NFL Week 15 odds are of course being impacted by injury news, but this week they are really taking a dent from COVID. The Cleveland Browns have a boatload of players on the COVID/reserve list, including quarterback Baker Mayfield and coach Kevin Stefanski. And the Browns are hardly alone in being bitten by COVID.
On the injury front, Arizona Cardinals stud wideout DeAndre Hopkins could miss the rest of the regular season.
Props.com’s NFL Week 15 Odds and Ends serves as a one-stop-shop for injury details, weather conditions, and Pros vs. Joes action. Check back regularly for injury updates, significant weather impacts, and notable contrasts between NFL Week 15 sharp bets and public money.
NFL Week 15 Injuries
Washington Football Team: Washington had 25 players on the COVID list early last week — including nine possible starters, mostly on defense — to go along with some key injuries. But with the Football Team’s game at Philadelphia moved to Tuesday, some players are beginning to clear COVID protocols. That said, QB Taylor Heinicke and his backup, Kyle Allen, are among many still on the COVID list. If neither produce a negative test Tuesday, recently signed Garrett Gilbert reportedly will start at quarterback. The Football Team’s most notable injury involves RB J.D. McKissic (concussion), who is out for Tuesday’s game. One bit of good news for Washington: WR Terry McLaurin has cleared concussion protocols and will start.
The SuperBook opened Washington +3, got to +7 by Wednesday afternoon, then took the game off the board Friday. On Saturday, the line reposted at Washington +7, quickly bottomed out at +4.5 and on Monday afternoon was up to +6.5. The spread jumped another two points to +8.5 as of midday Tuesday. The total is at 40.5 after originally posting at 44.
Philadelphia Eagles: QB Jalen Hurts and running back Miles Sanders were questionable midweek with ankle injuries. However, both were full participants in practice and will play when the Eagles host Washington on Tuesday in a game rescheduled because of The Football Team’s massive COVID outbreak. Wideout Quez Watkins (reserve/COVID) also has been cleared — in fact, all nine Eagles players who were on the early-week injury report are good to go.
Philly opened -3 at the SuperBook and peaked at -7 before this game came off the board Friday because of Washington’s COVID issues. The line went back up Saturday at Eagles -7, plunged to -4.5 within an hour, and on Monday was sitting at -6.5. As of Tuesday afternoon, though, Philly had jumped to -8.5. at The SuperBook. The total originally opened at 44, was at 42 Monday, and dipped to 40.5 early on Tuesday.
Seattle Seahawks: Russell Wilson might be without two key offensive weapons when the Seahawks visit the Rams in a game that was moved to Tuesday because of L.A.’s COVID outbreak (see below). WR Tyler Lockett and RB Alex Collins are among eight Seattle players in COVID protocols. A point spread that bounced all over the place throughout the week was at Seahawks +7 by midday Tuesday — the same as the opening number. The total dropped two points from 47 to 45, but was back at 47 on Tuesday.
Los Angeles Rams: Odell Beckham Jr. cleared COVID protocols, as have several others for L.A.’s home game against Seattle, which was moved from Sunday afternoon to late Tuesday afternoon. Running back Darrell Henderson Jr. also is back, as is linebacker Von Miller. However, tight end Tyler Higbee, right tackle Rob Havenstein, and strong safety Jordan Fuller — all starters — did not make it out of COVID timeout and won’t play. The Rams opened -7 at The SuperBook, got as low as -4.5 Wednesday, and the game came off the board with Friday’s postponement news. On Saturday, the line went back up at Rams -6.5 and moved to -7 Sunday, where it remained as of Tuesday at noon ET. The total fell from 47 to 45, but returned to 47 as of midday Tuesday.
Arizona Cardinals: Wideout DeAndre Hopkins, who recently missed three games because of a hamstring injury, suffered a knee injury in Monday’s loss to the Rams. Hopkins could sit the rest of the regular season, with the Cardinals hopeful he returns for a playoff run. Adding to Arizona’s offensive woes, top running back James Conner (ankle) and tight end Zach Ertz (hamstring) are questionable Sunday at Detroit.
However, running back Chase Edmonds (ankle) should be activated from injured reserve. Arizona opened -14, got as low as -12.5 a couple of times, and on Saturday was -13 at The SuperBook. The total hasn’t fell from 47.5 to 46.5 Saturday.
Detroit Lions: The Lions, whose roster was ravaged by COVID ahead of last week’s game at Denver, still has ‘rona issues, though mostly on defense. On offense, running back D’Andre Swift (shoulder) is out once again, as is backfield mate Jamaal Williams (reserve/COVID), while wideout Josh Reynolds (thigh) is questionable. Detroit is also dinged up in its defensive front seven. The Lions opened +14 at The SuperBook, shortened to +12.5 a couple of times, and on Saturday was at +13.
Baltimore Ravens: QB Lamar Jackson (ankle), injured in a Week 14 loss at Cleveland, is questionable for Sunday’s interconference clash against visiting Green Bay. Also, WR Marquise Brown (illness) is questionable, while Sammy Watkins (reserve/COVID) was ruled out Saturday. Jackson’s uncertainty led to a few point-spread swings already by Wednesday evening. The Ravens opened +7, shortened to +4 by Monday night, then moved to +5.5 by Wednesday afternoon at The SuperBook. But on Saturday, oddsmakers seem to believe Jackson will be a no-go, as Baltimore is back out to +7. That said, the total, which opened at 42.5, was up to 43.5 on Saturday night.
Green Bay Packers: Wideout Marquez Valdes-Scantling (back) is questionable for Sunday’s cross-conference tilt at Baltimore. Still, the Packers are -7 Saturday at The SuperBook, matching the opener after bottoming out at -4 early on. The total has gone from an opener of 42.5 to 43.5 as of Saturday evening.
Buffalo Bills: After being listed as questionable all week because of a foot sprain, Bills QB Josh Allen reportedly will play in Sunday’s home game against Carolina. However, one of Allen’s top targets — wideout Emmanuel Sanders (knee) — has been ruled out. Buffalo opened -11 at The SuperBook, initially dipped to -9.5, climbed back to -11, then dipped back to -10.5 Wednesday afternoon. However, after it was revealed that Allen is good to go, the spread was all the way out to -13 Saturday. The total opened at 45, dropped to 43, rebounded to 44.5, and was sitting at 44 Saturday night.
Carolina Panthers: Wideout DJ Moore (hamstring) is questionable Sunday at Buffalo. Carolina opened +11 at The SuperBook and got as short as +9.5 early on, but on Saturday was up to a 13-point underdog, mostly because of the news that Bills quarterback Josh Allen will play (see above).
Dallas Cowboys: Productive backup running back Tony Pollard (foot) missed the Cowboys’ Week 14 game at Washington and is questionable Sunday at the New York Giants. The SuperBook opened Dallas -11, dipped to -10.5 Monday, then toggled between -11 and -11.5 throughout the week. On Saturday, the Cowboys were at the -11.5 opener. The total was 44.5, down a tick from the opener of 45.
New York Giants: We know we weren’t alone midweek in our shock at seeing running back Saquon Barkley (ankle) listed as questionable against Dallas. (Insert sarcasm emoji.) But by the weekend, Barkley had no injury designation. However, QB Daniel Jones (neck), who sat the last two games, is again out. Wideout Sterling Shepard (calf) is questionable, and fellow receiver Kadarius Toney is in COVID protocols. New York moved from +11 to +10.5 Monday, but by Saturday was back to an 11.5-point ‘dog at The SuperBook. The total opened at 45 and was 44.5 on Saturday afternoon.
Tennessee Titans: Defensive players don’t generally get much attention in this report. But Tennessee’s dinged up at all levels of its D: nose tackle Teair Tart (ankle), linebacker David Long (hamstring), and cornerback Janoris Jenkins (ankle) are all out. The SuperBook opened the Titans -2.5, but by Saturday afternoon, the number had flipped to Steelers -2.5. It then dropped to Steelers -1.5 Saturday evening. The total is up to 43 from a 41 opener.
Pittsburgh Steelers: QB Ben Roethlisberger (pectoral/shoulder) was questionable midweek, as was defensive disruptor T.J. Watt (shoulder). But by Friday, both were good to go against Tennessee on Sunday. That’s likely why this line jumped the fence at The SuperBook, with the Steelers opening +2.5 and sitting at -2.5 on Saturday. The total rose from 41 to 43.
New Orleans Saints: Left tackle Terron Armstead (hamstring) and right tackle Ryan Ramczyk (knee) are out Sunday night at Tampa Bay. New Orleans opened +11.5, spent a couple of days at +10.5, lengthened to +12 by Friday, and were at +11.5 Saturday. The total dipped from 47.5 to 45 at The SuperBook.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Running back Leonard Fournette (ankle) is questionable against New Orleans. The Bucs are also dinged up in the defensive secondary. Tampa went from -11.5 to -10.5 to -12 over the course of the week and was at -11.5 Saturday. The total fell from 47.5 to 45 at The SuperBook.
Miami Dolphins: Running backs Myles Gaskin and Phillip Lindsay were on the COVID list as of midweek. By the weekend, Gaskin was cleared to play, but Lindsay was ruled out Saturday. So was COVID-inflicted rookie WR Jaylen Waddle. Miami opened -7.5 against the visiting Jets and on Saturday night was up to -9.5 at The SuperBook. The total fell from 43.5 to 41.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Running back James Robinson (heel/knee), perpetually in this weekly report, was questionable midweek vs. Houston. In addition, four of five starting offensive lineman were questionable. But by the weekend, none had injury designations. Two-win Jacksonville, which opened -3 at The SuperBook, was all the way up to -5 Saturday afternoon. However, the total was down to 39.5 from a 41 opener.
San Francisco 49ers: Tight end George Kittle (knee) was questionable midweek, but will play Sunday at home vs. Atlanta. However, running back Elijah Mitchell (concussion/knee) is out. San Francisco opened -8.5 and got to -9.5 a couple of times at The SuperBook, and the Niners were -9 Saturday. The total is up to 46.5 from a 44.5 opener.
Denver Broncos: Running back Melvin Gordon (thumb/hip) is questionable for Sunday’s home game against Cincinnati. That said, Denver reached -3 Thursday and remained there Saturday, after opening -1. The total is up a smidge from an opener of 43.5 to 44.
Los Angeles Chargers: Running back Austin Ekeler (ankle) is questionable for Thursday’s home showdown against AFC West rival Kansas City. Los Angeles opened +3 at The SuperBook, reached +4 Monday afternoon, then returned to +3 Tuesday afternoon. Regardless of Ekeler’s status, bettors expect a high-scoring game. The total is up to 52 from a 49 opener.
New England Patriots: Running back Damien Harris (hamstring) is out for the Saturday night game at Indianapolis. The matchup opened a pick ’em at The SuperBook but quickly sped to Patriots +2.5, where the line spent most of the week.
Indianapolis Colts: Tight end Jack Doyle (ankle) was listed as questionable midweek, but had no designation Friday for Saturday night’s home tilt against New England. The Colts, a popular sharp play for several weeks, are up to -2.5 from a pick ’em opener at The SuperBook.
Cleveland Browns: Again, it’s not about injuries for Cleveland, but the ‘rona running rampant. On Friday, the Browns’ home game against Las Vegas was moved from Saturday to Monday, and game-day updates aren’t good for Cleveland. QBs Baker Mayfield and Case Keenum haven’t cleared COVID protocols, so third-string Nick Mullens will start. Wideout Jarvis Landry and Austin Hooper will also sit, as will many others on both sides of the ball.
Also, running back Kareem Hunt (ankle/COVID) is out, and wideout Anthony Schwartz (concussion) is questionable.
Monday’s QB news prompted The SuperBook to again move this line a long way in a short time. At 10 a.m. ET, the spread was Browns -3. Less than 20 minutes later, it was a pick ’em, and by lunchtime, the the Browns were +3. Last week, when COVID issues first started cropping up, the Browns went from -6.5 to -3 before the game first came off the board Wednesday. The line went up hours later at Cleveland +2.
The total initially opened at 43.5 and plunged to 38.5 before Friday’s game rescheduling again led to this game coming off the board. On Saturday, The SuperBook reposted at 41, then dipped to 40.5, rose to 42, returned to 40.5 and is now 41.5.
Las Vegas Raiders: Tight end Darren Waller (knee/back), who missed the last two games, is out once again at Cleveland. As noted above, this line bounced all over the place due to Cleveland’s COVID outbreak. Las Vegas went from +6.5 all the way to -2 by midweek. On Saturday, after the game was moved from Saturday to Monday, the Raiders returned to underdog status at +3. But on Monday, after COVID updates on Cleveland, Las Vegas flipped to 3-point chalk at The SuperBook. The total is 41.5, from a 43.5 opener and 38.5 low point.
Minnesota Vikings: WR Adam Thielen (ankle), who missed last week’s Thursday night contest against Pittsburgh, is questionable for Monday night’s NFC North clash with the Bears. Minnesota opened -4 at The SuperBook but was up to -6.5 by Sunday afternoon. The total climbed from 42.5 to 45.5.
Chicago Bears: Chicago’s entire starting secondary — corners Jaylon Johnson and Artie Burns, and safeties Tashaun Gipson Sr. and Eddie Jackson — is in COVID protocols. So all four are out Monday night at home against Minnesota. Wideout Allen Robinson and backup QB Andy Dalton are also on the COVID list and won’t play. The Bears stretched to 6.5-point underdogs at The SuperBook, after opening at +4.
NFL Week 15 Weather
Washington Football Team at Philadelphia Eagles: This game was originally set for Sunday, and winds were expected. COVID issues moved it to Tuesday night, and the forecast calls for game-time temps in the upper 30s, very light winds and a slight chance of rain. This total was in the mid-40s early last week, pre-COVID issues/pre-postponement. It reopened at 42 Saturday at The SuperBook and has since dipped to 40.5 as of Tuesday afternoon.
New York Jets at Miami Dolphins: There’s a 50% chance of rain that is expected to persist throughout Sunday’s game in Miami, along with 10 mph winds. On Saturday, the total was at 41, after opening 43.5 at The SuperBook.
Green Bay Packers at Baltimore Ravens: Winds of 10-20 mph are forecast during the day. However, this game kicks at 4:25 p.m. ET, and breezes are expected to lighten by evening. The SuperBook moved the total from 42.5 to 44 by midweek and was at 43.5 Saturday.
Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants: Sunday could see winds of 10-20 mph at MetLife Stadium, where the kickoff temp will be in the low 40s. But the total is down negligibly at The SuperBook, from 45 to 44.5.
Tennessee Titans at Pittsburgh Steelers: The temperature in Pittsburgh will be a little better than was predicted earlier in the week. Still, it’ll be in the mid-30s with winds approaching 10 mph. However, the total opened at 41 and got to 43 Thursday morning at The SuperBook, before backing up to 42.5 Saturday.
Carolina Panthers at Buffalo Bills: Per usual this time of year in Buffalo, it’ll be chilly — 31 is Sunday’s high, with winds of 10 mph. The total fell from 45 to 43 by Monday night, rose to 44.5 Wednesday and was at 44 Saturday.
Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars: There’s a 50 percent chance of rain at kickoff Sunday in Jacksonville, along with winds of 10 mph. The total has been at 39.5 most of the week at The SuperBook, after opening at 41.
Las Vegas Raiders at Cleveland Browns: This game was moved from Saturday to Monday due to COVID. One thing that won’t change: breezy conditions in Cleveland. The game-time forecast calls for temperatures around 40. But with winds of 10-15 mph, it’ll feel like 34, and that real-feel will dip into the high 20s by the fourth quarter. The total initially tumbled from 43.5 to 38.5, mostly due to the Browns’ COVID issues (see above). The game was off the board Friday into Saturday, and the reopened total was 41. That number dipped to 40.5, peaked at 42 this morning, dropped back to 40.5 and is now 41.5.
Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears: It’s just gonna be chilly by the time this 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff hits Monday night. The temperature will be in the mid 30s and getting colder as the game moves on, and with light winds, it’ll feel like it’s in the 20s. That said, the total on Monday afternoon was up to 46.5, after opening at 42.5.
NFL Week 15 Pros Vs Joes
Carolina Panthers at Buffalo Bills: TwinSpires Sportsbook trading analyst Zachary Lucas pointed to this contest midweek as having the sharps opposing the public. “The Bills opened -12 and are down to -10.5,” Lucas said, noting 72% of tickets/55% of money on Buffalo. “The pros are on the Panthers.”