James is listed on the Sixers’ injury report as out with “low back/sciatica management,” which has been the reason he’s sat two of Philadelphia’s previous 12 games this season.
The 41-year-old was listed as questionable until participating in Thursday’s shootaround. He was then downgraded.
Joel Embiid could also be out for Thursday’s game, but his status appears to be a game-time decision. He’s listed on the injury report as questionable with “right foot plantar fascia injury management,” which has also sidelined him for two of the Sixers’ game in the early season.
Thursday’s game is not part of a back-to-back for the 76ers, so that is not a consideration in sitting James and possibly resting Embiid. Philadelphia last played on Tuesday, losing 123-101 to the Boston Celtics in the hyped first meeting between former teammates Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.
However, the Sixers do play back-to-back games on Sunday and Monday, hosting the Indiana Pacers then visiting the Brooklyn Nets.
So far this season, James is averaging 15.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.5 assists on 43% shooting from the floor. Embiid is scoring 17.7 points per game with 9.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists. He is also shooting 37%, while making only 4 of 33 (12%) 3-point attempts.
If Embiid doesn’t play, Philadelphia will be short-handed at center with Adem Bona (cervical spine sprain) and Dominick Barlow (low back stress reaction) also out for Thursday.
James started at center when Embiid was sidelined on Oct. 25 versus the Detroit Pistons. But with him out, the Sixers could go small with 6-foot-7 Jabari Walker in the middle, or perhaps play 7-foot-6 Tacko Fall for only the second time this season.
Kevin O’Connor asks Wosny Lambre his 10 most pressing NBA questions. From whether to buy the Lakers, Celtics or Spurs early dominance, to Victor Wembanyama’s jaw-dropping on/off impact–nothing is off limits.
The duo breaks down Nikola Jokic’s shocking decline, whether Boston made the right call trading Jaylen Brown for Paul George and Western Conference contenders as injuries shake the standings. Wos doesn’t hold back on the Wizards’ dysfunction, plus, are the Warriors still contenders sans Steph Curry?
(0:32) Which 10+ win teams are for real?
(4:42) Is this Wemby’s league now?
(14:14) Jokic’s underwhelming start to the season
(26:53) Were Celtics right to trade Brown for George?
(36:37) Are Thunder still contenders?
(45:23) Can Warriors survive without Steph?
(53:47) What’s wrong with the Pelicans?
(57:30) Which 1-win team will end with the best record?
(1:00:35) Wizards lose 5 in a row
(1:06:01) Are healthy Pacers still contenders?
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić (15) stands during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Ella Hall)
How early-season shot selection shifts are impacting fantasy basketball value
We’re far enough into the season to notice something useful, as long as we’re careful about what we’re measuring. Scoring averages and shooting percentages can swing a lot over the first few weeks. Where a player takes his shots tends to settle faster, so it’s a better place to start.
In testing this for 2025-26, Tall Order Digital found that among 156 qualifying players, shot-zone shares over the first four games correlated with the rest of the season at 0.72 to 0.86 (a perfect match would be 1.0). Field-goal percentage correlated at just 0.46.
To see what the shifts are doing to fantasy basketball value, I’ve listed each player’s preseason ADP next to his current 9-cat rank (through Nov. 11). Shot data is Basketball-Reference totals as of Nov. 11, compared with last season or a career mark.
Where the shift is working
Luka Dončić and De’Aaron Fox are ranked higher than where they were drafted, and Michael Porter Jr. has climbed despite scoring less. In all three cases, the revised shot profiles are landing and netting positive results.
Luka Dončić, PG/SG, Los Angeles Lakers (ADP: 3, Current Rank: 2)
He’s launching 13.4 3s a game, up from 10.8 last season (which led the NBA). His 3-point share has risen from .476 to .549, and last year’s .476 was already a career high. The bigger move is at the rim, where his share has dropped from .076 to .060. He’s making 40.8% of his 3s and averaging 38.6 points in 11 games.
Doncic (LAL, 11 G, 268 FGA)
2026-27
2025-26
Career
3P share
.549
.476
.433
0-3 ft
.060
.076
.153
3-10 ft
.149
.198
.214
10-16 ft
.175
.186
.143
16 ft-3P
.067
.063
.057
FTr
.444
.443
.404
Avg shot distance (ft)
19.5
17.8
16.5
De’Aaron Fox, PG, Spurs (ADP: 78, Current Rank: 57)
Fox is getting to the line far more often. He’s attempted 53 free throws on 111 field-goal attempts, a free-throw rate of .477, compared with .235 last year and a .316 career mark. His career high is .420, set in 2019-20, so this is a new peak.
It isn’t coming from more shots at the rim, though. His rim share is flat (.207 vs .201). What changed is the middle of the floor. Shots from 3-10 feet jumped from .204 to .315 of his attempts, while long twos nearly vanished (.067 to .018). He’s also attempting 3.1 3s a game, down from 5.5, so his average shot is 12.4 feet from the basket instead of 14.4.
Fox (SAS, 12 G, 111 FGA)
2026-27
2025-26
Career
3P share
.333
.377
.287
0-3 ft
.207
.201
.205
3-10 ft
.315
.204
.245
10-16 ft
.126
.151
.158
16 ft-3P
.018
.067
.103
FTr
.477
.235
.316
Avg shot distance (ft)
12.4
14.4
13.0
He’s traded long twos and 3s for more floaters and short jumpers, and the whistle is doing the rest. He’s backing it up with 51% shooting and 6.2 assists, though his scoring is 14.2 points, down from 18.6.
Michael Porter Jr., SF/PF, Nets (ADP: 62.6, Current Rank: 49)
Porter is taking 3s on .615 of his attempts, up from .506 last season. He had never topped .556 in a season. His free-throw rate has climbed from .237 to .349, and his 10-to-16-foot share has collapsed from .075 to .018. He’s averaging 21.5 points, below last season’s 24.2, yet he’s still up five spots in his draft position. A more interesting shot profile doesn’t automatically mean more points. Playing alongside a player like Julius Randle likely also affects how a player navigates getting shots up.
Porter Jr. (BRK, 11 G, 169 FGA)
2026-27
2025-26
Career
3P share
.615
.506
.496
0-3 ft
.124
.185
.204
3-10 ft
.166
.130
.123
10-16 ft
.018
.075
.067
16 ft-3P
.077
.103
.110
FTr
.349
.237
.172
Avg shot distance (ft)
18.3
16.9
16.6
Still elite, but slipping
These two are still scoring, but their rank has dropped since they were drafted. A new shot mix doesn’t always show up the same way in the box score.
Kevin Durant, SF/PF, Rockets (ADP: 16, Current Rank: 34)
Durant is a free-throw story. His FTr has risen from .339 to .582 (92 attempts in 12 games, 7.7 a game), above his previous career best of .523 in 2012-13 and his .392 career mark. His 3-point volume has fallen from 5.8 a game to 3.8, and he’s turning it over 3.3 times a game. Durant is at 20.9 points on 49% shooting. Having Fred VanVleet back and running more offense through Alperen Şengün is putting less dependency on Durant – which is probably a good thing in the long run. Fantasy-wise, Jabari Smith Jr. and Şengün’s growth has Durant adjusting his shot profile, which could lessen his value as a scorer.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, PG/SG, Thunder (ADP: 4, Current Rank: 12)
Gilgeous-Alexander’s rim share has fallen from 22.8% to 13.1% and his 10-to-16-foot share has risen from .273 to .303. His 3s are up to .292 on 6.7 attempts a game from .226 on 4.4 last year. SGA’s free-throw rate has dropped from .465 to .339. He’s still scoring 29.7 a night, so this is a small slide from a very high perch.
Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC, 12 G, 274 FGA)
2026-27
2025-26
Career
3P share
.292
.226
.223
0-3 ft
.131
.228
.251
3-10 ft
.135
.173
.233
10-16 ft
.303
.273
.214
16 ft-3P
.139
.101
.079
FTr
.339
.465
.417
Avg shot distance (ft)
15.0
12.6
12.0
That’s an observable redistribution that likely comes down to how much attention he’s drawing without co-stars Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren to balance out the Thunder’s offensive attack. SGA is having to settle for more contested shots and rely more on his jumper. SGA has proven to be one of the most efficient guards in the league, but fantasy managers may have to accept that this could be a down year. He’s shooting 45.6% from the field as of Wednesday.
The diet changed; the results haven’t caught up
This is where the shot shift is costing the most fantasy value. A big jump in one kind of shot usually takes a few weeks to settle and the efficiency tends to lag the volume. Whether that’s what’s happening here, or whether the new role simply isn’t a good fit, is something we’ll know more as we move further into the season.
Desmond Bane, SG/SF, Magic (ADP: 53, Current Rank: 117)
In 10 games with Orlando, 100 of his 148 attempts have been 3s: 67.6%. His 3-point share had slid from .543 as a rookie to .354 last season, against a .441 career mark. His two-point attempts have fallen from 9.5 a game to 4.8 this season. His average shot distance is 23.4 feet, up from 13.5.
Bane (ORL, 10 G, 148 FGA)
2026-27
2025-26
Career
3P share
.676
.354
.441
0-3 ft
.095
.226
.196
3-10 ft
.074
.251
.198
10-16 ft
.061
.105
.091
16 ft-3P
.095
.065
.073
FTr
.209
.287
.201
Avg shot distance (ft)
23.4
13.5
16.6
The results haven’t been good: 39.2% from the field and 18.0 points a game, down from 20.1. The key question is whether Orlando keeps asking him to operate on such a narrow diet. If it does, last year’s scoring profile may be the wrong baseline even after his shooting recovers.
Lauri Markkanen, PF, Jazz (ADP: 36, Current Rank: 63)
Markkanen has the second-biggest 3-point jump on this list. 3s make up .646 of his attempts, up from .402 last season. His previous career best was .570 in 2024-25. His rim share has halved, from .210 to .106, and his average shot distance has gone from 13.9 feet to 18.9. And now, he’ll miss at least a month with two non-displaced fractures in his shooting hand.
Markkanen (UTA, 8 G, 113 FGA)
2026-27
2025-26
Career
3P share
.646
.402
.487
0-3 ft
.106
.210
.213
3-10 ft
.150
.267
.194
10-16 ft
.080
.073
.062
16 ft-3P
.018
.047
.043
FTr
.283
.333
.270
Avg shot distance (ft)
18.9
13.9
15.9
He’s scoring 18.0 points a game on 39% shooting, down from 26.7 in 42 games last year. A bigger share of 3s didn’t produce more points here, at least so far.
Matas Buzelis, SF/PF, Bulls (ADP: 65, Current Rank: 226)
Buzelis is a different case from the others in this group, because his shot mix barely changed. His 3s are .520 of his attempts, almost identical to last year’s .514. What changed is how many shots he’s taking. He’s down from 12.5 field-goal attempts a game to about 9.8, with both his 3s (6.4 to about 5.1) and his twos (6.1 to about 4.7) falling, and his minutes slipped from 29.2 to 26.3.
His free-throw rate jumped from .247 to .429, but that’s partly a smaller denominator. He’s getting to the line about 4.2 times a game, up from 3.1, on far fewer shots. The extra trips haven’t made up for the lost volume. He’s shooting 43% with 2.8 turnovers, and he’s ranked 226th. A higher free-throw rate doesn’t help much when the shots aren’t there to begin with. If Caleb Wilson misses time with his hand injury, expect Buzelis to see a short-term boost in his volume.
Buzelis (CHI, 10 G, 98 FGA)
2026-27
2025-26
Career
3P share
.520
.514
.502
0-3 ft
.265
.319
.311
3-10 ft
.153
.145
.157
10-16 ft
.061
.013
.020
16 ft-3P
.000
.008
.010
FTr
.429
.247
.240
Avg shot distance (ft)
14.9
14.5
14.4
What it means for your roster
Shot diets settle faster than shooting percentages, and that’s the lens for this group. Bane and Markkanen have the clearest case: 3s are 68% and 65% of their shots, and that’s likely to stick, while their 39% shooting is the part more likely to improve. More 3s also means a lower field-goal percentage but more 3PM, so expect a trade-off in 9-cat rather than a clear gain.
Fox and Durant are getting to the line at career-high rates, which gives them some cushion on off nights, though it hasn’t lifted either one’s rank. Buzelis is the caution. His free-throw rate is up, but his shot volume is down, so the better rate hasn’t helped his fantasy value.
Bet on the shot profile, then check whether the production is catching up.
Jazz star Lauri Markkanen set to miss at least a month with fractured hand
The early-season injuries in the NBA keep piling up as the Utah Jazz announced that forward Lauri Markkanen was set to miss at least a month with a non-displaced fracture in his right hand.
Utah Jazz star Lauri Markkanen has sustained a non-displaced fracture in his right hand and will be sidelined for at least one month, sources tell me and @BannedMacMahon. pic.twitter.com/UcXV8E9H4y
It’s a brutal blow for a Jazz team that looked ready to contend for a playoff spot in the Western Conference after four straight losing seasons. Last year, the Jazz traded for Jaren Jackson Jr., but he played just three games before getting shut down with an injury. They had also lost starting center Walker Kessler to injury after just five games, and Markkanen himself was limited to just 42 games.
Yet, there was optimism building around the Jazz heading into this season. Even with Kessler now on the Lakers, the Jazz had Markkanen and Jackson Jr. healthy to pair with breakout guard Keyonte George and dynamic rookie Darryn Peterson. Ace Bailey and Isaiah Collier were likely to be impactful young options off the bench, and the play-in seemed like a bare minimum in Utah.
But things went south quickly.
Jackson played four games before tearing the MCL in his right knee. Jusuf Nurkic, who was set to replace Kessler at center, hasn’t made his season debut yet as he battles a foot injury, and Keyonte George sprained his ankle over the weekend. Both George and Markkanen sat out Utah’s game on Tuesday before it was revealed how serious Markkanen’s injury was.
The 29-year-old has played in eight of the Jazz’s 11 games this season and was averaging 18.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists while shooting a disappointing 38.9% from the field. With his struggles and the mounting injuries, the Jazz have put together just the 21st-ranked defense and 29th-ranked offense, which has led to the 26th-best net rating in the league. With a record of 1-10, it’s not at all the start the team envisioned.
With Markkanen sidelined for the next month, the Jazz might continue to start Josh Green at small forward, but Markkanen’s usage will likely be spread to shooting guard Darryn Peterson and power forward Ace Bailey. In Tuesday’s loss to the Heat, Peterson scored 25 points on 10-of-19 from the field with four rebounds and four assists, while Bailey scored 23 points on 10-for-15 from the field to go along with seven rebounds and two assists. Their development will be a silver lining amidst all the injuries for the Jazz.
However, by the time Markkanen and Jackson Jr. return, the improvement of Peterson and Bailey may not be enough to save what looks to be another lost season.
Fantasy Basketball Rankings (9-cat leagues): Early risers and fallers of the 2026-27 NBA season
We’re into Week 4, and below is my 9-cat riser and faller list through Week 3, featuring five risers and five fallers. Ranks are my rest-of-season 9-cat projections, not a summary of who’s performed best so far. Stats are through Nov. 9 (about 8–11 games played per player), so sample sizes are still small.
📈 Risers
Davion Mitchell – PG, Miami Heat
Mitchell has become one of the NBA’s top playmakers. Not bad for a guy who went around pick 120 during draft season. His 8.5 assists a night rank fifth in the league, with a potential 14.8 assists per game. That’s just the passing. His shot volume has almost doubled, boosting his scoring to over 16 points per game, along with 2.2 3s. And he’s still getting steals, averaging over 1 per outing. The only knock to his game is his free-throw shooting. Playing high minutes on a team with little creation outside of Giannis Antetokounmpoand sometimes Pelle Larsson, Mitchell has real staying power as a PG anchor. He ranks near the top-50 in both points and 9-cat through three weeks.
Ayo Dosunmu – PG/SG, Minnesota Timberwolves
It’s a luxury for the Timberwolves to have a player of Ayo’s caliber to step in for Anthony Edwards. He’s been a model of efficiency for years and has been impactful whenever he saw an increase in minutes and opportunity. That tracks with what we’ve seen from Dosunmu this season. Dosunmu is shooting 52% from the field and 89% at the line, scoring 18.1 points, grabbing 4.9 rebounds, and adding 4.1 assists, while still tacking on 1.9 3s and 1.3 steals in 31 minutes. As long as Edwards is out, Ayo is a top-40 player in 9-cat and top-60 in High Score, averaging over 36 fantasy points per night.
Zion Williamson – PF/C, New Orleans Pelicans
Health is wealth. So far, Zion is pacing to last season’s numbers — similar shot volume, but excelling in the paint. Zion is fourth in the league in points in the paint, averaging 14.1 per game. Zion is shooting 63% while getting to the line 7.2 times a game. Bully ball. Also, his steal rate is pacing to a career high, with over 2 per game. That number is bound to regress, but the combination of his high FG and steal rates, improving free-throw percentage (76.4) and scoring over 20 ppg with 5 boards is what’s elevated him to 22nd in 9-cat, 34th in points and 43rd in High Score. I’d sell high in each format except for High Score.
Jabari Smith Jr. – PF/C, Houston Rockets
Smith is in the midst of a breakout campaign. Through 11 games, everything is clicking for the third pick of the 2022 NBA Draft. He’s averaging 17.0 points, 6.5 boards, 2.7 3s, 50% shooting, 45% on 3s and 86% at the line. There’s even been a boost in assists to almost 3 per game. I think it’s more of a testament to Fred VanVleet’s leadership and opening up the floor for the supporting cast to operate more freely. Smith’s success has been one of the biggest surprises three weeks into the season. A couple more weeks of this level of play and he might be able to fetch something real on the fantasy trade market.
Miles Bridges – SF/PF, Phoenix Suns
Bridges is definitely a riser in 9-cat leagues. He’s currently 27th, averaging 15-7-3 with 45/33/87 shooting splits. He’s also getting over a steal per contest. Now, while those numbers are solid, I don’t trust he’ll be able to keep this up all season. The supporting cast outside of Booker has been dreadful. I expect their improvements will alter some of Bridges’ success to date. Bridges’ rebounding numbers are pacing to the best of his career, as is his low turnover rate. But top-30 (and top 70 in High Score and points formats) is too good to be true. Sell, sell, sell.
📉 Fallers
Desmond Bane – SG/SF, Orlando Magic
What happened to this man? He’s become Toumani Camara; 67% of Bane’s shots have come from beyond the arc. He’s still knocking down 3.6 a game, but he’s shooting 37% overall and 36% from 3. His turnovers are up to 2.6 per contest and he’s providing just 2.4 assists for a guy who went 53rd in ADP. His 15 shots per game is consistent with his past couple of seasons. The main difference is the shot diet — chucking 3s, taking half the amount of 2-point FGs and not going to the line nearly enough — a recipe for disaster and it’s why he’s 136th in 9-cat.
Kel’el Ware – PF/C, Milwaukee Bucks
This one hurts, and the culprit is minutes. Ware is down to 17.3 a game after playing 22.2 last season, and 8.6 points and 6.9 rebounds on 40% shooting won’t cut it. He’s only played more than 20 minutes in two of 11 games this season. Bucks head coach Taylor Jenkins isn’t giving him much leeway, similar to how Spoelstra handled him, likely because of the same mental lapses that frustrated coaches in Miami. I hyped him up, but that ADP in the high 70s always looked a bit sus considering he’s still behind Myles Turner. It’s a long season, but I understand if fantasy managers want to drop him.
James Harden – PG/SG, Cleveland Cavaliers
Harden looks old. His scoring and assist numbers have fallen off a cliff — he’s shooting just 36% from the field and averaging 5.7 assists (down significantly from his career averages). Turnovers are still an issue at 3.0 per game, which hurts in multiple categories, and the free-throw attempts have dropped to just 4.8 a game. There’s legitimate reason to be concerned about how he’s moving and producing, but I still see him as a buy-low. This feels more like an early-season slump than a full-on panic. If you can acquire him at a discount, now is the time to try.
Ryan Rollins – PG/SG, Milwaukee Bucks
A season ago, Rollins was a 32-minute guy averaging 17 points. Now he’s playing 23 minutes and putting up 10.7 points on 38% shooting and 67% from the line and, more importantly, was passed on the depth chart by Brayden Burries. I have him 135th, but I’m giving him some grace in my latest rankings, expecting he’ll turn it around somewhat — even if he’s coming off the bench. He’s much closer to a top-120 player than to 200, which is roughly where he sits in 9-cat through three weeks.
Mikal Bridges – SF/PF, New York Knicks
Six points a game on 33% shooting. That’s the line, and it’s ugly. Bridges put up 14.4 points on 49% shooting last season, so outside of his availability, he’s giving fantasy managers nothing. I haven’t found a good reason for it yet. He’s playing 26 minutes a night with no offensive confidence and minimal stocks to save him on defense. I have him 134th, which is generous. Hold only if you have the bench space and the patience; otherwise, move on, especially in points leagues.
We have a jam-packed episode of The Dunker Spot coming your way! On the NBA side, Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones talk through Victor Wembanyama’s absurd start to the season, then deep-dive into the Oklahoma City Thunder’s winning ways.
They close with more rookie talk, a continuation of Friday’s pod, sharing observations on Darryn Peterson (Jazz), Trevon Brazile (Nuggets) and Brayden Burries (Bucks).
On the WNBA side, the guys talk through the 2027 Unrivaled rosters! For each team, they share what they’re most excited about, what they’re curious about and the lineup combinations they’re most interested in seeing.
NFL trade deadline deal tracker includes Jessie Bates, Kirk Cousins, and more
(Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 2026 NFL trade deadline is right around the corner. Teams have until 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, November 10, to make deals in an effort to either improve rosters for a playoff push, or prepare for a rebuild over the upcoming offseason.
But some teams have not waited to push deals across the line.
Monday began with the news that the Atlanta Falcons were sending defensive back Jessie Bates III to the Jacksonville Jaguars, as general manager James Gladstone tries to improve a defense that is already considered one of the best in the league.
While we expect more deals to come, here is a running list of the trades that have gone down so far. This will be updated as new deals come through.
Raiders trade Kirk Cousins to Vikings
And there it is.
After a poor showing on “Monday Night Football,” the Minnesota Vikings are trading for Kirk Cousins. The move brings Cousins back to Minnesota, reuniting him with Kevin O’Connell. It also paves the way for the start of the Fernando Mendoza era in Las Vegas.
Here are the full terms of the deal:
Vikings receive: Kirk Cousins
Raiders receive: A 2027 third-round pick.
Titans trade Amani Hooker to Bills
A defense that could use some help is getting it.
The Tennessee Titans, having already traded Jeffery Simmons to the Bears, are sending safety Amani Hooker to the Buffalo Bills.
Here are the full terms of the trade:
Bills receive: S Amani Hooker and a 2027 fifth-round pick
Titans receive: A 2027 second-round pick
Colts trade Keenan Allen to 49ers
The trades are back on the docket in Indianapolis.
After reportedly hitting the pause button over the weekend, the Colts are back in the headlines. Indianapolis is sending veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen to the San Francisco 49ers, a team that has been hampered by injuries at that position.
The Eagles are not done making moves. On Tuesday, Philadelphia traded pass rusher Arnold Ebiketie to the Cincinnati Bengals, giving the AFC North contenders another presence on the edge.
Here are the full terms of the trade:
Bengals receive: EDGE Arnold Ebiketie
Eagles receive: A 2027 sixth-round pick
Eagles trade Jordan Davis to Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are absolutely all-in on the 2026 season.
After acquiring both Jessie Bates III and Davon Godchaux earlier in the day, James Gladstone added yet another piece, trading for defensive tackle Jordan Davis in a deal with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Davis has tallied 31 tackles and 1.5 sacks this season, including a sack of J.J. McCarthy on Sunday in Philadelphia’s 19-11 loss to the New York Giants. The trade gives Anthony Campanile yet another talented player on the interior, and now Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has a pair of picks in the first round of the 2027 NFL Draft.
Here are the full terms of the trade:
Jaguars receive: DT Jordan Davis
Eagles receive: A 2027 first-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick
Jets trade Andre Cisco to Lions
The Detroit Lions are getting some help on defense.
The New York Jets are trading safety Andre Cisco to Detroit. The safety is on an expiring contract, and the Jets — who at the moment have more than $80 million in available cap space for next year — are getting what they can now.
Here are the full terms of the trade:
Lions receive: S Andre Cisco
Jets receive: A 2028 sixth-round selection
Saints trade Davon Godchaux to Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are not done adding to their defense.
Hours after trading for safety Jessie Bates III, the Jaguars swung a deal with the New Orleans Saints to acquire defensive tackle Davon Godchaux. While Bates can patrol the deep third of the defense and gives defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile a flexible safety that can play both in the deep middle and down near that line of scrimmage, Godchaux gives Jacksonville another option along the defensive line. That is something the Jaguars needed to add after the team lost DaVon Hamilton for the season due to a torn quad.
Here are the full terms of the trade:
Jaguars receive: DT Davon Godchaux
Saints receive: 2028 sixth-round pick (which could elevate to a 2027 sixth-round pick if Jacksonville acquires one via trade or the compensatory selection formula)
Falcons trade Jessie Bates III to Jaguars
Trade deadline week kicked off in style with the Atlanta Falcons sending veteran safety Jessie Bates III to the Jacksonville Jaguars. For the Jaguars, it is a move to shore up the secondary as Jacksonville tries to maximize the current window of contention. For Atlanta, it is a move to get something for Bates ahead of his free agency, and with the Falcons currently looking at over $100 million in cap space, they might not receive a compensatory selection for Bates should he walk in free agency and Atlanta make the most of those resources.
Here are the full terms of the trade:
Jaguars receive: S Jessie Bates III
Falcons receive: A 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick
Cardinals trade Jacoby Brissett to Ravens
With Arizona benching quarterback Jacoby Brissett, and the Ravens suddenly looking at life without Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley for at least the next few weeks as both are dealing with injuries, this move makes a good bit of sense. Brissett gets a chance to play on a team that is trying to stay in the playoff chase, the Ravens get a quarterback that gives them a chance to do just that, and Arizona … well maybe they could have handled things differently but they got some picks in return.
Here are the full terms of the trade:
Ravens receive: QB Jacoby Brissett and a 2027 fifth-round pick
Cardinals receive: A 2027 fourth-round pick and a 2028 seventh-round pick
Titans trade Jeffery Simmons to Bears
Now this was a big one.
With the Chicago Bears trying to keep pace in the tough NFC North, and the defense remaining an issue, general manager Ryan Poles swung for the fences, bringing in defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons in a trade with the Tennessee Titans. Simmons paid immediate dividends, as he was stellar in his Chicago debut against the Seattle Seahawks.
Here are the full terms of the trade:
Bears receive: DL Jeffery Simmons and a 2028 fifth-round pick
Titans receive: A 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 first-round pick, and a 2027 fourth-round pick
Colts trade DeForest Buckner to 49ers
Changes are coming in Indianapolis.
After parting ways with general manager Chris Ballard, the Colts began moving players with an eye to the future. One of those deals saw Indianapolis send DeForest Buckner back to the San Francisco 49ers, returning the defensive lineman to the team that drafted him with the seventh-overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Here are the full terms of the trade:
49ers receive: DL DeForest Buckner
Colts receive: A 2027 fourth-round pick
Colts trade Quenton Nelson to Seahawks
Indianapolis started their impending fire sale with a move involving guard Quenton Nelson. Still one of the premier interior offensive linemen in the NFL, the Colts sent him to Seattle as the Seahawks look to shore up their offensive line.
Here are the full terms of the trade:
Seahawks receive: IOL Quenton Nelson
Colts receive: A 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick
Cardinals trade Marvin Harrison Jr. to Texans
It just never seemed to click for Marvin Harrison Jr. in Arizona.
Billed as one of the top wide receiver prospects in recent memory, Harrison never quite lived up to that hype with the Cardinals. Arizona selected him as the fourth-overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and after catching 62 passes for 885 yards and eight touchdowns as a rookie, he caught just 41 passes during 2025 and had only pulled in five receptions through the first four games of the season with Arizona.
In a move that reunited him with former college teammate C.J. Stroud, the Texans acquired him to try and give Stroud a familiar target in the passing game.
Here are the full terms of the trade:
Texans receive: WR Marvin Harrison Jr. and a 2027 sixth-round pick
Cardinals receive: A 2027 second-round pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick
Eagles trade Cam Jurgens to Ravens
Back at the start of October, the Baltimore Ravens swung a deal for offensive lineman Cam Jurgens of the Eagles.
The move was made to shore up the interior offensive line, in the wake of center Tyler Linderbaum signing with the Las Vegas Raiders last offseason. Baltimore’s top three centers were on injured reserve at the time the move was made, and the Ravens were using rookie guard Olaivavega Ioane in the middle.
Here are the full terms of the trade:
Ravens receive: IOL Cam Jurgens and a 2027 seventh-round pick
Eagles receive: A 2027 fifth-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick
Steelers trade Joey Porter Jr. to Cowboys
October began with the Pittsburgh Steelers finally coming to a decision on cornerback Joey Porter Jr. Porter was seeking a contract extension from the team, but the two sides were unable to come to terms on a new deal. He also missed each of Pittsburgh’s first three games of the season due to a lingering back injury.
So Jerry Jones stepped in, acquiring the cornerback in yet another move to try and shore up a struggling defense.
Here are the full terms of the trade:
Cowboys receive: CB Joey Porter Jr.
Steelers receive: A 2027 sixth-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick
Vikings trade J.J. McCarthy to Giants
The first big trade of the 2026 NFL season came back at the end of September.
When the New York Giants lost quarterback Jaxson Dart to a knee injury, many wondered if the team would swing a trade for a quarterback.
Enter J.J. McCarthy. With the former Michigan passer on the losing end of a camp battle with Kyler Murray — and relegated to the QB3 spot to begin the year behind Carson Wentz — he found a fresh start in the Big Apple. And he has taken over as the team’s starting quarterback, leading the Giants to wins over Houston and Philadelphia over the past two games.
Kirk Cousins trade grades as Raiders-Vikings swap QB for draft pick
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
One cannot help but wonder which play from Monday night’s loss to the Buffalo Bills it was that pushed the Minnesota Vikings to this moment.
After a woeful performance from backup Carson Wentz, stepping into the lineup in place of an injured Kyler Murray, the Vikings have swung a deal for veteran — and former — quarterback Kirk Cousins. The passer departs the Las Vegas Raiders and now heads back to Minnesota, hoping to stablize an offense that has been a massive question over the first half of the season.
Here are the full terms of the trade:
Vikings receive: QB Kirk Cousins
Raiders receive: A 2027 third-round pick
And now, some grades.
Raiders grade for Kirk Cousins trade
It is hard not to love the process from Las Vegas here.
The Raiders signed Cousins last offseason, to a deal that was reported as a five-year contract worth up to $172 million, but in reality was a one-year, $20 million deal for 2026 that was fully guaranteed, with the Atlanta Falcons paying nearly half of that fully guaranteed portion of the deal. With Cousins in place, the Raiders were free to draft Fernando Mendoza with the first-overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, but take their time with him.
That opened the door to Cousins starting the year, but now that the season has stabilized and it looks as if the Raiders are likely going to be out of the playoff picture, they can turn to Mendoza, having given him some time to learn.
And thanks to this deal, they now have extra draft capital to use next spring to bring in some talent around their young quarterback.
Oh, and they also are on track to have more than $55 million in cap space next offseason.
Grade: A
Vikings grade for Kirk Cousins trade
On the one hand, this deal makes every bit of sense for the Minnesota Vikings.
The Vikings have a Super Bowl-caliber defense. They have talent around the quarterback position, starting with Justin Jefferson. Windows like this do not come around every year, so if you have a chance to push the chips into the middle of the table to try and make a run, you do what you have to do. And reuniting Cousins with Kevin O’Connell was perhaps the best option available to the Vikings at the moment.
Cousins gives Minnesota a clear upgrade over what they had at the position, is familiar with O’Connell’s offense, and now the Vikings could stabilize the offense and pair it with one of the league’s best defenses.
On the other hand, we have to consider the process that led to this moment.
Cousins spent six years in Minnesota, and when he was a free agent at the start of 2024 then-GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah let him test the open market. While many thought Cousins would return to the Vikings, he opted to sign a four-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons.
With quarterback now more of a pressing need, the Vikings drafted J.J. McCarthy in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, moving up one spot in a trade with the New York Jets to select him. But McCarthy was named the backup behind Sam Darnold at the start of training camp, and a knee injury during preseason action caused him to miss his rookie season.
Making him the first first-round QB in NFL history to miss his entire rookie campaign due to injury.
So it was Darnold’s show in 2024, and he led the Vikings to 14 wins and a playoff berth. But after losing in the Wild Card to the Rams, Darnold signed with the Seattle Seahawks, paving the way for McCarthy to take over as the starter. However, he suffered a high-ankle sprain in Week 2, the team turned to Carson Wentz, and McCarthy was in-and-out of the lineup the rest of the season.
Enter Kyler Murray, who was signed by the team this past offseason. He won the job during training camp, Wentz was named the backup, and McCarthy began the year as QB3, before being traded to the New York Giants.
Which is a whole lot of words to say … a lot of wrong decisions, or to put it in a more favorable light, a lot of decisions that turned south led to this moment. And to make up for it, the price is a third-round pick. So, it could have been worse. Cousins is an upgrade, but the process could have played out much more favorably for Minnesota.
Lexi Thompson believes WTGL will help grow the game of golf
LPGA golfers pose for a photo during WTGL Media Day at SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida on September 20, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
The future is here.
WTGL kicked off on Sunday, Los Angeles Golf Club defeated New York, and it is already back in action. Tuesday will see L.A. take on Motor City Golf Club, Lexi Thompson’s team.
Women’s golf has grown so much over the last 20 years and that time span just about directly coincides with Lexi’s professional career. Everyone remembers her making her U.S. Open debut in 2007 at the age of 12, and in the time since she has piled up the wins, titles, and now has a spot in the startup league… while pregnant to boot.
Lexi was kind enough to take some time to join me for a conversation about WTGL on Monday. You can watch it in its entirety below.
As noted I find Lexi to be such an important figure in the world of golf at large. She has been such a trailblazer in the game, and she continues to be with WTGL in general, but that she is taking it on while carrying a child is an entirely different level of impressiveness.
Lexi and her fellow WTGL players have all talked about what an opportunity the league represents for them and the next generation. In Lexi’s case she is quite literally carrying that generation to and through her WTGL experience.
This year may mark the first literal season of WTGL, but it has been in the works for a long time if you really think about it. What the Lexi Thompsons of the world have done, many of whom share the WTGL experience with her, over the course of their careers has helped to open the door of possibility for all involved.
Here’s to seeing what they and those they continue to inspire can do next.
Tuesday’s match between Motor City Golf Club and Los Angeles Golf Club can be seen on Ion at 7pm CT.
Kevin O’Connor shares his latest NBA hot takes with Nekias Duncan. Paul George’s fit with Jayson Tatum gets a close look and the pair asks if he’s better with Tatum than Jaylen Brown ever was. They also dive deep on the continuation of the Trae Young experience in Washington—is his massive extension already a disaster?
The duo also reacts to Minnesota’s surprising strength without Anthony Edwards, the end of the Knicks’ slow start drama, Portland’s real playoff ceiling and more.
(1:48) Paul George a better fit with Tatum than Jaylen Brown
(7:29) Trae Young extension a disaster
(13:39) Wolves don’t need to make any trades
(19:04) New York panic over?
(23:26) Portland destined for first round exit?
(33:01) Sacramento trading Nique Clifford a mistake?
(39:04) Bottom 5 West teams are stuck there
(46:54) Should Warriors deal Porzingis?
(53:20) Pelle Larsson should start for Miami
(57:18) Giannis reacts to Doc Rivers’ comments
Boston Celtics forward Paul George (13) is congratulated by teammate forward Jayson Tatum (0) after hitting a three against the Orlando Magic during the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Kevin Kolczynski)
