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The 2021 NFL season is in full swing after a pretty wild Week 1 that saw a number of underdogs spring upsets or, at the very least, outperform expectations.

The first week of the season is of particular interest for fantasy football players because after months of projections and analysis on who should get touches and opportunity, we learn the real roles some of these players will have this year. While we still have the Monday Night game to come, the list of top fantasy performers features a number of names you’d expect, like Christian McCaffrey, Amari Cooper, Tyreek Hill, Patrick Mahomes, and Kyler Murray, but also some surprising names that many leagues have just sitting there in available free agents.

Here we will look at the best Week 1 performers still out there in most leagues, where you might be able to scoop up a key contributor off the waiver wire.

Wide Receivers

Corey Davis, Jets (26.7 points, rostered in 73.6% of NFL.com leagues): Davis might be available in your league, depending on how down everyone was on the Jets. It’s not a surprise that Davis was Zach Wilson’s favorite target given how often he looked for the veteran in the preseason, but Week 1 confirmed that Davis is going to be the guy for Wilson this season and if you’re in one of the 26% of leagues where he’s available, it’s time to fix that.

Sterling Shepard, Giants (24.3 points, 69.6% rostered): Like Davis, Shepard is Daniel Jones’ safety blanket at the receiver position and, while the G-Men aren’t exactly a high-flying passing attack, Shepard gets ample targets and opportunity. He’s available in nearly a third of NFL.com leagues, and looks the part of a strong pickup option.

Christian Kirk, Cardinals (24 points, 2.6% rostered): Maybe, just maybe, this is the Christian Kirk breakout year some of us have been hoping for since he was at Texas A&M. He’s a dynamic slot guy and with all the attention DeAndre Hopkins commands, Kirk sees some favorable matchups over the middle as safeties tend to be peeking to the outside to make sure Nuk isn’t taking the top off the defense. He’s available in just about every league and there’s certainly potential that this was an aberration, but if you’re in need of receiver depth you could do worse.

Zach Pascal, Colts (20.3 points, 0.6% rostered): Indianapolis did not look great offensively, but Pascal seemed to have a strong connection with Carson Wentz and that’s all that matters in fantasy. If he’s going to be the guy Wentz is most comfortable finding, it doesn’t matter how good the offense is overall, he’s worth picking up and given he’s available in over 99 percent of leagues, he’s worth a flier.

Quarterbacks

Jameis Winston, Saints (29.62 points, 34% rostered): Jameis lit up the Packers on Sunday and for all the concern about whether he had the weapons around him, we were reminded of how he can absolutely pile up the stats. This shouldn’t be a surprise, but he’s available in two-thirds of NFL.com leagues and that will change very soon. If you can snag him, he’s probably an upgrade unless you have Kyler Murray or Patrick Mahomes, because, while five TDs a week probably isn’t likely, he can very much sustain some big time production.

Jared Goff, Lions (28.92 points, 2.8% rostered): You may say “well he piled up points in garbage time,” but let me counter that with, think about how often Detroit is going to find itself in garbage time. Detroit is dreadful as a football team, but they had some huge fantasy performers (we’ll see another later), led by Goff. It probably won’t be quite like this every week, but in a two-QB league, particularly, he’s got some value because there will be a lot of games where he’s just chucking it late when the other team doesn’t care much.

Tyrod Taylor, Texans (23.64 points, 0.5% rostered): Maybe the least believable performance in terms of sustainability, but I do want to shoutout Tyrod for a tremendous showing in Week 1. It comes with the giant asterisk that is “played the Jaguars” but he was, genuinely, very good against a very, very bad team. I wouldn’t be running to the free agent pool to pick him up, but maybe more illustrative is the point that if you can get literally anyone who plays the Jaguars this year for a one-week rental, you should consider it.

Running Backs

Jamaal Williams, Lions (25 points, 56.9% rostered): Speaking of Lions who piled up the stats, Detroit let everyone eat in the second half, including their second running back. D’Andre Swift also had a great fantasy day, but Williams got plenty of touches and opportunity as well to raise some eyebrows and, with him being available in almost half of the leagues, he’s going to be a popular pickup this week.

Eli Mitchell, 49ers (16.4 points, 0.3% rostered): When Raheem Mostert got hurt, Mitchell became the feature back and looked very good. The extent of Mostert’s injury will likely determine just how valuable a fantasy pickup Mitchell could be, but he’s probably earned playing time and touches no matter what — particularly if they feel the need to try and protect Mostert a bit.

Tight Ends

Dallas Goedert (14.2 points, 51.6% rostered): Zach Ertz is the bigger name in the Philly tight end room, but Goedert got the most targets and catches in Week 1. It’s always a bit scary to take a guy at that position who splits snaps with someone else, but Hurts was clearly looking his way a good bit and felt comfortable with him.

Juwan Johnson, Saitns (17.1 points, 0.3% rostered): Johnson feels like a big time boom/bust guy from week-to-week as his productivity is going to be reliant on whether he gets a score as Jameis’ preferred red zone target. He got two TDs against Green Bay, as the 6’4 big body is clearly an early favorite of Jameis in the scoring area, but there will probably be games where he’s a no-show. Still, he is available almost everywhere and, at the very least, could be a good bye week addition.

Dalton Schultz, Cowboys (10.5 points, 2.4% rostered): Taking anyone on the Cowboys seems like a fairly good idea, because they are going to throw it a lot and pile up some stats and points. Schultz had six catches in the Week 1 loss to Tampa and while he didn’t have any touchdowns, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him find paydirt on a number of occasions this year. Dak will spread the love around in Dallas and Schultz being available in as many leagues as he is feels like an easy pickup for a team without one of the elite tight ends.

As promised by Jeremy Renner, the first trailer for the new Hawkeye series hits its mark on Monday morning. (He never misses.) The holiday-themed adventure will officially introduce Hailee Steinfeld to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Kate Bishop, whose young hero may just take on the mantle of Hawkeye by the time the series is done.

Like all things Marvel, details about the series have been kept closely under wraps, but the trailer offers a surprising look at the story’s direction. While the creators have hinted that the show will address Hawkeye’s time as the deadly vigilante Ronin in Avengers: Endgame, the trailer reveals the sword-wielding anti-hero will pop up in a very interesting way. We also get a peek at Vera Farmiga’s character as Renner’s Clint Barton tries to keep Hailee Steinfeld’s overly-enthusiastic Kate Bishop alive for the holidays. Although, by the end of the trailer, she doesn’t seem to need much help.

Here’s the official synopsis:

Former Avenger Clint Barton has a seemingly simple mission: get back to his family for Christmas. Possible? Maybe with the help of Kate Bishop, a 22-year-old archer with dreams of becoming a Super Hero. The two are forced to work together when a presence from Barton’s past threatens to derail far more than the festive spirit.

Hawkeye premieres November 24, 2021 on Disney+.

It was a big night for The Kid Laroi yesterday, as he joined Justin Bieber to open the VMAs. Well, he’s parlaying that into a significant morning, as he has announced the dates for his 2022 world tour, his first global trek. The shows kick off in North America in late January before heading to Europe in March and Australia in May.

He also reflected on his VMAs experience, tweeting, “Just opened the VMA’s. What the f*ck is life. I love you family. Thank you for everything. NONE of this sh*t would be possible without you. I’m forever in debt to you all. I’m forever grateful for the opportunity to do what I love and support the people I love most around me. There’s no way I will ever be able to repay you.”

Check out the list of tour dates below.

01/29/2022 — Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Federal Theatre
02/01/2022 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Novo
02/03/2022 — San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield
02/05/2022 — Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo
02/07/2022 — Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex
02/08/2022 — Denver, CO @ The Mission Ballroom
02/10/2022 — Austin, TX @ Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater
02/11/2022 — Houston, TX @ Bayou Music Center
02/12/2022 — Dallas, TX @ The Bomb Factory
02/15/2022 — Kansas City, MO @ Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland
02/16/2022 — Minneapolis, MN @ Fillmore Minneapolis
02/17/2022 — Milwaukee, WI @ Eagles Ballroom
02/19/2022 — Chicago, IL @ Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom
02/21/2022 — Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore Detroit
02/23/2022 — Toronto, ON @ HISTORY
02/24/2022 — Montreal, QC @ MTELUS
02/27/2022 — New York, NY @ Manhattan Center Hammerstein Ballroom
03/01/2022 — Boston, MA @ House of Blues Boston
03/02/2022 — Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore Philadelphia
03/04/2022 — Columbus, OH @ EXPRESS LIVE! Indoors
03/05/2022 — Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE Indoors
03/06/2022 — Washington, D.C. @ Echostage
03/08/2022 — Miami, FL @ The Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater
03/09/2022 — Orlando, FL @ House of Blues Orlando
03/10/2022 — Atlanta, GA @ Coca-Cola Roxy
03/28/2022 — Copenhagen @ VEGA Main Hall
03/31/2022 — Oslo @ Sentrum Scene
04/02/2022 — Stockholm @ Fryshuset
04/04/2022 — Berlin @ Columbiahalle
04/05/2022 — Offenbach @ Stadthalle
04/06/2022 — Munich @ Muffathalle
04/08/2022 — Milan @ Fabrique
04/10/2022 — Zurich @ X-Tra
04/11/2022 — Cologne @ E-Werk
04/13/2022 — Esch-Sur-Alzette @ Rockhal Mainhall
04/14/2022 — Paris @ Elysee Montmartre
04/16/2022 — Amsterdam @ Melkweg Max
04/17/2022 — Tilburg @ Poppodium 013
04/18/2022 — Brussels @ La Madeleine
04/20/2022 — Manchester @ Victoria Warehouse
04/22/2022 — London @ O2 Academy Brixton
04/23/2022 — Birmingham @ O2 Academy
04/27/2022 — Glasgow @ Academy
04/28/2022 — Dublin @ Olympia
05/26/2022 — Sydney @ Qudos Bank Arena
05/30/2022 — Perth @ RAC Arena
06/01/2022 — Adelaide @ Entertainment Centre
06/03/2022 — Melbourne @ Rod Laver Arena
06/06/2022 — Brisbane @ Riverstage
06/10/2022 — Wellington @ TSB Arena
06/11/2022 — Auckland @ Spark Arena

Donald Trump turned a day of mourning into a campaign rally. Instead of joining President Biden and former-presidents Obama, Clinton, and Bush at official 9/11 memorial ceremonies over the weekend, Trump went to a police precinct and firehouse, and after briefly touching on that terrible day 20 years ago, he “spent most of his time… continuing his criticism of the Afghanistan pullout, complaining about crime in cities, commenting on how many police officers and firefighters supported him, and falsely claiming once again that he had won the election,” according to the New York Times. Later that evening, he, along with his son Donald Jr., hosted a boxing match between Evander Holyfield and Vitor Belfort at a guitar-shaped hotel and casino in Florida.

Donald’s niece, Mary Trump, isn’t surprised by his selfishness.

“It’s entirely in keeping in what Donald always does. He doesn’t understand dignity. He doesn’t understand tragedy. He doesn’t understand anything that doesn’t pertain directly to him. And he will always push the envelope as long as he’s allowed to. And this is the problem here… He’s always allowed to get away with it,” she told CNN’s Jim Acosta on Sunday. “So, you and I might think it’s bizarre behavior because it is for any decent human being, but one, he’s not a decent human being and, two, where’s the pushback? Nobody raised their voices on his side of the aisle against that appearance so he will continue to get away with whatever he can get away with as long as they let him.”

Trump also criticized the Republican party for “not taking a stance against his spreading the first big lie about the election. They’re not taking a stance about his second big lie about the insurrection.” She also found it bewildering that no America-first conservatives “pushed back on the fact that on the 20th anniversary of the worst tragedy to hit this country, he was commentating a boxing match to line his own pockets.” Imagine how the GOP would have responded if instead of Trump, it was Obama in the commentary booth. Actually, scratch that. It’s better to not imagine it.

You can watch the CNN clip above.

(Via Raw Story)

John Oliver’s back in the studio after far too long talking to the blank space that he not-so-lovingly referred to as “The Void.” The Last Week Tonight host celebrated with a deep dive on the world leader who’s quite possibly the most ridiculous one of all (and that’s saying something). That would be Alexander Lukashenko, the longtime leader of Belarus and the guy who’s famously referred to himself as “the Last and Only Dictator in Europe” and has achieved over 25 years of autocratic rule.

As Oliver points out, that’s a dubious title indeed, and one that’s akin to claiming fame as “the Last Radio Shack or the Last Person to Make a Movie with Harvey Weinstein.” And if one can’t fully appreciate the ridiculousness of Lukashenko, one need only look at his gift-giving habits. Those include handing lard and potatoes to Russian President Vladimir Putin and a giant carrot to one-time American action Star Steven Seagal. The sight of the On Deadly Ground star chomping on a phallic-shaped veggie (around the 6:40 mark above) is nothing, however, to the preposterousness that Lukashenko has been allowed to foster. More than that, the guy is downright dangerous.

Oliver was more than happy to glide through a few examples, including the hockey-obsessed Lukashenko standing in full uniform at a rink and claiming that there couldn’t possibly be any coronaviruses in the air because he couldn’t see them. And that’s only the beginning, given the long list of journalists, critics, and dissidents who have either mysteriously disappeared or been found dead during Lukashenko’s rule, largely because he has vowed to take action on anyone, anywhere (all around the globe) who dares to speak against him.

To that, Oliver declared, “Your suit’s too big, you suck at hockey, and whatever it is you do with your hair isn’t fucking working.”

Watch the full video above.

Who says rock is dead? Foo Fighters were honored at this year’s pop-heavy MTV VMAs with MTV’s Global Icon Award, celebrating with a mighty performance of some of their career-defining hit. The certified iconic band played “Learn To Fly,” “‘Shame Shame,” and “Everlong” after being introduced by superfan Billie Eilish, receiving an exuberant round of applause from the audience despite many of those songs predating many of the audiences’ members. Eilish was the perfect choice to introduce the band as well, especially after they complimented the young singer in 2019, calling her the living proof that “rock and roll is not dead.”

Of course, it became pretty clear that they’ve crossed generations when frontman Dave Grohl found himself challenged by then-10-year-old prodigy Nandi Bushell to a drum battle — one in which he eventually conceded defeat. Bushell recently joined Foo Fighters onstage to perform “Everlong,” proving that the band has retained plenty of pop appeal, even decades later. The group also replaced the legendary Stevie Nicks at the upcoming Shaky Knees Festival in October, which will follow their appearance at New Orleans Jazz Fest earlier that same month.

Meanwhile, the VMAs highlighted up-and-coming generations of musicians with both thrilling performances and the VMA winners, who you can check out here.

With the MTV VMAs returning to Brooklyn for its first live audience show in two years, it was only right to allow a native to christen the evening with a live performance worthy of the occasion. Fortunately, Brooklyn is home to one of the greatest live performers popular music has to offer in the form of Busta Rhymes, who blessed the VMAs audience with a medley of many of his classics.

The medley included his hyperspeed verse from Chris Brown’s “Look At Me Now,” his breakout single “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See,” his star-making verse from A Tribe Called Quest’s “Scenario,” his scene-stealing verse from M.O.P.’s “Ante Up” remix, and his inescapable 2006 hit “Touch It.” Busta was joined, as per usual, by his ever-present hype man Spliff Starr and a fleet of backup dancers. But he never really needed any extras; his magnetic personality and incandescent stage presence have never dulled, even after 30 years in the rap game (does he even breathe during that “Look At Me Now” verse??).

Busta wasn’t the only legend to receive some stage time. Rock staples Foo Fighters received the VMA Global Icon Award, celebrating with a medley of their hits including “Shame Shame,” “Learn To Fly,” and, of course, “Everlong.”

Watch Busta Rhymes’ medley of hits above.

Sue Bird is one of the greatest basketball players of all-time and will be a first ballot Hall of Famer whenever her incredible career ends, as she’s won and dominated at every level from college to the WNBA to international play. I think it’s important to note that before we get to what happened on Sunday night, because the legend got got by Erica Wheeler of the Sparks on a vicious stepback.

As Wheeler drove towards the right elbow she got Bird completely turned to try and cut off her driving lane and pulled the string on a tight crossover for a stepback jumper that sent Bird crashing to the court as half of her body tried to stop while the other half kept going and the result was her tripping over herself.

The replays show exactly what happens to the Hall of Famer, as Bird trips over her own feet and collapses to the floor as Wheeler steps back for the jumper to complete the move of the year in the WNBA.

It’s about as clean of an ankle breaker as you can have, as there’s no off-hand pushing Bird or a trip from someone else’s feet, just Wheeler executing a perfect, tight crossover to pull it back and rise for the jumper as the legend fell face first to the floor. It’s a reminder that anyone can get their ankles taken if they aren’t careful, even one of the best players to ever step on a court.

Aquaman is about a guy who lives (partly) underwater and hangs with sea creatures (one of them voiced by Julie Andrews). But it’s a mostly serious affair, not unlike most films in the DCEU that aren’t made by James Gunn. The animated version is a different story. A new trailer dropped for Aquaman: King of Atlantis, HBO Max’s forthcoming cartoon riff on DC’s favorite oceanic superhero, and boy does it look goofy.

Let’s start with Aquaman himself, who looks nothing like Jason Momoa (and is voiced by The Walking Dead’s Cooper Andrews). He doesn’t even look like the Super Friends-era version. Instead he’s got a yellow top as well as long green locks and a big, scruffy beard. The animation, too, is intentionally rough and exaggerated, even more bold than the cartoon Harley Quinn. It, in short, looks fun. And the DCEU isn’t always that.

The show’s other cast members suggest King of Atlantis will lean hard (or hard-ish) into yuks. Gillian Jacobs will voice Mera, played by Amber Heard in the movies, Thomas Lennon will take over for Willem Dafoe as Vulko, and no less than Dana Snyder — aka Aqua Teen Hunger Force’s Master Chef — is Ocean Master. King of Atlantis isn’t a show; it’s a miniseries, with a mere three episodes. And they’ll be dropping on October 14 on HBO Max.

You can watch the wacky trailer in the video above.

As one of the reigning forces in the pop world, Ed Sheeran has slowly but surely been making his comeback. Ushering in a new era since the tail end of 2020, Sheeran has been teasing his left turn following up the success of his ÷ album in 2017. Kicking off the year with his vampire-influenced introduction to the next era, “Bad Habits,” just a few days ago Ed shared his second new single, “Shivers.” Tonight, he also gave his first live performance of that new track at the VMAs, introducing fans to the catchy new tune on an outdoor stage. It’s very much a love song, hewing close to some of Sheeran’s past lyrics but veering toward a more upbeat, synthy sound than he’s adopted in the past.

There’s a slight Halloween theme going on with Sheeran’s new album, =, and in keeping with that he recently shared that the album will be released a few days before the holiday in late October. Along with that news he also shared another emotional single, called “Visiting Hours,” but of the three song he’s put out so far, “Shivers” is definitely the banger. That makes it perfect for an award show performance, so check that out above and keep your ears out for more new songs before the record comes next month.