There are some great games on the Week 3 NFL slate. With plenty of ways to get in on the action on DraftKings Sportsbook, this is a look at my best bets for NFL Week 3.
NFL Week 3 Best Bets: Expert Picks, Predictions and Analysis
Rams -2.5 at Broncos (-112)
The Rams came into the season as Super Bowl favorites and were being dubbed a “superteam.” However, their Week 1 loss to the 49ers, which also saw Myles Garrett get injured, had some people putting them on “Dwight Howard and Steve Nash Lakers” watch. The Rams quickly put those sentiments to bed in Week 2, beating the Giants 28-6. However, the injury to Jaxson Dart ended up being the big storyline of that game, meaning the Rams are maybe still not being respected as the best team in the NFL, like they were heading into the season.
This is a chance for the Rams to show the public they are the best team in the league. As the Jaguars learned last week, road trips to Denver will always be tough. However, the Broncos have been really poor this season. They were crushed by the Chiefs in Week 1 and required a fourth-quarter surge to come back and beat the Jaguars last week. Denver ranks 26th in the NFL in offensive EPA/play and 21st in defensive EPA/play through two weeks. It will struggle to totally shut down this Rams offense, and it doesn’t have the offense to keep up if that’s the case. The Rams should win and cover the short spread.
Breece Hall 85+ Rushing + Receiving Yards (-111)
Breece Hall had 102 rushing yards in the season opener against the Titans. Last week, in really poor weather conditions, Hall struggled to run the ball. However, he was the Jets’ leading receiver in the passing game, going for 63 yards through the air. He is a great safety valve for Geno Smith in the passing game and can still break long rushes on a regular basis as well. Hall should be in for a big game against a Lions defense that has been awful this season.
Detroit ranks 31st in defensive EPA/play and 30th in defensive success rate through two games. It has given up more explosives on the ground, ranking 31st in defensive EPA/rush, and given up more methodical plays through the air, ranking 28th in defensive dropback success rate. That means Breece Hall should be able to break some big runs, while also being able to pick up chunks in the passing game. Last week, James Cook rushed for 135 yards against the Lions. In perfect indoor conditions, Hall should replicate his Week 1 performance and comfortably clear this number.
Six-Point Teaser: Colts +8.5 & Buccaneers +7.5
The Colts put up a great fight last week on the road in Kansas City, losing by three points in overtime. However, they now sit at 0-2 and really need a win, with their division rivals coming to town. The Texans are also 0-2, so these are two desperate teams looking to avoid the dreaded 0-3 start. Houston might squeak out the win, but it’s hard to see this being more than a one-score game in either direction. The Colts have played two of the best quarterbacks in football, Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes, in the first two weeks of the season. They should look much better defensively against Houston, especially as C.J. Stroud has struggled on the road throughout his NFL career. The Colts will run the ball and control the game, giving them a great chance to win outright.
The Buccaneers are another 0-2 team in a massive hole. Kyler Murray is expected to start for the Vikings this week after clearing concussion protocol. That could throw off the Vikings’ mojo after Carson Wentz led them to a 2-0 start. Murray has only thrown five passes as a Viking, and one of them was an interception. Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers should come with their best offensive game plan to try to get their first win. Both Tampa Bay losses have been by one score, and it’s hard to see the Kyler Murray-led Vikings blowing them out on the road. The Bucs should keep this game within a touchdown and give themselves a good chance to win outright.
