NFL knee-jerk reactions: Super Bowl locks, QB chaos and shocking starts across the league

Two weeks into the 2025 NFL season, the takes are getting hotter than a mid-September turf field. Across the league, early results are fueling bold declarations from Yardbarker NFL writers, which are presented to you here.

What Steelers' Aaron Rodgers taught Patriots' Drake Maye about becoming an NFL QB

Three post-waiver fantasy football targets for Week 3

Ranking all 32 NFL head coaches for the 2025 season

The 'Rookie Pro Bowlers since 2014' quiz

Features

The Morning Bark

The Quiz of the Day

Fantasy football Week 3: Five players who could flop

Fantasy football is just as much about predicting the flops as it is about nailing the strong starts. There are a few land mines we want to avoid in NFL Week 3, so let's break them down.

Assessing the panic level for NFL's 0-2 teams

Three post-waiver fantasy football targets for Week 3

The greatest one-and-done seasons in NFL history

The 'NFL quarterback rushing leaders' quiz

Miami Dolphins News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'Active 300-passing-yard NFL games leaders' quiz

How many of the active NFL quarterbacks to rack up at least 300 yards through the air in a game 10 or more times?

NFL News / Yardbarker / 1 hour ago

Fantasy football Week 3: Five players who could smash their projections

Week 3 is a pivotal week in fantasy football, especially for all the 0-2 owners out there. Thankfully, we're here to help with some under-the-radar smash spots for the Week 3 NFL slate.

Bengals QB Joe Burrow has a worrying complication for surgery

Vikings Re-Signing RB Cam Akers

Who had the greatest QB season for every NFL team?

The '2024-25 NFL passing-yard leaders' quiz

Soccer News / Yardbarker / 3 hours ago

Jose Mourinho returns to Benfica: A full circle moment for the 'Dark Lord of Football'

Legendary football manager Jose Mourinho is returning to where it all began.

The 'FIFA Club World Cup champions' quiz

Texas Longhorns News / Yardbarker / 3 hours ago

Scout identifies key issue behind Arch Manning's underwhelming start

Manning has completed a below-average 55.3 percent of his passes through three starts.

'You kept your mouth shut': College Football Hall of Famer praises Georgia star

Why Deion Sanders is looking to Dabo Swinney for inspiration to turn Colorado around

Why the stars could be aligning for No. 4 Miami after undefeated start

College football 2025: 25 Group of Five players to watch

The 'Division 1 Texas football teams' quiz

Buffalo Bills News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The '2024-25 NFL rushing leaders' quiz

How many of the NFL players with at least 900 rushing yards in the 2024-25 NFL season can you name in five minutes?

Liverpool FC News / Yardbarker / 4 hours ago

Liverpool's last-gasp wins are anything but a fluke

The team has won every single one of its five competitive matches in 2025-26, but it has won all of them thanks to a late goal arriving in the 83rd minute or beyond.

Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United tenure sinks to historic lows

The '2024-25 goal scoring leaders by English Premier League team' quiz

Arizona Cardinals News / Yardbarker / 5 hours ago

Marvin Harrison Jr. brushes off potential Cardinals controversy

Harrison didn't have much of an impact in Arizona's Week 2 win.

Cardinals’ QB Kyler Murray receives backlash for Instagram post

49ers favored against Cardinals despite injuries, Brock Purdy uncertainty

The best and worst uniform changes in NFL history

The 'Most receptions through first two NFL seasons' quiz

NFL News / Yardbarker / 6 hours ago

Three post-waiver fantasy football targets for Week 3

After just two weeks of football, many fantasy managers find themselves scrambling to replace injured players. Here’s three options with a defense to boot.

Is there 'huge value' in Giants sitting Jaxson Dart behind Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston?

Assessing the panic level for NFL's 0-2 teams

The greatest seasons by undrafted NFL rookies

The '450-passing yards, three touchdowns in a loss' quiz

Shohei Ohtani News / Yardbarker / 6 hours ago

Dodgers' intriguing plan for Shohei Ohtani could work

Dodgers have intriguing plan for Shohei Ohtani — and it just might work

There are question marks with such a plan, but it could work.

Dodgers' Ohtani achieves feat that not even Babe Ruth accomplished

Dodgers collapse yet again to waste Ohtani’s no-hit effort

Angels will never be a relevant team while Arte Moreno owns them

Cubs look for October magic after most successful season in years

Mets' David Stearns confirms opinion of Carlos Mendoza amid wild-card race

Entertainment

25 cover songs that just about everyone hates

25 celebrities who simply walked away from the limelight

The 21 greatest country music voices of all-time

20 beloved film characters who were inexplicably left out of sequels

Georgia Bulldogs News / Yardbarker / 7 hours ago

'You kept your mouth shut': CFB legend praises Georgia star

'You kept your mouth shut': College Football Hall of Famer praises Georgia star

Count College Football Hall of Famer and CBS Sports analyst Aaron Taylor among the fans of Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton, who led the Bulldogs to a thrilling 44-41 overtime win against Tennessee on the road on Saturday.

Dabo Swinney sends wild message to his critics; should Clemson move on?

Ole Miss HC Lane Kiffin makes a bold prediction about rival coach

How Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola must mentally prepare for Michigan

Why stars could be aligning for No. 4 Miami after undefeated start

Five intriguing HC candidates for UCLA

Five CFB teams that can make the biggest statements in Week 4

Chicago Cubs News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'National League MVPs' quiz

How many of the National League MVPs can you name in six minutes?

Ben Johnson News / Yardbarker / 7 hours ago

Should Bears fans be worried about Johnson's practice habits?

Should Bears fans be worried about Ben Johnson's practice habits?

On Wednesday, Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson had a message for his team: You play like you practice.

Johnson's explanation for Jared Goff's beatdown of Bears is terrible news for Dennis Allen

Where Caleb Williams showed 'tremendous growth' in Bears' blowout loss to Lions

Assessing the panic level for NFL's 0-2 teams

Ranking all 32 NFL head coaches for the 2025 season

The 'Chicago Bears head coaches' quiz

NFL News / Yardbarker / 8 hours ago

Multiple NFL head coaches brush off Tom Brady conflict of interest concerns

Multiple coaches have downplayed renewed concerns over Brady serving as both minority owner of the Raiders and broadcaster for Fox.

Should Bears fans be worried about Ben Johnson's practice habits?

Where Caleb Williams showed 'tremendous growth' in Bears' blowout loss to Lions

Ben Johnson's explanation for Jared Goff's beatdown of Bears is terrible news for Dennis Allen

Who had the greatest QB season for every NFL team?

The 'Chicago Bears head coaches' quiz

Click here to get Yardbarker's Quiz of the Day emailed to you!

The 'Switch-hitter single-season HR leaders' quiz

The 'Active three-TD catch NFL games' quiz

The '450-passing yards, three touchdowns in a loss' quiz

The 'NFL's three-passing TD game leaders' quiz

Oklahoma City Thunder News / Yardbarker / 8 hours ago

Stephen A. Smith's reported earnings higher than NBA MVP's salary

Stephen A. Smith's reported earnings higher than reigning NBA MVP's salary

Smith's reported earnings also exceed the 2025-26 salaries of other active NBA All-Stars.

Stephen A. Smith gives emotional farewell to Molly Qerim

Three questions Thunder must answer to win NBA title again

How NBA's investigation of Clippers impacts Thunder

Which NBA teams have the longest current championship droughts?

The 'Most 30-point games in one NBA postseason' quiz

San Francisco 49ers News / Yardbarker / 8 hours ago

49ers confident in QB situation amid stunning Brock Purdy news

Kyle Shanahan has surprising Brock Purdy update — 49ers are confident in QB situation regardless

Brock Purdy missed the San Francisco 49ers' Week 2 win over the New Orleans Saints.

Kyle Shanahan confirms 49ers have lost another offensive starter to injury

Pete Carroll admits disappointing truth about Ashton Jeanty

Jeanty has honest take about his role, and Raiders must change their ways

Should Bears fans be worried about coach Ben Johnson's practice habits?

'That's a concern': Steelers' Omar Khan hears something a GM never wants to

Las Vegas Raiders News / Yardbarker / 8 hours ago

Raiders' Carroll admits disappointing truth about Ashton Jeanty

Raiders' Pete Carroll admits disappointing truth about Ashton Jeanty

The 2024 Heisman Trophy finalist has looked quite mortal in his first two games in the pros.

Vikings lose star offensive player to injury at the worst time

A.J. Brown shades Eagles offense

Packers' Christian Watson reveals when he expects practice window to open

Commanders could reunite with their former pass-rusher with 70 career sacks

'Savage' move: Jaguars' decision to part ways with veteran defender will cost them

Khalil Mack News / Pro Football Rumors / 8 hours ago

Chargers star Khalil Mack's outlook is better than expected

Los Angeles will need one of its depth outside linebackers to take his place for the time being.

Will banged-up Baker Mayfield start for Buccaneers vs. Jets?

Falcons offseason additions even more important following star's injury update

Steelers fans get an alarming update about T.J. Watt: 'It's even worse'

Big Five: Micah Parsons and other reasons Packers won't lose early mojo

NFL Week 3 Underdog Report: Eagles, Vikings to disappoint home crowds

WNBA News / Yardbarker / 15 hours ago

Lynx use epic comeback to clinch series, avoid WNBA chaos

When the Golden State Valkyries built an 18-point lead over the Minnesota Lynx on Wednesday night, it felt like another WNBA playoff series was headed for a do-or-die game.

Breanna Stewart's injury putting Liberty's championship hopes in jeopardy

Fever win first playoff game in a decade, force deciding game vs. Dream

Fever or Dream will earn rare semifinal berth with Game 3 win

Wings rookie Paige Bueckers joins elite company with rare trifecta

Against odds, Storm in position for huge upset of Aces in Las Vegas

New York Jets News / Yardbarker / 23 hours ago

Aaron Glenn has hope — but he's not being realistic

Aaron Glenn tries to provide hope for the Jets' situation — but he's not being realistic

The 0-2 New York Jets enter their Week 3 contest against the 2-0 Tampa Bay Buccaneers with their backs against the wall.

QB update doesn't inspire confidence for perpetually disappointing Jets

Jaguars coach defends Travis Hunter plan even though it hasn't been working

Scout's inside look at Aaron Rodgers' play with Steelers passes the sniff test

Mike McDaniel's message to Dolphins after 0-2 start is revealed

Patrick Mahomes addresses early concern about struggling Chiefs

NBA News / Yardbarker / 17 hours ago

NBA commissioner Adam Silver comments on new European league

There's a new basketball league forming based in Europe, and it's something that NBA commissioner Adam Silver apparently has a pretty keen eye on.

Timeline emerges for possible resolution to Kawhi Leonard probe

Leonard's Uncle Dennis reportedly demanded money from Clippers

Clippers' concessions to superstar may have cost Raptors a dynasty

How the NBA's investigation of Clippers impacts the Thunder

Lakers' LeBron James praises 'savant' teammate as his career is nearing end

Anthony Davis explains how payments work for NBA players

San Francisco Giants News / Larry Brown Sports / 19 hours ago

Justin Verlander makes definitive statement on his future

Justin Verlander makes definitive statement about his playing future

Justin Verlander has really gotten his fastball back as of late.

Cardinals star done for 2025 season

Why a Sonny Gray trade makes sense for the Cardinals

Brewers place lefty starter on 15-day IL with calf strain

Braves claim longtime Orioles pitcher

Francisco Lindor had best reaction to wife performing anthem on violin

Philadelphia Eagles News / Yardbarker / 22 hours ago

Eagles star sick and tired of 'rubbish' narrative surrounding tush push

Once again, the Philadelphia Eagles are making the rounds for their most infamous play.

Eagles HC Nick Sirianni responds to latest tush push controversy

Dolphins' Jaylen Waddle addresses 'rat poison' Mike McDaniel rumor

NFL's stance on Tom Brady controversy does little to quell legitimate concerns

Kyler Murray responds to the backlash over his Michael Vick, dog post

Falcons HC reveals pick for NFL's 'best player' — stats, oddsmakers support him

San Antonio Spurs News / Yardbarker / 20 hours ago

Spurs' Wembanyama has further embraced his 'alien' moniker

Spurs' Victor Wembanyama further embracing his 'alien' moniker with unique career moves

The Frenchman is bringing his extraterrestrial self to the entertainment industry in a multitude of ways.

Damian Lillard gets honest about Blazers reunion after Bucks tenure

One key change can end Warriors' standoff with Jonathan Kuminga

Jimmy Butler demanding answers from Warriors on Kuminga situation

Championship-winning head coach lands new job with 'NBA Countdown'

Three questions Thunder must answer to win NBA title again

NHL News / Yardbarker / 22 hours ago

Beasts in the East: Can't-miss training-camp battles to watch in NHL's Eastern Conference

NHL rookie camps are winding down, soon giving way to full training camps and preseason action. With the regular season nearing, let's examine key position battles for every team in the Eastern Conference.

How the West was won: Most intriguing camp battles to watch in the West

New York Rangers' major decision signals a franchise shift

Maple Leafs underdog at risk of losing his spot despite elite numbers

Maple Leafs may not need to look far for their Mitch Marner replacement

Maple Leafs hiring signals end of playing career for veteran defender