The NFL trade deadline may have passed this week, but it is not too late to make moves to bolster your fantasy team.
Indeed, some of the activity at the deadline may have rejuvenated previously failing assets.
Stats Perform expects that to be the case after digging through the numbers ahead of Week 9, picking out four offensive players and a defense who look set to thrive.
Quarterback: Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers @ Atlanta Falcons
Herbert started the year in red-hot form, but the rib injury in his spirited Week 2 showing against the Kansas City Chiefs knocked him out of kilter, and the Chargers quarterback is yet to truly recover.
In his past two outings, Herbert has been aggressive in trying to drive the offense, attempting 57 passes against the Denver Broncos in Week 6 and 51 against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 7, yet he threw for only 238 and 293 yards respectively. His 4.18 yards per attempt versus the Broncos represented the second-worst mark of his NFL career.
But what better time to get back on the Herbert bandwagon than coming off a bye week to face the Falcons? Atlanta have allowed 306.9 passing yards per game this year – not just the worst average in the league but the worst by a margin of almost 30 yards (Steelers – 277.3).
Running Back: Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts @ New England Patriots
Like Herbert, Taylor was backed for a big year after 18 rushing touchdowns in 2021. Remarkably, through eight weeks, he has only a single 2022 score – this while giving up two fumbles. The Colts star also missed two weeks through an ankle injury, which he appeared to re-aggravate last week.
But if Taylor is cleared to play against the Patriots, it might be time to back him again. The Colts appear to be doing just that, having traded back-up Nyheim Hines to the Buffalo Bills.
Taylor certainly enjoyed himself against the Pats last year, racking up 170 rushing yards, including a 67-yard TD. That was his fourth and most recent 170-yard career rushing game – a tally still only topped by Derrick Henry since the start of 2020.
Wide Receiver: Chase Claypool, Chicago Bears vs. Miami Dolphins
It is unlikely many fantasy players have been queueing up to start a Bears receiver this year. After all, Chicago rank 32nd in receiving yards per game (150.5).
But the late move for Claypool from the Pittsburgh Steelers was a show of faith in young quarterback Justin Fields, who may finally have a reliable target as he looks to rediscover the passing range that made him a dual-threat star in college, throwing 63 TD passes in two years at Ohio State.
The Bears have run designed pass plays on only 48.1 per cent of their 2022 plays – the third-lowest rate in the league – but are likely to look to move the ball through the air with a little more regularity after moving for Claypool, who had nine receiving TDs in his rookie year yet has thrown as many as he has caught in 2022 (one apiece). Like Fields, Claypool has needed more talent around him.
Tight End: T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings @ Washington Commanders
A rare trade within the division took Lions tight end Hockenson to the Vikings this week, with Detroit – who garnered some excitement going into the year – accepting their place at the bottom of the NFC North.
Hockenson has led the Lions in receiving yards this season (395), ranking fifth among all tight ends. Only three players at the position have topped his three TD catches.
That is all the more impressive given Hockenson has been open on just 65.1 per cent of his targets, the second-lowest rate among all tight ends with 20 or more targets. Given the Vikings also have receivers Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen to occupy defenses, Hockenson might now expect a little more space in which to work.
Defense/Special Teams: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Los Angeles Rams
The past two Super Bowl champions meet on Sunday as the Rams visit Tampa, but both teams now look shadows of their title-winning former selves.
The Rams have scored only 16.9 points per game, the fifth-worst average in the NFL but only marginally worse than the Buccaneers' 18.3.
Tampa Bay have at least been able to rely on their defense to stay semi-competitive, holding opponents to 18.9 points per game, but that unit has spent too much time on the field and succumbed to the grind of the run game in second halves. The Bucs have given up the ninth-most rushing yards per game (132.4) and the third-most after halftime (80.4).
However, the Rams are not set up to capitalise on that frailty, given they rank second-worst for rushing yards per game (68.4 – better only than the Bucs) and worst after halftime (29.1). Los Angeles are successful on only 24.3 per cent of designed run plays, another dismal NFL low.
Australia and New Zealand could field a combined ANZAC team against the British and Irish Lions in 2025, with talks ongoing between the two national governing bodies.
The Wallabies are set to welcome the Lions for a three-game tour for the first time since 2013, when the visitors won an enthralling series 2-1.
But the prospect of the hosts linking up with the All Blacks for an additional encounter could yet be on the table following preliminary discussions.
Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan says discussions have started with counterparts at New Zealand Rugby, with provisional hopes to stage the match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
"We've talked to the Kiwis about hosting an ANZAC team against the Lions in 2025, and they're considering the idea," he told the Daily Mail.
"I'm in no doubt it would be a belter, and we'd sell the MCG out with 100,000 fans. The best of the Wallabies and the All Blacks against the Lions would create enormous global coverage."
The prospect of the Lions facing an ANZAC XV would not be unprecedented, with the tourists previously facing a combined team in the final game of their 1989 tour in Brisbane.
Houston Astros starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr was short on answers after the Philadelphia Phillies tied the World Series record of five home runs in Tuesday's 7-0 rout.
McCullers was on the mound for all five homers as the Phillies claimed a 2-1 World Series lead at a rowdy Citizens Bank Park. He became the first pitcher in postseason history to allow five home runs in a game.
The Astros starter gave up a walk and three homers in the first two innings, but rallied to retire seven batters until blasts from Kyle Schwarber and Rhys Hoskins saw him pulled with the Phillies in an unassailable position in the fifth inning.
"I got beat, man," McCullers told reporters. "They hit a lot of solid pitches, I thought.
"At the end of the day, we got beat pretty bad, and I got beat up pretty bad."
The five homers came four types of pitches, with two sliders, a change-up, a curveball and a sinker, but nothing worked for McCullers.
"Listen, I am who I am," McCullers said. "I'm going to throw a lot of off-speed. Everyone knows that."
The Phillies had come up against McCullers late in the regular season, when he gave up six hits but only one earned run, yet they seemed to know what was coming this time.
"He's a guy that we saw at the end of the year in Houston," Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto said. "Got to see his pitches then. He just left pitches in the middle of the plate today."
Bryce Harper, who delivered a two-run blast in the first inning, added: "We talked about it before the game, just trying to get on him early, trying to get on him often."
Seven-time All-Star Harper, who is a two-time NL MVP, along with Rhys Hoskins have six homers this postseason which is the second most in franchise history. Harper is also hitting at .382 this postseason.
"I'm just so focused on winning," Harper said. "I'm not focused on anything else besides that. Just having the opportunity to come in here and grateful for the opportunity to be here. Just grateful to be here with this team and this organisation. I'm not really worried about anything else."
The Phillies are 6-0 at home this postseason cheered on by their boisterous fans, having blasted 17 homers in those games too, with Game 4 at Citizens Bank Park to come on Wednesday.
"Just walking into the ballpark, just being back home, I think is such a momentum swing for us," Harper said. "We all come in here and we're ready to go and we're excited to get on the field, because we know they're going to show up and there's going to be 46,000 people here screaming and yelling and going crazy."
Houston Astros starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr was short on answers after the Philadelphia Phillies tied the World Series record of five home runs in Tuesday's 7-0 rout.
McCullers was on the mound for all five homers as the Phillies claimed a 2-1 World Series lead at a rowdy Citizens Bank Park. He became the first pitcher in postseason history to allow five home runs in a game.
The Astros starter gave up a walk and three homers in the first two innings, but rallied to retire seven batters until blasts from Kyle Schwarber and Rhys Hoskins saw him pulled with the Phillies in an unassailable position in the fifth inning.
"I got beat, man," McCullers told reporters. "They hit a lot of solid pitches, I thought.
"At the end of the day, we got beat pretty bad, and I got beat up pretty bad."
The five homers came four types of pitches, with two sliders, a change-up, a curveball and a sinker, but nothing worked for McCullers.
"Listen, I am who I am," McCullers said. "I'm going to throw a lot of off-speed. Everyone knows that."
The Phillies had come up against McCullers late in the regular season, when he gave up six hits but only one earned run, yet they seemed to know what was coming this time.
"He's a guy that we saw at the end of the year in Houston," Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto said. "Got to see his pitches then. He just left pitches in the middle of the plate today."
Bryce Harper, who delivered a two-run blast in the first inning, added: "We talked about it before the game, just trying to get on him early, trying to get on him often."
Seven-time All-Star Harper, who is a two-time NL MVP, along with Rhys Hoskins have six homers this postseason which is the second most in franchise history. Harper is also hitting at .382 this postseason.
"I'm just so focused on winning," Harper said. "I'm not focused on anything else besides that. Just having the opportunity to come in here and grateful for the opportunity to be here. Just grateful to be here with this team and this organisation. I'm not really worried about anything else."
The Phillies are 6-0 at home this postseason cheered on by their boisterous fans, having blasted 17 homers in those games too, with Game 4 at Citizens Bank Park to come on Wednesday.
"Just walking into the ballpark, just being back home, I think is such a momentum swing for us," Harper said. "We all come in here and we're ready to go and we're excited to get on the field, because we know they're going to show up and there's going to be 46,000 people here screaming and yelling and going crazy."
Kevin Durant reportedly pushed for Steve Nash's removal as Brooklyn Nets head coach in the off-season but says he was "shocked" when he found out about his firing on Tuesday.
The Nets confirmed on Tuesday they had mutually agreed to part ways after a 2-5 start to the season, made worse by the 108-99 loss to the Chicago Bulls later that day.
It was widely reported Durant had issued Nets owner Joe Tsai with an ultimatum in an unsettled off-season at the Barclays Center, either trade him or fire Nash and general manager Sean Marks.
Yet Durant, who said he learned the news of Nash's firing on ESPN after waking up from a nap on Tuesday, insisted he was taken aback when he found out and shrugged off questions about whether he was consulted.
"You're always shocked when a move like this happens, but it's normal in the NBA," Durant told reporters after Tuesday's loss.
"You've got practice, games coming up, so you can't think too much about it. It was on my mind for a little bit today."
Nash had taken over at the Nets in September 2020, taking the side to the Conference Semifinals in 2020-21 with their 'big three' of Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden.
But the Nets struggled in 2021-22 and swept out of the playoffs in the first round by the Boston Celtics, amid a difficult season that saw Irving largely ineligible due to his vaccination status and Harden traded.
"Let's be real, we're pros, we're veterans," Durant added. "We had a tough start. It was a rocky year last year, rocky summer. We knew that everybody was being evaluated.
"That's just how it is in the league. So I liked working with Steve. I like working with the coaching staff. It was a roller coaster the last few years, but the core of it - basketball - is something we all love to do. Regardless of who the coach [is], regardless of the circumstances, you still got to come to work. I enjoyed coming to work with Steve."
Nash's firing comes in the midst of the franchise's latest off-court issue surrounding Irving facing widespread backlash for sharing a film on social media with alleged anti-Semitic connotations.
Durant insisted that there was not too much volatility around the Nets.
"That's the NBA," Durant said. "Everybody's got volatility if you want to look at it.
"It's just a matter of - outside people might look at what we do as bigger than what it is, but we come to work every single day.
"Guys have asked for trades before, coaches get fired, we have disagreements in our locker room, it happens in the NBA. But at the end of the day we all came to work. It just didn't work out on the floor."
The Brooklyn Nets started life after Steve Nash with a 108-99 defeat to the Miami Heat as under-fire Kyrie Irving struggled with four points on two-of-12 shooting on Tuesday.
The Nets announced earlier on Tuesday that Nash had been fired following their 2-5 start to the season, with assistant coach Jacque Vaughn taking charge in his absence.
Kevin Durant scored 32 points with nine rebounds for the Nets who led 58-52 at half-time before the Bulls charged home in the fourth quarter, led by Zach LaVine who had 20 of his 29 points in the final period.
LaVine top scored for the Bulls, including five-of-11 three-point shooting with four rebounds and five assists, while DeMar DeRozan added 20 points and center Nikola Vucevic hauled down 15 rebounds.
Irving, who has faced widespread backlash for sharing a film on social media with alleged anti-Semitic connotations, battled throughout with three turnovers while making none of his six three-point attempts.
The win improved the Bulls to 4-4, while the Nets fall to 2-6, with a 2-4 record at Barclays Center this season.
Golden State's road struggles continue
Reigning champions, the Golden State Warriors, slumped to their third straight defeat as Jimmy Butler fired late to lift the Miami Heat to a 116-109 win.
Butler, who finished with 23 points with six rebounds and eight assists, scored five straight points down the stretch to give the Heat the lead which they never surrendered.
Kyle Lowry moved past Jason Kidd into 12th on the all-time NBA three-pointers made list, scoring three triples in his 13 points.
Stephen Curry recorded his 10th regular-season triple-double with 23 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists, but he could not prevent the Warriors' road woes (0-4) continuing, dropped to 3-5 overall.
Johnson shines as Suns burn
Cam Johnson drained seven three-pointers as the Phoenix Suns maintained their perfect home record this season and moved to 6-1 overall with a 116-107 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Johnson finished with 29 points, 21 coming from beyond the arc on seven-of-11 three-point shooting, while Devin Booker took a back seat with 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
Chris Paul had 14 points, 12 assists and a team-high eight rebounds for the Suns who clinched their fifth straight win. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards both had 24 points for the Timberwolves.
The Philadelphia Phillies blasted five home runs to open up a 2-1 lead in the World Series after winning Game 3 over the Houston Astros 7-0 on Tuesday.
The victory maintains the Phillies' perfect home postseason record, claiming six wins from six games at Citizens Bank Park ahead of Game 4 at the same venue. Philadelphia have also blasted 17 home runs in those six home games.
Bryce Harper, Alec Bohm, Brandon Marsh, Kyle Schwarber and Rhys Hoskins all slugged homers. Harper and Hoskins' blasts took them to six each this postseason, which is tied for the second-most in franchise history, behind only Jayson Werth with seven from 2009.
All seven runs came off Astros starter Lance McCullers Jr, who pitched four-and-one-third innings, allowing six hits and one walk with six strikeouts.
The Phillies were dominant throughout, with a brilliant Nick Castellanos' play from a sinking Jose Altuve line drive in the first inning, followed by Harper's two-run blast after Schwarber's leadoff walk.
In the second inning, Bohm blasted just above the left-field wall, followed by Marsh's solo shot to open up a 4-0 lead.
McCullers had retired seven straight batters Schwarber added a two-run center-field blast into the trees, which travelled 443 feet, in the fifth inning, with Hoskins homering shortly after too.
Phillies starter Ranger Suarez went five innings for four strikeouts, allowing three hits, no earned runs and one walk. Nick Nelson got out of a jam in the eighth after two walks, before Andrew Bellatti closed out the win.
The Game 3 winner when the series was tied has gone on to win 41 of the last 59 World Series.
John McVay, an executive with the San Francisco 49ers who played a key role in building the franchise’s dynasty four decades ago, died Tuesday at age 91.
McVay joined the 49ers in 1979 and spent 22 seasons with the franchise, holding various jobs including general manager and director of football operations.
Under his direction, the 49ers won five Super Bowl titles in a 14-season span and McVay was named The Sporting News NFL Executive of the Year in 1989 after the team’s fourth Super Bowl championship.
The 49ers inducted McVay into the team Hall of Fame in 2013 and dedicated the draft room at the team’s headquarters in his honour in 2016.
''This is a very sad day for our organization and the entire football community,'' the team said in a statement. ''John McVay was a driving force in constructing teams for our five Super Bowl titles.
"Most importantly, John was a Hall of Fame person who built genuine and sincere relationships with front office staff, coaches and players. John's commitment and contributions to the 49ers created the standard and tradition we strive to carry on today. Our thoughts and prayers are with the McVay family.''
McVay is the grandfather of current Rams coach Sean McVay.
Los Angeles Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue says Kawhi Leonard is "frustrated" with his ongoing knee issues following confirmation he will miss their next two road games.
Leonard has only played in two of the Clippers' seven games this NBA season upon returning from an ACL injury from the 2021 playoffs that saw him miss the entire 2021-22 campaign.
The two-time NBA Finals MVP has been struggling with stiffness in his surgically-repaired right knee and has missed his side's last four games.
Leonard will miss another two, having been ruled out of road games against the Houston Rockets (Wednesday) and the San Antonio Spurs (Friday) and his status is uncertain for Sunday's game against the Utah Jazz.
"He's frustrated," Lue said. "He wants to be out on the floor. To then not be on the floor, then now he can't travel, he wants to travel but obviously, that's not the right thing to do right now.
"The stiffness and what he's going through, just frustrated putting in all the work the last 15 months, and to get to this point, and not being where he wants to be right now physically.
"He's getting better, and that's the most important thing."
In Leonard's two games this season, he played both off the bench, putting in 21 minutes on both occasions, averaging 12.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists. The Clippers are 3-4 this season.
Caroline Garcia is off to a perfect start in her first WTA Finals appearance since 2017, collecting a straight-sets win over Coco Gauff to share top spot of the Tracy Austin Group with Iga Swiatek.
Garcia won 6-4 6-3 in one hour and 18 minutes in Fort Worth, proving slightly better with her return game throughout, creating four break point opportunities in both sets while Gauff could only muster one in each.
Gauff was the one to strike first, securing a break in the opening game of the match, but Garcia got it back instantly to tie things at 1-1, and then when leading 5-4, Garcia broke again to wrap up the first set.
Things could have spiralled for the 18-year-old American when she fell down a break in the second set, but she responded well, breaking back in the next game.
But Garcia kept the pressure on for a second break before serving it out safely. It is her second consecutive win over Gauff after also eliminating her from the US Open quarter-final, and evens their head-to-head ledger at two apiece after Gauff took the first two meetings.
BREAK POINTS WON
Garcia - 4/8
Gauff - 2/2
ACES/DOUBLE FAULTS
Garcia - 1/3
Gauff - 1/2
WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS
Garcia - 20/23
Gauff - 12/14
St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado joined an exclusive club Tuesday, when he was named a Gold Glove winner for the 10th consecutive season.
Arenado has been the recipient of the Rawlings Gold Glove award in each of his 10 seasons in the major leagues. That streak ties Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki for the longest for any player at any position to start his career.
Only Hall of Famers Brooks Robinson (third baseman, 16 straight) and Ozzie Smith (shortstop, 13 straight) and former Cardinals and New York Mets first baseman Keith Hernandez (11 straight) have longer streaks.
Arenado ranked first among third basemen in double plays (42) and second in assists (283). He also ranked second in Defensive Runs Saved (19) and Outs Above Average (15), according to Fielding Bible.
The Cleveland Guardians had four players win Gold Gloves, with pitcher Shane Bieber, second baseman Andres Gimenez, left fielder Steven Kwan and center fielder Myles Straw all receiving the honour for the first time.
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts won his sixth Gold Glove, Braves pitcher Max Fried won his fourth in a row and New York Yankees utility player DJ LeMahieu took home his fourth.
Jeremy Pena of the Houston Astros became the first rookie shortstop to win a Gold Glove.
''I heard that today and I was in shock because I didn't know that was a thing,'' Pena said. ''But it's pretty cool.''
The Gold Glove Awards are voted on by 30 MLB managers and up to six coaches from each teams. They are not allowed to vote for players from their own team.
Iga Swiatek continued her hoodoo over Daria Kasatkina as she breezed through their opening match at the WTA Finals.
Swiatek needed just an hour and 23 minutes to see off Kasatkina 6-2 6-3 in Fort Worth, Texas.
The world number one was in command throughout, her movement and intensity too much for Kasatkina in the Tracey Austin Group encounter.
Swiatek saved all three of the break points she faced and converted four of the seven chances she created for herself.
She sent down 23 winners, her highest tally in a single WTA Finals match, to complete her fifth win over Kasatkina this season.
The Pole is the first player to win five or more matches against the same opponent in a single season since Petra Kvitova against Lucie Safarova in 2014.
With her 46th such win of the year (excluding Billie Jean King Cup matches), she is the first player to win 46-plus WTA main draw matches in straight sets in a season since Serena Williams (66) and Agnieszka Radwanska (46) in 2013.
BREAK POINTS WON
Swiatek - 3/7
Kasatkina - 0/3
WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS
Swiatek - 23/18
Kasatkina - 4/9
ACES/DOUBLE FAULTS
Swiatek - 1/3
Kasatkina - 1/1
The Boston Celtics will have their eye on revenge when they visit the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday.
It will be the second meeting between the two sides this season, with both having made impressive starts.
The Celtics, last season's Eastern Conference champions, are 4-2 staring up at only the unbeaten Milwaukee Bucks and the 5-1 Cavs.
One of their two defeats came last week at TD Garden, as they suffered a 132-123 home loss to the Cavs in overtime.
Donovan Mitchell and Caris LeVert combined for 82 points in that victory for the Cavs, who will look to reaffirm their credentials as contenders in the East by backing up that win with another as they play hosts this time to the visiting Celtics.
After All-Star point guard Darius Garland left the first game of the season with an eye injury that is still keeping him out of action, Mitchell has been the catalyst for the Cavs' strong form, having been acquired in a trade with the Utah Jazz in the offseason.
Cleveland sent Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton, Ochai Agbaji and three first-round picks to the Jazz for the star shooting guard in a deal that also included two pick swaps.
Stopping Mitchell will be the priority for a Celtics team whose play on defense has slipped from the standards they set in their run to the Finals.
PIVOTAL PERFORMERS
Cleveland Cavaliers - Donovan Mitchell
Mitchell has proven worth the high price the Cavs paid for him to this point.
Only four players are averaging more than his 32.2 points per game, while Mitchell is shooting a red-hot, and possibly unsustainable 45.5 per cent from three-point range.
Bojan Bogdanovic (50.8 per cent) is the sole player who has attempted at least 50 threes to perform better from beyond the arc than Mitchell this season.
If he can get hot from deep in this one, it could spell trouble for a Boston team that saw him go for 41 on their home court last Friday.
Boston Celtics - Marcus Smart
Smart has long been the defensive heartbeat for the Celtics, but he could not help them contain Mitchell and LeVert in the previous meeting.
Indeed, he had a plus/minus of minus 26 against the Cavs, and his defensive rating – albeit a team stat – of 116.4 this season is the worst of his career.
Simply put, the Celtics need Smart to return to the form that saw him win Defensive Player of the Year last season.
KEY BATTLE - Preventing turnovers key for Celtics
The Cavs are averaging 20.5 points off turnovers per game, the fifth-most in the NBA.
Though Boston's 13.8 turnovers per game are the 10th-fewest in the league, the Celtics committed 19 in their home loss to Cleveland.
Given how effective the Cavs are at turning those opportunities into points, Celtics interim coach Joe Mazzulla should be preaching the importance of taking care of the ball especially hard this time around.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The Cavs' victory last week continued a theme of recent success against Boston, with Cleveland having won four of their past six regular-season matchups with the Celtics.
Novak Djokovic and Casper Ruud were made to work hard for victory in their opening matches at the Paris Masters on Tuesday.
For Djokovic, a 10th win in a row came in an absorbing battle with his Paris-born American opponent Maxime Cressy, who displayed a typically aggressive approach on serve, with 15 aces and 10 double faults overall.
Djokovic was strong on his own delivery, however, with the Serbian losing just six points on serve and not facing a break point on his way to a 7-6 (7-1) 6-4 victory.
"I'm happy with the way I played," Djokovic said. "When chances were presented, I was able to use them, even though I did have some missed break points.
"But it was very challenging, first match with a guy who serves extremely well and strong and fast.
"He's comfortable coming to the net. It's nice to see. I think he's the only guy that really comes to the net after every first and second serve. I think it's good for tennis to see that, particularly in these modern times when most of the players are playing from back of the court. He's a very athletic guy.
"It's difficult to play him definitely in these kind of conditions where balls are flying through the court and it's quicker than it was last year. So tough to break.
"But I didn't make too many unforced errors. I'm very pleased with the way I served, with the way I was holding my service games. Just the way I felt, the way I played, it was all positive."
Third seed Ruud ground out a 6-1 7-6 (9-7) victory against Frenchman Richard Gasquet, with the Norwegian saving three of four break points in what proved to be a tightly fought contest.
Mistakes from Gasquet were ultimately costly, the veteran having 10 unforced errors in the second set compared to Ruud's two.
Seventh seed Andrey Rublev was also victorious, the Russian winning 6-2 6-3 against American John Isner, while the British duo of Jack Draper and Dan Evans progressed to the last-32 stage, beating Arthur Rinderknech and Brandon Nakashima respectively.
The Buffalo Bills have traded for Indianapolis Colts running back Nyheim Hines, striking a last-minute deal on the NFL's trade deadline day.
On Monday, it was widely reported that several teams were interested in a move for Hines, with the Colts heading into the second half of the season with a disappointing 3-4-1 record.
Buffalo then confirmed the trade in the final minutes before Tuesday's deadline, adding another offensive weapon for quarterback Josh Allen following a stellar start that has them top of the AFC with a 6-1 record.
In exchange, they have sent running back Zack Moss — a third-round pick in the 2020 draft — and a conditional 2023 sixth-round pick to the Colts.
A fourth-round pick in 2018, Hines has so far tallied 1,205 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns, as well as 235 receptions on 300 targets for 1,725 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in his career.
Last season, Hines turned 15 of his 40 receptions into a first down while averaging seven yards after the catch per reception, and it is his receiving upside that the Bills will be looking to consistently harness as they aim to atone for the playoff heartbreak of the previous two seasons and end their wait for a first Super Bowl title.
Rafael Nadal is not treating the Paris Masters as a chance to fight for a place at the top of the ATP rankings.
Nadal has played only once – alongside the now-retired Roger Federer at the Laver Cup – since he was knocked out in the fourth round of the US Open by Frances Tiafoe.
The 36-year-old has won two grand slam titles in 2022, at the Australian Open and the French Open, seeing him sit one clear of Novak Djokovic when it comes to the record amount of major triumphs.
Yet it is Nadal's fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, some 17 years his junior, who sat top of the world rankings ahead of the Paris Masters and the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin.
Nadal could yet end the year at the summit, but to overtake Alcaraz he would likely need a deep run at the Paris Masters – one of two ATP 1000 tournaments he is yet to win in his illustrious career – and in northern Italy.
However, Nadal, who became a father last month, says he now has a much simpler aim than becoming the best player on the planet.
"To be clear, I understand it's an interesting point because you're talking about fighting for number one, [but] I don't fight any more to be world number one," Nadal said in a press conference on Tuesday, a day ahead of his opening match against Tommy Paul in the French capital.
"I just fight to keep being competitive in every event that I play. It's something I said a long time ago, I will not fight any more to be number one.
"I did in the past. I achieved that goal a couple of times in my career and I have been very, very happy and proud about achieving that. But I am at a moment in my tennis career where I don't fight to be number one.
"I'm just excited to be here. I'm here to try my best and then accept things how they are coming. Hopefully, I will be ready, I'm going to try to be competitive. Let's see. I'm excited about it."
Having dominated the game for so long, Nadal and reigning Paris Masters champion Djokovic find themselves ranked at second and seventh by the ATP respectively.
Nadal and Djokovic are the only players in the top 10 aged over 30, with four of the other eight players aged under 25.
"My feelings are that I am proud of all the things that I was able to still be here in 2022," Nadal said, when asked what it was like to be competing against the next generation of talent.
"It's something that says that I did a lot of things well in my life, not only my tennis career. To hold the passion, to hold the love for the game and fighting spirit.
"I'm proud of that and just hope that I can enjoy the last two events of the year."
With his son not yet a month old, Nadal conceded he is missing home.
"[A] different approach to usual. It has always been difficult to leave home, to be honest," he said.
"It's quite interesting how even after two or three weeks you leave your son at home and [are] not be able to go see him. It's something quite interesting how even after only three weeks of knowing him you start missing him.
"So yeah, a new experience, all changes are difficult in his life, and you need to adapt to it."
The Jacksonville Jaguars have added a wide receiver but will not be able to field new recruit Calvin Ridley until 2023 at the earliest.
It emerged on Tuesday the Atlanta Falcons have traded the suspended Ridley to the Jaguars in exchange for a complex draft compensation.
The Falcons will receive two draft picks that will range from a maximum compensation of a 2023 fifth-round selection and a second-rounder in 2024.
Ridley, 27, is suspended through at least the conclusion of the 2022 season for betting on NFL games during the 2021 season.
His suspension was handed down in early March, and he may not apply for reinstatement until February 15, 2023.
Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke said: "We are excited to welcome Calvin Ridley to our organisation and the Duval community.
"This is an opportunity to add a proven playmaker to our already talented wide receiver room as we continue to build our roster for 2023 and beyond. We are looking forward to finishing strong this season and integrating Calvin into our programme at the appropriate time."
The intricate nature of the trade was reported by NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. If Ridley gets reinstated by a certain date, the Falcons will receive a fifth-round pick in 2023. If not, it will be a sixth-rounder.
If he makes the Jaguars in 2024, the pick becomes at least a fourth-round selection. And if he reaches a certain playing-time milestone, the pick is a third, while if he signs a long-term deal with the Jaguars, the pick is a second-rounder.
Ridley placed his bets over a five-day span in November 2021, when he was away from the team to focus on his mental health and was on the reserve/NFI list. The league opened an investigation and concluded there was no insider information on the betting activity and none of the coaches or players on the Falcons were aware or involved.
Ridley, who is slated to make $11,116,000 in 2023 on the final year of his rookie contract, appeared in just five games in 2021, catching 31 passes for 281 yards with two touchdowns.
This came after he totted up 1,374 receiving yards in 2020 to finish tied for fifth in the NFL.
A first-round pick by the Falcons in 2018, Ridley had 217 catches for 3,061 yards and 26 TD receptions over his first three seasons. His TD reception total is tied for the 20th most in NFL history by a player through his first three pro seasons.
The Miami Dolphins have acquired edge rusher Bradley Chubb from the Denver Broncos, sending a package that includes a first-round pick in a blockbuster trade.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Miami parted with the 2023 first-round pick they received from the San Francisco 49ers in the trade that facilitated the Niners moving up in the 2021 draft to select quarterback Trey Lance third overall.
In addition, the Dolphins sent a 2024 fourth-round pick and running back Chase Edmonds in exchange for Chubb and a 2025 fifth-round pick.
The Dolphins will hope Chubb can provide a significant boost to a defense that has allowed 5.89 yards per play, the seventh-most in the NFL, and tallied 14 sacks for negative yardage, only good enough for a five-way tie for 20th.
Their pressure rate of 39.6 per cent is above the NFL average, but Chubb will be tasked with improving Miami's ability to convert those pressures.
This season the 2018 first-round pick has registered 5.5 sacks, eight quarterback hits, four tackles for loss and two forced fumbles for a stellar Denver defense, the efforts of which have been wasted by continued poor performances on offense.
Denver beat the Jacksonville Jaguars in London last Sunday to improve to 3-5, still a hugely disappointing record for a team that had hoped to make the leap after sending five picks, including two first-rounders, and three players to the Seattle Seahawks for nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback Russell Wilson.
But the struggles of the Wilson-led attack created talk of them being sellers at the trade deadline. No team will be able to make trades after 16:00 EST on Tuesday.
Such speculation proved accurate, with the 5-3 Dolphins landing a pass rusher who is tied 10th in adjusted sack rate among players with at least 50 edge snaps, according to Stats Perform data.
Chubb figures to form an imposing duo with second-year edge rusher Jaelan Phillips, whose pressure rate of 27.6 per cent is the fifth-best in the NFL for edge rushers (minimum 50 snaps).
The Dolphins face the Chicago Bears in Week 9 at Soldier Field, where Chubb could make his debut.
Following the move for Chubb, the Dolphins also struck a deal with the 49ers for running back Jeff Wilson Jr, sending a fifth-round pick to San Francisco.
Ime Udoka is the frontrunner to replace Steve Nash as the Brooklyn Nets head coach, according to reports.
The Nets parted with Nash on Tuesday after five defeats from their opening seven games of the season.
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported the Nets and Nash came to a mutual decision to part ways, a day after Brooklyn had snapped a four-game losing streak by defeating the Indiana Pacers.
Wojnarowski subsequently claimed Udoka, who was previously part of Nash's staff in Brooklyn before he led the Boston Celtics to the NBA Finals last season, is the Nets' top target and a deal could be struck by Thursday.
Udoka was suspended by the Celtics in September for an "improper" consensual relationship with a female staff member.
Should Udoka take the job, he will inherit a team packed with talent, though Nash had to deal with plenty of contentious issues during his two-year stint as Brooklyn coach.
Much of the controversy surrounded Kyrie Irving, whose refusal to get vaccinated against COVID-19 meant he was unable to play in cities with vaccine mandates, including New York, in Nash's second season.
This campaign, Irving has been heavily criticised for his promotion of a documentary, which – according to Nets owner Joe Tsai – is "full of anti-Semitic disinformation".
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