New on Sports Illustrated: WNBA Awards: Aces Guard Kelsey Plum Wins Sixth Player of the Year

<a href="https://www.si.com/wnba/2021/09/30/kelsey-plum-sixth-player-of-the-year-wnba-awards"> <p class="subtitle">Eight times this season Plum scored 20 or more points off the Aces' bench.</p> <p>Aces guard Kelsey Plum was named the WNBA's Sixth Player of the Year on Thursday. </p> <p>Plum received 41 votes from a national panel of 49 sportswriters and broadcasters.</p> <p>Her teammate and two-time Sixth Woman of the Year winner Dearica Hamby finished as the runner-up with five votes. Wings guard Marina Mabrey received two votes to finish third.</p> <p>Plum starred in her first season back after missing the 2020 campaign to rehab an Achilles tear, scoring coring a career-high 14.8 points per game off Las Vegas’s bench. Eight times this season she scored 20 or more points.  </p> <p>After helping to lead USA Basketball's three-on-three team to an Olympic gold medal, she returned stateside and flourished. By the end of the regular season, Plum was playing her best basketball of the year, averaging 21.7 points, 3.2 assists and 1.5 steals per game. For her efforts, she was named the Western Conference Player of the Month.</p> <p>In Tuesday's Game 1 win over the Mercury, she continued her run of strong play by scoring 25 points in 26 minutes.</p> <p>Aces general manager Dan Padover was named the league's Executive of the Year for the second consecutive season on Thursday. The voting was comprised of one basketball executive from each WNBA team</p> <p>Earlier this week,</p> </a> <a href="https://www.si.com/wnba/2021/09/28/jonquel-jones-wnba-mvp-award-brionna-jones-curt-miller">Sun forward Jonquel Jones took home the league's MVP award, while teammate Brionna Jones won the Most Improved Player award and coach Curt Miller was named the Coach of the Year.</a> Minnesota's Sylvia Fowles <a href="https://www.si.com/wnba/2021/06/24/sylvia-fowles-minnesota-lynx-leader">was named the league's Defensive Player of the Year on Sunday.</a> <p>The Aces are the No. 2 seed in this year's playoffs and host the Mercury in Game 2 of their series on Thursday night. </p> <p><strong>More WNBA Coverage:</strong></p> <ul> <li><strong><a href="https://www.si.com/wnba/2021/09/28/jonquel-jones-connecticut-sun-mvp-daily-cover">Jonquel Jones Has Learned How to Learn</a></strong></li> <li><strong><a href="https://www.si.com/wnba/2021/09/22/awards-mvp-jonquel-jones-defensive-player-year-sylvia-fowles?utm_source=recommendations&utm_medium=in-article&utm_campaign=end-of-story?utm_source=recommendations&utm_medium=in-article&utm_campaign=end-of-story">Our 2021 WNBA Award Picks</a></strong></li> <li><strong><a href="https://www.si.com/wnba/2021/09/23/roundtable-playoff-predictions-connecticut-sun-las-vegas-aces">Roundtable: Our 2021 WNBA Playoff Predictions</a></strong></li> <li><strong><a href="https://www.si.com/wnba/2021/09/20/wnba-vaccination-99-percent-daily-cover?utm_source=recommendations&utm_medium=in-article&utm_campaign=end-of-story">What Can We Learn From the WNBA’s Vaccination Success?</a></strong></li> <li><strong><a href="https://www.si.com/wnba/2021/09/16/new-york-liberty-michaela-onyenwere-rookie-year?utm_source=recommendations&utm_medium=in-article&utm_campaign=end-of-story">Likely Rookie of the Year Michaela Onyenwere Has Surpassed Expectations</a></strong></li> </ul>

New on Sports Illustrated: WNBA Awards: Aces Guard Kelsey Plum Wins Sixth Player of the Year

Eight times this season Plum scored 20 or more points off the Aces' bench. Aces guard Kelsey Plum was named the WNBA's Sixth Playe...

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New on Sports Illustrated: Report: Former Players Accuse NC Courage Coach Paul Riley of Sexual Coercion

<a href="https://www.si.com/soccer/2021/09/30/paul-riley-sexual-coercion-nc-courage-nwsl-report"> <p class="subtitle">Former players have accused the North Carolina Courage manager of sexual coercion in a new report by The Athletic.</p> <p>Former players accused North Carolina Courage coach Paul Riley of sexual coercion and of the use inappropriate comments about players' weight and sexual orientations, spanning multiple teams and leagues and lasting over a decade, in a</p> </a><a href="https://theathletic.com/2857633/2021/09/30/this-guy-has-a-pattern-amid-institutional-failure-former-nwsl-players-accuse-prominent-coach-of-sexual-coercion/">report by the <em>The Athletic</em>'s Meg Linehan and Katie Strang. </a> <p>One of the former players, Sinead Farrelly, detailed to <em>The Athletic</em> a 2011 incident in which she, while playing for the Women’s Professional Soccer league's Philadelphia Independence, alleges Riley coerced her into having sex with him and spending the night in his room. The sexual coercion toward Farrelly, who is now retired, continued during the offseason as well as while she played for a semi-pro team Riley coached on Long Island in ’12, she said. </p> <p>Both Farrelly and another player, Mana Shim, detailed another alleged incident in 2015 where Riley led both then Portland Thorns teammates to his hotel room after a night of drinking and pressured them to kiss each other as he watched. He also sent an unsolicited lurid picture of himself to both, they players said.</p> <p>Other unnamed Thorns players from the 2014–15 season said Riley also made inappropriate remarks about their weight and sexual orientation. </p> <p>Riley responded to a list of nearly two-dozen questions from <em>The Athletic</em> by saying that the majority of the allegations are “completely untrue.”</p> <p>Following <em>The Athletic</em>’s publication of its story, <a href="https://twitter.com/nwsl_players/status/1443534649649627147">the National Women's Soccer League Players Association called for an investigation</a> into the allegations against Riley, and an investigation as to how Riley was rehired in the NWSL by the Western New York Flash in 2016, just months after allegations of misconduct were first brought against him in ’15.</p> <p>The NWSLPA also said it supports Kaiya McCullough, who was part of a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/08/11/richie-burke-nwsl-spirit-verbal-abuse/"><em>Washington Post</em> investigation</a> into former Spirit coach Richie Burke</p> <p>"We, the players of the NWSL, stand with Sinead Farrelly, Mana Shim, Kaiya McCullough, and each of the players who have brought their stories into the light — both known and unknown. Words cannot adequately capture our anger, pain, sadness, and disappointment," the statement said.</p> <p>The players’ union additionally called for the suspension of any person working within the league who violated its anti-harassment policy for a safe work environment—whether the alleged conduct occurred before or after the policy's implementation in 2021—and said it was creating an anonymous hotline for players to report abuse.</p> <p>Alex Morgan, who was a teammate of Farrelly and Shim on the Thorns at the time of the 2014–15 allegations, voiced her support for the all players involved. Veteran USWNT defender Becky Sauerbrunn <a href="https://twitter.com/beckysauerbrunn/status/1443603243980910592">shared</a> the NWSLPA's statement and added, "Do not ignore this."</p> <div> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/alexmorgan13/status/1443566185572970496"></a></blockquote> <script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div> <p>Nadia Nadim, a striker on Racing Louisville FC who previously also played for the Thorns, called the NWSL "such a joke," <a href="https://twitter.com/nadia_nadim/status/1443585870024503314">writing on Twitter</a>, "The rest of the world is laughing. We’re nothing but a joke. The players deserve more." </p> <div> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/nadia_nadim/status/1443585870024503314"></a></blockquote> <script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div> <p><em>The Athletic</em>'s report Thursday comes on the heels of Tuesday’s league announcement that Burke had been fired for cause after he was <a href="https://www.si.com/soccer/2021/08/11/richie-burke-suspended-washington-spirit-verbal-emotional-abuse">suspended for allegations of verbal and emotional abuse</a> in August.</p> <p>The NWSL conducted a third-party investigation after <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/08/11/richie-burke-nwsl-spirit-verbal-abuse/"><em>The Washington Post</em> detailed Burke's alleged inappropriate conduct</a> last month. It then expanded its investigation after <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/09/28/nwsl-investigation-washington-spirit-richie-burke/">more troubling allegations concerning owner Steven Baldwin</a> came to the surface, shedding light on a toxic club culture.</p> <p>Over the summer, an investigation was also launched into former Real Salt Lake and Utah Royals owner Dell Loy Hansen over the alleged use of racist language. <a href="https://www.si.com/soccer/2020/08/30/dell-loy-hansen-real-salt-lake-sale-racist-comments-investigation">The allegations served as the impetus for Hansen to sell his stakes in the teams.</a> The Royals became defunct, with the club effectively resurfacing in Kansas City under new ownership.</p> <p>NJ/NY Gotham FC has also encountered controversy in its front office, <a href="https://theathletic.com/news/gotham-fc-fires-general-manager-alyse-lahue/gsFkLVaC2LiS">with general manager Alyse Lahue fired</a> this past summer following an NWSL investigation into a complaint regarding her and the league's anti-harrassment policy.</p> <p>Pertaining to Riley, the Courage said in a statement to <em>The Athletic</em>: "When we hired Paul, we made perfectly clear the expectations of the job and the values of our club, and from what we know, he has lived up to those expectations. If there are any players or staff that wish to come forward in accordance with NWSL league policy, we encourage them to report any inappropriate behavior as we will continue to uphold the standard of maintaining a safe and positive environment for all at the club."</p> <p>Riley, 58, has been with North Carolina's organization since 2016 (the club, previously known as the Western New York Flash, relocated to N.C. in ’17) and has been a soccer coach at various levels for more than two decades.</p> <p><strong>More Sports Illustrated Coverage: </strong></p> <ul> <li><strong><a href="https://www.si.com/college/2021/09/30/usf-mens-soccer-sexual-assault-and-harassment-reckoning-daily-cover">A Predatory Culture, a Viral Reckoning—and Now What?</a></strong></li> <li><strong><a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2021/09/27/karl-anthony-towns-covid-19-daily-cover%20?utm_source=recommendations&utm_medium=in-article&utm_campaign=end-of-story">Karl Anthony Towns Opens Up About His Season of Grief</a></strong></li> <li><strong><a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/2021/09/23/how-to-judge-trevor-bauer-daily-cover%20?utm_source=recommendations&utm_medium=in-article&utm_campaign=end-of-story">How to Judge Trevor Bauer</a></strong></li> </ul>

New on Sports Illustrated: Report: Former Players Accuse NC Courage Coach Paul Riley of Sexual Coercion

Former players have accused the North Carolina Courage manager of sexual coercion in a new report by The Athletic. Former players accused ...

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New on Sports Illustrated: Stephen A. Explains Why He Wanted Max Kellerman Off 'First Take': TRAINA THOUGHTS

<a href="https://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2021/09/30/stephen-a-smith-max-kellerman-off-first-take-espn"> <p class="subtitle">Stephen A. doesn't shy away from the fact that he wanted changes at 'First Take'</p> <p><strong>1.</strong> No matter how you feel about ESPN's Stephen A. Smith, you have to give him credit for being open and honest about recent developments at <em>First Take</em>.</p> <p>Smith appears on the latest <em>SI Media Podcast,</em> which dropped this morning, and pulled no punches in explaining why he wanted Max Kellerman off the show. </p> <p>"I thought it ran its course even though we were No. 1; numbers were dipping. Chemistry was an issue, and we needed to be better. I wasn't pointing a finger at him. I was saying WE did not work as a pair. </p> <p>I think that Max is one of the nicest guys in the world. He's incredibly knowledgable about his boxing and other sports, by the way. I knew there were a plethora of other opportunities within the company for him to be a part of, which has been proven because now he's with Keyshawn [Johnson] and Jay [Williams] on a nationally syndicated radio show in the morning for four hours, and he's got his own national television show in the afternoon from 2 to 3, <em>This Just In</em>, which I think is doing well and I wish him nothing but the best. </p> <p>I think that people get confused, thinking Stephen A. doesn't like Max. Couldn't be further from the truth. I like him and respect him. WE just weren't working anymore because the audience was telling us we had essentially just flatlined. We were the same. We weren't fresh together. </p> <p>So as a result of that, I told the bosses how I felt. Wishing him nothing but the best, rooting for him, making sure everyone knows if he needed me, I wouldn't hesitate to be there for him, but I'm not going to apologize to anybody for being committed to winning. And if I believe I'm part of a formula that's not going to win any longer, I'm going to change that formula. Whether it's me moving or them moving on, and that is the way I have always been and that is the way I will continue to be.</p> <p>I'm incredibly excited the direction that <em>First Take</em> is is now. Molly [Qerim Rose] has been sensational. So have all the contributors. Michael Irvin on Mondays, Keyshawn [Johnson] on Tuesdays, Marcus Spears on Wednesdays, Dan Orlovsky on Thursdays, Tim Tebow on Fridays. With all the contributors like Mina Kimes, Kimberly Martin, Ryan Clark, Paul Finebaum, Jeff Saturday, the list goes on and on and on. Everybody's been fantastic. But it's fresh voices going up against me. I think the show is incredibly exciting. We're excited to be doing it. We're having a blast, and nothing feels stale now. </p> <p>And I've been doing this for nine years, so I think I'd have a pretty good idea—I've been No. 1 every single year I've done it—I think I kinda have an idea of what works. If I sat up there and said it's his fault, that's a different argument. That's not what I said. I said we don't work together and a decision needs to be made regarding us. And that's what I was taking responsibility for, and I will never run from that."</p> <p>I asked Smith whether Kellerman agreed with his assessment of the show.</p> <p>"No, he did not," Smith said.</p> <p>Other topics discussed during the podcast include:</p> <p>• Comments he's regretted over the years</p> <p>• Has Smith ever said something you didn't mean for the sake of a debate?</p> <p>• What makes a good sports debate?</p> <p>• Is <em>First Take's</em> plan to eventually find one host?</p> <p>• His reaction to being called a performance artist</p> <p>• Being spoofed by John Oliver</p> <p>• How sports media has changed when it comes to opinion</p> <p>• Athletes, coaches and front office people texting him during <em>First Take</em></p> <p>Smith also shared an incredible story about Kobe Bryant demanding Smith call him after the host talked about Kobe on <em>First Take</em> one day.</p> <p>You can listen to the full podcast below or download it on</p> </a><a href="https://link.chtbl.com/si-media-a">Apple</a>, <a href="https://link.chtbl.com/simedia-spotify">Spotify</a> and <a href="https://link.chtbl.com/simedia-stitcher">Stitcher</a>.<iframe height="200" width="100%" src="https://playlist.megaphone.fm?e=HSW9196288458" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <p>You can also watch the <em>SI Media Podcast</em> on YouTube.</p> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bSiLLh44uHU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <p><strong>2.</strong> The person who has put out the best Tom Brady–Bill Belichick content this week is former Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman. His offering today is just spectacular.</p> <iframe width="320" height="320" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUcx5qIgnYZ/embed" frameborder="0"></iframe> <p><strong>3.</strong> Jerry Seinfeld made an appearance in the SNY booth during last night's Marlins-Mets game and was hilarious as usual.</p> <iframe width="320" height="320" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUbXt__r1hk/embed" frameborder="0"></iframe> <p><strong>4.</strong> Giannis remains one of the easiest people to root for in sports.</p> <div> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/Giannis_An34/status/1443410465778978823"></a></blockquote> <script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div> <div> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/Giannis_An34/status/1443411935006019585"></a></blockquote> <script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div> <p><strong>5.</strong> If ever there was a game that screamed, "GIVE US PEYTON AND ELI," tonight's Bengals-Jaguars game is it. So answer this question.</p> <div> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/JimmyTraina/status/1443600037704093700"></a></blockquote> <script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div> <p><strong>6.</strong> Best slide ever.</p> <div> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1443576783878569994"></a></blockquote> <script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div> <p><strong>7. RANDOM VIDEO OF THE DAY: We are one day away from the <em>Sopranos</em> prequel, <em>The Many Saints of Newark</em>, being available in theaters and HBO Max. Here is the very first scene from the show's very first episode.</strong></p> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/r1myharpKIE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <p><strong><em>Be sure to </em></strong><a href="https://www.si.com/author/jimmy-traina"><strong><em>catch up on past editions of Traina Thoughts</em></strong></a><strong><em> and check out the </em>Sports Illustrated Media Podcast<em> hosted by Jimmy Traina on </em></strong><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sports-illustrated-media-podcast/id997819235?mt=2"><strong><em>Apple</em></strong></a><strong><em>, </em></strong><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/4Bvno6GHUWSuOLTAIWma1u"><strong><em>Spotify</em></strong></a><strong><em> or </em></strong><a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/sports-illustrated-media-podcast#/"><strong><em>Stitcher</em></strong></a><strong><em>. You can also follow Jimmy on </em></strong><a href="https://twitter.com/JimmyTraina"><strong><em>Twitter</em></strong></a><strong><em> and </em></strong><a href="https://www.instagram.com/jimmytraina/"><strong><em>Instagram</em></strong></a><strong><em>.</em></strong></p>

New on Sports Illustrated: Stephen A. Explains Why He Wanted Max Kellerman Off 'First Take': TRAINA THOUGHTS

Stephen A. doesn't shy away from the fact that he wanted changes at 'First Take' 1. No matter how you feel about ESPN's S...

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New on Sports Illustrated: Valentina Shevchenko Won't Settle for Just Another Dominant Performance

<a href="https://www.si.com/mma/2021/09/30/the-weekly-takedown-valentina-shevchenko-ufc-domination"> <p class="subtitle">Even after easily pummeling Lauren Murphy at UFC 266, the flyweight champ is always looking for perfection, plus 'UFC Fight Night' picks and more.</p> <div><em>View the</em></div> original article</a> to see embedded media. <p><em>Welcome to The Weekly Takedown,</em> Sports Illustrated<em>’s newest look at MMA. Every week, this column will offer insight and information on the most noteworthy stories in the fight world.</em></p> <h3>Valentina Shevchenko explores future after dominant UFC 266 win</h3> <p>Valentina Shevchenko pummeled Lauren Murphy last Saturday at <a href="https://www.si.com/mma/2021/09/26/ufc-266-live-blog-alexander-volkanovski-brian-ortega">UFC 266</a>, forcing yet another opponent to fade away to Bolivia.</p> <p>The fight officially ended four minutes into the fourth round by TKO, but it was unofficially over in the opening moments. Remarkably, she did not even pick up the slightest bruise, which was serendipitous considering she was in Los Angeles a day after the fight to do promotional work and photos for her new movie, <em>Bruised</em>, which is directed by Halle Berry.</p> <figure><img height="345" src="https://www.si.com/.image/c_fit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620/MTg0MjM1NzI3OTYwMTU2MDM1/valentina-shevchenko-ufc-266.jpg" width="620" /> <figcaption> <p>Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports</p> </figcaption> </figure> <p>“I took a risk by doing it right after the fight,” says Shevchenko. “I knew something might happen, but this was very important to me. I’m so happy it was a success.”</p> <p>Set to be released in November, <em>Bruised</em> captures the story of a disgraced MMA fighter seeking to find redemption. Shevchenko plays a villain in the film.</p> <p>“I play a bad guy, a very bad one,” says Shevchenko. “It’s a great movie, but I play a bad person.”</p> <p>Unlike the character she depicts in the film, Shevchenko is one of MMA’s brightest stars. And despite a one-sided, dominant effort against Murphy on Saturday, she still believes there is room for development</p> <p>“That wasn’t my best,” says Shevchenko. “I am still progressing as a martial artist, and there are still ways for me to improve.”</p> <p>Even away from the cage, Shevchenko is in a constant search for self-improvement. She is continually evolving as a person, and one of her current projects is learning to speak Thai, which she will add to her vast collection of languages, which include English, Russian and Spanish.</p> <p>“You have to progress every day as a person, as a human being,” says Shevchenko. “It is so fascinating and attractive to me to learn something new and give myself more knowledge. Languages are so interesting; they open up the world to me. A new language allows me to appreciate different cultures on a deeper level, and discover even more.</p> <p>“I’m not a tourist. I’m an explorer, I’m a traveler, so it is very deep for me. I want to speak to the people and listen to their experiences and their stories.”</p> <p>The next goal for Shevchenko is mastering the open sea. She is currently in the process of learning about marine navigation, tides and currents. “We did an amazing boat trip this summer, navigating the waters. It’s a different world," she says. "I’m looking forward to learning how to sail and have longer trips navigating through the ocean.”</p> <p>Shevchenko also won’t be away from the cage for too long, as she will be heavily invested in this Saturday’s <em>UFC Fight Night</em> card when her sister Antonina meets the undefeated Casey O’Neill in a flyweight bout on the prelims.</p> <p>“I’ve seen Antonina training, and she is coming for the victory,” says Shevchenko. “She is strong, she is motivated, and she had a great weight cut. In her mind, there is only one goal, and that is victory. That is all she sees and she will be successful.”</p> <p>As for Valentina's future, there are plenty of questions. Her domination of the top-10 of the women’s flyweight division continues, and the opponents left for her to dismantle are dwindling. While a third fight against Amanda Nunes would be a draw, that is likely a bout Nunes would prefer to avoid. Now, after a grueling camp and intense fight week, Shevchenko is still plotting out her future.</p> <p>“Right now, I want to take time to rest,” says Shevchenko. “I put all my heart into my training camp, and that is very hard emotionally and very hard physically. That takes time on your body and your mind. I want to take some time, and then build a strategy with my team about what’s next.”</p> <hr /> <h3>Voklanovski's dominance continues</h3> <p>Alexander Volkanovski is impervious to world-class jiu-jitsu.</p> <p>At least that is the way it looked on Saturday night.</p> <p><a href="https://www.si.com/mma/2021/09/26/ufc-266-live-blog-alexander-volkanovski-brian-ortega">Volkanovski successfully defended his title against Brian Ortega</a>, enduring—and then breaking—multiple submission maneuvers. Ortega’s guillotine and triangle were locked so tight that the end appeared near for Volkanovski, until he found a way to break each hold and then lay down a vicious beating on Ortega.</p> <p>Volkanovski won by decision, overcoming Ortega, who proved to be his greatest challenge in the Octagon. In the process, he staked his claim to elevate himself in the pound-for-pound rankings. The third round of their bout was nothing short of incredible. It seemed like there was no question Volkanovski would tap when Ortega had him locked firmly in his guillotine. But, again, Volkanovski broke the hold. And once he got loose, he rained down a flurry of fists on Ortega, reminding the fighting world why he is champion.</p> <p>The precision from Volkanovski was on an entirely different level. In his post-Octagon interview, Ortega even said that he heard Volkanovski gargling, a surefire sign that the tap out is imminent.</p> <p>Volkanovski earned the respect he has been seeking. After winning the fight of the year, Volkanovski’s reign of dominance now continues.</p> <hr /> <h3>The Pick ‘Em Section</h3> <p>With both UFC and Bellator running events this weekend, here are my picks:</p> <p>UFC light Heavyweight bout: Thiago Santos vs. Johnny Walker<br /> <em>Pick: Thiago Santos</em></p> <p>Bellator 267 welterweight main event: Douglas Lima vs. Michael Page <br /> <em>Pick: Michael Page</em></p> <p>UFC middleweight bout: Kevin Holland vs. Kyle Daukaus <br /> <em>Pick: Kevin Holland</em></p> <p>UFC welterweight bout: Alex Oliveira vs. Niko Price<br /> <em>Pick: Niko Price</em></p> <p>UFC middleweight bout: Misha Cirkunov vs. Krzysztof Jotko<br /> <em>Pick: Krzysztof Jotko</em></p> <p>UFC women’s bantamweight bout: Aspen Ladd vs. Macy Chiasson <br /> <em>Pick: Aspen Ladd</em></p> <p>UFC lightweight bout: Alexander Hernandez vs. Mike Breeden<br /> <em>Pick: Alexander Hernandez</em></p> <p>Last week: 4–1</p> <p>Current record: 22–15</p> <p><strong>Justin Barrasso can be reached at <a href="mailto:JBarrasso@gmail.com">JBarrasso@gmail.com</a>. Follow him on Twitter @<a href="https://twitter.com/JustinBarrasso">JustinBarrasso</a>.</strong></p> <p><strong>More MMA Coverage: </strong></p> <p>• <a href="https://www.si.com/mma/2021/09/26/ufc-266-live-blog-alexander-volkanovski-brian-ortega?utm_source=recommendations&utm_medium=in-article&utm_campaign=end-of-story">UFC 266 Recap: Volkanovski Defends Featherweight Title</a><strong><br /></strong>• <strong><a href="https://www.si.com/mma/2021/09/23/james-yang-one-revolution-debut-ufc-266-the-weekly-takedown?utm_source=recommendations&utm_medium=in-article&utm_campaign=end-of-story">From Buddhist Temple to MMA, James Yang's Unique Journey</a></strong></p>

New on Sports Illustrated: Valentina Shevchenko Won't Settle for Just Another Dominant Performance

Even after easily pummeling Lauren Murphy at UFC 266, the flyweight champ is always looking for perfection, plus 'UFC Fight Night' ...

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New on Sports Illustrated: Biggest Questions for Every Western Conference Team

<a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2021/09/30/burning-questions-for-every-western-conference-team"> <p class="subtitle">Assessing one key question during training camp for every team in the West.</p> <div><em>View the</em></div> original article</a> to see embedded media. <p>The Lakers enter 2021-22 as <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2021/09/29/lakers-lebron-james-russell-westbrook-carmelo-anthony-age">the presumed favorites</a> in the Western Conference after their offseason blockbuster, but this could be one of the most competitive races in recent memory as the West searches for a counterpart to either Brooklyn or Milwaukee.</p> <p>The Jazz and Suns are healthy and ready for a shot at Los Angeles’s superteam, while healthy squads in Denver and Golden State come playoff time could add further intrigue to the mix. Perhaps Kawhi Leonard comes back for a run with the Clippers, and maybe Luka Dončić and the Mavericks arrive as real contenders ahead of schedule. Sorting out the Western Conference playoff picture isn’t as easy as it initially looks.</p> <p>We’ll save the postseason prognosticating for another day. For now, let’s take a look at all 15 Western Conference squads, finding one key question for each team as training camps open across the league.</p> <p><strong>Blazers—Is an organizational pivot looming?</strong></p> <p>It’s been a quiet open to training camp in Portland <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/trailblazers/news/damian-lillard-reiterates-his-uncertain-future-with-trail-blazers">despite Damian Lillard’s offseason frustrations</a>, though this situation doesn’t exactly feel resolved as Opening Night approaches. Even if a deal isn’t imminent, a shakeup is likely looming for the Blazers barring a sprint to the top of Western Conference standings. This could be a far different roster in late February than what we see now.</p> <p>Just exactly how Portland alters its roster is an admittedly-open question, with two potential routes. The Blazers likely prefer to attempt further tweaks around their franchise star, potentially even dealing CJ McCollum if the right co-star can help bring Lillard closer to the Finals. But if any (relatively) marginal move doesn’t move the needle, the nuclear option could emerge. Dealing Lillard could provide Portland with Ben Simmons and/or a treasure-trove of picks, and like Houston with James Harden, dealing Lillard would enable the Blazers to strip the rest of the roster for additional assets. Apologies to Portland fans for laying out this scenario. But it’s one that’s very much in play barring a 50-win pace.</p> <p><strong>Clippers—Can Paul George carry a playoff team?</strong></p> <p>A few ugly playoff moments have obscured the conversation surrounding Paul George. Los Angeles’s forward <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2021/09/22/ranking-best-nba-players-top-100-2022-damian-lillard-paul-george-jayson-tatum">is a top-15 player</a> with a first-team All-NBA ceiling, sporting a game jarringly bereft of holes. George is one of the sport’s most prolific three-point shooters (39.8% from three since 2016 on over 2,500 attempts), and he averaged a career-high 5.4 assists per game last year as he took greater command of the offense as a lead playmaker. George finished third in the MVP vote in 2018-19. He’ll need to replicate that performance to carry the Clippers to the postseason as they await Kawhi Leonard’s return.</p> <iframe height="375" width="100%" src="https://disco.headliner.link/d/si/web/widget.html?widgetId=WI_ckqtsrrc3000163p0dktoiptd" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <p><strong>Grizzlies—Will Ja Morant shake his sophomore slump?</strong></p> <p>Ja Morant <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2021/02/22/ja-morant-grizzlies-grit-and-grind-era">remains one of the most electrifying athletes</a> in basketball, though he needs some polish to his game for Memphis to keep pace in the Western Conference. Morant shot just 45% from the field and 30% from three last season, and his 0.81 points per possession mark in the pick-and-roll ranked No. 21 of the 23 players to log at least 400 attempts. Defenses continue to severely sag off Morant, daring him to pull the trigger beyond the arc and near the foul line. This isn’t an unsolvable problem for the Murray State product. NBA history is littered with guards who grew as jump shooters through the first decade of their career. But as the crop of quality ball-handlers across the league continues to grow, a lack of growth from Morant could see both he and the Grizzlies stifled in the middle of the pack.</p> <p><strong>Jazz—Is Utah ready for its championship moment?</strong></p> <p>Utah made some moves on the margins this offseason–hello, Rudy Gay and Hassan Whiteside, goodbye, Derrick Favors–yet by and large, <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2021/05/18/utah-jazz-covid-resurgence-daily-cover">this is the same core returning as the 2020-21 squad</a>. Expectations are understandably high. Utah won 52 games last season and posted the NBA’s best net rating, and <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2021/02/03/jazz-rudy-gobert-donovan-mitchell-covid-19">the drama of Utah’s COVID-19 scare</a> and subsequent bubble exit was put firmly in the rearview mirror. Had Mike Conley been healthy, we very well could have seen the Jazz represent the Western Conference in the 2021 Finals.</p> <p>There appears to be some rising pressure in Utah ahead of 2021-22. We’re entering Year 5 of the Mitchell-Gobert partnership, and there’s been significant investment from ownership across the roster. The Lakers are an imperfect favorite. Dallas may be one year away, and Phoenix’s best chance could be in the rearview mirror. Denver will be without Jamal Murray for much of the season, and ditto for Golden State and Klay Thompson. With a talented roster and open spot atop the conference, now is time for the Jazz to return to the Finals for the first time since 1998.</p> <p><strong>Kings—Is a young core forming?</strong></p> <p>Few teams love a lottery whiff quite like the Kings, who’ve spent top-10 picks on the likes of Marvin Bagley, Nik Stauskas, Ben McLemore and Thomas Robinson over the last decade. But as the franchise eyes its first playoff berth since 2006 (sorry, Kings fans) perhaps <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2021/05/10/deaaron-fox-kings-promising-future">there’s a young core on hand to get excited about</a>. De’Aaron Fox made a notable leap as a shooter and playmaker in his fourth season in 2020-21, and backcourt mate Tyrese Haliburton showcased his natural feel as a half-court initiator as a rookie. Sacramento made another investment in its backcourt in the 2021 lottery, adding Baylor guard Davion Mitchell. If the Kings’ latest lottery pick pops as a rookie, we could see the return of a playoff team in Sacramento.</p> <figure><img height="349" src="https://www.si.com/.image/c_fit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620/MTg0MjM1MzAzMDI2ODI5MTQx/russell-westbrook-lakers-media-day.jpg" width="620" /> <figcaption> <p>Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY Sports</p> </figcaption> </figure> <p><strong>Lakers—Will Russell Westbrook make the necessary adjustments?</strong></p> <p>There are <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2021/09/29/lakers-lebron-james-russell-westbrook-carmelo-anthony-age">clear fit concerns in Los Angeles</a> entering 2021-22, an issue largely driven by Russell Westbrook’s shortcomings as a shooter. Westbrook has shot a dismal 29.2% from beyond the arc since 2017-18, and his 38.1% mark on mid-range attempts last season ranked No. 38 of the 42 players with at least 150 attempts. This is an athletically-gifted Lakers team, one that should be able to get to the rim at will. But as defenses clamp down in the postseason, a stream of clanked Westbrook jumpers could cost Los Angeles a series.</p> <p>But perhaps we’re being a bit reductive in anticipating Westbrook’s fit in Los Angeles. He worked as an effective co-star alongside Harden for much of 2019-20, and the latter half of that season is instructive when preparing for this season. Westbrook served as an outlet for traps deployed on Harden, knifing his way down the lane on half court possessions when teams doubled the three-time scoring champion. Even when Harden wasn’t doubled, his gravity on the floor allowed Westbrook to plow ahead off each catch, attacking downhill as he looked to score or make an assist. The worst version of Westbrook comes as he pounds the air out of the ball before settling for ill-advised jumpers. We’ve seen that version plenty both in Oklahoma City and Washington. But with two superstars surrounding him, Westbrook should have plenty of room to roam. If he continues to attack downhill rather than settle, Los Angeles’s attack could become lethal.</p> <p><strong>Mavericks—Which Kristaps Porziņģis will we see?</strong></p> <p>Dallas’s big man appeared disgruntled for much of last season, bristling at his usage in the Mavericks offense as little more than a glorified spacer. Now with Jason Kidd in as head coach in place of Rick Carlisle, perhaps Porzingis can get a fresh start.</p> <p>Kidd is with Porziņģis talent if Dallas’s media day is any indication. The new Mavericks coach emphasized the need for Porziņģis to put the ball on the floor in 2021-22, adding that there should be plenty of touches available despite Luka Dončić's brilliance. Porziņģis is a gifted offensive player, one who should thrive as a roll man and pick-and-pop threat alongside his superstar guard. Unlocking the best version of Porzingis would go a long way to making Dallas a legitimate threat for the Larry O’Brien Trophy.</p> <p><strong>Nuggets—Can Jamal Murray Return at 100%?</strong></p> <p>The Nuggets loomed as a very plausible Finals representative in the Western Conference for much of last season. <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2021/04/14/jamal-murray-knee-injury-nuggets">That is until Jamal Murray’s ACL tear</a>. Denver’s star guard suffered the injury in mid-April, removing the team's lead playmaker alongside Nikola Jokić just over a month before the start of the playoffs. Denver was eliminated by the Suns in a second-round sweep shortly thereafter, closing the door on a championship chance in an imperfect West.</p> <p>Denver should be able to steady the ship in Murray’s absence. Jokić remains one of the most brilliant offensive bigs in league history, and he does have legitimate help with Aaron Gordon and the <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2021/09/27/michael-porter-jr-contract-agrees-max-five-year-extension-nuggets">recently-maxed Michael Porter Jr.</a> joining him in the frontcourt. Yet like last year, Denver’s ceiling falls below the Finals with Murray out of the lineup. The Nuggets have time on their side with Murray’s recovery. If he can slowly return to 100% by the postseason, we could have Finals games at a mile high.</p> <figure><img height="349" src="https://www.si.com/.image/c_fit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620/MTgwODAxOTczNTQ3NzA1NDMy/zion-williamson-drive.jpg" width="620" /> <figcaption> <p>Chuck Cook/USA TODAY Sports</p> </figcaption> </figure> <p><strong>Pelicans—Can the franchise find stability?</strong></p> <p>The Pelicans are heading down a dangerous path with Zion Williamson, as instability with the coaching staff, roster and front office continues to threaten the No. 1 pick’s future of the franchise. And as it’s hard to see New Orleans as anything more than a play-in team, restoring a sense of normalcy to the organization is the chief directive in 2021-22. This isn’t a roster completely devoid of talent. A healthy Williamson can smooth over a lot of holes. Let’s hope Willie Green’s arrival as head coach will help set New Orleans back on the right path before the Williamson situation gets ugly.</p> <p><strong><em>Watch NBA games</em> <em>online all season long with fuboTV:</em> <em><a href="https://www.fubo.tv/lp/nba/?irad=356361&irmp=2936331&sharedID=Newsletter/GuideUSA-SI-">Start with a 7-day free trial!</a></em></strong></p> <p><strong>Rockets—Will the backcourt provide promise?</strong></p> <p>The Rockets were forced to take a severe organizational pivot last year as <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2021/01/14/james-harden-nets-nba-ultimate-heel-turn-daily-cover">Harden forced his way</a> to greener pastures, but <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2021/07/30/houston-rockets-2021-nba-draft-jalen-green-path-forward">the future of the franchise appears healthy despite the 2020 tumult</a>. Houston tanked its way to the No. 2 pick in the 2021 draft, and it enters this season armed with one of the league’s youngest rosters. Houston has cap flexibility, a horde of Brooklyn picks and patience for what could be a year in the conference cellar. Taking such a route was sensible after Harden demanded out.</p> <p>It’s too early to look to the 2022 draft, so for now, Houston has a pair of guards that it likely deems as franchise anchors. Jalen Green enters the league as the No. 2 pick in the draft, bringing explosive athleticism paired with a smooth step-back jumper. Houston acquired 21-year-old Kevin Porter. Jr in a trade with the Cavaliers last year, and <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2021/05/07/kevin-porter-jr-rockets-unlocked-potential">nurtured by the Rockets coaching staff</a>, Porter thrived as an oversized point guard. Neither Green nor Porter will bring Houston to the playoffs in 2021. Though a year after Harden’s ugly departure, the pair could set the Rockets on a path back to contention.</p> <p><strong>Spurs—Is a tank on the horizon?</strong></p> <p>San Antonio enters perhaps the final year of the Gregg Popovich era without a clear path back to relevance. There isn’t a budding All-Star currently on the roster, and the trading for Ben Simmons is more a hypothetical than anything at the moment. With no top-line talent to speak of, perhaps the Spurs will take a dive toward the bottom of the Western Conference standings, eyeing one of the top picks in the 2022 draft. Popovich has thus far been loath to the idea of a tank, working to field a competitive roster every year. But a slide down the standings may occur even without an endorsement from management.</p> <figure><img height="349" src="https://www.si.com/.image/c_fit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620/MTgyMjg2NDQ3NjU3NjI0OTA0/chris-paul-suns-bucks-nba-finals.jpg" width="620" /> <figcaption> <p>John W. McDonough/Sports Illustrated</p> </figcaption> </figure> <p><strong>Suns—Will we see the same Chris Paul?</strong></p> <p>Chris Paul hit the nadir of his value around the league after the 2019 postseason, an ugly end to his Houston tenure as the Rockets lost in the Western Conference semifinals to a Kevin Durant-less Warriors squad. The Point God was summarily shipped to Oklahoma City shortly thereafter, a trade in which the Rockets attached four years of pick control alongside Paul in exchange for Chris Paul. Houston's move is disastrous in hindsight.</p> <p>Paul found the fountain of youth in Oklahoma City, and after one year with the Thunder, his comeback tour <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2021/07/21/suns-chris-paul-devin-booker-nba-finals-future">reached new heights in Phoenix</a>. Paul posted a career-best 55.7% effective field goal percentage last season, and he logged 70 regular-season games in addition to 20 postseason contests. Paul’s reformed diet has led to a sustained post peak few envisioned years ago. Phoenix remains a top-flight title contender if Paul can replicate his 2020-21 form this season.</p> <p><strong>Thunder—Which youngsters will pop?</strong></p> <p>The expectations are decidedly low in Oklahoma City once again this season, and Sam Presti would likely prefer to sport the NBA’s worst record in 2021-22. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t hope for growth across the roster. The Thunder actually do sport an interesting collection of young talent headlined by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Luguentz Dort also looks to be a future franchise building block. Will anyone else on the roster pop as a bankable piece? Australian rookie Josh Giddey could show flashes of his rumored playmaking brilliance. Aleksej Pokusevski has an intriguing frame and some offensive bounce appeal, even if he’s a bit of a black hole at this point in his career. Watching the Thunder in 2021-22 is a hard sell, though there is some degree of intrigue as opening night approaches.</p> <p><strong>Timberwolves—Will Karl-Anthony Towns Bounce back?</strong></p> <p>Let’s hope to see Karl-Anthony Towns turn in a career season after a difficult past year. I’ll cede the floor to SI’s Michael Pina for <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2021/09/27/karl-anthony-towns-covid-19-daily-cover">more on Minnesota’s big man</a>.</p> <p><strong>Warriors—Will Steph Curry have any help?</strong></p> <p>We’re entering our third season of the post-Durant era in Golden State, and this still feels like a franchise several steps from a return to the Finals. Not that Steph Curry is to blame. The greatest shooter in NBA history turned in a brilliant 2020-21 campaign alongside a hapless supporting cast, finishing the year with a league-best 32 points per game on 48/42/91 shooting splits. Curry isn’t slowing down without a superteam. But will he even get a respectable unit flanking him? That’s no guarantee.</p> <p>Klay Thompson is unlikely to return until the calendar turns to 2022. Andrew Wiggins could very well miss 40-plus games <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2021/09/25/nba-denies-andrew-wiggins-religious-exemption-covid-19-vaccine">as he refuses the COVID-19 vaccine</a>. Young center James Wiseman has yet to prove he can be a productive player, and rookies Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga are obvious question marks. It’s a shame we’ll likely see another season unfold with Curry out of the championship picture. </p> <p><strong>More NBA Coverage</strong></p> <ul> <li><strong><a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2021/09/27/karl-anthony-towns-covid-19-daily-cover">Karl-Anthony Towns Opens Up About Season of Grief</a></strong></li> <li><strong><a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2021/09/23/ranking-best-nba-players-top-100-2022-kevin-durant-giannis-antetokounmpo-lebron-james">SI Top 100: And the Best Player Is ...</a></strong></li> <li><strong><a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2021/09/28/nba-training-camp-questions-eastern-conference-nets-76ers-heat">Biggest Training Camp Questions: Eastern Conference</a></strong></li> <li><strong><a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2021/09/29/lakers-lebron-james-russell-westbrook-carmelo-anthony-age">Lakers Biggest Problem Isn't Age</a></strong></li> <li><strong><a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2021/09/27/kyrie-irving-nets-covid-vaccination-status">Kyrie Could Derail Nets Championship Run</a></strong></li> </ul> <p><em><strong>Sports Illustrated may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website.</strong></em></p>

New on Sports Illustrated: Biggest Questions for Every Western Conference Team

Assessing one key question during training camp for every team in the West. View the original article to see embedded media. The Lakers ...

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New on Sports Illustrated: NFL DFS Week 4: Picks, Plays and Values

<a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/30/nfl-dfs-week-4-picks-plays-values"> <p class="subtitle">Your one-stop shop for daily fantasy football lineup help!</p> <p>After researching the NFL player pool at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and tight end each week over the past few seasons, I will go on a new path for the daily games in 2021. I continue to produce projections, and this baseline will be used to identify possible values at each position during the season.</p> <p>In the daily games, we see each week players with low salaries post difference-maker scores. The key to winning is mixing a core of studs with some undervalued options that post impact scores for their price point.</p> <p>Depending on the format, the goal is to find players that will score three or four times their salary to have a shot at GPP (grand prize pool).</p> <h3>Quarterbacks</h3> <p><strong>Top Tier: Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills ($8,500/$8,000)</strong></p> <p>After struggling to find his rhythm over the first two weeks (270/1 and 179/2 – 5.3 yards per pass attempt), Allen marched up and down the field vs. Washington in Week 3 (387 combined yards with five scores). He completed 74.4 percent of his passes, with four plays gaining over 20 yards (8.3 yards per pass attempt).</p> <p>The Texans have risk against the run (4.2 yards per carry and six rushing touchdowns – three by quarterbacks), and they’ve allowed over 300 yards passing in two matchups. The Bills’ defense played well over the first three weeks (75 rushing yards and 194 passing yards allowed per game).</p> <p>Buffalo should dominate the time of possession while breaking out to a big early lead. Their wideouts have already delivered two dominating games (23/221/1 and 23/277/2). Allen’s only downside is a one-sided game. I have him projected for 369 combined yards with another five touchdowns.</p> <p><strong>More</strong>: Russell Wilson – 30.26, Dak Prescott – 29.76</p> <p><strong>Value: Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers ($5,600/$7,000)</strong></p> <p>Over the first three games, Garoppolo has been on the field for 188 of 195 plays (96.4 percent). His completion rate (67.4) and yards per pass attempt (8.0) grade well, but he threw only 55 times over his first two starts.</p> <p>Seattle struggled vs. the run in Week 2 (40/212/3) while quarterbacks averaged 307 passing yards per game with five scores. The Seahawks’ defense was on the field for over 38 minutes, leading to quarterbacks attempting 38.7 passes per game.</p> <p>Brandon Aiyuk showed a spark in Week 3 (4/37/1), and Deebo Samuel flashed his explosiveness in Week 1 (9/189/1). The key for Garoppolo in this matchup is the health of George Kittle (calf issue).</p> </a><a href="https://www.sisportsbook.com/">SI Sportsbook</a> posted an over/under of 52 in this contest, pointing to a wide-open game. <p><strong>More</strong>: Mac Jones – 23.11, Justin Fields – 22.59</p> <figure><img height="345" src="https://www.si.com/.image/c_fit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620/MTY5NDM5NDkxMDAwMzc4NjU3/fantasy-football-alvin-kamara.jpg" width="620" /> <figcaption> <p>Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports</p> </figcaption> </figure> <h3>Running Backs</h3> <p><strong>Top Tier: Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints ($8,400/$9,000)</strong></p> <p>An early lead helped Kamara to touch the ball a season-high (27 times). He gained 118 combined yards with a score and three catches. After three games, he only has 10 catches on 14 targets, which is well below his previous career resume (5.4 catches for 47 yards and 0.25 touchdowns per game) with Drew Brees behind center. Kamara has yet to gain over 20 yards on any play while averaging only 3.4 yards per rush (5.0 in his career) and 6.2 yards per catch (8.7 in his career).</p> <p>The Giants allowed 499 combined yards with two touchdowns and seven catches over the first three weeks.</p> <p>Sports Illustrated has Kamara <a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/29/week-4-football-rankings-projections">projected</a> for 157 combined yards with two touchdowns and six catches against the Giants.</p> <p><strong>More</strong>: Derrick Henry – 33.38</p> <p><strong>Value: David Montgomery, Chicago Bears ($5,800/$7,500)</strong></p> <p>The switch to Justin Fields at quarterback over the past two games has led to Chicago gaining only 353 combined yards against the Bengals and Browns. In addition, Montgomery struggled to make plays in the run game (30/95 – 3.2 yards per rush) over this span with five catches for 39 yards. The Bears had him on the field for 80.9 percent of their plays over the previous two weeks.</p> <p>Running backs gained 356 combined yards with six touchdowns and nine catches vs. the Lions. The Packers’ running backs gained 149 yards in their only road game with four scores and seven catches.</p> <p>Montgomery looks to be on a path for 115 combined yards with a touchdown and four catches while only one big run to fill his salary bucket.</p> <p><strong>More</strong>: Zack Moss – 17.57, D’Andre Swift – 20.50</p> <figure><img height="349" src="https://www.si.com/.image/c_fit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620/MTc2OTUyNzExMzgyNTc0NDQ4/bills-stefon-diggs.jpg" width="620" /></figure> <h3>Wide Receivers</h3> <p><strong>Top Tier: Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills ($7,600/$8,000)</strong></p> <p>After three weeks of action, Diggs sits 24th in wide receiver scoring (44.10 fantasy points) with no impact games (9/69, 4/60/1, and 6/62). Despite his slow start, the Bills have looked his way 29 times. He has one catch over 20 yards (41 yards) compared to 40 over 20 yards and 13 over 40 yards in 2019 and 2020.</p> <p>Wide receivers have 34 catches for 476 yards and two touchdowns against the Texans, with three wideouts having success (3/86/1, 5/77/1, and 8/126).</p> <p>Josh Allen should get his top wide receiver rolling this week, setting up a special day. However, Diggs needs to get out of the gate quickly as the second half of the game could feature many runs by the Bills if they build a big lead.</p> <p><strong>Top Tier: Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers ($6,800/$7,100)</strong></p> <p>Despite ranking third in wide receiver scoring (21/258/1) in PPR leagues while averaging 11 targets per game, Allen has played second fiddle to Mike Williams (8/82/1, 7/91/1, and 7/122/2) over the first three weeks. Last year, Allen played well at home (69/701/4), highlighted by four games (13/132/1, 10/125, 9/103/1, and 16/145/1), with the third output coming against the Raiders.</p> <p>Las Vegas faced two below-par passing offenses (Baltimore and Miami), helping them to a league-average ranking (17th) vs. wideouts (48/507/1). Diontae Johnson (9/105) and Marquise Brown (6/69/1) had the most success.</p> <p>Both teams should move the ball well in this matchup, setting up plenty of chances for Allen.</p> <p><strong>More</strong>: Davante Adams – 28.08, Calvin Ridley – 27.70</p> <p><strong>Value: Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals ($5,900/$7,400)</strong></p> <p>The spotlight of a Thursday night game should shine brightly on Chase, and I expect him to rise to the occasion. The Bengals ruled Tee Higgins out again for this game, giving Cincy’s top two wideouts a two-way split for the bulk of targets. Over his first three games, Chase has 11 catches for 220 yards and four touchdowns on only 16 targets. His lack of chances falls on game flow and score. Joe Burrow only has 75 passing attempts over three weeks compared to his 2020 average (40.4).</p> <p>The Jaguars struggled in all three games against quarterbacks (3311/2, 329/2, and 335/1), with wide receivers doing plenty of damage (44/654/2). Jacksonville allows 14.9 yards per catch to wideouts, with each opponent having success (HOU – 13/200/1, DEN – 14/216/1, and ARI – 17/238).</p> <p>I see a winning play on his over in catches (4.5) and receiving yards (67.5) in the betting market. I have Chase projected for seven catches for 102 yards and a touchdown.</p> <p><strong>Value: Jakobi Meyers, New England Patriots ($5,200/$5,700)</strong></p> <p>After two quiet games (6/44 and 4/38), Meyers found himself on the bench on many rosters in the season-long games in Week 3. A chaser game vs. the Saints led to him seeing the most targets (14) of the year. He finished with nine catches for 94 yards. Despite gaining only 9.3 yards per catch, Meyers does have three catches over 20 yards. Over 32 career games, he has yet to score a touchdown.</p> <p>Tampa plays well vs. the run, and Tom Brady should score on the Patriots’ defense. They’ve allowed a league-high in catches (63), receiving yards (871), and touchdowns (9).</p> <p>Meyers should be active in this matchup while Mac Jones posts the best game of his young career.</p> <p><strong>More</strong>: Tyler Boyd – 21.94, Corey Davis – 19.91</p> <figure><img height="414" src="https://www.si.com/.image/c_fit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620/MTc3MzQ4NjcxOTMzNzg1ODQ5/darren-waller.jpg" width="620" /></figure> <h3>Tight Ends</h3> <p><strong>Top Tier: Darren Waller, Las Vegas Raiders ($7,100/$7,500)</strong></p> <p>The Steelers and Dolphins held Waller in check over the past two weeks (5/65 and 5/54) after busting out in Week 1 with a dominating game (10/105/1 on 19 targets). He dusted the Chargers in 2020 at home (9/150/1) after a short outing at home (5/22/1).</p> <p>Tight ends have 19 catches for 207 yards and two scores on 24 targets against the Chargers. Most of the damage came against Logan Thomas (3/30/1) and Travis Kelce (7/104).</p> <p>Waller should regain his stride in this matchup with a touchdown well within reach.</p> <p><strong>More</strong>: Travis Kelce – 23.54, George Kittle – 17.30</p> <p><strong>Value: Adam Trautman, New Orleans ($2,900/$4,300)</strong></p> <p>Three games into the season, Trautman only has three catches for 18 yards while being shut out in back-to-back games. He came into 2021 as an upside breakout option at tight end, but an August ankle injury put the start of his season in doubt. Trautman saw 82% of offensive snaps in Week 1 and Week 3, while a chaser game led to only 52 percent of the snaps against the Panthers. Over his 18 NFL games, Trautman has 18 catches for 189 yards and one touchdown on 23 targets.</p> <p>The Giants allowed a touchdown each week to the tight end, leading to 21 catches for 191 yards and three scores. All three touchdowns allowed to tight ends came from TE2 options (Albert Okwuegbunam, Ricky Seals-Jones, and Lee Smith) on their team.</p> <p>I expect Trautman to show a pulse this week, along with the Saints’ passing game.</p> <p><strong>More</strong>: Noah Fant – 14.75, Jared Cook – 12.11</p> <p>My <a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/29/week-4-football-rankings-projections">Week 4 projections</a> are up with a second update coming Saturday in the morning after all practices close Friday night. </p> <p><strong>More Fantasy Week 4 Coverage:</strong></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/29/week-4-football-rankings-projections">Rankings & Stat Projections</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/28/waiver-wire-pickups-faab-week-4">Waiver Wire Report</a><br /></li> <li><a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/27/week-4-touches-targets-volume-regression-index">Touches, Targets, Volume & Regression Index</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/29/start-em-sit-em-week-4-quarterbacks">QB Start 'Em, Sit 'Em</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/29/start-em-sit-em-week-4-running-backs">RB Start 'Em, Sit 'Em</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/29/start-em-sit-em-week-4-wide-receivers">WR Start 'Em, Sit 'Em</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/29/start-em-sit-em-week-4-tight-ends">TE Start 'Em, Sit 'Em</a></li> </ul> <hr /> <p><em>Senior analyst <a href="https://www.si.com/author/shawn-childs">Shawn Childs</a> is a multi-sport, high-stakes fantasy legend with lifetime earnings in the high six-figures. He has been providing in-depth, analytical break downs for years all while helping his subscribers to countless titles and winnings across season-long & DFS. An inaugural inductee of the NFBC Hall of Fame, Shawn can teach you how to prep like a champ!</em></p> <p><em><a href="https://twitter.com/shawn__childs">Follow @Shawn__Childs on Twitter</a></em></p>

New on Sports Illustrated: NFL DFS Week 4: Picks, Plays and Values

Your one-stop shop for daily fantasy football lineup help! After researching the NFL player pool at quarterback, running back, wide receiv...

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New on Sports Illustrated: The USTA's Nicole Kankam Is Putting Equality at the Forefront of Tennis

<a href="https://www.si.com/tennis/2021/09/30/nicole-kankam-usta-us-open-100-influential-black-women-in-sports"> <p class="subtitle">This executive-level powerhouse is focused on growing the sport into a diverse, inclusive and global phenomenon.</p> <p><em>Sports Illustrated and Empower Onyx are putting the spotlight on the diverse journeys of Black women across sports—from the veteran athletes, to up-and-coming stars, coaches, executives and more—in the series,</em></p> </a><a href="https://www.si.com/tag/elle-evate-100-influential-black-women-in-sports">Elle-evate: 100 Influential Black Women in Sports.</a> <hr /> <p>During a time when racial unrest was at its height in 2020, walking into a room and asking for major changes in a predominantly white sport—on the court and in the boardroom—would have made anyone shutter. But not for Nicole Kankam.</p> <p>The United States Tennis Association’s managing director for marketing boldly spearheaded the organization’s very first social justice campaign, “Be Open,” at the 2020 U.S. Open, which was designed to honor the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement in an “interesting and respectful” way. Its support of diversity and inclusion quickly resonated across the sports industry.</p> <p>“I was really passionate about wanting to see this all the way through and being mindful that it wasn't just going to be performative,” says Kankam.</p> <p>As part of the “Be Open” initiative at the 2021 U.S. Open, a group of 10 diverse and underrepresented artists were commissioned to <a href="https://www.usopen.org/en_US/news/articles/2021-08-30/photos_open_canvas_an_exhibit_of_diverse_and_underrepresented_artists.html?promo=related">create artwork that was displayed for two weeks</a> during the tournament, some of which were curated by BLM co-founder Patrisse Cullors. “The art display was very much pushing the envelope for the USTA,” says Kankam, who described the pieces as different, unique and impactful. “Bringing the Black Lives Matter movement to the front seats at Arthur Ashe stadium made some people uncomfortable.”</p> <p>Some of the feedback on the art installation that the USTA received included remarks like, “I don't want politics in my sport.” Other tennis fans greatly appreciated the sentiment in the stadium. But Kantam refused to let any commentary dishearten the important messaging at the heart of the campaign.</p> <p>“If we are saying that we stand for this, we can't just bend to pressures from the criticism we know we're going to get,” she says. “It was almost an imperative for us as a tennis organization to continue this trend, because now fans are coming to expect that.”</p> <p>For Kantam, who oversees marketing, brand strategy and fan engagement for all USTA professional tennis events in North America, embracing her power and confidence was par for the course with this campaign. “If I don't speak up, who's going to speak up? If it's not me, then who?” she says. “I definitely have felt more empowered to be more definitive, more firm and more confident.” And having allies within the organization that can help is so important in this work, she says.</p> <p>“[The USTA’s] chief revenue officer Lewis Sherr was a strong supporter of the campaign and helped to amplify it,” says Kantam.</p> <p>A DePaul University music business graduate, Kantam held marketing positions at MTV and Virgin Records prior to enrolling in business school. “I didn't get my MBA and think I was going to go into sports,” says Kankam, who saw the framework of the music industry rapidly changing early in her career. “But I wanted to get more professional training and strengthen my analytics skills, to give me the optionality to go in whatever direction I wanted to.”</p> <p>She discovered that she enjoyed marketing in business school and realized that she still wanted to work on a product where she could make personal connections with consumers. So when the USTA presented an opportunity with the U.S. Open—a combination of sports and entertainment—she was intrigued.</p> <p>“It is part sports, part entertainment and part experiential,” says Kankam, who started her new position right after graduation. “I started off working on Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day, and then every year took on more and more responsibility.” She credits her mentors Stacy Simmons, marketing director at BET, and Michelle Wilson, a former USTA and WWE executive, among others, with guiding her through the ranks. “They really helped foster and develop my career,” she says.</p> <p>“Last year, I was one of very few, senior Black executives at the USTA and definitely the only Black woman in a managing director role,” says Kankam who adds that the USTA recently welcomed their new chief diversity and inclusion officer, Marissa Grimes. “In many meetings I'm the only person of color.”</p> <p>While pro tournaments like the U.S. Open are the marquee events for the USTA, the organization also focuses on growing the sport in communities across the country. And although Kankam oversees marketing for the pro events, she’s passionate about seeing tennis continue to flourish into a diverse and global phenomenon, at all levels. The USTA is working on building grassroots participation in the sport—through refurbishing parks and facilitating programs on the youth level—and creating an environment that feels welcoming to all.</p> <p>“This year we had a day where we celebrated HBCUs and it tied with giving tennis grants to HBCU coaches in the name of the late David Dinkins, who was a huge staunch tennis supporter of the U.S. Open and also a Howard alum,” she says. The USTA also launched a program called Net Generation, which helps normalize and professionalize the coaching systems. “It's a more formal process to get coaches to kids,” adds Kankam. “These grants give resources to coaches of color. Because getting kids into the sport is important, but so is being coached by people that look like them.”</p> <figure><a href="https://www.si.com/tag/elle-evate-100-influential-black-women-in-sports" rel="nofollow"><img height="347" src="https://www.si.com/.image/c_fit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620/MTgzODkwNDcwODQwMDUwODQ5/elle-evate_key_visual_rev_1.jpg" width="620" /></a></figure> <p><em>Bryna Jean-Marie is a contributor for <a href="https://www.empoweronyx.com/inspiration">Empower Onyx</a>, a diverse multi-channel platform celebrating the stories and transformative power of sports for Black women and girls.</em></p>

New on Sports Illustrated: The USTA's Nicole Kankam Is Putting Equality at the Forefront of Tennis

This executive-level powerhouse is focused on growing the sport into a diverse, inclusive and global phenomenon. Sports Illustrated and Em...

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New on Sports Illustrated: Rockies Teammates Surprise Trevor Story With Special Moment Before Likely Final Game in Denver

<a href="https://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2021/09/30/rockies-trevor-story-final-home-game-charlie-blackmon"> <p class="subtitle">Charlie Blackmon came up with a cool way to let Rockies fans show their appreciation for Trevor Story.</p> <div><em>View the</em></div> original article</a> to see embedded media. <h2>A fond farewell</h2> <p>If, as it appears it surely will be, Wednesday’s Rockies–Nationals game was Trevor Story’s final home appearance at Coors Field, it was a memorable one. </p> <p>Story, a two-time All-Star, will be a free agent at the end of this season and is sure to command a high-priced contract. The Rockies don’t like to spend big money on free agents, so it’s a good bet that Story will be playing elsewhere in 2022. That made Wednesday’s game, an otherwise meaningless getaway-day matinee between two teams long since eliminated from playoff contention, an emotional one for Story. </p> <p>At the start of the game, as the Rockies took the field for the top of the first, Story went out alone and got a moment to soak in the fans’ adulation before being joined by the rest of his teammates. </p> <div> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/PatrickDLyons/status/1443293165331550208"></a></blockquote> <script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div> <p>The gesture was orchestrated by Charlie Blackmon, the longest-tenured Rockie, and Story had no idea it was going to happen. It’s usually Blackmon who leads the team onto the field at the start of the game, but on Wednesday he told Story to have the honor and instructed the rest of the team to hang back in the dugout.</p> <p>“I wasn’t aware—it got me by surprise,” <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/trevor-story-4-hits-rockies-win-last-home-game-of-2021">a tearful Story told reporters after the game</a>. “Chuck got me good there.</p> <p>“I should’ve known something was up. But that means a lot. I really appreciate that. These teammates are special. It means a lot that they did that, so a big, big thank you to those guys.”</p> <p>Story ended up going 4-for-4 in the game (with four infield singles) and scored three runs as the Rockies won 10–5. The game was delayed for two hours by rain in the third inning and by the time the final out was recorded, six hours after the first pitch, only a small portion of the 20,613 fans in attendance had stuck around. The committed fans who stuck it out gave Story a loud cheer and he rewarded a few lucky kids with some gear. </p> <div> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/d_allentuck/status/1443386749581938688"></a></blockquote> <script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div> <p>He had tears in his eyes as he made his way to the clubhouse.</p> <div> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/NoahArchuleta20/status/1443387140730089478"></a></blockquote> <script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div> <p><a href="https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/trevor-story-confused-after-rockies-keep-star-shortstop-at-mlb-trade-deadline/">Story was openly disappointed</a> when the Rockies didn’t trade him to a contender at the deadline—and rightfully so. What kind of player doesn’t want to play meaningful games down the stretch instead of languishing on a mediocre club? But perhaps he’ll look back on Wednesday’s game in Colorado and be grateful that he had the chance to say a proper goodbye to the city where he played his first six years. </p> <h2>The best of SI</h2> <p>Taulia Tagovailoa finally <a href="https://www.si.com/college/2021/09/29/taulia-tagovailoa-maryland-football-quarterback-history">gives Maryland a reliable quarterback after a decade of futility</a>. ... Despite the drama during the <a href="https://www.si.com/soccer/2021/09/29/weston-mckennie-return-usmnt-gregg-berhalter">last qualifying window, Weston McKennie is back on the roster for the USMNT’s World Cup qualifiers</a>. ... For all the talk about the Lakers’ age, <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2021/09/29/lakers-lebron-james-russell-westbrook-carmelo-anthony-age">their positional fits are the much bigger problem</a>. </p> <h2>Around the sports world</h2> <p>Brewers pitcher Devin Williams will <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/key-brewers-p-devin-williams-drunkenly-breaks-hand-during-clinch-celebration-expected-to-miss-playoffs-212458101.html">miss the postseason after he “had a few drinks,” punched a wall and broke his hand</a>. ... A Ghanaian soccer player who went viral for <a href="https://www.givemesport.com/1760950-ghana-premier-league-defender-who-stopped-matchfixing-has-now-been-charged-with-matchfixing">deliberately scoring own goals in a reported attempt to thwart a match-fixing plot has himself been charged with match-fixing</a>. </p> <h3>The Dodgers prevailed in a wild one to keep pace with the Giants</h3> <div> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/Dodgers/status/1443467696511676416"></a></blockquote> <script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div> <h3>Signing a one-year deal worked out really well for this guy</h3> <div> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/mlbstats/status/1443356248011911171"></a></blockquote> <script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div> <h3>Does a mask really make a guy his size anonymous?</h3> <div> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/giannis_an34/status/1443411935006019585"></a></blockquote> <script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div> <h3>This was cute</h3> <div> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1443437952361590795"></a></blockquote> <script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div> <h3>He’s gotta go to a beach other than Rockaway</h3> <div> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/fredkatz/status/1443266705581649924"></a></blockquote> <script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div> <h3>Is socks and sandals a cool look when they’re Gucci?</h3> <div> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/melissaykim/status/1443248320340713481"></a></blockquote> <script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div> <h2>Not sports</h2> <p>Shakira says she was attacked <a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/shakira-says-her-handbag-was-stolen-by-gang-of-wild-boars-in-barcelona">by a group of boars in a Barcelona park and they ran off with her purse</a>. ... A man in Korea says he’s been getting <a href="https://www.insider.com/squid-game-netflix-korean-man-inundated-phonecalls-number-2021-9">4,000 calls a day since his phone number appeared in the popular Netflix show<em> Squid Game</em></a>. ... The pandemic is <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-58733754">causing a clown shortage in Norther Ireland</a>. ... River otters <a href="https://slate.com/technology/2021/09/river-otters-attacking-humans-alaska.html">keep attacking people in Alaska</a>. </p> <h2>A good song</h2> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CkzI93Aqztk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <p><em>Email dan.gartland@si.com with any feedback or</em> <a href="https://twitter.com/Dan_Gartland"><em>follow me on Twitter</em></a> <em>for approximately one half-decent baseball joke per week.</em> <a href="https://www.si.com/tag/hot-clicks"><em>Bookmark this page</em></a> <em>to see previous editions of Hot Clicks and find the newest edition every day. By popular request</em> <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0KhJJa6nSLoPreU3oJpmMZ?si=jLW6kicrT0e9w5slye4SiA"><em>I’ve made a Spotify playlist of the music featured here</em></a><em>. Visit our</em> <a href="http://si.com/extra-mustard"><em>Extra Mustard page</em></a> <em>throughout each day for more offbeat sports stories.</em></p>

New on Sports Illustrated: Rockies Teammates Surprise Trevor Story With Special Moment Before Likely Final Game in Denver

Charlie Blackmon came up with a cool way to let Rockies fans show their appreciation for Trevor Story. View the original article to see ...

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New on Sports Illustrated: Best NFL, CFB Bets, Fantasy Kickers Check-In

<a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/30/best-nfl-cfb-bets-fantasy-kickers-check-in"> <p>Good morning! Thanks for starting your day with Winners Club. Today I'm preparing you for NFL and college football bets, and fantasy plays beginning tonight and trickling into Monday. I also did a deep dive on kickers, and just how frustrating they've been. Let's get right into it.</p> <h2>Reading</h2> </a><a href="https://www.si.com/betting/2021/09/29/nfl-player-props-week-4-thursday-night-football?utm_medium=push_notifications&utm_source=pushly&utm_campaign=1420638"><strong>Thursday Night Football Betting Guide:</strong></a> Jaguars-Bengals isn’t the best primetime game we’ve had this season, so why not place a few bets to make it more exciting? Jennifer Piacenti has picks for the spread, point total and player props. Place your bets over at <a href="https://www.sisportsbook.com/">SI Sportsbook</a>. <figure><img height="413" src="https://www.si.com/.image/c_fit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620/MTgzODg0MTI4NzgzOTY3Mzkz/cincinnati-bengals-jamarr-chase.jpg" width="620" /> <figcaption> <p>Sam Greene via Imagn Content Services, LLC</p> </figcaption> </figure> <p><a href="https://www.si.com/betting/2021/09/29/nfl-week-4-preview-early-line-movement-odds-tracking"><strong>NFL Week 4 Line Movement:</strong></a> Where is the public putting its money? Frankie Taddeo is following the games that are on the move ahead of the weekend.</p> <p><a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/29/start-em-sit-em-week-4-quarterbacks"><strong>Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em:</strong></a> Michael Fabiano picked Justin Herbert as his quarterback Start of the Week a week ago, and the sophomore responded with a season-high in points. See who Fabiano likes this week at quarterback and beyond.</p> <p><a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/29/week-4-football-rankings-projections"><strong>Weekly Player Rankings:</strong></a> Shawn Childs foresees a big week for a pair of Bills players in his weekly projections and rankings. Check out who else Childs is high on.</p> <p><a href="https://www.si.com/betting/2021/09/29/college-football-week-5-best-bets-composite"><strong>Composite CFB Picks:</strong></a> Richard Johnson's college football picks model had a bounce back week, and with conference play in full swing, he's confident in another good week ahead as we learn more and more about teams.</p> <p><strong><a href="https://www.si.com/betting/2021/09/28/college-football-playoff-championship-betting-futures-breakdown-odds">College Football Futures:</a></strong> Frankie Taddeo checks in on which teams' odds to win the College Football Playoff are rising and falling. The SEC is on top, and the ACC is virtually out of the picture; see how the rest of the contenders from the Power 5 stack up.</p> <figure><a href="https://www.sisportsbook.com/" rel="nofollow"><img height="487" src="https://www.si.com/.image/c_fit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620/MTg0MjMzOTA1MDE0OTc0MzM5/screen-shot-2021-09-28-at-94221-am.png" width="620" /></a></figure> <h2>What’s Going on With Kickers?</h2> <p>Week 3 was a highlight reel for kickers with walk-off field goals from Atlanta’s Younghoe Koo, Las Vegas’ Daniel Carlson, Green Bay’s Mason Crosby and Baltimore’s Justin Tucker, who set an <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2021/09/26/justin-tucker-66-yard-field-goal-crossbar-ravens-beat-lions">NFL record with a 66-yard boot</a>. So what’s going on with kickers as it relates to fantasy football three weeks into the season?</p> <p>Well, the highest-drafted kickers have largely been disappointments. Of the 12 highest kickers drafted, only five are currently in the top 12 in scoring at the position. Kicker, like defense, can be a fickle position for fantasy.</p> <p><strong>Top 12 Fantasy Kickers</strong></p> <figure><img height="343" src="https://www.si.com/.image/c_fit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620/MTg0MjMzOTIzMjY4NTg1MzQ3/screen-shot-2021-09-29-at-24430-pm.png" width="620" /> <figcaption><em>(Data via ESPN.com)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>Tucker, true to form, is the third-best kicker this season and was drafted the highest. I wouldn't call that a disappointment. The next kicker off the board was Harrison Butker of Kansas City. The Chiefs, though 1-2, are still one of the highest-scoring offenses in football. Their 30.7 points per game are fifth-best in the NFL. But Butker has only attempted and made three field goals compared with 11-of-11 extra points, which are worthless for fantasy.</p> <p>The same goes for Ryan Succop of the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay is the second-highest scoring offense, but Succop has only made two of three field goals this season and 13 of 14 extra points. He was the fifth kicker drafted but is tied for 22nd in scoring. Matt Prater, who kicks for Arizona, the NFL's highest-scoring offense, is tied for 11th.</p> <p><strong>Kickers with Top-12 ADPs not in the Top 12</strong></p> <figure><img height="215" src="https://www.si.com/.image/c_fit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620/MTg0MjMzOTM0MDA2MDAzNTg3/screen-shot-2021-09-29-at-24513-pm.png" width="620" /> <figcaption><em>(Data via ESPN.com)</em><br /></figcaption> </figure> <p>Being a good fantasy kicker isn’t necessarily directly correlated with your team having a good offense. The offense just needs to be good enough to make it into field goal range but not good enough to always score near the red zone. Take the Patriots’ Nick Folk. New England has the 26th-best scoring offense, but he’s tied for fourth at the position because he’s attempted and made nine field goals.</p> <p>Picking a kicker can be a crapshoot, and as shown by Jason Sanders and Koo, 2020’s top kickers, the continuity from season to season isn’t super sticky, either. They’re both tied for 23rd at their position. And players like Emmanuel Sanders and Derek Carr went well after each of them. All this to say, in-season adjustments at kicker (and every position) are vital to success. The Buccaneers could go out and score seven touchdowns this Sunday, but if they never attempt a field goal, that’s still only seven points for Succop.</p> <h2>Play of the Day and Games I’m Watching</h2> <p><strong>Play of the Day:</strong> Can I interest you in <strong>Ja’Marr Chase</strong> against the Jaguars' defense? The Joe Burrow to Chase connection has been more than everyone had hoped for, even early after the draft when expectations were high. In the preseason, Chase's stock dropped dramatically after his drops became a huge storyline. Now, all he's done is catch touchdown after touchdown. He's averaging 20 yards per catch, and it's easy to envision him getting behind the Jaguars' secondary and linking up with Burrow. Lock Chase into all of your DFS lineups. I still feel that his price hasn't caught up to his production. He's a bargain.</p> <p><strong>Games I’m Watching:</strong> I don’t know about you, but I love some SEC football, and the game of the week is Saturday at noon ET between <strong>No. 8 Arkansas and No. 2 Georgia</strong> on ESPN. I don't know many people who could have predicted this would be a top-10 matchup before the season began, but the Razorbacks are legit, and they get another chance to prove their place among the SEC's elite when they travel to Athens to take on the Bulldogs.</p> <figure><img height="413" src="https://www.si.com/.image/c_fit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620/MTgzNzgzODAxODM3NTkzOTk5/image-placeholder-title.jpg" width="620" /> <figcaption>Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption> </figure> <p>I’ll also be watching <strong>Boston College at No. 25 Clemson</strong> closely on the ACC Network at 7:30 PM ET on Saturday. The Tigers have the <a href="http://www.collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/app_streaks_weeks.cfm#.YVS8055udAc">second-longest-running streak in the AP Top 25</a>. A loss to a good Eagles team would end that this weekend.</p> <p>That's all for today. Enjoy your college football Saturday, and I'll talk to you Sunday morning.</p>

New on Sports Illustrated: Best NFL, CFB Bets, Fantasy Kickers Check-In

Good morning! Thanks for starting your day with Winners Club. Today I'm preparing you for NFL and college football bets, and fantasy pl...

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New on Sports Illustrated: Week 4 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks

<a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/30/week-4-rankings-quarterbacks"> <p class="subtitle">Josh Allen and the Bills are lighting up the scoreboard every week.</p> <p>Welcome to Week 4 of the 2021 NFL season! Hopefully you've cut loose any dead weight and streamlined your roster into a lean, mean fighting machine. There's still plenty of time to turn things around if you're off to a slow start.</p> <p>Remember to always churn those last couple bench spots to make sure you're bringing your best options to your lineup. Every lineup spot counts!</p> <p><strong>Week 4 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em</strong>: </p> </a><a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/29/start-em-sit-em-week-4-quarterbacks">QUARTERBACKS</a> <strong>| </strong><a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/29/start-em-sit-em-week-4-running-backs">RUNNING BACKS</a> | <a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/29/start-em-sit-em-week-4-wide-receivers">WIDE RECEIVERS</a> | <a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/29/start-em-sit-em-week-4-tight-ends">TIGHT ENDS</a> | <a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/29/start-em-sit-em-week-4-kickers">KICKERS</a> | <a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/29/start-em-sit-em-week-4-defenses">TEAM DEFENSES</a> <h2>Week 4 Rankings (PPR)</h2> <ul> <li><strong>QUARTERBACKS</strong></li> <li><a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/30/week-4-rankings-running-backs">RUNNING BACKS</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/30/week-4-rankings-wide-receivers">WIDE RECEIVERS</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/30/week-4-rankings-tight-ends">TIGHT ENDS</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/30/week-4-rankings-flex">FLEX</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/30/week-4-rankings-kickers">KICKERS</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/30/week-4-rankings-defenses">TEAM DEFENSES (DST)</a></li> </ul> <figure><img height="345" src="https://www.si.com/.image/c_fit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620/MTc4MTE4NjUxMTIyMDM0Mjgw/josh-allen-bills-colts.jpg" width="620" /> <figcaption> <p>Mark Konezny/USA TODAY Sports</p> </figcaption> </figure> <h3>QUARTERBACK RANKINGS</h3> <ol> <li>Josh Allen, BUF (vs. HOU)</li> <li>Patrick Mahomes, KC (at PHI)</li> <li>Kyler Murray, ARI (at LAR)</li> <li>Justin Herbert, LAC (vs. LV)</li> <li>Matthew Stafford, LAR (vs. ARI)</li> <li>Tom Brady, TB (at NE)</li> <li>Jalen Hurts, PHI (vs. KC)</li> <li>Dak Prescott, DAL (vs. CAR)</li> <li>Lamar Jackson, BAL (at DEN)</li> <li>Russell Wilson, SEA (at SF)</li> <li>Aaron Rodgers, GB (vs. PIT)</li> <li>Kirk Cousins, MIN (vs. CLE)</li> <li>Ryan Tannehill, TEN (at NYJ)</li> <li>Derek Carr, LV (at LAC)</li> <li>Baker Mayfield, CLE (at MIN)</li> <li>Sam Darnold, CAR (at DAL)</li> <li>Joe Burrow, CIN (vs. JAC)</li> <li>Taylor Heinicke, WAS (at ATL)</li> <li>Matt Ryan, ATL (vs. WAS)</li> <li>Daniel Jones, NYG (at NO)</li> <li>Teddy Bridgewater, DEN (vs. BAL)</li> <li>Jacoby Brissett, MIA (vs. IND)</li> <li>Justin Fields, CHI (vs. DET)</li> <li>Jimmy Garoppolo, SF (vs. SEA)</li> <li>Jameis Winston, NO (vs. NYG)</li> <li>Jared Goff, DET (at CHI)</li> <li>Trevor Lawrence, JAC (at CIN)</li> <li>Ben Roethlisberger, PIT (at GB)</li> <li>Mac Jones, NE (vs. TB)</li> <li>Carson Wentz, IND (at MIA)</li> <li>Zach Wilson, NYJ (vs. TEN)</li> <li>Davis Mills, HOU (at BUF)</li> </ol> <p><strong><em>Get fantasy and betting analysis in your inbox by signing up for the Winners Club newsletter:</em></strong> <a href="http://si.com/newsletters">SI.com/newsletters</a></p>

New on Sports Illustrated: Week 4 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks

Josh Allen and the Bills are lighting up the scoreboard every week. Welcome to Week 4 of the 2021 NFL season! Hopefully you've cut loo...

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New on Sports Illustrated: Are These Five Early Surprise Teams Contenders or Pretenders?

<a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2021/09/30/nfl-surprise-teams-contender-or-pretender"> <p class="subtitle">Several teams that were widely expected to miss the playoffs have instead burst out of the gates. Are they built to last?</p> <p>It’s a tough time to be in the prognostication business. Each year, I</p> </a><a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2021/08/26/predicting-every-game-2021-nfl-season">pick every single NFL game</a> and, sometimes, you finish a project like that feeling like the league may as well not play the season since you already cracked the code. This year, through three games, my expectation that many of the teams we’ll talk about below would struggle this year has me reeling. In my initial projections, I had the Raiders, Cardinals and Panthers all finishing last in their respective divisions. They are all currently 3–0. <p>But is this just a mirage?</p> <p>That’s what we’re here to examine about each of the NFL’s five surprise teams so far. Are they for real? Are they riding a soft schedule? Have they benefited from some oddly fortuitous on-field occurrence? Are they, despite a soft schedule, going to maintain their grip on first place?</p> <p>Join us on a spin through the proverbial desert, where we’ll discuss whether this crystal blue pool and fully stocked ice chest we’re seeing through the heat and haze is coming upon us, or if it’s destined to vanish, the product of some timely early-season mental trickery.</p> <figure><img height="413" src="https://www.si.com/.image/c_fit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620/MTg0MjExNDM2OTY3MzA3MTM5/denver-broncos-teddy-bridgewater-tim-patrick.jpg" width="620" /> <figcaption> <p>Isaiah J. Downing/USA TODAY Sports</p> </figcaption> </figure> <h2>Broncos (3–0)</h2> <p><em>Wins over:</em> Giants (27–13), Jaguars (23–13), Jets (26–0)<br /> <em>Are they for real?</em> <strong>YES</strong></p> <p>Teddy Bridgewater is not only playing <em>good enough</em> football for the Broncos this year, he is playing like one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. He has the league’s third-best total quarterback rating and is sixth in expected points added per dropback.</p> <p>Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur’s career has been strange in that way. Both with Case Keenum and Bridgewater, he’s been able to find a quarterback who can stretch the outer limits of his system despite a lack of pedigree coming in (relatively speaking). </p> <p>The real story here is obviously the defense, which hasn't truly been been tested but came into the season as one of the most talented units on paper. The Broncos are fifth in <em>Football Outsiders</em>’ latest DVOA rankings, and while they have faced Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson and Daniel Jones, Vic Fangio’s track record gives us more confidence that their ranking will hold. A win over the Ravens would shoot the Broncos into a far more legitimate stratosphere, but at the moment, they have not fallen into the pitfalls of recent past, losing games to inferior opponents because of a lack of punch on offense.</p> <h2>Raiders (3–0)</h2> <p><em>Wins over:</em> Ravens (33–27, OT), Steelers (26–17), Dolphins (31–28)<br /> <em>Are they for real?</em> <strong>MAYBE</strong></p> <p><a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2021/09/19/derek-carr-fearless-raiders-start-hot">Derek Carr is certainly for rea</a>l. It’s hard to overstate just how enjoyable it’s been watching him come into his own as a quarterback, which, as I’ve said before, is a strange thing to write about a 30-year-old. Carr took some massive shots against both the Ravens and the Steelers, with both coordinators’ assuming his penchant for grabbing at the safe throw was still true. In those games he began to resemble a more dependable veteran player who can rip teams apart with a well-timed deep shot. </p> <p>Gus Bradley has been able to schematically cover up for some of the team’s glaring weaknesses in the secondary, and their pass rush has performed so far above expectation that both Yannick Ngakoue and Maxx Crosby are among the league leaders for pass rush and run stop win rate, respectively. Ironic, isn’t it, that the year Jon Gruden reportedly tried to get Khalil Mack back, he finally found a combination of edge rushers who make the defense tick?</p> <h2>Bengals (2–1)</h2> <p><em>Wins over:</em> Vikings (27–24, OT), Steelers (24–10)<br /> <em>Are they for real?</em> <strong>NO</strong></p> <p>A Week 5 date with the Packers will be a measuring stick game for the Bengals, but there’s a good chance they'll go into that one 3–1 with the Jaguars coming to town Thursday night. Now that the Bengals have flashed some competency, the beginning of their schedule looks far different than it did back in July, when I picked this team to finish dead last in its division (a trend that will continue throughout the early season, by the way, with games against the Lions and the Jets still lingering before the bye week). While I tried to be clear in some preseason writing that the “Ja’Marr Chase can’t catch” narrative seemed silly, the <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2021/05/31/joe-burrow-inside-story-of-acl-rehab-monday-morning-quarterback-mmqb">Joe-Burrow-is-hesitant-in-the-pocket narrative</a> was worth keeping an eye on, mainly because the Bengals didn’t do much to upgrade their offensive line.</p> <p>What’s giving me pause and should prevent anyone from shifting the Bengals from <em>no</em> to <em>maybe</em> is that Burrow is still being pressured at an identical rate to where he finished the 2020 season (24%). At the moment, the Bengals are a respectable 12th in pass block win rate, and Burrow has been in the upper-middle-tier of quarterback efficiency. But their wins are against a Vikings team that missed a field goal in overtime and a Steelers team <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2021/09/27/steelers-roethlisberger-difficult-season-current-reality">that looks completely punchless offensively</a>. Further down we will get more excited about some teams that have beaten opponents with less than sparkling résumés, but Cincinnati’s roster doesn’t yet get the benefit of the doubt. This is especially true on defense. </p> <p>The Bengals are currently fourth in DVOA, which <em>feels</em> like an early season anomaly. If it holds, Zac Taylor and defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo deserve some Coach of the Year love. But, with a second half of the season that includes dates with the Chargers, 49ers, Broncos, Ravens, Chiefs and Browns, do we think it will?</p> <figure><img height="463" src="https://www.si.com/.image/c_fit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620/MTgzOTk3OTQxOTI3NjUxMjEz/kyler-murray-cardinals-fadeaway-throw.jpg" width="620" /> <figcaption> <p>Michael Chow/USA TODAY Network</p> </figcaption> </figure> <h2>Cardinals (3–0)</h2> <p><em>Wins over:</em> Titans (38–13), Vikings (34–33), Jaguars (31–19)<br /> <em>Are they for real?</em> <strong>MAYBE</strong></p> <p>Kyler Murray is playing lights out football right now, with the third-highest completion percentage above expectation in the NFL, behind only Bridgewater and Dak Prescott. Because of the presence of Murray, the Cardinals are never <em>not</em> going to be considered for real. While he is not yet on the level of Lamar Jackson as a singular game plan destroyer, Murray is good enough that you should never discount his team against any opponent, which is a heady thing to say about a third-year player. </p> <p>My concerns with their record thus far are as follows: Their game management skills are still wonky. They nearly lost that game to the Vikings. And like a few other teams that got the first crack at last year’s unstoppable outside zone offenses, the Cardinals guessed right and walked into that matchup against the Titans with a <a href="https://readoptional.substack.com/p/how-nfl-defenses-are-evolving-to">bulletproof game plan</a>, giving them the kind of single-game, non-replicable edge that we may have otherwise tabbed as an offseason evolution for the unit as a whole. </p> <p>Let’s see how Arizona does with back-to-back games against divisional opponents. The NFC West is the best division in football, and it would still seem the Cardinals lack the overall heft to hang with the Rams or 49ers for four quarters. If we’re wrong about this too? Look out.</p> <h2>Panthers (3–0)</h2> <p><em>Wins over:</em> Jets (19–14), Saints (26–7), Texans (24–9)<br /> <em>Are they for real:</em> <strong>YES</strong></p> <p>The <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2021/09/27/maqb-week-3-panthers-trade-for-cj-henderson-fields-belichick">C.J. Henderson trade</a> may end up being a stroke of genius that shows how committed the Panthers are to racking up wins while the schedule allows. The Panthers are currently the league’s No. 1 defense, and Sam Darnold, while not playing nearly as well as his predecessor in Carolina, is still an upper-middle-tier player with arguably as good a showing this year as Justin Herbert and Joe Burrow. </p> <p>Here’s why I feel safe with a <em>yes</em> call right now. The Panthers’ schedule is breaking incredibly favorably. The Falcons are going to be a nonfactor in 2021, and before their Week 13 bye week they only have two games against opponents with winning records (the Cowboys and Cardinals). The only hesitancy here is wondering if offensive coordinators can finally figure out Panthers’ defensive coordinator Phil Snow, who has emerged as an early darling of the 2021 season thanks to his Rolodex of pressure packages and fronts (<a href="https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/lists/carolina-panthers-defense-phil-snow/">a nice primer here</a>). Joe Brady is also continuing his rapid ascent up <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2021/09/17/future-nfl-head-coaches-hackett-brady-daboll-leftwich">the NFL coaching ladder</a>, with a notable performance against a superior Saints defense in Week 2. </p> <p><strong>More NFL Coverage:</strong></p> <p><strong>• <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2021/09/29/why-rookie-quarterbacks-should-consider-trade-demands">Why Rookie QBs Should Consider Trade Demands</a><br /></strong><strong>• </strong><strong><a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2021/09/28/week-3-takeaways-cowboys-control-afc-east-breaking-down-mahomes-ints">8 Things to Know: NFL Is Wide Open (NFC East Isn't)</a><br /></strong><strong>• <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2021/09/29/nfl-mailbag-chiefs-worries-panthers-steelers-patriots">Mailbag: What Should We Make of Surprising Starts?</a><br /></strong><strong>• <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2021/09/28/nfl-power-rankings-week-4">Power Rankings: Rams for Real, Chiefs Still in Top 10</a></strong></p>

New on Sports Illustrated: Are These Five Early Surprise Teams Contenders or Pretenders?

Several teams that were widely expected to miss the playoffs have instead burst out of the gates. Are they built to last? It’s a tough tim...

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New on Sports Illustrated: Week 4 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs

<a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/30/week-4-rankings-running-backs"> <p class="subtitle">Derrick Henry is due for a big performance in a plus matchup against the Jets.</p> <p>Welcome to Week 4 of the 2021 NFL season! Hopefully you've cut loose any dead weight and streamlined your roster into a lean, mean fighting machine. There's still plenty of time to turn things around if you're off to a slow start.</p> <p>Remember to always churn those last couple bench spots to make sure you're bringing your best options to your lineup. Every lineup spot counts!</p> <p><strong>Week 4 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em</strong>:</p> </a><a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/29/start-em-sit-em-week-4-quarterbacks">QUARTERBACKS</a> <strong>|</strong> <a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/29/start-em-sit-em-week-4-running-backs">RUNNING BACKS</a> | <a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/29/start-em-sit-em-week-4-wide-receivers">WIDE RECEIVERS</a> | <a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/29/start-em-sit-em-week-4-tight-ends">TIGHT ENDS</a> | <a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/29/start-em-sit-em-week-4-kickers">KICKERS</a> | <a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/29/start-em-sit-em-week-4-defenses">TEAM DEFENSES</a> <h2>Week 4 Rankings (PPR)</h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/30/week-4-rankings-quarterbacks">QUARTERBACKS</a></li> <li><strong>RUNNING BACKS</strong></li> <li><a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/30/week-4-rankings-wide-receivers">WIDE RECEIVERS</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/30/week-4-rankings-tight-ends">TIGHT ENDS</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/30/week-4-rankings-flex">FLEX</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/30/week-4-rankings-kickers">KICKERS</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/30/week-4-rankings-defenses">TEAM DEFENSES (DST)</a></li> </ul> <figure><img height="349" src="https://www.si.com/.image/c_fit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620/MTc2MDkzNjQ4NjY3MDI2ODU3/usatsi_15061717.jpg" width="620" /> <figcaption> <p>© Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean via Imagn Content Services, LLC</p> </figcaption> </figure> <h3>RUNNING BACK RANKINGS</h3> <ol> <li>Derrick Henry, TEN (at NYJ)</li> <li>Alvin Kamara, NO (vs. NYG)</li> <li>Austin Ekeler, LAC (at LV)</li> <li>Najee Harris, PIT (at GB)</li> <li>Ezekiel Elliott, DAL (vs. CAR)</li> <li>Jonathan Taylor, IND (at MIA)</li> <li>Nick Chubb, CLE (at MIN)</li> <li>Joe Mixon, CIN (vs. JAC)</li> <li>Aaron Jones, GB (vs. PIT)</li> <li>Saquon Barkley, NYG (at NO)</li> <li>D'Andre Swift, DET (at CHI)</li> <li>Antonio Gibson, WAS (at ATL)</li> <li>David Montgomery, CHI (vs. DET)</li> <li>Alexander Mattison, MIN (vs. CLE)</li> <li>James Robinson, JAC (at CIN)</li> <li>Sony Michel, LAR (vs. ARI)</li> <li>Chuba Hubbard, CAR (at DAL)</li> <li>Chris Carson, SEA (at SF)</li> <li>Kareem Hunt, CLE (at MIN)</li> <li>Miles Sanders, PHI (vs. KC)</li> <li>Cordarrelle Patterson, ATL (vs WAS)</li> <li>Chase Edmonds, ARI (at LAR)</li> <li>Clyde Edwards-Helaire, KC (at PHI)</li> <li>Melvin Gordon, DEN (vs. BAL)</li> <li>Mike Davis, ATL (vs. WAS)</li> <li>Myles Gaskin, MIA (vs. IND)</li> <li>Leonard Fournette, TB (at NE)</li> <li>Jamaal Williams, DET (at CHI)</li> <li>Trey Sermon, SF (vs. SEA)</li> <li>Javonte Williams, DEN (vs. BAL)</li> <li>Peyton Barber, LV (at LAC)</li> <li>Nyheim Hines, IND (at MIA)</li> <li>Zack Moss, BUF (vs. HOU)</li> <li>Damien Harris, NE (vs. TB)</li> <li>Devin Singletary, BUF (vs. HOU)</li> <li>Kenyan Drake, LV (at LAC)</li> <li>Tony Pollard, DAL (vs. CAR)</li> <li>Michael Carter, NYJ (vs. TEN)</li> <li>Ty'Son Williams, BAL (at DEN)</li> <li>J.D. McKissic, WAS (at ATL)</li> <li>James Conner, ARI (at LAR)</li> <li>Latavius Murray, BAL (at DEN)</li> <li>Kenneth Gainwell, PHI (vs. KC)</li> <li>A.J. Dillon, GB (vs. PIT)</li> <li>Giovani Bernard, TB (at NE)</li> <li>Kyle Juszczyk, SF (vs. SEA)</li> <li>Mark Ingram, HOU (at BUF)</li> <li>Jeremy McNichols, TEN (at NYJ)</li> <li>Ty Johnson, NYJ (vs. TEN)</li> <li>David Johnson, HOU (at BUF)</li> <li>Carlos Hyde, JAC (at CIN)</li> <li>Ronald Jones, TB (at NE)</li> <li>Tony Jones Jr., NO (vs. NYG)</li> <li>Damien Williams, CHI (vs. DET)</li> <li>Malcolm Brown, MIA (vs. IND)</li> <li>Royce Freeman, CAR (at DAL)</li> <li>Ameer Abdullah, MIN (vs. CLE)</li> <li>Darrel Williams, KC (at PHI)</li> <li>Travis Homer, SEA (at SF)</li> <li>Phillip Lindsay, HOU (at BUF)</li> </ol> <p><strong><em>Get fantasy and betting analysis in your inbox by signing up for the Winners Club newsletter:</em></strong> <a href="http://si.com/newsletters">SI.com/newsletters</a></p>

New on Sports Illustrated: Week 4 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs

Derrick Henry is due for a big performance in a plus matchup against the Jets. Welcome to Week 4 of the 2021 NFL season! Hopefully you'...

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New on Sports Illustrated: Week 4 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers

<a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/30/week-4-rankings-wide-receivers"> <p class="subtitle">Mike Williams climbs into the top 10 of this week's receiver rankings</p> <p>Welcome to Week 4 of the 2021 NFL season! Hopefully you've cut loose any dead weight and streamlined your roster into a lean, mean fighting machine. There's still plenty of time to turn things around if you're off to a slow start.</p> <p>Remember to always churn those last couple bench spots to make sure you're bringing your best options to your lineup. Every lineup spot counts!</p> <p><strong>Week 4 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em</strong>:</p> </a><a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/29/start-em-sit-em-week-4-quarterbacks">QUARTERBACKS</a> <strong>|</strong> <a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/29/start-em-sit-em-week-4-running-backs">RUNNING BACKS</a> | <a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/29/start-em-sit-em-week-4-wide-receivers">WIDE RECEIVERS</a> | <a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/29/start-em-sit-em-week-4-tight-ends">TIGHT ENDS</a> | <a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/29/start-em-sit-em-week-4-kickers">KICKERS</a> | <a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/29/start-em-sit-em-week-4-defenses">TEAM DEFENSES</a> <h2>Week 4 Rankings (PPR)</h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/30/week-4-rankings-quarterbacks">QUARTERBACKS</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/30/week-4-rankings-running-backs">RUNNING BACKS</a></li> <li><strong>WIDE RECEIVERS</strong></li> <li><a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/30/week-4-rankings-tight-ends">TIGHT ENDS</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/30/week-4-rankings-flex">FLEX</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/30/week-4-rankings-kickers">KICKERS</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/09/30/week-4-rankings-defenses">TEAM DEFENSES (DST)</a></li> </ul> <figure><img height="413" src="https://www.si.com/.image/c_fit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620/MTg0MjMzMTk1ODA4NDk5NTg3/los-angeles-chargers-mike-williams.jpg" width="620" /> <figcaption> <p>Denny Medley/USA TODAY Sports</p> </figcaption> </figure> <h3>WIDE RECEIVER RANKINGS</h3> <ol> <li>Davante Adams, GB (vs. PIT)</li> <li>Cooper Kupp, LAR (vs. ARI)</li> <li>Tyreek Hill, KC (at PHI)</li> <li>Stefon Diggs, BUF (vs. HOU)</li> <li>Justin Jefferson, MIN (vs. CLE)</li> <li>Keenan Allen, LAC (vs. LV)</li> <li>D.K. Metcalf, SEA (at SF)</li> <li>Mike Williams, LAC (vs. LV)</li> <li>D.J. Moore, CAR (at DAL)</li> <li>Terry McLaurin, WAS (at ATL)</li> <li>Ja'Marr Chase, CIN (vs. JAC)</li> <li>Calvin Ridley, ATL (vs. NYG)</li> <li>CeeDee Lamb, DAL (vs. CAR)</li> <li>Tyler Lockett, SEA (at SF)</li> <li>Chris Godwin, TB (at NE)</li> <li>Adam Thielen, MIN (vs. CLE)</li> <li>Deebo Samuel, SF (vs. SEA)</li> <li>DeAndre Hopkins, ARI (at LAR)</li> <li>Amari Cooper, DAL (vs. CAR)</li> <li>Mike Evans, TB (at NE)</li> <li>Chase Claypool, PIT (at GB)</li> <li>Brandin Cooks, HOU (at BUF)</li> <li>Odell Beckham Jr., CLE (at MIN)</li> <li>Julio Jones, TEN (at NYJ)</li> <li>Robert Woods, LAR (vs. ARI)</li> <li>Marvin Jones Jr., JAC (at CIN)</li> <li>Tyler Boyd, CIN (vs. JAC)</li> <li>Jaylen Waddle, MIA (vs. IND)</li> <li>Courtland Sutton, DEN (vs. BAL)</li> <li>Marquise Brown, BAL (at DEN)</li> <li>Allen Robinson, CHI (vs. DET)</li> <li>Cole Beasley, BUF (vs. HOU)</li> <li>Jakobi Meyers, NE (vs. TB)</li> <li>Michael Pittman Jr., IND (at MIA)</li> <li>Corey Davis, NYJ (vs. TEN)</li> <li>Tim Patrick, DEN (vs. BAL)</li> <li>Brandon Aiyuk, SF (vs. SEA)</li> <li>Emmanuel Sanders, BUF (vs. HOU)</li> <li>Devonta Smith, PHI (vs. KC)</li> <li>Christian Kirk, ARI (at LAR)</li> <li>Antonio Brown, TB (at NE)</li> <li>Henry Ruggs III, LV (at LAC)</li> <li>D.J. Chark, JAC (at CIN)</li> <li>Robby Anderson, CAR (at DAL)</li> <li>Kenny Golladay, NYG (at NO)</li> <li>Hunter Renfrow, LV (at LAC)</li> <li>DeVante Parker, MIA (vs. IND)</li> <li>Rondale Moore, ARI (at LAR)</li> <li>Mecole Hardman, KC (at PHI)</li> <li>Will Fuller V, MIA (vs. IND)</li> <li>Darnell Mooney, CHI (vs. DET)</li> <li>James Washington, PIT (at GB)</li> <li>Sammy Watkins, BAL (at DEN)</li> <li>Bryan Edwards, LV (at LAC)</li> <li>Laviska Shenault, JAC (at CIN)</li> <li>Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, TEN (at NYJ)</li> <li>K.J. Osborn, MIN (vs. CLE)</li> <li>Zach Pascal, IND (at MIA)</li> <li>Marquez Valdes-Scantling, GB (vs. PIT)</li> <li>Terrace Marshall Jr., CAR (at DAL)</li> </ol> <p><strong><em>Get fantasy and betting analysis in your inbox by signing up for the Winners Club newsletter:</em></strong> <a href="http://si.com/newsletters">SI.com/newsletters</a></p>

New on Sports Illustrated: Week 4 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers

Mike Williams climbs into the top 10 of this week's receiver rankings Welcome to Week 4 of the 2021 NFL season! Hopefully you've c...

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