NFC West Division preview 2024 predicted order of finish, record San Francisco 49ers (12-5) The 49ers have plenty of playmakers and signed "hold-in" WR Brandon Aiyuk to an extension. But LT Trent Williams remains a holdout and without him the line might not give Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, Aiyuk and Co. enough time to make plays. Will the 49ers regress after losing (again) to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl? Los Angeles Rams (10-7) With WR Cooper Kupp returning, the Rams have one of the best receiving tandems in the league with Puka Nacua, who was the runner-up for Offensive Rookie of the Year last season. RB Kyren Williams also had a breakout season in 2023, giving QB Matthew Stafford plenty of options. One massive worry: the Rams have to replace retired three-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald. Seattle Seahawks (8-9) For the first time since 2009, someone other than Pete Carroll will be calling the shots in Seattle. Former Baltimore defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald fills his shoes, hoping to revamp a defense that finished 25th in points allowed each of the past two seasons. Veteran QB Geno Smith remains at the controls, with a new OC in Ryan Grubb. Arizona Cardinals (6-11) After losing eight of their first nine games last season with QB Kyler Murray sidelined by a torn ACL, the Cardinals went 3-5 after he returned. First-round pick WR Marvin Harrison Jr. gives Arizona a No. 1 receiver it has lacked since Larry Fitzgerald retired. –NFC West top MVP candidates RB Christian McCaffrey If McCaffrey isn't the first pick in every fantasy draft, something is wrong. He rushed for 1,459 yards and 14 TDs in the regular season last year, plus caught 67 passes for 564 and seven more scores when he was third in MVP balloting. Then he had five more postseason TDs in leading the 49ers to the Super Bowl, which they lost to Kansas City in OT. A calf strain kept him out of most of training camp and all of the preseason games. QB Brock Purdy Purdy was fourth in the MVP balloting last season, behind Baltimore's Lamar Jackson, Buffalo's Josh Allen and teammate Christian McCaffrey. The former Mr. Irrelevant from the 2022 draft proved his rookie season was no fluke, despite coming off UCL surgery last year. He completed 69.4% of his passes for 4,280 yards and 31 TDs in the regular season. QB Kyler Murray Want a dark-horse candidate for MVP? Murray was a leading contender in 2021 before fading late, then suffered a gruesome ACL injury in 2022. The Cardinals led the league in total offense after he returned from the injury in Week 10 last season, with 414.3 yards per game. –NFC West breakout players 49ers CB Deommodore Lenoir Started all 17 games last season, breaking up 10 passes and intercepting three while playing both outside and in the slot. Has improved each year and has plenty of motivation as he enters the final season of his rookie contract. 49ers S Ji'Ayir Brown The third-round pick out of Penn State played in 15 games as a rookie last season, recording 35 tackles. Brown didn't start until Talanoa Hufanga was sidelined with an injury, but is listed as the starting free safety heading into the 2024 campaign. Rams edge Byron Young The 2023 third-round pick started 16 of 17 games last season and finished eighth in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. He had 61 tackles last season, including eight sacks. He'll need to increase that output with DT Aaron Donald having retired. Rams DB Quentin Lake The third-year player, the son of four-time Pro Bowl selection Carnell Lake, was voted a captain by his teammates, an honor his dad didn't get until his 10th season. Lake filled the nickel defender role Jalen Ramsey previously held last season, but can cover the slot or serve as a safety. Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba Smith-Njigba got off to a slow start as a rookie last year, in part because of a fractured wrist suffered in the preseason. He still finished with 63 receptions for 628 yards and four TDs and new coach Mike Macdonald has called him a "massive piece" in first-year coordinator Ryan Grubb's system. Seahawks DT Byron Murphy II The second defensive player taken in the 2024 draft at No. 16 overall, the 300-pound rookie should help Seattle stem the opponents' running game. He'll be a big part of new coach Mike Macdonald's rotation on the D-line. Cardinals WR Marvin Harrison Jr. The fourth overall pick in the 2024 draft out of Ohio State brings more than just good genes. He was the 2023 Fred Biletnikoff winner as college football's top receiver. He'll be the No. 1 receiver the Cards have been missing since Larry Fitzgerald retired. Cardinals OL Paris Johnson Jr. After playing all 17 games at right tackle last season as a rookie, the 2023 sixth overall pick out of Ohio State will be moving to the left end of the line to protect Kyler Murray's blind side. He'll have big shoes to fill as D.J. Humphries, Johnson's mentor, was released after nine seasons. Week 1 outlook Cardinals at Bills, Sunday, Sept. 8, 1 p.m. ET The Cardinals have a tough opening matchup on the road, though at least it shouldn't be snowing at Highmark Stadium. The Bills have won the AFC East in each of the past four years, but could be challenged this time as they had quite the roster turnover in the offseason, with QB Josh Allen losing his top two targets in Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis. Broncos at Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 8, 4:05 p.m. ET Remember a couple of years ago when the Broncos opened at Seattle in Russell Wilson's first game in orange and blue? Seattle won that one 17-16. Wilson is already gone, with the Broncos turning the reins over to rookie Bo Nix out of Oregon, the 14th different starter at QB for the Broncos since Peyton Manning retired after Super Bowl 50. Rams at Lions, Sunday, Sept. 8, 8:20 p.m. ET After winning their first division title in 30 years last season, the Lions led San Francisco by 17 points in the third quarter of the NFC Championship game before faltering. That should give the Lions plenty of motivation in 2024. Rams QB Matthew Stafford, formerly of the Lions, can flash his Super Bowl ring at Lions QB Jared Goff, formerly of the Rams. Jets at 49ers, Monday, Sept. 9, 8:15 p.m. ET Jets QB Aaron Rodgers, a Bay Area native, calls it a comeback at age 40 after missing all but four offensive snaps in 2023 because of a torn Achilles. The Jets' defense should be strong with CB Sauce Gardner and DL Quinnen Williams, but they'll have their hands full with the 49ers' multiple targets. –Field Level Media Relatedunderdog fantasy reviewparlayplay ratingsleeper fantasydabble online reviewowners box fantasy footballfantasy draftkingsfantasy football fan duelunderdog football promoparlayplay sign up offersoffers for sleeperbonus code for dabblebonus code for owners box footballdraftkings fantasy football promosfanduel fantasy football promotions
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While the 2022 Qatar World Cup might be just around the corner, it will be Europe s elite that takes center stage once again this weekend. On that note, we have found a handful of helpful tips that are worth keeping an eye out for if you re looking to place a Saturday acca.
Saturday October 22nd
BST 15:00 Morecambe vs Barnsley
While Barnsley might have once again lost their Championship status last season, Saturday s guests have their sights firmly set on an immediate second-tier return. Despite being last seen playing out a 0-0 stalemate away at Bolton, Michael Duff s men should find the mood in their camp at a real high. Opening this weekend s fixtures battling it out in the play-off places, the Yorkshire-based outfit should be smelling the chance to lay down a mar…
Best odds: 6/5
Bookmaker:
AS Monaco will play host to Bayer Leverkusen at the Stade Louis II on Thursday, in the second leg of their meeting in the knockout stage play-offs in the Europa League. The French team won the first leg in Germany by 2-3 as the contest saw the scoreline turned over twice.
It was an own-goal by goalkeeper Lukasz Hradecky that gave Monaco a lead in the ninth minute, but his teammates Moussa Diaby (48 ) and Florian Wirtz (59 ) made it 2-1. Still, goals from Krepin Diatta (74 ) and Axel Disasi (90 +2) meant that Monaco went home with an advantage.
AS Monaco
They may not be quite as good as when they won the Ligue 1 title in 2016/17, featuring the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Radamel Falcao, Bernardo Silva, Allan Saint-Maximin and Fabinh…
The German Football Association (DFB) has announced it will not support Gianni Infantino s re-election as FIFA president.
Infantino is set to be re-elected at the 73rd FIFA Congress in Rwandan capital Kigali on Thursday after no challengers came forward to stand against him in the leadership race.
However, despite Infantino having a clear run at another term in charge, Germany have joined a select few nations to publicly declare they do not back the decision.
The DFB added in a statement on Wednesday that it has contacted FIFA in recent weeks on a matter of issues but has received no reply or only insufficient information.
DFB president Bernd Neuendorf said: The DFB will not support the re-election of FIFA president Gianni Infantino in Kigali.
W…
Erik ten Hag is confident incoming minority owners INEOS want to work with him despite admitting he has yet to speak to Manchester United’s new head of football operations.
The Old Trafford giants announced on Christmas Eve that a long-awaited deal has been reached for Sir Jim Ratcliffe to buy a 25 per cent stake in the Premier League club.
INEOS is taking responsibility for United’s footballing operations under the terms of a deal that is expected to take four to six weeks to receive regulatory approval.
Sir Dave Brailsford, INEOS’ director of sport, was at Old Trafford on Boxing Day for the stunning 3-2 turnaround against Aston Villa, and Ten Hag says he will be speaking to the new minority owners soon.
“The schedule is so condensed so I didn’…
With it finally announced last weekend that Declan Rice’s record-breaking move to was officially complete, West Ham know that they face a crucial summer in east London.
Watching their talismanic skipper leave the London Stadium only a month after guiding the Hammers to success out in Prague, David Moyes’ men have a huge hole to fill in the middle of the park.
Eventually agreeing on a fee of £105million with the Gunners after cashing in on Rice, the former boss is more than aware that a top central midfielder is at the top of his summer wishlist.
With the Hammers’ hierarchy making it clear that they will be reinvesting in a midfield makeover before the transfer window slams shut, we have taken a look at three European stars that have been heavily linked…
´One-in-a-million´ Pedri becoming more than Iniesta´s heir at Barca after snow interrupted Real Madr
The snowfall that hit Madrid in February 2018 initially appeared worse than it was, with the seas of white that engulfed fields, pitches and gardens in Spain s capital clearing quicker than one might have expected.
It was enough to cause Real Madrid to cancel their training for the day on February 5, allowing Cristiano Ronaldo an unexpected day off on his birthday – though certain sections of the media were particularly critical of the club for essentially shutting down with a crucial Champions League tie against Paris Saint-Germain little more than a week away.
As it happened, Madrid went on to claim a third successive European crown, so the issue of a day off almost certainly won t have been raised again. However, it was this snowfall that proved a major disruption t…
Best Odds: 4/9
Bookmaker:
Two European icons who will be looking to punch their Nations League final ticket on Thursday night, Spain will meet Italy at FC Twente’s De Grolsch Veste.
Spain
Starting with Spain, while La Roja might have opened their winter World Cup adventure with a rampant display as they clinched a 7-0 romp against Costa Rica on November 23rd, that result was nothing more than a minor boost for the former world champions. Crashing out at the Round of 16 stage as they suffered penalties heartbreak against Morocco, it is no secret that Luis de la Fuente has come under a huge amount of scrutiny over the past six months. Likewise, although Spain might have got their European Championships qualifying run underway with a routine 3-0 win against Norw…
Best Odds: 20/21
Bookmaker:
Seeking a Bundesliga boost on Friday night, Wolfsburg will make the trip to the Veltins-Arena when they meet Schalke.
Schalke
Starting with the hosts, while Schalke might have cruised their way to a Bundesliga return this season, the Blues are enduring yet another top-flight nightmare. Although Thomas Reis side might have claimed back-to-back 0-0 stalemates against Borussia Monchengladbach and Koln, the former Bochum boss finds his side picked as a landslide relegation pick in 2023. Opening this weekend s fixtures sat rock-bottom of the Bundesliga table and already eight points adrift of finding a route out of the drop zone, Schalke are yet to claim a single victory since returning from the World Cup s winter break. With their extend…
Lionel Messi admitted he is concerned about the coronavirus situation as the superstar captain targets a long-awaited title with Argentina at the Copa America.
Messi s Argentina will open their Copa America campaign against rivals Chile in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Monday.
Brazil is hosting the Copa after CONMEBOL controversially removed Argentina and Colombia as co-hosts due to respective political and COVID-19 issues.
Despite being one of the country s worst hit by the coronavirus health crisis, Brazil was awarded hosting duties for this year s showpiece event, which was already pushed back a year because of COVID-19.
Defending champions Brazil won 3-0 on Sunday against a Venezuela side that had reported 12 positive coronavirus tests amongst their ranks…
Tottenham defender Ryan Sessegnon has been backed to bounce back from his latest hamstring surgery by a medical expert.
Sessegnon had an operation on his right hamstring on Monday after the 23-year-old suffered a muscle injury in action for Spurs’ Under-21s on February 17.
It was the second time Sessegnon has been operated on during the past 12 months, but significantly the previous surgery in July was on his left hamstring.
Ryan Sessegnon has undergone surgery to his right hamstring following an injury during an Under-21s match.
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial)
The ex-Fulham player has struggled with muscle injuries over recent seasons, although Sessegnon did state in an Instagram post that his left hamstring now feels “strong” and h…