Week 3 is in the books, but several betting factors linger that are impacting NFL Week 4 odds. That includes the typical injury information, most notably on running backs Christian McCaffrey of Carolina and Dalvin Cook of Minnesota, along with a murky QB situation in Chicago.
This week and every week, Props.com’s Countdown to Kickoff serves as a one-stop-shop for details on injuries, weather conditions, and Pros vs Joes action. Check back regularly for injury updates, significant weather impacts, and notable contrasts between NFL sharp bets and public money.
NFL Week 4 Injuries
Carolina Panthers: McCaffrey (hamstring) is injured yet again and won’t play Sunday at Dallas. Carolina opened +4.5, stretched to +5.5, then returned to the opener, all by Tuesday evening at The SuperBook. UPDATE: As of late Saturday night, the Panthers had dropped to +4 at The SuperBook
Baltimore Ravens: Quarterback Lamar Jackson (back) missed practice Thursday but was a full participant Friday. Clearly, the SuperBook risk room expects Jackson to start Sunday at Denver. In fact, the line on Thursday moved from Ravens +1 to pick ’em, after opening Ravens +2.5 Sunday. The game remained a pick-em at The SuperBook on Saturday night.
Denver Broncos: Wide receiver K.J. Hamler is done for the year with a torn ACL, a second key setback to Denver’s pass-catching corps. Wideout Jerry Jeudy is currently on IR with a high ankle sprain suffered in Week 1. Running back Melvin Gordon (ribs/leg) remains questionable . The SuperBook opened Denver -2.5 for Sunday’s home game against Baltimore, and that line dipped to -1 by Tuesday afternoon and to pick ’em Thursday.
Minnesota Vikings: Cook (ankle), who sat out his team’s Week 3 home win over Seattle, was limited in practice this week and remains questionable for Week 4 against Cleveland. The cross-conference matchup in Minnesota opened at pick ’em and was Vikings +2 since Tuesday afternoon at The SuperBook. The total initially rose from 51 to 53.5, then dropped to 51.5 by Wednesday morning, where it remained Saturday. UPDATE: As of late Saturday night, Minnesota was back to +1 at The SuperBook.
Cleveland Browns: This report is normally reserved for skill-position players, but if enough key guys are dinged up elsewhere, that’s pertinent information. And the Browns’ offensive line is ailing, with right tackle Chris Hubbard (triceps) ruled out, while left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (ankle) and center JC Tretter are questionable. However, the Browns have stuck at -2 vs. the Vikings since Tuesday at The SuperBook. The total dipped to 51.5 Wednesday, from a high point of 53.5 and opener of 51. UPDATE: As of late Saturday night, Cleveland was back to -1 at The SuperBook.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tight end Rob Gronkowski (broken ribs) has been ruled out for Sunday night’s much-hyped showdown at New England (in fact, Gronk is expected to miss multiple weeks). Still, The SuperBook on Friday moved the Bucs from -6.5 to -7. UPDATE: As of late Saturday night, the Bucs returned to -6.5 at The SuperBoook.
New England Patriots: The Patriots lost dual-threat running back James White (hip) last week, and White landed on injured reserve. New England also has multiple offensive linemen and defensive players listed as questionable.
Los Angeles Rams: Running back Darrell Henderson Jr. (ribs), who sat out the Week 3 win over Tampa Bay, is listed as questionable, but L.A. head coach Sean McVay said Friday that Henderson is expected to play when the Rams host Arizona. As of Saturday evening, The SuperBook had Los Angeles at -4, down 2.5-points from the -6 opener.
Tennessee Titans: Wideouts Julio Jones (leg) and A.J. Brown (hamstring) are both out for Sunday’s road tilt against the New York Jets. Tennessee initially moved from -7.5 to -8 at The SuperBook, but the line Wednesday dipped a full point to -7. On Friday, the number tumbled another full point to Titans -6, where it remained late Saturday. The total is down to 44.5 from a 46.5 opener.
New York Jets: Heading into the weekend, New York’s receiving corps is suspect. Wideout Elijah Moore and his backup, Jeff Smith, are both out with concussions. Wideout Jamison Crowder (groin) and tight end Tyler Kroft are questionable. However, the Jets actually shortened Friday from +7 to +6, thanks largely to the Titans’ injury situation (see above).
Seattle Seahawks: Wideout Tyler Lockett (hip) is questionable against San Francisco, but Seattle actually moved from +3 to +2.5 Friday at The SuperBook.
San Francisco 49ers: Running back Elijah Mitchell (shoulder) and tight end George Kittle (calf) are questionable against Seattle. On Friday, The SuperBook tightened the 49ers from -3 to -2.5, a point spread that held stead on Saturday night.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Wideout Chase Claypool (hamstring) is out for Sunday’s game at Green Bay. However, Pittsburgh actually moved from +6.5 to +6 Saturday at The SuperBook, after opening +7 last Sunday.
Philadelphia Eagles: There’s a cluster injury situation developing on the Eagles’ offensive line. Left guard Isaac Seumalo is done for the year with a foot injury; right guard Brandon Brooks (pectoral injury) is on injured reserve, and left tackle Jordan Mailata (knee) sat out Week 3 at Dallas and will be sidelined again for Week 4’s home tilt against Kansas City. Philadelphia opened +5.5 at The SuperBook and reached +7 Tuesday. UPDATE: As of Saturday night, the Eagles fell to +6.5 at The SuperBook.
New York Giants: The G-Men have Week 4 injury issues at skill positions heading into this week’s game at New Orleans. Most notably, wideouts Sterling Shepard (hamstring) and Darius Slayton (hamstring) are out. That said, New York opened +8 at The SuperBook, got down to +7 Thursday and remained there as of late Saturday.
Chicago Bears: On Saturday evening, Andy Dalton (knee) was downgraded to doubtful, so it’s likely that rookie Justin Fields will see his second consecutive start despite dealing with a right thumb injury. Wideout Darnell Mooney (groin) is questionable. With that in mind, it’s no surprise the Bears moved from -4 to -3 by Monday morning and hit -3 (even money) Tuesday night. Chicago remained -3 (even) as of Saturday night.
Detroit Lions: Running back D’Andre Swift (groin) is questionable for Sunday’s game at Chicago. It looks as if that’s already baked into the spread cake, though, as The SuperBook has been pinned to Lions +3 since Tuesday.
Washington Football Team: Running back Antonio Gibson (shin) was a limited participant in practice Friday and carries a “questionable” designation into Sunday’s game at Atlanta. This game opened at pick ’em at The SuperBook, moved to Washington -2 on Wednesday, and was sitting at Washington -1.5 late Saturday night. The total on Friday inched from 48 to 47.5, down 1.5 points from the 49 opener.
Indianapolis Colts: QB Carson Wentz, having issues with both ankles, remains questionable at Miami, as does running back Jonathan Taylor (knee). Indy also will be without left guard Quenton Nelson and right tackle Braden Smith, while right guard Mark Glowinski (knee) is questionable. Still, the Colts were only 2-point ‘dogs on Friday at The SuperBook, a half-point shorter than their +2.5 opener. However, the total is down to 42.5 from a 44 opener.
Houston Texans: Wideout Danny Amendola (thigh) was ruled out Friday, but that didn’t impact the line for Sunday’s game against the Bills. The SuperBook opened Houston +17.5, dropped to +16.5 early in the week, but shot back up to +17.5 on Saturday night.
Las Vegas Raiders: Running back Josh Jacobs (ankle) is questionable for the Monday night road game against the Chargers. However, he practiced on a limited basis Friday, and the Raiders remained +3 at The SuperBook.
Los Angeles Chargers: Wideout Keenan Allen (ankle) was limited in practice Friday and is questionable for Monday night against the Raiders. The Chargers stuck as 3-point favorites at The SuperBook.
NFL Week 4 Weather
Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears: The Sunday forecast now calls for an 82% chance of showers, with modest wind of 5-10 mph. The total opened at 44 and fell to 41.5 Saturday night at The SuperBook, but that’s likely due to a combination of weather and Chicago’s injury situation at quarterback (see above).
Houston Texans at Buffalo Bills: As of Saturday night, there’s a 70-75% chance of rain Sunday in Buffalo, although winds are expected to be mild (5-10 mph). The SuperBook initially lifted the total from 47.5 to 48, then backed up to 47 by Tuesday afternoon. The total was still at 47 Saturday.
Indianapolis Colts at Miami Dolphins: Winds of 10-20 mph could be prevalent Sunday in Miami. The SuperBook opened the total at 44 and got to 42.5 Wednesday morning.
NFL Week 4 Pros Vs Joes
Pittsburgh Steelers at Green Bay Packers: TwinSpires Sportsbook opened the Packers as 7-point favorites and dipped down to -6.5. “Sharps took Pittsburgh +7 early in the week. The public is all over Green Bay -6.5,” TwinSpires trading analyst Zachary Lucas said.