What Bettors Need to Know for NFL Week 3, 2020

Week 2 will be remembered as a time of tumultuous injuries.

We saw a number of high-profile players watch their season go up in flames. We saw more torn ACLs than one can remember, which led to millions of season-long fantasy players scouring their league’s waiver wire.

After wrapping your head around everything that transpired this past weekend, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by what’s on tap. With that in mind, here are 4 things NFL bettors should know for week 3.

After being on the field for just 24% of the offensive snaps in week 1, Chargers backup RB Joshua Kelley exploded in week 2. Not only did he play just four fewer snaps than starter Austin Ekeler, but he toted the rock 23 times and was the recipient of over 9% of Justin Herbert’s targets.

Chargers rookie RB Joshua Kelley ranks fifth at running back in carries with 35 already this season.

— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) September 21, 2020

Don’t assume handing the keys over to the former Oregon Duck will suddenly turn the Bolts into a pass-first squad. If anything, pounding it on the ground on early downs sets up future play-action success for Herbert.

Facing Carolina’s paltry front seven in a week 3 matchup, the Chargers QB won’t be the only first-year player from the PAC-12 filling up the box score.

We saw some abominable defenses take the field in 2019, but the 2020 Atlanta Falcons are taking the term “abominable” to a whole new level. Dan Quinn’s bunch surrendered 38 points to Seattle in week 1 and 40 more to Dallas in week 2.

The front seven hasn’t been able to penetrate the line of scrimmage, and the secondary just looks like they are completely overmatched.

Russell Wilson was nearly perfect in the opener (31-35 for 322 yards and 4 touchdowns) and Dak Prescott went berserk after that. It would seem that facing Mitchell Trubisky at Mercedes-Benz Stadium would help ease the pain, but the last thing Atlanta fans should do is start counting their chickens before they hatch. Especially after the debacle late against the Cowboys.

Catching up with all of the injury news from week 2 takes quite a substantial effort. In terms of the Eagles pass-catchers, we already knew we wouldn’t see Alshon Jeffery for a while. What you may have missed is that rookie wideout Jalen Reagor has been placed on IR citing a UCL tear in his thumb.

The slot man out of TCU was coming off reeling in all four of his targets for 41 yards versus the Rams and was set to play a big factor in week 3 against the Bengals.

Now it’ll be up to the likes of DeSean Jackson and Philadelphia’s tight ends to help get Carson Wentz back on track. Even against a suspect Bengals D, that’ll be easier said than done.

Backing the Raiders in their home opener against a Saints team playing without Michael Thomas was a green-light special. However, the next Raiders bet I’m endorsing is to fade the Silver and Black in week 3.

Traveling cross-country to Foxborough was always going to be an arduous task. Doing it on a short week and going up against an invigorated Cam Newton – yikes.

Vegas has been able to hang their hat on the stout play of their offensive line, although that could all come crashing down Sunday at Gillette Stadium. Former Patriot and Raiders right tackle Trent Brown is dealing with a bum calf and likely won’t suit up. Right guard Richie Incognito also won’t be dressed as he has landed on IR.

Expecting Bill Belichick to take away Darren Waller, look for the Pats to win this game going away.