If you have been waiting for “The Smiling Cinderella” to make an encore appearance on the LPGA this year, your wait is almost over.

Hinako Shibuno, the Japanese player whose 10,000-watt smile won the hearts and minds of so many when she claimed the AIG Women’s British Open title in her major championship debut this summer, plans to play the Taiwan Swinging Skirts at the end of this month.

“I am very honored to receive a sponsor’s exemption for the Swinging Skirts in Taiwan as my second start for the U.S. LPGA this year,” Shibuno said in a statement Monday. “I will try my best again.”

With her Women’s British Open victory two months ago, Shibuno earned the right to claim LPGA membership for both this year and next year, or to defer taking up membership until next year. She has declined to take up membership this year. If she defers, the membership would be for 2020 only, with the chance to retain membership beyond that, based on her play next season.

Shibuno, however, says she still favors remaining on the Japan LPGA next year.

“I am more interested in the U.S. LPGA tour than when I won AIG a couple months ago,” Shibuno told reporters while playing the Japan Women’s Open last weekend. “I would like to play the U.S. tour in the future, but definitely not next year, at this point.”

Shibuno, 20, has until the start of the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship week (Nov. 21) to decide whether to take up LPGA membership for next year. As a non-member, she isn’t eligible to play the CME Group Tour Championship, based on a new rule change in effect this year, with the event’s new $1.5 million first-place prize altering who’s eligible for the big payday.

Shibuno finished seventh at the Japan Women’s Open, nine shots behind Nasa Hataoka, the winner. Shibuno said watching Hataoka, So Yeon Ryu and Inbee Park has heightened her interest in playing the LPGA in an attempt to become a better player. She also said she would like to learn English as preparation to do so.

Two weeks ago, Shibuno won the Descente Ladies Tokai Classic in spectacular fashion, for her third Japan LPGA title this season. She came from eight shots behind in the final round to win with a 64. She is second on the tour’s money-winning list.

Shibuno didn’t just surprise fans internationally this year. She said she surprised herself. Her AIG Women’s British Open title came in her first tournament playing outside Japan.

“Last year, I passed the professional golfer's test in Japan,” Shibuno said on the eve of the final round of the Women’s British Open. “At that point, I didn't even know if I could play on tour. So, I really can't understand why I'm performing at this level, but I think my coach is really helping me.”

Shibuno started her rookie year on the Japan LPGA this season ranked No. 561 in the Rolex Women’s World Rankings. She’s No. 11 in this week’s rankings.

Fans at Woburn Golf Club in England knew virtually nothing about Shibuno until she stormed up the leaderboard late in the third round. She was six shots off the lead making the turn on that Saturday but shot 30 on the back nine, with four birdies over the final six holes, to take the lead going into the final round. She became just the second Japanese player to win a major championship, joining Chako Higuchi, who won the LPGA Championship back in 1977.

Barcelona must bring in €124 million in player sales before the end of the season or the club risks damaging its financial stability, sources have told ESPN FC.

Philippe Coutinho, on loan at Bayern Munich, and out-of-favour midfielder Ivan Rakitic are two of the players Barca believe they will be able to sell.

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They are already working hard on balancing the books before the 2019-20 financial year ends on June 30, 2020. The Spanish club used to classify income from player sales as "extraordinary" until Neymar's transfer to Paris Saint-Germain for €222m in 2017.

Since then, they have been forced to make the sale of players each year a priority for their financial model to work. The amount they must bring in this season has been fixed at €124m to ensure they don't end the year in the red. If that were to happen, club members could push for the board's removal.

Some members are already anxious about the club's economic health, with one member at Sunday's AGM having suggested the board rushed through the sale of Jasper Cillessen to Valencia in June to avoid a similar scenario earlier this summer.

However, Barca's confidence lies in the belief that they will be able to bring in good money for Coutinho and Rakitic.

Both players were used as bait in a move for Neymar last summer but neither wanted to move to PSG. Coutinho ended up joining Bayern on loan, while Rakitic drew interest from Italian duo Inter Milan and Juventus.

Bayern have an option to sign Coutinho for €120m and must let Barcelona know before June 30 if they plan to push ahead with a permanent move for the Brazil international.

"Bayern are happy with Coutinho but it is still too early to know what they will do next summer," a Barcelona source told ESPN FC. "So far, no one from the club has called us to talk about taking up the option [to buy]."

Coutinho, 27, has made a good start to life in Germany. Freed from the pressure of being Barcelona's most expensive signing, he's produced a string of impressive performances, scoring two goals and setting up three more.

Rakitic, meanwhile, has fallen down the pecking order under coach Ernesto Valverde and could ask to leave if his situation does not change between now and January.

Sources have told ESPN FC his relationship with Valverde has deteriorated. The Croatia midfielder has gone from being a guaranteed starter to the fifth choice midfielder. He has started just once this season.

Inter and Juve both moved for him in August but were unable to match Barca's expectations, despite offering the player a good salary.

PSG made a big offer for Rakitic in 2018, too, but Barca turned it down. At that point, Valverde did not want to lose a player he felt was key to his midfield, but following the development of Arthur Melo and the signing of Frenkie de Jong, things have completely changed.

Arsene Wenger is interested in becoming Lyon manager, sources have told ESPN FC.

Wenger is also considered as an attractive option by the French club although their priority is Laurent Blanc.

Sources have told ESPN FC that former France boss Blanc is the main candidate and will meet Lyon on Tuesday to discuss the role, which would be his first job since leaving Paris Saint-Germain in 2016.

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Wenger, who turns 70 on Oct. 22, left Arsenal in May 2018 after 22 years in charge and has turned down a lot of offers, including from Premier League clubs, in that time.

Although he has agreed in principle to take on a technical role at FIFA, his priority is to make a return to club management as soon as possible.

Lyon sacked Sylvinho on Monday after a poor start to the domestic season.

Fourteenth in Ligue 1, Lyon are only a point clear of bottom team Metz and have not won any of their last seven league matches (four defeats and three draws) after two wins in the first two weeks of the season.

Sylvinho, who had never managed a club before, was new sporting director Juninho's choice last summer. Nevertheless, there was no way back from such a disastrous start of the campaign.

Gerard Houllier, an advisor to Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas, is a close friend of Wenger.

Appointing the former Monaco coach would be a great coup for Lyon in footballing terms but also for image and marketing reasons.

Lyon want to announce their new manager by the end of the week so he could have a week to prepare for the next league game against Dijon at home on Saturday Oct. 19.

India women's opener Smriti Mandhana has been ruled out of the ODI series against South Africa women after fracturing her right toe. A BCCI spokesperson confirmed that she had picked up the injury after being struck by a ball while batting in the nets. Pooja Vastrakar, the 20-year-old seam-bowling allrounder, has been added to the team as replacement.

Mandhana is now under observation by the BCCI's medical team and it is unclear if she will be fit in time to play India's next series. The team is tentatively set to depart for a tour of the Caribbean on October 23.

"It's a mild fracture," coach WV Raman said in a press conference, along with ODI captain Mithali Raj, on Tuesday. "The call [on Mandhana's return] will be taken based on the assessment of the physios at the NCA. It's difficult to fix the timeline either way because she still needs to get an MRI done because there is some swelling and it has to die down for the MRI to be taken. Once that's done, only then the assessment can be made."

ALSO READ: Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues set to miss WBBL

Raj chose to look at the positive side, saying the opener's absence will create opportunities for other players. "She [Mandhana] is an experienced player," Raj said. "But other players, like Priya Punia, have scored a lot of runs in the domestic games. This series is not part of the ICC Women's Championship. So that way it's a chance for us to try out new players. And I am positive that whoever gets a chance will utilise it fully."

Mandhana had failed to get going in the T20I series against South Africa that preceded the ODIs, with scores of 21, 13, 7 and 5 in the four completed games. However, she was in red-hot form in ODIs last season, with six scores over fifty including a hundred, in nine matches against Sri Lanka (away), New Zealand (away) and England (home). Overall, in 50 ODIs, she has 1951 runs at 42.41, with four tons and 16 half-centuries.

India won the rain-hit T20I series - two games were abandoned without a ball bowled - against South Africa 3-1. They will square off again for three ODIs in Vadodara between October 9 and 14.

India squad: Mithali Raj (capt), Harmanpreet Kaur (vice-capt), Taniya Bhatia (wk), Ekta Bisht, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Jhulan Goswami, Dayalan Hemalatha, Mansi Joshi, Pooja Vastrakar, Shikha Pandey, Poonam Yadav, Priya Punia, Punam Raut, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma

The England & Wales Cricket Board has pledged a funding boost for women's cricket of £20 million over two years, and plans to invest £50 million in the next five years, in a bid to make cricket into a gender-balanced sport.

The challenge of transforming women's and girls' cricket was one of six priorities within the ECB's 'Inspiring Generations' strategy for 2020-2024, and part of the new remit is a commitment to the funding of 40 full-time professional, domestic contracts, in addition to the existing central contracts for England Women's elite players.

A ten-point action plan was unveiled by Clare Connor, the ECB's managing director for women's cricket, at an event in London, with a focus on five key objectives:

Participation: To increase the number of women and girls playing cricket recreationally
Pathway: To develop aspiring female cricketers (U11-17) as players and people
Performance: To drive the performance of England women's cricket through a new semi-professional, eight region structure
Profile: To elevate the profile of women's cricket through The Hundred, the England Women's team and the elite game
People: To increase the representation of women across the cricket workforce

"Cricket has been an integral part of my life, as a player and in my role of Managing Director of Women's Cricket. I have never been more excited by the opportunity in front of us right now," said Connor.

"Recent initiatives have given women and girls more opportunities to play, such as All Stars Cricket for 5-8-year-olds, the South Asian female activators programme, and the Kia Super League for our most talented domestic cricketers. But to truly transform women's and girls' cricket, we must now move from targeted standalone programmes to addressing the whole pathway as one.

"We have an amazing opportunity to make cricket the sport we want it to be - a sport that is modern, innovative and inclusive. I have been so heartened by the level of enthusiasm, commitment and support for this plan from everyone involved in cricket."

Tom Harrison, the ECB chief executive, added: "During the development of Inspiring Generations, and extensive conversations and research across the game, the strong appetite to transform cricket's relationship with women and girls was abundantly clear.

"There is tremendous energy across the cricket network to pursue the game's largest growth opportunity and to increase the number of women and girls playing, watching and volunteering at every level of the game.

"This plan, formed in collaboration with the whole cricket network, and supported by our commercial and media partners, represents a crucial step in achieving our ambition of making cricket a gender-balanced sport."

The plan was produced following two years of consultation with all 38 Counties and Cricket Wales, and detailed analysis of thousands of survey responses from the recreational and elite game.

To test some of the recommendations for the recreational game, ECB has run pilot programmes with over 600 cricket clubs to better understand the essential criteria in creating the most sustainable women's and girls' clubs.

"This action plan is a really exciting next step in the continued growth of women's cricket," said Heather Knight, England Women's captain. "We need more young girls to be inspired to play and those young girls need to be able to see a clear pathway above them that encourages them to continue pursuing the game.

"As England players we're fortunate enough to meet lots of young girls who love the game and it means so much to us to see how much they love cricket. Much of this plan is about normalising the game for women and girls and I'm excited to see how this increased opportunity takes the game forward."

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley is unlikely to play Thursday night against the New England Patriots despite returning to practice late last week, multiple sources told ESPN. He had been eyeing this week's contest as a potential return date.

Barkley has been dealing with a high ankle sprain suffered Sept. 22 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He is slated to practice again later Tuesday but is not expected to be cleared medically in time to handle the rigors of game action so soon after suffering the injury.

Coach Pat Shurmur said Monday that the Giants would do what is best for the team and Barkley would return when he's able to play at a high level and protect himself. It's almost certainly not going to happen Thursday. Sitting Barkley against the undefeated Patriots gives him another 10 days to get cleared for their Week 7 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals.

Not having Barkley available Thursday leaves the Giants (2-3) short-handed against the league's top-ranked defense. Running back Wayne Gallman and wide receiver Sterling Shepard also are going to miss Thursday night's game. Both have concussions.

New England is allowing 6.8 points per game this season.

Undrafted rookie running back Jon Hilliman and fullback Elijhaa Penny, a converted tailback, are expected to shoulder the load without Barkley and Gallman. Austin Walter also is likely to be elevated from the practice squad. An outside alternative is difficult on such short notice.

The original reported timeline for Barkley was four to eight weeks. It has been 16 days since the injury.

It appeared Barkley was going to beat the timeline when he returned to the practice field early last week and began running and cutting at near full speed on a side field with a trainer. He improved as the week progressed and even sneaked in some scout team work on Friday.

Barkley was listed as a limited participant in Monday's projected practice report with the Giants on a short week.

"He's doing great," Shurmur said Monday, before adding that Barkley was closer to returning than he was last week.

Shurmur said there was a possibility that Barkley could return against the Patriots. It just seems highly unlikely. Barkley would have to be cleared by doctors and the long-term risk in this case outweighs the short-term reward.

The Giants enter the game Thursday night as 16.5-point underdogs.

Barkley was the No. 2 overall pick last year and won the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year award with more than 2,000 total yards from scrimmage. He started this year in similar fashion, with a pair of 100-yard games.

But Barkley was injured after catching a pass from quarterback Daniel Jones in the second quarter of the Giants' Week 3 win over the Bucs. His ankle got caught and bent awkwardly while being tackled from the side as his momentum took him toward the sideline. Barkley spent the second half of the game in a boot and on crutches.

An MRI and second opinion revealed and confirmed a high ankle sprain, which seemed to indicate a significant absence.

Barkley told ESPN it was similar to a high ankle sprain he suffered during his freshman year at Penn State. He missed two games and returned 21 days later with what was then a career-best rushing performance (194 yards) against Ohio State.

The San Francisco 49ers didn't just get after Baker Mayfield on the field Monday night. They took him apart off it as well.

Niners defensive back Richard Sherman said after the game that the Browns quarterback refused to shake hands during the coin toss before the game.

"What's amazing, and annoying, was him not shaking hands at the beginning," Sherman said, according to NFL.com. "That's some college s---. It's ridiculous. We're all trying to get psyched up, but shaking hands with your opponent -- that's NFL etiquette. And when you pull bush league stuff, that's disrespectful to the game. And believe me, that's gonna get us fired up."

San Francisco defensive end Nick Bosa had his own retaliation on Mayfield. After harassing the QB into an intentional grounding call, he pretended to plant a flag -- mocking Mayfield planting an Oklahoma flag at Ohio Stadium in a 2017 game against Bosa's Buckeyes.

"I think everybody knows what that was for," Bosa said. "I just wanted to get payback. He had it coming."

Sherman got his payback too, intercepting Mayfield on the Browns' second possession. After the 49ers coasted to a 31-3 win, Sherman was still surprised by Mayfield's pregame snub.

"Respect the game," Sherman said, according to NFL.com. "You can have rivals, but pay your respect in that moment -- especially when you're young.

"He hasn't earned anything in this league. How many games has he won? He's acting like he was the MVP last year. If (Patrick) Mahomes did that, it would be one thing. But he would never do that, because he has too much respect for the game.

"And when you see a guy who doesn't? You humble him every chance you get. Because eventually, he will have respect for the league -- or he'll be out of it."

Interestingly, the brash Mayfield has been on the other side of the snub. Before a 2017 Oklahoma-Kansas game, Jayhawks captains refused to shake Mayfield's hand during the coin toss.

Week 6 of the NFL Power Rankings is a good time to assess the fantasy football landscape. Odds are that your squad hasn't performed the way you expected it to, as some players have exceeded their preseason rankings while others, to be frank, haven't.

We're going to name names, as our NFL Nation reporters each picked a player from their team that has had a surprising fantasy season to date. So read up and figure out how to get these guys via trade or the waiver wire (or figure out if you need to trade or release the underperformers). How we rank: Our power panel -- a group of more than 80 writers, editors and TV personalities -- evaluates how teams stack up throughout the season.

Previous rankings: 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | Preseason

1. New England Patriots (5-0)

Week 5 ranking: 1

Surprise fantasy player: Sony Michel, RB

Sunday's performance represented a notable change for those patiently waiting for Michel to have some significant production. He finished with 91 rushing yards and a touchdown, while adding three catches for 32 yards. The pass-catching production is a good sign that the coaching staff is trusting Michel more in the passing game. Last year when Michel was on the field, it was almost always a run. Look for Michel's production to increase going forward, now with some added potential in the passing game. -- Mike Reiss

2. New Orleans Saints (4-1)

Week 5 ranking: 3

Surprise fantasy player: Jared Cook, TE

The Saints' highest-profile free-agent addition hasn't delivered much yet as the Saints continue to search for a reliable third option behind Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara. But Cook did catch a season-high four passes for 41 yards and his first TD in Week 5, and he is third on the team with 23 targets this season. So there still should be some better days to come, mixed with some quiet ones. -- Mike Triplett

3. Kansas City Chiefs (4-1)

Week 5 ranking: 2

Surprise fantasy player: Tyreek Hill, WR

Hill's impact should grow as early as this Sunday's game against the Texans. He returned to practice last week after missing four games with a collarbone and sternum injury and looked close to being ready for game action. If anyone's return from an extended absence should be seamless, it is Hill's. He missed offseason practice due to suspension but came back at camp like he hadn't missed a day. While the Chiefs have developed receiving threats in his absence, don't mistake who their No. 1 guy is. It's Hill. -- Adam Teicher

4. Green Bay Packers (4-1)

Week 5 ranking: 6

Surprise fantasy player: Aaron Jones, RB

Yes, everyone expected Jones to be the Packers' go-to guy on the ground, and he has a pair of 100-yard games so far. But did anyone expect him to match his 2018 touchdown total in five weeks? Of course, half of his eight rushing touchdowns came in one game -- on Sunday at Dallas. But if that game showed Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur anything, it's that Jones should be the first option when the Packers get near the goal line. -- Rob Demovsky

5. Seattle Seahawks (4-1)

Week 5 ranking: 7

Surprise fantasy player: Will Dissly, TE

The Seahawks coveted Dissly in the 2018 draft for his blocking, so they might even be surprised that he has emerged as one of Russell Wilson's go-to targets. His four touchdowns this season give him six in his career, which tied the record for most scores by a tight end in his first eight games since the merger. What makes it even more surprising: Dissly is coming off a torn patellar tendon that ended his rookie season after four games. That's a hard touchdown pace to sustain, but Dissly looks like he'll remain Seattle's first option at tight end, even when Ed Dickson comes off the injured reserve list. -- Brady Henderson

6. San Francisco 49ers (4-0)

Week 5 ranking: 8

Surprise fantasy player: Raheem Mostert, RB

Mostert was impressive enough in the preseason and in short bursts last year that the Niners wanted to get him more involved this season. That happened sooner than expected when Tevin Coleman suffered a sprained ankle in Week 1. Mostert rewarded San Francisco's belief in him by averaging nearly 6 yards per carry in the first three games, but with Coleman back, it's fair to wonder where Mostert fits in. Expect the Niners to keep getting Mostert opportunities, but it's hard to project consistent touches in a talented room that also includes Matt Breida. -- Nick Wagoner

7. Los Angeles Rams (3-2)

Week 5 ranking: 4

Surprise fantasy player: Cooper Kupp, WR

Kupp, the Rams' shifty and speedy slot receiver, is coming off season-ending ACL surgery, but that has not slowed him one bit. The third-year pro is the go-to target for quarterback Jared Goff. Kupp leads the team with 41 receptions on 63 targets. He has a team-high 505 receiving yards, and his five touchdowns are the most among a receiving corps that includes Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods. -- Lindsey Thiry

8. Dallas Cowboys (3-2)

Week 5 ranking: 5

Surprise fantasy player: Michael Gallup, WR

Gallup missed two games because of arthroscopic knee surgery, but he remains on pace for a 1,000-yard season. The Cowboys' passing game is led by Amari Cooper, but Gallup has seen a jump in his production because of the trust Dak Prescott has in him. Gallup has two 100-yard performances in the three games he has played, putting him on pace for 64 receptions and 1,085 yards. He has hit the end zone just once, but if teams do more to take away Cooper, then Gallup is showing he can hurt defenses too. There's no reason to think he can't continue this type of play. -- Todd Archer

9. Philadelphia Eagles (3-2)

Week 5 ranking: 11

Surprise fantasy player: Zach Ertz, TE

Coming off a record-breaking season in which he had 116 catches and eight touchdowns, Ertz has had a quieter start to his 2019 campaign. His first touchdown came on Sunday against the Jets. Among tight ends, he ranks fourth in catches (29) and fifth in yards (312). Expect his production to pick up in the coming weeks, especially once field-stretcher DeSean Jackson returns from injury. -- Tim McManus

10. Buffalo Bills (4-1)

Week 5 ranking: 12

Surprise fantasy player: Frank Gore, RB

We probably shouldn't be surprised at this point, but Gore continues to produce in his 15th season. In the three games Devin Singletary has missed with a hamstring injury, Gore has averaged 81.7 rushing yards and 5.4 yards per carry. That being said, his touches likely will decrease once Singletary returns, so Gore isn't likely to hit the 1,066 rushing yards that he is on pace for. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques

11. Baltimore Ravens (3-2)

Week 5 ranking: 10

Surprise fantasy player: Marquise Brown, WR

It was unknown what kind of impact Brown would make -- if any at all -- after the rookie missed a chunk of training camp and half the preseason games while recovering from offseason foot surgery. But Brown, who is nicknamed "Hollywood," ranks in the top 20 in fantasy points after catching three touchdown passes in his first five games. This will be a challenging pace to keep up for Brown. Over his next four games, he'll play three defenses (Bengals twice and Patriots) that rank in the top 10 in fewest yards allowed to wide receivers this season. -- Jamison Hensley

12. Houston Texans (3-2)

Week 5 ranking: 13

Surprise fantasy player: DeAndre Hopkins, WR

Texans tight end Darren Fells has more touchdowns (three) than Hopkins (two) through five games. Hopkins opened the season with a big performance against the Saints, but he hasn't had 100 yards receiving in game since. Teams have been doubling Hopkins, and when the Falcons did that on Sunday, it allowed Will Fuller V to take advantage, with 14 catches for 217 yards and three touchdowns. "As long as the scoreboard says W, I'm happy," Hopkins said. "I know I can't go out there and beat a team by myself. The little things you don't see on fantasy football. It's real football." -- Sarah Barshop

13. Chicago Bears (3-2)

Week 5 ranking: 9

Surprise fantasy player: David Montgomery, RB

Montgomery's fantasy value has decreased because the Bears can't do much right on offense. Eventually, though, Montgomery is expected to break through and become a focal point. As head coach Matt Nagy feels more pressure to turn Chicago's quarterbacks into game managers, the Bears' focus will turn more to the run game, for which Montgomery is the only true three-down back on the roster. Montgomery is too talented not to have a serious fantasy impact. -- Jeff Dickerson

14. Minnesota Vikings (3-2)

Week 5 ranking: 14

Surprise fantasy player: Kyle Rudolph, TE

The nine-year veteran tight end didn't think his main responsibility would be blocking when he signed a lucrative contract extension in June, but that has been Rudolph's primary role, as his targets have shrunk significantly in 2019. He has had exactly one pass thrown his way in each of the past three games, and he doesn't possess value as a red zone threat to fantasy owners as he once did. We expected Rudolph's role in the passing game to decrease with a shift to a more run-oriented attack, but where it's at right now is somewhat staggering. -- Courtney Cronin

15. Indianapolis Colts (3-2)

Week 5 ranking: 19

Surprise fantasy player: Marlon Mack, RB

The Colts are leaning heavy on Mack to lighten quarterback Jacoby Brissett's workload. Mack hasn't disappointed so far, as two of his six career 100-yard rushing games have come this season. Mack is coming off a game in which he had a career-high 29 carries for 132 yards against Kansas City to bring his season rushing total to 470 yards. He is on pace to be the 1,500-yard rusher owner Jim Irsay envisioned he would be a couple of years ago. -- Mike Wells

16. Detroit Lions (2-1-1)

Week 5 ranking: 15

Surprise fantasy player: Kerryon Johnson, RB

Johnson would be the first one to tell you he doesn't care about his fantasy production, just what his teammates and coaches are asking of him. But it hasn't been the most productive fantasy year for him, topping 50 yards just once and scoring twice in four weeks. However, Johnson looks like he found something in his most recent contest against Kansas City in which he rushed for 125 yards. The schedule doesn't get much easier, with Green Bay and Minnesota next, but Johnson appears to have found some rhythm, which should bode well the rest of the season. -- Michael Rothstein

17. Carolina Panthers (3-2)

Week 5 ranking: 20

Surprise fantasy player: Curtis Samuel, WR

Samuel looked set to have a breakout year in training camp. However, with the injury to QB Cam Newton and the heavy workload Christian McCaffrey has received since, Samuel has only 19 catches and one touchdown through five games. Samuel hasn't developed the rapport on the field with Kyle Allen that he had with Newton. Again, the Panthers have simplified things and have leaned heavily on the running game to take the pressure off Allen. -- David Newton

18. Cleveland Browns (2-3)

Week 5 ranking: 17

Surprise fantasy player: Ricky Seals-Jones, TE

With David Njoku on injured reserve with a wrist injury, Seals-Jones has emerged as Baker Mayfield's favorite tight end target. Coach Freddie Kitchens loves using TEs, which means Seals-Jones will continue to be on the field, at least until Njoku returns, which won't be until late November at the earliest. -- Jake Trotter

19. Los Angeles Chargers (2-3)

Week 5 ranking: 16

Surprise fantasy player: Hunter Henry, TE

Expected to be one of the more productive tight ends in the NFL, Henry has just four catches for 60 yards, mainly due to injury. Henry suffered a tibia plateau fracture to his left knee in Week 1 against the Colts and was projected to miss four to six weeks. Henry has been working with trainers on the field over the past week and appears close to returning to the field. Once healthy, Henry should be an impact player for the Chargers moving forward; the Bolts could use help from the athletic tight end to solve their issues scoring in the red zone. -- Eric D. Williams

20. Tennessee Titans (2-3)

Week 5 ranking: 18

Surprise fantasy player: A.J. Brown, WR

After missing extended time during training camp, Brown didn't figure to play a significant role in the Titans' offense early in the season. However, he has become Tennessee's most dangerous pass-catcher. Brown has caught 12 of the 19 targets that have come his way. Entering Week 5, Brown's 22.3 yards per catch was among the NFL leaders. The rookie wideout already has three receptions of 40 yards or more on the season, and Brown's two touchdowns lead all Titans receivers. Brown eventually will overtake Tajae Sharpe as the starter opposite Corey Davis, which will lead to more opportunities. Unfortunately, Brown's value will be limited by the Titans' erratic offense. -- Turron Davenport

21. Oakland Raiders (3-2)

Week 5 ranking: 24

Surprise fantasy player: Josh Jacobs, RB

The rookie first-rounder had a phenomenal day in the Raiders' 24-21 defeat of the Bears on Sunday, rushing for 123 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries and catching three passes for 20 yards -- with wideouts Tyrell Williams and J.J. Nelson injured and inactive. Jacobs' 430 rushing yards are the most by a Raiders rookie through his first five games, eclipsing Marcus Allen's 415 yards in 1982. Given the success Jacobs had running behind an active offensive line against a vaunted Chicago run defense, expect Oakland to continue riding its rookie phenom going forward. -- Paul Gutierrez

22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-3)

Week 5 ranking: 21

Surprise fantasy player: The defense

Most notably, the lack of success opposing running backs have had against the Bucs. They are allowing running backs an average of 5.8 fantasy points (standard scoring) -- seventh fewest this season, according to ESPN Stats & Information research, and vitally important in a division that features Christian McCaffrey, Alvin Kamara and Devonta Freeman. Last season in standard scoring, the Bucs gave up 10.5 fantasy points to RBs on average. Their effectiveness against the run has helped make the Tampa Bay defense a better fantasy option than originally projected. -- Jenna Laine

23. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-3)

Week 5 ranking: 22

Surprise fantasy player: DJ Chark Jr., WR

The Jaguars expected Chark to make significant improvement from his rookie season, but nobody thought he would be leading the AFC in receiving yards (485, No. 5 overall) and TD catches (five, tied for No. 2 overall) after five games. This isn't a fluke, either. Chark put in the work during the offseason, and he says he is so much more comfortable because he knows what to expect in every aspect, including meetings, practice and recovery. He had issues catching the ball last season, but that's not the case in 2019. He has zero drops on 37 targets, after two drops on 38 last season. Chark is on pace for 86 catches, 1,552 yards and 16 TDs. -- Mike DiRocco

24. New York Giants (2-3)

Week 5 ranking: 25

Surprise fantasy player: Evan Engram, TE

The hype has been matched with production. It's one thing to project Engram would have a breakout year. It's another for it to happen. Engram is second among tight ends in average points per week. Now he just needs to stay healthy and keep it up for 16 games. -- Jordan Raanan

25. Atlanta Falcons (1-4)

Week 5 ranking: 23

Surprise fantasy player: Austin Hooper, TE

Hooper might not be that much of a surprise because of the potential he has shown every year, but he now leads the team in receptions and has two TDs. He should continue to benefit from the attention given to Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley. -- Vaughn McClure

26. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-4)

Week 5 ranking: 26

Surprise fantasy player: Diontae Johnson, WR

While JuJu Smith-Schuster has been mostly quiet as the primary focus of opposing defenses, Johnson -- a rookie -- is slowly breaking out. In Mason Rudolph's first two starts, Johnson was targeted six times in each game and had a touchdown in both contests. When Devlin Hodges came in Sunday, he hit Johnson for a monster third-down conversion, but Johnson's downfall will be his trouble holding on to the ball. He fumbled the third-down pass out of bounds, though it still was ruled a completion, and fumbled his first catch a week ago. -- Brooke Pryor

27. Denver Broncos (1-4)

Week 5 ranking: 27

Surprise fantasy player: Courtland Sutton, WR

Given his role as a starter who has played as much as expected (his 303 snaps in the first five games leads the team's wide receivers and tight ends), Sutton was expected to have some fantasy impact. But it has been more than expected. After the first five games, Sutton leads the team in receptions, receiving yards, average yards per catch and touchdowns. The Broncos have had a heavy run presence and lean that way at times on offense, but Sutton has improved week to week in how he handles the man coverage he sees. He also has earned quarterback Joe Flacco's trust in a crowd, and his routes are improving. Sutton still has to be more consistent in how he works at the top of his routes, but he is an ascending player. -- Jeff Legwold

28. Arizona Cardinals (1-3-1)

Week 5 ranking: 28

Surprise fantasy player: Chase Edmonds, RB

Edmonds has been playing in the shadow of fellow running back David Johnson since he was drafted last year, but Edmonds' big game on Sunday -- 68 rushing yards and a touchdown, along with three catches for 18 yards for 17.6 fantasy points -- proved he can be an impact fantasy player, especially when the Cardinals commit to the run. I think he'll maintain that level. With Edmonds being used more as the season goes on -- his carries have increased from one to three to six to eight -- he'll likely be on the field along with Johnson, especially as a complement when Johnson is lined up as a receiver. -- Josh Weinfuss

29. Cincinnati Bengals (0-5)

Week 5 ranking: 29

Surprise fantasy player: Joe Mixon, RB

Those who drafted Mixon early expected him to live up to his early-round projections. However, after five games, Mixon has no rushing touchdowns and is 24th in total rushing yards. But his latest outings suggest he could be finding his form on a bad offense. He has averaged at least 4 yards per carry for three straight weeks. -- Ben Baby

30. New York Jets (0-4)

Week 5 ranking: 30

Surprise fantasy player: Le'Veon Bell, RB

Bell has been a surprise in a negative way, tallying only one TD. Because of quarterback and offensive-line issues, he has been a total nonfactor. He is getting chances (98 touches, tied for eighth in the league) but has nowhere to run. His efficiency will improve when QB Sam Darnold returns to the lineup, but don't expect a dramatic increase. The Jets have serious blocking issues, and those will prevent Bell from being Bell. Oh, how he wishes he still had that Pittsburgh offensive line. -- Rich Cimini

31. Washington Redskins (0-5)

Week 5 ranking: 31

Surprise fantasy player: Terry McLaurin, WR

McLaurin has been the one bright spot on offense, as he now has 19 catches for 308 yards and three touchdowns. While he will continue to be a focal point, will the Redskins find him consistently? Even though coach Jay Gruden was fired Monday, there's no guarantee that rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins will take over. If Haskins does, however, he and McLaurin obviously connected at Ohio State, but this will be a far more difficult task, so it could take a while to rebuild their chemistry. It also would help McLaurin for another skill player to emerge to take pressure off him, but he is legit and remains the Redskins' best weapon. -- John Keim

32. Miami Dolphins (0-4)

Week 5 ranking: 32

Surprise fantasy player: Preston Williams, WR

Williams has gone from a rookie undrafted free agent trying to make the roster to the Dolphins' leading receiver through four games, with 15 catches for 201 yards and a touchdown. Williams began the season as a part-time player, but he quickly has become a full-time contributor and Josh Rosen's favorite weapon. Williams has a team-leading 30 targets, including 19 over the past two weeks with Rosen as the starter. Williams' role as a top target should remain consistent, and it might even increase a tick if Rosen becomes more comfortable in the offense. Williams is the most reliable fantasy receiver on a bad Dolphins offense. -- Cameron Wolfe

TOKYO -- NBA commissioner Adam Silver said he's still planning to go to China on Wednesday in advance of preseason games there between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Brooklyn Nets later in the week, even after China's state broadcaster canceled plans to show the games.

Silver went so far as to say that he and the league are "apologetic" over the outcome and reaction that followed Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey's tweet showing support for protesters in Hong Kong, but he noted that "we are not apologizing for Daryl exercising his freedom of expression."

"Daryl Morey, as general manager of the Houston Rockets, enjoys that right as one of our employees," Silver said. "What I also tried to suggest is that I understand there are consequences from his freedom of speech and we will have to live with those consequences."

He added that he "regrets" how so many Chinese people and NBA fans were upset by the now-deleted tweet.

Silver said it would be appropriate for people involved with the league "to be sensitive" to different cultures when tweeting or communicating. He spoke in Tokyo before a preseason game between the NBA champion Toronto Raptors and the Rockets -- the team at the center of this China squabble.

His comments came as Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said it will no longer air two NBA preseason games set to be played in the country.

CCTV is also reviewing all its cooperation and exchanges involving the NBA, it said in a statement posted to CCTV Sports' official social media account.

The broadcaster indicated the decision was prompted by earlier remarks Silver made in Japan.

"We're strongly dissatisfied and oppose Adam Silver's claim to support Morey's right to freedom of expression," the statement read. "We believe that any remarks that challenge national sovereignty and social stability are not within the scope of freedom of speech."

Chinese smartphone maker Vivo joined other businesses in saying Tuesday that it will suspend its business with the NBA over Morey's comments and the NBA's reaction. Vivo had been a sponsor for the Lakers-Nets games in China.

Silver is going to Shanghai on Wednesday and said he hopes to meet with officials, including Chinese Basketball Association president Yao Ming, and some of the league's business partners there in an effort to find some sort of common ground. He said he hopes Chinese officials and fans look at the totality of the impact of the three-decade-plus relationship between the league and their country, and urged them to see his response while acknowledging there are political differences between the countries.

"I'm sympathetic to our interests here and our partners that are upset," Silver said. "I don't think it's inconsistent on one hand to be sympathetic to them and at the same time stand by our principles."

Silver said the NBA did not expect CCTV to cancel plans to show the Lakers-Nets games.

"But if those are the consequences of us adhering to our values, I still feel it's very, very important to adhere to those values," Silver said.

A ceremonial NBA Cares event for an educational center in Shanghai with the Nets was canceled Tuesday, though the Nets participated in other events as scheduled. The Lakers were arriving there Tuesday. Silver said NBA Cares would still honor its bigger mission surrounding that event, including providing a gift of new computers.

The rift between China and the NBA started late last week when Morey posted a tweet with an image that read: "Fight for Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong." He later deleted the post and tweeted an apology after Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta publicly clarified the team does not take political positions.

The strong reactions to Morey's tweet underscore China's sensitivity about foreign attitudes toward the ongoing Hong Kong protests that have grown into violence in the semi-autonomous territory. China has accused foreign parties in the United States and elsewhere of encouraging the demonstrations.

The protests were sparked by a proposed extradition law that would have allowed suspects to be sent to China to face trial. Activists saw that as a threat to the legal rights that Hong Kong residents have under the current "one country, two systems" framework.

On Tuesday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said ordinary people have already expressed their position.

"How can it be possible to carry out exchanges and cooperation with China without knowing China's public opinion?'' Geng said. "NBA's cooperation with China has been going on for quite a long time, so for what should be said and what should be done, they know best."

But Silver said the league "will not put itself in a position of regulating what players, employees and team owners say or will not say on these issues."

Silver's statement was sent out shortly before he was to hold a news conference in Tokyo.

Silver said "it is inevitable that people around the world -- including from America and China -- will have different viewpoints over different issues. It is not the role of the NBA to adjudicate those differences."

Silver also responded to those criticizing the league's approach over the last several days, including some U.S. lawmakers who have called for the league to take action -- some even suggesting the league should cancel its games in China.

"This is about far more than growing our business. ... Values of equality, respect and freedom of expression have long defined the NBA -- and will continue to do so," Silver said. "As an American-based basketball league operating globally, among our greatest contributions are these values of the game."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Four teams faced elimination from the MLB playoffs on Monday, and three lived to play another day, including the Tampa Bay Rays, who have their season on the line again tonight.

What's on tap

Tuesday's schedule

7:07 p.m. ET: Astros-Rays Game 4

The most important thing of the day: We get the chance to see a future Hall of Famer at the top of his craft with an opportunity to close out a playoff series. And who is Justin Verlander's foe in Game 4 of the Astros-Rays ALDS? Diego Castillo, a fine reliever with nasty stuff, but a pitcher who has maxed out at two innings this season and come out of the bullpen in 59 of his 67 appearances. This is baseball in 2019, not exactly what we've seen through the years but fascinating all the same.

The view from inside the ballparks

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Rays have momentum, and as Kevin Kiermaier said after Tampa Bay's 10-3 win in Game 3, they feel like they "have nothing to lose." You can't really say that of the Astros, who, after Zack Greinke's clunker, will turn to Justin Verlander on Tuesday to close it out on short rest. The Astros remain loose and confident because those are their defining traits. But Game 4 will be played in an even more raucous setting than Game 3 on Monday. -- Bradford Doolittle

A stat to impress your friends: To advance to the ALCS, the Rays will likely need to beat Justin Verlander in Game 4 and Gerrit Cole in Game 5. The two aces have started consecutive games 28 times this year, and the Astros lost both games twice (April 2-3 vs. Rangers, June 18-19 vs. Reds).

Predictions

Astros-Rays

Tense, terse and tight. That's what we're in for. The Rays, on a bullpen day, will not leave any bullets unfired. Astros 2, Rays 1 -- Doolittle

Justin Verlander hasn't allowed more than four runs in a game all season, and he won't in this one. The Rays will go with Diego Castillo to start the bullpen game, and their top relievers are all in good shape after the Game 3 blowout. The issue for Tampa will be bridging the gap from Castillo to the other relievers. Lefty Ryan Yarbrough is actually a reverse platoon guy, so he might be the key. Here's saying the Rays find a way and send the series back to Houston. Rays 3, Astros 2 -- David Schoenfield

About last night

Stud of the night: With tips of the cap to Yadier Molina and Ryan Zimmerman, the image of Max Scherzer gutting through seven innings after pitching in relief two nights before won us over. He closed out his night by working out of a bases-loaded jam, striking out Chris Taylor and getting Joc Pederson on a grounder to second when one swing of the bat could have changed the game. After throwing 109 pitches, Scherzer admitted, "I was just gassed."

Dud of the night: Sorry, Twins, but nothing screams "dud" like getting swept out of the playoffs with a 16-game, 15-year postseason losing streak intact. Of the four teams facing elimination in front of their home crowds, the Twins were the only ones who sent their fans home for the winter.

Highlight of the night:

Off the diamond

Social media says:

THIS is a bleeping bat flip pic.twitter.com/NSUrzg2r8m

— Parakeet A. Cortes (@Ryan_Cortes) October 7, 2019

Quote of note: "But anything can happen in between those white lines, and I don't want anyone to tell me or any of my other teammates that you don't have a shot at this. We know what Houston's capable of, Verlander, his résumé and all that. At the end of the day, we're out there competing, trying to win a ballgame each and every day. We don't care who's on the mound." -- Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier

Best of the playoffs so far ...

Our running postseason MVP: We said it was Verlander's title to lose after he became a verb by blanking the Rays for seven innings in ALDS Game 1. But after Cole's 15-strikeout tour de force in Game 2, it looks like the two Astros aces are co-MVPs.

The play of this October: Juan Soto's single/Trent Grisham's error with two outs and the bases loaded in the eighth inning of the NL wild-card game, which turned a 3-1 deficit into a 4-3 Washington lead. Unfortunately for Grisham, the play will be part of those postseason blunders lists -- and it could take on a life of its own if the Nationals end up winning it all.

Game of the postseason so far: Braves-Cardinals Game 3. An old-school pitchers' duel between Mike Soroka and Adam Wainwright had Atlanta down 1-0 entering the ninth. With St. Louis one out from taking a 2-1 series lead, the Cards intentionally walked Brian McCann, Dansby Swanson ripped a double to tie it, and pinch hitter Adam Duvall followed with a two-run single that gave the Braves a 3-1 win.