Week 2 is upon us and the impact of injuries has already been felt around the league, with several teams sweating the status of key players 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 2 injuries, weather, consensus picks, and more.
Week 2 Injuries
San Francisco 49ers: It wouldn't be an NFL season without the 49ers' roster ravaged by injuries and oh brother, the NFL season is here. Week 1 led to RB Raheem Mostert, CB Jason Verrett, and linebacker Dre Greenlaw going on injured reserve (with Verrett and Mostert done for the year). And then Emmanuel Mosley, now the de facto No. 1 corner, was ruled out Sunday morning. Against a Philly OL that looked dominant in Week 1, a weakened 49ers defensive front could be completely washed out.
A testament to the faith in the 49ers' roster is that they've held steady as 3-point favorites against the Eagles all week and the public agrees, with 60 percent of bets on San Francisco. While the total shrunk from as high as 50.5 midweek to 48.5, 67 percent of bets at DraftKings have been on the Over.
Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys drew the short straw and had to face the reigning champion Buccaneers in Tampa Bay to begin the new season and, as if that wasn't a tough enough start, the injury bug has already hit. Wide receiver Michael Gallup and defensive end Demarcus Lawrence, the latter of whom is far and away the team's best defensive player, were both placed on injured reserve ahead of this week. Randy Gregory, who starts opposite Lawrence, is playing but isn't 100 percent, while starting safety Donovan Wilson was ruled inactive.
Despite Dallas's injury woes, the spread has shrunk half a point for its Week 2 game against the Chargers, from L.A. -3.5 to L.A. -3. That's because, as of Friday morning, 74 percent of the handle and 73 percent of bets at DraftKings Sportsbook had been placed on the underdog Cowboys. After going between 54.5 and 55.5 late in the week, the total has settled at 55 on Saturday, with 77 percent of bets coming in on the Over per DK.
Baltimore Ravens: Look at the Ravens out here trying to copy the 49ers' whole flow, word for word, bar for bar. Baltimore has been hit again and again by injuries already and its Week 2 outlook, ahead of a massive primetime meeting with the Chiefs, is grim. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley, who didn't look anywhere near healthy in his return from an ugly ankle injury, is out for Week 2. He's joined on the injury list by WR Marquise Brown and corner Jimmy Smith, among a whole slew of other players — a tough spot for a team already down WR Rashod Bateman and CB Marcus Peters.
Baltimore's tough luck has seen it go from 2.5-point underdogs to begin the week to as much as 4-point dogs at some books. The 3.5-point favorite Chiefs, at DraftKings, are drawing 86 percent of bets and 92 percent of the handle. The total, down from 55.5 to 53.5, isn't low enough to dissuade a public that has put 83 percent of bets on the Over at DraftKings.
Chicago Bears: A feisty performance in L.A. against the Rams on Sunday Night Football to begin the year won't provide the Bears with any solace as they get ready to face the Bengals with lingering injuries. Nose tackle Eddie Goldman is out, bad news against a Cincinnati team that leaned on its running game in Week 1.
An hour before kickoff, the spread sits at Bears -1.5. However, the public was backing the underdog Bengals, with a nice 69 percent of bets (as of Saturday night) going to Cincy per DraftKings. Early action on Over 45 saw the total go as high as 45.5 this week, but right before kickoff DK has seen Under action move it to 44.5.
Indianapolis Colts: The bad-luck Colts are already facing some tough question marks with the Rams coming to town in Week 2. Cornerback Xavier Rhodes and tackle Braden Smith have already been ruled out, while receiver Parris Campbell was ruled out Sunday morning.
The public is giving the underdog Colts no love in Week 2, with 86 percent of bets and 89 percent of the handle placed on the Rams at -3.5 per DraftKings (the spread has grown to -4 at some books). The total rose from 48 to 48.5 this week, with 73 percent of bets coming in on the Over at that total.
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Cleveland Browns: After they were sent into the buzzsaw of Arrowhead for a Week 1 date with the Chiefs, the Browns are among the biggest Week 2 favorites with the adrift Texans coming to Cleveland. Those Brownies still aren't at full health, however. After Odell Beckham Jr. was a game-time decision a week ago and ultimately ruled out, he was ruled out midweek this time around. Starting offensive linemen Jedrick Wills and JC Tretter are both questionable (the former is a particular concern as backup Chris Hubbard has been ruled out), as is free agent addition cornerback Troy Hill.
And yet, the spread has remained between Browns -12.5 and -13.5 at most books all week. As of Friday, 55 percent of bets were on Cleveland at DraftKings, while 73 percent of bets were on the Over for the total of 48.
Week 2 Weather
Falcons vs. Buccaneers: A hideous Week 1 from Atlanta did little to impact the total for its Week 2 matchup as it hit the board at 53 (and since dropped to 51.5). The Buccaneers and Falcons won't get much help from the conditions in Week 2, with rain forecast and upward of 80 percent humidity in Florida on Sunday.
Titans vs. Seahawks: It's a similar story in Seattle, where the Seahawks and Titans face a total of 54 (up from 52.5) despite a non-existent showing on offense from Tennessee in Week 1. That is perhaps already an uphill climb and it's made more difficult by the rain in the forecast for game day, with temperatures expected around 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Week 2 Consensus
Other news and notes
It wouldn't be this iteration of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers without their running backs being cycled through weekly. As such, head coach Bruce Arians told reporters it would be Ronald Jones, not Leonard Fournette, starting this week, while Giovani Bernard retains his role as a third-down back.
Bucs’ HC Bruce Arians said today that RB Ronald Jones will start Sunday vs. the Falcons. “And he's ready to roll,” Arians said.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 14, 2021
While Raiders running back Josh Jacobs won't go this week, it won't be Kenyan Drake taking over the reins. Jon Gruden told reporters Friday that Jacobs' absence will create an opportunity for plodder Peyton Barber while Drake will presumably retain his passing-down role.
Interesting from Gruden, when asked about the opportunity for Kenyan Drake with Jacobs out:
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) September 17, 2021
"We're excited about the opportunity for Peyton Barber. We really like Peyton Barber." #Raiders https://t.co/JWgc7rnWqJ
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