Every week, the first step of your DFS homework should be to examine the opening Vegas odds on all the NFL games for that week. Through some fairly simple algebra, it is easy to derive a spreadsheet that predicts team totals for every game, thereby allowing you to develop a rudimentary gamescript to help narrow down your decisions for the week. Once the appealing (and unappealing) games have been highlighted, it becomes easier to focus upon those games to help build your core of players for that week; the caveat, however, is that the NFL is a dynamic league and anything is subject to change from Tuesday to Sunday...so keep that in mind as the week progresses and always monitor player injuries, weather conditions, and potential roster moves. Let's take a look.
Updated on Thursday, 9/26 @ 6 PM (EST)
Team | Opponent | Odds | Game Total | Team Total | Passing | Running | Team Defense |
Kansas City | Detroit | -6 | 55 | 30.5 | ««« | ««« | |
LA Chargers | Miami | -15.5 | 44 | 29.75 | ««« | ««« | ««« |
LA Rams | Tampa Bay | -9 | 49.5 | 29.25 | ««« | ««« | |
Seattle | Arizona | -6 | 48 | 27 | «« | «« | |
NY Giants | Washington | -3 | 49.5 | 26.25 | «« | «« | |
Baltimore | Cleveland | -7 | 45 | 26 | «« | ««« | « |
Houston | Carolina | -4.5 | 47.5 | 26 | «« | «« | |
Indianapolis | Oakland | -6.5 | 45 | 25.75 | « | « | « |
Green Bay | Philadelphia | -4 | 47 | 25.5 | « | « | |
New England | Buffalo | -7 | 42.5 | 24.75 | « | «« | «« |
Dallas | New Orleans | -2.5 | 47 | 24.75 | « | « | |
Atlanta | Tennessee | -4 | 45.5 | 24.75 | « | « | |
Detroit | Kansas City | 6 | 55 | 24.5 | « | « | |
Pittsburgh | Cincinnati | -4 | 44 | 24 | « | « | « |
Washington | NY Giants | 3 | 49.5 | 23.25 | |||
New Orleans | Dallas | 2.5 | 47 | 22.25 | |||
Carolina | Houston | 4.5 | 47.5 | 21.5 | |||
Philadelphia | Green Bay | 4 | 47 | 21.5 | |||
Arizona | Seattle | 6 | 48 | 21 | |||
Tennessee | Atlanta | 4 | 45.5 | 20.75 | |||
Denver | Jacksonville | -3.5 | 37.5 | 20.5 | «« | ||
Tampa Bay | LA Rams | 9 | 49.5 | 20.25 | |||
Chicago | Minnesota | -2 | 38 | 20 | « | ||
Cincinnati | Pittsburgh | 4 | 44 | 20 | |||
Oakland | Indianapolis | 6.5 | 45 | 19.25 | |||
Cleveland | Baltimore | 7 | 45 | 19 | |||
Minnesota | Chicago | 2 | 38 | 18 | « | ||
Buffalo | New England | 7 | 42.5 | 17.75 | |||
Jacksonville | Denver | 3.5 | 37.5 | 17 | |||
Miami | LA Chargers | 15.5 | 44 | 14.25 |
SUMMARY
3-STARS
- Quarterback: Philip Rivers (Chargers), Patrick Mahomes II (Chiefs), Jared Goff (Rams)
- Running Back: Austin Ekeler (Chargers), Damien Williams/LeSean McCoy (Chiefs), Todd Gurley (Rams), Mark Ingram (Ravens), Marlon Mack (Colts)
- Receivers: Keenan Allen/Mike Williams/Travis Benjamin (Chargers), Sammy Watkins/Demarcus Robinson/Travis Kelce (Chiefs), Robert Woods/Brandin Cooks/Cooper Kupp (Rams)
- Defense: Chargers
2-STARS
- Quarterback: Russell Wilson (Seahawks), Lamar Jackson (Ravens), Daniel Jones (Giants), Deshaun Waston (Texans)
- Running Back: Chris Carson (Seahawks), Wayne Gallman (Giants), Carlos Hyde/Duke Johnson Jr (Texans), Sony Michel/James White/Rex Burkhead (Patriots)
- Receivers: Tyler Lockett/DK Metcalf/Will Dissly (Seahawks), Marquise Brown/Miles Boykin/Mark Andrews (Ravens), Sterling Shepard/Bennie Fowler/Evan Engram (Giants), DeAndre Hopkins/Will Fuller/Keke Coutee (Texans)
- Defense: Broncos, Patriots
1-STAR
- Quarterback: Jacoby Brissett (Colts), Aaron Rodgers (Packers), Tom Brady (Patriots), Dak Prescott (Cowboys), Matt Ryan (Falcons), Matthew Stafford (Lions)
- Running Back: Aaron Jones (Packers), Ezekiel Elliott (Cowboys), Devonta Freeman (Falcons), Kerryon Johnson (Lions)
- Receivers: Zach Pascal/Deon Cain/Eric Ebron/Jack Doyle (Colts), Davante Adams/Marquez Valdes-Scantling/Jimmy Graham (Packers), Julian Edelman/Josh Gordon/Phillip Dorsett (Patriots), Amari Cooper/Devin Smith/Jason Witten (Cowboys), Julio Jones/Calvin Ridley/Austin Hooper (Falcons), Kenny Golladay/Marvin Jones/T.J. Hockenson (Lions)
- Defense: Bears, Ravens, Colts, Steelers, Vikings