What’s the biggest difference between fantasy football and the National Football League? Other than the fact that fantasy owners are generally more upstanding citizens than real NFL owners?

That’s easy: You cannot win a Super Bowl championship without an A-plus performance at the QB position. But countless armchair experts have won fantasy titles with less-than sterling quarterback play.

The consensus of the “experts” says there are five top-tier QBs: Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson, Buffalo’s Josh Allen, Washington’s Jayden Daniels, Philly’s Jalen Hurts and Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow.

Notice a name missing there? How about three-time Super Bowl winner Patrick Mahomes. Fantasy mavens can grab him with a middle-round draft pick and laugh all the way to the bank.

How about Denver’s Bo Nix, Arizona’s Kyler Murray or Dallas’ Dak Prescott? You can grab them even later in your drafts and concentrate your early picks on running backs and pass catchers.

Here’s our list of other players that we’re pretty enthusiastic about, at least more than the “experts” are. We’ll start off with QBs you can get even later on draft day.

Our fave quarterbacks

Justin Fields (Jets) — If you haven’t noticed, Fields’ running ability has made him a consistent fantasy performer when he’s starting, like he was early last season in Pittsburgh. He’s got the job to himself with the J-E-T-S, and he could run for double-digit touchdowns. Really.

New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields (7) participates during an NFL football practice in Florham Park, N.J., Thursday, May 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Justin Herbert (Chargers) — How can one be underrated after averaging 4,200 yards and 27 TDs over his first five seasons? Sure, Herbert has been throwing less since Jim Harbaugh came to SoFi. But he’s getting better, throwing only 10 interceptions over the past two seasons.

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) during the second half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Jared Goff (Lions) — Were it not for a number of Detroit blowouts where he rested on the bench late, Goff would have topped 5,000 yards last season. He doesn’t have coordinator whiz Ben Johnson around, but Goff still has the most talented set of offensive weapons in the NFL.

FILE – Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) passes against the Washington Commanders during an NFL football divisional playoff game, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski, File)

Others — Tua Tagovailoa (Dolphins), Bryce Young (Panthers)

Our fave running backs

Derrick Henry (Ravens) — Over the past seven seasons, The King has averaged nearly 1,500 yards and 14 TDs. And he was just 79 yards short last season of becoming the first-ever two-time 2,000-yard rusher. Yet there’s a half-dozen RBs ranked higher? Now THAT is fake news.

Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) breaks away from Houston Texans safety Calen Bullock during an NFL football game Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Kyren Williams (Rams) — Another dependable scorer who has somehow slipped below more trendy RBs. More than 3,000 total yards and 31 touchdowns over the past two seasons. Sean McVay’s meal ticket is an absolute steal at the end of the second round where you’ll find him.

Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams runs against the New York Jets during the second half of an NFL football game in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

D’Andre Swift (Bears) — No RB has been more consistent, yet more TD deprived, than Swift, going back to his days in Philly when he lost countless goal-line opportunities to the Tush Pushers. Good chance things improve being reunited with new coach Ben Johnson.

Minnesota Vikings linebackers Blake Cashman (51) and Andrew Van Ginkel (43) contain Chicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift (4) in the third quarter of a NFL football game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)

Jordan Mason (Vikings) — Kevin O’Connell has already made it clear he considers Mason and veteran Aaron Jones to be a tandem. So even if this former 49er is the 1B option, he will post career-best numbers. Don’t be surprised when Mason becomes goal-line option No. 1.

Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason (27) grips the ball tight he rushes for a first down in the first quarter of a NFL preseason football game against the Houston Texans at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)

Javonte Williams (Cowboys) — Want to throw a dart at somebody outside the top 30? Can’t do better than the presumed No. 1 back in Dallas. A perennial disappointment in Denver, he has almost no competition in the Boys’ backfield. Another guy who will have a career-best season.

Denver Broncos’ Javonte Williams runs during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Others — Kenneth Walker III (Seahawks), Tony Pollard (Titans), Jaylen Warren (Steelers)

Our fave receivers

Tyreek Hill (Dolphins) — The most jaw-dropping stat of 2024 is that, after the opener, Hill did not catch a single pass of more than 30 yards. Now he’s out of the top 10 WRs. No chance that drought continues, especially since a chastened Cheetah says he’s in best shape of his career.

Tyreek Hill #10 of the Miami Dolphins in action against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Hard Rock Stadium on Sept. 08, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Ladd McConkey (Chargers) — No rookie improved more during last season, and McConkey looked all-world with his 197-yard playoff debut. He’s Herbert’s No. 1 option by a mile and will likely finish in NFL top 10 in targets. And, we’re guessing, in yards and TDs, too.

New England Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones (31) battles with Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey (15) during the second half an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper)

D.K. Metcalf (Steelers) — How is this guy not ranked in the top 20 now that he’s destined to be Aaron Rodgers’ new favorite? Metcalf’s stats were always held back some in Seattle because there were many mouths to feed. He might double the seven TDs he posted last season.

DK Metcalf #14 of the Seattle Seahawks reacts against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Dec. 01, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

George Pickens (Cowboys) — Meanwhile, the occasional malcontent Metcalf replaced in the Steel City has landed on his feet in Dallas, playing opposite the incomparable CeeDee Lamb. Pickens will see only single coverage this season, making him a middle-round steal.

FILE – Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) runs after a catch during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Durisko)

Cooper Kupp (Seahawks) — He’s not a Super Bowl MVP anymore, but come on. He’s being rated barely in the top 40, now that he has downgraded from Matthew Stafford to Sam Darnold. If he can stay healthy, Kupp could be a top candidate for comeback player of the year.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) talks with quarterback Sam Darnold (14) during an NFL football minicamp Monday, June 2, 2025, at the training facility in Renton, Wash. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Others — Davante Adams (Rams), Rome Odunze (Bears), Marvin Harrison Jr. (Cardinals)

Our fave tight ends

Travis Kelce (Chiefs) — Another old dude claiming to be in the best shape of his career, Kelce has dropped out of the top five after a decade as the No. 1 tight end. Mr. Swift will be one of the Chiefs who will strongly bounce back after absorbing their Super Bowl humiliation.

Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs kisses Taylor Swift after defeating the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime during Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium on Feb. 11, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Kyle Pitts (Falcons) — Remember when he was one of the top rookie prospects? Just four years ago. And few have been as underwhelming, with only 10 career TD catches. But with a full season with Michael Penix at QB, you could do worse than taking a last-round flyer on Pitts.

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts (8) catches the ball before an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024 in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)

Isaiah Likely (Ravens) — Another TE you can get very late, in part, because of his injured foot. But he caught a TD pass in three of the Ravens’ last five games in ‘24, and it’s only a matter of time until he supplants Mark Andrews as the Baltimore starter.

Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely warms up before an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Others — T.J. Hockenson (Vikings), Evan Engram (Broncos)

Coming next Sunday

The spirit of Nipsey Russell will be with us all when we present the “Match Game” legend-inspired NFL preview.

NEW YORK – DECEMBER 14: Actor Nipsey Russell (1924 – 2005) and his guest attend “The Aviator” film premiere on December 14, 2004 at the Zeigfeld Theatre in New York City. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images)

You can hear Kevin Cusick on Wednesdays on Bob Sansevere’s “BS Show” podcast on iTunes. You can follow Kevin on X — @theloopnow. He can be reached at kcusick@pioneerpress.com.

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By JAIMIE DING, Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Menendez brothers will make their cases for parole starting Thursday, marking the closest they’ve been to winning freedom from prison since their convictions almost 30 years ago for murdering their parents.

Erik and Lyle Menendez were sentenced in 1996 to life in prison for fatally shooting their father, Jose Menendez, and mother, Kitty Menendez, in their Beverly Hills mansion in 1989. While defense attorneys argued the brothers acted out of self-defense after years of sexual abuse by their father, prosecutors said the brothers sought a multimillion-dollar inheritance.

They became eligible for parole after a Los Angeles judge in May reduced their sentences from life in prison without the possibility of parole to 50 years to life, making them immediately eligible under California law because they were under the ages of 26 when they committed their crimes.

But even if the board grants their parole, it could be months before the brothers walk free — if at all.

Hearing for Erik Menendez is first, followed by Lyle Menendez

A panel of parole hearing officers will evaluate the brothers individually. Erik Menendez will have his hearing Thursday morning, followed by Lyle Menendez on Friday. They will appear over videoconference from prison in San Diego.

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The board will assess whether the brothers pose an “unreasonable risk of danger to society” if released, considering factors such as criminal history, motivation for the crime, signs of remorse, behavior while in prison and plans for the future, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

If the board grants each brother’s parole, the chief legal counsel has 120 days to review the case. Then Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has 30 days to affirm or deny the parole. Newsom had previously ordered the state parole board to conduct a risk assessment of the brothers in response to a clemency request. He hasn’t said if he’s likely to support parole, but he has denied recommendations in high-profile cases in the past — most notably for Sirhan Sirhan, who assassinated presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy in 1968.

Erik and Lyle Menendez have the support of their relatives, who are expected to deliver statements at their hearings.

“For more than 35 years, they have shown sustained growth,” their family said in a statement. “They’ve taken full accountability. They express sincere remorse to our family to this day and have built a meaningful life defined by purpose and service.”

Case is featured in documentaries, TV specials and dramatizations

The case has captured the attention of true crime enthusiasts for decades and spawned documentaries, television specials and dramatizations. The Netflix drama “ Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story ” and a documentary released in 2024 have been credited for bringing new attention to the brothers. A greater recognition of the brothers as victims of sexual abuse has also helped amass a legion of supporters who seek their release. Some have flown to Los Angeles to hold rallies and attend court hearings.

FILE – Lyle, left, and Erik Galen Menendez sit in a Beverly Hills, Calif., courtroom, May 14, 1990. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian, File)

The previous LA County district attorney first opened the door to possible freedom for the brothers last fall by asking a judge to reduce their sentences. The judge’s decision to ultimately resentence the brothers followed months of pushback from current prosecutors.

LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said ahead of the parole hearings that he opposes parole for the brothers because they have “not demonstrated full insight into their crimes,” comparing them to Sirhan. Newsom denied him parole in January 2022 because of his “deficient insight.”

Insight means taking full responsibility for a crime and understanding the factors that led you to commit the crime, such as anger, inability to handle stress, and substance abuse, said Michael Beckman, a lawyer specialized in parole hearings.

Recent rules violations could have consequences for the brothers

Erik and Lyle’s college degrees, participation in volunteer programs and support groups, and the fact that Lyle has not been in a single fight in prison are all positive factors for their release, he said.

But recent rules violations could have major consequences for the brothers. In May, Hochman revealed details from a confidential risk assessment report that said Lyle was cited for having a cellphone several times in 2024, and Erik was found with a cellphone this January.

“The board is really big on the philosophy that if you can’t follow the rules in prison, you can’t follow the rules in free society,” Beckman said. “Add to that that cellphones are one of the three big bad rules violations along with violence and substance abuse.”

Ultimately, Beckman noted that parole decisions come down to individual commissioners, who might weigh the brothers’ cases based on factors like their celebrity status or family members’ support.

The state corrections department has selected one media representative to view the proceedings virtually and share notes with the rest of the press at set intervals.

By ALLEN G. BREED and JOHN SEEWER, Associated Press

RODANTHE, N.C. (AP) — Hurricane Erin battered North Carolina’s Outer Banks with strong winds and waves that flooded part of the main highway and surged under beachfront homes as the monster storm slowly began to move away from the East Coast on Thursday.

Forecasters predicted the storm would peak Thursday and said it could regain strength and once again become a major hurricane, Category 3 or greater, but it was not forecast to make landfall along the East Coast before turning farther out to sea.

Tropical storm conditions were in effect over parts of the Outer Banks and the coast of Virginia, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said. In Bermuda, residents and tourists were told to stay out of the water with rough seas expected through Friday.

As Erin’s outer bands brushed the Outer Banks, water poured onto the main route connecting the barrier islands and a handful of stilted homes precariously perched above the beach. By Wednesday evening, officials had closed Highway 12 on Hatteras Island as the surge increased and waves rose. The road remained closed Thursday. Ocracoke Island’s connection to its ferry terminal was cut off.

Authorities predicted that the largest swells during high tide would cut off villages and homes on the Outer Banks and whip up life-threatening rip currents from Florida to New England.

Beaches were closed to swimming Wednesday and Thursday in New York City, and some others in New Jersey, Maryland and Delaware were temporarily off-limits. Widespread, moderate coastal flooding was forecast for low-lying areas of Long Island and parts of New York City.

Off Massachusetts, Nantucket Island could see waves of more than 10 feet this week. But the biggest threat remained along the Outer Banks where longtime residents didn’t seem too concerned.

This image provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows Hurricane Erin on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. (NOAA via AP)

“I remember taking canoes out of my front yard to get to school, so I don’t think it’s gonna be that bad,” said Jacob Throne, who lives on Hatteras Island and works for surf shops.

Despite beach closures elsewhere, some swimmers continued to ignore the warnings. Rescuers saved more than a dozen people caught in rip currents Tuesday at Wrightsville Beach in North Carolina, a day after more than 80 people were rescued.

Bob Oravec, a National Weather Service forecaster, said that even if someone thinks they know how to handle a rip current, it’s not safe.

“You can be aware all you want,” he said. “It can still be dangerous.”

A combination of fierce winds and huge waves estimated at about 20 feet could cause coastal flooding in many beachfront communities, North Carolina officials warned.

“Dangerous conditions can be felt far from the eye, especially with a system as large as Erin,” said Will Ray, the state’s emergency management director.

Dozens of beach homes already worn down from chronic erosion and protective dunes could be at risk, said David Hallac, superintendent of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

Most residents decided to stay despite evacuations ordered on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands.

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“We probably wouldn’t stay if it was coming directly at us,” said Rob Temple, who operates sailboat cruises on Ocracoke.

His biggest concern was whether the main route would wash out and if tourists and delivery trucks may be cut off from the thin stretch of low-lying islands, which are increasingly vulnerable to storm surges.

Erin has become an unusually large and deceptively worrisome system, with tropical storm-force winds spreading across 500 miles — roughly the distances from New York City to Pittsburgh.

It remained a Category 2 hurricane early Thursday with maximum sustained winds around 105 mph, the hurricane center said. Erin was about 205 miles east-southeast of Cape Hatteras and moving north-northeast at 17 mph.

The hurricane center was also watching two tropical disturbances far out in the Atlantic that could develop into named storms in the coming days. With thousands of miles of warm ocean water, hurricanes known as Cape Verde storms are some of the most dangerous that threaten North America.

Climate scientists say Atlantic hurricanes are now much more likely to rapidly intensify into powerful and catastrophic storms, fueled by warmer oceans.

Seewer reported from Toledo, Ohio. Associated Press journalists Jeffrey Collins in Columbia, South Carolina; Gary Robertson in Raleigh, North Carolina; Ben Finley in Norfolk, Virginia; Dave Collins in Hartford, Connecticut; Hallie Golden in Seattle; and Julie Walker in New York contributed to this report.

Don’t mock Mississippi, learn from it

The Ciresi Walburn Foundation, whose mission is to promote educational and equitable opportunities for all Minnesota children, launched a new billboard campaign last week that misses the mark. The ad reads: “Minnesota Nice. Mississippi Smarter. Let’s teach kids to read!”

There’s no denying the problem the foundation seeks to highlight. Reading proficiency in Minnesota has dropped sharply since COVID-19. Today, only about half of students are reading at grade level. High school proficiency is at a decade low, and Minnesota has slipped in national rankings. Even more troubling are the persistent achievement gaps: Black, Hispanic, and American Indian students are far less likely to meet reading standards than their white peers. These inequities demand urgent attention.

But mocking Mississippi is not the way forward. Mississippi is one of the poorest states in the nation and has the highest percentage of Black residents. Suggesting it’s somehow “embarrassing” that Mississippi students outperform ours carries racist undertones, as if the state’s demographics should automatically predict failure. That message is not only offensive — it’s wrong.

Decades of research show that race and poverty are not destiny when it comes to achievement. Mississippi has made real progress by investing in evidence-based literacy instruction and teacher training. Their students are improving because of intentional policies, not in spite of who they are. Rather than belittling them, Minnesota should be learning from their example.

We cannot afford to waste energy on stereotypes or smug comparisons. Our children deserve real solutions. That means facing the data honestly, closing opportunity gaps, and adopting proven practices. If we truly want every Minnesota child to read at grade level, we need leadership and investment — not billboards that punch down on other states.

Charlie Braman, Edina

Ukraine attacks. too

A headline in Wednesday’s paper, “Before diplomatic meetings, Russia keeps bombing,” shows the liberal bias and leaves us with misleading information unless you read the entire article. Yes, Russia continues to bomb, but you have to get to the second-to-last paragraph to see that Ukraine has also “escalated attacks”. It only makes sense that if you are negotiating, that you continue your current position and operation.

Ron Wobbeking, Hastings

Appeasement

We just witnessed one of the most embarrassing acts of appeasement and capitulation since Neville Chamberlain allowed Hitler to annex part of Czechoslovakia leading up to WWII. For the tough-guy image Donald Trump likes to portray, he looked like a flabby lap dog next to the strutting Vladimir Putin.

We watched as a murdering, kidnapping war criminal and dictator received a red-carpet reception on American soil. Let that sink in. Our president just welcomed a former KGB officer turned dictator who murdered several of his opponents, kidnapped Ukrainian children, and ordered the bombing of civilian targets, with all the lavish hospitality and courtesy of someone deserving of our country’s honor and respect.

This international pariah, whose goal is to destroy American democracy and the NATO alliance, just outmaneuvered our president at every level and regained legitimacy on the world stage at our nation’s expense. I was embarrassed for our military personnel who had to stand by while our president humiliated himself and our country before America’s number one adversary.

Greg Kvaal, Mendota Heights

The value of a single human being

The picture of a woman holding her severely malnourished daughter at a hospital in the Gaza Strip (Aug. 15) is heart-breaking beyond words and epitomizes the horrors and utter madness of the conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere around the world that victimize the most innocent among us.

Is this what life is all about, an unending struggle for basic human needs amidst a constant barrage of bombs, bullets and the acrimonious threats and accusations from the powers that be?

With daily stories giving updates on the deaths, injuries and destruction, it’s easy to become numb, even indifferent, to the carnage and suffering from the raging conflicts. But seeing the picture of that sweet girl clinging to her mother with a look of haunting sadness makes us realize the value of a single human being.

English poet John Donne famously wrote, “Any man’s death diminishes me because I am involved in mankind. And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee.”

Louis DiSanto, St. Paul

An homage to Coach Thole

On Aug. 6 legendary Stillwater Area High School football coach George Thole passed away. Coach Thole came to Stillwater in 1971, and to the then-quaint, small St. Croix River town community he brought a whole new attitude and approach to high school athletics.

Prior to George’s arrival, the Ponies had enjoyed modest success in several sports … golf, tennis, swimming, to name a few, but wins on the gridiron had always been elusive. Coach Thole, along with assistants like Coaches Foley, Meyer, Drommerhausen and Klancher, immediately instilled a new work ethic in the team … along with then-relatively-new weight training, and the famous “Bayport Veer” offense, which was taught to area youngsters coming up in the program to develop the continuity required to operate it once they became varsity players.

Coach Thole also had high expectations for each new team he welcomed in the fall, and made sure his team shared those high expectations. Hard work and winning weren’t just hoped for, they were expected. Coach Thole and the Ponies won their first of four state championships just four years after his arrival in Stillwater, beating Richfield High School at Parade Stadium on a surprise halfback-option pass involving players Butterfield and De St.Aubin, and suddenly Pony football was on the map. What to do on a fall Friday night in Stillwater was no longer in question, and crowds of upward of 5,000 fans would pack Miller Field. It was a regular occurrence when the Ponies played an away game for the home team to be dramatically outnumbered by the traveling Pony faithful.

As the Stillwater football team began its dominant run, other school sports teams seemed inspired, and under coaches like Christiansen and Podolske in track and field, Olson and Johnson in soccer, Luke and Madeline in swimming and diving, Pavlovich in softball, Parchetta in skiing , Michels in baseball, and Mutschler in basketball, conference and state titles have been won.

Coach Thole has been inducted into several sports Halls of Fame, he has left a lasting impression on those he coached, and his record will be difficult to surpass. To this writer, however, one of his most significant accomplishments was how through his coaching and teaching he managed to raise the level of self-esteem of an entire community. So proud to be a Stillwater Pony.

Mike Miller, Lakeland

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