This article is part of our NFL Picks series.
Fanduel Week One NFL Props
Tennessee Titans vs. Arizona Cardinals 1:01 pm et
Titans -3, Total 53.5
In what looks to be the shootout of the week (Browns vs. Chiefs is the other), you have two teams that play at a very high pace. The Cardinals love to play fast under Kliff Kingsbury and will look to exploit the Titans' weak secondary with a lot of four-wide receiver sets. On the flip side, the Titans added Julio Jones and I expect them to attack the also weak Cardinals secondary. I think the first half total is also in play here (27).
BET - Titans / Cards over 53.5 (-110) for 1 RW buck
Carolina Panthers vs. New York Jets 1:01 pm et
Panthers -3.5, Total 45.5
This line feels low on both sides, the side and total should be higher in my opinion. When I set my own lines, I had this game as Panthers -5.5 and 47.5 which gives us value on the team total for the Panthers. The Panthers added quarterback Sam Darnold and rookie wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr., but they also get back the best fantasy player in the league with Christian McCaffrey. Sam Darnold has a lot to prove in this "revenge" game against the Jets and I really like the Panthers as a potential sleeper team in the NFC. The Jets are improved but still outclassed here in a non-conference road game. Motivation is all on the side of Carolina.
BET - Panthers over 24.5 (-110) for 1 RW buck
Philadelphia Eagles at Atlanta Falcons 1:01 pm et
Falcons -3; Total 48.5
Hurts finished the 2020 season starting the last four games for the Eagles with mixed results. He had two great games and two bad games. The good games came against two poor defenses in the Cardinals and Cowboys. The concern I have is his completion rate was just 52% and their 3rd down conversion rate was 28th in the league. I think Hurts will have to run on the majority of the third down plays which will limit the number of passes he attempts. Rotowire projections have him at just 221 passing yards.
BET – Jalen Hurts under 240.5 passing yards (-113) for 1 RW buck
Baltimore Ravens at Las Vegas Raiders 8:21 pm et
Ravens -4.5; Total 50.5
With the Ravens running back situation in flux with all of their injuries and 1st round pick Rashod Bateman out, I can see Lamar Jackson leaning heavily on Mark Andrews in this game. Jackson is not a very good passer to the outside or deep so hitting the tight end plays into his wheelhouse. Andrews should be able to exploit a weak linebacking unit for the Raiders, who just signed K.J. Wright off the street.
BET - Mark Andrews over 58.5 receiving yards (-114) for 1 RW buck