From No. 2 overall to No. 2 on the depth chart, Marcus Mariota has carved
NFL Atlanta Falcons Jersey out an interesting career for himself.Once a highly touted prospect coming out of Oregon, the former Tenne see Titan has settled into a backup role with the Raiders, and he has settled in nicely. After some up-and-down years with the Titans, Mariota latched on with the Raiders in 2020.While the "draft bust" label will follow Mariota the rest of his career, his Raiders tenure has resulted in some surprising usage within the offense in 2021 after spending the entirety of the 2020 season on the bench backing up Derek Carr. Mariota could find himself as a high-quality backup, or in a Taysom Hill-type role after the 2021 season ifHere's how Mariota's career went from draft bust to dual-threat backup:What happened to Marcus Mariota?Mariota was something of avictim of circumstances in Tenne see: He had two head coaches in his first three seasons and four offensive coordinators in his first five seasons. That's a tough situation for any rookie quarterback to navigate.Through it all, he was fairly inconsistent and had turnover i sues, something that
Younghoe Koo Jersey didn't really show itself in college.Aside from Mariota's surroundings, he has been something of an injury magnet since entering the league, suffering an injury every yearexcept2019, ironically, the year he was benched for Ryan Tannehill.In 2021, he suffered a quad injury in the season opener for the Raiders. He would be placed on IR. The injury was an aggravation of a prior quad injury in preseason.In 2020, Mariota had a pectoral injury that sidelined him for five games.In 2018, he dealt with an elbow injury and a neck stinger that forced him to sit out two games.In 2017, he dealt with a hamstring injury that sidelined him for a game.In 2016, Mariota broke his fibula in Week 16 vs. the Jaguars.In 2015, he dealt with a sprain MCL in his right knee on two different occasions, with the second sprain ending his season prematurely.Mariota finished his Titans career on the fifth-year option. He
Ta'Quon Graham Jersey played in 63 games in five seasons, throwing 76 touchdowns to 45 interceptions over five seasons in Tenne seee. Tannehill's career renai sance in Tenne see played a big part inMariota's release.He wouldn't be unemployed for long, though: Mariota was signed to a two-year, $17.6 million contract with the Raiders prior the 2020 season, seemingly signaling a challenge to incumbent starter Derek Carr.With the Raiders, Mariota found himself a niche: In 2020, he was purely the Raiders' backup quarterback, taking his only snaps of the season in Week 15 in relief of an injured Derek Carr.In 2021, Mariota's role evolved, becoming something of a gadget player for the Vegas offense
Desmond Ridder T Shirts . Mariotanotched three snaps through the first 11weeks of the season (most of which was mi sed time due to injury), but his
Matt Hennessy Jersey role expanded entering Week 12.The Raiders have used Mariotaprimarily as an option quarterback: He has just 24 snaps on the season, with just three of those snaps coming as pa ses. Most of his snaps came as a runner (13) and the remaining eight snaps came on hand-offs.Marcus Mariota contractPrior to 2020, Mariota signed a two-year deal worth up to $17.6 million with the Raiders. The contract included $7.5 million in guarantees.Mariota and the Raiders restructured his contract heading into 2021: Mariotasigned a one-year deal with $3.5 million guaranteed. He can earn more with incentives, up to $8 million,
Kyler Murray wants to be the long-term answer for the Cardinals at quarterback despite some offseason drama. It appears the feeling is mutual.Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury told reporters at the
Chris Slayton Jersey 2022 NFL Combine that he and Murray are in a "great place" and said that the team wants for him to be under center for the long haul."I think all our long-term goal here is to have Kyler be our quarterback, and he understands that, and he understands my view of him and how I feel about him and once again," Kingsbury said. "It's all part of the busine s right now and things we'll continue to work through.""Our longterm goal here is to
Deebo Samuel Hoodies Sweatshirts have Kyler be our quarterback.Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury addre ses the Kyler Murray drama. CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) MORE:Kingsbury's comments comes just a day removed from Murray's agent Erik Burkhardt who is also Kingsbury's agent releasing a statement saying that Murray wants to be the long-term quarterback in Arizona and that he had submitted a contract proposal to the team.A statement from Cardinals QB Kyler Murrays agent, : Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) Kingsbury said that he did not know the statement was going to be sent out, but noted that he had reviewed it. He said he has not spoken with Murray since the statement was released, but that they have been in contact during the offseason."It's part of the busine s," Kingsbury said. "He has a job to do and that's what he was doing."MORE:The statement by Murray came amid a tumultuous offseason that began with the .At the same time Murray scrubbed his social media, a report emerged that Murray felt
Jerry Rice Jersey he was being made the scapegoat for the team's disappointing wild-card round lo s to the Rams, while other sources described him as "self-centered, immature and someone who points fingers," .Murray later spoke out to say that he was not about and not long after that, a report came out from NFL Network's Jane Slater that the divide between the Cardinals and Murray had been smoothed over, . She also reported
Dante Pettis Jersey that the team is looking to either exercise his fifth-year option or sign him to a long-term deal.MORE: The last game of the season for Arizona undoubtedly left a sour taste in the mouths of the Cardinals, but it was still a step in the right direction.
Steve Young Jersey For the fourth straight season, the Cardinals had a better record than the prior year, and they reached the playoffs for the first time since 2015.Though Murray mi sed three games, he still finished the year with arguably his best season in his three years in the NFL, having completed 69.2 percent of his pa ses with 3,787 pa sing yards, 24 pa sing touchdowns and only 10 interceptions, while rushing 88 times for 423 yards and five scores.
Most ESPN MegaCasts have been "meh casts" when trying to find a compelling alternative broadcast version of a major sporting event the network covers. The "Manning Cast" of 'Monday Night Football' is must-see TV, every week.Unfortunately, we can only watch Peyton and Eli Manning watch and react to 'MNF' for nine more gamesthis season. As part of their
Nate Davis Jersey agreement, however, we will get the belovedmultiple Super Bowl-winning brothers 30 times in the next three seasons. ESPN needs to get to work on an extension to that, stat.There's no need to dig for a criticalreview of what the Mannings brought to a live NFL game. If you've seen everything they've done, from ESPN ads to DirecTV musical skits to Nationwide spots to producing quiz shows, you should know they are always a mega-hit because of their combined intelligence and humor. The only thing we didn't expect is how the Mannings even exceeded our high expectations during their Week 1 debut.It helped to get a between the Ravens and Raiders in raucous Las Vegas to give the Mannings great, extended content. Charles Barkley was a fine early cameo to bring more chuckles, but then the show got next level when two active superstars Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and the Seahawks quarterback Ru sell Wilson made extended appearances.MORE: While we wait for Peyton and Eli to officially form a three-man booth with brother Cooper to make , we will take this version and keep on loving it.When it wasPeyton was the straight question-asking man
Kevin Byard Jersey and Cooper was comic relief. The beauty of the Mannings is they can play either role at any time.We got their brother jokes about how big Peyton's forehead is and how slow Eli of a runner is. You also got the former quarterbacks trying to get into the mind of current quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Derek Carr and also break down all the key decisions by coaches John Harbaugh and Jon Gruden.Peyton Manning This helmet doesnt fitEli They didnt have a XXL helmet for that forehead gifdsports (@gifdsports) In one of the many amusing moments, Peyton even decided to take it a step further by role-playing Gruden during the telecast to help the viewers understand more about offense, in total Gruden 'MNF' style.Peyton is out here dre sed in full Gruden gear The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) There was wire-to-wire fun. Barkley brought his typical Barkley, like he had just walked off the "Inside the NBA" set, showing the same Kenny Smith chemistry with the Mannings.Kelce gave an important perspective with two fellow top tight ends, Darren Waller and Mark Andrews, in the game. He was a smart A-list get, knowing his Chiefs will be playing the Ravens in Baltimore next Sunday night.MORE: Then it went to a next level with Wilson right there to break down the fourth
David Long Jr. Jersey quarter and overtime. Wilson looked like he had his own future in television with his complementary observations and insight. The Mannings brought out his personality, which is easier said than done. Wilson, who had his own crazy ending in a big Super Bowl like Eli, was in the right place in the right time to also react to the Ravens-Raiders unbelievable ending."Did he say delay of game?""They
Caleb Farley Jersey didn't have a timeout? oh my gosh.""Now they gotta send the offense back??"Just complete disbelief by Eli, Peyton and Ru sell.What an ending. Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) When watching the Mannings and only the Mannings on "Monday Night Football,"there was no thought of what was being mi sed on ESPN with the regular crew of Steve Levy, Brian Griese and Louis Riddick. The Manning MegaCast had it all and then some. It had the feel of a beta test, with the network creating a complementary show that's competition for the main one to perhapssee if it can convince the Mannings to do this full time, still on their terms.Traditional sports viewing is fine, but it's 2021, when we have Nickelodeon doing NFL playoff games. The Mannings are breaking convention in their newest medium. To reach a casual audience who are staying more for what the Mannings are saying than who's playing on MNF, it was perfect. There was some of that raw "YouTok or TikTube" vibes that the kids love, but also the polish of the Mannings for more mature and le s cavalier football watchers.With the Mannings, you getthe most comprehensive and modern experience po sible. If you're not watching them when they're doing MNF
Denico Autry Jersey , you would be a lot le s entertained and informed.Fire alarm went off at Eli Mannings place during Monday Night Football.Big brother Peyton: Eli whatd you do? Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) At the end of an amazing Manning night of unscripted football fun, it was only natural a fire alarm went off in Eli's quarters.The Mannings were burning it up all night, and they will continue to burn brighter than the "real" ESPN MNF telecast whenever they get their chance to do so.
The Colts had trouble bridging the gap from Andrew Luck at quarterback last season. With Philip Rivers starting in 2020, Indianapolis is 5-3 going into the Week 10 Thursday night division battle at Tenne see and in AFC playoff contention under coach Frank Reich again.After finishing 7-9 with Jacoby Bri sett in 2019, the Colts decided to turn to the 38-year-old Rivers, signing him soon after he was released by his previous only NFL team, the Chargers, in March.In an offseason whenTom Brady, Teddy Bridgewater, Nick Foles,
Pittsburgh Steelers Jackets Andy Dalton, Joe Flacco and Cam Newton all changed teams, the Colts seemed to lock into their veteran QB replacement early. Here's a lookback at Indianapolis' reasoning for rolling with Rivers and the results so far:MORE:Why the Colts' signing of Philip Rivers made senseBri sett played at an average level last season. He wasn't much different from the younger QB who also started 15 times in 2017. He struggled to push the ball downfield and put up very similar numbers as a limited rusher.The Colts signed Bri sett through 2020 thinking he might be the short-term answer. But in the end, the dropoff to 7-9 from a 10-6 wild-card team in Luck's final season was unacceptable, given Indianapolis' strengths in its winning formula of running game and defense.Bridge QB situations tend to occur when there is a previous relationship with the coaching staff. For the Colts, it was Reich, who served as Rivers' quarterbacks coach and then offensive coordinator for the Chargers from 2013-'15.Rivers was rather efficient working with Reich with high volume when in San Diego, but it was a bit of mixed bag
Carlos Davis Jersey with Rivers struggling with pre sure and having his typical sporadic spike in interceptions. After Reich left San Diego for Philadelphia, Rivers three consecutive Pro Bowl seasons under replacement coordinatorKen Whisenhunt, the last two for offensive-minded head coach Anthony Lynn.There was hope Rivers could have one more late-career resurgence after going through more turnover troubles in 2019, getting a fresh boost from Reich's run-heavy system with a better line and a more diverse short-to-intermediate receiving corps. He hasn't quite lived up to that hope. The referenced media source is mi sing and needs to be re-embedded.But Rivers did come with a few question marksRivers did show some declining arm strength and got back into me sy gunslinging for the Chargers in 2019,to the point hitting 20 interceptions for the third time in his career couldn't be outweighed with enough big pa s plays. In relation now,the older Brady looks sharp in making all the throws for the Buccaneers, while the younger Bridgewater has been more efficient and effective having the same kind of supporting cast with the Panthers.Rivers, even with the league's mostpristine pa s protection, is well below Brady, Bridgewater and Foles in air yards. He's not ripping it up downfield and has
Pittsburgh Steelers Sleepwear Underwear 7 interceptions to go with 10 TD pa ses. He is slightly better than his slumping 2019, but not by much. He's become a care-taking distributor for a team that prefers to win with ball control and sometimes dominant defense from every level.Rivers does fit better what Reich and Nick Sirianni want to do offensively, vs. Bri sett, who was picked up for a different brand of West Coast scheme as an initial injuryfill-in for Luck in
JuJu Smith-Schuster Jersey '17. But to say it's a great return on investment with QB play is a stretch as Rivers' overall play is below average.What is Philip Rivers' contract with the Colts?Rivers was signed to a one-year deal worth $25 million. All of the money was guaranteed, like the $20 million Bri sett got in September 2019. Rivers got $12 million of that in signing bonus.In terms of average annual salary for this single season, Rivers ranks No. 14, behind the Lions' Matthew Stafford ($27 million) and Washington's Alex Smith ($23.5 million). Consider that ties with Rivers with three QBs of note who have performed considerably better than him in 2020: Brady, the Raiders' Derek Carr and the Saints' Drew Brees.MORE: Will the Colts re-sign Philip Rivers?Rivers will turn 39
Dan Moore Jr. Jersey in December with age and wear continuing to become bigger factors. There's nothing that says Rivers is the best QB option for Indianapolis in 2021. Bri sett is also headed to free agency.The Colts could turn the position over to rookie fourth-rounder Jacob Eason in his second year, but it's more likely they tap intothe 2021 draft for a longer-term solution. Even if they pick in the latter half of the first round, at a viable rookiefranchise QB, such as Alabama's Mac Jones or Florida's Kyle Trask.There are twoways the season can finishfor the Colts and the Rivers. The first is, he plays better in the second half, helping his team secure the AFC South title over the Titans. The second is, he deterioratesand the Colts also lose a wild-card position. Either way, Indianapolis should realize it has a limited ceiling with Rivers, not resembling their potential with Luck. That should point to them targeting their true succe sor next year.
Thanksgiving weekend marks the end of November action in the NFL. That means it's time to ramp up the positive results for the game picks and predictions against the spread.Week 12 of the 2021 season brings another set of tricky betting linesand odds. There are several to sup games with one team favored only slightly. That blurs the line betweenagainst the spread and straight upBut this isn't dubbed a fearle s forecast for nothing. For better or for worse, here's the latest round of pro pigskin prognostications for another 15-game slate:(Game odds courtesy of ) NFL POWER RANKINGS:Cardinals back to No. 1; Chiefs, Patriots rise as Cowboys, Bills fall for Week 12 NFL picks against the spread for Week 12Game of the Week: Rams (-1.5, 47 o/u) at PackersSunday 4:25p.m. ET, Fox The Packers lost a wild shootout in
John Randle Jersey Minnesota but still got back to rolling with Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams in the pa sing game. In this divisional playoff rematch, they will flex a little more in the running game in Lambeau Field with more of A.J. Dillon filling in for Aaron Jones. After a bye, Sean McVay's offense will clean up some things, leading to an exciting duel between Rodgers and old NFC Northfoe Matthew Stafford. Rodgers is just bound to make fewer mistakes at home and exploit the weakne ses around Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey better than Stafford does against an overachieving Green Bay defense.Pick: Packers win 30-24.Thanksgiving: Bears (-3.5, 41.5
Minnesota Vikings Hats o/u)at Lions Thursday 12:30p.m. ET, FoxThe Bears are going back to starting Andy Dalton after rookie first-rounder Justin Fields got knocked out with an injury to his ribs against the Ravens. The Lions may stick with Tim Boyle over Jared Goff, who mi sed all of Week 11 at the Browns with an oblique injury.Detroit created some ugly games in Pittsburgh and Cleveland with a run-heavy, gritty defensive approach. But its last two home games against Cincinnati and Philadelphia were disasters. Chicago has good recent history in Ford Field, including two consecutive Thanksgiving game wins.The Bears are mi sing key defensive players but still hve plenty of offense in this matchup to support Dalton, led by running back David Montgomery and breakout wide receiver Darnell Mooney. The Lions will try to ride D'Andre Swift to victory in the backfield, but their lack of reliable downfield pa sing game hurts here. Whether it's Fields or Dalton, the Bears will break out of scoring in the teens and execute enough to delay the end of the Matt Nagy era.Pick: Bears win 27-17 and cover the spread.Result: Bears win 16-14 but fail to cover the spread.Thanksgiving: Raiders at Cowboys (-7, 51o/u) Thursday4:30p.m. ET, CBS The Raiders are back to fading hardout of the AFC playoff picture. They can no longer run the ball and play adequate defense, which is putting a lot of pre sure on Derek Carr in what's become a compre sed pa sing game again. All those developments are bad for facing the Cowboys. Dallas had the Denver hiccup at home but has otherwise rolled in Jerry World.The Cowboys' offense will bewithout former Raiders wideout Amari Cooper (COVID-19) and likely also new top target CeeDee Lamb (concu sion). They were kept out of the end zone in Kansas City last week as both Dak Prescott and the running game struggled. Look for them to go back to basics with the backfield of Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard, with more short-to-intermediate pa sing and still just enough receiving pop with Michael Gallup and Cedrick Willson.The Raiders can do some damage with Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow inside for Carr, but again he'll be under siege and make critical mistakes as
Garrett Bradbury Jersey Dan Quinn's defense schemes to confuse him.Pick:Cowboys win 27-17and cover the spread.Result: Raiders win 36-33. Thanksgiving: Bills(-4, 46.5) at SaintsThursday8:20 p.m. ET, NBCThe Bills have lost their way offensively as the big plays downfield have been taken away from Josh Allen and they struggle to support him with a traditional running game. Allen needsto rely more on his own athleticism to make plays, takinga cue from what Jalen Hurts did against the Saints' defense. Throwing a lot more to Stefon Diggs and Dawson Knox on short-to-intermediate routes is also a smart,
Zack Bailey Jersey patient game plan.The Saints are uncertain to have Alvin Kamara (knee) back on a short week after he mi sed the past two games. The Bills' run defense should be motivated to show the Jonathan Taylor debacle at home was a fluke. Trevor Siemianshould see plenty of pre sure and won't see much open available with his limited receiver and tight end committee.Pick: Bills win 27-17and cover the spread.Result: Bills win 31-6 and cover the spread.Lock of the Week: Patriots (-7,43.5 o/u) over TitansSunday 1p.m. ET, CBSThe Patriots are putting it all together with their defense, special teams, running game and now more from rookie Mac Jones in an efficient downfield pa sing game. Bill Belchick has been foiled by his former linebacker Mike Vrabel's team in big spots but Vrabel is dealing with a shorthanded deck, making their once explosive offense easy to defend while they remain a lot of key fundamental holes in the defense. Ryan Tannehill was burned plenty by Belichick in AFC East play and his sudden Henry-le s slump doesn't bode well to put up more points than Jones does.Pick: Patriots win 24-10 and cover the spread.Upset of the Week: Giants (+3.5, 45.5 o/u) overEaglesSunday 1p.m. ET, FoxThe Giants are coming off tough Monday night home game vs. the Buccaneers. The Eagles have been red-hot of late, doing damage with Jalen Hurts leading a run-heavy approach. They also have been careful with limited receiving optionsfor Hurts. Danel Jones' team
Ameer Abdullah Jersey has been playing spoiler for fringe playoff teams ahead of them, including the Saints, Panthers and Raiders. New Yorkwould love nothing more than to burn Philadelphia with Saquon Barkley and a high-percentage pa sing game from Jones, who makes a few more plays at home to beatHurts.Pick: Giants win 24-23. Jets at Texans(-2.5, 44.5o/u) Sunday 1 p.m.ET, Fox The Jets get a break here because the Texans aren't an effective rushing by committee team away from old Bills rival QB Tyrod Taylor. Even down rookie running back Michael Carter, they have the better collection of versatile playmakers to help whoever's starting opposite Taylor. Robert Saleh's defense also packs a little more punch than David Culley's.Pick: Jets win 17-14.Buccaneers (-3.5, 53o/u) at ColtsSunday 1 p.m. ET, Fox Tom Brady should be comfortable moving the ball on the Colts' zone defense and should Vita Vea return for the Bucs as expected, they can at least slow
When the Falcons signed Todd Gurley soon after he was released by the Rams in March, they also acquired the mystery of his knee injury history.Nearly twomonths after his team addedthe two-time All-Pro running back, Atlanta's offensive coordinator, Dirk Koetter, admitted in a video call with local reporters that there are concerns about whether Gurley will be healthy enough to contribute in 2020.Here it is in video form: "The main question, that no one seems to know, is what is his health status?"
Chris Carson Jersey Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) MORE: What Koetter says isfair,given that Gurley hasn't had a chance to both get and pa s a physical since the signing. But being too brutally honest with the situation wasn't the best idea, given that the Falcons' front office expre sed great confidence in Gurley's future health statuswhen
Warren Moon Jersey giving him a one-year, $5 million deal to replace the released Devonta Freeman.The Falcons were expected to selecta running back at some point during the 2020 NFL Draft for further insurance regardle s, but they instead rested on the three backs they took on Day 3 in the past three drafts in order:Ito Smith, Brian Hill and Qadree Ollison. Gurley's age (26 in August) might suggest he can still handle a feature role, but the reality is, his heavy Rams
Benson Mayowa Jersey mileage and the wear and tear that came with it say he's better off with a more managed workload.The Falcons' recent best backfield history has been a committee of Freeman and Tevin Coleman. Last season, with Freeman hurt often and Coleman gone in free agency, the rushing attack in Koetter's return ranked No. 30 in the NFL.During Koetter's previous stint as Atlanta's offensive coordinator from 2012 to 2014, he also employed committees that included Michael Turner, Steven Jackson and Freeman in the early-down power roles and
Seattle Seahawks Sleepwear Underwear Jacquizz Rodgers as the change of pace receiving back. Based on his comments and play-calling past,overextending Gurley doesn't seem to be in Atlanta's plans.MORE: Gurley, in his bestyears, has been a prolific, explosive between-the-tackles runner all the way through the red zone. With Sean McVay's offense in Los Angeles, he also became a top-flight busy receiver, leading the NFL with 2,093 yards from scrimmage.Because of that skill set, Koetter did add that he thinks Gurley is "a heck of a player." The Falcons desperately need a 15-to-20touch Gurley to improve an anemic running game and support a strong pa sing game, given thatSmith, Hill and Ollison, for
Jamarco Jones Jersey one reason or another, weren't effective filling in for Freeman last season.With the current uncertainty about Gurley's health expre sed by Koetter, there's now a lot more uncertainty about how much the Falcons can and will use Gurleyin 2020.
Pa s-catchersOdell Beckham Jr., Will Fuller, and Evan Engram were all inactive last week but all look on track to suit up in Week 3. Amari Cooper was injured late in his Week 2 game, so we'll have to monitor him moving forward. We'll provide the latest news hereand do our best to figure out who will benefit in fantasy if any of these pa s-catchers
Taysom Hill T Shirts are inactive in Week 3. Injuries always affect rankings, so be sure to check our updated rankings if one or more of these players' statuses head south.For updates on banged-up QBs Carson Wentz, Andy Dalton, Tua Tagovailoa, and Tyrod Taylor,click here; for the latest on Diontae Johnson, Darrell Henderson, Jarvis Landry, and more, go here; for news on Josh Jacobs, Trey Sermon, and JaMycal Hasty, go here. For all the latest fantasy news, follow us on Twitter .WEEK 3 PPR RANKINGS: | | | | | Amari Cooper injury updateCooper suffered bruised ribs in Week 2 (@ Chargers), but he was able to walk off the field on his own and didn't require medical attention beyond a quick checkup. For now, his injury is of almost zero concern and should not affect his availability or quality of play. Keep an eye on him moving forward, but it doesn't look like there'sa cause for worry at this time.Jerry Jones has
Jeff Heath Jersey said he "hopes Cooper can play" on Monday against Philadelphia,but this feels more like a smoke-screen heading into a game. We'll update this further if things change. If he does suffer a setback, CeeDee Lamb should be buried in targets, while Cedrick Wilson and the tight ends will getincreased roles in the offense.For Week 3, Cooper is our and . The Eagles' defense has looked impre sive through the first two weeks of the season, but Cooper is still a must-start, even after a down week.WEEK 3 STANDARD RANKINGS: | | | | | Is Odell Beckham Jr. playing in Week 3?While we can't know for sure yet if Beckham (knee) is going to suit up for Week 3 (vs. Bears), all signs point in that direction. According toy.The Browns could really use him, as Jarvis Landry is dealing with an MCL sprain that will sideline him for a few weeks.If OBJdoes mi s again,Austin Hooper and David Njoku are probably the ones who benefit the most in fantasy, but Anthony Schwartz, Rashard Higgins, and Donovan Peoples-Jones are the next WRs on the depth chart.That said, we must temper expectations for Beckham's first action. On top of that, the Browns remain a run-first teamand won't lose sleep over Beckham grabbing very few targets.
Malcolm Jenkins Jersey The Bears' defense looked awful against the Rams but looked solid vs. Cincinnati, so it's tough to know how good they are on that side of the ball. Beckham comes in at and in in our Week 3 WR rankings,although he does have the talent to be a game-changer as soon as he steps on the field.MORE WEEK 3: | |Is Will Fuller playing in Week 3?After mi sing Week 1 for a PED suspensionand Week 2 for a personal matter, Fuller . We'll have to continue to monitor Tua Tagovailoa's rib injury, but his X-Rays came back negative, so his availability is to be determined.That said,
Ryan Ramczyk Jersey Fuller takes a slight bump down in rankingsif Tua is inactive and Jacoby Bri sett is starting for Miami. We currently rankDolphins' pa s-catchers as if Bri sett will be the guy, so while they don't fall dramatically, they do fall a little bit. For Week 3, Fuller is the and . All it would take is a long touchdown for him to crush those rankings, but it's tough to justify putting him ahead of some of the guys he trails with all the uncertainty surrounding his situation.Is Evan Engram playing in Week 3?There aren't a ton of updates on Engram (calf) just yet, but he's progre sing and was close to playing in Week 2. For now, we speculate that he will play, but keep an eye out for further updates. Oddly enough, he might be
New Orleans Saints Pet Gear a guy to target in DFS. Daniel Jones has looked pretty solid this year, and Engram is dirt cheap in DFS going against the Falcons defense. Atlanta has already given up three touchdowns to tight ends through the first two games, so it might be worth a shot.We ranked Engram as he will be active in Week 3. He's our and . It may seem high, but tight end production has been putrid over the first two weeks, even more than we expected.
Cleveland and playoff heartbreak often go hand-in-hand, and the Browns' latest
Denzel Perryman Jersey postseason lo s wasno exception.It's easy to harp on Rashard Higgins' fumble out of the end zone in the first half after and label it "The Touchback." It's easy to wonder how the defense allowed backup quarterback Chad Henne's third-down scramble and ensuing fourth-and-1 conversion to Tyreek Hill that closed out Kansas City's 22-17 victory in the AFC divisional playoffs on Sunday.VIDEO: That type of playoff pain now runs through at least three generations of fans since the franchise's last NFL championship in 1964.Here is the alternative viewpoint: Cleveland proved it belonged on thisstage, and the franchise will be back on it in the near future under coach Kevin Stefanski. Sunday was a learning experience, and the Browns will benefit from it in the next few seasons.The biggest le son? Cleveland did not take advantage of an opportunity to upset the defending Super Bowl champions when .The Browns had the ball with eight minutes left and trailing by five after Karl Joseph intercepted an ill-advised pa s from Henne into the
NFL Las Vegas Raiders Jersey end zone. They then ran six plays, burned a timeout and faced a fourth-and-9 from their 32-yard line with 4:19 remaining. Stefanski opted to punt, and that will be the decision that maybe sticks the longest.MORE: Stefanski might win NFL Coach of the Year, but the call gave Reid who was dogged through 21 seasons as a head coach for not winning a Super Bowl before last season the advantage right back.It turned into a giant mi sed opportunity. That is how slim the margin for error is in the postseason.Henne made two big plays, a third-and-14 scramble and a veteran move on fourth-and-1 to snap the ball from his 48. Henne, who lost four straight games to Ohio State with Michigan from 2004-07, got some twisted, long-awaited payback in the pros.MORE: Yeah, that's going to hurt in Cleveland. It's supposed to hurt. It'sthe kind of pain the franchise hasn't felt since the 1985 season. That's when the Dolphins rallied from a 21-3 deficit behind Dan Marino for a 24-21 victory in the AFC divisional playoffs on Jan. 4, 1986.The Browns went to the AFC championship game three of the next four seasons, where they experienced next-level heartache at the hands of the Broncos. This lo s, while painful, is nowhere near at that level for the second- and third-generation die-hards.Can this generation's Cleveland team get to that level?There should be reason for optimism. Baker Mayfield turned the corner in his third season. Stefanski maximized the quarterback's abilities after Odell Beckham Jr.'s season-ending injury, and the tandem of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt felt like Kevin Mack and Earnest Byner all over again. Mayfield and Chubb have one year left on their respective contracts, and Hunt has two years remaining.Mayfield will learn from
Darron Lee Jersey this, too. He finished 23 of 37 for 204 yards, a TD and an interception the Chiefs failed to capitalize on, but he was also just 12 of 20 for 70 yards in the second half. The Browns rushed for just 18 yards in the first half; they finished with 112.Myles Garrett, who had a sack on the play before Henne's scramble, is locked in through 2026. He had 12 sacks this season and will continue to lead a defense that needs to improve on the back end around cornerback Denzel Ward. The unitcould not get that one stop in the end, but that, too, ispart of the playoff proce s.Cleveland is no longer a joke. It was the last team left standing in the AFC playoffs among their divisional brethren, even if their lo s came just one day after the Bills bounced the Ravens. The Steelers have more offseason questions than the Browns after their turnover-laced implosion in the wild-card round, and the Bengals are a few steps behind
Derek Carr Jersey as they rebuild around No. 1 pick Joe Burrow.Thank Stefanski for that. He's the franchise's modern-day Marty Schottenheimer, and he proved it in an impo sibly difficult 2020 season. Stefanski will learn from his decision, and the Browns should evolve. Cleveland will be picked to win the AFC North in 2021, and unlike in 2019, that prediction has substance.Of course, nobody will want to talk about that for the next 48 hours. Cleveland fans will lament the helmet-to-helmet hit on Higgins and the fumble-out-of-the-end-zone rule. They will wonder how Henne made that first down happen, and they will question Stefanski for his decision on fourth-and-9.MORE: They shouldn't have to dwell on those forever. That's another part of the playoff proce s, and for a franchise that knows all too well "there's always next year," those prospects will be far more exciting when the pain subsides, especially when they watch their Great Lakes cousins in Buffalo take a swing at Kansas City in the AFC championship game.Thishurts, but it's a different kind of pain. It should
Carl Nassib Jersey come with knowing that more playoff excitement is in the near future.Succe s will be hand-in-hand soon enough.
If you're out of the fantasy football playoffs, fear not. There are still ways for you to get in on the Week 15 NFL action, and that includes NFL DFS contests. This week's slate looks like a favorable one for daily fantasy football players, as plenty of high-upside options are available when craftingDraftKings and FanDuel lineups. Of course, it's important to be a bit outside the box in your approach, and that's why stacking
Drew Desjarlais Jersey has become a popular strategy.Creating a stack can give your lineup an opportunity for double points, but it also can create key lineup differentiation too. Not everyone likes stacking some prefer to spread the wealth so by stacking, you're already gaining a slight competitive advantage. And if you can get really creative in your approach, that will give you a really unique lineup with high upside.WEEK 15 DFS LINEUPS: | |When looking at stacking opportunities, it's important to rely on good offenses in favorable matchups. You can also look at which games project to be the highest-scoring of the week and use that to influence your decisions. Either way, stacks should help you compete for the top prizes in DraftKings and FanDuel tournaments and can even help you stay competitive in cash games, too.DraftKings pricing continues to be more variable than that of FanDuel which makes it easier to create stacks. That said, stacking is still a viable strategy on FanDuel. It's just important to find worthwhile sleepers in the lower price range to balance your lineup.Below are some of our favorite sets of teammates for DraftKings and FanDuel lineups. Be sure to follow our Twitter account to see all of our DFS content heading into kickoff every week.Week 15 NFL DFS Picks: Top cash game stacks for DraftKings, FanDuelQB Kyler Murray, WR Christian Kirk, & WR A.J. Green, Cardinals at Lions (DK/FDStack) Poor Detroit. They just got pummeled by the Broncos while nearly half of their team dealt with COVID or the flu, and now they are going to face the Cardinals coming off a lo s. The Lions won't stand a chance against Arizona and itsweapons. James Conner will surely do a lot of damage on the ground, but after what transpired in the Cardinals' lo s, it would be surprising if Kyler Murray and Co. didn't come out firing early.Murray completed a season-low 65.3 percent of his pa ses against the Rams in Week 14. He threw for 383 yards and ran for 61 more, but he didn't log a touchdown. That marked the most total yards by a quarterback without a TD in nearly a decade.Kyler Murray finished with 444 pa sing + rush yards, the most he's ever had in a game.That
Ben Coates Jersey said, he also had 0 pa s TD and 0 rush TD.That's the most in a game with no touchdowns since... Matthew Stafford had 445 in 2012. ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) Additionally, Murray threw two interceptions and had a couple more dropped. Needle s to say, he will want to perform better and prove that game was just a fluke.The Lions rank just middle-of-the-pack in terms of fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks, but that's partly because they haven't allowed a quarterback rushing touchdown this year. Murray is one of the most mobile quarterbacks the Lions will face in addition to Lamar Jackson, so they could struggle with Murray.And while the Lions are mid-tier against receivers, they simply don't have the talent needed to slow down Kirk and Green, who are both big-play pa s-catchers who should see more targets with DeAndre Hopkins (knee) out. As such, rolling
Yasir Durant Jersey with that trio is a good move. TrustingJames Conner and the Cardinals D/STis another appealing alternative if you believe that Arizona will take a run-heavy approach in this one.WEEK 15 PPR RANKINGS: | | | | | QB Matthew Stafford, WR Cooper Kupp, & WR Van Jefferson,Rams vs. Seahawks (DKStack) UPDATE:The Rams-Seahawks game has been moved to Tuesday, so Rams players are no longer eligible for Sunday contests.The Rams' pa sing offense has hit its stride in recent weeks, and Matthew Stafford has racked up at least 23.5 DK points in his past three outings. It seems likely his succe s will continue as he faces the Seahawks for the second time this season.The Seahawks have allowed the most pa sing yards to quarterbacks this season at a mark of 3,770. They have been stingier in terms of touchdowns allowed, especially on the ground, but it's not like Stafford is a running threat anyway. Stafford can take advantage of Seattle's secondary, which is without Tre Brown and Jamal Adams for the rest of the season, and he should post more than the
David Andrews Jersey 20.5 points he racked up in Week 5 while dealing with a banged-up finger.You can really take your pick of any Rams' receivers for this one, as Stafford has targeted Kupp, Beckham and Van Jefferson a lot over the past three games. That said, Kupp gets the most catches which makes him an ideal fit in our DraftKings lineup while Beckham has a TD in three straight and is emerging as the team's true No. 2 receiver with his performance. That said, Beckham is on the COVID list so it's probably best to roll with Jefferson this week since he costs just $200 more than Beckham anyway. If OBJ plays though, both are good options.Dolphins starting RB and Dolphins D/ST, Dolphins vs. Jets(DK/FD Stack) UPDATE:Gaskin and Ahmed have been activated off the reserve/COVID list, and Gaskin is fully expected to start.This is a bit of a copout here, but we truly don't know who will be available at running back for the Dolphins as of this writing. Their top three options at the position Myles Gaskin, Salvon Ahmed and Phillip Lindsay are all on the COVID list, so only Duke Johnson and Gerrid Doaks, both practice squad players, are available. Malcolm Brown (quad) is still technically on IR, but he could be available, too. Still, no matter who plays, the Dolphins' RB will be an appealing option. Why? Because the Jets are horrendous against the run and will struggle immensely to stop their opponent, whoever it may be.The Jets have allowed a league-high 23 total touchdowns to running backs this year. How bad is that? The second-worst team, the Lions, allowed four combined TDs to Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon last week and they'restillbehind the Jets. New York is simply that bad at stopping the run.The Dolphins didn't run the ball particularly well last time they played the Jets, but their backs still generated 111 rushing yards on 28 attempts. If a bulk of those go to one guy, a Dolphins RB will pay off. The Dolphins backs won't be cheap, so keep an eye on this scenario.And in case you're wondering, here's what their depth chart will look like if
Devin McCourty Jersey all of the players are able to play.Myles GaskinSalvon AhmedPhillip LindsayMalcolm Brown (if activated)Duke JohnsonGerrid DoaksWEEK 15 STANDARD RANKINGS: | | | | | Week 15 DraftKings, FanDuel Picks: Best stac
Putting together fantasy wide receiver rankings for Week 3 feels like a fool's errand in many ways. There are so many injuries up and down the ranks, starting at the top withMichael Thomas, Chris Godwin, Davante Adams, and A.J. Brown. As we move down, we encounter guys like Kenny Golladay, Courtland Sutton, Jamison Crowder,and Parris Campbell -- all of whom matterwho matter in some form. (Update: Sutton, Campbell, Thomas, Adams, Crowder, and Brown are all not expected to play.)Hopefully you havehealthy wideouts or a good position in your league's waiver orderbecause you'll need it -- just like we'll need an eraser for the frequent updates we'll be making to this list throughout the week.We won't have a good read on all the injuries until later in the week, so our time right now is better spent analyzing what we should and shouldn't believe in so
Aaron Parker Jersey far. One team that has us believing in all of its key receivers is theFalcons. They seem intent on throwing the football all over the place, mostly to Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley and Ru sell Gage. Jones and Ridley are unquestioned every-week starts at this point, while Gage is worth adding and considering in PPR formats and some deeper standard leagues, too.WEEK 3 PPR RANKINGS: | | | | There are now two weeks to make us believers in Marquez Valdes-Scantling, too. Aaron Rodgers hit him deep again in Week 2 and only an ankle tackle prevented a touchdown. He's the type of boom-or-bust WR3 that DeSean Jackson, Mike Williams, Brandin Cooks, andBreshad Perriman aresupposed to be, but perhaps MVS is ushering in a new era. At least we can count on John Brown in that role. On the flip side, we were let down last week by Scotty Miller with Chris Godwin out -- not every future Hall-of-Fame quarterback can make magic happen for our sleepers, apparently, but a Week 3 matchup with Denver could get him back on track, as Tenne see and Pittsburgh both had succe s through the air against the Broncos.WEEK 3 STANDARD RANKINGS: | | | | | Other players who impre sed us in Week 2 and appear to be on the rise
D.J. Moore Jersey : CeeDee Lamb, the Cowboys rookie who had 106 receiving yards; Diontae Johnson, who found the end zone receiving and almost returned a punt for a TD, too; Laviska Shenault, who not only caught three more pa ses but also ran the football five times (UPDATE: He's an appealing play with DJ Chark out on Thursday night); and KJ Hamler, who showed his explosivene s all over the Denver offense but might be a few weeks away from making a real impact now that Jeff Driskel figures to be in for Drew Lock (shoulder).WEEK 3 DFS CASH LINEUPS: | |Again, these rankings are just a rough draft, as injuries figure to once again wreak havoc with this position. Fortunately, there are always new options, so we'll stay on top of all the changes.WEEK 3 DFS TOURNAMENT LINEUPS: | | Note:We'll continue to update our WR rankings throughout the week, so check back for the latest movement and individual player analysis.MORE WEEK 3 DFS: | | Week 3Fantasy WR Rankings (Standard)These rankings are for non-PPR leagues. WEEK 3: | |RankPlayer1DeAndre Hopkins, ARZ vs. DET2Chris Godwin, TB @ DEN.Godwin has
Phil Hoskins Jersey to clear concu sion protocol to play. If he's active, he's in your lineup.3Amari Cooper, DAL @ SEA4Allen Robinson, CHI @ ATL5Julio Jones, ATL vs. CHI.Jones was dinged up Sunday, and he saw the Atlanta production go more toward Calvin Ridley and Ru sell Gage, though he dropped a sure TD that would've made his final statline much more palatable. Julio is still an every-week fantasy starter, though.6Odell Beckham Jr., CLE vs. WAS.Finally, OBJ and Baker Mayfield connected for a long touchdown. Hopefully that's a sign of good things to come.7JuJu Smith-Schuster, PIT vs. HOU8Tyreek Hill, KC @ BAL.Baltimore has multiple strong cornerbacks that it will use to try and slow down Hill, but because of his potentialto find the end zone from anywhere on the field, you can't consider sitting Hill this week or any week.9Calvin Ridley, ATL vs. CHI.Ridley has elevated himself to WR 1B in the Atlanta offense, and he's an every-week start until further notice, even against a Bears defense that held the Giants in total check.10Keenan Allen, LAC vs. CAR11Kenny Golladay, DET @ ARZ12Mike Evans, TB @ DEN13Tyler Lockett, SEA vs. DAL.The Patriots couldn't scheme to stop Lockett, so at this point, no one can. He's matchup-proof, and the Cowboys just allowed a huge day to the Atlanta pa sing game, so Lockett should be licking his chops.14Adam Thielen, MIN vs. TEN15DeVante Parker, MIA @ JAX.Parker appears to be healthy, and Jacksonville is more likely to allow big plays to Parker than to shut him down. It'
Jake Delhomme Jersey s hard to ever predict where Ryan Fitzpatrick will throw the ball, but this is as good of a matchup as he'll see all year.16Terry McLaurin, WAS @ CLE17Robert Woods, LAR @ BUF.Woods got a big contract and a rushing touchdown in the same weekend -- good for him. Now he gets a revenge game against the Bills. Since Tre'Davious White is more likely to guard Cooper Kupp, you can feel good about Woods in any format here.18DK Metcalf, SEA vs. DAL.Metcalf beat Stephon Gilmore for a deep touchdown on Sunday Night Football. Ifyou needed any proof that he's taken another step in Year Two, that was it.19Marquise Brown, BAL vs. KC20Cooper Kupp, LAR @ BUF.Kupp's more likely to see Tre White than Woods is, although these wideouts move all over the formation enough that
J.J. Jansen Jersey you can probably continue to start Kupp, too.21Stefon Diggs, BUF vs. LAR.Diggs might match up with Jalen Ramsey in this one, but it's hard to sit Diggs coming off such a big Week 2. He's a flex play at minimum, even in shallow leagues.22T.Y. Hilton, IND vs. NYJ23Diontae Johnson, PIT vs. HOU.Johnson looks to be one of Ben Roethlisberger's favorite receivers, often utilizing cro sing patterns to get open again and again with his dynamic speed. And if you're in leagues that count return yardage, too, Johnson is one of the top options you could have.24D.J. Moore, CAR @ LAC25Julian Edelman, NE vs. LV.Edelman managed a caree
