Culture

The road to Ford’s F1 return with Red Bull: ‘I’m a great believer in fate’

Published

2 hours ago

October 9, 2024

The road to Ford’s F1 return with Red Bull: ‘I’m a great believer in fate’

This article is part of our Origin Stories series, an inside look at the backstories of the clubs, drivers, and people fueling the sport.

En route to Brazil, near the end of the 2022 season, Red Bull Formula One boss Christian Horner stopped off in the United States for a meeting that could be decisive for his team’s future.

Months earlier, talks to enter a partnership with Porsche had broken down. Red Bull was eager to find a new manufacturer partner to support its in-house engine program, Red Bull Powertrains, formed after Honda quit F1 at the end of 2021.

Horner sat in an office at Ford Motor Company’s headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan, for an important meeting. Discussions about an F1 project started with Mark Rushbrook, Ford’s motorsport boss, and appeared to be going well.

But this meeting also involved Bill Ford, the company chairman and great-grandson of its legendary founder, Henry Ford, and Jim Farley, its president and CEO. The stakes were that much higher.

Horner’s positive feeling was quickly confirmed. “I thought we were in good shape when Jim walked into the meeting in a Sergio Pérez cap,” he recalled in July this year. “(I thought) ‘OK, we’re looking pretty good here!’”

It paved the way for Red Bull and Ford to agree on a partnership that will start in 2026 when F1’s new engine regulations are introduced. The link-up will bring the American automotive giant back to the F1 grid after more than two decades away. Ford’s most recent involvement ended in 2004 when it sold its Jaguar team to Red Bull.

While 2026 is a couple of years away, the Red Bull Ford partnership is already working at pace, conscious of the significance of the new regulations and the scale of the project.

“Together with Ford, we have to succeed,” Horner said. “We can’t afford for this project not to succeed.”

Red Bull and Honda’s successful partnership ends after the 2025 season. (Mark Thompson / Getty Images)

Controlling its destiny

In October 2020, just 18 months after its first race as Red Bull’s engine partner, Honda announced that it would exit F1 at the end of the 2021 season.

The shock decision, taken to cut costs and shift toward electrification — and ultimately reversed three years later, when it signed a deal with Aston Martin starting in 2026 — left Red Bull at a crossroads. Trying to buy engines from its primary F1 rivals Ferrari or Mercedes would be awkward. Going back to previous partner Renault was not a viable move. Renault’s underperformance since 2014 sparked very public frustration from Red Bull.

So why not go it alone? Red Bull started exploring what it would take to make its own F1 engine. It would be a significant investment, but one that would give Red Bull control over its destiny instead of relying on a partner that, as Honda proved, could dip out of F1 at any moment.

“In the end, we decided that, actually, if we’re going to do it, we may as well do the whole thing,” Horner said.

While successful as an F1 team, Red Bull did not have the technical might or the existing knowledge base of its manufacturer rivals for making power units. Horner said it quickly became clear it was better strategically to partner with a car maker. “Because as an independent manufacturer, you miss out on the advantages that a Ferrari or a Mercedes or a Honda — who changed their mind — technically have.”

Porsche looked set to be Red Bull’s F1 partner of choice. The Volkswagen Group wanted to get the brand back into F1 by 2026, to enhance its rich motorsport heritage, including dominating F1 with McLaren in the mid-1980s. The talks approached a successful conclusion in the summer of 2022, but negotiations eventually broke down. Porsche had sought an ownership stake which Horner said Red Bull concluded “wasn’t the right route for the business.”

It left Red Bull back at square one, looking for a manufacturer partner. Then Horner, who said he is “a great believer in fate,” received an email from Rushbrook that changed everything. Ford wanted to come back to F1. Would Red Bull be interested in a conversation?

“It happened very, very quickly,” Horner said.

Jim Farley, CEO of Ford, Mark Rushbrook of Ford and Max Verstappen talk in the garage prior to the 2023 Miami GP. (Mark Thompson / Getty Images)

Right place, right time

F1’s appeal to manufacturers grew significantly for 2026. Its proposed power unit regulations aligned closer with global automotive trends through a greater focus on electrification and fully sustainable fuels. At the same time, the off-track boom in popularity made its marketing appeal greater than ever.

Mercedes and Ferrari were already on the grid. Honda planned to return with Aston Martin. Audi had announced a 2026 entry. Now, Ford also wanted to join the fray.

“When we saw what was happening in Formula One with the technical regulations, it was very aligned, giving us more of an opportunity to contribute and learn the innovation and tech transfer part of it,” Rushbrook said. “But certainly also the health of the sport, and the popularity globally and the diversity of the audience.”

It then became a question of how Ford would enter F1. It explored multiple options, including buying a team, as Audi did with Sauber, or developing a power unit division from scratch. Both would be very costly undertakings, and Ford’s previous struggles with owning Jaguar proved running an F1 operation had not been its strong suit. In five seasons, the team scored just two podium finishes before being sold to Red Bull at the end of 2004.

Nor did buying a team fit with Ford’s wider motorsport model.

“Yes, we’re in motorsports, but nowhere do we own or run the team,” Rushbrook said. “We always go with partners, whether it’s Dick Johnson Racing in Australia (Supercars), or Penske in NASCAR, or M-Sport in rally.”

The timing worked perfectly to commence talks with Red Bull. Upon hearing the Porsche deal was off, Rushbrook got a hold of Horner’s email address and sent an email mid-flight, setting the ball rolling toward a swift conclusion.

“We’d been through six months of discussion with Porsche. It didn’t play out,” Horner said. “I think from start to finish, it was literally 12 weeks to signing a contract (with Ford). The initial discussions with Mark, then Jim Farley and Bill Ford, basically there was a decision by the end of ’22 that this was the route forward.”

The new partnership, announced in February 2023 to coincide with Red Bull’s season launch, confirmed Ford’s commitment through the next cycle of power unit regulations, from 2026 to 2030.

The deal works for both sides. Ford returns to F1 after 22 years with a championship-winning team, benefitting from the technology transfer — F1 serves as a high-speed laboratory for future road car innovations — as well as the marketing might of F1, without the liability of a team or a total engine program. It will also be the only American manufacturer on the F1 grid in a boom period for the sport in the United States.

And in Ford, Red Bull would get a partner with the expertise and resources that could help its nascent engine program try to compete with the experience of Ferrari and Mercedes from the outset.

Red Bull’s Christian Horner and Ford’s Jim Farley speak at Red Bull’s 2023 season launch in New York. (Arturo Holmes / Getty Images for Oracle Red Bull Racing)

A partnership already in motion

The first Red Bull Ford powertrain won’t race in F1 for another 18 months, but that has not stopped both sides from accelerating the partnership.

The importance of the 2026 regulation overhaul, when the integration of the power unit into the car should have a huge impact on a team’s performance, means it is already a priority for F1’s manufacturers.

“Whilst ’26, probably to the fans, seems quite a way away, you’re going to be locking in decisions for your race engines within the next months,” Horner said. “For the design teams, it’s literally tomorrow.”

Red Bull Powertrains has been growing rapidly as a result, with a significant recruitment drive, including a number of personnel from rival F1 engine programs, and the construction of two new buildings on its Milton Keynes campus fully dedicated to the 2026 program. The initial Red Bull Ford power unit supply will be for the two Red Bull teams, Red Bull and RB, but the facility is built with the capability to provide a further two customer teams. Besides Ferrari, Red Bull is the only other team in F1 with its team and engine operation on the same site.

Although there isn’t any Ford branding on the Red Bull F1 car — the current engines are still Honda intellectual property, and a technical agreement remains in place until the end of 2025 — their marketing efforts are already underway. Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez have already taken part in demonstration events driving Ford cars. Pérez took the Ford Red Bull SuperVan, an all-electric van producing the equivalent of over 1,400 bhp, up the famous Goodwood hill climb in July. Ford also supports one of Red Bull’s entries to F1 Academy, the all-women support series, and named Chloe Chambers as its driver for 2025 earlier this month. Even the road cars used by Red Bull team members on race weekends are Fords.

The true success of Red Bull and Ford’s partnership will be defined come 2026, when an early engine advantage could be crucial. Mercedes proved that at the start of the V6 hybrid power unit era in 2014 when it went on a record eight-season streak of constructors’ titles and dominated that era of F1.

Horner said he had “no illusions” that Red Bull and Ford will face anything but a big challenge for 2026, noting the “decades of experience” the likes of Mercedes and Ferrari have with their F1 engine projects.

“We’ve got three years of experience,” Horner said. “But we’ve got a huge amount of passion, we’ve got some great people, we’ve got great facilities, we’ve got great partners, and we’ve got all the attitude that has served us so well in the 120 race wins that we’ve achieved so far.

“It’ll be so rewarding when we add to that number with an engine that’s been designed, built, and manufactured here in Milton Keynes.”

GO DEEPER

Lando Norris talks F1 title bid: Pressure, mistakes and Max Verstappen’s friendship

(Top photo of Christian Horner: Seth Wenig / AP)

Related Topics:Featured Formula 1 motorsports

Click to comment

Culture

NFL Power Rankings Week 6: Commanders rising; checking in on fantasy flops

Published

10 hours ago

October 9, 2024

Press Room

NFL Power Rankings Week 6: Commanders rising; checking in on fantasy flops

As we enter Week 6 of the NFL Power Rankings, it might be time to check on the fantasy football manager in your lives.

It’s been a rough start for lots of the folks who spent weeks poring over data in the preseason to make the perfect pick only to see their plans left in shambles by the first five weeks of the actual season. So this week’s theme is fantasy focus as we look at exactly how bad things have gotten.

Spoiler alert: Pretty bad.

None of the top five fantasy players coming into the season based on average draft position is in the top 48 in fantasy scoring. Top pick Christian McCaffrey has more flights to Germany to get medical consultation than rushing yards this year. Extending the scope to look at the top 20 picks doesn’t make things much better. That group includes A.J. Brown, Puka Nacua and Isaiah Pacheco. Oof, oof and oof.

As you’ll see, these fantasy results have a real-life impact on the field and affect our rankings, where the Minnesota Vikings and fantasy afterthought Sam Darnold still sit up top. (The fantasy scoring numbers here are provided by TruMedia, and the average draft position statistics were compiled by Fantasy Pros.)

1. Minnesota Vikings (5-0)

Last week: 1

Sunday: Beat New York Jets 23-17

Darnold’s surprising season is nicely illustrated by his fantasy numbers. His average draft position was 223rd. His actual rank after another victory is 31st, and he’s 12th among quarterbacks with 16.5 points per game. Wide receiver Justin Jefferson is underperforming his draft position (drafted sixth, currently 14th in points per game, 19) but not by much, and no one in Minnesota is complaining with the Vikings undefeated. Aaron Jones (15.7 fantasy ppg) has been a good pick but left early Sunday with a hip injury.

Up next: Bye

GO DEEPER

Bills’ alleged blunder wasn’t so bad, but they need help (Davante Adams?): Sando’s Pick Six

Last week: 2

Monday: Beat New Orleans Saints 26-13

Kansas City’s most productive fantasy wide receiver this year has been Rashee Rice, who ranks 67th overall and 23rd among receivers with 64.9 points and is unlikely to play again this season because of a knee injury. After that, it’s rookie Xavier Worthy, who is 84th in scoring (58.1 ppg). And still, the Chiefs, who completed 12 passes to three tight ends Monday night, are undefeated.

Up next: Bye

Last week: 3

Sunday: Beat Cincinnati Bengals 41-38

Lamar Jackson passed for 348 yards and four touchdowns, rushed for 55 and led Baltimore to scores on five of its six drives after halftime Sunday. After going 38th in the average fantasy draft this season, he is the top player in the league in points per game (24.9). Jackson has accounted for 11 touchdowns and has thrown only one interception this season. And remember Derrick Henry? Shame on anyone who forgot. Henry is averaging a league-high 114.4 rushing yards per game and is seventh in the league in fantasy scoring (22.02 ppg) after being drafted 18th.

Up next: vs. Washington Commanders, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

Last week: 7

Sunday: Beat Buffalo Bills 23-20

Nico Collins leads the league in receiving yards (567) and is tied for fifth in targets (45). He caught only two passes Sunday before leaving with a hamstring injury, but one was a 67-yard touchdown. After being drafted 27th, he’s 10th in the league in fantasy scoring (21.34 ppg). Collins’ competition for catches in Houston is increasing, though. Stefon Diggs is averaging 81.7 receiving yards in the last three games. Diggs still hasn’t scored a touchdown since Week 1, though.

Up next: at New England Patriots, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

CJ TO NICO 67 YARDS!
📺: #BUFvsHOU on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/0wfq5acJXl
Advertisement

— NFL (@NFL) October 6, 2024

5. Washington Commanders (4-1)

Last week: 6

Sunday: Beat Cleveland Browns 34-13

Even the people who were optimistic about Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels weren’t optimistic enough. Daniels was 99th in the draft order and sits fifth in points per game (22.68) and second in points by quarterbacks after five weeks. He passed for 238 yards and rushed for 82 against the Browns and has now led Washington in rushing in three of its five games in addition to being the NFL’s leader in expected points added per dropback (.38).

Up next: at Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

GO DEEPER

Hey, Commanders fans, it’s OK to believe. For real

Last week: 5

Sunday: Bye

The Lions have managed to settle at sixth in these rankings in part because of their offensive balance. Fantasy football players aren’t big fans of balance. Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown is the most perplexing case on the team. His average draft position this year was sixth, but he’s currently 25th in points per game (17.12). Detroit’s top two running backs — David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs — are basically the same fantasy player (17.38 ppg vs. 17.77 ppg), which cuts into the value of each, and Gibbs was drafted 13th in the preseason.

Up next: at Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

7. Buffalo Bills (3-2)

Last week: 4

Sunday: Lost to Houston Texans 23-20

Josh Allen’s stats weren’t the story Sunday. His health was. The Bills quarterback left the game after hitting his head hard on the turf. He was cleared to return but finished 9-for-30 for 131 yards. His 56.4 passer rating was the second-lowest of his career in games in which he hasn’t thrown an interception. He’s still 15th in the league in fantasy scoring (18.76). Running back James Cook is 29th in scoring (16.84), which matches his draft position.

Up next: at New York Jets, Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET

Last week: 13

Sunday: Beat Los Angeles Rams 24-19

Wide receiver Jayden Reed has carried the Packers through Christian Watson’s injuries and Dontayvion Wicks’ drops. He’s fifth in the league in receiving (414 yards) and first among players with more than 20 catches in yards per catch (19.7). He’s fifth among wide receivers and 18th overall in the league in fantasy points per game (18.28). Not bad considering he was drafted at No. 83.

Up next: vs. Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

GO DEEPER

Packers’ Xavier McKinney makes history with NFL-high fifth INT: ‘I’m on a mission’

Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb, left, with the Steelers’ Elandon Roberts, is among many players failing to live up to their fantasy football draft position. (Justin K. Aller / Getty Images)

9. Dallas Cowboys (3-2)

Last week: 14

Sunday: Beat Pittsburgh Steelers 20-17

The disastrous fate of McCaffrey fantasy owners is providing some cover for the almost-as-bad issues with CeeDee Lamb. The Cowboys wide receiver was taken No. 2 on average in drafts, but he’s just 48th in scoring (15.26), being outscored by, among others, Jauan Jennings and Brian Thomas Jr. Lamb is ninth in the league in receiving yards (378) after catching five passes for 62 yards on Sunday night.

Up next: vs. Detroit Lions, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

Last week: 15

Thursday: Beat Tampa Bay Buccaneers 36-30 in OT

The good: Darnell Mooney’s average draft position was 174, but he’s 51st in points per game (15). The bad: Bijan Robinson’s average draft position was fourth, but he’s 74th in production (13.5 ppg). The downright wild: Kirk Cousins’ 509-yard, four-touchdown performance Thursday was the second-best fantasy performance of his career (34.4 points), and he’s 47th in points per game (15.34). Cousins became the first player in NFL history to throw for 250-plus yards before halftime and 250-plus yards after halftime in the same game.

Up next: at Carolina Panthers, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

Kirk Cousins completed 42 of 58 passes for 509 yards, 4 TDs and an INT, with all 509 yards coming from passes within the pocket, the most in a game in the NGS era (since 2016).
Cousins Passing Between Numbers: 27/33, 385 yards, 3 TD (+25.1 EPA)#TBvsATL | @AtlantaFalcons pic.twitter.com/FjJ9TCKvJl
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) October 4, 2024

11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2)

Last week: 9

Thursday: Lost to Atlanta Falcons 36-30 in OT

Baker Mayfield is seven spots ahead of Josh Allen in fantasy scoring this year, just like everyone expected. Mayfield, who was drafted 139 spots lower than Allen, is averaging 21.9 fantasy points per game in large part because he is tied for second in the league in touchdown passes (11). Through five games, this is far and away the best fantasy season of Mayfield’s career. Second place was his rookie year (17.1 ppg).

Up next: at New Orleans Saints, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

Last week: 12

Sunday: Bye

J.K. Dobbins is quietly one of the feel-good stories so far this season. Dobbins missed all of the 2021 season because of a knee injury and most of 2023 with an Achilles injury, but he’s averaging 85.5 yards per game. That makes him the 15th-best running back in fantasy leagues (15.5). Not bad for a guy drafted at 130. As for quarterback Justin Herbert, fantasy owners had Jim Harbaugh’s offense figured out in the preseason. The Chargers quarterback was drafted 127th and is 120th in scoring (10.38).

Up next: at Denver Broncos, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

Last week: 8

Sunday: Lost to New York Giants 29-20

It’s still hard for folks to believe in Geno Smith. He was drafted 183rd in the preseason. Now that the season has started, he leads the league in passing yards (1,466) and is 19th in fantasy scoring (18.25). He threw for 284 yards and a touchdown on Sunday and led the Seahawks in rushing (72 yards). Kenneth Walker had only 19 yards against the Giants.

Up next: vs. San Francisco 49ers, Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET

14. San Francisco 49ers (2-3)

Last week: 11

Sunday: Lost to Arizona Cardinals 24-23

There were hints about McCaffrey’s health in the preseason. More people should have paid attention. McCaffrey was the top pick in fantasy football drafts, but he hasn’t played a snap because of calf/Achilles injuries that sent him to Germany looking for help. Quarterback Brock Purdy had his worst game of the season Sunday (62.1 passer rating). Still, he’s seventh in EPA per dropback (.16) and 44th in fantasy scoring (15.5) after being drafted 87th on average.

Up next: at Seattle Seahawks, Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET

15. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2)

Last week: 10

Sunday: Lost to Dallas Cowboys 20-17

Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith has been on plenty of fantasy football owners’ dartboards dating to his days in Atlanta, but he’s getting something out of Justin Fields this year. Fields was drafted 213th in the preseason, but he’s 20th in scoring (17.93). He has accounted for eight touchdowns (five passing and three rushing) and has turned the ball over only twice. The bad news is running back Najee Harris is only 126th in scoring (10.18).

Up next: at Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

GO DEEPER

‘Gotta stop kicking our own ass’: Steelers’ shortcomings go well beyond the final drive

Quarterback Kyler Murray is leading the way for the Cardinals and those who picked him for their fantasy football teams. (Darren Yamashita / Imagn Images)

16. Arizona Cardinals (2-3)

Last week: 21

Sunday: Beat San Francisco 49ers 24-23

Wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and tight end Trey McBride have been fantasy disappointments. Harrison was drafted 16th but is 66th in production (13.78). McBride was drafted 48th but was 111th in production (10.88). Kyler Murray’s big season is helping to offset those things. He was drafted 70th, but he’s 16th in scoring (18.32 ppg). On Sunday, he threw for 195 yards and rushed for 83. He is averaging 10.7 yards per designed run, the best among NFL quarterbacks.

Up next: at Green Bay Packers, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

Last week: 19

Sunday: Beat Carolina Panthers 36-10

In the last three weeks, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams is 38th in the league in fantasy scoring (17.45) and has topped 300 yards passing twice in that span. Williams was drafted 104th in the preseason and in the first two weeks of the season that looked too high, but Williams is making steady progress. That’s why the Bears have won two in a row. He had 304 passing yards and a 126.2 passer rating on 29 attempts against the Panthers.

Up next: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET (London)

The throw 🤩
The catch 🤩
📺: #CARvsCHI on FOX pic.twitter.com/LY8XUhroJs
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) October 6, 2024
Advertisement

Last week: 20

Sunday: Bye

Why are the Eagles struggling? Maybe because what everyone thought in the preseason could be the best wide-receiving trio in the league has really just been one guy playing well. A.J. Brown, drafted 10th, had a big opener (five catches, 119 yards and a touchdown against the Packers), but he hasn’t played since because of a hamstring injury. Jahan Dotson, acquired in a preseason trade, has only five catches in four games. DeVonta Smith, drafted 46th, is actually overachieving at 27th in scoring (16.97 ppg), and the Saquon Barkley addition has been fun. Barkley is third in fantasy scoring (24.5).

Up next: vs. Cleveland Browns, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

19. Denver Broncos (3-2)

Last week: 25

Sunday: Beat Las Vegas Raiders 34-18

This feels like a good place to talk about how good Denver’s defense is. The Broncos are tied for second in the league in points allowed (14.6) and third in defensive success rate (64.6 percent), sack percentage (10.8) and defensive EPA per 100 snaps. Pat Surtain II had two interceptions Sunday and returned one 100 yards for a touchdown. The defense is the reason this team is 3-2 even though its highest-rated fantasy player is rookie quarterback Bo Nix, who is 69th in scoring (13.71).

Up next: vs. Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

I actually love this from Bo Nix. 🔥🔥🔥
Sean Payton’s going to get heated on the sideline but if you really believe you’re right…give it back. Shows how competitive they both are. pic.twitter.com/dishUG86xP
— Chase Daniel (@ChaseDaniel) October 6, 2024
Advertisement

20. New Orleans Saints (2-3)

Last week: 16

Monday: Lost to Kansas City Chiefs 26-13

In 2023, it looked like Alvin Kamara’s career was on the downslope. Through five weeks, the eighth-year running back is third in the league in fantasy points per game (23.84). However, that falls under the category of a silver lining at this point for New Orleans. After their fast start, the Saints have lost three straight, and quarterback Derek Carr left Monday’s game in the fourth quarter with an oblique injury.

Up next: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

21. New York Giants (2-3)

Last week: 29

Sunday: Beat Seattle Seahawks 29-20

We might need to have a Daniel Jones conversation soon. If you take away a rough Week 1 performance, Jones is 33rd in the league in fantasy scoring (17.34) this season. In the last four games, Jones is sixth in EPA per dropback (.18) and ninth in passer rating (99.3) among quarterbacks with more than 60 pass attempts. Entering the season, Jones’ career EPA per dropback was minus-.03 and his passer rating was 81.6.

Up next: vs. Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday 8:20 p.m. ET

GO DEEPER

Can Giants QB Daniel Jones change narrative around him? Maybe not, but wins will help

22. Cincinnati Bengals (1-4)

Last week: 23

Sunday: Lost to Baltimore Ravens 41-38

Ja’Marr Chase is about the only player preserving the honor of this year’s top-10 fantasy draft picks. Chase’s average draft position was seventh, and he’s ninth in scoring (21.7). He’s second in the league in receiving (98.6 ypg). Joe Burrow is also in the top 12 in fantasy scoring (20.14), and he’s first among regular starters in passer rating (113.6). And, still, the Bengals are 1-4.

Up next: at New York Giants, Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET

23. New York Jets (2-3)

Last week: 24

Sunday: Lost to Minnesota Vikings 23-17

So, about all the Breece Hall hype … The Jets’ third-year running back was drafted sixth on average. His production (14.3 ppg) ranks 61st, and things aren’t trending in the right direction. After averaging 3.9 yards on 30 carries through Weeks 1 and 2, he’s averaging 2.3 yards per carry on 35 carries in Weeks 3-5. Aaron Rodgers is outperforming his fantasy draft position (drafted 134th, ranked 70th with 13.6 ppg), but it’s not helping enough on the field.

Up next: vs. Buffalo Bills, Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET

24. Las Vegas Raiders (2-3)

Last week: 18

Sunday: Lost to Denver Broncos 34-18

The only Raiders player in the top 75 in fantasy scoring this year won’t be a Raider much longer. Davante Adams (14.97 ppg) is 53rd in fantasy scoring but sat out Sunday with a hamstring injury and has asked to be traded. The only bright spot for Las Vegas is rookie tight end Brock Bowers, who is 76th in fantasy scoring (13.3). The Raiders replaced quarterback Gardner Minshew with Aidan O’Connell for the second time on Sunday.

Up next: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

Veteran quarterback Joe Flacco has played well for the Colts in place of the injured Anthony Richardson. (Nathan Ray Seebeck / Imagn Images)

Last week: 17

Sunday: Lost to Jacksonville Jaguars 37-34

Joe Flacco hasn’t played enough to qualify for the official fantasy scoring rankings. If he did, he’d be 11th in the league (20.8). Flacco, whose average draft position was 339, was 33-for-44 for 359 yards and three touchdowns Sunday against the Jaguars. You think the Cleveland Browns would like that back in the building this year?

Up next: at Tennessee Titans, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

GO DEEPER

Colts defense looks broken in loss that spoiled heroic efforts of Joe Flacco, Alec Pierce

26. Los Angeles Rams (1-4)

Last week: 22

Sunday: Lost to Green Bay Packers 24-19

Sean McVay is just showing off at this point when it comes to wide receiver development. With Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua out with injuries, sixth-round pick Jordan Whittington is 75th in fantasy scoring (14.05 ppg) in the last two weeks. Whittington had seven catches for 89 yards in Sunday’s loss.

Up next: Bye

27. Tennessee Titans (1-3)

Last week: 28

Sunday: Bye

The Titans made headlines when they signed Calvin Ridley to a four-year, $92 million contract in the offseason. In return, they have gotten nine catches for 141 yards. Ridley is the 53rd most-valuable fantasy wide receiver this season (9.3 ppg). In the last two games, he’s totaled two catches for 14 yards. Ridley’s production certainly is Will Levis-related. Tennessee’s quarterback is 166th in fantasy scoring (7.81 ppg) and is averaging 1.5 interceptions per game.

Up next: vs. Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

Last week: 31

Sunday: Beat New England Patriots 15-10

Tyreek Hill, who was drafted third on average, is averaging 10.74 fantasy points per game. That’s his lowest average through five weeks since 2019, when he played only six snaps in Weeks 1-5. The good news is it appears Tua Tagovailoa will return this season. The bad news is running back De’Von Achane, who is Miami’s leading fantasy player (13.98 ppg), left Sunday’s game after hitting his head on the turf.

Up next: Bye

29. New England Patriots (1-4)

Last week: 26

Sunday: Lost to Miami Dolphins 15-10

The Patriots’ most productive fantasy player is running back Rhamondre Stevenson, which explains a lot. Stevenson is the 80th-most valuable player in the league, averaging 13.3 points per game. Backup running back Antonio Gibson is next at 176th. No wide receiver is ranked higher than Demario Douglas at No. 193. There’s a reason this team has lost four straight and is 31st in the league in scoring (12.4).

Up next: vs. Houston Texans, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

30. Carolina Panthers (1-4)

Last week: 27

Sunday: Lost to Chicago Bears 36-10

We should all leave Bryce Young alone at some point, but one more thing. Young totaled 14.72 fantasy points in his two starts this season. Andy Dalton is averaging 14.67 per game since taking over as the starter. Running back Chuba Hubbard has been a bright spot. He’s 37th in scoring (16.1) after being drafted 129th on average.

Up next: vs. Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

31. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-4)

Last week: 32

Sunday: Beat Indianapolis Colts 37-34

Let’s celebrate the Jaguars’ first win of the season by focusing on the positive. Brian Thomas Jr. is 35th in fantasy scoring (16.2 ppg), which is second-best among rookie wide receivers behind only Malik Nabers. Thomas, whose draft position was 118th, is sixth in the league in receiving yards (397) and is second in yards per reception (18) among receivers with more than 20 catches.

Up next: vs. Chicago Bears, Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET (London)

32. Cleveland Browns (1-4)

Last week: 30

Sunday: Lost to Washington Commanders 34-13

Browns fans can only wish this season was some kind of dystopian fantasy. After Sunday’s game, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said “we’re not changing quarterbacks” even though pretty much everyone thinks they should. Deshaun Watson, who is actually outplaying his fantasy draft position if anybody cared (and nobody does), is 28th among starters in passer rating (74.8). Watson’s struggles are the biggest reason wide receiver Amari Cooper is only 114th in fantasy scoring (10.6 ppg) after being drafted 54th.

Up next: at Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

(Top photo of Jayden Daniels: Timothy Nwachukwu / Getty Images)

Culture

Alabama football’s Malachi Moore won’t be suspended for outburst vs. Vanderbilt

Published

18 hours ago

October 9, 2024

Press Room

Alabama football’s Malachi Moore won’t be suspended for outburst vs. Vanderbilt

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama defensive back Malachi Moore will not receive a suspension for his late-game outburst against Vanderbilt and will start on Saturday against South Carolina, according to coach Kalen DeBoer. Moore’s actions included throwing his mouthpiece, appearing to refuse to be subbed out during the final moments of the game and subsequently kicking the ball, which resulted in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

Moore, a fifth-year senior and team captain, took to social media on Monday morning to issue a public apology:

pic.twitter.com/szVMOk86Kb
— Kinggchi👑 (@malachi_moore13) October 7, 2024

On Monday, defensive coordinator Kane Wommack’s perspective was that the decision to try to substitute Moore was to give him an opportunity to calm down on the sidelines. But Wommack noted that it might not have been the right time to do that.

“He really does things to the level and the standard that we want them to,” Wommack said. “At that moment, he got a little bit emotional, so we were going to try to settle him down just a little bit. Sometimes, in those situations, it’s better to let them calm down at a later time. But again, I thought he’s handled things really well since that point and has taken the level of accountability that Coach DeBoer implemented. He’s done a really good job moving forward.”

The situation was described as being handled internally. DeBoer was effusive in his praise of Moore’s character on Monday. Moore was a stabilizing force in keeping Alabama’s roster together during the head coaching transition, which is largely why he, Jalen Milroe, Tyler Booker and Deontae Lawson were named permanent captains before the season began.

“What he did, he has gone above and beyond in taking ownership in it,” DeBoer said. “Immediately after the game to (Monday) morning, things that are all prompted by him but also part of just our conversations.

“The thing I want to make sure Bama fans know is that this guy has been rock solid and been a critical, critical piece — along with others; there are some others as well — of keeping this thing together since January. When a lot of guys chose to leave, this guy stood firm. This guy loves Alabama football. And yeah, there were some things that he regrets and wishes he probably didn’t do, yeah. But he’s owned up to it, and we’ve handled it internally and are still handling it internally.”

📺Our co-host, former Alabama RB Damien Harris (@DHx34), rips Alabama DB Malachi Moore for his tantrum against Vanderbilt.
“What you did on that field was complete and utter bull****. You are a two-time captain.”
On tmrw’s Until Saturday: https://t.co/2rlzM0YjjQ @davidubben pic.twitter.com/ZZnjgNMsfn
Advertisement

— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) October 7, 2024

Oatis to enter portal

During Monday’s news conference, a report surfaced via ESPN that Jehiem Oatis plans to redshirt for the remainder of the season and enter the transfer portal. Oatis recorded two tackles and one pass deflection in four games this season and wasn’t credited with any snaps against Vanderbilt per Pro Football Focus. He will have two years of eligibility remaining.

“Felt like it was going that way,” DeBoer said. “I think the thing you also have to understand is there’s other elements to this, right. There’s health elements. There’s life elements. I love these guys. They work hard. Jehiem’s choices and things — there’s reasons for that. He notified and has notified and continued to be in communication here with us. Kind of felt like it was maybe going that direction — not just today or yesterday or here in the last few days.

“We move forward with the guys that really are able to help us win and focus on our program. As we go through this, I don’t want to put finality to it, but you’re always going to want what’s best for all people, and Jehiem’s one of them.”

Oatis, a former four-star recruit, earned a significant role and All-SEC Freshman honors in his first season in 2022. He was projected for a breakout year in 2023, but injuries slowed his progress, and injuries continued to linger through spring practice and into the summer. Alabama’s defensive line rotation is fairly deep with six players earning significant snaps weekly (Tim Keenan, Tim Smith, Jah-Marien Latham, LT Overton, Damon Payne and James Smith), but Oatis is a notable loss due to his size, experience and production when fully healthy.

“I think for Jehiem, obviously, he’s been battling some injuries,” Wommack said. “Has not been able to perform or produce the way that any of us would like. But my focus is really on the players that are going to do everything they can to help us to win football games. So that’s really where my focus is right now.”

(Photo: Todd Kirkland / Getty Images)

Culture

Video: How Book Bans Happen Under the Radar

Published

1 day ago

October 8, 2024

Press Room

Video: How Book Bans Happen Under the Radar

Thousands of books have been publicly challenged and removed from libraries in the past couple of years. Elizabeth Harris, who covers books and the publishing industry for The New York Times, explains how books are being pulled from libraries in a quiet process called weeding. Weeding normally allows librarians to keep collections current, but some lawsuits argue that it has been used instead to remove books for content about racism, sexuality and gender.