HeadtoHeadFootball -
  • Home
  • NFL
  • NFL STANDINGS
  • STATISTICS
  • Soccer
  • Place Bet
  • Contact Us
HeadtoHeadFootball -
Home
NFL
NFL STANDINGS
STATISTICS
Soccer
Place Bet
Contact Us
  • Home
  • NFL
  • NFL STANDINGS
  • STATISTICS
  • Soccer
  • Place Bet
  • Contact Us

EDITOR PICKS

  • Watch: Carvajal's header delivers killer blow for Madrid in UCL final

  • An introduction to Top Soccer News on theScore ??

  • An introduction to Top Soccer News on theScore ??

  • Real Madrid beat Dortmund to win 15th European Cup

NFL

Daily Notes: Dak, Allen, Mitchell among key Week 1 injuries

7:47 AM ET

  • Eric MoodyESPN

    Close

      Former manager at a Fortune 100 financial services company, now living my dream creating fantasy and sports betting content about the NFL, NBA, and WNBA for ESPN.

Read ESPN’s fantasy football daily notes every weekday to stay caught up on the news you need to know and get a head start on the fantasy football content coming today and tomorrow to ESPN.com and the ESPN Fantasy App.


The news: Dak Prescott needs surgery after suffering a thumb injury.

What it means in fantasy: Prescott is expected to have surgery Monday and miss six to eight weeks, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer. The fantasy value of CeeDee Lamb, Ezekiel Elliott, Dalton Schultz and Tony Pollard plummets as a result of this news.

Going deeper: It would not be surprising if the Cowboys contact the 49ers regarding a trade for Jimmy Garoppolo.


The news: Keenan Allen pulled a hamstring in the second quarter of Week 1’s game against the Raiders.

What it means in fantasy: After the game, Allen implied to reporters that he does not believe his injury is serious. That doesn’t necessarily mean Allen will suit up for a division matchup against the Chiefs on Thursday night to kick off Week 2. Stephania Bell said “The biggest concern for NFL athletes with a mild hamstring injury is it turning into a more severe hamstring injury. Playing four days from now could be a risky proposition.” It shouldn’t be difficult for Mike Williams to move into the No. 1 role as a borderline WR1. Josh Palmer and DeAndre Carter are on the flex radar in Week 2 against the Chiefs’ secondary.

play

1:45

Field Yates and Daniel Dopp break down the effect Keenan Allen’s injury will have on the Chargers going into Week 2.


The news: It is too early to determine how Najee Harris’ ankle/foot injury will affect the Steelers.

What it means in fantasy: Harris finished the game against the Bengals with 12 touches and 26 total yards before departing in the 4th quarter. It is unknown how severe Harris’ injury is, but potentially losing him is a huge blow for the Steelers. If Harris were to miss time, Jaylen Warren could fill the void and start. In that scenario, Warren c ld be viewed as an RB2 by fantasy managers.

Going deeper: Harris averaged 22.4 touches per game in 2021 and accounted for 31% of the Steelers’ scrimmage yards.


The news: Chris Godwin left Sunday night’s game against the Cowboys with a hamstring injury.

What it means in fantasy: The Buccaneers wide receiver had three receptions for 35 yards prior to the injury. Godwin, who tore his ACL late last season, was active for the game after not being sure he would play. It shouldn’t be surprising to see Godwin out again in Week 2 against the Saints. Mike Evans would undoubtedly take over as Tom Brady’s top receiving playmaker, while Russell Gage and Julio Jones will move up the depth chart.

Going deeper: Jones led the Buccaneers in air yards Sunday night. He caught three of five targets for 69 yards and appears to have a good rapport with Brady. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Jones reached the seventh-fastest top speed (20.62) of anyone in Week 1.


The news: 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell left Sunday’s game in Chicago with a knee injury in the first half and he was quickly ruled out for the remainder of the game.

What it means in fantasy: Mitchell ran six times for 41 yards before leaving the game. The extent of the injury is unknown, but it could be a MCL sprain, according to reports. After the injury, Jeff Wilson Jr. took over as the running back on early downs. There is no doubt that he will be one of the most popular waiver wire additions this week.

Going deeper: Mitchell averaged 18.8 touches per game in his rookie season in 2021.


The news: AJ Dillon led the Packers’ offense against the Vikings.

What it means in fantasy: Dillon accumulated 91 total yards on 15 touches while Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers grimaced at his wide receivers. Dillon led Green Bay in both rushing and receiving, and he and Aaron Jones should continue to be key contributors on the ground and in the air as Rodgers and the Packers adjust to life without Davante Adams. Dillon is firmly on the RB2 radar for fantasy managers.

play

0:52

Field Yates and Daniel Dopp react to AJ Dillon’s performance vs. the Vikings and what they expect from the Packers’ backfield.


The news: JuJu Smith-Schuster also had the second-most targets in his Chiefs debut against the Cardinals.

What it means in fantasy: Smith-Schuster finished with 79 receiving yards for Kansas City. Smith-Schuster is better off catching passes from Patrick Mahomes than late-in-his-career-Ben Roethlisberger. He is a WR2 in Week 2 against a Chargers defense that Davante Adams torched in Week 1, in what should be a high-scoring game.

Going deeper: Smith-Schuster’s 79 receiving yards is his fifth-highest total over the last 28 games. Mahomes and Chiefs head coach and offensive maestro Andy Reid should make this a more frequent occurrence.


The news: Jarvis Landry led the Saints in targets and receiving yards against the Falcons.

What it means in fantasy: In their first game together in the regular season, Landry showed excellent chemistry with Jameis Winston. It is very encouraging that the veteran receiver is off to such a fast start. In Week 1, offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael had three wide receivers on the field more than 50% of the time. This is good news for Landry’s fantasy prospects. He’s on the flex radar for fantasy managers.


The news: Dameon Pierce’s regular-season debut didn’t go the way fantasy managers expected.

What it means in fantasy: Pierce finished Week 1 against the Colts with 12 touches for 39 yards. He operated in a committee with Rex Burkhead. Pierce surprisingly played only 28% of the snaps compared to Burkhead’s 78%. After the game, Texans head coach Lovie Smith spoke with reporters about the situations Houston found themselves in during the game, which led to Burkhead seeing more action than Pierce. The rookie is best viewed by fantasy managers as a flex option in Week 2 against the Broncos.


The news: Amon-Ra St. Brown led the Lions in targets, receptions and receiving yards.

What it means in fantasy: St. Brown has a receiving touchdown in five consecutive games, the longest streak by a Lions player since Calvin Johnson in 2011. Due to extra competition for looks, fantasy managers feared Brown’s targets would suffer, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. He can be trusted as a WR2 with upside against the Commanders in Week 2.

Going deeper: St. Brown has maintained his rapport with Jared Goff they established late last season. Over the final six games of 2021, St. Brown averaged 11.2 targets per game. During that stretch, only one wide receiver scored more fantasy points than St. Brown (100.1), and that was Cooper Kupp (109.3).


The news: D’Andre Swift set a career high in rushing yards.

What it means in fantasy: Swift finished with 175 total yards (144 rushing, 31 receiving) in an impressive performance to start the season. He became just the sixth player in franchise history to rush for 100 yards in a Week 1 game, and only the third Lion to accomplish that feat in a home game, following Barry Sanders (1996) and Steve Owens (1972).

Going deeper: Swift showed Sunday why the Lions think he can be one of the league’s best three-down backs. He will not be able to reach 20 touches regularly due to Jamaal Williams, but Swift’s efficiency (1.09 career fantasy points per touch) and targets as a receiver position him as an RB1 in Week 2.


The news: Michael Pittman Jr’s 121 receiving yards and touchdown cement him as the Colts alpha wideout.

What it means in fantasy: Pittman and Matt Ryan seem to be a fantasy football bonanza for managers. The chemistry this duo exhibited in training camp and in preseason games was evident against the Texans. Pittman certainly has top-10 upside in 2022. Against the Jaguars in Week 2, he is on the WR1 radar.

Going deeper: With Ryan as his quarterback, Pittman is capable of replicating the per-game averages that former Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones had in Atlanta. Jones averaged 9.8 targets, 95.5 receiving yards and 18.5 fantasy points per game.


The news: Tyreek Hill won’t miss Patrick Mahomes as much as fantasy managers feared.

What it means in fantasy: Hill’s 12 targets led the Dolphins in their win over the Patriots. In his regular-season debut with the Dolphins, he racked up 100 total yards and looked in sync with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Against the Ravens in Week 2, Hill should remain in the WR1 conversation.


The news: Christian Kirk hit the ground running with his new team in Week 1.

What it means in fantasy: Kirk led the Jaguars in targets (12), receptions (6), and receiving yards (117) against the Commanders. In our live draft trends, he was the WR34, and fantasy managers who have Kirk on their rosters are thrilled. Kirk was signed as the Jaguars’ top target in 2022 in a big deal this offseason. He can be viewed as a flex option with WR2 upside.

play

0:19

Daniel Dopp explains that fantasy managers should be happy with Christian Kirk if he continues his production from Week 1.



Today on ESPN.com/Fantasy and in the ESPN Fantasy App

Matt Bowen’s streaming pickups: deeper picks for deeper leagues and emergency need

• Fantasy Focus podcast now at 10 a.m. ET

In Case You Missed It:

• Matt Bowen and Tristan H. Cockcroft on the Week 1 highs (Michael Thomas) and lows (Joe Burrow)

• It’s not too late! Sign up for team or start a new league this week and start play fresh for Week 2.

Soccer

Watch: Kvaratskhelia, Napoli tear Liverpool's defense to shreds

Napoli ran roughshod over Liverpool in the first half of Wednesday’s Champions League encounter, tearing the shell-shocked visitors apart and scoring three goals in a frenetic opening stanza en route to a 4-1 win.

Piotr Zielinski – from the penalty spot – and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa got the party started in Naples.

Substitute Giovanni Simeone then capped the wild 45 minutes by tapping the ball into an open net after excellent work from the unimpeachable Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Simeone’s tally sparked jubilant scenes at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

(Available to view in U.S. only)

LIVERPOOL, WYD?! ?

IT’S 3! pic.twitter.com/IqbKGxy952

— UCL on Paramount+ ?? (@CBSSportsGolazo) September 7, 2022

(Available to view in Canada only)

41′- Giovanni Simeone enters the match

Three minutes later, he scores to make it NAPOLI 3-0 LIVERPOOL. #UCL ? pic.twitter.com/hlfwSqY4i1

— DAZN Canada (@DAZN_CA) September 7, 2022

Napoli added a fourth goal two minutes into the second half before Liverpool pulled one back.

Soccer

Watch: Lewandowski makes history with hat-trick as Barca thrash Plzen

New club, same ol’ Robert Lewandowski.

Barcelona’s marquee summer signing made history Wednesday, becoming the first player to score a Champions League hat-trick for three different clubs when he notched a treble in his European debut with the Blaugrana.

Lewandowski’s three goals powered Barca to a dominant 5-1 victory over Viktoria Plzen. His third tally at the Camp Nou showcased the precision that has made the 34-year-old one of the most prolific players in history.

(Available to view in U.S. only)

NEW TEAM, SAME ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI ?

He loves a #UCL hat-trick ? pic.twitter.com/dkNE5rdNdw

— UCL on Paramount+ ?? (@CBSSportsGolazo) September 7, 2022

(Available to view in Canada only)

LEWANDOWSKI HAT-TRICK ? pic.twitter.com/zxmZkeIoJD

— DAZN Canada (@DAZN_CA) September 7, 2022

Barca, who didn’t get beyond the group stage in last season’s Champions League, also got goals from Franck Kessie and Ferran Torres.

There are stiffer tests to come with both Bayern Munich and Inter Milan also in Group C, but Wednesday’s victory was the ideal start for Xavi’s side.

Soccer

Why Chelsea's problems might not be solved by sacking Tuchel

Thomas Tuchel was supported in his role as Chelsea head coach. New co-owner Todd Boehly was considering signing Cristiano Ronaldo until Tuchel reportedly vetoed the deal over concerns about the veteran’s fit into his fluid attack. And then there was the deadline-day arrival of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, a 33-year-old striker past his best but with whom Tuchel shares a “close bond.”

That’s what makes the German’s dismissal Wednesday even more perplexing.

Reservations over Tuchel as Chelsea boss started in the summer when Boehly and his business partners observed the fallout from a 4-0 preseason loss to Arsenal in Orlando, according to Tom Roddy of The Times (UK). Tuchel apparently tore into his players, questioning their commitment and professionalism, and he already showed signs of not being overly enthusiastic about working with the club’s new owners. Tuchel had good relationships with departed directors Marina Granovskaia and Petr Cech, key figures of the Roman Abramovich regime, and wasn’t embracing the new era.

Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Yet, Boehly backed Tuchel. Despite appearing to have little soccer knowledge, Boehly installed himself as interim sporting director in Granovskaia’s place and leaned on Tuchel’s advice in the transfer market. What followed was a whistle-stop tour of Europe that culminated in several failed pursuits but, ultimately, a frenzied few weeks of incoming deals.

Chelsea spent well over £260 million, including bonuses tied into some transfers.

The club was forced into big-money transactions. There needed to be a recruitment drive in defense since Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen left the club when their contracts expired. Signing Kalidou Koulibaly and Wesley Fofana made sense. But was Marc Cucurella really worth up to £63 million when Ben Chilwell was already first-choice left wing-back and Marcos Alonso (who’s now at Barcelona) was a reasonable backup?

Elsewhere, there seemed to be a clash in Chelsea’s transfer policy. The club spent considerable sums on players for tomorrow – Carney Chukwuemeka, Gabriel Slonina, and Cesare Casadei, among them. They also attempted to negotiate moves for players better suited to three years ago, like Aubameyang and Ronaldo.

Boehly has taken risks before. Despite not being a hands-on owner with Major League Baseball’s L.A. Dodgers, Los Angeles Times columnist Dylan Hernandez recalls Boehly being “bold and upfront” about his ambitions for the franchise. The Guggenheim Group’s 2012 takeover increased spending and franchise values in baseball, and Hernandez compared the owners’ impact on the Dodgers as reminiscent of the Real Madrid “Galacticos” years. The Dodgers won the World Series in 2019.

“He’s really good on the business side,” said Bill Shaikin, Hernandez’s colleague at the Los Angeles Times and a Dodgers beat writer. Shaikin noted Boehly’s vital work to greatly boost the franchise’s media revenue and how the owners oversaw overdue renovations to Dodger Stadium.

However, they’re not the elements that directly influence postseason runs. Much of Boehly’s successes have been behind the scenes. “Most Dodgers fans have no idea who he is,” Shaikin added.

Harriet Lander – Chelsea FC / Chelsea FC / Getty

But now, he has his own thing at Stamford Bridge. He’s quickly become one of the most recognizable executives in English football.

“You never know the way people are going to react until they get power like that,” Hernandez said. “This might have just been an opportunity for that part of him to come out.”

The way Boehly has quickly presided over Chelsea’s transfer dealings despite lacking soccer experience is concerning. This is a job for an experienced football director, not someone who was involved in the sport for 23 days when he handed himself that role. And the way Boehly relied on Tuchel during the summer window and then sacked him shortly thereafter indicated there was no clear plan in place for the first three months at Chelsea.

Former Brighton & Hove Albion manager Graham Potter will succeed Tuchel at Chelsea. The Englishman made the Seagulls one of the most versatile teams in European football. However, he’s undoubtedly aware he would’ve been afforded fewer opportunities to showcase his tactical acumen and man-management skills without the clear vision, wise division of labor, and holism at Brighton – its oft-successful recruitment included.

Potter is a coach who thrives at a club with a discernible project. But right now, it’s not clear if Chelsea are anything more than a vanity project for Boehly.

Page 194 of 879« First...102030«193194195196»200210220...Last »

Soccer

  • Watch: Carvajal's header delivers killer blow for Madrid in UCL final

  • An introduction to Top Soccer News on theScore ??

  • An introduction to Top Soccer News on theScore ??

  • Real Madrid beat Dortmund to win 15th European Cup

  • Police arrest dozens of ticket-less fans at Wembley final

  • Dortmund boss Terzic lauds 'brilliant' Sancho after UCL defeat

  • Modric, Kroos among Madrid stars to make history with latest UCL triumph

  • Madrid's inevitability is a superpower no rival can match

  • Transfer window preview: 50 players who could move this summer

  • Vinicius Jr. named Champions League Player of the Season

“If you think about it, I've never held a job in my life. I went from being an NFL player to a coach to a broadcaster. I haven't worked a day in my life.”
-John Madden


© 2020 Copyright . All rights reserved | Terms & Conditions | Privacy policy