NFL Week 11 Best Bets: Cincinnati Bengals vs Baltimore Ravens Picks for Thursday Night Football
We have NFL Week 11 kicking off tonight with what should be a fantastic match-up as Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals take on Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday Night Football. It’s been a minute since we’ve seen a match-up this strong in prime-time and the there is a lot riding on it for both teams as supremacy in the AFC North hangs in the balance. But how do we want to bet this game? The Ravens won the first meeting back in Week 2, but they were the underdog, so now the tables have turned and the question remains, will this game be as close as the first? Lets take a look at out best bets, our picks against the spread, the game total and some player props we like.
NFL Thursday Night Football Best Bets: Cincinnati Bengals vs Baltimore Ravens
The Spread: Ravens -3.5
The Ravens are now 6-4 against the spread this season while the Bengals are 4-4-1. However, the Ravens are 1-2 ATS over their last three games while the Bengals are 4-1 ATS over their last five, so with the increased health of Joe Burrow, they’ve obviously been much more competitive and betting them has been fruitful. We know the Bengals struggle against the run and we expect the Ravens to attack in that fashion, but given the offensive line injuries for the Ravens, as well as CB Marlon Humphrey likely missing the game, it seems like we should see another close one between these two teams. If Vegas is going to give me that hook, I’ll happily back the road dog here. Pick: Bengals +3.5 (-110)
The Total: 46
The Ravens have averaged over 40 points per game over their last four and even with some of these injuries, they should still be able to put some points up on the Bengals. On the other side, again, Joe Burrow has proven to be healthy and has been the Swaggy Joe we have all grown to love. No Marlon Humphrey means Ja'Marr Chase could be running wild all over that secondary, so we’ll look for Cincinnati to also score a fair amount. Pick: Over 46 (-110)
Favorite Thursday Night Football Player Props:
- Ja'Marr Chase over 79.5 receiving yards (-115)
- Mark Andrews over 58.5 receiving yards (-115)
- Tyler Boyd over 4.5 receptions (+110)
- Germaine Pratt over 7.5 tackles + assists (-150)
All lines & odds courtesy of BetMGM
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Player News
ESPN’s Jordan Raanan says it’s clear Russell Wilson is “the guy” for the Giants at QB.
It doesn’t come as much of a surprise, but in case there was any doubt, Raanan said the Giants and their receivers view Wilson as the leader at the position right now. Wan’Dale Robinson said as much when asked about Wilson earlier, while Raanan also went on to point out the various throwing workouts Wilson scheduled with the team after signing with them. It’s worth noting that rookie Jaxson Dart also worked more with the second team offense this week, per Raanan, but the team will likely continue to bring him along slowly as they prepare to eventually hand him the keys. While it’s highly unlikely Wilson will start all 17 games this season, even if healthy, he sounds like a lock to open Week 1 as the starter, even with training camp still to come.
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reports Allen Lazard may prefer to stay with the Jets over being traded to the Steelers to team up with Aaron Rodgers.
Whether he likes it or not, Lazard remains tied to Rodgers and his journey from one team to another. The 29-year-old vet has enjoyed his most productive seasons when playing alongside Rodgers, which makes a potential trade to the Steelers a very real option, especially when you consider the Steelers’ lack of receiver talent behind DK Metcalf. That said, Florio reports a source “with knowledge of Lazard’s thinking” believes Lazard “sees a very real potential benefit to proving his ability to function at an acceptable level without Rodgers as his quarterback.” This doesn’t mean the Steelers won’t attempt to facilitate a trade for Lazard, who gave up $8.5 million in guaranteed money to play with the Jets, but if the Jets give him any say in the matter, he may opt to stay with Gang Green over continuing his tour with Rodgers.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport believes Aaron Rodgers’ contract with the Steelers is not a “big money deal.”
Speaking on Good Morning Football, Rapoport noted that Rodgers once said he would play this season for $10 million. While the exact terms of Rodgers’ deal are not yet known, Rapoport believes his deal will closely resemble the $10 million figure, with Rodgers having the opportunity to earn more through incentives. Rodgers isn’t coming to the Steelers to cash in on one last payday, but rather compete for what he hopes is another championship. Whether or not that comes with the Steelers is to be determined, but the future Hall of Famer is clearly willing to take a pay cut to find out, and the Steelers are just as desperate to see what he can offer over the likes of Mason Rudolph and rookie Will Howard.
Steelers agreed to terms with QB Aaron Rodgers one a one-year contract.
The team itself used the “agreed to terms” lingo, stressing the deal was contingent on a physical. Nevertheless, the Steelers know what they are getting into. The 41-year-old will pass his examination and get to work replacing last year’s Justin Fields/Russell Wilson combination. Rodgers appeared in physical free-fall last season, but he still remained more middle of the pack in most advanced metrics. Rodgers did struggle over the middle of the field, though that is not where the Steelers’ primary weapons roam. Rodgers will obviously struggle for top-20 fantasy value himself. The question is if he can keep DK Metcalf in the top 18 at receiver, or perhaps make Pat Freiermuth a more consistent option. We are not holding our breath.
Team reporter John Oehser reports that it is becoming “increasingly apparent that Dyami Brown figures to play a huge role in the offense next season.”
Brown had previously been mentioned in the same breath as incumbent receiver Parker Washington, but here, Oehser lists Brown among “the Jaguars’ top receivers” along with Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter. Oehser describes all three as being “fast and fluid” while noting “Brown in particular continues to show easy speed. Technically, stretching the field while Thomas and Hunter rack up targets could qualify as playing a “huge role in the offense” for Brown, so June drafters should take a measured approach in responding to Oehser’s commentary. Still, locking up the No. 3 role in what is expected to be a fantasy-friendly aerial attack is noteworthy. Brown should be on late-round radars.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton told reporters that WR Troy Franklin is “doing well” at organized team activities.
Franklin has generated “a number of explosive plays” thus far, leading Payton to celebrate Franklin’s ability to “run after the catch.” The report comes from The Athletic’s Nick Kosmider, who adds that Franklin “has looked impressive” through two organized team activities and is “playing faster than he was at this time last year.” Franklin must sustain high-quality play over the next three months in order for these comments to matter. Still, the Broncos’ wide receiver depth chart behind Courtland Sutton gets murky quickly.