g. Sam Houston also won the rebound battle 49-29.Rashard O

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Coming into this season, the New York Giants have $30 million in cap space invested in their starting defensive line.Based solely on sacks five games into the season, the return is going to be disastrous.The Giants (2-3) have an NFL-low four sacks and only two have been by the linemen heading into Sundays game at MetLife Stadium against the Baltimore Ravens (3-2).Olivier Vernon ($13 million against the cap) and fellow defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul ($9.4 million) have one sack apiece. Tackles Damon Harrison ($6.6 million) and Johnathan Hankins ($1.3 million) have been shut out.The lack of a rush was never more evident than Sunday night, when Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers sometimes had as many as five seconds to stand and throw. He was not sacked and hurried only three times.The only time he was really knocked down was when Vernon shoved him to the ground while cornerback Janoris Jenkins returned an interception. Of course, Vernon drew a 15-yard penalty for the illegal hit.Vernon, who was signed to a five-year, $85 million contract, didnt have much to say about the lack of a pass rush. Most of his answers were 10 words or fewer and noted the need to play better.It is the beginning of the season, Vernon said when asked if he was frustrated.The former Miami Dolphin has been bothered by a wrist injury since the second week of the season but refused to address it Thursday.Pierre-Paul, who like Vernon has rarely left the field this season, returned to practice on a limited basis on Thursday following a groin injury. He said he will play Sunday.Pierre-Paul, who missed half of last season after mangling his right hand in a fireworks accident on July 4, isnt concerned about the sack total either. He said the defenders have been close and just need to finish plays.To me, its not even about sacks, to tell you the truth, he said. Yes, its nice to have, but in reality, when you look at the games, weve been close. We just have to finish with the sack numbers.Our defense has been playing pretty well. We just have to get there and finish. Im not talking about the D-line, Im talking about as a group. Tackle better. We have done a poor job tackling. Thats every guy on the team, including myself. We just have to get better.Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said sacks can be great, but he is more interested in limiting opponents on rushing on first and second down and cutting down on opponents big plays.I will say this: Would we like to have more? Spagnuolo said of the sacks. Yes. Would we like to have more pressure on the quarterback? Yes. I do think that there are moments in there where we are hitting and getting pressure on the quarterback that dont show up on a stat sheet. But we need more.The Giants practiced in shoulder pads on Thursday just to work on their tackling.The tackling problem has resulted in the defense failing to get off the field many times. It is ranked 30th in third-down defense.The lack of a pass rush, the third-down defense, poor tackling and little help from the offense in recent weeks has the Giants riding a three-game losing streak. It also has many fans thinking about a fifth straight season missing the playoffs.Theres no uh-oh, Pierre-Paul said. You know how it is. We started, what, 0-6 (2014)? We still had a chance to go to the playoffs. Its still early. The seasons just started. Were going on six. Its early. Anything can happen. Then we have this bye week after this London game. Were just focusing on this game now, but we have a lot of room for improvement.Game notes Return specialist Dwayne Harris (toe) did not practice Thursday, joining CB Eli Apple (hamstring), OT Marshall Newhouse (calf), and SS Nat Berhe (concussion) and Darian Thompson (foot). ... TE Larry Donnell returned to practice after missing last week with a concussion.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL Clay Matthews Youth Jersey . Capitals head coach Adam Oates said Ovechkin was injured in the first period against the Vancouver Canucks on Monday and clarified it was not a head injury. Darnell Savage Jr. Youth Jersey . -- Ty Montgomery had 290 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, and fifth-ranked Stanford held on to beat No. http://www.shoptheofficialpackers.com/Elite-Clay-Matthews-Packers-Jersey/ . Clarke was injured while practicing on the Doha Golf Club range after the pro-am on Tuesday. The Northern Irishman arrived at the course on Wednesday hoping to start, but after hitting a few balls on the practice putting green Clarke advised officials he was not fit to play. Brett Favre Youth Jersey ., and Rudi Swiegers of Kipling, Sask., took sixth spot on Saturday in pairs at the NHK Trophy ISU Grand Prix figure skating competition. Jaire Alexander Packers Jersey . First off, the fans ripped the Cubbies introduction of a fuzzy new kid-friendly mascot named "Clark". Normally I lead this column with a broad opening, something that applies to either the theme of the week or the portion of the fantasy football season that we have reached. This week, given the first player on our Week 8 Waiver Wire column, Im going to address the question that so many have been -- or soon will be -- asking: Is Ty Montgomery eligible to be played in a running back slot, given his usage with Green Bay?Heres the answer: Yes. Effective this week, Montgomery is eligible at both wide receiver and running back. Its important to note that once we add a position to a players eligibility, it cannot be removed that season. As such, the wide receiver/running back tag is staying for Montgomery for the rest of the 2016 season.With that cleared up, heres our Week 8 ESPN Fantasy waiver wire column.Note: All players who appear on this list are owned in less than 50 percent of leagues on ESPN.com.Week 8 byes: Baltimore Ravens, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, Pittsburgh SteelersJacquizz Rodgers, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (34.5 percent). With Doug Martin?suffering a setback in his recovery for a hamstring issue, Rodgers has the starting job to himself in Tampa Bay. What has he done so far? Gone more than 100 yards on the ground in two straight games and handled 62 total touches. The volume is great, and so is the production, and the upcoming schedule isnt something to be scared of. Rodgers is a must-add in all leagues and an RB2 right away.Ty Montgomery, RB/WR, Green Bay Packers (17.8 percent). Regardless of what position he stays at, Montgomery is an add in all leagues. He has collected 20 catches the past two games and has 12 rushes for 66 yards. He reminds me of James White in New England. Even if he tallies more receptions than rushes, those catches serve as an extension of the running game. Hes a fun player to watch.Mike Gillislee, RB, Buffalo Bills (6.1 percent). As of this writing, we dont know what LeSean McCoys status is for Week 8 against the Patriots. But this much we do know: McCoy left Sundays game due to an aggravated hamstring issue, and Gillislee is the next man on the depth chart. Hes a must-add for all McCoy owners and a reasonable pickup in any league for someone who needs running back depth. With a Week 10 bye on the horizon, it wouldnt be a major shock if McCoy sits the next two weeks.Matt Asiata, RB, Minnesota Vikings (26.0 percent). Asiatas value is not rooted solely in the health of Jerick McKinnon, but its worth noting that the latter left Sundays game against Philly because of an ankle injury. If McKinnon sits, that thrusts Asiata right into RB2 territory for Week 8 against the Bears. He already has value in deeper leagues, as he has 35 total touches in Minnesotas past two games.Davante Adams, WR, Green Bay Packers (17.5 percent). What a Week 7 for Adams, the former second-round pick who had 13 catches for 132 yards and two touchdowns against the Bears. His stat line wont be nearly that gaudy each week, as hes going to be the fourth passing game option for Green Bay many weeks, but he has value in deeper leagues now and can be used if anything happens to Jordy Nelson or Randall Cobb.Devontae Booker, RB, Denver Broncos (33.1 percent). The rookie out of Utah has seen a growing workload by the week, and on Monday night he found the end zone for the first time. Hes going to remain a part of what Denver does on offense. Hes a talented back that should be added by all C.J. Anderson owners and can be grabbed in any league with 12 teams or more for an owner in need of running back depth.Donte Moncrief, WR, Indianapolis Colts (45.6 percent). Moncrief has been out since suffering a Week 2 injury, but hes expected to return to practice this week. Hes a major talent and no Colts pass catcher stepped up into the No. 2 wideout role in his abbsence.dddddddddddd He should be added in all leagues.Alfred Blue, RB, Houston Texans (.6 percent). Lamar Miller is now dealing with a shoulder injury which opened the door to Blue seeing some work on Monday Night Football in Week 7. Hes a must add for all Miller owners and a player that is on the radar for other owners in larger leagues.Jack Doyle, TE, Indianapolis Colts (14.9 percent). You have to love the efficiency of Doyle, who has 29 catches on 33 targets so far this season. In his past two games, he has 13 catches on 14 targets for 131 yards and two touchdowns. That has coincided with Dwayne Allen getting hurt (the injury took place early in Week 6). As long as Allen is out, Doyle is a tight end fill-in who has earned the trust of Andrew Luck.KaDeem Carey, RB, Chicago Bears (1.8 percent). Over the past two weeks, Carey has been the best Bears running back, taking work away from Jordan Howard and toting the rock 19 total times. Hes a talented pass-catcher as well. Im not ready to start Carey in my lineup, but hes a player who needs to be added in deeper leagues for the possibility that he eventually usurps Howard for the starting job.Zach Zenner, RB, Detroit Lions (2.9 percent). The Lions are throwing the ball a ton this year, but with no Dwayne Washington or?Theo Riddick in recent weeks, Zenner has taken on a larger role. He found the end zone in Week 7 and seems like the best bet to get the goal-line carries for Detroit until Riddick and Washington return. Hes a deeper-league flex play.Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Minnesota Vikings (1.1 percent). The career arc for Patterson has been unique, but the former first-round pick has helped Minnesota the past three games. He has picked up 15 catches and a pair of touchdowns in that stretch. Although hes a big play waiting to happen on special teams, Patterson is a short-range target in the passing game. That said, hes already meriting conversation for PPR leagues of 12 teams or larger.Vernon Davis, TE, Washington (28.4 percent). Without Jordan Reed again in Week 7, Washington relied heavily on Davis. He had six catches for 79 yards and figures to stay involved again in Week 8 if Reed sits. Given his role and the fact that six teams are on a bye in Week 8, hes unquestionably a starting tight end option.Jamison Crowder, WR, Washington (39.8 percent).?This has been a steady season for Crowder so far, with at least nine fantasy points in five of seven games. Again, with Jordan Reed possibly out in Week 8 and DeSean Jackson playing through a shoulder issue, Crowder is a deeper-league PPR add and possible flex play.Marqise Lee, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars (1.5 percent). Lee, a former second-round pick, has been a consistent part of the Jaguars offense this season, as hes currently on pace for 101 targets this season. Hes worth an add in deeper PPR leagues (14 or 16 teams), even if he isnt a starter at this point. He has flashed intriguing talent this season.Brandon LaFell, WR, Cincinnati Bengals (12.8 percent).?This is an add-and-stash player for me, as LaFell has been very good for Cincinnati the past three weeks (four touchdowns and 14 catches). The mitigating factors: the teams bye is Week 9, and Tyler Eifert will be more involved as each week passes. LaFell is a deeper-league consideration for now.Chris Thompson, RB, Washington (14.1 percent). My antenna was already up on Thompson, given his contributions in the passing game, but with Matt Jones co