DENVER — Javonte Williams heard his head coach.

Sean Payton was asked Monday if he thought rookie running back Audric Estime would see an increased workload in the second half of the season.

“That’s a good and fair question, and one that I think I would answer, ‘Yes,’ ” Payton said then.

Of course, Payton said similar to Estime ...Read more

Here’s a look back at Week 9’s action and fantasy advice for the week ahead:

WEEK 9 RECAP

Jets 21, Texans 13: Aaron Rodgers is the overall QB10 since Nathaniel Hackett lost play-calling duties headed into Week 6. Rodgers is completing 64.2% of his passes for 1,014 yards with eight touchdown passes against three interceptions in the last ...Read more

MUNICH, Germany — The Carolina Panthers have extended the contract of one of their best players on the offensive side of the ball.

The team announced Thursday that running back Chuba Hubbard was extended through the 2028 season. The four-year deal is worth a base value of $33.2 million, with $15 million in guaranteed money, a league source ...Read more

CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears badly need a victory this week before a demanding NFC North stretch begins.

The Bears will be treated Sunday with a visit to Soldier Field from the 2-7 New England Patriots, who are in their own state of disarray and coming off a 20-17 overtime loss to the Tennessee Titans. That was their seventh loss in eight ...Read more

FORT WORTH, Texas — The percentages of this yielding much are almost as good as the Cowboys making the playoffs, but at this point playing Trey Lance carries minimal risk.

A trade that was never a good idea now has the perfect chance to see if it can be salvaged. The hamstring injury suffered by Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott in their loss ...Read more

Los Angeles Times NFL writer Sam Farmer examines the matchups this week. Lines according to FanDuel Sportsbook (O/U = over/under). Record last week 12-3 (.800); season 90-48 (.652). Using point spreads with the scores Farmer predicted, the record against the spread last week would have been 9-6 (.600); season 76-61-1 (.555). Off: Browns, Packers...Read more

Continued our hot streak straight-up last week by conjuring a 12-3 mark, but dropping another game to .500 vs. the spread soured the overall vibe. Had Patriots with the points at Tennessee and missed an Exacto score on that one by one point: Titans won 20-17; I had it 19-17. Also rightly had Bucs with the points to cover Monday night at K.C. ...Read more

BALTIMORE — Keaton Mitchell is back.

The Ravens activated the explosive second-year running back from the physically unable to perform list on Thursday afternoon, hours ahead of their prime-time game against the AFC North rival Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium.

Mitchell hasn’t played since last December when he suffered a torn ACL in...Read more

CHICAGO — If you made a list before the season of players the Chicago Bears could least afford to lose, nose tackle Andrew Billings might have ranked in the top three. He surely would have belonged in the top five.

Perhaps that sounds askew, but the Bears are about to find out what life will be like without Billings, who’s headed for ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Emotions turned on a Chiefs touchdown celebration early in the fourth quarter of Monday night’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes scrambled to his right, looking to score his second rushing touchdown of the season, but was met by a pair of defenders. Running back Samaje Perine started to ...Read more

ALLEN PARK, Mich.— The Detroit Lions already sit on one throne as the reigning NFC North champs.

But if they’re going to keep that crown, and perhaps grab a championship ring as well, it makes sense to add a little royalty, doesn’t it?

That’s what Lions general manager Brad Holmes has done here this week, in a way. And the way veteran ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — In the Eagles locker room after practice, Saquon Barkley barely had time to take a breath.

Hastily walking toward his space and straightening up his locker stall, the Eagles’ running back explained he didn’t have much time to stop and field questions.

“I got like two minutes,” Barkley said. “I have to get to the ...Read more

CHICAGO — For the second week in a row, the Chicago Bears had a game clip go viral for all the wrong reasons.

In the wake of the Bears’ 29-9 loss to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 9, a clip of DJ Moore walking off the field in the middle of a first-quarter play circulated widely online, catching the attention of multiple national analysts on...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — DeAndre Hopkins had a huge night Monday at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, scoring two touchdowns in the Chiefs’ win over Tampa Bay.

But it was what he did after the game that warmed the hearts of Chiefs fans and prompted them to declare him a good fit for Chiefs Kingdom — and a good son.

Hopkins was seen leading his ...Read more

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Nick Bosa enjoyed election night, to no surprise.

“It was fun. It was a good time. Stayed up,” Bosa said Wednesday inside the 49ers’ locker room.

Bosa has been a longtime public supporter of Donald Trump, and he endorsed this cycle’s presidential campaign by wearing a “Make America Great Again” cap when ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — Baker Mayfield threw the touchdown pass to Ryan Miller that left the Buccaneers an extra point from tying the game against the Chiefs Monday night in Kansas City and hopefully sending it to overtime.

Though there were 27 seconds still remaining in regulation, a 2-point conversion would have gone a long way toward helping the ...Read more

NEW YORK — The Giants (2-7) are hanging by a thread as Germany beckons, with a bye week awaiting them after Sunday’s international game against the equally bad Carolina Panthers (2-7).

“No one’s happy with where we are now,” quarterback Daniel Jones said Wednesday after practice. “The challenge is now, are you going to let that ...Read more

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Bryce Young has earned his third straight start.

Carolina Panthers coach Dave Canales announced Wednesday that the team’s second-year quarterback will start instead of veteran Andy Dalton this weekend, when the Panthers face the New York Giants on Sunday in Munich, Germany.

The news comes three days after Young earned a ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — On the latest episode of "New Heights," former Eagles center Jason Kelce said he regretted engaging with a Penn State fan on Saturday who used a homophobic slur toward his brother, Travis.

“I’m not happy about the situation,” Kelce said on the podcast. “Me reacting gave him the time of day and it also gave the situation...Read more

GREG COTE’S NFL WEEK 10 THURSDAY PICK

BENGALS (4-5) at RAVENS (6-3)

Line: BAL by 6.

Cote’s pick: BAL, 38-34.

TV: 8:15 p.m. Thursday, Prime Video.

AFC North battle should be a good, high-scoring one to kick off NFL Week 10. Bengals are 3-1 on road and Ravens 3-1 at home, both are coming off wins, and last meeting was a thriller with ...Read more