ahead of his return."He's laser-focused. He's in his normal mood, but he doesn't lose attention span at the task at hand," McDaniel said.The Dolphins will attempt to end a three-game skid against the Steelers.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A ton of upsets sparked more flames in the smoldering wreckage of survivor contests, and as we alluded to last week, the teasers weren't spared either. You can only lose once to get knocked out of survivor, but for the second straight week, the Packers caused teaser players pain. And if you had sniffed out Aaron Rodgers' struggles and steered clear, his legendary counterpart Tom Brady was just as disappointing with an outright loss at Pittsburgh.The various +2.5-point spreads teased up over a touchdown were far more successful. Early Week 7 candidates - the Jaguars and Saints - were joined late in the week by the Chiefs, Seahawks, and Patriots and collectively went 5-0. That's more reason to use teasers to play on a game's final score being close.Some games don't have a teaser-worthy point spread. For example, the Packers are hovering around 5-point favorites in Washington this Sunday. Teasing Green Bay would bring the spread through zero, wasting valuable price points around an improbable tie.Teasing the Commanders up to +11 would be appealing as it would get the key numbers through a touchdown, but you're already winning on 3- and 4-point margins at a -110 price. Getting +6, +7, or +8 over a long sample size isn't worth the price hike.Let's use the short point spread in the Thursday night game between the Saints and Cardinals (-2.5) as an example of the value of teasing a short underdog up.ALT. SPREADODDSNO +3.5-175NO +4.5-185NO +5.5-205NO +6.5-250NO +7.5-320NO +8.5-340The pricing significantly jumps once you move across the key number of -3, showing the importance of capturing that number in NFL betting. More importantly, the Saints' alternative spread (+8.5) is priced at -340, which is obviously a much larger price than getting them at +8.5 with our teaser leg at -270.To get a good deal on the Saints (+8.5), we must pair them with another game and win both to cash the ticket. Fortunately, we can choose that other leg from our weekly "teaser basket" using what we know about key numbers.Teaser basketLet's look at the mathematically optimal plays available for Week 7:TEAMSPREADTEASER LEGSaints (@ ARI)+2.5+8.5Cowboys (vs. DET)-7-1Colts (@ TEN)+2.5+8.5Ravens (vs. CLE)-6.5-0.5Raiders (vs. HOU)-7-1Jets (@ DEN)+1.5+7.5Chargers (vs. SEA)-6.5-0.5Dolphins (vs. PIT)-7-1Patriots (vs. CHI)-8-2Having pointed out the troubles of touchdown favorites - both last week and earlier in the season - we can't help but notice that half the games this week have matchups lined between -6 and -8.Of note, the Bengals are -6 at home to the Falcons, but their moneyline can be bet at theScore Bet at a price of -250. Not only is that a better price than -270, but you don't need to pair it with a second leg in a parlay.Of the Cowboys, Ravens, Raiders, Chargers, Dolphins, and Patriots, who do you trust wholeheartedly to win outright by even just a field goal?Meanwhile, the 2022 season so far suggests that betting on a game to finish within one score is a really good idea, whether it's on a natural point-spread bet or via a teaser. If that's the case, taking your favorite tightly lined game and moving it up over a touchdown is probably the best place to start.Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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

Los Angeles Chargers cornerback J.C. Jackson was benched Monday night after giving up a couple of big plays in the first half.On Tuesday, head coach Brandon Staley insisted he remains confident in his star defender."We just need to stay patient," Staley said. "Last night wasn't up to his standard, or ours. We felt like we had to go in a different direction. We're going to stay with him, keep coaching him, and see if we can get him comfortable."Staley added, "We need to make sure that we continue to work with him so that he's focused, consistent, and being the player that we know he can be."The Chargers signed Jackson to a five-year, $82.5-million contract in March to be the team's top cornerback. The 26-year-old missed the first two games of the season with an ankle injury, which has hampered his ability to learn a new defense.Staley believes it's "fair to say" Jackson is committing mental errors.Jackson was second-team All-Pro in 2021 and hauled in 25 interceptions in four seasons with the New England Patriots before signing with the Chargers.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hot take: I'm not ready to jump off the Lamar Jackson train.To be sure, the 25-year-old Baltimore Ravens quarterback has made some critical errors this season. And those errors have come late in games, as we saw Sunday when he threw an interception and lost a fumble against the New York Giants that effectively sealed Baltimore's 24-20 loss.Here's the good news: During the first three quarters of games this season, Jackson's QBR (64.1) ranks fifth in the NFL. He's been magical at extending plays and dazzling with a bevy of big-time throws."The good version of Lamar is still a great player," an NFL scout told me. "He's beating teams earlier in games and then making a few key mistakes that have cost them."Jackson's fourth-quarter QBR of 28.0 slots him 29th in the league, and four of his six interceptions have come in the fourth quarter. While the cynic might say Jackson has played too much football to excuse such mistakes, the optimist suggests taking a broader view of the current situation.Case in point: The 2019 MVP hasn't played a single game this season with his No. 1 wide receiver (Rashod Bateman), No. 1 running back (J.K. Dobbins), and All-Pro left tackle (Ronnie Stanley) all in the lineup. The lack of synergy has compromised the Ravens at the worst moments, such as when Jackson forces plays or his receivers fail him."You have to catch them, that's your job," head coach John Harbaugh said following the Giants game. "Those guys are catching balls in practice. You have to make those catches in a game when it counts, right? No doubt. They know that."On the other side of the ball, the Ravens - still tied for first place with the Bengals in the AFC North at 3-3 - have surrendered 552 yards and six touchdowns through the air in the fourth quarter. The veteran-laden defense has been middling across the board, and losing star safety Marcus Williams for several weeks because of a dislocated wrist will only make matters worse."They need a spark, someone to make a play on third down when it matters," the scout said. "It's as simple as: You're not going to win when you can't get off the field." Sarah Stier / Getty ImagesJackson has proven he can win games the Ravens have no business winning. He's that special. Thus far in 2022, however, he has also proven he can lose games the Ravens should win. Ultimately, he needs more help - a fact recognized by running back Kenyan Drake, who went for 119 yards and a score on just 10 carries against the Giants."We're going to need (Jackson) in any and every aspect that he provides for this team," Drake told reporters after the Giants game. "Leadership, his physicality, his game-breaking ability, obviously - that goes without being said. So, he's going to obviously put a lot on his shoulders, but at the same time, we're a team. He can't do it by himself."Short yardage◾️ Bailey Zappe is pretty quickly proving he's not your typical third-string quarterback. After a 38-15 win at Cleveland, the Pats' fourth-round rookie from Western Kentucky improved to 2-0 as a starter, with nearly 600 yards, four TD passes, and just one pick in 11-plus quarters of work. He's accurate (73% completion rate) and very calm in the pocket. Equally important, he understands what's being asked of him and doesn't appear overwhelmed - even when the play breaks down. To quote an AFC executive I spoke with: "Same story, different week. Nothing is too big for him. He competes. He's tough, he knows how to make plays, and he delivers a good ball."◾️ It's no secret that Tom Brady and the Buccaneers' offense have struggled. Things reached a boiling point near halftime of Sunday's 20-18 loss to the hapless Steelers when Brady reamed his offensive linemen for their blocking woes. Through the first six weeks, Tampa Bay ranks 20th in points per game, problems exacerbated by its lack of first-half production: The team has managed three first-half TDs all season.The Bucs are averaging 20.2 points a game and scoring touchdowns on only 50% of their red-zone drives - tied for 20th in the NFL. Last season, they hit pay dirt on 65.8% of their red-zone drives. They're also generating one fewer red-zone possession per game this season (3.0 vs. 4.0 in 2021)."I think guys who are living off the Super Bowl are living in a fantasy land," head coach Todd Bowles said after the loss to the Steelers. Harry How / Getty Images◾️ Big-ups to Chargers kicker Dustin Hopkins, who injured his hamstring during his first kick Monday night but battled through it to record a perfect game of kicking versus the Broncos. He hit all four of his field goals, including the overtime game-winner from 39 yards."Before every kick, you knew that it was going to feel like somebody stabbed you with a knife," Hopkins told reporters. "I was just kind of committed to swinging and dealing with the pain after the kick."Following each kick, the 32-year-old was visibly in pain and momentarily fell to the ground."I'm aware I was doing it, but it wasn't a conscious thing," Hopkins said. "It was just my body doing it."◾️ Don't look now, but Kirk Cousins and the Vikings are 5-1 - the only NFC team above .500 not in the East Division. Cousins has been steady, while superstars Dalvin Cook and Justin Jefferson continue to assert their place among the league's best playmakers. Cook broke free for a 53-yard touchdown to ice the game, and Jefferson finished with yet another 100-yard performance and leads the league in receiving."It's good seeing Cook healthy, because he's one of the real difference-makers at running back," the scout said."He's always had that strong lower body with short-area quickness and breakaway speed."◾️ We're seeing some terrific football in New York - or New Jersey, to be technical, as fans west of Manhattan often remind me. The Jets and Giants are a combined 9-3 after compiling a 22-59 record over the past five years.For Brian Daboll's G-Men, it's all about controlling the clock with the rejuvenated Saquon Barkley and closing games with a vastly improved defense under new coordinator Wink Martindale. In the second half, the Giants have outscored opponents 87-49. For Robert Saleh's Jets, it's about the defense. Buoyed by corners Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed - as well as rising superstar defensive tackle Quinnen Williams - Gang Green allowed just 47 points during their current three-game winning streak.Jordan Schultz is theScore's NFL insider and senior NBA reporter. Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The first six weeks of the 2022 NFL season are in the books, and the race for the league's top awards is shaping up.Here's a look at the best five candidates for the main honors:Coach of the Year5. Robert Saleh, Jets Stacy Revere / Getty Images Sport / GettyWe're not sure how many receipts Saleh kept on the people who mocked the Jets, but it must have been a lot. New York just stunned the Packers at Lambeau Field, bolstering Saleh's case for Coach of the Year. He's now helped the Jets win three straight to improve to 4-2 - the same number of wins they had in 2021 - despite starting their backup quarterback in the season's first three weeks.4. Mike McCarthy, CowboysThough the Cowboys are coming off a loss to the Eagles, Dallas is still 4-2, a significantly better record than anyone predicted following Dak Prescott's Week 1 injury. The team entered Week 6 on a four-game win streak that included a victory over the Giants, who haven't lost to anyone else this year. Prescott's return seems imminent, so the expectations will be higher for McCarthy. For now, he deserves credit.3. Sean McDermott, BillsHaving one of the NFL's most well-rounded rosters helps, but we shouldn't take what McDermott has done for granted. The Bills rank in the top two in scoring on offense and defense, and they just stole a road win against the Chiefs to move to 5-1. It can be hard for NFL powerhouses to meet sky-high expectations given the league's competitiveness. But the McDermott-led Bills, who entered the season as Super Bowl favorites, have performed as football's best team.2. Nick Sirianni, EaglesSirianni's done his job impeccably this season, as the Eagles remain the NFL's only undefeated club. But it's not only about the wins. Philadelphia is a threat on both sides of the ball, especially on offense, where Philly is the only team that ranks in the top five for expected points added (EPA) per play in passing and rushing situations. Being a Super Bowl contender and having a 6-0 record should be enough to rank Sirianni first on this list. However, there's a coach who's been even more impressive.1. Brian Daboll, Giants Elsa / Getty Images Sport / GettyWe all thought the Giants were a couple of years away from being a competitive team, but Daboll had other plans in his first season at the helm. After going 4-13 in 2021, New York's already won five games in 2022 despite having a roster lacking star power, holes on both sides of the ball, and battling injuries. No other coach has maximized his players' efforts as much as Daboll, who's helped N.Y. defeat a pair of former MVPs and both of last year's No. 1 seeds.Defensive Rookie of the Year5. Aidan Hutchinson, LionsMake no mistake, Hutchinson's first NFL games haven't been quite as Lions fans expected, and he hasn't recorded a sack since collecting three of them in Week 2. That said, the No. 2 pick led this draft class in sacks (three) and pressures (nine) before going on a bye in Week 6.4. Derek Stingley Jr., TexansStingley is the biggest name in Houston's promising secondary, which also features standout rookie Jalen Pitre. Stingley has allowed 350 yards in coverage, but the star corner's also made clutch plays, including an end-zone interception two weeks ago. Before the Texans' Week 6 bye, Stingley led all rookies with 200 coverage snaps without allowing a touchdown, according to PFF.3. Devin Lloyd, JaguarsThe Jaguars drafted Travon Walker first overall in April, but it's their other first-round rookie defender who's turning heads. Lloyd leads all first-year players in tackles (56) and has stood out in pass coverage, amassing two interceptions and six pass breakups. Jacksonville traded up to draft Lloyd at No. 27, and the linebacker's first games have been as good as the team could've asked for.2. Tariq Woolen, Seahawks Chris Graythen / Getty Images Sport / GettyWoolen certainly isn't one of the reasons the Seahawks' defense has struggled. Few corners - regardless of experience - have been more impressive than the UTSA product, who's allowed a 35.8 passer rating and is tied for the league lead with four interceptions. Woolen is the first rookie in 12 years to record an interception in four straight games. Plus, he's scored a pick-6 and blocked a kick that was returned for a touchdown. Not bad for a fifth-rounder.1. Ahmad Gardner, JetsIt's safe to say Gardner has earned his "Sauce" nickname. With 23 tackles, one interception, and eight pass breakups - the most among rookies - Gardner is already a cornerstone of New York's defense. The No. 4 pick has allowed only one catch for six yards on 40 snaps in man coverage. He's also made plays that didn't go on his stat sheet, including an end-zone pressure on Teddy Bridgewater that resulted in a penalty and safety.Offensive Rookie of the Year5. Bailey Zappe, PatriotsZappe, a fourth-round pick who began the year as New England's third-stringer, is somehow the most impressive rookie quarterback so far this season. Granted, the Western Kentucky product played just three games and will probably go to the bench when Mac Jones returns. However, Zappe ranks seventh in EPA per play since Week 3 and is the only rookie QB in the Super Bowl era to win and post a 100-plus rating in his first two starts. He deserves the edge here over rookies who haven't performed consistently despite playing more games.4. Drake London, Falcons Todd Kirkland / Getty Images Sport / GettyLondon's had a good season, but his OROY case takes a hit due to his latest performances. The No. 8 pick, who caught 214 yards and two touchdowns in his first three games, hasn't topped 50 receiving yards or scored in his last three appearances. That said, the USC product still leads Atlanta in targets (43), receptions (25), receiving yards (306), and touchdown catches.3. Chris Olave, SaintsNo rookie pass-catcher has been as consistent as Olave. Before missing Week 6 with a concussion, he led all first-year wideouts in virtually every meaningful category, including catches (25), yards (389), yards per reception (15.6), and touchdowns (two). The Ohio State product's been a major big-play threat, ranking second in the league in average passing air yards per target (17.5).2. Breece Hall, JetsHall had a somewhat slow start in the NFL but has now shown why the Jets were so high on him. The 21-year-old went off in his last two games, combining for 318 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns. Hall leads this draft class with 609 scrimmage yards and four total touchdowns. The Iowa State product could run away with this award if he keeps his momentum, but we need more than two outstanding outings before listing him at No. 1.1. Dameon Pierce, Texans Bob Levey / Getty Images Sport / GettyHouston doesn't get much national attention due to its lack of high-profile players, but that narrative should change soon as Pierce is a star in the making. The fourth-round pick leads all rookies in rushing yards (412), missed tackles forced (33), and touchdown runs (tied with three) despite not playing Week 6 (bye) and the Texans ranking 22nd in run blocking, according to PFF. No rookie in the first six weeks was as consistent as Pierce, who's had three consecutive games with 100-plus scrimmage yards.Defensive Player of the Year5. Chris Jones, ChiefsWe're not used to seeing a defensive tackle not named Aaron Donald being a DPOY candidate. But Jones has been that good. The Chiefs lineman is PFF's highest-graded defender this year, and he leads all tackles in pass rush win rate despite being double-teamed almost at the same rate as Donald. We're not saying Donald isn't the league's best interior lineman anymore. But no one in that group has played better than Jones, who's generated a position-high 24 pressures in 2022.4. Myles Garrett, BrownsGarrett is football's top edge rusher this year, according to PFF, and he enjoyed perhaps his best performance of the season in Week 6 after racking up two sacks, two tackles for loss, and one forced fumble. He's now up to 28 pressures despite missing one game. Garrett also has a 32% pass rush win rate, the second-highest at his position. In 73 games since joining the Browns, the 2017 first overall pick has 63.5 career sacks, the most in franchise history.3. Maxx Crosby, Raiders David Eulitt / Getty Images Sport / GettyCrosby's been an absolute monster. He's notched at least a sack in four consecutive games, including two in each of his last two contests. He has six sacks in 2022 - tied for second-most in the league - even though he rested this past week due to the Raiders' bye. Crosby's also been dominant against the run, ranking first in tackles for loss (11) and fifth in run stop win rate among edge rushers.2. Nick Bosa, 49ersLet's be honest, injuries are the only thing that's ever stopped Bosa from wreaking havoc on the field since he entered the NFL. He racked up six sacks through this season's first four games but suffered an ailment in Week 5 and has been sidelined since. But he still leads the league with 16 quarterback hits and 23 pressures. Without Bosa, the 49ers' No. 1-ranked defense gave up 28 points to the Falcons - the most they've allowed in 2022. The 24-year-old will be a DPOY contender as long as he stays healthy.1. Micah Parsons, CowboysAfter finishing second to T.J. Watt for DPOY in 2021, Parsons is on the right track to take the award home this season. It's true that he didn't do much Sunday against the Eagles. However, if we look back, no defender has dominated more than him through the first six weeks. Parsons, the edge rusher with the best pass rush win rate, is also the only defender who ranks in the top five in pressures and tackles for loss in 2022.MVP5. Micah Parsons, Cowboys Mitchell Leff / Getty Images Sport / GettyWeek 6 wasn't kind to several MVP candidates, including Parsons, who didn't have a single QB hit versus Philly. But, as mentioned above, Parsons is by far the most valuable player in Dallas' defense, which ranks third in points allowed and was the main reason the Cowboys are 4-1 without Prescott. It's hard to imagine Parsons winning MVP. Lawrence Taylor was the last defender to win it in 1986, and not even Donald came close to it in recent years. But Parsons is undoubtedly one of the sport's most valuable stars.4. Saquon Barkley, GiantsWould the Giants have any chance of being 5-1 if Barkley didn't play at his best? The star running back, who battled injuries in recent years but revived his career in 2022, has NFL highs with 140 touches and 771 scrimmage yards, as well as four touchdowns. While his touchdown total isn't off the charts, he often shows up when his team needs him most. With two fourth-quarter touchdowns and a last-minute two-point conversion, Barkley has given New York a late go-ahead lead in three games this campaign.3. Patrick Mahomes, ChiefsSince entering the NFL, Mahomes has done things that virtually no other quarterback can, and this season hasn't been much different. He's guided Kansas City to a 4-2 record while ranking first in touchdown passes (tied with Josh Allen at 17) and second in EPA per play and Total QBR among passers with at least 200 attempts. That said, it's hard to rank Mahomes any higher for now after he threw two interceptions in a loss to the Allen-led Bills.2. Jalen Hurts, EaglesHere's what a 17-game season would look like with Hurts' 2022 averages: 66.8% completion rate, 4,289 passing yards, and 17 TD passes to go along with 829 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground. That, combined with Philly being the NFL's lone unbeaten team, makes Hurts a top MVP candidate. The Most Valuable Player award is strongly tied to the team's record, so it'd be hard not to give it to Hurts if he keeps performing at a high level and the Eagles finish the campaign with only one or two losses.1. Josh Allen, Bills Jason Hanna / Getty Images Sport / GettyThere shouldn't be a debate, the MVP is Allen's to lose. He was already a contender for the award before Week 6, but then he went to Arrowhead Stadium and defeated the Chiefs after spectacularly leading the game-winning touchdown drive in the fourth quarter. That's something else. Allen leads the NFL in touchdown passes (tied), yards, EPA per play, and big-time throws. He's also accounted for 95% of Buffalo's offensive touchdowns (19 out of 20). Oh, and the 5-1 Bills have the best record in the AFC and the league's second-ranked offense.(Advanced stats source: Next Gen Stats, Football Reference, ESPN Analytics, RBSDM.com)Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft were involved in a fiery exchange Tuesday over discussions about a potential new contract for commissioner Roger Goodell, sources told ESPN's Seth Wickersham.The exchange came amid NFL owners voting 31-1 to allow the compensation committee to begin negotiations on a new deal for Goodell.Jones, who was the only owner to vote against the measure, reportedly told Kraft, "Don't f--- with me" after the latter joined the other owners in the vote. Kraft responded with, "Excuse me?" before Jones followed up with, "Don't mess with me."The Cowboys owner's disagreement over a new deal for the commissioner is due to the structure of compensation, Wickersham adds. Jones is reportedly troubled that bonuses in the commissioner's future deal won't be tied to clear financial goals.Jones was at the forefront of an effort that saw Goodell's previous contract structure pivot from salary-based to mainly bonus-oriented.Goodell, who's under contract through 2024, reportedly was paid nearly $128 million over the last two fiscal years. His income was aided by bonuses triggered by settling media contracts and the new 10-year collective bargaining agreement.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay said Tuesday he would support the decision to remove Dan Snyder as owner of the Washington Commanders."It's a difficult situation," Irsay said, according to Tom Rock of Newsday Sports. "I believe there is merit to remove him as owner of the (Commanders).""I believe that's the road we have to go down. ... It's in the best interest of the National Football League," Irsay added, according to Albert Breer of The MMQB.Irsay is the first team owner to publicly back the removal of Snyder.Snyder's ownership of the team has been widely criticized due to scandals and investigations into workplace conduct, and many around the NFL have pressured him to sell the team.A recent report from ESPN states that Snyder allegedly tried to influence other owners and the league office to maintain control of the Commanders. He's reportedly said he has enough information to expose NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and fellow owners. The Commanders have denied the accusations."Some of the things I've heard don't represent us at all," Irsay said, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. "I want the American public to know what we're about as owners. ... I believe it's in the best interest of the National Football League that we look at this squarely in the eyes and deal with it."Snyder called allegations of hiring private investigators to look into other NFL owners and Goodell "patently false" in a letter sent to all owners Tuesday."That is patently false and intended to erode the trust and goodwill between owners that I take quite seriously," Snyder said in the letter. "I have never hired any private investigator to look into any owner or the commissioner. I have never instructed or authorized my lawyers to hire any private investigator on my behalf for any such purpose. And I never would.It'd take 24 of the other 31 owners to vote for Snyder's removal. Irsay said Tuesday he believes there "potentially" are 24 votes, though there's no plan to vote on Snyder's status, according to Breer."Every owner looks at it differently," Irsay added. "It's not something personal; it's about the interest of the NFL and how we are represented in the world."A Commanders spokesperson addressed Irsay's comments in a statement Tuesday:"It is highly inappropriate, but not surprising, that Mr. Irsay opted to make statements publicly based on falsehoods in the media," the statement reads, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. "It is unfortunate that Mr. Irsay decided to go public with his statement today, while an investigation is in process, and the team has had no opportunity to formally respond to allegations."The Commanders have made remarkable progress over the past two years. We are confident that, when he has an opportunity to see the actual evidence in this case, Mr. Irsay will conclude that there is no reason for the Snyders to consider selling the franchise. And they won't."Snyder has owned the team since 1999. In July 2021, the NFL fined the team $10 million and said Snyder would step away from day-to-day operations for several months after an independent investigation into Washington's workplace culture.The investigation, conducted by attorney Beth Wilkinson, began after 15 former female employees reported sexual harassment and/or verbal abuse from club executives.Additional ex-employees accused Snyder and other former members of the organization of sexual harassment and misconduct in 2020, leading to an ongoing investigation by the NFL."This is a situation that has a long, long history," Irsay said."There hasn't been this type of removal (in the NFL). ... I think at this point there has to be serious consideration to move forward.""I'm very concerned that he needs to be removed," Irsay added, per Pelissero.Goodell addressed Irsay's comments on Snyder later Tuesday, telling members of the media that the report on the current Commanders investigation will be shared once it's completed."It's an ongoing investigation. When Mary Jo White is done with the investigation, we'll share the report," Goodell said, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. "There's no reason for speculation until we have (it)."Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.theScore's Justin Boone was first overall in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition in 2019 and finished among the top seven each of his last seven years in the contest. Follow the links below to see his rankings for Week 7.Updated rankings (including Standard and PPR) will be released Thursday, with the final version coming down Sunday morning.Half PPR

Denver Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett says he plans to talk to Melvin Gordon about the running back's lack of playing time in Monday's loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.Gordon spent the majority of the game on the sideline and didn't see the field after halftime. He logged just nine snaps, while other running backs Mike Boone and Latavius Murray played 21 and 27 snaps, respectively."We're going to have a conversation," Hackett said Tuesday, according to Andrew Mason of 104.3 The Fan. "Melvin didn't do anything wrong. We just didn't have a lot of plays (after halftime)."Gordon said postgame that it "hurt" watching the defeat from the sideline."It sucked knowing that I wasn't able to do anything about it - go out there and help my team win," the running back told reporters following the contest.The veteran's nine snaps were his lowest amount of the season. He logged 15 carries for 54 yards on 41 snaps in Week 6 against the Indianapolis Colts.Gordon started 16 games for the Broncos last season, compiling 918 yards and eight rushing touchdowns.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.