NFL Week 4 is in the rearview mirror, NFL Week 5 odds are on the board, and several betting factors are already in play. That includes key injury news, most notably on Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb and New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold.
This week’s NFL Cheat Sheet serves as one-stop shopping for all that information and more. Covers checks in on NFL Week 5 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 5 Injuries
New Orleans Saints: Star wideout Michael Thomas (ankle) was questionable for Monday night's home game against the Los Angeles Chargers, and now he's out, though not due to injury. On Sunday, the Saints benched Thomas after he reportedly punched a teammate during practice this weekend. The SuperBook had the Saints -7.5 and moved to -7 Sunday afternoon.
Baltimore Ravens: Lamar Jackson (knee) moved to the head of the hurt class Thursday by missing his second consecutive practice. That prompted the SuperBook to take the Ravens' home game against Cincinnati off the board, but Jackson returned to practice Friday and was good to go, so the game went back up at Ravens -12.5.
Cleveland Browns: Nick Chubb suffered an MCL sprain in Sunday’s upset of Dallas and could be out six weeks. This week’s game against the Colts opened at pick, but the Browns dropped to 2.5-point home underdogs Monday at The SuperBook at Westgate. The total also ticked down a notch, from 48 to 47.5.
San Francisco 49ers: Coach Kyle Shanahan announced Friday that quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will start Sunday against Miami, after missing two weeks with a high ankle sprain. The SuperBook immediately moved the host Niners from -9 to -9.5. Running back Raheem Mostert (knee) and wideout Deebo Samuel (illness) are questionable.
New York Jets: Sam Darnold (shoulder) on Wednesday was officially ruled out for Sunday's home game against Arizona. The Jets opened +7.5 and actually moved to +6.5 Monday at The SuperBook, despite Darnold's uncertain status. With Joe Flacco now starting, the line crept back to +7.5 Wednesday afternoon, before ticking to +7.
Los Angeles Chargers: Running back Austin Ekeler (hamstring) is expected to go on injured reserve and miss several weeks. But the first move in the line for L.A.’s Monday nighter at New Orleans was toward the Chargers, from +8 to +7.5, and the total was stable at 52.
Las Vegas Raiders: Rookie wideout Henry Ruggs III (knee, hamstring) is listed as questionable, but practiced Thursday and Friday, and he's expected to play Sunday at Kansas City. On Friday afternoon, The SuperBook moved the Raiders from +12.5 to +12.
Atlanta Falcons: Star wideout Julio Jones (hamstring) was ruled out Sunday morning for the home game against Carolina. The Falcons dropped a point Friday at The SuperBook, from -2 to -1. The Falcons initially dropped from -2.5 to -2 on the news at The SuperBook, but they're already back up to -3.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tampa's receiving and running back corps will again be shorthanded. At wideout, Chris Godwin (hamstring) is out for a second straight week, fellow wideout Justin Watson (chest) is also sitting, and Mike Evans (ankle) is questionable. At running back, backup LeSean McCoy (ankle) is out and backup Leonard Fournette (ankle) is questionable.
Covers NFL betting analysis
Week 5 Weather
Philadelphia Eagles at Pittsburgh Steelers: The forecast Saturday called for a 60 percent chance of afternoon showers in Pittsburgh on Sunday.
Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens: The updated forecast Saturday called for showers Sunday morning and more steady rain in the afternoon in Baltimore, with a 90 percent chance of rain.
Los Angeles Rams at Washington Football Team: Much like Baltimore, the D.C. area is looking at morning showers and more steady afternoon precipitation, with a 90 percent chance of rain.
Minnesota Vikings at Seattle Seahawks: There’s pretty much always a chance of rain in Seattle, and as of Saturday, that chance for Sunday was 100 percent. Periods of rain are expected throughout the day, with as much as half-an-inch falling.
Week 5 Consensus
Week 5 Pros vs Joes
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Chicago Bears: "We're getting a lot of parlays on the Bucs, but the line is dropping. We're at Bucs -3 (-120) now," SuperBook manager and oddsmaker Eric Osterman said Thursday afternoon of the Thursday night game. The Bucs opened -5.5 and initially moved to -6, but the line has been on the decline ever since.
Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons: "We're getting a lot of public money on the Falcons, but that line is down to Atlanta -2, from -4," The SuperBook's Osterman said Thursday. PointsBet USA on Friday said likewise, that this game was wiseguys against the public. Sharp money hit the Panthers +3 right away, taking the number down to +1. The public helped push Atlanta back to -1.5, but Saturday, the line was back to -1.
Los Angeles Chargers at New Orleans Saints: There's no question the Saints are the public team here, and the casual bettors will show up this weekend and Monday, leading up to kickoff of the Monday night game. But as of Wednesday afternoon, the Chargers were drawing 52 percent of tickets and 60 percent of money at DraftKings, as the line moved from New Orleans -8 to -7.5, then back to -8.
Los Angeles Rams at Washington Football Team: At PointsBet, sharp play quickly came in on Washington +8.5, and it continued at +8 and +7.5 on the way to +7. But Los Angeles is the public play, and the expectation is for the line to creep back up.
Philadelphia Eagles at Pittsburgh Steelers: The total in this Keystone State matchup is leading to Pros vs. Joes action at PointsBet USA. While there's plenty of public play on the Over, the total dipped from 45 to 43.5, with professional money on the Under. As of Saturday, the total was at 44.
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