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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, December 19th @ 6 PM (EST)
[Blue font indicates games *not* on the DFS main slate.]
Team | Opponent | Odds | Game Total | Team Total | Passing | Running | Team Defense |
Seattle | Arizona | -9.5 | 51 | 30.25 | ««« | ««« | |
Baltimore | Cleveland | -10 | 49 | 29.5 | ««« | ««« | « |
Atlanta | Jacksonville | -7 | 46.5 | 26.75 | «« | ««« | « |
Indianapolis | Carolina | -6.5 | 47 | 26.75 | «« | «« | « |
Houston | Tampa Bay | -3 | 50 | 26.5 | «« | «« | |
New Orleans | Tennessee | -2.5 | 50 | 26.25 | «« | «« | |
LA Chargers | Oakland | -6.5 | 45 | 25.75 | « | « | « |
Minnesota | Green Bay | -5.5 | 45.5 | 25.5 | « | « | |
San Francisco | LA Rams | -6.5 | 44 | 25.25 | « | « | « |
Kansas City | Chicago | -6 | 44.5 | 25.25 | « | « | |
Dallas | Philadelphia | -1.5 | 46.5 | 24 | « | « | |
Tennessee | New Orleans | 2.5 | 50 | 23.75 | |||
Cincinnati | Miami | 0 | 47 | 23.5 | |||
Miami | Cincinnati | 0 | 47 | 23.5 | |||
Tampa Bay | Houston | 3 | 50 | 23.5 | |||
Denver | Detroit | -6.5 | 38.5 | 22.5 | «« | ||
Philadelphia | Dallas | 1.5 | 46.5 | 22.5 | |||
New England | Buffalo | -6.5 | 37.5 | 22 | ««« | ||
Washington | NY Giants | -2 | 41 | 21.5 | « | ||
Arizona | Seattle | 9.5 | 51 | 20.75 | |||
Carolina | Indianapolis | 6.5 | 47 | 20.25 | |||
Pittsburgh | NY Jets | -3 | 37 | 20 | «« | ||
Green Bay | Minnesota | 5.5 | 45.5 | 20 | |||
Jacksonville | Atlanta | 7 | 46.5 | 19.75 | |||
NY Giants | Washington | 2 | 41 | 19.5 | |||
Cleveland | Baltimore | 10 | 49 | 19.5 | |||
Chicago | Kansas City | 6 | 44.5 | 19.25 | |||
Oakland | LA Chargers | 6.5 | 45 | 19.25 | |||
LA Rams | San Francisco | 6.5 | 44 | 18.75 | |||
NY Jets | Pittsburgh | 3 | 37 | 17 | |||
Detroit | Denver | 6.5 | 38.5 | 16 | |||
Buffalo | New England | 6.5 | 37.5 | 15.5 |
SUMMARY
3-STARS
- Quarterback: Russell Wilson (Seahawks), Lamar Jackson (Ravens)
- Running Back: Chris Carson (Seahawks), Mark Ingram (Ravens), Devonta Freeman (Falcons)
- Receivers: Tyler Lockett/DK Metcalf/Jacob Hollister (Seahawks), Marquise Brown/Mark Andrews (Ravens)
- Defense: Patriots
2-STARS
- Quarterback: Deshaun Watson (Texans), Drew Brees (Saints), Matt Ryan (Falcons), Jacoby Brissett (Colts), Philip Rivers (Chargers)
- Running Back: Carlos Hyde (Texans), Latavius Murray/Alvin Kamara (Saints), Marlon Mack (Colts), Melvin Gordon/Austin Ekeler (Chargers)
- Receivers: DeAndre Hopkins/Will Fuller/Kenny Stills (Texans), Michael Thomas/Ted Ginn Jr/Josh Hill (Saints), Julio Jones/Russell Gage/Austin Hooper (Falcons), T.Y. Hilton/Zach Pascal/Marcus Johnson/Jack Doyle (Colts), Keenan Allen/Mike Williams/Hunter Henry (Chargers)
- Defense: Steelers
1-STAR
- Quarterback: Jimmy Garoppolo (49ers), Kirk Cousins (Vikings), Dak Prescott (Cowboys), Patrick Mahomes II (Chiefs), Ryan Tannehill (Titans)
- Running Back: Raheem Mostert (49ers), Mike Boone (Vikings), Ezekiel Elliott (Cowboys), Damien Williams/Darwin Thompson (Chiefs), Derrick Henry (Titans)
- Receivers: Emmanuel Sanders/Deebo Samuel/George Kittle (49ers), Stefon Diggs/Adam Thielen/Kyle Rudolph (Vikings), Amari Cooper/Michael Gallup/Jason Witten (Cowboys), Tyreek Hill/Sammy Watkins/Travis Kelce (Chiefs), A.J. Brown/Corey Davis/Jonnu Smith (Titans)
- Defense: Ravens, 49ers, Falcons, Chargers, Colts