Tag Archives: NFL Betting

Jets Top Wide Receiver Quincy Enunwa Out For Season

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The New York Jets weren’t projected to be very good in 2017 and that was largely by design. After a borderline playoff team stumbled out of the gates and finished at the bottom of the AFC East in 2016, the front office decided to strip a competitive team and start over.

That led to the departure of a number of big name veterans, with Ryan Fitzpatrick fleeing to Tampa Bay and the team cutting ties with guys like Darrelle Revis, Nick Mangold, Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker. The loss of the latter two opened the door to a number one receiver role for Quincy Enunwa, which was slated to be one bright spot in a team building from the ground up.

Even that won’t work out as planned.

Big Loss

Per reports, Enunwa’s 2017 season is ending before it ever officially got going. New York’s would-be #1 wide receiver was originally expected to miss 6-9 weeks due to a bulging disc in his neck, but upon further review, the Jets opted to shut down their passing game’s top weapon for the entire year.

Enunwa reportedly suffered a neck injury during the team’s practice on Saturday night. Enunwa impressed in his third eason in 2016, racking up 857 yards and 4 touchdowns on 58 receptions. Primed for a huge role, Enunwa gives way to number two wide receiver Robby Anderson and it’s possible his playing career could be in doubt.

Next Man Up

There’s no denying the fact that the Jets were already strapped for talent and not expected to make much noise as a whole in 2017. Afer all, this is a team that is set to enter 2017 with absurd +30000 odds to make a run at Super Bowl 52.

Obviously that wasn’t happening before this injury, but Enunwa going down makes the Jets a weaker bet across the board. Enunwa’s injury also specifically hurts the passing game, which was going to be held back by shaky quarterback play to begin with, but also had to break in a new top target. They’ll have to do it again, with Robby Anderson likely ascending the ladder to be New York’s top target.

The trickle down effect only goes further, too, as the rebuilding Jets may have to turn to Charone Peake and ArDarius Stewart for bigger roles. That isn’t music to New York fan’s ears, but it’s the situation the Jets find themselves in.

Betting on Jets

Most people will brush this news off as a minor impact on 2017 NFL betting, but it actually takes the Jets from being a mild threat in some spots to being a total cakewalk for most opponents. That was probably going to be the case regardless, but you get the idea.

New York already looked like an impossible upset pick going into their week one showdown with the Buffalo Bills, but without their top receiver, a +7 spread feels insurmountable. Betting on the Jets beyond a weekly dart throw feels silly, too, as New York holds poor odds (+5000) to claim the AFC East. Of course, there is one bet we should see a lot more action on – New York’s projected win total.

That should be one of the top bets we chase at NFL betting sites like Bovada, considering it seems to be about as safe as it gets. The value isn’t through the roof (-200), but the Jets were 5-11 a year ago and seem to have gotten significantly worse. This bet only returns $250 for every $500 put up, but it’s one of many safe “grind it out” season bets we should be targeting. After all, even if the Jets get to 4-12, you still win if you bet the Under.

Betting talk aside, the loss of Enunwa is big and also quite unfortunate. New York had a budding star on their hands, and instead of watching him develop with the rest of their youth movement, they may have to worry about his career being derailed completely. It does mean good fortune for the receivers behind him, but ultimately this news should work against New York getting wins in 2017. As NFL betting enthusiasts, we should target Jets opponents moving forward – especially when the matchup presents serious value.

Chicago Bears Become Major NFL Betting Target After Brian Hoyer Injury

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The Chicago Bears went into Thursday night’s matchup with the Green Bay Packers with bleak prospects at 1-5.

They exited the night in even worse shape.

Brian Hoyer Hurts Arm

Losing 26-10 to a rival to drop to 1-6 probably hurt enough, but the Bears were also dropped down to their third string quarterback, with backup and current starter Brian Hoyer leaving the game with a broken arm:

The silver lining? The injury was to Hoyer’s non-throwing arm and previous starter Jay Cutler (thumb) could potentially be back in a matter of weeks.

Matt Barkley Blows Chance

The bad news? Matt Barkley entered in a tight game and bombed horribly, completing just 6 of 15 passes for 81 yards and two interceptions. Barkley grabbed hold of a game where the Bears were only down 6-3, and proceeded to implode from there.

This loss was far from being solely on a quarterback who had received few practice reps and probably didn’t think for a second he’d be playing, but the performance from the former USC standout still wasn’t good.

Week 8 Prospects

The worse news? The Bears will undoubtedly be confiding in Barkley again in week eight, when they take on the Minnesota Vikings.

Yikes. Truly, if Barkley couldn’t even look respectable against the Packers, it’s going to be awfully tough to imagine him doing anything positive against a Vikings defense that has looked like the league’s best unit through their first five games.

There isn’t much of a silver lining here, but if Barkley can lean on the talent that once made him a star at USC and put him in the first round discussion the year he was drafted, perhaps he can do enough to keep the Bears in the game. Making more throws like this one from Thursday night couldn’t hurt:

Realistically, Barkley is in over his head and the Bears are in big trouble. As bad as they wanted Jay Cutler to stay gone, they’re going to hope he can quickly return from a sprained thumb that has kept him out since the second half of a week two loss. Chicago hasn’t exactly lit the world on fire without him under center (one win), so turning back to Cutler at this point does no real damage.

Cutler Needs to Return

That brings us to the bigger issue. We can’t be talking about how the Bears can hope to survive or turn things around with Barkley under center. He’s not really even an option. Instead, Cutler needs to suck it up, brave the pain of a sprained thumb and put this team on his back:

Bears head coach John Fox admitted recently that Cutler is getting closer, so we can’t rule out a Cutler return in week eight just yet:

While Cutler’s status remains up in the air yet again, it’s highly possible his “injury” gave the Bears a good excuse to stick with a hot Brian Hoyer. With Hoyer no longer an option and Barkley staring them in the face, however, the Bears are looking at a truly disastrous season if they don’t give the reigns back to Cutler.

There is no denying the tough spot Chicago is in. They’re 1-6 and get a brutal matchup with the hated Vikings. They’re sure to be 1-7 and if we weren’t sure of it by now, their chances at a playoff run are all but over. That being said, there is something to remaining competitive and building positive momentum toward 2017. Cutler probably won’t be part of that, should this take a positive turn going into next season, but neither will Barkley.

Chicago and Cutler both need to suck it up and ride this out, regardless of how it unfolds.

Cutler’s potential return aside, the Bears aren’t beating the Vikings and this is a team in general that appears very safe to bet against on a weekly basis.

NFL Betting: Browns in Bad Shape After Corey Coleman Injury

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The Cleveland Browns can’t catch a break in 2016. Already down their top two quarterbacks thanks to injuries to both Robert Griffin III and Josh McCown, the Browns were looking at tough sledding heading into week three with raw rookie Cody Kessler under center.

Another Injury

Consider their chances to upset the Miami Dolphins even worse.

Per reports, star number one wide receiver Corey Coleman, who busted out with two scores against the Baltimore Ravens in week two, broke his hand during practice and is set to miss significant time. Coleman was shaping up to be one of Cleveland’s few remaining bright spots for a team that has started out at 0-2 and probably was headed for a rough 2016 season, regardless.

Offense Takes Hit

Coleman was expected to help keep things interesting, however, as his big play ability down the field could at least help keep defenses honest and allow for the Browns to attempt to get their running game going. It would have been an especially useful component considering Kessler makes his first start this week, but with Coleman’s injury, the team will now be severely depleted when it comes to the passing game.

Coleman faces an extensive absence, but fortunately will not require surgery to repair the break. Coleman is looking at a 4-6 week absence, but there is optimism he could potentially return earlier if he heals quickly.

Next Man Up

The Coleman injury is especially troubling considering Cleveland’s talent at wide receiver. With Coleman gone for at least a month and Josh Gordon (suspension) still not due back, the Browns will be forced to go to quarterback-turned-receiver Terrelle Pryor even more, starting in week three.

Pryor had displayed some promising chemistry with RG3 during the preseason, but Griffin is now likely done for the year and there’s no telling how Kessler and Pryor will fare together. Pryor has certainly been involved in the passing game with 17 targets through the first two weeks, but has been unable to produce consistently and has yet to find the end-zone. That being said, Pryor does have the size and speed to make plays all over the field, so it makes sense for him to now step up as Cleveland’s go-to wide receiver.

Whether or not Pryor can actually take advantage of a bigger role remains to be seen, but the absence of Coleman should also give way to extra snaps for the likes of Andrew Hawkins, Rishard Higgins and Jordan Payton. Who steps up and produces could be anyone’s guess, but starting out in week three, logic suggests Cleveland’s passing game could struggle mightily.

With the wide receiver position so depleted and Kessler being a huge question under center, the Browns will undoubtedly try to keep things simple, if not controlled. That could mean trying to set the the tone on the ground early, as well as short to intermediate plays involving pass-catching back Duke Johnson and tight end, Gary Barnidge.

Betting on Browns

Overall, this is a situation to avoid for NFL betting purposes. No one is surprised that the Browns are 0-2 to this point, and when you take away the team’s best two quarterbacks and top receiving weapon, their chances of winning any game are naturally going to drop dramatically.

Cleveland’s awful luck is going to cripple their chances starting immediately in week three, where they’ll try to get their first win in Miami against the Dolphins. Miami’s been a mixed bag through two weeks, but in week one exhibited a strong defense and in week two displayed a resilient offense. It’s likely they finally put a complete game together and take down the Browns, making them one of the safer NFL bets this week.

For the year, Cleveland’s betting prospects don’t get much better. Had they been healthy and gotten off to a hot start, they would have been somewhat appealing, given their super playable +6600 odds to win the AFC North, as well as their ridiculous league-worst +50000 odds to win Super Bowl 51.

Cleveland wasn’t really a sleeper playoff team going into 2016, of course, and these brutal injuries only add to the belief that they’re one of the poorest overall bets this year. Betting against the Browns in every way is the way to go in week three and beyond.

Why the San Diego Chargers Can Survive Rash of Injuries

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The San Diego Chargers were probably not anyone’s sleeper Super Bowl pick going into the 2016 NFL season. Even before the season started, they were among the team’s with some of the worst Super Bowl odds.

Add question marks with their running game, offensive line, defense and now a rash of injuries including key players like Keenan Allen and Danny Woodhead, and they’re just about left for dead.

That is certainly what it looks like, but there may be enough evidence through two weeks to suggest the Bolts just might hang around as a tough out in 2016.

We saw two shades of it in the first two weeks. On one hand, the Chargers ran well and were aggressive early in week one, allowing them to march into Kansas City and nearly upset the favored Chiefs. Their coined self destruction mode kicked in during the second half, however, which was undoubtedly tipped off by Allen suffering yet another season-ending injury, this time of the ACL variety.

Nevertheless, the Chargers still put up 27 points and beat the Chiefs around so much that they needed a heroic comeback and a touchdown in overtime to steal a win they should have had in the first place.

Many expected the Chargers to lie down and take it to the chin in a week two home battle with the Jaguars, but they struck early and never looked back in a 38-14 romp, even after losing Woodhead to a season-ending knee injury.

Two weeks into the new year, the Bolts are a middling 1-1 and they’re down two of the most vital pieces of their offense. That being said, they still remain in the running for the AFC West and there could be an argument that they might be a sleeper Super Bowl squad, even with these brutal injuries. Let’s explore why:

Philip Rivers Won’t Be Denied

It’s fair to say that Rivers actually has been denied quite a bit in his career and specifically last year, the Chargers didn’t win many games. However, there aren’t many quarterbacks – let alone players – that wear their emotions on their sleeves and play their hearts out quite like Rivers does.

The nice thing is it’s not like Rivers is just a passionate guy who wants to win, either. He’s a maestro in the pocket who can make every throw and often comes up big in the clutch. With a still abundant supporting cast, there is an argument to be made for Rivers having a massive 2016 campaign. After four passing scores in week two, it’s kind of already happening.

Melvin Gordon is The Truth

The loss of Woodhead hurts San Diego two-fold, as he’s a menace in the red-zone, is an active and effective receiver and is also a capable rusher. We saw that all before and again through the first two games, but the good news is that Woodhead had a nice talent working alongside him.

Second-year man Melvin Gordon has already been a machine through the first two games, finding his way to the first three touchdowns of his career and even rushing for 100 yards in week two. Gordon still has some inconsistencies to iron out, but he’s a talented, balanced rusher who has loads of upside. If he is finally realizing his potential in year two, the Chargers may not end up missing Woodhead at all.

They Have Weapons

Outside of the fiery Rivers and an improved Gordon, this is still not a team without talent. That can’t take away from what Keenan Allen and Danny Woodhead brought to the table – which was a lot – but Travis Benjamin and Tyrell Williams are both young talents that showed right away in week two that they can take on bigger roles.

Both Benjamin and Williams are threats to take any play the distance, while guys like Dontrelle Inman, Antonio Gates, rookie tight end Hunter Henry and even recently added scat-back Dexter McCluster all make up a surprisingly stacked offense that can absolutely survive these two normally devastating injuries.

Their Odds Are Fun

Even if you don’t buy into San Diego surviving these bad injuries, let’s just consider what betting on them looks like. Per Bovada, they are last in terms of AFC West odds at +650, meaning a $100 bet returns a solid $650 for you and the higher your bet, well, you get the idea.

Just for the division – which at 1-1 the Chargers are just a game out of currently – you’re looking at a solid payday. Offensively, the Bolts have enough to give it a go, and if their defense can hold up, they actually might have something here. That may not be enough to touch San Diego’s +2500 odds to get to the Super Bowl, but they’re not dead just yet.

Week 1 NFL Betting: Rob Gronkowski Injury Could Hurt Patriots

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The New England Patriots were already facing an uphill battle in week one, as star quarterback Tom Brady begins to serve the first of a four-game suspension. Jimmy Garoppolo at least had ample time to prepare for a daunting road game against the Arizona Cardinals and had a healthy supporting cast aiding him.

Emphasis on had.

Gronkowski Ailing

Per reports, Patriots star tight end Rob Gronkowski has been dealing with a hamstring injury and may be in doubt for New England’s week one contest on Sunday Night Football.

The Pats were already going to have their work cut out for them on the road against one of the best teams in the league, but now it’s starting to look like Garoppolo may be tasked with moving the ball and scoring without the game’s top tight end.

There had been whispers surrounding Gronkowski’s status over the past week, but the player himself admitted recently that he could be closer to “week to week” than ready for a big game that arrives in less than three full days.

Between the Lines

It’s obvious any extra hits that come this week could shake the Pats ahead of a huge game, but Gronkowski referring to his injury as a weekly issue doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll sit out or even be effected. He also stated in his recent comments that he wants nothing more than to be ready and on the field, so it stands to reason that he and the Pats will do what needs to be done to get him active.

There is also the possibility that while Gronkowski’s issue is nagging, it doesn’t keep him from at least showing up and taking the field. Gronkowski even at 75% or as a decoy could be quite useful to a team down their star quarterback.

Backup Plan

The silver lining here is the Pats did take measurements to ensure they were good to go at tight end, as they traded for former Bears tight end Martellus Bennett this summer to help add depth and versatility at the position. The team would prefer to be utilizing Bennett’s size and red-zone ability in two-tight end sets, but if Gronkowski does sit, they also know they have a competent starter that can step up in his stead.

Bennett was a very productive starter in Chicago and while his role is initially expected to decrease in New England, he could find himself very busy in week one if Gronkowski is out or hindered at all.

Bad Bet

With or without Gronkowski, the Pats could be in trouble this weekend. They don’t have their star quarterback, they traded Chandler Jones away to the very team they’re facing and not having Gronkowski could accompany other injuries and suspensions that may hold the team back early on this year.

New England will ultimately be fine and could still offer a competitive game on Sunday night, but they’re not safe bets in Arizona. If you’re doing any NFL betting this week, we’d advise you just steer clear from this game, altogether.

2016 NFL Betting: 5 Tips To Help You Win in Week 1

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There is always a lot to consider when preparing for NFL betting. That’s especially the case in the first week of the season, when we really don’t know yet how new faces, roles or injuries will impact teams. Contenders and pretenders can quickly switch roles and to be frank, we often don’t know a team’s true worth for several weeks – if not longer.

While that can be problematic for pro football betting, it also can be the perfect time to take advantage of spreads and totals and win some major cash. It’s often the little things we overlook that can separate the winners from the losers, and noting that fine line can be very key in picking the right upset or gauging which teams may thrive or struggle.

Nothing is ever guaranteed in sports betting, but if we consider all of the possibilities before finalizing our bets, we’re at least putting ourselves in a solid position to succeed. That’s what we aim to do ahead of week one, where we consider some interesting aspects for a variety of teams that could end up swaying how you place NFL bets:

First Timers & Rookie Impact

Trevor Siemian is being thrust into a huge role for the first time ever. Carolina actually enters their week one Thursday night tilt with Denver as the -3 favorites, and Siemian is a big reason why. We know nothing about this guy, but what we do know hasn’t been overly promising.

That can go two ways as far as NFL betting is concerned. If we know little about Siemian, that could be the case for the Panthers. Siemian still has a nice supporting cast on offense, good coaching and an elite defense backing him. He’s also at home. If he can simply play within himself, he could easily play a fine game and lead Denver to a 1-0 start.

On the other hand, Siemian could very well implode in his first career game. He tends to telegraph some of his throws and against a top notch Panthers defense, that could go very badly. Carolina will probably press the Broncos receivers and look to take away the run. If they do one/both of those things, it could be a long night for the inexperienced Siemian.

Siemian is one huge example and probably the biggest we need to pay attention to, but keep that in mind for any other guys being thrust into big roles.

That latter part is probably mostly going to refer to rookies. There are a lot of big name guys that could dramatically change outcomes of games this week, and that could be the case on either side of the ball. We’re mostly thinking offensively, where Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, Carson Wentz, Corey Coleman, Will Fuller and Sterling Shepard all have an opportunity to make a huge impact in their NFL debuts.

Just like Siemian, their first games could go either way. Zeke and Dak could blow the hinges off in a big home win over the Giants, or they can get shutdown by a revamped NYG defense. Coleman and Fuller are two guys who could blow their games open with deep balls down the field, too, or they could get shutdown due to shaky hands and unproven route-running ability. Time will tell, but you’ll want to consider the roles and potential impact with these guys, among others.

Home Field Advantage

Just how big of a deal is playing at home? The impact tends to change on a weekly basis, but even the worst team has a mild edge when they get to play in front of their home crowd. Keeping up on how teams fare at home, how their opponent is on the road and tying that into the matchup and betting spreads can go a long way in helping you decide which way to lean.

The Jets (6-2), Chiefs (6-2), Broncos (6-2), Redskins (6-2) and Cardinals (6-2) are all at home to kick off the new year, and were all clearly very strong on their home field a year ago. That doesn’t guarantee them a win – especially with the Jets, Broncos, Redskins and Cardinals all specifically getting tough matchups in week one. Still, these teams fare well at home and on top of that have the talent to get the job done in week one. The Seattle Seahawks weren’t quite as good as usual at home last season (5-3), but are usually a tough out in front of the 12th Man. They’ll also be a strong bet at home this week against a seemingly inferior Miami Dolphins team.

There are also a few road teams we need to keep our eye on, with the Packers (5-3), Vikings (5-3), Panthers (7-1), Patriots (5-3) and Bengals (6-2) all sporting good to great road records in 2015. That obviously doesn’t necessarily carry over into week one or even the 2016 season, but it’s worth noting. It’s especially worth noting considering all five of these teams were in the playoffs a year ago and figure to be in the mix for a playoff spot again this season. Of course, if they’re to drop out, a road loss to start 2016 may be headed their way.

In this group, the Vikings and Patriots are the most vulnerable, with both teams not having their usual starting quarterback on hand.

Revenge & Rivalries

Bad blood can go a long way in deciding games, as it can take a matchup you think you have figured out and throw it completely out the window. This is the case with any kind of rivalry, playoff rematches and especially divisional showdowns.

We have quite a slate for rivalry consideration to get week one going, too, with a rematch of Super Bowl 50 between the Panthers and Broncos on Thursday night, as well as a slew of hate-filled showdowns. To be a little more specific, four divisional games sound off in week one, while we also have Rex Ryan and Tyrod Taylor taking on their former team (Baltimore), while Chandler Jones leads his Cardinals against his former team (New England).

Narrative can be very key in the NFL, as teams hone in on one team all week and ultimately leave it all on the field with just one game per week in a rather brief 16-game regular season. Every game means something, but when you add any kind of rivalry aspect, the heat gets turned up even more. For those games, you need to consider the possibility for an upset more than usual and often they may be better off left alone when it comes to NFL betting.

Shootout Potential

With NFL betting, you’re obviously always considering precisely how a game will unfold, whether it be to attack a spread, the Total or some prop bet. One of the biggest things you’ll want to do is consider which games could offer up the most offense, however, as this can do two things at once for you: help you pick the Over on Totals and also pick the right underdogs to beat the spread.

The main focus should be the latter, as the more points that go up on the board, the more likely either an upset could go down, or the underdog could at least keep the game close and possibly beat the spread.

One great example in week one is the Jaguars, who are at home against a good Packers team. Green Bay is solid on the road and in general a tough out, but Jax has a rising defense, a capable offense, they’re at home and they have a friendly +6. spread at Bovada. The odds remain pretty good that the Packers still win this game, but Jacksonville could shock with a huge week one home win and providing a tight shootout is very possibly, if not likely. In the event of a Jax win, your bet wins, and if they can just keep it close (say, 34-30), you’d win there, as well. Jacksonville isn’t an easy team to trust, but a lot of factors point to them at least being in this one, if not having a realistic shot at staging a massive upset.

Other games with shootout and upset potential are the Lions/Colts, Saints/Raiders and Browns/Eagles. Any of these games can probably go either way, so rolling with the underdog could make some sense, both in terms of a straight up pick, and against the spread.

Break Vegas

One other thing is to consider which insane upsets are actually plausible. The Bears, Dolphins (+10.5!), Patriots, Jaguars and Chargers all have a +6 spread or better (worse?) going into week one. The Money Lines aren’t out yet at Bovada, but clearly there could be some serious cash to be had if you picked the right upset(s) this week.

The main focus would be Miami, who are now under a new regime and head into Seattle to take on the Seahawks in week one. They’re probably not going to win, but +10.5 points is a pretty massive spread and it’s not completely insane to think Miami can at least lose by 10. Depending on the Money Line, picking them for the upset could be worth the risk, as well.

If we’re going with pure logic, all five of these teams are probably losing in week one. However, San Diego’s game is a divisional contest that could easily go either way, the Jags could stay close in a shootout with the Packers and the Patriots could rally behind Jimmy Garoppolo in a big week one road win. The point is to consider everything we’ve already touched on, with an eye toward picking one or two upsets via the spread or Money Line.

Ultimately, you’ll want to go with picks you trust and use bets that are more in your favor. If you use all of this information and apply it to week one, however, you should have a decent chance of starting the 2016 NFL betting season in the green.

Bengals Betting: Tyler Eifert Could Be Out Until Week 6?

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The Cincinnati Bengals have known all summer that they could start the 2016 NFL season without star tight end Tyler Eifert. Eifert suffered an ankle injury during last year’s Pro Bowl and struggled so much to recover from it that he wound up going under the knife.

Eifert Still Not Ready

Eifert was hoping for a week one return, but recent reports suggest that’s just not likely. In fact, per NFL Network‘s Ian Rapoport, the Bengals may not be banking on their stud tight end to return to the starting lineup until week four at the earliest.

As of now, Eifert may be facing a lengthy 4-6 week return time table and those aspirations of a week one return look less and less realistic.

Hits Keep Coming

It’s bad news for a Bengals offense that has certainly taken their lumps since the end of the 2015 NFL season. On top of Eifert’s injury, they lost offensive coordinator Hue Jackson and watched wide receivers Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu leave in free agency. In addition, they brought in Brandon LaFell to help with the losses at receiver, and he himself has struggled to stay healthy.

Needless to say, Andy Dalton could be severely short-handed in the passing game to start the season. That could put unwanted pressure on Dalton to perform, with stud number one wide receiver and rookie Tyler Boyd as his only reliable weapons in the passing game.

The Bengals could opt to lean on their versatile running game harder than ever, while shifty scat-back Giovani Benard could be used more as a receiver, perhaps both out of the backfield and in the slot.

Betting on Bengals

The Bengals were fantastic for much of 2015, looking like a legit Super Bowl contender before losing Andy Dalton to an untimely thumb injury. They still held on to win the AFC North division title and only lost the the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the playoffs because of a Jeremy Hill fumble.

On paper, the Bengals still might be the team to beat in their division, and the fact that Vegas still likes them enough (+190 odds to win the AFC North) suggests they could be right back in the thick of things again. The Steelers still edge them out in odds there, though, and Cincy isn’t a top title contender at the moment (+700 odds to get to the Super Bowl and just +2000 to win it).

Needless to say, despite their talent and potential, the stock is dropping a bit for the Bengals. Eifert missing anywhere close to this nasty 4-6 week time table could be absolutely devastating.

That feeling grows stronger with one quick look at Cincy’s schedule through the first six weeks of the 2016 season:

  • Week 1 @ Jets
  • Week 2 @ Steelers
  • Week 3 VS. Broncos
  • Week 4 VS. Dolphins
  • Week 5 @ Cowboys
  • Week 6 @ Patriots

Cincinnati is a deep and balanced team that clearly could make up for Eifert’s absence with other weapons, a ball control offense and a solid defense. Still, this is a murderer’s row on paper, with road dates with the Jets, Steelers, Cowboys and Patriots easily turning out to be losses. Even a week three home date with Denver could be trouble, given the Broncos’ elite defense. On paper, the Bengals still look to be the better team than the Dolphins, and this may be their only clear game where they look like the overwhelming favorite.

Cincinnati could still pull out wins over all of these teams, but a very rough start can’t be ruled out. Suffice to say, betting on the Bengals for the first 4-6 weeks could be problematic.

Fantasy Football Impact

There is more than betting at risk here, as Eifert takes a serious value hit in season long fantasy football leagues. The mounting issues in Cincinnati also could easily negatively impact Andy Dalton and a number of other top shelf Bengals options.

The one guy that probably makes it out of this cleanly is A.J. Green, who should be a target monster in all fantasy formats for as long as Eifert remains out. We should also see solid bumps for Tyler Boyd, Brandon LaFell, Tyler Kroft and Giovani Bernard. All of these options could end up being sneaky plays in random weeks in daily fantasy football, as well.

Colts Could Be Tough Bet Without Vontae Davis

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The Indianapolis Colts are making headlines for the wrong reasons at the moment. Per reports, the team just signed regressing 32-year old veteran cornerback Antonio Cromartie in an effort to shore up a decaying defensive backfield.

Injury Bug

The team was already bracing for the worst in regards to the health of Vontae Davis and Patrick Robinson, their two listed starters for 2016 at the position. The news on Davis wasn’t good, either, with reports recently suggesting ligament damage in his ankle could rob him of the entire month of September.

Considering Davis is one of the top corners in the game, it’s not an injury the Colts can just brush off. Their entire defensive game plan depends on him locking down one side of the field and his absence could put the Colts in some rough spots to start the year.

Lift From Cromartie

The signing of Cromartie does give the Colts some terrific experience and a healthy body that is aiming to prove he isn’t done yet. Cromartie looked to be finished after a down 2015 season, but was playing some of his best football as recently as the 2014 season. It’s still possible Cromartie could regain his form, should a nagging hip issue no longer be something that could slow him down.

In addition to a one-month stop-gap, Cromartie could slide back and provide top shelf depth for Indianapolis upon Davis’ return.

Bad Bet?

We can’t know for sure how long Davis is out or how effective Cromartie will be in his place. For now, we can probably assume he won’t play at all in September and may even miss time in October. The loss of Davis is huge, as Indy’s pass defense will see a big drop-off in consistency. That will put added pressure up front on a shaky pass rush, and in turn could ask too much out of Andrew Luck and the offense.

Naturally, with September consisting of showdowns with the Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers, Indy could have cause for concern. That being said, the Lions and Chargers were not playoff teams in 2015 and the Broncos – although defending Super Bowl champions – have a serious red flag at the quarterback position.

It’s tough to assume the Colts were going undefeated in September even with Vontae Davis, but the silver lining is two-fold: there are just three games in the first month of the 2016 NFL regular season and at least on paper, they come against beatable opponents. The Colts will still have their work cut out for them defensively, however, so they should feel good if they can enter October at 2-1.

While there is still optimism for Indy to enjoy a solid start to the year even with Vontae Davis injured, that doesn’t make them a safe bet for those first three weeks. In fact, if the odds support the logic, NFL bettors may want to consider betting against them in September.

Week 1 NFL Preseason: Daily Fantasy Football and Betting Advice For Thursday’s Games

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The 2016 NFL preseason was supposed to start this past Sunday night, where the Green Bay Packers were slated to face off with the Indianapolis Colts in this year’s Hall of Fame game.

Delayed Preseason

Bad field conditions had other plans, however, and the game was subsequently cancelled.

Football is Back

That pushed on the wait for pro football’s return, but we finally get some real, live NFL action this Thursday night when 12 teams take the field for six entertaining games.

Well, hopefully entertaining. These are still preseason football games we’re talking about, and we’re probably not going to see much (if any) of the star players for the 12 respective franchises.

Still, that’s six games we can scout and potentially even bet on, which could make our Thursday a lot more interesting. Should you plan to watch, bet on or take your hand at DFS fantasy football, we’ve got your full week one NFL preseason guide when it comes to Thursday night’s action. Let’s break it down by game and see what you should consider for NFL betting and daily fantasy football purposes:

Buccaneers @ Eagles

The highlight of this game without a doubt will be rookie quarterback Carson Wentz, who is scheduled to play the entire second half on Thursday night. That makes Wentz a fun DFS play on paper, especially since he’ll be taking on Tampa Bay backups for his first NFL action.

The Bucs look like the poor bet here when it comes to preseason NFL betting, and Vegas agrees, as they come in with a +3 line per Bovada. They’re on the road and Philly (-3) is stacked with competent quarterback play, with Sam Bradford, Chase Daniel and Wentz all seeing action. We’d take the Eagles here and try Wentz with maybe Josh Huff and/or Nelson Agholor in daily fantasy football preseason leagues.

Just make sure any and all guys you use in preseason DFS games are active, and keep in mind that not everyone will play normal snaps in an exhibition game.

Redskins @ Falcons

This game offers the same line, with the Redskins hitting the road as the underdog (+3) against the Falcons (-3). This one is a total toss up, as both teams are balanced enough to put up some points early, but neither have an obvious edge in the depth department.

It will be interesting to see how long the starters stay out, but it’s tough to imagine guys like Jordan Reed, DeSean Jackson and Julio Jones playing much. We’ll have to give ATL the mild edge here, simply because they’re at home and maybe partially because Ric Flair got them going recently in practice:

For daily fantasy football purposes, keep your eye on Rashad Ross, who is Washington’s primary return specialist, but also destroyed opposing defenses as a wide receiver last preseason.

Panthers @ Ravens

Since it’s the first preseason game of the year, we can’t expect to see much out of the starters from either side. Cam Newton is a historically slow starter, too, so even if he stayed out there a bit, I’m not sure I’d be enamored with him against a healthier Baltimore defense.

It may be about the backups in this one, and Baltimore may have the depth edge under center and in the offensive backfield. The Ravens are also playing in front of their home crowd, so we like them as the -1.5 favorite.

Due to Baltimore’s deep running back stable, you could pick and choose one to use out of their lineup. Terrance West has had a great camp and could be worth a look.

Jaguars @ Jets

This could be a nightmare game for the Jets, who probably won’t push Ryan Fitzpatrick out with the starters for too long. If that’s the case, we may see way more of Geno Smith, Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg that we ever wished to. They haven’t exactly torn it up and camp and Hackeberg has been specifically brutal, so you’ll want to avoid Jets passers entirely in this one.

Matt Forte has also been banged up, so New York will be operating well under 100% offensively in this one. This all could give the Jaguars (+3 underdogs) a shot at pulling off the mild preseason upset (is there such a thing?), while their defense could be the one to target in daily fantasy football games due to the matchup.

Saints @ Patriots

This may be the best preseason game on Thursday night, as we may see Drew Brees and we’ll definitely get a decent dose of Jimmy Garappolo. The rest of the Pats’ top offensive players are either going to sit or be limited, while #1 receiver Julian Edelman just got hurt again in practice.

Needless to say, as attractive of a DFS flier as Jimmy G figured to be for Thursday night, he may be a tough sell. Still, New England could offer some DFS upside on the ground, where Brandon Bolden could see a solid amount of touches. Aaron Dobson is also still trying to carve out a spot with New England, so he’s another guy to consider.

New England plays host and comes in as the -3 favorite, but with injuries and possibly inactives, we like the Saints as an upset pick in week one.

Broncos @ Bears

The last game of the night pits the Broncos against the Bears in a true pick’em at Bovada. That figures, since we know very little about a Super Bowl champ that has a shaky quarterback situation and a Bears team that keeps getting rid of star offensive talent with each passing year.

A lot of questions should begin to be answered on both sides, as Chicago looks for a new starting running back, a new starting tight end and hopes second-year receiver Kevin White can rise up and snag a big role. That could put Bears tight ends, White and any of their running backs in play against Denver in daily fantasy football leagues.

The real interest for DFS purposes is on the Broncos’ side, however. Paxton Lynch is locked into the entire second half, which gives us certain playing time.

If he can connect with guys like Cody Latimer and Jordan Taylor – two able bodied receivers – he could be a fun DFS play. We’re also interested in Denver tight end Virgil Green and running backs Devontae Booker, Juwan Thompson and Kapri Bibbs.

Overall, Denver has the more interesting talent and the deeper roster (other than quarterback) so we’ll take them on Thursday.

Got a different take when it comes to preseason daily fantasy football or Thursday’s preseason bets? Tell us all about it in the comments below!