The story of the 2019 NFL season is that ratings are up. The downside risk is that some of the best-known quarterbacks in the league are now out with injuries. The first Sunday of the season saw Fox draw its highest ratings in three years for “America's Game of the Week,” which is in the 4:25 p.m. window.

Antonio Brown was released by the New England Patriots on Friday after a second woman accused him of sexual misconduct - the third team in seven months to tire of the off-field behavior that has overshadowed his accomplishments as one of the NFL's most prolific receivers for a decade. The defending Super Bowl champions announced the move in a statement emailed to reporters, three minutes after Brown posted on Twitter: ''Thank you for the opportunity (at)Patriots (hash)GoWinIt. Already facing a civil suit claiming that he raped a former trainer, Brown was accused in a Sports Illustrated story published on Monday of exposing himself to an artist he hired to paint a mural at his home.

New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard said he knew he had a concussion in the season opener against Dallas but played to try to help the team win. Speaking on Friday for the first time since sustaining the concussion on Sept. 8, Shepard said he didn't start feeling normal until this week. Shepard played the entire game in the 35-17 loss to the Cowboys.

The Buffalo Bills have ruled out rookie running back Devin Singletary from playing in their home opener against the Cincinnati Bengals this weekend. Singletary has not practiced this week since hurting his left hamstring in a 28-14 win at the New York Giants last weekend. His absence leaves the Bills thin at the position with starter Frank Gore, third-stringer T.J. Yeldon and fullback Patrick DiMarco the only other running backs on their active roster.

DFS Fades Week 3 There are several reasons you might not want to roster a certain player in a given week of NFL DFS. To truly be a “fade”, in my opinion the player has to be projected to have decent ownership, e.g. no one is “fading” a WR3 on the Miami Dolphins. I'll always provide the argument for and against a player in this column.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers starting inside linebacker Devin White has been ruled out of Sunday's game against the New York Giants, head coach Bruce Arians said Friday. In a Sept. 12 game against the Carolina Panthers, White sustained a sprained MCL in his left knee. The injury occurred on the first defensive series as he was trying to tackle Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey.

TOP TEAMS: Akron was awarded the first championship after going 8-0-3; there were no playoffs and even some games against non-league competition. Indeed, there were no playoffs throughout the decade. So the titles from 1921-29 went to, in order, the Chicago Staleys; Canton for two straight years, then the Cleveland Bulldogs; the Cardinals; the Yellow Jackets; the Giants; the Providence Steam Rollers; and the Packers.

Despite a hideous collection of mistakes, Matt Ryan finished Week 2 as the eighth-highest-scoring quarterback. The Falcons defense continues to invite some opposing points even as they put some solid pressure on Carson Wentz last week. Ryan could be forced to the air once again, as their ground game tries to find its footing.

NEW YORK (AP) - Yankees star pitcher Domingo German was placed on administrative leave under Major League Baseball's domestic violence policy on Thursday, casting doubt over whether New York's top winner this season will be available for the playoffs. Manager Aaron Boone was informed of the decision while he was driving to Yankee Stadium for a game against the Los Angeles Angels. New York won 9-1 to clinch its first AL East title since 2012.

Eli Manning, Dave Gettleman and now Pat Shurmur have all canceled on Mike Francesa.