Alabama fans used to wear buttons that read: BEAT EVERYONE. Kalen DeBoer’s first team deserves a rebrand.
Alabama football vs. Missouri is a playoff elimination game.
Georgia might not be the team to beat, but it’s a team to beat.

Welcome to the No. 1 spot in the US LBM Coaches Poll, Oregon. Watch your step. The footing’s awfully slippery this college football season, even for those with webbed feet.

By the time it stopped raining water bottles Saturday in Austin, Texas, the Longhorns were no longer unblemished, Georgia had restored its honor, and Alabama already lost. Again.

As Week 8 faded into the night, “The Eyes of Texas” struck a somber tone, while the three I’s – Iowa State, Indiana and Illinois – boast records better than the Script A.

Here’s what’s left lingering on my mind:

After loss at Tennessee, is Alabama finished as a College Football Playoff contender?

No.

Mark this under the category of two things can be true at once.

The facts: In the three weeks since Alabama beat Georgia, the Crimson Tide haven’t resembled a playoff team. It lost to Vanderbilt and Tennessee and wriggled off the hook against South Carolina.

More facts: Historically, the playoff selection committee salivates over Alabama. Also, the Crimson Tide’s win against Georgia ranks among the nation’s most-impressive victories, joining Georgia’s win at Texas, Oregon’s win vs. Ohio State, and Vanderbilt’s win against Alabama.

No. 15 Alabama (5-2) dazzled in the first half against Georgia, in front of a raucous home crowd, while the Bulldogs had a full-fledged meltdown. Neither team looks the same since then, and it’s now obvious that imperfections riddle Alabama.

Quarterback Jalen Milroe contributed six turnovers these past three games. That won’t do. Any hope of Alabama qualifying for the playoff depends on Milroe driving the wagon, not anchoring it.

Two-loss teams will crowd the playoff bubble. If Alabama rallies to 10-2, it retains a shot at selection, and its win against Georgia might look even better by then.

A 10-2 record wouldn’t be enough to qualify No. 17 Missouri (6-1). Texas A&M already demolished Missouri, which drew one of the SEC’s easiest schedules.

So, when Alabama hosts the Tigers on Saturday, consider it a playoff-elimination game.

Neither Alabama nor Missouri aces the evaluation for what we’d normally consider a playoff team, but we’re not fine-tuned at evaluating the “last team in” for a 12-team field. Within an expanded playoff, not every qualifier will resemble 2020 Alabama or 2022 Georgia.

The Tide, for much of the season, have done well just to look better than 2007 Alabama, the 7-6 team from Nick Saban’s first season – and we don’t yet have a playoff big enough that would house the ’07 Tide.

Alabama fans used to wear pins that read: BEAT EVERYONE.

That mentality suited Saban’s dynasty, but I’m envisioning a rebrand for this team: BEAT ANYONE. PLEASE.

By beating Texas, did Georgia re-establish itself as the team to beat?

No, Georgia is not the team to beat, because no indefatigable force exists.

We’ve grown accustomed to everyone chasing one or two super teams. Alabama provided that team throughout Nick Saban’s dynasty. Then, Kirby Smart turned Georgia into that team.

This season breaks the mold. A super team has not emerged. Georgia’s defense looked super against Texas. Its offense did just enough.

I could argue Georgia is the national championship front-runner. I also could make compelling cases for Oregon and Ohio State, which have better-performing offenses than Georgia’s.

Georgia’s 30-15 thumping of Texas established that the Bulldogs, like a few other teams, are talented enough to win the national championship. The performance stopped short of establishing that it’s Georgia’s to lose.

Championship-contender tiers are emerging. On that top tier are, in the order of your choosing, Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon and … Texas.

The first three are obvious, but … Texas? That’s right, I’m keeping the Longhorns on my top tier even after Saturday’s result. Their defense keeps standing tall. Sure, Georgia scored 30 points, but four Texas turnovers continually set up the Bulldogs with short fields. Only one Georgia scoring drive traveled more than 34 yards.

Not many opponents could dissect Texas’ offensive line like Georgia did. Plus, quarterback Quinn Ewers is better than he showed. If Ewers regains his September form and matchups break Texas’ way, it can win it all. So can Georgia, Ohio State and Oregon. Together, they’re the teams to beat.

As Southern California, Michigan, Florida State, Oklahoma implode, who’s getting fired?

None of the head coaches.

I understand frustrated fans want to “fire everybody!” in the face of a losing season, but that’s not realistic for these languishing blue bloods.

Let’s start with Michigan’s Sherrone Moore. He’s in Year 1. His buyout tops $18 million. He’ll get a second crack at this. To anyone realistic about Michigan’s personnel, the Wolverines’ 4-3 record suits the roster. Jim Harbaugh left Moore with a bleak quarterback situation. Moore must solve it quickly, as in, 2025.

Let’s move to Lincoln Riley. USC’s 3-4 record is a failure for a third-year coach who came at Riley’s price tag. Riley is 5-9 in his past 14 games. Comparatively, Florida’s Billy Napier and Arkansas’ Sam Pittman are 6-8 in their last 14. Two of those three coaches are on the hot seat, and Riley is the one who isn’t. Why? Follow the money. The Trojans padlocked their wagon to Riley. His buyout is not public record – USC, a private school, is not subject to open records laws – but it’s believed to be very, very expensive, much more so than that of Napier or Pittman.

Next, examine Oklahoma’s Brent Venables. To call the Sooners (4-3) an eyesore is to insult eyesores. Their offense is offensive. However, Oklahoma inexplicably awarded Venables a raise and an extension before this season, despite his middling first two seasons and the fact that nobody threatened to steal Venables away. The contract lunacy means a $45 million buyout protects Venables, so he gets to fire his offensive coordinator, rather than the Sooners firing him.

We arrive at Florida State last. That’s fitting. The Seminoles (1-6) are pitiful. Worse, they look disinterested. But, coach Mike Norvell leveraged a 13-1 2023 season and Alabama’s job opening into a sweet deal. His buyout at season’s end? Nearly $64 million. Fume on, ‘Noles fans, but Norvell’s yours.

A College Football Playoff committee’s disaster scenario

Somebody’s getting left out. That’s my prediction for Selection Sunday.

Not every Cinderella playoff contender will be left standing come December, but it’s still shaping up as an overcrowded bubble. The ultimate disaster scenario for the selection committee: Brigham Young and Iowa State roll into the Big 12 championship game undefeated, and one-loss Clemson beats undefeated Miami for the ACC title.

In such a scenario, the Big 12 and ACC could account for an at-large bid apiece, leaving just five at-large spots for the SEC, Big Ten and Notre Dame.

Uh-oh.

Yes, indeed, somebody’s getting left out.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @btoppmeyer.

Subscribe to read all of his columns.

The 2024-25 NBA season is here, finally.

Although hoops fans did have the Paris Olympics to tide them over, all eyes turn to Tuesday night’s tip-off. The Boston Celtics will host the new-look New York Knicks in the early game, followed by the Minnesota Timberwolves traveling to Los Angeles for a nightcap against the Lakers.

Boston is looking to become the first team since the 2017-18 Golden State Warriors to repeat as champions, though there will be plenty of competition, starting with its opening night opponent.

Here are six key questions headed into the start of the 2024-25 NBA season.

Can anyone unseat the Boston Celtics?

The Celtics dominated the NBA pretty much wire-to-wire last season. From its 26-6 start, to its 11-game win streak in February, to its smooth path to an 18th NBA title, Boston built a deep team capable of winning multiple titles. Yet, this offseason, a pair of Eastern Conference squads — the Knicks and 76ers — responded to Boston’s success with corresponding personnel moves.

New York traded for Mikal Bridges, a perimeter wing with solid scoring instincts and plus-defense, and Karl-Anthony Towns, a big whose range clears spacing and offers a foil to Kristaps Porziņģis. Philadelphia signed six-time All-NBA forward Paul George, who in many ways became the prototype of the contemporary wing. Still, when healthy, all five Celtics starters are excellent defenders, and all can ignite from 3-point range.

NBA SEASON PREDICTIONS: USA TODAY picks for champion, MVP, rookie, coach of year

Can the young Thunder take the next step?

Oklahoma City entered last season as the second-youngest team (24.12 average age), behind only the Spurs (23.52). The Thunder, however, did have the fewest average number of seasons of NBA experience (2.22) of any team. Still, the Thunder broke out and claimed the No. 1 seed in the West.

Their youth and inexperience became apparent in the playoffs, when they were bounced in the semifinals by the eventual Western Conference champion Mavericks. But coach Mark Daigneault developed a free-flowing offense led by MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, 26, who glides through defenses with total control. Rookie of the Year runner-up Chet Holmgren, 22, played all 82 games, and should expand his production. Jalen Williams, 23, also emerged. Luguentz Dort, 25, became the defensive stopper. OKC added another defensive piece in a trade for Alex Caruso. The Thunder improved by 17 wins last season; this year, progress will be measured by a deep postseason run.

How will the league and officials handle scoring and physicality?

The NBA often uses the All-Star break to assess the first months of the season before adjusting points of emphasis. Last season, after an eruption of historic scoring marked play before the break — aided in part by generous, whistle-happy officiating — the NBA had a palpable shift in the way games were enforced.

Defensive physicality was allowed to prevail and free throws gradually declined. Scoring did, too. Then, in the height of the offseason, basketball fans enjoyed the style of play at the Olympics, which is governed, and officiated by, FIBA personnel. In an appearance earlier this month on “The Wake Up Call with KB and Andy” podcast, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said the NBA informed coaching staffs that “games are going to look a lot more like FIBA than the old, freedom-of-movement NBA.” The first month should be a good indicator of how seriously (and consistently) the NBA chooses to officiate games.

Can Ja Morant stay on the floor and return the Grizzlies to form?

Two seasons ago, Memphis won 51 games. Three seasons ago, the Grizzlies won 56. Both times, they clinched the No. 2 seed in the West. But a 25-game suspension and shoulder ailment derailed star guard Ja Morant’s season. His injury was just one of several, plummeting Memphis down the standings.

It might have resulted in some silver linings. Jaren Jackson Jr., the Defensive Player of the Year two seasons ago, performed well with greater offensive responsibility. GG Jackson, the youngest player in the NBA last season, flashed promise. And now enter Zach Edey, who stabilizes the center spot and provides an instant presence in the low block, and is the preseason favorite to win Rookie of the Year. The Western Conference is already stacked. If Memphis is to disrupt the balance of power and establish itself as a contender, the catalyst will have to be Morant.

What does Year 2 look like for Victor Wembanyama (and the Spurs)?

He unanimously won the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award and stacked clip after clip of otherworldly highlights, so basketball fans will be eager to see what Victor Wembanyama has in store for his sophomore season. Wembanyama, who is still 20, also starred for France in the Olympics.

The Spurs diligently kept Wembanyama on a minutes restriction last season, as he averaged 29.7 per game. That number should steadily increase. The Spurs also listed Wemby at 235 pounds at the start of training camp, 25 more than the 210 he weighed last season. That should help him on both ends of the floor. Improvements to watch for this season are increased physicality in the post, higher efficiency with his 3-point shot, cutting down on his 3.7 turnovers per game. The addition of veteran point guard Chris Paul only eases life for Wembanyama, who must now also increase his scoring production for the Spurs to get better.

What can the Pacers do for an encore?

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the 2024 playoffs was Indiana’s run to the Eastern Conference Finals. Certainly, the Pacers benefitted from opponent injuries during both the first round and the semifinals, but they still relied on their pace and ball movement.

Although point guard Tyrese Haliburton led the NBA in assists (10.9 per game), Indiana may need him to be a little more selfish in finding and creating his own shot, particularly late in games. The Pacers — matching their name — ranked second in offensive pace, though it’s reasonable to wonder if that speed is sustainable and if it compromises the defensive integrity; the Pacers ranked 23rd in defensive efficiency. Indiana opted to keep most of its roster intact, though the return of shooting guard Benedict Mathurin provides a boost off the bench. But as other teams in the Eastern Conference improved, Indiana might struggle to make a deep run.

The NHL’s Frozen Frenzy is back for a second season with all 32 teams in action on Tuesday night.

Sixteen games will be played on ESPN cable or streaming channels. The games will have staggered starts 15 minutes to 45 minutes apart from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET to allow for a live look-in, whip-around studio show.

All told, there will be more than eight hours of continuous coverage, starting with an hourlong pregame show and running through the final game of the night.

Last year’s Frozen Frenzy featured 102 goals, two shutouts and two overtime games.

Here’s how to watch this year’s action:

When are the 16 NHL games on Tuesday night?

(All times p.m. ET)

Washington Capitals at Philadelphia Flyers, 6
Minnesota Wild at Florida Panthers, 6:30
Tampa Bay Lightning at New Jersey Devils, 6:45
Dallas Stars at Buffalo Sabres, 7
New York Rangers at Montreal Canadiens, 7:15
Toronto Maple Leafs at Columbus Blue Jackets, 7:30
Detroit Red Wings at New York Islanders, 7:45
Winnipeg Jets at St. Louis Blues, 8
Vancouver Canucks at Chicago Blackhawks, 8:15
Colorado Avalanche at Seattle Kraken, 8:30
Boston Bruins at Nashville Predators, 8:45
Carolina Hurricanes at Edmonton Oilers, 9
Ottawa Senators at Utah Hockey Club, 9:15
Pittsburgh Penguins at Calgary Flames, 9:30
San Jose Sharks at Anaheim Ducks, 10:15
Los Angeles Kings at Vegas Golden Knights, 11

Which NHL games on Tuesday night are on ESPN?

(All times p.m. ET)

Washington at Philadelphia, 6: Two generations of Russian NHL players in action. Washington’s Alex Ovechkin is chasing Wayne Gretzky’s career goal record. The Flyers feature rookie of the year candidate Matvei Michkov.

Colorado at Seattle, 8:30: The Avalanche opened 0-4 before winning their last two games. Offense hasn’t been the problem – reigning MVP Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and Mikko Rantanen have combined for 34 points in six games – but the Avalanche rank last in goals-against average.

Los Angeles at Vegas, 11: The Golden Knights lost Jonathan Marchessault, Chandler Stephenson and others to free agency but still rank sixth in the league in scoring.

How can I live stream the NHL games on Tuesday night?

All 16 NHL games can be live-streamed on ESPN+. Fubo offers ESPN.

How can I watch the whip-around coverage?

‘The Point,’ a pregame show, begins at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and ESPN+. The whip-around coverage starts at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+. It also will be on ESPN2 from 8 p.m. ET to midnight. John Buccigross is the studio host, and Kevin Weekes and P.K. Subban are the analysts. The program will feature the best goals, hits and plays of the night.

What other NHL games of note are on Tuesday night?

(All times p.m. ET)

Minnesota at Florida, 6:30: Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk is expected to return after missing five games with illness. The defending champions have gone 3-1-1 without Tkachuk and injured captain Aleksander Barkov, with Sam Reinhart getting 10 points in that stretch.

Winnipeg at St. Louis, 8: The Jets (5-0) are the NHL’s lone unbeaten team. After sweeping a four-game homestand, they’re hitting the road for three games.

Boston at Nashville, 8:45: The Predators are a disappointing 0-5 after an aggressive offseason adding Steven Stamkos, Marchessault and Brady Skjei. They’ll have another challenge against a Bruins team on a 3-1-1 run.

Carolina at Edmonton, 9: Two traditional powerhouses have something to prove. The Hurricanes are 2-2 after losing key players in free agency. The Oilers, who fell one win short of a Stanley Cup, lost their first three games and are 2-4.

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Now that we’re more than a third of the way through the 2024 fantasy football season, there are only two ways to improve your rosters — waiver wire and trades.

Evaluating a fantasy trade can be a daunting task. Most managers value their players more than their actual worth. That’s where the Week 8 fantasy football trade value charts come in. You can also check out my Week 8 fantasy rankings to help with lineup decisions this week.

The charts can be used as your very own fantasy football trade analyzer in standard, half-PPR (point per reception), and full PPR leagues. Someone sends you an offer? Simply pull out a calculator (on your phone, you don’t need an actual calculator) and plug in the values for each player. Don’t worry, six-points-per-passing-touchdown and superflex leagues are covered as well.

These value charts are based on my fantasy football rest of season rankings and projections.

Important note: If you’re offered an uneven trade (i.e., a 2-for-1 or 3-for-1), include the values for the players you’d be moving to the bench or dropping within your calculation. For example: If someone offers you Nick Chubb, Romeo Doubs, and DeAndre Hopkins (combined value of 69) for Breece Hall (58), it might look like you’re getting the better end of it. However, if you’re bumping down, say, Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Ricky Pearsall (combined value of 24) in the process, it’s a net negative deal for you.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

Another note: The ‘1 QB’ values are for standard scoring leagues. Quarterback value diminishes in PPR formats, so deduct roughly 8% of their values in half-PPR and another 8% for full PPR. For example: Lamar Jackson’s value in standard formats is 33. In half-PPR, his value would be 30 (deducted 8%), and in full PPR, his value would be 28 (deducted 16%).

The rankings are based on how players should be valued in 12-team leagues. Players are sorted in order of their half-PPR values.

(NOTE: App users might need to switch to a browser if the charts aren’t showing up.)

Quarterback trade value chart

(Note: ‘6/TD’ is for leagues that award six points for passing touchdowns and ‘SFLEX’ stands for superflex.)

Player
TM
1 QB
6/TD
SFLEX

Lamar Jackson
BAL
33
38
70

Jalen Hurts
PHI
26
29
66

Josh Allen
BUF
26
30
66

Jayden Daniels
WSH
19
21
55

Joe Burrow
CIN
14
20
51

Jordan Love
GB
14
21
51

Kyler Murray
ARI
10
12
45

Jared Goff
DET
10
15
43

Geno Smith
SEA
10
16
45

Sam Darnold
MIN
9
15
42

Caleb Williams
CHI
8
11
40

Dak Prescott
DAL
7
12
40

C.J. Stroud
HOU
5
10
39

Brock Purdy
SF
5
10
39

Baker Mayfield
TB
5
11
39

Patrick Mahomes
KC
4
8
37

Tua Tagovailoa
MIA
4
9
38

Aaron Rodgers
NYJ
4
10
37

Drake Maye
NE
3
6
32

Kirk Cousins
ATL
2
6
30

Jameis Winston
CLE
1
3
29

Anthony Richardson
IND
1
1
27

Trevor Lawrence
JAX
1
4
28

Bo Nix
DEN
1
2
28

Russell Wilson
PIT
1
3
28

Daniel Jones
NYG
0
1
26

Matthew Stafford
LAR
0
2
23

Justin Herbert
LAC
0
0
20

Derek Carr
NO
0
2
27

Andy Dalton
CAR
0
2
19

Running back trade value chart

Player
TM
STD
Half
Full

Saquon Barkley
PHI
64
65
65

Derrick Henry
BAL
65
63
61

Kyren Williams
LAR
59
58
57

Breece Hall
NYJ
56
58
60

Joe Mixon
HOU
56
57
58

Kenneth Walker
SEA
51
52
53

Bijan Robinson
ATL
49
50
51

Jahmyr Gibbs
DET
45
47
50

Christian McCaffrey
SF
43
45
47

De’Von Achane
MIA
40
43
45

Jonathan Taylor
IND
42
42
41

David Montgomery
DET
41
39
38

Josh Jacobs
GB
40
39
37

Aaron Jones
MIN
36
38
40

Alvin Kamara
NO
35
37
40

James Conner
ARI
34
33
32

James Cook
BUF
32
33
35

D’Andre Swift
CHI
30
32
33

Brian Robinson
WSH
31
30
28

J.K. Dobbins
LAC
29
29
28

Chase Brown
CIN
29
29
30

Nick Chubb
CLE
30
29
27

Tony Pollard
TEN
28
28
29

Rico Dowdle
DAL
24
26
27

Bucky Irving
TB
26
26
26

Rachaad White
TB
22
25
30

Najee Harris
PIT
27
23
20

Rhamondre Stevenson
NE
22
23
24

Tank Bigsby
JAX
25
22
20

Kareem Hunt
KC
20
20
21

Jonathon Brooks
CAR
19
19
19

Chuba Hubbard
CAR
19
19
20

Tyrone Tracy
NYG
18
19
20

Isiah Pacheco
KC
18
18
18

Jordan Mason
SF
18
18
17

Javonte Williams
DEN
15
17
19

Alexander Mattison
LV
14
16
17

Raheem Mostert
MIA
18
15
14

Travis Etienne
JAX
13
15
18

Austin Ekeler
WSH
9
12
16

Zack Moss
CIN
11
11
12

Tyler Allgeier
ATL
10
10
10

Jaylen Warren
PIT
6
9
12

Devin Singletary
NYG
9
9
9

Kimani Vidal
LAC
8
9
9

Ray Davis
BUF
8
8
8

Blake Corum
LAR
7
7
7

Jerome Ford
CLE
3
5
7

Braelon Allen
NYJ
5
5
5

Antonio Gibson
NE
3
4
7

Zach Charbonnet
SEA
3
4
5

Jaylen Wright
MIA
3
3
3

Tyjae Spears
TEN
2
3
5

Roschon Johnson
CHI
4
3
3

Dameon Pierce
HOU
3
3
3

Justice Hill
BAL
1
3
5

Ty Chandler
MIN
2
2
1

Ezekiel Elliott
DAL
1
1
1

Wide receiver trade value chart

Player
TM
STD
Half
Full

Justin Jefferson
MIN
68
68
68

CeeDee Lamb
DAL
62
63
64

Tyreek Hill
MIA
62
63
64

Amon-Ra St. Brown
DET
63
63
62

A.J. Brown
PHI
65
63
62

Ja’Marr Chase
CIN
64
62
61

Drake London
ATL
54
54
55

Malik Nabers
NYG
47
50
54

DK Metcalf
SEA
46
46
45

Cooper Kupp
LAR
44
45
47

Davante Adams
NYJ
43
43
44

Terry McLaurin
WSH
42
42
43

Brian Thomas
JAX
42
42
42

Mike Evans
TB
40
41
42

Tee Higgins
CIN
41
41
42

DJ Moore
CHI
38
39
39

Nico Collins
HOU
39
39
40

Amari Cooper
BUF
38
38
37

Jayden Reed
GB
39
37
35

Jaylen Waddle
MIA
35
35
34

Deebo Samuel
SF
37
35
34

Stefon Diggs
HOU
35
34
34

Chris Olave
NO
33
34
35

DeVonta Smith
PHI
34
34
33

Garrett Wilson
NYJ
33
33
33

George Pickens
PIT
34
33
32

Marvin Harrison
ARI
32
31
30

Diontae Johnson
CAR
31
31
31

Xavier Worthy
KC
31
29
27

Jauan Jennings
SF
30
29
29

Puka Nacua
LAR
28
29
30

Zay Flowers
BAL
27
28
29

Tank Dell
HOU
26
25
24

Jordan Addison
MIN
26
24
23

Darnell Mooney
ATL
25
24
24

Jaxon Smith-Njigba
SEA
20
23
25

Ladd McConkey
LAC
18
22
24

Jameson Williams
DET
24
22
19

Romeo Doubs
GB
20
21
22

Jakobi Meyers
LV
18
20
22

DeAndre Hopkins
TEN
19
19
19

Rome Odunze
CHI
17
16
15

Wan’Dale Robinson
NYG
11
14
17

Michael Pittman
IND
14
14
15

Demario Douglas
NE
10
13
15

Jalen Tolbert
DAL
10
12
13

Keenan Allen
CHI
10
12
13

Khalil Shakir
BUF
11
12
13

Calvin Ridley
TEN
13
12
12

Jalen McMillan
TB
10
11
11

Courtland Sutton
DEN
10
10
10

Cedric Tillman
CLE
9
10
11

Rashod Bateman
BAL
10
9
9

Tyler Lockett
SEA
8
9
9

Josh Downs
IND
9
9
8

Xavier Legette
CAR
10
9
9

Allen Lazard
NYJ
11
8
6

Jerry Jeudy
CLE
7
8
9

Christian Kirk
JAX
9
8
8

Dontayvion Wicks
GB
7
6
4

Ricky Pearsall
SF
5
5
5

Christian Watson
GB
8
5
3

JuJu Smith-Schuster
KC
3
4
5

Quentin Johnston
LAC
1
1
2

Andrei Iosivas
CIN
0
1
2

Darius Slayton
NYG
1
1
1

Tight end trade value chart

Player
TM
STD
Half
Full

George Kittle
SF
44
43
43

Brock Bowers
LV
32
35
39

Travis Kelce
KC
26
29
32

Trey McBride
ARI
24
27
30

David Njoku
CLE
20
23
25

Jake Ferguson
DAL
19
21
23

Tucker Kraft
GB
22
20
19

Mark Andrews
BAL
22
20
18

Sam LaPorta
DET
19
18
17

Cade Otton
TB
17
17
18

Evan Engram
JAX
11
14
20

Kyle Pitts
ATL
12
14
17

Cole Kmet
CHI
14
14
13

Hunter Henry
NE
16
13
12

T.J. Hockenson
MIN
14
13
13

Dallas Goedert
PHI
7
7
7

Dalton Kincaid
BUF
7
7
7

Pat Freiermuth
PIT
6
6
7

Overall Week 8 fantasy football rest of season rankings

Note: These values are for 12-team, one-QB leagues with half-PPR scoring.

Headed into the 2022-23 NBA season, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was not yet an All-Star, All-NBA selection or MVP candidate.

That changed that season when Gilgeous-Alexander became an All-Star and first-team All-NBA performer and finished fifth in MVP voting. He was a repeat All-Star and first-team All-NBA selection last season, and was MVP runner-up.

Who is the next SGA, the next player to move deep into the MVP conversation?

Among the possibilities: New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards; Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox; San Antonio Spurs forward-center Victor Wembanyama; Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton; Boston Celtics guard-forward Jaylen Brown; and New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson.

Who from that group could become a significant part of the MVP discussion? They could join the main candidates such as Gilgeous-Alexander, Denver’s Nikola Jokic, Boston’s Jayson Tatum, Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid and Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo. (Odds for the favorites included below).

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards

Anthony Edwards made the All-NBA team for the first time and finished seventh in MVP voting in 2023-24. Just 23 years old and improving, Edwards is on the verge of becoming a top-five player. Edwards, who won a gold medal with USA Basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympics, averaged career highs in points (25.9), assists (5.1), field goal percentage (46.1%) and free throw percentage (83.6%) and helped the Timberwolves reach the Western Conference finals last season.

“The talent is overwhelming and as he continues to learn how to use it and be efficient in his play, he will be unguardable,” U.S. men’s senior coach and Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson

Zion Williamson, 24, played in a career-high 70 games last season, and the Pelicans won 49 – just two victories behind fourth place in the West. Williamson had plenty to do with that. We know how injuries have altered his career but if he’s healthy this season and improves on his 2023-24 season (22.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.1 steals per game and 57% shooting from the field), Williamson, the No. 1 pick in the 2019 draft, will be in position to make his first All-NBA team and be a legit MVP contender.

San Antonio Spurs forward-center Victor Wembanyama

How close is a second-year player to MVP? We’re going to find out with 20-year-old Victor Wembanyama this season. Who has been a legit MVP candidate in his second season? LeBron James finished sixth in his second season, and Shaquille O’Neal finished seventh in his rookie season and fourth in his second season. Winning is part of the MVP equation so the Spurs will need to be much better. But there’s no question that Wembanyama’s rookie season portends favorably for his ascent into NBA stardom after generating 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists and a league-best 3.6 blocks per game in his rookie-of-the-year campaign in 2023-24.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell

Donovan Mitchell, 28, is a five-time All-Star and one-time All-NBA performer and has just one season where he received MVP consideration – in 2022-23 when he finished sixth for the award. The Cavaliers invested in Mitchell and convinced him to stay on a three-year, $150 million extension that can keep him with Cleveland through at least 2026-27. The Cavs believe he is a leading man on a contender, which often equates to MVP candidate.

Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey

Tyrese Maxey, 23, had a breakout season, averaging career highs in points (25.9), assists (6.2), rebounds (3.7) and steals (1.0) and making his first All-Star team in his fourth season. However, playing alongside 2022-23 MVP Joel Embiid, who should be in the running for the award again this season, makes it difficult for Maxey. But Maxey’s play merits the recognition as an MVP-caliber player.

Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox

De’Aaron Fox, 26, received All-NBA votes but didn’t make one of the three teams last season after earning All-NBA third team in 2022-23. Fox posted career highs in points (26.6), rebounds (4.6) and steals (league-best 2.0) per game while shooting 46.5% from the field and 36.9% 3s last season. More wins will help his case and he also has a teammate, Domantas Sabonis, who receives MVP consideration.

Boston Celtics guard-forward Jaylen Brown

Joining a few other players on this list, Jaylen Brown, who turns 28 on Thursday, has a teammate who is an MVP contender (Jayson Tatum). But Brown was the 2024 Finals MVP and Eastern Conference finals MVP and an All-Star in 2023-24 for the third time in four seasons. But he fell just short of All-NBA (he was 16th in voting and top 15 make All-NBA), averaging 23.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.2 steals. He shot 49.9% from the field and 35.4% on 3s.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant

Before his career veered with a suspension related to gun videos on social media and a season-ending shoulder injury after just nine games last season, Ja Morant’s trajectory blared “MVP candidate.” Morant, 25, was an All-Star, All-NBA and seventh in MVP voting in 2021-22 and an All-Star and 12th in MVP voting in 2022-23. In his five-year career, Morant averages 25.1 points, 8.1 assists, 5.6 rebounds and shoots 47.1% from the field, 31.8% on 3s and 75.5% on free throws.

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton

Tyrese Haliburton, 24, was an All-Star for the second consecutive season and All-NBA for the first time in 2023-24. He averaged 20.1 points and an NBA-best 10.9 assists – his second consecutive season with 10-plus assists per game. He also shot 47.7% from the field, 36.4% on 3s and 85.5% on free throws. He averaged 1.2 steals. Expectations are high for the Pacers, who reached the Eastern Conference finals in May, and for Haliburton.

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson

Yes, Jalen Brunson, 28, finished fifth in MVP voting last season, however, 2023-24 also marked his first All-Star appearance and first All-NBA selection. His ascent is as unexpected as it is enjoyable. He averaged a career-best 28.7 points and 6.7 assists with 3.6 rebounds and shot 47.9% from the field, 40.1% on 3s and 84.7% on free throws. With the squad the Knicks have assembled, including additions Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns, Brunson has MVP appeal.

2024-25 NBA MVP odds

Here are the 2024-25 NBA MVP odds, courtesy of BetMGM:

Luka Doncic +350

Nikola Jokic +425

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander +450

Joel Embiid +800

Giannis Antetokounmpo +1000

Anthony Edwards +1300

Jalen Brunson +1400

Victor Wembanyama +2000

Jayson Tatum +2500

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Williams is set to be suspended for two games for violating the NFL’s Performance-Enhancing Substances policy, according to ESPN’s Eric Woodyard. It has not yet been reported what substance Williams used that violated the league’s protocols.

Williams was also suspended for six games at the start of the 2023 season for violating the league’s gambling policy when he made bets on sports at the Lions’ facility – though not on NFL games – but the suspension was eventually reduced when the league changed its policy. He missed the first four games of the season.

There is little doubt about the talent that Williams has after the Lions selected him in the first round in the 2022 NFL draft out of Alabama, but the speedy wide receiver has struggled to stay on the field thus far.

He only appeared in six games in his rookie season while recovering from a torn ACL he suffered at Alabama and then had a choppy start to his second year following the gambling suspension.

All things Lions: Latest Detroit Lions news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

His third year has been far and away his best with 361 yards receiving and three touchdowns already, but now his progress will be temporarily halted while he serves his suspension.

Williams is set to miss the Lions’ games against the Tennessee Titans at home this weekend as well as a crucial division game on the road against the Green Bay Packers the week after.

The Lions have been relying on Williams much more this season after letting wide receiver Josh Reynolds walk in the offseason, opening up a role for Williams as the true No. 2 receiver.

In his absence, the Lions will be looking for more from Kalif Raymond and recent addition Tim Patrick, plus obviously anything else Amon-Ra St. Brown can offer. But no one on the team can stretch the field like Williams can.