Sports
Ready for Sunday? We have last-minute Week 2 sleepers, surprises, trends to watch and more
Week 2 of the 2025 NFL season is here, and our NFL analysts have you covered at the 11th hour. Don’t miss our last-minute prep for a loaded slate.
First, analytics writer Seth Walder breaks down three stat trends that could be pivotal this weekend. Then fantasy football writer Eric Moody runs through five players who are rostered in under 50% of ESPN fantasy football leagues as of Saturday and could be started in a jam. That’s followed by NFL analyst Ben Solak predicting three potentially big surprises and NFL analyst Matt Bowen picking one key matchup to watch. Finally, sports betting analyst Pamela Maldonado gives her favorite bet of Week 2.
Can J.J. McCarthy find ways to beat Jessie Bates III in the Vikings’ pass game? Does Juwan Johnson have fantasy upside this week? Could James Conner have a big rushing day? And which NFC South team could pull an upset? Let’s dive in.
Jump to:
Stat trends | Fantasy sleepers
Potential surprises | Key matchup
Best bet of the week
Walder: Three key stat trends that could determine Week 2 winners
Can QB Caleb Williams fix accuracy issues against the Lions?
Williams’ accuracy woes were on full display in Week 1. He recorded a 29% off-target rate and a negative-13% completion percentage over expectation (CPOE), which were both the worst among all quarterbacks per NFL Next Gen Stats.
What stands out the most about Williams’ career accuracy numbers is that the problems are particularly pronounced when throwing outside the numbers. He actually is roughly average when throwing between the numbers, with a 0% CPOE since the start of last season. But outside the numbers, that drops to minus-4%. And his 28% off-target rate outside the numbers is outdone only by Colts QB Anthony Richardson Sr.
In general, this actually makes me slightly more bullish on Chicago because of Williams’ new coach. No team threw more between the numbers last season than Ben Johnson’s Lions. But facing Detroit’s defense might not be the ideal matchup. The Lions faced throws between the numbers only 46% of the time last season, the third-lowest rate in the league. We don’t yet know if the Lions will deter middle-of-the-field targets in the same way under new defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard, but the pattern largely held Week 1 against Green Bay (41% of targets between the numbers).
Can the Rams’ interior line hold off Titans DT Jeffery Simmons?
Injuries hit the Rams hard at guard in Week 1, with both Steve Avila and Kevin Dotson getting hurt in that game (though Avila returned in Dotson’s stead). Both are now week-to-week, and if at least one cannot play, that presumably means Beaux Limmer will step in again. Limmer played 870 snaps at center as a rookie, but his guard debut was shaky last week. He was beaten clean by Folorunso Fatukasi for a sack. The matchup will be tougher this time around against Simmons and the Titans.
Simmons ranked 10th in pass rush win rate as an interior rusher last season (12%) and eighth in Week 1 (14%). He would be a threat to QB Matthew Stafford against even the best guards, so this could be a challenging day with the Rams’ backups in there.
Will the Texans get their running game going against the Buccaneers?
Houston’s change at offensive coordinator from Bobby Slowik to Nick Caley has meant a dramatic shift in the team’s run scheme. The Texans ran outside zone 47% of the time last season (sixth-most) and barely any duo (8%) — but the team’s duo rate jumped to a league-high 55% in Week 1 this season.
This change in scheme might not be ideal this week. Since the start of last season, the Buccaneers have allowed just 3.5 yards per carry against duo runs — third-lowest in the league. Perhaps it’s just variance due to a small sample, but it also might be a credit to the players on the defensive front under Todd Bowles (especially Vita Vea). Tampa Bay hasn’t had much turnover from last season’s defensive front (edge rusher Haason Reddick was the only major addition), so this strength should continue.
Moody: Five fantasy sleepers you need to pick up — and can start this week
Cedric Tillman, WR, Cleveland Browns (46.1% rostered)
Tillman saw eight targets and posted 16.2 fantasy points against the Bengals in Week 1, matching wide receiver Jerry Jeudy in snaps and routes. With quarterback Joe Flacco projected for a lot of passing volume and Cleveland likely playing from behind versus Baltimore, Tillman remains firmly on the flex radar in most leagues.
Juwan Johnson, TE, New Orleans Saints (37.6% rostered)
Johnson led the Saints in receiving against the Cardinals with eight receptions for 76 yards, hinting at a big role in new coach Kellen Moore’s offense. With no Taysom Hill (torn ACL) in the mix, Johnson could remain a reliable target and sneaky sleeper despite a tough 49ers matchup.
Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jaguars (36.1% rostered)
I had Lawrence in this section last week, but he didn’t have to do much against the Panthers since the Jaguars built a huge lead and leaned heavily on running back Travis Etienne Jr. Lawrence should outperform his 10.3 fantasy points from the opener in Week 2, as the Bengals-Jaguars game is expected to be one of the higher-scoring games on the slate. Jacksonville will likely rely on the passing game against Cincinnati, especially targeting wide receivers Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter.
Michael Penix Jr., QB, Atlanta Falcons (26.8% rostered)
Penix was superb in the season opener against the Buccaneers, finishing with 24.0 fantasy points. The second-year QB showed solid command of the Falcons’ offense in just his fourth career start. Wide receiver Darnell Mooney‘s status is uncertain (shoulder), but Drake London is expected to play against the Vikings after leaving the Week 1 game early with his own shoulder injury. The Bears’ Caleb Williams posted 24.2 fantasy points against Minnesota’s defense, so Penix has the potential for a similar performance.
Kareem Hunt, RB, Kansas City Chiefs (20.3% rostered)
Running back Isiah Pacheco didn’t have the Chiefs’ backfield on lockdown against the Chargers, playing just 51% of snaps and logging seven touches for 4.8 fantasy points. Hunt basically matched him with seven touches and 4.6 fantasy points in fewer snaps (38%). Hunt is capable of contributing as a runner, receiver and blocker; he can also handle short-yardage and goal-line work. Since his fantasy projection against the Eagles isn’t far off from Pacheco’s, it might be worth taking a risk on Hunt this weekend.
Solak: Don’t be surprised if …
The Bears run a trick play. There were no classic Ben Johnson whirligig plays against the Vikings (end-of-game prayer notwithstanding). But against his former team in Week 2, I would wager Johnson has something goofy planned. Nothing embarrasses a defense quite like a receiver throwing a touchdown pass to an offensive tackle (or something like that).
The Bills score 40-plus points again. The Jets’ secondary was a mess against the Steelers — corners falling down, blown coverage assignments and missed tackles. The last time Josh Allen‘s Bills played Aaron Glenn’s defense, they put 48 on the Lions. All of the man coverage Glenn likes to run is an issue against a Bills team that trusts so many receivers to win matchups and has a deadly scrambling quarterback. If Justin Fields and the Jets’ rushing attack torch Buffalo’s shaky rush defense, this one could get crazy.
1:08
Schefter: ‘The road to the Super Bowl will go through Buffalo’
Adam Schefter and Damien Woody explain why the Bills are now the team to beat in the AFC.
Cardinals running back James Conner leads the league in rushing this week. Including last season, the Panthers have given up over 200 rushing yards in seven straight games. Now, they face a Cardinals team with one of the more creative rushing attacks in the league. It certainly doesn’t help that their new defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton is out for the next few weeks with a hamstring injury. If the Cardinals start to mount a large lead, Conner could rack up ridiculous garbage-time production.
Bowen: Key matchup to watch
Minnesota Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy vs. Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates III
McCarthy can benefit from the schemed throws in Kevin O’Connell’s offense, but identifying Bates post-snap will be a critical aspect of this game. With 14 interceptions over the past three seasons, Bates has the range and ball skills to make splash plays from both post and split-field alignments.
McCarthy played his best football in the second half of the Monday night win over the Bears, completing eight of 12 attempts for two touchdown passes (not to mention his third score on a designed rushing attempt). The poise and confidence is clearly there for the second-year QB returning from knee surgery. But he will be tested by Bates in the middle of the field Sunday night.
Maldonado: My favorite bet for Week 2
Tampa Bay Buccaneers +2.5 at Houston Texans
Houston’s offense isn’t fully clicking yet. Against the Rams, quarterback C.J. Stroud recorded 7.0 yards per pass attempt with no touchdowns to his depleted receiver room. And the team’s rebuilt offensive line gave up three sacks.
Meanwhile, Bucs QB Baker Mayfield quietly delivered enough explosive plays to wide receivers Emeka Egbuka and Mike Evans to defeat the Falcons. Running back Bucky Irving flashed efficiency, too, giving this offense balance. Defensively, the Texans are solid, but takeaways were their bread and butter last season (fifth-most in the NFL with 29). Though some regression is expected, they had none in Week 1.
The Bucs’ third-down success — 50% in Week 1 — could be the difference in a possession-driven game. Tampa Bay has the healthier skill players, steadier OL and more ways to win. I’m having flashbacks to the 2023 season, when Stroud threw five touchdowns and beat the Bucs by only two points. Back Tampa.
More than 200 days will have passed between the Florida Gators winning the 2024-25 national championship and the start of the 2025-26 men’s college basketball season, but the action finally returns on Nov. 3.
ESPN’s Jeff Borzello, Joe Lunardi and Myron Medcalf weigh in on storylines that could shape the new season — and they join Neil Paine in making their predictions for everything from the Final Four and conference winners to All-America teams and beyond.
Which teams could make the biggest jumps? Which Top 25 programs are primed for early NCAA tournament exits? They answer seven burning questions then make their picks below.
Jump to:
Championship picks, conference winner |
Awards, All-America predictions
Could Florida really repeat?
Borzello: Florida absolutely can run it back this season.
Todd Golden brings back his entire frontcourt, a dominant group led by potential first-round NBA draft picks Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh and starting center Rueben Chinyelu. Golden also added two bona fide playmakers from the transfer portal in Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee. Sure, there are some questions about depth — and whether Haugh can play full time at the 3 — but the talent of this starting five has few peers nationally, and Golden has proved he has the chops to win big games.
Medcalf: Florida can join the Gators team that achieved the same feat in 2006 and 2007.
Still, it’s important to note that this is a completely different squad with more questions than last season’s championship roster. Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin and Will Richard had a rare chemistry that was the foundation of the Gators’ 2025 title run. Martin was the new face in that trio, but he also had previously helped a team reach the Final Four (Florida Atlantic). Haugh, Fland and Lee will have to build that bond on the fly as Golden guides a starting five that will feature two point guards.
Lunardi: Don’t bet on a repeat in Gainesville.
Not because the Gators aren’t good enough but because winning 12 straight NCAA tournament games over two years is really, really hard. The fact that UConn did it in 2023 and 2024 makes the probability of back-to-back repeats less likely — not more. I still like Florida. A lot. But this is a case where you shouldn’t blame the messenger.
Will the SEC be as dominant as it was in 2024-25?
Borzello: The depth will be just as good, but it won’t be as powerful at the top.
Last season, the league produced two 1-seeds, two 2-seeds, a 3-seed and a 4-seed among its 14 NCAA tournament teams. With the expected improvement of LSU, we could see up to 15 teams fighting for tournament bids this season — and I would have at least 13 projected as of today. But it’s difficult to foresee four teams in the top eight again. Florida is a title contender and Kentucky isn’t far behind, but none of the other teams is a surefire Final Four threat.
Lunardi: It’s important to consider the laws of probability.
Is a conference likely to get better or worse after breaking the NCAA single-season bid record by three spots? Both on the court and team sheets, the SEC was every bit as dominant as the selection committee concluded its teams would be in the NCAA tournament. But there has to be at least some regression this season, if only because the uncommon sense of handing NCAA bids to teams that win only one-third of their conference games has undergone an offseason of heavy scrutiny. (As it should. No league is that good.)
Medcalf: It depends on your definition of dominant.
The SEC could again have a double-digit pool of representatives in the field on Selection Sunday, but it doesn’t have as many teams that could actually cut down the nets as last season. Florida and Kentucky are real contenders. It seems as if Tennessee, Alabama, Auburn and Arkansas could all be second-weekend teams too. Last season’s SEC, however, had three players who made the Associated Press’ All-America first team and one who made the third team. Those were dominant squads with star power.
Which team will make the biggest leap from 2024-25?
Borzello: NC State Wolfpack
Last season, we saw Dusty May and Pat Kelsey take over new programs and produce incredible turnarounds in Year 1, as their respective Michigan and Louisville squads jumped from eight wins to 27. This season, the best bet might be Will Wade and NC State. The Wolfpack went 12-19 overall last season, including 5-15 in the ACC, but Wade stockpiled a talented roster after taking over for Kevin Keatts in the spring. Led by potential All-American Darrion Williams, NC State finds itself inside my preseason top 25.
Lunardi: Iowa Hawkeyes
A season ago, Iowa missed its second straight NCAA tournament. As a result, Fran McCaffery now finds himself coaching at his alma mater, Penn. The deeper issue involved the Hawkeyes going three straight campaigns with a sub-150 defensive rating, costing them games despite considerable offensive talent. It was an anomaly in terms of approach in the Big Ten, one that new coach Ben McCollum figures to immediately solve. McCollum’s ultra-patient style and ultra-experienced imports will surprise in their new league and sneak into the tournament.
Medcalf: Washington Huskies
Last season, Washington finished 13-18 in Danny Sprinkle’s first year in Seattle, but a strong transfer class led by former USC teammates Desmond Claude and Wesley Yates III could put the Huskies in the bubble conversation in Sprinkle’s second campaign. Early matchups against Baylor, USC and UCLA will be great barometers for Washington and its new roster.
First Top 25 team to exit the NCAA tournament
Borzello: Creighton Bluejays
The only preseason AP Top 25 team that wasn’t in my preseason top 25 is Michigan State, but I’m not naive enough to bet against Tom Izzo, regardless of the seed he gets on Selection Sunday. So, I’ll go with Creighton. The Bluejays should be elite offensively, especially if Jackson McAndrew makes the leap I’m expecting. But they could really struggle on the defensive end of the floor, and the primary creators in the half court could be a work in progress. If things get tight in a tournament environment, it could spell an early exit.
Lunardi: Gonzaga Bulldogs
Gonzaga avoided a major hit when a judge in Washington’s Spokane County granted a preliminary injunction to Grand Canyon transfer Tyon Grant-Foster, allowing him to play this season. The hard-luck veteran is no longer in limbo to start the campaign, but the Bulldogs — who last season missed the Sweet 16 for the first time in a decade — still have legitimate backcourt concerns, ones that could lead to an even earlier tournament exit.
Medcalf: North Carolina Tar Heels
The Tar Heels have more depth and more overall talent, but they couldn’t avoid the bubble with AP All-American RJ Davis leading the way last season. Caleb Wilson is a five-star prospect who will have key transfers — including Henri Veesaar — around him, but North Carolina will have to prove things have changed before fans are ready to believe.
Most intriguing mid-major
Borzello: UNC Wilmington Seahawks
UNCW won 27 games last season and went to the NCAA tournament, but the Seahawks will be more talented this time around despite returning just one starter. I’m mostly fascinated by the way Takayo Siddle went about that reload: poaching good players from other teams around the Coastal Athletic Association. CJ Luster II transferred from Stony Brook, Christian May arrived from Towson, Jahnathan Lamothe from North Carolina A&T and Madison Durr from Monmouth. Siddle also upgraded the interior with Virginia Tech transfer Patrick Wessler, who scored 10 points in 18 minutes against Duke last season, as well as Binghamton transfer Gavin Walsh, one of the nation’s top rebounders. This team has a chance to go to a second straight NCAA tournament — and potentially win a game.
Lunardi: The Western Athletic Conference
I’m going with an entire mid-major conference in lieu of a single team — and it’s not necessarily for good reason. Only seven schools remain in the shrinking WAC, a conference with both a serious past and a negligible future. The early departure of Grand Canyon to the Mountain West leaves a gaping hole at the top — and only three teams that have ever made the NCAA tournament. Somebody has to qualify, at least in 2026, which should make for great short-term theater in the WAC.
Medcalf: St. Thomas-Minnesota Tommies
I’ll go with St. Thomas-Minnesota, a team that is eligible for the NCAA tournament for the first time after its transition from Division III to Division I athletics. The Tommies are the preseason pick to win the Summit League crown and potentially the conference tournament, which would make the team the first squad to go from Division III to Division I and secure an NCAA tournament berth. But it gets better. The supporters of this program are ready to spend (see: the new $175 million arena that opens next week) to make this private school in St. Paul the Gonzaga of the Upper Midwest. A run this season could put the Tommies on that path.
Athlete with outside shot to win Player of the Year
Borzello: Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’s
If we take out two returning All-Americans (Braden Smith and JT Toppin) and the top three freshmen (AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer), the next guy on my list would be Ejiofor. You could have made the case last season that the St. John’s big man was the most impactful player in the Big East, given his offensive rebounding, ability to draw fouls and influence defensively. The Red Storm should be right around the top five nationally this season and a legitimate Final Four contender — and if that comes to fruition, Ejiofor taking another step forward after last season’s breakout will be a major reason.
Lunardi: Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
Lendeborg is the right man in the right place at exactly the right time to possibly collect some major hardware. Last season, only two Division I players led their respective teams in the five major statistical categories (points, rebounds, assists, blocked shots and steals). One was Cooper Flagg; the other was Lendeborg at UAB. Now in a great spot at Michigan, Lendeborg’s number will be impossible to miss. That he could be the missing player for a legitimate Final Four contender is just a bonus.
Medcalf: Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas
John Calipari has a strong history with high-level point guards at this level. John Wall, Derrick Rose and Tyler Ulis were All-Americans under his leadership. If Acuff can be a high-level playmaker for an Arkansas team that competes for a spot in the SEC’s top tier, Acuff could enter the Player of the Year conversation.
Coach with the most at stake
Borzello: Hubert Davis, North Carolina
Davis is the highest-profile coach entering the season in a tenuous situation, and he happens to coach one of the blue bloods of the sport with one of the best jobs in the country. Through four seasons at the helm, he has been to a national championship game, won an ACC championship, earned a 1-seed and been to multiple Sweet 16s. But the expectations in Chapel Hill don’t drop, and a missed NCAA tournament in 2023 combined with last season’s inconsistent 11-seed have increased the pressure on Davis. There’s enough talent on the roster to cool his seat, but that was the case last season too.
» Read Borzello’s coaching hot seat guide
Lunardi: Rick Pitino, St. John’s
Pitino is 73 years old. He has won everything there is to win at virtually every level of basketball. One could argue his numbers since being selected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013 — a 221-72 record, a .754 winning percentage and six NCAA tournament bids in nine tries — make up their own HOF trajectory. What he hasn’t done is finish the job in his hometown. Two years with the New York Knicks half a lifetime ago and the past two with St. John’s have scratched an inch, certainly. But the chance to go out by winning really big with the Red Storm is very much on the table for Pitino in 2025-26. It could be his last, best chance.
Medcalf: Kelvin Sampson, Houston
It’s not like Sampson needs this; he has won 30 or more games in four consecutive seasons. He was within seconds of capturing the first national title of his career against Florida last season. And with the additions of three top-25 recruits, he’ll have the talent to get back to the final game of the campaign. At 70 years old, Sampson says he will always adapt, despite the changes in this game. He has proved he can do that. Yet few teams have had the five-year window he has enjoyed as a national title contender. This could be the season. And if it’s not, it could be difficult to get back to this stage with all of the real-time turbulence impacting college basketball.
CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTIONS
National champion
Borzello: Purdue
Lunardi: Michigan
Medcalf: Houston
Paine: Houston
Final Four
Borzello: Purdue, Florida, Louisville, BYU
Lunardi: Duke, Purdue, Michigan, UConn
Medcalf: Kentucky, Houston, Purdue, BYU
Paine: Houston, Purdue, Michigan, Florida
Conference winners
AWARDS PREDICTIONS
Player of the Year
Borzello: Braden Smith, Purdue
Lunardi: Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
Medcalf: Braden Smith, Purdue
Paine: JT Toppin, Texas Tech
Freshman of the Year
Borzello: Darryn Peterson, Kansas
Lunardi: AJ Dybantsa, BYU
Medcalf: AJ Dybantsa, BYU
Paine: Darryn Peterson, Kansas
Newcomer of the Year
Borzello: Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
Lunardi: Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
Medcalf: Darrion Williams, NC State
Paine: Bennett Stirtz, Iowa
» Read ESPN’s top 50 newcomer rankings
All-America teams
Borzello:
Braden Smith, Purdue
Darryn Peterson, Kansas
AJ Dybantsa, BYU
Cameron Boozer, Duke
JT Toppin, Texas Tech
Lunardi:
Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
JT Toppin, Texas Tech
Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue
AJ Dybantsa, BYU
Cameron Boozer, Duke
Medcalf:
Braden Smith, Purdue
JT Toppin, Texas Tech
AJ Dybantsa, BYU
Darryn Peterson, Kansas
Cameron Boozer, Duke
Paine:
Braden Smith, Purdue
Darryn Peterson, Kansas
Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
JT Toppin, Texas Tech
Graham Ike, Gonzaga
» Read Jay Bilas’ All-America predictions
Coach of the Year
Borzello: Pat Kelsey, Louisville
Lunardi: Dusty May, Michigan
Medcalf: Mark Pope, Kentucky
Paine: Matt Painter, Purdue
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
After Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier and Damon Jones were arrested last week due to their own alleged involvement in illegal gambling, speculation went around that Gilbert Arenas cooperated with authorities to implicate the NBA figures.
The former NBA star, who found himself in trouble during his playing days, was accused earlier this year of operating an illegal gambling ring from a home he owned in Southern California.
Shortly after his July arrest, Arenas, who pleaded not guilty, admitted that he would be “snitching.” But in a livestream on Friday, he reiterated he would only do so in his own case.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
NBA player Gilbert Arenas arrives at District of Columbia Court, Jan. 15, 2010 in Washington, D.C. (Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images)
Thus, Arenas denied any involvement in the most recent case.
“I don’t know what this gotta do with my case,” Arenas said. “I don’t think you just walk around telling them cases you don’t know. My case is different. I don’t know what my case has to do with n—-s that’s gambling and giving information on NBA games. How does that have to do with me?”
“Common sense is common sense. This is a whole different breed of – this s— has its own name. Mine didn’t have no operation name,” Arenas added, referencing that Rozier and Jones were arrested in “Operation Nothing But Bet,” and Billups and Jones were arrested in “Operation Royal Flush.”
A federal indictment obtained by Fox News Digital showed Arenas was charged with one count of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, one count of operating an illegal gambling business, and another count of making false statements to federal investigators.
Arenas, nicknamed “Agent Zero,” is suspected of renting a property in Encino, California, for the purpose of hosting high-stakes poker games, according to the Justice Department.
Closeup of Washington Wizards Gilbert Arenas (0) on the court during a game vs the Phoenix Suns in Washington, D.C. (Simon Bruty/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
The federal indictment was filed in Los Angeles. According to the document, Arenas is accused of instructing Arthur Kats to stage illegal games. Kats allegedly handled rental payments for other individuals who were also believed to have had a role in the operation. Officials said they obtained text messages believed to show conversations between Arenas and Kats about details of the games in question.
One of the defendants, Ievgen Krachun, was identified as the person who oversaw the gambling as it was allegedly being committed inside the home, according to the indictment. Another defendant, Yevgeni Gershman, was described by the DOJ as a “suspected organized crime figure from Israel.”
During his career, Arenas was charged after bringing guns into the team’s locker room during a dispute with former teammate Javaris Crittenton. Crittenton served 10 years in prison for his role in a 2011 shooting.
Billups, Rozier and Jones, the latter of whom is a defendant in both cases, were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The NBA announced that Billups and Rozier were placed on immediate leave from their teams, “and we will continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities.”
Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier and Damon Jones were arrested on Thursday. (Jaime Valdez/Imagn Images, Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images, Greg Nelson/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“The integrity of our game remains our top priority,” the NBA said.
Fox News’ Chantz Martin contributed to this report.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
The Arthur M. Blank Foundation announced Wednesday morning that the Atlanta Falcons owner will donate “an initial grant” of $1.5 million to Hurricane Melissa relief efforts.
The foundation said the money will be donated to support the work of World Central Kitchen, Team Rubicon, and CARE USA.
“World Central Kitchen provides nourishing meals and fresh water in times of crisis, and Team Rubicon specializes in on the ground disaster response and recovery,” the foundation said in a release. “The Foundation’s pre-investment for CARE USA’s Humanitarian Surge Fund aids in providing rapid deployment of resources for disaster relief and will be activated immediately.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank reacts during the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
“Jamaica and the Caribbean hold a special place in my heart, filled with meaningful family memories,” Blank himself said in a statement.
“The impact of Hurricane Melissa is profound, but so is the resilience of people in this region. We’re humbled to support Team Rubicon and World Central Kitchen with an initial grant to help address immediate needs in the community with disaster relief and nourishing meals. While the road ahead will be long, our hearts are with those affected, and we hope our support brings comfort and strength along the way.”
Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank looks on prior to the game between the Indianapolis Colts and Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Dec. 24, 2023, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
DOCTOR OF PHYSICAL THERAPY EXPLAINS CAM SKATTEBO’S GRUESOME ANKLE INJURY AND RECOVERY OUTLOOK
The storm slammed Jamaica earlier this week as a Category 5 hurricane, making it the strongest storm ever to make a direct hit on the island.
With 185 mph winds and 220 mph gusts, it’s the strongest storm this year and the third Category 5 hurricane. This is also the second time in a calendar year there have been at least three Category 5 hurricanes recorded.
The last time Jamaica faced a hurricane of a similar magnitude was Hurricane Gilbert in 1988, a Category 4 storm remembered as the deadliest and most destructive in the nation’s history.
Storm surge is pictured before the arrival of Hurricane Melissa in the Caribbean Terrace area of Kingston, Jamaica, on Oct. 25, 2025. (RICARDO MAKYN/AFP)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The storm left hundreds homeless and forced thousands into overcrowded emergency shelters, according to a report from the National Library of Jamaica. Despite its ferocity, the official death toll remained relatively low, with 45 fatalities and few reported injuries, but the storm caused an estimated $800 million in damage across the island, the publication said.
Fox News’ Bonny Chu contributed to this report.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
How to Keep Subways and Trains Cool in an Ever Hotter World
Rohit Kansal inaugurates ColorJet pavilion at ITMA Asia Singapore
Tracy Morgan reflects on career and how a devastating crash impacted his life: “You have to cherish it”
-
Fashion1 week agoChinese woman charged over gold theft at Paris Natural History Museum
-
Tech1 week agoThis Smart Warming Mug Is Marked Down by $60
-
Entertainment1 week agoJohn Grisham unveils his first-ever mystery, “The Widow”
-
Tech1 week agoEaster Island’s Moai Statues May Have Walked to Where They Now Stand
-
Fashion1 week agoThe North Face and Cecilie Bahnsen launch second collaboration
-
Tech1 week agoOpenAI has slipped shopping into ChatGPT users’ chats—here’s why that matters
-
Politics4 days agoTrump slams ‘dirty’ Canada despite withdrawal of Reagan ad
-
Fashion1 week agoNew EU strategy proposed to shape global clean, resilient transition