NFL Cheat Sheet Week 3: 49ers' Elijah Mitchell Out for SNF

Week 2 featured a slew of high-profile injuries across the league and, in turn, we now await the game-day status of many of those players and more ahead of Sunday.

This week's NFL Cheat Sheet will give you all the information you need for Sunday, as Covers checks in on NFL Week 3 injuries, weather, consensus picks, and more.

Week 3 Injuries

Arizona Cardinals: Cardinals fans and DeAndre Hopkins fantasy managers alike have become accustomed to Hopkins missing practice throughout the week, only to show up and be his typically dominant self on Sundays. However, this week's absences created some cause for concern, with Nuk considered a genuine game-time decision because of a rib injury, per Kliff Kingsbury.  

Cardinals backers can breathe easy, however, as it was announced Sunday mornign that Hopkins will play. That only reinforces Arizona as a massive favorite against the lowly Jaguars, with the line between Cards -7.5 and -8 at most books. PointsBet has taken a staggering 83 percent of money and 88 percent of bets on Arizona, as of Sunday morning.

Minnesota Vikings: After news that Hopkins will play for Arizona, all eyes shifted to the other superstar who was uncertain for Week 3 — Vikings RB Dalvin Cook, who was ruled out for the Vikings' clash with the Seahawks. Cook was considered a game-time decision with an ankle injury and will ultimately miss Week 3 after rushing for 131 yards in a loss to the Cardinals last Sunday.

This latest update on Cook has pushed the home Vikings from +1 to +2 at DraftKings Sportsbook, with 72 percent of the handle and 81 percent of tickets going to the visiting Seahawks.

San Francisco 49ers: The perpetually banged-up 49ers will get some good news ahead of Sunday Night Football vs. the Packers, with DE Arik Armstead, DT Javon Kinlaw, RB Trey Sermon, and CB Emmanuel Moseley all playing this week. Week 1 darling Elijah Mitchell, meanwhile, is out after suffering a shoulder injury. On the other side, the Packers will be without Elgton Jenkins, one of the league's best and most versatile offensive linemen who had been filling in excellently at left tackle.

The home 49ers have remained between 3- and 3.5-point favorites throughout the week, though it's Green Bay drawing around 80 percent of the money and total bets. On a total of 50.5, 84 percent of bets have come in on the Over at DraftKings Sportsbook.

Cleveland Browns: The Browns faced down disaster a week ago as Baker Mayfield briefly left with an apparent shoulder injury but he would return in Cleveland's win over the Texans, and he'll remain under center and healthy for Week 3. While Jarvis Landry will be out for several weeks, Mayfield can count on Odell Beckham Jr., who is off the Browns' injury report and set to make his long-awaited return from a torn ACL.

Cleveland's remained between 7- and 7.5-point favorites at most books throughout the week for its game against the Bears and rookie Justin Fields. As of Friday at DraftKings, the Browns were drawing 61 percent of bets and 73 percent of the money.

Indianapolis Colts: As Carson Wentz and the Colts went through a week of practice with the QB's status for Sunday up in the air, the line for Indianapolis' game against the Titans bounced between Tennesse -5 and -6. Though a decision won't be made until pre-game, Wentz is expected to play despite the pair of sprained ankles he is dealing with. 

With the line at Tennessee -5 at DK, the favored Titans are drawing 78 percent of bets and 85 percent of the money. The total has been bet down since starting the week at 52.5, now sitting at 48.0 with 80 percent of money on the Under, but 60 percent of bets coming on the Over.

Pittsburgh Steelers: The Steelers will be down several key players on Sunday against the Bengals, including last year's DPOY-runner up T.J. Watt, wideout Diontae Johnson, and pass rusher Alex Highsmith. They will, however, have QB Ben Roethlisberger under center despite the pec injury suffered by the statuesque veteran last week. On the other side, the Bengals will be down three starters in WR Tee Higgins, guard Xavier Su'a-Filo, and corner Trae Waynes. 

With Pittsburgh's minor injury crisis, the line shrunk during the week from Steelers -4.5 to -3 at most books, with the favorites continuing to draw the majority of money and bets at DraftKings. The total, bet down to 44.0 during the week, has received 66 percent of bets on the Over but 67 percent of the money has come on the Under.

Miami Dolphins: Uncertainty around Tua Tagovailoa's availability has caused line movement all week long, with Tagovailoa's Dolphins jumping from one-point underdogs on Sunday afternoon to 5.5-point dogs that evening. That line was bet all the way down to Miami +3.5 at some books by the end of the week before settling at 4.5, with Tua confirmed out on Sunday. New starter Jacoby Brissett will be able to count on speedster wideout Will Fuller, who is set to make his season debut against the Raiders. 

The Raiders have received a staggering 90 percent of bets at DK, with 79 percent of the money on them as well. Las Vegas is not without injuries of its own, with tailback Josh Jacobs set to miss a second-straight game. The two banged-up offenses have led to the total dropping during the week as well, with 78 percent of the money and 51 percent of bets going on Under 44.0 as of Friday at DK.

Chicago Bears: As mentioned above, Chicago will be without Andy Dalton in Week 3, paving the way for Fields to make his first career start. The Bears will be without nose tackle Eddie Goldman but Fields will have wideout Darnell Mooney, who has been limited in practice in consecutive weeks, in addition to Allen Robinson. Provided Mooney is close to full health he should factor in, as one of the league's blossoming deep threats now has a QB capable of stretching defenses vertically.

Despite the optimism around Fields' future, the total has received steady action on the Under during the week, as it has been bet down to 45.0 from as high as 47.0.

Baltimore Ravens: Not to be outdone, the Ravens continue to fight in a war of attrition themselves. The week ended with Lamar Jackson sitting out of practice under mysterious circumstances with an apparently non-COVID-related illness, while four defensive linemen went on the COVID-19 list. Jackson, as well as Marquise Brown, DeShon Elliott, and Jimmy Smith all were cleared to play Sunday morning, while tackle Ronnie Stanley remains out.

The Ravens were as large as 9-point favorites during the week but Jackson's uncertain status has shrunk that line to -7.5 or -8 at most books. Even still, DraftKings reported nearly 80 percent of money and bets are with Baltimore against the Lions.

Week 3 Weather

Saints vs. Patriots: A run-heavy, defensive matchup in Foxborough could become even more so with rain forecast in the morning leading up to the Saints and Patriots kicking off. Clouds and a possibility of rain will give way to clear skies in the second half, however.

Week 3 Consensus

Other news and notes

Earlier in the week, Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer seemed optimistic on Cook for Week 3. ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter painted a different picture Sunday morning, however.

As the week progressed, there was a less confident tone that Vikings RB Dalvin Cook would play Sunday vs. Seattle due to his sprained ankle, per source. Cook didn’t practice all week, it’s early in season, and going into pre-game warmups it was considered “unlikely” he plays."

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 26, 2021

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