by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 7/26/2026 Photo Credit to Stephanie Scarbrough via Associated Press 20. Matthew Stafford Rams Quarterback Last Year's Rank: N/A Does Matthew Stafford have one of the best arms in the league? Absolutely. Is he surrounded by one of the best rosters and Head Coaches in the league? Yes. Has he shown to be inconsistent year-by-year? Yes he has. Stafford was rightfully given the MVP award last year and showed that when healthy and put with the right

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 8/8/2026 In our FN Du Medic v Rodriguez Predictions, which you can find here Zak went 4-2 in picks with 3 methods for 7 points. Matt went 5-1 in picks with 2 methods for 7 points. Points To Date: Zak: 149 (100-54) Matt: 135 (88-60) *All odds courtesy of Caesar's Sportsbook on 8/7 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Graphic by UFC via UFC.com 8Mateusz Gamrot vs 12Quillan Salkilld (Salkilld -150) Zak Drapeau - I was talking to fr

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 8/6/2026 Photo Credits to Rick Kimball via ISD Notre Dame Odds to Win ACC: N/A Recruiting Grade: A Transfer Grade: A+ 2026 Schedule: A- Notre Dame is going to be one of the highest teams when the AP Preseason Top-25 poll comes out and likely a Top-25 team due to their finish to the 2025 season and tremendous transfer portal performance. Bringing back QB C.J. Carr who will be in the running for best QB and even the Heisman trophy in 2026 should s

Photo: Sarah Stier-Getty Making an NBA All-Star team next season could be harder than ever. More than 30 players are capable of averaging 20 points per game, a massive wave of young talent is rapidly climbing the league’s hierarchy, and the stat sheet alone isn't enough to separate one candidate from another. Winning, efficiency, defense and overall impact will all matter in an increasingly over-crowded field. With top-tier superstars occupying most of the available spots if

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 8/5/2026 Photo Credits to Sam Greene/ The Enquirer/ USA Today Network via Imagn Images Tier 1 Guarantees 1. Ja'Marr Chase 2. Amon-Ra St. Brown 3. Puka Nacua 4. Jaxon Smith-Njigba Tier 2 Almost Elite 5. Justin Jefferson 6. Ceedee Lamb 7. Rashee Rice 8. Zay Flowers 9. George Pickens 10. Malik Nabers 11. Nico Collins Tier 3 Still Unproven 12. AJ Brown 13. Chris Olave 14. Devonta Smith 15. Tetairoa McMillan 16. Drake

By William Gilhooly Sportz Nation - 8/4/2026 Photo Credits to Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Imagn Images With the dust settling on the 2026 MLB trade deadline, the league’s contenders and pretenders have begun to separate. Some teams pushed their chips to the middle, signaling they believe this is their year to make a championship run. Others looked toward the future, selling valuable pieces and reshaping their organizations for seasons to come. From the blockbuster Connelly Early and Cu

Photo: Greg Byrd-Getty Another week—another step backward through basketball history. This time, we're taking a look at 2017—a class headlined by the likes of Deandre Ayton, Trae Young and a deep collection of prospects who appeared destined to shape the next generation of the NBA. And yet, nine years later, this group still feels strangely unfinished. The more recent classes we've revisited either delivered the stars we expected or gave us enough evidence to understand where

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 8/4/2026 Georgia Odds to Win SEC: +260 Photo Credits to Hyosub Shin via AJC Transfer Grade: B+ Recruiting Grade: A 2026 Schedule: B+ Georgia has firmly established themselves as the favorites in the SEC this year with not only the easiest schedule in the conference but the most returning starters from 2025 as well. Their defense returns 2 All-American level defenders at each level of their defense including top players Ellis Robinson V, Chris Co

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 8/2/2026 Photo Credits to Ed Mulholland via Zuffa LLC Uros Medic vs Leon Edwards Matt Hylen - I really liked the call out Uros Medic made after his dominant TKO win over Daniel Rodriguez. With the run he has been on, he deserves a major step up in competition, which I believe Leon Edwards qualifies as. Medic could be a star in the making. He is beloved by not only his country but also the world. He gives fans what they want every

By William Gilhooly Sportz Nation- 8/3/2026 Photos Credits to Luke Hales/Getty Images The comparisons between Thanos acquiring the final Infinity Stone in Avengers: Infinity War and the Dodgers landing Tarik Skubal have been impossible to ignore. The difference, however, is that unlike the Avengers, who had to resort to time travel to undo Thanos' actions, the Skubal trade was entirely preventable. And before the inevitable salary cap argument surfaces, no, a salary cap would

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 8/3/2026 Photo Credits to Daniel Shirey via Getty images The Boston Red Sox have made another huge move before the Trade Deadline and acquire Baltimore Orioles star Catcher Adley Rutschman. The Trade Included: Red Sox Receive: Adley Rutschman, C Orioles Receive: Carlos Narvaez, C Anthony Eyanson, RHP Kyson Witherspoon, RHP Enddy Azocar, OF Harold Rivas, OF The 28-year old Rutschman is on a 1-year deal worth $7.2 Million but is under team-control

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 7/31/2026 In our FN Du Plessis v Usman Predictions, which you can find here, Zak went 5-1 in picks with 0 methods for 5 points. Matt went 4-2 in picks with 3 methods for 7 points. Points To Date: Zak: 142 (96-52) Matt: 128 (83-59) *All odds courtesy of Caesar's Sportsbook on 7/23 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 14Uros Medic vs 15Daniel Rodriguez (Medic -400) Zak Drapeau - I realize Medic is the heavy favorite here and as of wr

Photo: Sarah Stier-Getty Season 30 hasn’t just been another lap around the calendar—it’s a complete takeover of the league's best fighting for the top spot. With an expanded 44-game slate, new expansion teams raising the stakes, and a talent pool deeper than it’s ever been, the margin for error in this year’s hardware race is razor-thin. From MVP caliber legends continuing to rewrite the record books to a ferocious wave of young stars forcing their way into the conversation,

By William Gilhooly Sportz Nation - 7/30/2026 Photo Credits to Ezra Shaw/Getty Images Tarik Skubal has been steadfast in his desire to remain with the Detroit Tigers ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline. "I think we have a chance to win a World Series," Skubal said last Thursday. "I've said that since spring training. That's never changed. That belief in this team has never changed throughout the season." "Going into spring training, the whole offseason, I've never been more mo

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 7/30/2026 Photo Credits to Mark J. Rebilas via Imagn Images Indiana Odds to Win B1G: +310 Transfer Grade: A+ Recruiting Grade: B- 2026 Schedule: A- Indiana has made a habit of molding their roster around the Transfer Portal and 2026 will be no different with 17 incoming players including their starting Quarterback, Josh Hoover from TCU. The Hoosiers' miracle 2025 Championship season was one you could only dream of as a Hoosiers fan. When looking

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 7/25/2026 oto Credits to Norm Hall via Getty Images Tier 1 1. Trey McBride 2. Brock Bowers 3. Tyler Warren 4. Colston Loveland 5. Tucker Kraft Tier 2 6. Travis Kelce 7. George Kittle 8. Sam LaPorta 9. Harold Fannin Jr. Tier 3 10. Mark Andrews 11. Kyle Pitts 12. TJ Hockenson 13. Dallas Goedert 14. Juwan Johnson 15. Jake Ferguson Tier 4 16. Brenton Strange 17. Dalton Kincaid 18. Hunter Henry 19. Isaiah Likely 20. Chig Okonk

Photo: James Kipp-Getty Another week means another trip backward through basketball history. This time, we're rewinding eight years to 2018—a class overflowing with future stars, cautionary tales and some of the most overwhelming high-school hype the sport has EVER witnessed. At the center? Zion Williamson, a 6'6", burly viral phenomenon whose thunderous dunks and once in a generation athleticism made ordinary high school gyms in South Carolina feel like must-see television.

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 7/27/2026 Photo Credits to Fadel Senna/ AFP via Getty Images Magomed Ankalaev vs Carlos Ulberg Light Heavyweight Championship Zak Drapeau - The way the top of the 205-division is set up, the original fight between Ankalaev and Rountree should've been either a #1 contender fight or even an interim title fight. Now that Ankalaev has gone through Bogdan Guskov in such dominant fashion, the only way to move forward is to give him a ti

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 7/27/2026 The Red Sox made the BOLD first move of the deadline this weekend trading high valued, young pitcher Connelly Early to the Nationals for right handed-slugger Curtis Mead. Red Sox CBO Craig Breslow recently hinted that the Red Sox might not be done before August 3rd's Trade Deadline. The team should be looking mostly for more Right Handed hitters, with Catcher and Middle Infielders being the likeliest of positions they'd like to upgrade

By William Gilhooly Sportz Nation- 7/27/2026 Photo Credits to David Berding/Getty Images With the MLB trade deadline just nine days away, two nights ago we had a sneak of the chaos expected to ensue. The Washington Nationals agreed to send infielder Curtis Mead to the Boston Red Sox for pitcher Connelly Early. Both teams addressed huge needs, with the pitching-starved Nationals acquiring their potential ace of the future and the Red Sox addressing their impact power-bat defic