It would appear that Mr. Finebaum might want to go to Washington.

Paul Finebaum, ESPN host and dean of college football radio, said in an interview with Outkick published Sept. 29 that he is interested in running for a U.S. Senate seat in Alabama that will be contested in the 2026 mid-term elections.

“The biggest issue is the direction of ‘Where are we going [as a country]?’ And I don’t like some of that,” Finebaum said. 

He added that he would like to make a decision within the next 30 to 45 days.

“I’ve been made aware that the qualifying deadline is in January. That’s ideal. I’d love to get to the end of the season. I don’t know if that’s realistic,” Finebaum said. The deadline to jump into the primary race is Jan. 23, 2026, according to Ballotpedia.

Finebaum would not be the first Alabama college sports figure linked to the seat of former Auburn head football coach Tommy Tuberville. Former Auburn head basketball coach Bruce Pearl said in his retirement announcement that he considered a run for the seat but decided against it.

“Many of you know that I thought and prayed about maybe running for United States Senate,” Pearl said. “That would have required leaving Auburn, and instead, the university has given me an opportunity to stay here and be Auburn’s senator.”

Finebaum told Outkick that Pearl’s announcement that he would not jump into the race opened the door to considering it.

“I ended up talking to someone… who made it clear that there was a desire for me to be involved. And this person… was compelling and compassionate in the approach to me, and I started thinking about this,” he said.

Charlie Kirk’s murder inspired Finebaum’s Senate aspirations

Finebaum pointed to the killing of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk on Sept. 10 as an inspiration to consider jumping into the political arena.

“It’s hard to describe, not being involved in politics, how that affected me and affected tens of millions of people all over this country. And it was an awakening,” Finebaum said.

Outkick, the conservative sports outlet, reported that Finebaum has been hesitant to discuss his politics due to ESPN policy and not to alienate his audience.

The host of “The Paul Finebaum Show” said that he recently moved back to Alabama, where his career began as a reporter and columnist for the Birmingham Post-Herald, after relocating from North Carolina, and he would run as a Republican. He added that he would run if asked by President Donald Trump.

“Impossible to tell him no. There’s no way I could,” Finebaum said.

Week 4 of the 2025 fantasy football season kept up the trend of being predictably chaotic.

With two Monday Night Football games pending, the top two quarterbacks are Dak Prescott and Matthew Stafford. The top six at running back include names like Kenneth Gainwell (RB3), Justice Hill (RB4) and Woody Marks (RB6). At wideout, the top 10 featured Drake London and Justin Jefferson for the first time all season. As usual, the tight end leaderboard was pure mayhem. Jake Tonges (TE5), Tommy Tremble (TE6), AJ Barner (TE8), Hunter Long (TE9) and Mitchell Evans (TE10) all finished inside the top 10.

Week 5 is now upon us.

Here’s an early look at Week 5 fantasy football rankings. Toggle between standard, half PPR (point per reception) and full PPR to see where players rank in your league’s format. Scroll to the bottom to view the complete rankings.

Our team at USA TODAY Sports has you covered with plenty of content to help with your Week 3 waiver wire and roster decisions. Looking for up-to-date player news? We’ve got it. Don’t forget to check out the rest of our content:

Waiver wire: 5 players to add | 5 players to drop

Analysis: 8 buy low, sell high candidates | Week 4 winners and losers

Please note: These rankings will change significantly as the week goes on. Check back on Sunday morning for final updates.

(The risers and sleepers sections will focus on players available in at least 40% of Yahoo leagues. All snap and target data from PFF.)

Week 5 fantasy football quarterback rankings: Risers and sleepers

• Giants QB Jaxon Dart (23% rostered) – With two MNF games pending, Dart currently ranks as the QB9 on the week. Despite the Malik Nabers injury, Dart is still an intriguing add due to what he did on the ground. The rookie led all quarterbacks in rush attempts and finished with 54 yards and a score. If he maintains that kind of rushing usage, he’ll have one of the safer floors at the position.
• Texans QB CJ Stroud (55%) – Stroud currently ranks as the QB13 on the week, which would be his second-best finish since Week 4 of last season. That’s just sad. The 23-year-old could be on the streaming radar in Week 5, as he’s taking on a depleted Ravens defense that has allowed the third-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season.
• Rams QB Matthew Stafford (42%) – After racking up 375 yards and three tuddies against the Colts, Stafford currently ranks as the QB2 on the week. Week 5 is probably one to keep the veteran on the bench (he hasn’t ranked higher than QB17 against the 49ers since 2021), but he gets the Ravens and Jaguars after that.

Week 5 fantasy football running back rankings: Risers and sleepers

• Texans RB Woody Marks (31%) – Marks being available in a nice 69% of leagues is baffling, but that sure will change this week. The rookie took over the Houston backfield and garnered 22 opportunities (17 carries and 5 targets). He turned that into 119 total yards and 2 touchdowns. Nick Chubb likely will maintain a share of the backfield going forward, but Marks should be treated as a top 20 back until further notice.
• Steelers RB Kenneth Gainwell (23%) – With Jaylen Warren being a surprise inactive in Dublin, Gainwell took full advantage. The 26-year-old played 77% of the snaps and received 78% of the backfield opportunities, resulting in 134 total yards and two trips to the end zone. The Steelers have a bye in Week 5, but Gainwell likely earned himself a more substantial role when they return in Week 6.
• Saints RB Kendre Miller (5%) – Miller is in the same boat as Trey Benson was with the Cardinals prior to James Conner’s injury. He’s getting enough usage to have some standalone value during bye weeks, and he’s an injury away from having RB2 value. Miller has amassed 9 and 11 touches over the last two weeks while playing 27% and 31% of snaps, respectively.
• Titans RB Tyjae Spears (32%) – The Titans are expected to open the practice window for Spears to return from IR, which makes him a worthwhile add in most leagues. Tony Pollard hasn’t been particularly efficient this season, and he hasn’t added much value as a pass-catcher. Spears should have immediate flex appeal in deep PPR leagues.

Week 5 fantasy football wide receiver rankings: Risers and sleepers

• Packers WR Romeo Doubs (39%) – With Jayden Reed out, it was once again Doubs who led the way in Week 4. The 25-year-old led all Green Bay wideouts in snaps (75), routes (42), and targets (8). He turned that volume into 58 yards and three touchdowns, currently ranking as the WR3 on the week. Doubs will be a high-upside flex option when Green Bay returns from their bye in Week 6.
• Browns WR Isaiah Bond (0%) – With Cedric Tillman set to be out ‘multiple weeks’ due to a hamstring injury, undrafted rookie Isaiah Bond has officially entered the fantasy picture. Bond had a 71% route rate in Week 4, and his snap share (55%) received a bump when Tillman went down. The 21-year-old caught three of his six targets for 58 yards and a touchdown and is worth adding for those in need of receiver depth.
• Giants WR Darius Slayton (2%) – While Slayton already had a high snap share prior to Nabers’ injury, his target share should increase considerably going forward. Nabers sported a 29% target share so far this season. In 2024, Slayton racked up 22 targets (29% share) in the two games Nabers was sidelined.
• Giants WR Wan’Dale Robinson (49%) – Robinson should also be a major beneficiary of the Nabers injury. The 24-year-old played a majority of snaps in two-receiver sets after the injury, according to PFF, which should significantly raise his fantasy value going forward. In last year’s two-game sample with Nabers inactive, Robinson garnered 20 targets (27% share).
• Titans WR Elic Ayomanor (31%) – The rookie didn’t produce much in Week 4, but he still led all Titans wideouts in snaps (41), routes (27), and targets (5). To date, Ayomanor has seen three of the five end zone targets for Tennessee. Given his role and the fact that it usually takes rookies some time to acclimate, Ayomanor is worth rostering in most medium-sized leagues or deeper.

Week 5 fantasy football tight end rankings: Risers and sleepers

• 49ers TE Jake Tonges (2%) – With most of San Francisco’s skill position group banged up heading into Thursday Night Football, Tonges could be a sneaky stream. The 26-year-old made the most of his five targets against the Jaguars, turning them into 58 yards and a touchdown.
• Jaguars TE Brenton Strange (28%) – While his performances haven’t been all that inspiring, Strange has done enough to remain a fringe TE1 option in PPR formats. The Penn State product has totaled between 9.9 and 12.1 PPR points in three of his four games this season, which is enough to make him the TE14. If the Jaguars start using Strange in the red zone, he’d become a set-and-forget start in most formats.
• Giants TE Theo Johnson (5%) – After Nabers went down, it was Johnson who was tied with Wan’Dale Robinson for the largest target share on the team at 31%. The 24-year-old turned his five targets into three receptions for 17 yards and a touchdown. He’s an intriguing speculative add at fantasy’s most depressing position.

Week 5 fantasy football rankings: PPR and non-PPR

Off to an 0-3 start and with coach Mike McDaniel seemingly on one of the league’s hottest seats, the Miami Dolphins are already in deep water to start the 2025 NFL season. So maybe it’s a good time for them to break out their Nike “Rivalries” uniforms – the Fins’ version dubbed “Dark Waters.” Miami becomes the second team to don the new alternates, revealed by the sportswear apparel giant last month, joining the Arizona Cardinals, who rocked their “Built to Last” alternates Thursday.

Per Nike, Miami’s look is meant to convey speed and South Florida’s night life in what’s officially a “dark pitch-blue” colorway with hits of “Turbo Green,” and the club’s standard aqua and orange.

What’s new about the Dolphins’ ‘Rivalries’ uniforms?

For a team that’s historically embraced South Florida’s vibrant colors – aqua, orange or white jerseys – this dark version is quite a departure for the Dolphins, who are basically offering their fans something akin to the black alternates so many pro teams have in their wardrobes.

Per the team’s website, “This design is unlike any before, featuring dark aquatic tones made to represent a team who hunts in dark waters. Complete with orange accents and sleek dark blue touches throughout, these uniforms are as fierce as the competition between longtime rivals when they meet in prime time.”

“Go Fins” is embroidered inside the collar. Miami’s 305 area code appears above the facemask.

“The Jets have always been our biggest rival,” legendary Dolphins wideout Nat Moore told Nike in conjunction with the uniform launch in August.

“They’re the team that, no matter what their record is, they’re always going to play us tough. Whether the game was down in Miami or up in New York, you just knew how important it was to the fans. And with so many New Yorkers living in South Florida, the rivalry just feels that much more real.”

What are NFL ‘Rivalries’ uniforms by Nike?

Think of them as the football version of the sports apparel company’s NBA ‘City Edition’ uniforms or Major League Baseball’s ‘City Connect’ jerseys. Signaled during the NFL draft and unveiled in August, Nike has strived to create something that further strengthens NFL teams’ bonds to their unique civic environments. And, as “rivalries” would suggest, all of them will be worn in intra-divisional matchups.

‘The 2025 Rivalries uniforms will celebrate storied local traditions and unite fan communities with designs unique to select cities and teams,” Nike announced during the rollout.

‘The designs are rooted extensively in the legacies and inspirations true to each team, serving as authentic, competitive expressions of community pride while giving athletes and fans an opportunity to connect like never before.’

Which NFL teams have ‘Rivalries’ uniforms?

Eventually all of them. But for 2025, each team in the AFC East and NFC West is scheduled to wear their “Rivalries” unis one time this season. Two additional divisions will be added to the rotation in each of the next three seasons, and the “Rivalries” option then becomes part of a team’s closet for the following three years.

When will NFL teams wear ‘Rivalries’ uniforms in 2025?

 Buffalo Bills: Oct. 5 vs. New England Patriots

 Los Angeles Rams: Nov. 16 vs. Seattle Seahawks

 New England Patriots: Nov. 13 vs. New York Jets

 New York Jets: Dec. 7 vs. Miami Dolphins

 San Francisco 49ers: Jan. 4, 2026 vs. Seattle Seahawks

 Seattle Seahawks: Dec. 18 vs. Los Angeles Rams

For a second straight Miami Dolphins home game, air traffic over Hard Rock Stadium was conspicuously busy.

The Dolphins are hosting their second home game of the season on Monday night in a prime-time clash with the New York Jets. And Dolphins fans are sponsoring a second plane banner to fly over the team’s home stadium this season to voice their frustrations.

‘Help wanted: new coach, new GM, new QB,’ read the banner flying over Hard Rock Stadium on Monday night.

Two weeks prior, ahead of the Dolphins’ home opener against the New England Patriots, a plane flew over the stadium with a different banner that read, ‘Fire (Dolphins general manager Chris) Grier. Fire (Dolphins head coach Mike) McDaniel.’

Monday night’s banner notably added a new subject of Dolphin fan frustration: quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

Through three games, Tagovailoa has thrown four interceptions and fumbled twice while failing to record more than 200 passing yards in two out of his three outings. That’s led to a ranking of 31st of 34 NFL quarterbacks with a minimum of 64 plays in expected points added per play (-0.84), a PFF grade (52.9) that ranks 34th of 38 quarterbacks and a QBR (35.2) ranked 29th of 33.

The only quarterbacks with consistently worse or similar rankings in each category this season are Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback Cam Ward and the Cleveland Browns’ 40-year-old, veteran gunslinger Joe Flacco.

Meanwhile, Grier has been the team’s head executive since 2016, making him the third-longest-tenured GM in the team’s history. Miami holds a 75-76 record since he took over and are 0-3 in the playoffs.

McDaniel joined Miami as its head coach in 2022. He’s led the team to a 28-26 record since, including two playoff appearances in 2022 and 2023. Both ended with losses in the wild-card round.

The Dolphins lost their Week 1 game against the Indianapolis Colts, 33-8, hosted the New England Patriots in a 33-27 home opener loss in Week 2 and fell to the Buffalo Bills, 31-21, in Week 3’s ‘Thursday Night Football’ game.

The next domino in college athletes’ rights and Name, Image and Likeness legislation tipped Monday night.

U.S. Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) introduced the Student Athlete Fairness and Enforcement (SAFE) Act, aiming ‘to codify athletes’ rights and protections in law, expand revenue for all schools, support women’s and Olympic sports and bring much-needed stability to the college sports system.’

The key provisions in the bill provide federal NIL protections, pooling of media rights, new broadcast revenue for Olympic and women’s sports, local market broadcast access for football and basketball, protections from bad actor agents, national standards for the transfer portal and preserves the House vs. NCAA settlement’s 22% revenue share cap.

‘This legislation is a path through the new world of NIL,’ Cantwell said in a statement. ‘This bill will protect athlete rights, preserve women’s and Olympic sports and help smaller schools compete. It is a fair shake for everyone, instead of the biggest, richest schools.’

Cantwell released a report in August showing how the SEC and Big Ten have severely outpaced the remaining conferences in financial firepower, primarily with their lucrative media rights payments.

The bill proposes amending the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 to allow schools to negotiate media rights as a group to increase value without violating antitrust laws. It states schools must use increased media rights revenues to keep the same number of scholarships and roster sports for non-revenue generating and women’s sports as provided during 2023-24 academic year.

And it says football and basketball games must be provided to local markets on a local broadcast outlet and not behind a paywall.

‘Those closest to college sports — including student-athletes and leaders of America’s colleges and universities at all levels — have consistently called on Congress to take action and address the actual threats facing college athletics,’ NCAA senior vice president for external affairs Tim Buckley said in a statement. ‘This includes protecting student-athletes from being forced to become employees, and ensuring academic standards and other commonsense rules can be applied consistently. There has never been more momentum in Congress to address these challenges and the NCAA will continue to work with all lawmakers to maximize opportunities for America’s 500,000-plus student-athletes.’

Among its provisions, if passed through Congress the SAFE Act would:

• Provide federal NIL rights, replacing patchwork state-by-state laws.
• Establish health and safety standards for heat exertion, brain injury, asthma; provide five years of post-eligibility medical coverage for sports-related injuries.
• Protect scholarships, a 10-year guarantee.
• Provide NIL contracts that outline what athletes must do under the contract and how much they’ll be paid.
• Require agents cap their fees at 5% and to register with a state.
• Allow students to transfer twice without having to sit out for a year; students can transfer without having to sit out for a year if their sport is cut or reduced.

This legislation is in response to the House introducing the Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements (SCORE) Act. Cantwell, the top Democrat on the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee, on Aug. 25 sent a letter to NCAA Division I school chief executive officers and governing boards to “express my deep concerns” about a Republican-authored college-sports bill that has passed two House of Representatives committees.

The SCORE Act, the bill would establish a variety of national rules concerning how college sports operate. It includes antitrust-exemption language that specifically would allow the NCAA, and potentially the new College Sports Commission, to make operational rules affecting schools and athletes in areas that have come into legal dispute in recent years. That would include rules about transfers and the number of seasons for which athletes can compete.

Cantwell specifically claimed the bill’s language would allow the NCAA to alter the House settlement’s basic metric for determining the amount of money athletes would be able to receive in so-called revenue-sharing payments from schools so that it could increase from the 22% of certain revenues of the association’s power-conference schools.

‘In stark contrast to harmful legislation being considered in the House, our bill preserves athletes’ rights to advocate for themselves and ensures meaningful avenues for accountability,’ said Booker, who played football at Stanford. ‘Playing college football was one of the great gifts of my life – and it instilled in me a lasting conviction to fight for justice and fairness for athletes today and into the future.’

(This story was updated to add new information.)