Only for Guild Members » Kevin Byard no longer needs the tweet of Deion

Sanders calling the All-Pro and Pro Bowl safety "a fan" as the lock screen on his cellphone.The Tennessee Titans safety believes he squeezed all the motivation needed from that Twitter exchange Youth John Brown Jersey , which fueled him throughout the offseason in his quest to be the NFL's best in his third season."You could be All-Pro, no matter what, you still have guys, you still have things to prove," Byard said Tuesday. "You still have to keep working."That Twitter exchange in March started after the Hall of Fame cornerback and now NFL Network analyst tabbed Tyrann Mathieu as the NFL's top safety. Byard tweeted at Sanders , asking how he didn't mention either of 2017's All-Pro safeties. Sanders responded he knew who players and former players believe is the league's best."You continue to be a fan and i will continue being the man," Sanders wrote back to Byard on Twitter . Byard answered back that neither numbers nor film added up with Sanders overlooking Minnesota's Harrison Smith, Earl Thomas of Seattle and Kansas City's Eric Berry.Support flowed in on Twitter for Byard from Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey , Ravens safety Eric Weddle and Chargers cornerback Casey Hayward .Byard's numbers in 2017 speak for themselves.He led the NFL with 10 total takeaways and tied for the league lead with a career-high eight interceptions and 87 total tackles to earn All-Pro honors along with his first Pro Bowl berth. He had the most interceptions by a player for this franchise since Richard Johnson had eight picks in 1990 for the then-Houston Oilers.Defensive coordinator Dean Pees has coached safeties such as Ed Reed in his career. He's not looking to compare Byard to anyone, but Pees has made clear how impressed he is by Byard's hard work, leadership and professionalism."He'll come in and tell me, we always try to keep ahead of them and let them know what's coming in in the next day, and he'll come back the next day and have a question on something we haven't even covered yet, which tells me then he's doing all the right things," Pees said.Byard had eight of the Titans' 12 interceptions last season, and the secondary has been working together since March with the target of being the NFL's best group.Tennessee added cornerback Malcolm Butler to the group as a free agent, then lost safety Johnathan Cyprien last week with a torn ACL.All the chemistry Byard and Cyprien had been working on over the past year and half now is gone. The Titans signed veteran Kenny Vaccaro on Saturday to replace Cyprien, and Titans coach Mike Vrabel said Byard will play a critical role in helping Vaccaro get in sync with the secondary. The Titans open the preseason Thursday night at Green Bay.He's already seen Byard meeting individually with Dane Cruikshank in training camp to help the rookie learn, impressive to see in a young player."Kevin has taken on a really nice leadership role with our team," Vrabel said. "He started in the offseason with his ability to come in here and work and be diligent in his training, continued by his studying and learning the defense and being able to explain it to guys."The 5-foot-11, 212-pound Byard was the first pick of the third round in 2016 out of Middle Tennessee. Now the safety who's always been confident in what he can do believes he can do even more in the NFL."I feel like I barely scratched the surface with my potential," Byard said."And I just want to keep getting better. But at the end of the day, it's all about the team and I want to be able to bring everybody along because you know I could be All-Pro and all that stuff. But we're not winning games, we're not winning championships, it really doesn't matter in my opinion."Follow Teresa M. Walker at teresamwalker QB that needs to be in your lineup in Week 7:Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons:Matchup: vs. GiantsWeek 6 Stats: 355 Passing YDS, 3 TD, 27.5 PTSMonday Night Football is going to be brutal for the New York Giants. After narrowly defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, look for Matt Ryan to rebound against one of the league’s biggest disappointments. I’m calling it now. Julio Jones scores this week.Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty ImagesQB I like in Week 7:Matthew Stafford http://www.ravenscheapstores.com/alex-lewis-jersey-cheap , Detroit Lions:Matchup: @ DolphinsMatthew Stafford comes of the Week 6 Bye with a terrific matchup in South Beach against a Dolphins defense that gave up over 300 passing yards and 3 scores to Mitchell Trubisky in an overtime slugfest just a week ago. With the emergence of Kerryon Johnson, as well as the arsenal Stafford has at his disposal, he is a must start option for Week 7.Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesQB I am hesitant about in Week 7:Tom Brady, New England Patriots:Matchup: @ BearsWeek 6 Stats: 340 Passing YDS, 1 Passing TD, 1 Fumble, 2 Rushing YDS, 1 Rushing TD, 21.8 PTSI know. I know. I know. Tom Brady is arguably the greatest football player in NFL history. But Khalil Mack, one of the most talented pass-rushers of this generation, is gunning to bring Brady down. After a shootout on Sunday Night Football for the Pats, and an embarrassing Sunday afternoon overtime defeat in South Beach for the Monsters of the Midway, I’m expecting a high-scoring shootout in the Windy City, and not quite the cake-walk that New England is prepping for.Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty ImagesQB that I am avoiding in Week 7:Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans:Matchup: @ JaguarsWeek 6 Stats: 177 Passing YDS, 1 Passing TD, 2 INT, 1 Fumble, 2 Rushing YDS, 5.3 PTSDeshaun Watson is not 100% healthy, and his decimated offensive line doesn't help the issue. After being battered by the Cowboys and the Buffalo Bills, he now faces one of, if-not the best defensive unit in the National Football League. Look for a streamer this weekend, because Sunday in Jacksonville won't be a fun day for the Texans’ offense.Photo by Tim Warner/Getty ImagesRB that needs to be in your lineup in Week 7:Melvin Gordon, Los Angeles Chargers:Matchup: vs. TitansWeek 6 Stats: 132 Rushing YDS, 3 Rushing TD, 2 Receptions, 18 Receiving YDS, 35 PTSLook for Melvin Gordon and the red-hot Chargers offense to roll through the Titans on Sunday afternoon after making a mockery of the Cleveland Browns. The Titans are a mess on both sides of the ball. The only team in the NFL that has scored three offensive touchdowns in every game this season will extend that streak, courtesy of Melvin Gordon.Photo by Jason Miller/Getty ImagesRB I like in Week 7:Corey Clement Youth Willie Snead IV Jersey , Philadelphia Eagles:Matchup: vs. PanthersWeek 6 Stats: 43 Rushing YDS, 1 Rushing TD, 3 Receptions, 26 Receiving YDS, 15.9 PTSMan, do I like Corey Clement. One of my preseason sleepers, who’s shown bits and pieces of being an every-down back earlier in the 2018 campaign will now be in a committee with fellow halfback Wendell Smallwood as a result of Jay Ayayi’s season ending knee injury. Unless Smallwood unlocks another gear, look for Clement to cement himself as the bell-cow in the City of Brotherly Love.Photo by Elsa/Getty ImagesRB I am hesitant about in Week 7:Jordan Howard, Chicago Bears:Matchup: vs. PatriotsWeek 6 Stats: 69 Rushing YDS, 1 Fumble, 4.9 PTSThis isn't what I expected going into an extremely feasible matchup with New England. Jordan Howard has been nearly phased out of the passing game after showing major strides to start the year. If that wasn't bad enough, third-down Swiss Army knife Tarik Cohen has been racking up a wealth of touches. Hopefully Howard regains his stellar play from early-on, but if the contest turns into a shootout, look for Mitch Trubisky to air out the pigskin, which most likely brings Cohen into the backfield, leaving Howard on the sideline.Photo by Mark Brown/Getty ImagesWR that needs to be in your lineup in Week 7:A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals:Matchup: @ ChiefsWeek 6 Stats: 7 Receptions, 85 YDS, 15.5 PTSA.J. Green will single-handedly provide the blueprint to Kansas City’s second straight loss of the 2018 campaign. Their defense is decimated without Justin Houston and Eric Berry. Andy Dalton will rely on their passing game to finish this one. I’m looking at the Red Rifle to find his main man time and time again, leading to Green’s best output this season.Aaron Doster-USA TODAY SportsWR I like in Week 7:Devin Funchess, Carolina Panthers:Matchup: @ EaglesWeek 6 Stats: 5 Receptions, 74 YDS, 1 TD, 18.4 PTSI am one to own up to my mistakes, and unfortunately I made a grave one last weekend. For the first time in my life, I was not “Rollin with the Funchess”. I’ve learned my lesson, and while doing so, realized that even with the return of Greg Olsen, Devin Funchess is still a BAAAD man. This week he will matchup against Jalen Mills. That’s enough for me.Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty ImagesWR I am hesitant about in Week 7:DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Texans:Matchup: @ JaguarsWeek 6 Stats: 5 Receptions Cheap Marshal Yanda Jersey , 63 YDS, 1 TD, 17.3 PTSDeAndre Hopkins was held in check last week against one of the up-and-coming cover corners in the league while matched up with Tre’Davious White. This weekend he faces the best that the National Football League has to offer in Jalen Ramsey. The latter was embarrassed in Week 6 against a mediocre Cowboys’ offense and will surely look to regain his edge against the Texans. If you have Hopkins, you are most likely starting him, but if you do, expect a similar output to how he performed last week.Photo by Tim Warner/Getty ImagesWR that I am avoiding in Week 7:Corey Davis, Tennesse Titans:Matchup: @ ChargersWeek 6 Stats: 1 Reception, 24 YDS, 3.4 PTSAs much as I like the former first rounder, the Titans’ offense is absolutely abysmal. Corey Davis has one touchdown in 17 career games, and Marcus Mariota is in for a tougher matchup than he faced last week, when he was sacked 11 different times. Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty ImagesTE that needs to be in your lineup in Week 7:David Njoku, Cleveland Browns:Matchup: @ Buccaneers Week 6 Stats: 7 Receptions, 55 YDS, 1 TD, 18.5 PTSI’m starting the former Miami Hurricane this weekend. David Njoku has developed a better rapport with Baker Mayfield than any other receiver so far and a terrific matchup against the Buccaneers (who fired their defensive coordinator on Monday) this weekend should provide the platform for Njoku’s best game so far of the season.Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesTE I like in Week 7:O.J. Howard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers:Matchup: vs. BrownsWeek 6 Stats: 4 Receptions, 62 YDS, 1 TD, 16.2 PTSI’ve been enamored with O.J. Howard ever since he excelled in Tuscaloosa. I expected a drop off last weekend while he was battling an injury and due to the fact that Jameis Winston has a better relationship with Cameron Brate, but I was surely mistaken. I’m starting him this Sunday and advise you to do the same.Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty ImagesTE I am hesitant about in Week 7:Evan Engram, New York Giants:Matchup: @ FalconsAs much as I like the matchup against the Falcons’ defense that gave up two touchdowns to tight ends this past Sunday, the entire Giants’ offense is out of whack aside from playing through their star-rookie Saquon Barkley. I think Eli Manning is on the outs, I’d be hesitant to start Evan Engram this week coming off a lingering knee injury.Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesTE that I am avoiding in Week 7:Benjamin Watson, New Orleans Saints:Matchup: @ RavensThe defense in Charm City is the real deal. With the return of Mark Ingram to the lineup, I see the ground attack being used exclusively this weekend aside from a swell performance from Michael Thomas. Benjamin Watson isn't on my radar whatsoever. Find another streaming option.Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty ImagesThursday Night Football Starts & Sits: Denver Broncos (2-4) vs. Arizona Cardinals (1-5)Broncos:Case Keenum: SitPhillip Lindsey: FlexRoyce Freeman: Flex Emmanuel Sanders: StartDemaryius Thomas: FlexBroncos D/ST: StartBrandon McManus: StartCardinals:Josh Rosen: SitDavid Johnson: StartLarry Fitzgerald: Sit Christian Kirk: Flex Ricky Seals-Jones: SitCardinals D/ST: StartPhil Dawson: Sit