Injuries have continued to wreak havoc around the NFL in recent weeks. The quarterback position has been notably affected, with Jordan Love and Lamar Jackson the latest to leave their games and not return due to injury.

Those two are far from the only fantasy playmakers to suffer key injuries in Week 17. Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins suffered a nasty, season-ending leg injury against the Buffalo Bills while his college teammate, TreVeyon Henderson, went down with a head injury on ‘Sunday Night Football’ against the Baltimore Ravens.

Fantasy managers lucky enough to survive that slew of injuries will be searching for quality streamers who could replace any injured players who are unable to suit up in Week 17. Luckily, there are a handful of quality injury replacements who can lead teams to fantasy championships.

Who can you start and sit in fantasy football for Week 17 of the NFL season? USA TODAY Sports outlines eight players to start and eight to sit.

Fantasy football players to start in Week 17

Quarterbacks

Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at Miami Dolphins)

Mayfield has only thrown one passing touchdown in five of his last six games, but his matchup against Miami is a prime bounce-back spot. The Dolphins have surrendered the 10th-most fantasy points per game (FPPG) to quarterbacks this season and have allowed an average of 251.5 passing yards and three passing touchdowns over the past two weeks.

Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints (at Tennessee Titans)

Shough has quietly posted at least 17 fantasy points in four consecutive games and is coming off a career-high 308 passing yards and 49 passing attempts against the Jets. The Louisville product figures to get similar volume against the Titans, as the Saints have lost their top-three running backs to injuries this season. That – plus the Titans allowing the eighth-most FPPG to quarterbacks this season – makes Shough a worthwhile flier for those dealing with injuries at the position.

Running backs

Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots (at New York Jets)

The Patriots lost star rookie TreVeyon Henderson to a head injury during their ‘Sunday Night Football’ win over the Ravens. It isn’t yet clear whether he will play in Week 17, but if he doesn’t, Stevenson would be in line for a huge workload. He ranks second on the team behind Henderson in all major rushing stats while the only other running back on the 53-man roster, D’Ernest Johnson, has just four carries this season. The Jets have surrendered a league-high 23 total touchdowns to running backs, so Stevenson will have a chance to pop off either way in this favorable matchup.

Michael Carter, Arizona Cardinals (at Cincinnati Bengals)

Carter served as Arizona’s lead back against the Falcons. He was solid in his role, turning 11 carries into 65 yards in the team’s 26-19 loss. Now, Carter gets to face a Bengals defense that has allowed a league-high 1,924 rushing yards to running backs. Feel free to back him as a high-volume flex option with upside.

Wide receivers

Deebo Samuel, Washington Commanders (vs. Dallas Cowboys)

The Commanders may be down to third-string quarterback Josh Johnson as their starter for Christmas against the Cowboys. So what? Dallas has surrendered a league-high 2,614 receiving yards and 26 touchdowns to wideouts this season. Expect the Commanders to scheme up some early touches for Samuel while trying to allow the catch-and-run threat to break loose against a leaky defense.

Parker Washington, Jacksonville Jaguars (at Indianapolis Colts)

Washington just racked up 145 yards on six catches against a stalwart Broncos defense. He also led the team with 10 targets and is playing alongside a red-hot Trevor Lawrence. Washington is worth considering as a boom-or-bust flex against a Colts secondary that is dealing with injuries to its top two cornerbacks (Sauce Gardner and Charvarius Ward).

Tight end

Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns (vs. Pittsburgh Steelers)

The Steelers are one of two NFL teams to allow at least 1,000 receiving yards and 10 receiving touchdowns to tight ends this season. Fannin has scored touchdowns in three of his last four games and can be trusted to produce again in this favorable matchup.

Defense/special teams

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at Miami Dolphins)

The Buccaneers have an appetizing matchup against Quinn Ewers, who threw two interceptions in his first NFL start against the Bengals. Tampa Bay should be able to force Ewers into more turnovers while the team’s solid run defense should be able to slow De’Von Achane down better than most.

Fantasy football players to sit in Week 17

Quarterbacks

Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers (vs. Houston Texans)

Herbert enjoyed a stellar outing against the Cowboys in Week 16, throwing for 300 yards and totaling three touchdowns in a 17-point Chargers win. Trusting him in Week 17 carries risk, however, as he is facing a Texans defense that has allowed the fewest FPPG to quarterbacks this season and ranks No. 1 in defensive EPA per play this season, per the NFL’s Next Gen Stats. Herbert has just eight total touchdowns over his last six games anyway, so it’s best to look elsewhere for a quarterback play this week.

Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks (at Carolina Panthers)

Darnold may pique the interest of fantasy managers as they deal with injuries at the quarterback position, but the 28-year-old has been hit or miss lately. He has posted zero total touchdowns in three of his last six games and will face a Panthers defense that has only surrendered 18 passing touchdowns to QBs this season, good for eighth-fewest in the league. Steer clear of Darnold in what could be a lower-scoring defensive battle in Charlotte.

Running backs

Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs (vs. Denver Broncos)

Pacheco posted a season-high 75 scrimmage yards against the Titans in Week 16, but he seems unlikely to repeat that production in Week 17. The Broncos have allowed a league-low 42 receptions to running backs this season and most of Pacheco’s production (six catches, 41 yards) was through the air last week.

Rico Dowdle, Carolina Panthers (vs. Seattle Seahawks)

Dowdle is back to splitting touches with Chuba Hubbard and has averaged just 62.5 scrimmage yards over his last four games. He might still be a fine flex play, but expect a lower ceiling for the breakout star against a Seahawks defense that has allowed the second-fewest FPPG to quarterbacks this season.

Wide receivers

Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills (vs. Philadelphia Eagles)

Shakir has averaged just three catches for 30 yards over his last four games while the Eagles have allowed just six receiving touchdowns to wide-outs this season. It’s hard to recommend backing him in this matchup.

Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals (at Cincinnati Bengals)

In the four games Marvin Harrison Jr. has missed, Wilson is averaging 10.25 catches for 124.75 yards with three touchdowns. In the 11 games the duo has played together, Wilson is averaging just 2.9 catches for 29 yards with two touchdowns. Harrison is expected to play against the Bengals – who have allowed the sixth-fewest FPPG to wide receivers this season – so Wilson should probably be benched.

Tight end

Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs (vs. Denver Broncos)

The Chiefs are going to start either Chris Oladokun or Shane Buechele at quarterback in Week 17 after losing Patrick Mahomes and Gardner Minshew to season-ending injuries in consecutive weeks. That will make it hard for Kelce to be a legitimate fantasy asset against a tough Broncos defense.

Defense/special teams

New Orleans Saints (at Tennessee Titans)

The Saints have played better on defense of late, so some fantasy managers may view them as an appealing play against the Titans. That said, Cam Ward has improved in recent weeks, throwing multiple touchdowns in three consecutive games while taking just three sacks during that span. This could end up being a surprisingly high-scoring matchup, so it’s best to steer clear of both defenses.

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Mexico and South Africa play in the 2026 World Cup opener on June 11 in Mexico City.
The USMNT plays its first 2026 World Cup game against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on June 12.
The 2026 World Cup final will be held on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

North America will be the center of the sporting world during the summer of 2026 as the men’s World Cup will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

From the opening match between Mexico and South Africa on June 11 in Mexico City through the final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, a total of 104 matches will be held in 11 cities in the United States, plus three in Mexico and two in Canada.

The group stage runs until June 27, with synchronized start times in each group for the final matches in the round-robin. The top two teams in each group – and the eight best third-place finishers – advance to knockout stage, which begins on June 28 with the Round of 32.

Here is the complete 2026 World Cup schedule:

2026 World Cup schedule

ALL TIMES EASTERN

June 11, 2026

Mexico vs. South Africa (Group A) – Mexico City, 3 p.m.
South Korea vs. UEFA playoff D (Group A) – Guadalajara, 10 p.m.

June 12

Canada vs. UEFA playoff A (Group B) – Toronto, 3 p.m.
USA vs. Paraguay (Group D) – Los Angeles, 9 p.m.

June 13

Brazil vs. Morocco (Group C) – New York/New Jersey, 3 p.m.
Australia vs. UEFA playoff C (Group D) – Vancouver, 6 p.m.
Haiti vs. Scotland (Group C) – Boston, 9 p.m.
Qatar vs. Switzerland (Group B) – San Francisco Bay Area, 12 a.m. (9 p.m. local)

June 14

Germany vs. Curaçao (Group E) – Houston, 1 p.m.
Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador (Group E) – Philadelphia, 4 p.m.
Netherlands vs. Japan (Group F) – Dallas, 7 p.m.
UEFA playoff B vs. Tunisia (Group F) – Monterrey, 10 p.m.

June 15

Spain vs. Cape Verde (Group H) – Atlanta, 12 p.m.
Belgium vs. Egypt (Group G) – Seattle, 3 p.m.
Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay (Group H) – Miami, 6 p.m.
Iran vs. New Zealand (Group G) – Los Angeles, 9 p.m.

June 16

France vs. Senegal (Group I) – New York/New Jersey, 3 p.m.
FIFA playoff 2 vs. Norway (Group I) – Boston, 6 p.m.
Argentina vs. Algeria (Group J) – Kansas City, 9 p.m.
Austria vs. Jordan (Group J) – San Francisco Bay Area, 12 a.m. (9 p.m. local)

June 17

Portugal vs. FIFA playoff 1 (Group K) – Houston, 1 p.m.
England vs. Croatia (Group L) – Dallas, 4 p.m.
Ghana vs. Panama (Group L) – Toronto, 7 p.m.
Uzbekistan vs. Colombia (Group K) – Mexico City, 10 p.m.

June 18

UEFA playoff D vs. South Africa (Group A) – Atlanta, 12 p.m.
Switzerland vs. UEFA playoff A (Group A) – Los Angeles, 3 p.m.
Canada vs. Qatar (Group B) – Vancouver, 6 p.m.
Mexico vs. South Korea (Group A) – Guadalajara, 9 p.m.

June 19

USA vs. Australia (Group D) – Seattle, 3 p.m.
Scotland vs. Morocco (Group C) – Boston, 6 p.m.
Brazil vs. Haiti (Group C) – Philadelphia, 9 p.m.
UEFA playoff C vs. Paraguay (Group D) – San Francisco Bay Area, 12 a.m. (9 p.m. local)

June 20

Netherlands vs. UEFA playoff B (Group F) – Houston, 1 p.m.
Germany vs. Ivory Coast (Group E) – Toronto, 4 p.m.
Ecuador vs. Curaçao (Group E) – Kansas City, 8 p.m.
Tunisia vs. Japan (Group F) – Monterrey, 12 a.m. (11 p.m. local)

June 21

Spain vs. Saudi Arabia (Group H) – Atlanta, 12 p.m.
Belgium vs. Iran (Group G) – Los Angeles, 3 p.m.
Uruguay vs. Cape Verde (Group H) – Miami, 6 p.m.
New Zealand vs. Egypt (Group G) – Vancouver, 9 p.m.

June 22

Argentina vs. Austria (Group J) – Dallas, 1 p.m.
France vs. FIFA playoff 2 (Group I) – Philadelphia, 5 p.m.
Norway vs. Senegal (Group I) – New York/New Jersey, 8 p.m.
Jordan vs. Algeria (Group J) – San Francisco Bay Area, 11 p.m.

June 23

Portugal vs. Uzbekistan (Group K) – Houston, 1 p.m.
England vs. Ghana (Group L) – Boston, 4 p.m.
Panama vs. Croatia (Group L) – Toronto, 7 p.m.
Colombia vs. FIFA playoff 1 (Group K) – Guadalajara, 10 p.m.

June 24

Canada vs. Switzerland (Group B) – Vancouver, 3 p.m.
UEFA playoff A vs. Qatar (Group B) – Seattle, 3 p.m.
Scotland vs. Brazil (Group C) – Miami, 6 p.m.
Morocco vs. Haiti (Group C) – Atlanta, 6 p.m.
Mexico vs. UEFA playoff D (Group A) – Mexico City, 9 p.m.
South Korea vs. South Africa (Group A) – Monterrey, 9 p.m.

June 25

Ecuador vs. Germany (Group E) – New York/New Jersey, 4 p.m.
Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast (Group E) – Philadelphia, 4 p.m.
Tunisia vs. Netherlands (Group F) – Kansas City, 7 p.m.
Japan vs. UEFA playoff B (Group F) – Dallas, 7 p.m.
USA vs. UEFA playoff C (Group D) – Los Angeles, 10 p.m.
Paraguay vs. Australia (Group D) – San Francisco Bay Area, 10 p.m.

June 26

Norway vs. France (Group I) – Boston, 3 p.m.
Senegal vs. FIFA playoff 2 (Group I) – Toronto, 3 p.m.
New Zealand vs. Belgium (Group G) – Vancouver, 8 p.m.
Egypt vs. Iran (Group G) – Seattle, 8 p.m.
Uruguay vs. Spain (Group H) – Guadalajara, 11 p.m.
Cape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia (Group H) – Houston, 1 p.m.

June 27

Panama vs. England (Group L) – New York/New Jersey, 5 p.m.
Croatia vs. Ghana (Group L) – Philadelphia, 5 p.m.
Colombia vs. Portugal (Group K) – Miami, 7:30 p.m.
FIFA playoff 1 vs. Uzbekistan (Group K) – Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
Jordan vs. Argentina (Group J) – Dallas, 10 p.m.
Algeria vs. Austria (Group J) – Kansas City, 10 p.m.

2026 World Cup knockout round schedule

Round of 32: June 28-July 3
Round of 16: July 4-July 7
Quarterfinals: July 9-July 11
Semifinals: July 14-15 – AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas) and Mecedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
Third-place match: July 18 – Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Florida)
World Cup final: July 19 – MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, New Jersey)

Coal is overrated. Nothing kills the holiday spirit quite like giving a middle finger to your loyal fans.

The Kansas City Chiefs announced Monday that they’re abandoning the stadium they’ve called home for more than 50 years, taking their ball and moving because Missouri residents wouldn’t foot the bill for major renovations at Arrowhead Stadium. This five days after the Chicago Bears threatened to move to northwest Indiana if Illinois taxpayers won’t give them money.

Check that. More money, since the state is still paying for the renovation of Soldier Field more than 20 years ago.

“Our fans deserve a world-class stadium. Our players and coaches deserve a venue that matches the championship standard they strive for every day,” Bears president Kevin Warren wrote in an open letter to fans. 

No one is saying the Chiefs and Bears don’t deserve first-class facilities. Or even saying they can’t have new or newly renovated stadiums. If these teams want state-of-the-art playgrounds, they should get them!

But they should be paying for them themselves. Every last cent of the costs for construction and infrastructure.

Sports stadiums, arenas rarely deliver on promised benefits

Now, the teams and the politicians who sign off on public funds for these taj mahals will tell you what a good deal it is for taxpayers. How these projects will create jobs, generate revenue, make the area a tourist destination, blah, blah, blah.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly trotted out all those economic clichés in making the announcement Monday.

“With this new stadium, we’re creating thousands of jobs, bringing in tourists from around the world, attracting young people,” she said. 

Especially when the team owners can afford to write these checks themselves!

Charity for billionaires all part of the new stadium playbook

The Hunt family, owner of the Chiefs, is worth $25 billion, according to Forbes, and the franchise was valued at more than $6 billion in August. Yet Kansas taxpayers will pay up to 60% of the costs of the $3 billion new stadium.

The McCaskeys are known to be among the least-wealthy NFL owners, their fortune tied mostly to the Bears. Still, the team is valued at more than $8 billion, according to Forbes.

The Bears at least say they will cover the bulk of the costs for their proposed $5 billion stadium, but they want $855 million in public money for infrastructure. Things like roads, sewers and changes to a commuter rail line.

Again, both of these teams are worth billions. As is the NFL, which offers nine-figure loans for stadium projects. If the Chiefs and Bears want new stadiums, and the riches that come with them, they should pay every cost associated with them.

Instead, they want fans, who already shell out for tickets, parking, concessions and merch, to give them more.

This isn’t new, of course. The public has been building stadiums for sports teams for decades. But at a time when it’s getting harder and harder for most Americans to put food on the table and keep the lights on, the Bears and Chiefs demanding that others foot their bills isn’t just greedy, it’s insensitive.

Teams like to say their fans are the lifeblood of their organizations; after the Bears staged an epic comeback to beat the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night, both coach Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams gave fans some of the credit. Yet it’s not enough. These teams want taxpayers, many of whom are their fans, to give them even more, and they have no problem shaking them down like a mob boss to get it.

You really think the Chiefs would be moving to Kansas had Missouri voters not rejected a sales tax in April 2024 that would have paid for renovations at Arrowhead and a new Kansas City Royals stadium? You really think the Bears would be considering a move to the suburbs, let alone across state lines, if they could have gotten public land near Soldier Field?

If you do, I’ve got a stadium to sell you.

This is supposed to be the season of giving. For the Chiefs, the Bears and so many other team owners, it’s a one-way exchange.

Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.

Philip Rivers has made a remarkable return, but where does he rank among the top QBs of the 21st century?
Our top 25 ranking features 12 passers who are still active, including Rivers.
Tom Brady reigns atop the list, but there are several other Hall of Fame-caliber players not far behind.

Philip Rivers’ return to the NFL this season is undoubtedly one of the wildest, most unexpected turns the league’s, ahem, script has taken in years. Now, the entire country will get a chance to watch him play Monday night, his second start of the 2025 campaign after a hiatus of nearly five years, as his Indianapolis Colts host the San Francisco 49ers in a game with playoff implications for both squads.

Yet the stage is also a perfect time to take stock of the stellar career Rivers had already had – he was a semifinalist to join the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class − until his return forced a HOF clock rest until at least 2031.

But where does Philly Riv rank in the bigger picture? We thought the best context was to slot him among the NFL quarterbacks who have played in the 21st century. (So while former MVPs like Kurt Warner and Steve McNair were eligible, for example, they might not have made the list based on their excluded accomplishments from the 1990s.)

With that in mind, here are your top 25 passers from the past 25 years – and, dadgummit, we know you won’t disagree with a single aspect of this ranking!

25. Andrew Luck

There’s a tinge of football tragedy to his story – the can’t-miss guy from Stanford charged with the impossible task of replacing Peyton Manning in Indianapolis and without a sufficient level of support around him. Yet Luck seemed on his way to doing exactly that before he made the equally courageous and controversial decision to retire amid injuries and his own mental health demons in 2019 after just seven seasons. Named the Comeback Player of the Year in 2018 – shoulder issues cost Luck all of 2017 – he threw 39 TD passes in his last hurrah and notched a playoff victory. The Colts haven’t won one since.

24. Matt Hasselbeck

A three-time Pro Bowler with a solid game and some awesome one-liners, he probably didn’t get his just due while spending the bulk of his career in Seattle. But while quarterbacking the precursors to the Legion of Boom years, Hasselbeck led the Seahawks to the playoffs six times, including their first Super Sunday appearance – and those ‘Hawks might have been the franchise’s first champions had the officials not assisted the Steelers in Super Bowl 40.

23. Dak Prescott

He hasn’t managed to end the Dallas Cowboys’ three-decade championship drought … but he probably doesn’t deserve all that much blame, either. Prescott broke the all-time passing yardage record for “America’s Team” earlier this season and needs eight more TD passes to take the club record (248) currently held by Tony Romo. And say this for Prescott: He’s been a classy ambassador for an organization that always has a sideshow element.

22. Joe Burrow

He took the Cincinnati Bengals to a Super Bowl and pair of AFC title games … meaning Burrow’s probably ranked too low. But, in all seriousness, he’s been MVP-caliber pretty much since coming back from the knee injury that prematurely ended his rookie season in 2020.

21. Carson Palmer

He took the Bengals to the playoffs twice – not quite Burrow but not bad, either. (And it will always be a shame that Palmer’s first career postseason pass, a 66-yard completion, ended with him crumpled in the pocket, knee torn up. That 2005 Bengals team seemed like one that could have made a Lombardi run of its own.) Not only that, Palmer’s 38-21-1 regular-season mark with the Cardinals is easily the best in the century-old club’s history among QBs who started at least 15 games.

20. Kirk Cousins

Granted, maybe he’s a better businessman than quarterback – but that’s mostly a nod to his negotiating chops. While postseason and prime-time success eluded Cousins while he was in Washington and with the Minnesota Vikings, his 44,394 career passing yards and 296 TDs both rank within the top 20 in league history.

19. Jared Goff

The No. 1 pick of the 2016 draft has had two distinct career chapters with the Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions. You almost forget the four-time Pro Bowler led LA to Super Bowl 53 – maybe because that loss to the New England Patriots was so forgettable and foretold Goff’s trade to Detroit. But while he seemed like a consolation prize – at best – in the Matthew Stafford swap, Goff has quarterbacked the best Lions teams of the Super Bowl era (since 1966), even if he hasn’t yet gotten them to their first Super Sunday. By the time this season wraps, he should have four straight with at least 29 TD passes and 4,400 yards in Motown.

18. Cam Newton

At 6-5, 245 pounds, he was a unicorn among dual-threat quarterbacks. He accounted for 45 touchdowns during his 2015 MVP season, which culminated in a Super Bowl 50 berth for Newton’s Carolina Panthers following a 15-1 regular season. He still holds most of the franchise’s career passing records.

17. Donovan McNabb

He had a love-hate relationship with the locals – some of the critiques self-inflicted – but he remains the Philadelphia Eagles’ all-time leader in passing yards (32,873) and TDs (216). And while McNabb wasn’t the guy who finally got Philly its first Lombardi Trophy, he did take the Eagles to five NFC championship games and one Super Bowl appearance.

16. Michael Vick

He never played in a Super Bowl nor earned a league MVP trophy – or even All-Pro honors. But there’s no denying Vick’s cultural impact or his electric play – perhaps the most incomparable dual-threat talent ever given his breakaway speed and cuts, plus a left arm that could rifle a ball to any part of the field. Let’s also give Vick a tip of the cap for being unfailingly accountable for the mistakes he made off the field following his two-season suspension for dogfighting – and his good-faith efforts on that front have continued even though he knows some will never forgive him.

15. Joe Flacco

You’ll never meet a more down-to-earth quarterback … to the degree you meet quarterbacks … and to the degree that matters. But this guy’s a real one. He’ll be 41 next month yet can still effortlessly launch a beautiful spiral 50 yards downrange. And while Flacco might seem like a vagabond at this point, let’s not forget he went 10-5 in the playoffs with the Baltimore Ravens – including that sublime four-game run in 2012 that concluded with Super Bowl 47 MVP honors. If Flacco can find one more temporary QB1 gig before he quits, he should get to 50,000 career passing yards … maybe even 300 TDs.

14. Brett Favre

His trifecta of MVP awards and good guy image are residuals from the 1990s. But Favre remained a captivating player in his final 11 seasons, retiring after the 2010 campaign with most of the league’s major passing marks and in possession of his signature Ironman streak (321 consecutive starts, truly Gehrig-esque). And Favre was splendid – on the field anyway – right to the end, reaching the NFC championship game twice in his final four seasons, once with the Green Bay Packers and also with the Vikings.

13. Russell Wilson

Hard to say if any player has ever had more shifting narratives around him. Did Wilson drive the Seahawks to all that success they had during the 2010s, or was he mostly a passenger? And there’s no doubt his post-Seattle years have been even less kind to his legacy, wherever it lands. But there’s no denying his numbers (121 career wins, nearly 47,000 passing yards, and almost 400 combined passing/rushing TDs). And no one can take away Wilson’s Super Bowl 48 ring, still the only one in Seahawks history … even if he probably should have a Super Bowl 49 ring, too.

12. Philip Rivers

So what if he was the third-best quarterback of the 2004 draft after Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger? So what if Rivers never played in a Super Bowl? So what if he’s spent nearly his entire career playing in ideal passing conditions with teams built to score … and Hall of Famers like LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates helping him? You don’t throw for more than 63,000 yards and 422 TDs because you’re a spoke and not a hub – also a durable one (241 career starts). And the Rivers era was one of the few times the Chargers remained consistently relevant. Physically, he was never impressive. His ability to spew an endless stream of clean trash talk? So impressive.

11. Josh Allen

10. Lamar Jackson

He’s a two-time NFL MVP … and arguably should have three. Jackson broke Vick’s record for career rushing yards by a quarterback and now has 6,513 – and he’s the only one to accrue 1,000 in a season twice. Yet Jackson is probably underrated as a passer – he’s a far better one than Vick ever was – and he seemed to improve annually prior to his frustrating 2025. He’ll likely continue to climb this list – let’s just hope he’s able to fully certify his career at some point with the Lombardi Trophy that’s proven so elusive in the Patrick Mahomes era.

9. Matt Ryan

You probably forgot that he was the league MVP in 2016 … mostly because you remember his Atlanta Falcons fell apart in Super Bowl 51, really through no fault of Ryan’s. Given the contrasts in their games and personalities, following Vick in Atlanta wasn’t an enviable role for Ryan, either. But in many ways, his career mimics Rivers’ – nice guys with very similar career numbers but a close-but-no-cigar asterisk attached to their championship quests. (But Matty Ice’s in-game verbiage was definitely more colorful than Rivers’.)

8. Eli Manning

His 117-117 record in the regular season probably prevented him from being a first-ballot Hall of Famer. But two Super Bowl MVPs, 57,000 passing yards and the ability to successfully navigate the New York market for 16 seasons should land him in Canton eventually.

7. Matthew Stafford

Underrated and undervalued during his 12 years in Detroit – and Stafford was most definitely elite with the Lions, despite a shortfall of help on the roster and in management – his belated renaissance with the Rams is making up for those dark days. At this point, it would be a shock if Stafford doesn’t cap this season with his first MVP trophy. It wouldn’t be surprising either if he wins his second Super Bowl with the Rams. And if his 37-year-old body holds up for just another two or three good seasons, he should be the rare player with 70,000 career passing yards and 500 TDs by the time he’s done.

6. Ben Roethlisberger

“Big Ben” was awesome between the lines from Day 1, a mountain of a man who could shed tacklers with ease while slinging the rock to all parts of the gridiron. He earned two rings with the Pittsburgh Steelers – and probably should have been Super 43’s MVP given his legendary, title-winning throw to Santonio Holmes through triple coverage and into the back corner of the end zone as time wound down. Roethlisberger’s 64,000+ passing yards and 418 career TD passes are all the more impressive given so much of it was done in the Steel City’s often unforgiving conditions. He never played for a team with a losing record, his final ledger 165-81-1.

5. Drew Brees

His 80,358 passing yards and 571 TD passes rank second only to Tom Brady in NFL annals. But perhaps the most important part of Brees’ legacy was helping to save pro football in New Orleans following the wrath of Hurricane Katrina while leading the Saints to their first – and still only – Super Bowl win in the 2009 season (Lombardi Gras). GPS-level accurate – Brees completed at least 70% of his passes in seven different seasons – the league has rarely seen as good a leader, either.

4. Aaron Rodgers

During his prime, his combination of accuracy, mobility, moxie, arm strength, competitiveness and extreme football intelligence made him something of a template for the modern quarterback – and maybe no one has ever had the ability to make the pinpoint throws he could, whether from the pocket or on the move. Only one player has more MVP trophies than Rodgers’ four, though his detractors (and Brees’) will say one Super Bowl is insufficient. Rodgers’ 102.4 career passer rating is currently the highest in NFL history.

3. Peyton Manning

A record five league MVP awards. Four Super Bowl trips and two wins. Holder of most of the league’s major passing standards when he retired following the 2015 season. But perhaps the defining part of the Manning legend was his will and ability to manipulate games with his mind – the most important component for a player with an above-average arm but no wheels.

2. Patrick Mahomes

We’re not even 10 years into his career, and he’s already got three Super Bowl MVPs – only Brady has more – two league MVPs and had started seven consecutive AFC championship games, a streak that will end in an unfortunate 2025 season that hasn’t been kind to Mahomes or his Kansas City Chiefs. But there are more chapters to be written in what’s already the sterling career of a player who relentlessly wins and has provided some of the most impressive individuals plays and efforts on his team’s dynastic road. Still a legit shot Mahomes could be regarded as the best to ever do it by the time he retires …

1. Tom Brady

… But, for now, GOAT status most definitely remains with TB12, whose seven Super Bowl rings are still more than any NFL franchise possesses on its own. He’s got the jewelry, nearly all of the league’s notable passing marks and a record five Super Bowl MVPs. There’s so much more to an unparalleled NFL journey that began as an unheralded sixth-round pick of the Patriots. But you know the story. And you know there’s no debate here. At least not yet.

Jake Paul knows how to draw in a crowd. He knows how to market himself. He knows how to bring in the big bucks. Unfortunately for him, taunting a former two-time heavyweight champion and then getting knocked out is priceless. There is no rebounding from that.

That won’t stop Paul from trying though. The YouTuber-turned-boxer took to Instagram on Monday to flaunt vast wealth, guns and cigars aboard what appears to be a private plane.

At least seven guns can be seen in the photo, ranging from pistols to rifles, and only a higher power could possibly know how much money is in frame.

Regardless, fans are not responding well to the image, with many comments clowning Paul for such a post, from typos to the blatant superiority complex to everything in between.

What is Jake Paul’s net worth?

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Jake Paul is estimated to be worth around $200 million. His fight with Anthony Joshua netted him an additional $94 million per reports.

What is Jake Paul’s boxing record?

Paul owns a 12-2 career record with seven of those wins coming via knockout — the first time in his career that he had lost in such a manner. His loss against Anthony Joshua was his first defeat since 2023, when he lost via split decision to Tommy Fury.

Paul’s injuries

Paul suffered a fractured jaw during his fight against Anthony Joshua. The jaw was broken in two places, and Paul needed surgery to insert metal plates on each side. Paul also noted that a few of his teeth needed to be removed as well.

Despite the injuries though, Paul is not backing down from his professional boxing career. ‘We’re going to heal the broken jaw, come back and fight people my weight and go for the cruiserweight world title,’ Paul said on social media.

Paul has hinted that his next fight will be against Canelo Alvarez, but nothing has been confirmed on that front as of yet.

Metcalf was suspended for two games for the incident, in which he appeared to grab the shirt of a fan wearing a blue wig in the front row before shoving him.

Metcalf plans to appeal the suspension, according to multiple reports.

If the ban stands, Metcalf will miss the remainder of the regular season. The Steelers, however, can clinch the AFC North before playing Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns if the Baltimore Ravens fall to the Green Bay Packers on Monday. If the Ravens win and the Steelers lose, however, Metcalf would be out for the Week 18 showdown between the two teams that would decide the division.

The two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver, who did not speak to reporters after the game, was not removed from the Steelers’ 29-24 win over the Lions after the clash. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin did not divulge any details after the game about how the team handled the episode.

‘I heard about it, but I hadn’t seen it and I hadn’t had an opportunity to talk to DK, and so I have no comment,’ Tomlin said.

The fan spoke with the Detroit Free Press of the USA TODAY Network and identified himself as his name was Ryan Kennedy from Pinckney, Michigan. He said he called Metcalf by his full legal name – DeKaylin Zecharius Metcalf – and that the receiver then ripped his shirt.

On Monday, he issued a statement denying allegations he had used ‘any racial, misogynistic, or hate-based language during the incident.’

Metcalf was not subject to discipline from the league during the game because officials did not flag him.

The Lions spoke with the fan about the incident but did not eject him, the team told the Free Press.

Metcalf, 28, was traded to the Steelers this offseason, signing a four-year, $132 million extension as the top weapon for new quarterback Aaron Rodgers. His 56.7 yards per game, however, is his lowest average since his rookie season.

Nico Iamaleava is staying put.

The quarterback announced on Monday, Dec. 22 he will be returning to UCLA, choosing to stay with the Bruins instead of transferring or turning pro in a major get for incoming coach Bob Chesney.

Iamaleava’s decision to return is somewhat surprising as there was uncertainty about what his next move would be. After UCLA ended the season with a loss to rival Southern California, Iamaleava said it was ‘a great learning year’ for him and he hadn’t thought about whether he would stay or transfer. He could have departed and if he had decided to leave, there were expected to be plenty of suitors who would want him for 2026.

However, Iamaleava put all of it to rest before the transfer portal even opened on Jan. 2.

Iamaleava is one of the most followed quarterbacks since his high school days in Southern California, as he’s been a model for how name, image and likeness has changed college football.

He had a highly followed departure from Tennessee after he had led the Volunteers to the College Football Playoff. Iamaleava opted to return back to his home state of California and play for UCLA. His choice was intriguing as he was a high-profile player joining a middling team that was coming off a 5-7 season, but hoped it would be a place where he could prove he could be an NFL quarterback.

It ended up not being the season UCLA had hoped. The Bruins started the campaign 0-4 and coach Deshaun Foster was fired after UCLA lost by 25 points to New Mexico in Week 3. UCLA finished the season 3-9, its worst since 2018, and lost its last five games.

Despite the tough season, Iamaleava provided some bright moments and showed why he was a five-star recruit and coveted transfer with his powerful arm, mobility and quick decision-making. He led UCLA to an upset of then-No. 6 Penn State, throwing for 166 yards and had a game-high 130 rushing yards with five total touchdowns to get the first win of the season.

It was the start of a three-game winning streak that brought some optimism back to UCLA before the rough finish. Even though the Bruins had five losses to end the season, Iamaleava showed grit and continued to play through some injuries he suffered during the skid, missing just one game.

In 11 games, Iamaleava had 1,928 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions, while also being the team’s leading rusher with 674 yards and four touchdown runs. 

After UCLA ended the season with a loss to rival Southern California, Iamaleava said it was ‘a great learning year’ for him and he hadn’t thought about whether he would stay or transfer. It was widely believed he could depart and if he had decided to leave, there were expected to be plenty of suitors for his services.

Instead, Iamaleava stays home to play under Chesney, who arrives after guiding James Madison to the playoff. Iamaleava gives the new coach a starting point for building his first roster in Westwood as he doesn’t have to look for a new signal-caller, but can build an offense around the quarterback.

Just finishing his redshirt sophomore season, Iamaleava has two years of eligibility left in his college career. 

As the five-game Christmas Day slate nears, the NBA has turned the page from the focus on the NBA Cup.

And though the Oklahoma City Thunder have dropped two of their last three games, it still may be too early to say that the team has long-term vulnerabilities, especially since those losses came against excellent Western Conference teams in the San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves.

Out East, things are a little more wide open, where it looks like there are a handful of teams that can compete for a conference title.

Here are USA TODAY Sports’ NBA power rankings after Week 8 of the 2025-26 regular season:

USA TODAY Sports NBA power rankings

Note: Records and stats through Dec. 21. Parentheses show movement from last week’s rankings

NBA Week 9 power rankings: Top 5

1. Oklahoma City Thunder, 25-3 (—)

2. Detroit Pistons, 22-6 (—)

3. San Antonio Spurs, 21-7 (—)

4.New York Knicks, 20-8 (+1)

5.Denver Nuggets, 20-7 (-1)

Atop the list there’s a relative lack of movement, but the interesting development is whether Oklahoma City is merely hitting a speedbump, or whether there are significant holes. The Spurs, however, look like a team that can compete regularly with the Thunder, given their size and defensive capability and their speed at guard. The Knicks, fresh off their NBA Cup championship, have won 12 of their last 14 games.

NBA Week 9 power rankings: Nos. 6-10

6. Los Angeles Lakers, 19-8 (+1)

7. Minnesota Timberwolves, 19-10 (+1)

8. Houston Rockets, 17-9 (-2)

9. Boston Celtics, 17-11 (—)

10. Philadelphia 76ers, 16-11 (+5)

The Rockets have taken a bit of a tumble, losing four of their last six, and the quality of some of those defeats are concerning; losses against the Kings and Pelicans shouldn’t be happening. Anthony Edwards splashed his game-winning 3 over the Thunder, and the Timberwolves and their sixth-ranked defensive rating (112.3) suddenly have some swagger. And Tyrese Maxey, who is third in the NBA in scoring at 31.7 points per game, has the 76ers soaring.

NBA Week 9 power rankings: Nos. 11-15

11. Orlando Magic, 16-12 (-1)

12. Phoenix Suns, 15-13 (-1)

13. Toronto Raptors, 17-13 (-1)

14. Cleveland Cavaliers, 15-14 (+2)

15. Atlanta Hawks, 15-15 (-1)

The Magic have sputtered a bit recently, losing four of their last seven games, though there is a caveat here: those losses have come against the Spurs, Knicks (twice) and Nuggets, who have a combined winning percentage of .730. The Cavaliers need to confront their roster and whether they should be aggressive at the trading deadline.

NBA Week 9 power rankings: Nos. 16-20

16. Chicago Bulls, 13-15 (+4)

17. Memphis Grizzlies, 13-15 (+1)

18. Miami Heat, 15-14 (-5)

19. Golden State Warriors, 14-15 (-2)

20. Dallas Mavericks, 11-18 (-1)

The Bulls have won three consecutive and second-year forward Matas Buzelis has dropped 52 points on 73.1% shooting over his last two games. With Tyler Herro (toe) missing time, the Heat have won just two of their last 10 as their shooting has dipped in the last month. At this point, it’s clear the Warriors need to tweak the construction of their roster to give Stephen Curry (28.8 points per game; ninth in the NBA) some more help.

NBA Week 9 power rankings: Nos. 21-25

21. Portland Trail Blazers, 12-16 (+1)

22. Utah Jazz, 10-17 (+2)

23. Milwaukee Bucks, 11-18 (-2)

24. Charlotte Hornets, 9-19 (-1)

25. Brooklyn Nets, 8-19 (—)

Despite ranking 11th in the Eastern Conference, the Bucks somehow have the NBA’s second-best effective field goal percentage (57.4%), which adjusts for 3-point shots. Utah ranks seventh in the NBA in points per game (119.9) and sixth in rebounds per game (45.7). The Nets have won five of their last eight, as Michael Porter Jr. (25.6 points per game) has started to carry the offense for Brooklyn.

NBA Week 9 power rankings: Nos. 26-30

26. New Orleans Pelicans, 7-22 (+3)

27. Indiana Pacers, 6-22 (-1)

28. Los Angeles Clippers, 7-21 (-1)

29. Sacramento Kings, 7-22 (-1)

30. Washington Wizards, 5-22 (—)

New Orleans has gotten a massive boost in Zion Williamson’s return, even though he has come off the bench in his three games back. Nonetheless, the Pelicans have won four consecutive. No team has been worse at possessing the ball than the Clippers, who rank dead last in turnover percentage (16.6%). And Washington’s defensive rating of 122.7 is nearly 20 points lower than the league’s top team, the Thunder (103.2).