LAS VEGAS – Three NFL games remained off the Week 6 betting board at most Las Vegas sports books Friday morning due to uncertain quarterback situations for the Tennessee Titans, Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardinals. Tennessee QB Jake Locker missed his second straight day of practice on Thursday with a thumb injury, while Minnesota’s Teddy Bridgewater (ankle) and Arizona’s Carson Palmer (shoulder) are both hoping to return to action this Sunday. All three teams are playing at home.
We reported on the value of Locker, Bridgewater and Palmer two weeks ago, but The Linemakers on Sporting News’ Kenny White said the Cardinals could face an even bigger issue if Palmer misses his fourth straight game since backup Drew Stanton is also dealing with post-concussion symptoms. Stanton was knocked out in the third quarter of last week’s 40-21 loss at the Denver Broncos. White has Stanton and Palmer rated about even, with third-string rookie Logan Thomas “a 2.5-point drop-off.”
Station Casinos is one of the few books in town taking wagers on all three of these games as of this writing. The book has the Titans listed as 5-point home favorites over the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Cardinals -3.5 at home against the Washington Redskins.
The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook, along with CG Technology and Stations, books made the Detroit Lions 1.5-point favorites visiting the Vikings, although the Lions also have key injury concerns of their own with All-Pro wide receiver Calvin Johnson expected to rest his sore ankle and RB Reggie Bush also doubtful. Johnson has totaled just three catches for 19 yards combined in the past two games, mainly serving as a decoy, which we also discussed here last week.
“Calvin Johnson might be the highest valued non-QB in the league – worth 2 points,” said White.
Neither Johnson nor Bush practiced on Friday, and the Vikes were made a 2-point favorite at some shops.
Another top WR made the NFL injury report on Wednesday, when A.J. Green of the Cincinnati Bengals was carted off after aggravating his turf toe that has bothered him most of the season. Green exited Cincinnati’s 24-10 home win against the Atlanta Falcons early in Week 2 with the toe injury without making a catch, but he rebounded to total 11 catches for 183 yards and one touchdown in the last two games. He is not likely to play against the Carolina Panthers and is worth 1.5 points to the betting line, according to White. The Bengals opened as 7-point favorites over the Panthers and have since been bet down to -6.5.
Running back replacements
White recommended that fantasy football owners pick up San Diego Chargers rookie running back Branden Oliver two weeks ago, with starter Ryan Mathews recovering from a sprained MCL and Danny Woodhead out for the season with a broken leg. Oliver took over for backup RB Donald Brown when Brown suffered a concussion in last week’s 31-0 victory over the New York Jets. Oliver starred for San Diego, rushing 19 times for 114 yards, catching four passes for 68 yards and scoring two touchdowns. The Chargers are 7-point favorites visiting the Oakland Raiders and their 31st-ranked run defense this week.
Oliver is one of three backs getting a lot of attention on fantasy football waiver wires this week, the others being rookie Andre Williams of the New York Giants and Ronnie Hillman of the Broncos. Williams is replacing Rashad Jennings (knee), and Hillman is expected to get a bulk of carries with Monte Ball (groin) out. White said Ball and Jennings are each worth a half-point to the betting line, with the Broncos currently 9-point road favorites taking on the Jets and the Giants 3-point underdogs visiting the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Night Football.
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