Week 2 M*A*S*H Report: Missing Offensive Stars Will Keep Games Lower Scoring
The most important injuries of Week 2 are concentrated on offense. Key quarterbacks and running backs may be missing and some teams already look half-decimated.
The Superstars and Premiere Match-ups:
Besides the seemingly endless story surrounding Le’Veon Bell’s holdout, Aaron Rodgers is topping the headlines. He was carted off last Monday night after suffering a knee injury against Chicago. He then returned, despite conspicuous limitations to his mobility, and led the Packers to a highly dramatic 20-point comeback victory against the rival Bears. Because of his injury, he still hasn’t practiced, but that is not an indicator of whether he will play because he doesn’t need practice in order to play well. He is officially listed as ‚questionable‘ and Saturday’s practice should indicate to Coach McCarthy whether Rodgers will be able to play. He’d have to deal with a physical and dominant Minnesota defense that injured him last year.
Jacksonville’s Leonard Fournette will be a game-time decision against New England. Fournette had to depart from the season opener against New York after rushing nine times for 41 yards. The offense looked pedestrian without him and a Jaguars’ defensive touchdown ended up making the difference for the SU win and cover against the Giants. Fournette is Jacksonville’s workhorse—they were 1-5 ATS last season when he carried the ball fewer than 20 times. The Jags have TJ Yeldon, who’s especially useful catching out of the backfield, and change-of-pace speedster Corey Grant ready to go. But neither one can make up for the grind between the tackles with which Fournette wears down the opposing defense and the attention which Fournette receives from the defense, which helps shaky quarterback Blake Bortles be more productive in the passing game. The line is about even for the revenge match against the visiting New England cheaters, who themselves face serious questions at running back with Rex Burkhead and Sony Michel having been limited at practice on Friday and listed as ‚questionable.‘
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Other Notables:
Atlanta running back Devonta Freeman has been ruled ‚out‘ against Carolina. His injury is bad news for an already inept offense that relies heavily on Freeman in the red zone and were still bottom-ranked in the red zone last season. Freeman played a significant role in whatever little offense Atlanta mustered last season under first-year offensive coordinator Steven Sarkisian. When Freeman produced combined 90 yards or fewer rushing and receiving, Atlanta went 2-6 SU and 0-8 ATS. While Atlanta will miss his presence, Carolina’s situation on offense is looking perhaps equally disastrous. Three offensive linemen won’t play and a rookie will be making an emergency transition from left tackle to right tackle. Atlanta is favored by as many as seven points and, surprisingly, the over/under has remained steady at 44 points.
Houston is receiving heavy public action, but backers of the three-point away favorite are surely ignorant of Houston’s injury situation. Four different wide receivers were dealing with injuries throughout the week, most notably DeAndrew Hopkins, who could still be limited by his foot injury during the game. On defense, pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney has been limited in practice by multiple injuries.Tennessee’s offense will still look like a mess. It’s missing both tackles and tight end Delanie Walker to injury. Quarterback Marcus Mariota has been limited in practice and his performance in practice has been hindered by his elbow injury. It’s alarming that Coach Vrabel noted that both Mariota and backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert will play on Sunday. Gabbert was 11-for-22 with 117 yards and an interception in his backup duty against New England and he’s always capable of much worse.
The 49ers are also receiving a lot of betting love because their opponent, Detroit, couldn’t have looked any worse on primetime TV. But be cautious with the 49ers, who are now favored by as much as a touchdown. They will start a rookie at right guard and at wide receiver in place of Marquise Goodwin. On defense, linebacker Malcolm Smith and safety Adrian Colbert are ‚questionable‘ while still being limited in practice.
The Saints are favored by as many points as 10 against visiting Cleveland. An angry New Orleans offense, looking to avoid starting 0-2, will be helped by two key Cleveland injuries—to defensive lineman Emmanuel Ogbah and possibly to linebacker Christian Kirksey, who was limited in Friday’s practice.
Two new signings will have to adjust immediately to a new defensive scheme and start for an Oakland defense that already looked overpowered in its home opener against the Rams after the initial momentum faded. They’ll face another tough test when they travel as seven-point underdogs to Denver.
A few continuities to note—Le’Veon Bell won’t return to Pittsburgh, although backup James Conner was mildly effective with his 36 targets. Pittsburgh can rely on its pass attack against a Chiefs defense that will miss its key player, safety Eric Berry. Berry is the biggest reason why the public should consider withdrawing its love for the underdog Chiefs. Moreover, Philadelphia’s offense still looks like a mess with injuries at all three levels— to Carson Wentz, Darren Sproles, and Alshon Jeffrey. Despite their absence, Tampa Bay is still dogged by as many as 3.5 points.
With these injuries in mind, join me for a Saints, Broncos, and Steelers ML parlay.
The most important injuries of Week 2 are concentrated on offense. Key quarterbacks and running backs may be missing and some teams already look half-decimated.
The Superstars and Premiere Match-ups:
Besides the seemingly endless story surrounding Le’Veon Bell’s holdout, Aaron Rodgers is topping the headlines. He was carted off last Monday night after suffering a knee injury against Chicago. He then returned, despite conspicuous limitations to his mobility, and led the Packers to a highly dramatic 20-point comeback victory against the rival Bears. Because of his injury, he still hasn’t practiced, but that is not an indicator of whether he will play because he doesn’t need practice in order to play well. He is officially listed as ‚questionable‘ and Saturday’s practice should indicate to Coach McCarthy whether Rodgers will be able to play. He’d have to deal with a physical and dominant Minnesota defense that injured him last year.
Jacksonville’s Leonard Fournette will be a game-time decision against New England. Fournette had to depart from the season opener against New York after rushing nine times for 41 yards. The offense looked pedestrian without him and a Jaguars’ defensive touchdown ended up making the difference for the SU win and cover against the Giants. Fournette is Jacksonville’s workhorse—they were 1-5 ATS last season when he carried the ball fewer than 20 times. The Jags have TJ Yeldon, who’s especially useful catching out of the backfield, and change-of-pace speedster Corey Grant ready to go. But neither one can make up for the grind between the tackles with which Fournette wears down the opposing defense and the attention which Fournette receives from the defense, which helps shaky quarterback Blake Bortles be more productive in the passing game. The line is about even for the revenge match against the visiting New England cheaters, who themselves face serious questions at running back with Rex Burkhead and Sony Michel having been limited at practice on Friday and listed as ‚questionable.‘
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Other Notables:
Atlanta running back Devonta Freeman has been ruled ‚out‘ against Carolina. His injury is bad news for an already inept offense that relies heavily on Freeman in the red zone and were still bottom-ranked in the red zone last season. Freeman played a significant role in whatever little offense Atlanta mustered last season under first-year offensive coordinator Steven Sarkisian. When Freeman produced combined 90 yards or fewer rushing and receiving, Atlanta went 2-6 SU and 0-8 ATS. While Atlanta will miss his presence, Carolina’s situation on offense is looking perhaps equally disastrous. Three offensive linemen won’t play and a rookie will be making an emergency transition from left tackle to right tackle. Atlanta is favored by as many as seven points and, surprisingly, the over/under has remained steady at 44 points.
Houston is receiving heavy public action, but backers of the three-point away favorite are surely ignorant of Houston’s injury situation. Four different wide receivers were dealing with injuries throughout the week, most notably DeAndrew Hopkins, who could still be limited by his foot injury during the game. On defense, pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney has been limited in practice by multiple injuries.Tennessee’s offense will still look like a mess. It’s missing both tackles and tight end Delanie Walker to injury. Quarterback Marcus Mariota has been limited in practice and his performance in practice has been hindered by his elbow injury. It’s alarming that Coach Vrabel noted that both Mariota and backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert will play on Sunday. Gabbert was 11-for-22 with 117 yards and an interception in his backup duty against New England and he’s always capable of much worse.
The 49ers are also receiving a lot of betting love because their opponent, Detroit, couldn’t have looked any worse on primetime TV. But be cautious with the 49ers, who are now favored by as much as a touchdown. They will start a rookie at right guard and at wide receiver in place of Marquise Goodwin. On defense, linebacker Malcolm Smith and safety Adrian Colbert are ‚questionable‘ while still being limited in practice.
The Saints are favored by as many points as 10 against visiting Cleveland. An angry New Orleans offense, looking to avoid starting 0-2, will be helped by two key Cleveland injuries—to defensive lineman Emmanuel Ogbah and possibly to linebacker Christian Kirksey, who was limited in Friday’s practice.
Two new signings will have to adjust immediately to a new defensive scheme and start for an Oakland defense that already looked overpowered in its home opener against the Rams after the initial momentum faded. They’ll face another tough test when they travel as seven-point underdogs to Denver.
A few continuities to note—Le’Veon Bell won’t return to Pittsburgh, although backup James Conner was mildly effective with his 36 targets. Pittsburgh can rely on its pass attack against a Chiefs defense that will miss its key player, safety Eric Berry. Berry is the biggest reason why the public should consider withdrawing its love for the underdog Chiefs. Moreover, Philadelphia’s offense still looks like a mess with injuries at all three levels— to Carson Wentz, Darren Sproles, and Alshon Jeffrey. Despite their absence, Tampa Bay is still dogged by as many as 3.5 points.
With these injuries in mind, join me for a Saints, Broncos, and Steelers ML parlay.
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