NFL Week 5 is almost wrapped up, NFL Week 6 odds are on the board, and several betting factors are already in play. That includes the typical injury news, most notably the atypically gruesome injury that shelved Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott for the season.
This week’s NFL Cheat Sheet serves as one-stop shopping for that information and more. Covers checks in on NFL Week 6 injuries, weather, consensus picks, Pros vs Joes and more. Check back throughout the week for NFL injury updates, popular picks, and notable contrasts between sharp bets and public money.
Week 6 Injuries
New York Jets: QB Sam Darnold is out for Week 6 with a shoulder injury, and Joe Flacco is starting in his place against Miami. The Jets got to +9.5 Wednesday at The SuperBook, from an opener of +8, but are at +8.5 Thursday. The total has dipped slightly, to 47 from 47.5.
Dallas Cowboys: Prescott suffered a broken and dislocated right ankle during Sunday’s home win over the Giants. He had surgery Sunday night and won’t return this season. That led The SuperBook at Westgate to open the Cowboys as 3-point home underdogs to Arizona in the Monday night game, though Arizona quickly dipped to -2.5. With Prescott in the lineup, SuperBook executive director John Murray said Dallas would’ve been a short favorite.
Dallas also lost starting defensive tackle Trysten Hill to a torn ACL.
Philadelphia Eagles: On Friday afternoon, Philadelphia released a substantial list of players out Friday, including: wideouts Alshon Jeffery (foot) and DeSean Jackson (hamstring); and on the offensive line, right tackle Lane Johnson (ankle) and right guard Matt Pryor (illness). Within a 10-minute window, The SuperBook moved the Eagles from +7.5 to +9.5 for Sunday's home game against Baltimore.
Kansas City Chiefs: Wideout Sammy Watkins (hamstring) won’t play this week at Buffalo, and might be out beyond that. The SuperBook opened the Chiefs -3 and the total at 55, and neither budged early. In fact, with the game now a few hours out, Kansas City is a 5.5-point favorite.
Minnesota Vikings: Running back Dalvin Cook (groin) missed practice Wednesday and Thursday, and on Friday, Minnesota ruled him out for Sunday's home game against Atlanta. On Thursday night, the Vikings ticked from -4 to -3.5, but they were back to -4 within a matter of minutes. The total on Friday morning dipped from 54.5 to 54.
Atlanta Falcons: Wideout Julio Jones (hamstring) appears set to return at Minnesota, but that had no impact on the line Friday, with Atlanta still +4.
Cleveland Browns: QB Baker Mayfield (chest/ribs) will suit up Sunday at Pittsburgh, although he insisted all week that he would play. Wideout Jarvis Landry (hip/ribs) also was announced as active on Sunday, while Odell Beckham (illness) remains questionable, but oddsmakers seem to expect him to play. The Browns remained +3.5 at The SuperBook, with the total at 51.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Wideout Diontae Johnson (back) on Friday was ruled out against Cleveland, but there was no impact on the line nor the total, which remained Steelers -3.5 and 51, respectively, at The SuperBook.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Wideouts Mike Evans (ankle) and Chris Godwin (hamstring) both practiced Thursday, though in limited amounts, but it appears both will play Sunday at home against Green Bay. Tight end Rob Gronkowski (shoulder) is questionable. The Bucs opened 1.5-point underdogs at The SuperBook, and the game moved to pick 'em Wednesday.
Denver Broncos: Quarterback Drew Lock (shoulder) looks more likely to return this week at New England, although on Friday he was listed as questionable, as was running back Melvin Gordon (illness). Still, there was a modest move at The SuperBook, from Denver +9.5 to +9.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Wideout DJ Chark Jr. (ankle) missed practice Wednesday and Thursday, and his status for Sunday's home game against Detroit is uncertain. The Jaguars opened +2.5 and moved to +3.5 Monday at The SuperBook, then ticked back to +3 Wednesday.
Covers NFL betting analysis
Week 6 Weather
Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills: Rain is expected in Orchard Park for this 5 p.m. ET kickoff Monday night. The forecast is calling for a 65 percent chance of rain and temperatures in the low 50s with winds blowing at 5 mph. The total for this Monday Night Football matchup opened at 55 points and quickly peaked at 58 last week at The SuperBook, but is down to 55.5 a few hours before kickoff.
New York Jets at Miami Dolphins: The forecast calls for a 60 percent chance of thundershowers and temperatures in the low 80s with winds blowing ENE up to 20 mph in Miami for this 4 p.m. ET start. The total opened at 50 points and has since been bet down to 47 as of Sunday morning.
Green Bay Packers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The forecast for Tampa is calling for possible scattered thundershowers and a 35 percent chance of rain for this 4:25 p.m. ET start, with the humidity making the temperature feel like the mid-90s. Winds are blowing ENE at 15 mph The total for this game opened at 51.5 points and has been bet up to 55 as of Sunday morning.
Week 6 Consensus
Week 6 Pros vs Joes
Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills: PointsBet USA's Patrick Eichner said the total in this matchup has sharp bettors on the Under, taking the number from the opener of 57.5 down to 55 a couple of hours before kickoff. However, the public, per usual, is on the Over in this game.
Arizona Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys: This line jumped the fence this morning at PointsBet USA, from Cardinals -1 to Cowboys -1.5, and that marked a 4-point swing from the opening line of Arizona -2.5. The line then ticked to Dallas -1. Eichner said sharp play helped move the number toward Dallas, while the public is leaning toward Arizona tonight, for the moment.
Los Angeles Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers: "Big money on the Rams from the public. The line is moving down, though," SuperBook manager/oddsmaker Eric Osterman said Saturday, noting a little sharp play on the Niners. Los Angeles opened -3.5 and dropped to -3 (-120) midweek, and the Rams' price at -3 is now even money.
Detroit Lions at Jacksonville Jaguars: "There's money on the Lions, but the line is down from Lions -3.5 to -3," The SuperBook's Osterman said, alluding to professional play on the Jaguars.
Washington Football Team at New York Giants: "We opened the Giants as 3-point favorites, and we quickly saw sharp action bet the Washington +3 side into +2.5," PointsBet USA's Patrick Eichner said midweek. "With the Giants being a local (public) favorite, we are seeing that game shape up to be Pros vs. Joes."
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