This is an article version of the CBS Sports HQ AM Newsletter, the ultimate guide to every day in sports. Much is made of the contract year and the motivation it brings for players to rise to the occasion and earn themselves big paydays. In a lot of cases, that's exactly how it works out.
But it's not some guarantee that soon-to-be free agents will play at a high level. Don't gloss over players like Jazz Chisholm Jr., who would have been better off hitting free agency last year than this winter. Our Matt Snyder detailed the crossroads at which Chisholm finds himself.
While Chisholm hurt his case for a massive contract, a few All-Stars are in line to earn a whole lot of money this offseason. Take these guys, for instance: The first week of the NFL season always delivers surprises, and the 2026 installment was no different. Could we be in for another Cardinals-over-Chargers-esque upset in Week 2?
As teams figure themselves out and injuries start to play a bigger role in every matchup, there is a real chance for more chaos early in the campaign. Maybe the Ravens should be on notice. With the potential absences of two key receivers, an 8.5-point spread is a big margin to cover against a pesky Saints team that rattled off 22 fourth-quarter points a week ago.
They are among the teams our Tyler Sullivan put on upset alert. Here are a few: If you're a fan of the underdog story, look no further than the Commanders. A handful of our experts have their eyes on Washington ahead of its trip to Jerry World, where they enter the divisional matchup with the Cowboys as four-point 'dogs.
There might be some value in picking them to win outright against a Dallas team that could not stop anything on "Sunday Night Football." Our JP Acosta says to pump the brakes on the doom and gloom surrounding the Cowboys' defense, but if there is no improvement on that side of the ball, Commanders receivers like Antonio Williams could have a field day. This week marks the start of conference play for a number of College Football Playoff hopefuls, which makes Saturday's slate the biggest one of the young season. There are three top-25 battles on the schedule, and all of them have early postseason implications.
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