Prescott set to return for Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is expected to return against Denver after missing a game with a strained right calf. It’s the first game for the Broncos without Von Miller. The star pass rusher was traded to the Los Angeles Rams for draft picks. Dallas running back Ezekiel Elliott faces Denver for the first time since the Broncos held him to a career-low 8 yards rushing in a 42-17 victory in 2017. Denver has won six consecutive games in the series.
DENVER (4-4) at DALLAS (6-1) Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT, Fox
OPENING LINE: Cowboys by 8.5.
AGAINST THE SPREAD: Denver 4-4; Dallas 7-0.
SERIES RECORD: Broncos lead 8-5.
LAST MEETING: Broncos beat Cowboys 42-17 on Sept. 17, 2017, at Denver.
LAST WEEK: Broncos beat Washington 17-10; Cowboys beat Vikings 20-16.
KEY MATCHUP: Broncos QB Teddy Bridgewater vs. Cowboys’ pass defense. Bridgewater is one of four AFC quarterbacks with an average passer rating of at least 100, while Dallas is high on the risk-reward scale. The Cowboys are tied for 28th in yards passing allowed but share the NFL lead in interceptions with three other teams at 11. That’s in large part because of Trevon Diggs, who has a league-leading seven after going without one in a game for the first time this season at Minnesota.
FANTASY TIP: Dallas WR Amari Cooper, who caught the goahead touchdown in the final minute last week at Minnesota, leads the NFL with 2,358 yards receiving at home since the start of 2018. The average is 87 yards per game, and the 17 touchdowns at home in that span are tied for the fourth-most.
HOUSTON (1-7) at MIAMI (1-7) Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
OPENING LINE: Miami by 6.5.
AGAINST THE SPREAD: Houston 4-4; Miami 2-6.
SERIES RECORD: Houston leads 8-1.
LAST MEETING: Texans beat Dolphins 42-23 on Oct. 25, 2018, in Houston.
LAST WEEK: Dolphins lost to Buffalo 26-11; Texans lost to Los Angeles Rams 38-22.
KEY MATCHUP: Running games. Neither of these teams has, run the ball well this season. The team that figures out how to get a few yards on the ground here and there on Sunday will make life easier for its quarterback and reap a huge benefit.
FANTASY TIP: Don’t. Just don’t.
BUFFALO (5-2) at JACKSONVILLE (1-6)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS
OPENING LINE: Buffalo by 14.5.
AGAINST THE SPREAD: Buffalo 4-2-1; Jacksonville 2-5.
SERIES RECORD: Bills lead 9-8.
LAST MEETING: Bills beat Jaguars 24-21 on Nov. 25, 2018, in Buffalo, New York.
LAST WEEK: Bills beat Dolphins 26-11; Jaguars lost at Seahawks 31-7.
KEY MATCHUP: Buffalo’s stout run defense against a team that needs to run the ball to have a chance. In seven games, the Bills rank sixth against the run and have allowed just one 100-yard rusher (Tennessee’s Derrick Henry). Jacksonville could be without James Robinson (bruised heel), leaving journeyman Carlos Hyde to start.
FANTASY TIP: Allen, Knox, and WRs Beasley, Stefon Diggs, and Emmanuel Sanders should be considered must starts for Buffalo. Jaguars TE Dan Arnold is a decent sleeper pick. He has 16 catches for 159 yards in his last three games.
ATLANTA (3-4) at NEW ORLEANS (5-2)
Sunday, 1:05 p.m. EDT, Fox
OPENING LINE: Saints by 6.
AGAINST THE SPREAD: Falcons 3-4; Saints 4-3.
SERIES RECORD: Falcons lead 53-51.
LAST MEETING: Saints beat Falcons 21-16 on Dec. 6, 2020, in Atlanta.
LAST WEEK: Falcons lost to Panthers 19-13; Saints beat Buccaneers 36-27.
KEY MATCHUP: The Saints’ offense has largely revolved around a running game that features Alvin Kamara and has recently added Mark Ingram. The Falcons’ defensive front has struggled to stop the run.
FANTASY TIP: Now that Ingram has returned to New Orleans, he’s on the brink of eclipsing Deuce McAllister for the Saints’ alltime rushing mark. Payton has been known to try to get players going when they approach significant milestones. Ingram needs 63 yards to pass McAllister’s mark of 6,096 yards and this could be his last chance to do so in the Superdome because New Orleans’ following two games are on the road.
CLEVELAND (4-4) at CINCINNATI (5-3)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT, CBS
OPENING LINE: Bengals by 2 .5.
AGAINST THE SPREAD: Browns 4-4; Bengals 4-4.
SERIES RECORD: Bengals lead 51-44.
LAST MEETING: Browns beat Bengals 37-34 on Oct. 25, 2020, in Cincinnati.
LAST WEEK: Browns lost to Steelers 20-15; Bengals lost to Jets 34-31.
KEY MATCHUP: Browns’ beat-up offensive line vs. Cincinnati Dline. Cleveland’s offensive line will have its hands full because of former Browns defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi and edge rusher Trey Hendickson (7 .5 sacks). Conklin is out, tackle Jedrick Willis (ankle) and center JC Tretter (knee) are dealing with injuries.
FANTASY TIP: Bengals WR Tee Higgins had four catches for a season-high 97 yards in the loss to the Jets last week. The team’s leading receiver last season, he has been overshadowed by Chase, who had a down day. Chase had three receptions for just 32 yards and dropped a pass in the end zone.
NEW ENGLAND (4-4) at CAROLINA (4-4)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT, CBS
OPENING LINE: Patriots by 4.
AGAINST THE SPREAD: Patriots 4-4; Panthers 4-4.
SERIES RECORD: Panthers lead 4-3.
LAST MEETING: Panthers beat Patriots 33-30 on Oct. 1, 2017, at New England.
LAST WEEK: Patriots beat Chargers 27-24; Panthers beat Falcons 19-13.
KEY MATCHUP: Patriots QB Mac Jones vs. Panthers CB Stephon Gilmore. Gilmore said this game means “a lot” to him given the history. Gilmore helped the Patriots win a Super Bowl and was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year two years ago but New England traded him to Carolina after they couldn’t come to terms on a contract extension. Gilmore had an interception in his first game with the Panthers last week while playing 17 snaps. He’s expected to see more reps on Sunday as he makes his way back from a quadriceps injury.
FANTASY TIP: WR Nelson Agholor has caught a touchdown pass in two of his last three games against Carolina and aims for his third game in a row with at least 50 yards receiving vs. the Panthers.
LAS VEGAS (5-2) at N.Y. GIANTS (2-6) Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS
OPENING LINE: Las Vegas by 3.
AGAINST THE SPREAD: Las Vegas 4-3; New York 4-4.
SERIES RECORD: Raiders lead 8-5.
LAST MEETING: Raiders beat Giants 24-17 on Dec. 3, 2017, in Oakland, California.
LAST WEEK: Raiders had a bye, beat Eagles 33-22 on Oct. 24; Giants lost to Chiefs 20-17.
KEY MATCHUP: New York secondary against Las Vegas QB Derek Carr, who is hitting almost 68% of his passes for 2,269 yards, 12 touchdowns, and five interceptions. New York played a two-deep zone most of the time against the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes and did not allow any big scoring plays. Do the same things against Las Vegas and the Giants have a chance.
FANTASY TIP: The Giants have struggled against good quarterbacks, so put Carr in play. He completed 31 of 34 passes for 323 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception in his last start. His 91.2% completion percentage ranks as the second-highest single-game mark all-time in games in which a quarterback attempted at least 30 passes.
MINNESOTA (3-4) at BALTIMORE (5-2)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
OPENING LINE: Ravens by 5.5.
AGAINST THE SPREAD: Vikings 3-4; Ravens 3-4.
SERIES RECORD: Tied 3-3.
LAST MEETING: Vikings beat Ravens 24-16 on Oct. 22, 2017, in Minneapolis.
LAST WEEK: Vikings lost to Cowboys 20-16; Ravens had a bye, lost to Bengals 41-17 on Oct. 24.
KEY MATCHUP: Minnesota WR Justin Jefferson vs. the Baltimore secondary. Poor tackling has been a major problem for the Ravens this season and is part of the reason three quarterbacks have already thrown for 400 yards against them. Ja’Marr Chase had a big game against Baltimore for Cincinnati, and now Jefferson will try to do the same.
FANTASY TIP: WR Rashod Bateman continues to look like a solid sleeper for Baltimore now that he’s healthy — and especially in light of Watkins’ injury problems. Bateman had a total of seven catches in his first two games.
L.A. CHARGERS (4-3) at PHILADELPHIA (3-5) Sunday, 4:05 p.m. EDT, CBS
OPENING LINE: Chargers by 3 .5.
AGAINST THE SPREAD: Chargers 4-3; Philadelphia 4-4.
SERIES RECORD: Chargers lead 7-5.
LAST MEETING: Eagles beat Chargers 26-24 on Oct. 1. 2017, in Los Angeles.
LAST WEEK: Chargers lost to Patriots 27-24; Eagles beat Lions 44-6.
KEY MATCHUP: Eagles’ offensive line vs. Chargers’ front seven. LA’s defense is last in the NFL against the run and the Eagles are coming off their best rushing game in several years, totaling 236 yards on the ground with Scott and Jordan Howard leading the way.
FANTASY TIP: Ekeler is a solid bet for a productive day against a defense that struggles against the run and has weak linebackers.
GREEN BAY (7-1) at KANSAS CITY (4-4) Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EDT, Fox
OPENING LINE: Chiefs by 1
AGAINST THE SPREAD: Green Bay 7-1; Kansas City 2-6.
SERIES RECORD: Chiefs lead 7-5-1.
LAST MEETING: Packers beat Chiefs 31-24 on Oct. 27, 2019, in Kansas City.
LAST WEEK: Packers beat Cardinals 24-21; Chiefs beat Giants 20-17.
KEY MATCHUP: Packers RB Aaron Jones against KC run defense. Jones will undoubtedly be Love’s best friend against Kansas City, taking some of the pressure off the young QB to win the game through the air. Jones will face the league’s 22nd-ranked run defense, which just allowed more than 100 yards on the ground for the fifth time in six games.
FANTASY TIP: Feeling lucky? Love is going at a bargain price in weekly leagues and will be going against a defense that has given up big yardage to just about everyone. But a safer bet would be Jones and backup A.J. Dillon, both of whom should get plenty of rushing attempts as Green Bay tries to take some pressure off Love on Sunday.
ARIZONA (7-1) at SAN FRANCISCO (3-4) Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST, Fox
OPENING LINE: Cardinals by 2 .5.
AGAINST THE SPREAD: Arizona 6-2; San Francisco 2-5.
SERIES RECORD: 49ers lead 32-28.
LAST MEETING: Cardinals beat 49ers 17-10 on Oct. 10 in Arizona.
LAST WEEK: Cardinals lost to Packers 24-21; 49ers beat Bears 33-22.
KEY MATCHUP: Cardinals edge rusher DE Chandler Jones vs. 49ers LT Trent Williams. Jones and Williams have been among the best at their jobs for nearly a decade with Jones leading the NFL with 102 sacks since entering the league in 2012 and Williams making the Pro Bowl the last eight seasons he has played.
FANTASY TIP: Rookie RB Mitchell has topped the 100-yard rushing mark in three of his five career games after gaining a careerhigh 137 yards and a TD last week. The sixth-round draft pick is the only back in the NFC with three 100-yard games this season and the first player to do that in his first five career games since Kareem Hunt in 2017.
TENNESSEE (6-2) at LOS ANGELES RAMS (7-1) Sunday, 8:20 p.m. EST, NBC
OPENING LINE: Rams by 7 .5.
AGAINST THE SPREAD: Titans 6-2, Rams 4-4.
SERIES RECORD: Rams lead 8-5.
LAST MEETING: Rams beat Titans 27-23 on Dec. 24, 2017, at Nashville.
LAST WEEK: Titans beat Colts 34-31, OT; Rams beat Texans 3822.
KEY MATCHUP: Titans C Ben Jones vs. Rams DL Aaron Donald. After losing star RB Derrick Henry to a season-ending foot injury, there will be even more pressure on Jones and Tennessee’s offensive line to open holes in the run game. Maintaining balance is a must, considering the Titans have already allowed QB Ryan Tannehill to take 24 sacks. It seems like it’s been a slow start for Donald, but he still has five sacks. The addition of OLB Von Miller from the Broncos should make it that much harder for opponents to double-team Donald, which can only bolster the NFL’s most productive pass rush.
FANTASY TIP: Brown has been an absolute maestro at producing big plays, as his 10 receptions of at least 50 yards and seven touchdown grabs covering at least 50 yards top the NFL since coming into the league in 2019. While the Rams expect to get CB Darious Williams (ankle) back from injured reserve and can always turn to Jalen Ramsey as a shutdown cornerback, it only takes one play for Brown to justify his WR1 billing.
CHICAGO (3-5) at PITTSBURGH (4-3) Monday, 8:15 p.m. EDT, ESPN
OPENING LINE: Steelers by 6 .5.
AGAINST THE SPREAD: Chicago 3-5; Pittsburgh 3-4.
SERIES RECORD: Bears lead 19-7-1.
LAST MEETING: Bears beat Steelers 23-17 on Sept. 24, 2017 at Chicago.
LAST WEEK: Bears lost to 49ers 33-22; Steelers beat Browns 15-10.
, KEY MATCHUP: Bears offensive line vs. Steelers edge rushers. Chicago has allowed an NFL-high 30 sacks and now must find a way to keep Watt, fellow outside linebacker Alex Highsmith, and defensive end Cam Heyward at bay.
FANTASY TIP: Might be wise to skip starting anybody in this one in what figures to be a low-scoring contest between teams that rank near the bottom in the league in points per game. The best bet might be to start Harris, who averaged 26.25 touches and one touchdown a game in October. Or either defense.
— All betting lines are according to FanDuel SportsBook