ATS Power Rankings - Week 3
Vegasinsider.com
What did we learn in Week 2? Not much. But the NFL is at its best when there is no clear-cut front runner. Injuries, upsets and question marks continue to plague how we rank all the teams in 2017 so far, and we’ll grind to get a clearer picture in about 2-3 weeks. Bear with me as I sort through this chaos.
As always, the rankings value against-the-spread (ATS) records as much as real ones and is simply an opinion. Lines listed are the opening lines as of Tuesday morning. Enjoy.
1. Denver Broncos (2-0 SU and ATS)
Yes I know that the Broncos have played two games at home where they’re notoriously good. But something has to be said about kicking the crap out of the Dallas Cowboys and looking completely unstoppable while doing so. If they can beat Buffalo, they’re legitimately one of the best overall teams (and bets) in the league. How did we get to the point where visiting Buffalo is the crucible of greatness? What is happening in 2017???
Next Game: Denver -3.0 at Buffalo
2. Atlanta Falcons (2-0 SU and 1-1 ATS)
I had to put an NFC team somewhere up here. The Falcons fileted the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night and looked absolutely brilliant. But I loved how nervous everyone in Atlanta was when Arthur Blank showed up on the sideline when they had a comfortable lead. It would’ve been so much more fun if the Falcons had lost and fans spent millions of dollars on a GoFundMe to hire a private security detail that ensures Blank never ever makes it to the sideline again.
Next Game: Atlanta -3.0 at Detroit
3. Oakland Raiders (2-0 SU and ATS)
Never stop dancing, Marshawn. Ever. You’re the best.
Next Game: Oakland -3.0 at Washington (Sunday Night)
4. Kansas City Chiefs (2-0 SU and ATS)
Anyone else furious that they didn’t believe in Kareem Hunt during their fantasy draft? Coming from a guy who lost Spencer Ware as a keeper I’m really thrilled about Hunt’s explosion except the exact opposite.
Next Game: Kansas City -3.0 at LAC
5. Detroit Lions (2-0 SU and ATS)
The most amazing part about Detroit’s 24-10 win over the Giants? Stafford only threw 15-of-21 completions for 122 yards and he completely commanded that game.
Next Game: Atlanta -3.0 at Detroit
6. New England Patriots (1-1 SU and ATS)
Tom Brady threw for 301 yards in the first half on Sunday against New Orleans, which is great. But it’s hard to get excited about a team that is enduring injuries this early in the year. We all saw what happened to their offence when Gronk went out. The whole team should be massaging his groin back to health. That’s how valuable he is, which isn’t surprising given that he’s the best tight-end of all time.
Next Game: Houston at New England -13.0
7. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0 SU and 1-1 ATS)
I love that Martavis Bryant only makes big plays. It’s like he’s allergic to anything other than 20+ yard routes.
Next Game: Pittsburgh -7.0 at Chicago Bears
8. Baltimore Ravens (2-0 SU and ATS)
I’m just saying that the last time Joe Flacco had a defence this good, with two good receiving options and notable talent at running back, they won the Super Bowl.
Next Game: Baltimore -3.5 at Jacksonville
9. Dallas Cowboys (1-1 SU and ATS)
Stop Zeke and force Prescott to win the games. This could get really ugly, really fast for Dallas.
Next Game: Dallas -3.0 at Arizona (Monday Night)
10. Green Bay Packers (1-1 SU and ATS)
How many times do we have to see Green Bay’s “bend but don’t break” defence get snapped in half like Batman’s spine when he fights Bane before we agree that this isn’t the way to go.
Next Game: Cincinnati at Green Bay -9.0
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0 SU and ATS)
The good news is that Tampa actually looks really good. The better news is that the canon’s in the pirate ship – which were damaged during Hurricane Irma – will be back for when the Bucs host the Giants in Week 4! You probably don’t notice that the canon’s were missing on Sunday because the whole stadium was laughing at the Bears.
Next Game: Tampa Bay at Minnesota
12. Tennessee Titans (1-1 SU and ATS)
It’s time to unleash Derrick Henry. The entire world has been waiting to see what he can do as a starter, and DeMarco Murray’s hamstring finally looks like it’s giving up on him. Henry’s a stud in the making, which is a lot considering how incredible Murray’s been.
Next Game: Seattle at Tennessee -2.5
13. Carolina Panthers (2-0 SU and 1-1 ATS)
Truth be told, if they don’t start running Cam Newton in to the ground then there’s no hope here. The Panthers are at their best when Newton is a machine, but his body is in bits and pieces right now. No idea how they fix this. Maybe they should take the bubble wrap off of Christian McAffery.
Next Game: New Orleans at Carolina -5.5
14. Philadelphia Eagles (1-1 SU and ATS)
Does Alshon Jeffrey look smaller in an Eagles uniform or is it just me? In the iconic Bears jersey he looked like he was 6-foot-8 and 240 pounds. Now I get him mixed up with Nelson Agholor.
Next Game: NYG at Philadelphia -6.0
15. Minnesota Vikings (1-1 SU and ATS)
I never thought I’d ever miss Sam Bradford, but I sure did on Sunday. The Vikings went from being awesome to unwatchable in the span of six days.
Next Game: Tampa Bay at Minnesota
16. Miami Dolphins (1-0 SU and ATS)
It’s strange. The Patriots are buried in injury problems, Buffalo’s a non-threat and the Jets are one of the worst teams in the league. Miami should be a bit of a bigger deal to not only steal the division but threaten the playoffs. They looked good on the road against the Chargers last week. Maybe it’s just that it’s Week 3 and it’s tough to really assess anything. Maybe it’s Jay Cutler. It’s probably Jay Cutler.
Next Game: NYJ at Miami -6.0
17. Houston Texans (1-1 SU and ATS)
Do you want to know how bad DeShaun Watson is? Need a gauge for how unintimidating the Texans defence is? Look at the line against New England next week. That’s with Gronk being questionable to play!
Next Game: Houston at New England -13.0
18. Buffalo Bills (1-1 SU and 2-0 ATS)
Every year there’s a really bad team that’s a really great bet, and the Buffalo Bills are probably that team. It’s impossible for oddsmakers and the betting public to get that excited about them. I hate that they’re just 3-point dogs against Denver. If this was +6.5 like it should be, there’s be way more people taking Buffalo. That line is more so based on the idea that Denver can’t play at sea level like their lungs implode or something. Guys, they’re not from Mars. They’re from Colorado.
Next Game: Denver -3.0 at Buffalo
19. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1 SU and ATS)
It says a lot about how bad the league is that the Jaguars are a top-20 team by any standard. Including mine.
Next Game: Baltimore -3.5 at Jacksonville
20. Cleveland Browns (0-2 SU and 1-1 ATS)
Someone needs to tell Corey Coleman to stop breaking his hands. He needs them to catch footballs!
Next Game: Cleveland -1.0 at Indianapolis
21. Chicago Bears (0-2 SU and 1-1 ATS)
The only way Sunday could’ve gone worse for Mike Glennon is if the Bucs played a tribute video to him during pregame with an emotional highlight video of all his worst plays when he was in Tampa.
Next Game: Pittsburgh -7.0 at Chicago
22. Washington Redskins (0-2 SU and ATS)
Conspiracy theory alert! The Redskins went out and signed former quarterback Terrell Pryor to be their feature receiver. The guy can’t catch a football and was only average at throwing one in the first place. Washington also gave Cousins the talents of Rob Kelley and Chris Thompson to rush the football. This feels like a screwjob on an epic scale. Dan Snyder can’t be that disdainful of his quarterback that he’d give him $23.9 million and then sabotage the team around him so he doesn’t have to give him a proper contract. Can he? Seems like a weird hill to die on if you’re the Redskins. Of course, this is the same team that is so tone deaf that they won’t change their logo and team name so I guess it falls in line.
Next Game: Oakland -3.0 at Washington (Sunday Night)
23. New Orleans Saints (0-2 SU and ATS)
Here’s what I don’t get: why are the Saints always buried six feet under at the half? They were losing 3-16 against freaking Sam Bradford in Week 1 and then got obliterated by Tom Brady in the first half of Week 2. This is a team that has Drew Brees. And what is Sean Payton doing rotating his entire offence on every snap? Why is any of this happening? I have a lot of questions?
Next Game: New Orleans at Carolina -5.5
24. Seattle Seahawks (1-1 SU and 0-2 ATS)
Let’s all pour one out for Eddie Lacy and just admit that Seattle has no idea how to build an offence. Their defence is fantastic, but the last time I checked you needed…oh I don’t know…a half decent offensive line, a running game, a tight-end who can block, more than one receiver and a game plan that doesn’t involve your Pro Bowl quarterback running for his goddamn life every play.
Next Game: Seattle at Tennessee -2.5
25. Los Angeles Rams (1-1 SU and ATS)
I know this is crazy to say, but the Rams could actually win this division. Who took them in the NFL Futures department? Anybody? Hello? Is this thing on?
Next Game: LAR -2.0 at San Francisco
26. Los Angeles Chargers (0-2 SU and ATS)
I know that Yonghoe Koo has missed two game winning/tying field goals in two games but, outside of that, isn’t this a great year for kicker names? Even the Raiders emerged with Giorgio Tavecchio and the guy in Cleveland is named ZANE GONZALEZ. What a time to be alive!
Next Game: Kansas City -3.0 at LAC
27. New York Giants (0-2 SU and ATS)
The Giants are winless since Ben McAdoo started slicking his hair back. He looks like a truck driver that’s trying to look like Mike Ditka. These are the things I think about on Sundays and Mondays.
Next Game: NYG at Philadelphia -6.0
28. Arizona Cardinals (1-1 SU and 0-2 ATS)
Carson Palmer has looked categorically abysmal this year and somehow the Cardinals are ranked 6th in passing. I don’t get it either.
Next Game: Dallas -3.0 at Arizona (Monday Night)
29. New York Jets (0-2 SU and ATS)
In what freaking universe are the Jets just 6-point dogs to Miami?
Next Game: NYJ at Miami -6.0
30. San Francisco 49ers (0-2 SU and 1-1 ATS)
Don’t worry, San Francisco. You’re not the only team that hasn’t scored a touchdown. By the way, will you guys do us all a favor and trade Carlos Hyde to a place where we can actually enjoy him? Thanks in advance.
Next Game: LAR -2.0 at San Francisco
31. Indianapolis Colts (0-2 SU and ATS)
Is it fair that Andrew Luck has to play with a team this bad? No wonder he was ruled out for Week 3. I wouldn’t want to quarterback this team either.
Next Game: Cleveland -1.0 at Indianapolis
32. Cincinnati Bengals (0-2 SU and ATS)
Clearly not the least talented, but undeniably the worst team. You have to be really bad to get ranked behind the 49ers, Colts and Jets in 2017. Unlike those three teams, Cincinnati doesn’t have an excuse aside from the fact that Marvin Lewis is their coach, which is their own fault to begin with.
Next Game: Cincinnati at Green Bay -9.0