Friday, Jan. 1
Care to lay 3 1/2 points with the Rams on the road against the 49ers? As terrible as the 49ers are, don't jump into this one. St. Louis may be minus Todd Gurley. He's been wearing a walking boot, not practicing due to a foot injury. The Rams promoting Malcolm Brown off the practice squad could be an ominous sign concerning Gurley's availability. Gurley is the third-leading rusher in the NFL despite missing the first two games.
Anybody who plays fantasy football knows what a disappointment Denard Robinson has been the past two weeks. I bring this up because T.J. Yeldon has been ruled out again for Jacksonville. Yeldon had a good rookie season rushing for 740 yards, averaging 4.1 yards per carry. Robinson is a fumbler and not elusive. He'll likely split carry with enigmatic Jonas Gray, who had a 201-yard rushing, four-touchdown game for the Patriots in 2014 and hasn't been heard from since.
Tom Brady is playing behind a makeshift offensive line with backup running backs, including recently resuscitated Steven Jackson. He's also going to be without at least one his two top wide receivers in trying to cover a double-digit spread on the road against division rival Miami. Julian Edelman didn't make the trip while Danny Amendola may be held out, too, as he recovers from a knee injury. Bill Belichick probably doesn't want to risk Amendola in a game he can win with Brandon LaFell and Keshawn Martin as his starting wide receivers.
Jets change-of-pace running back Bilal Powell isn't expected to play against Buffalo because of an ankle injury. And we should care why? Powell has been the Jets' best running back the last two games. He's rushed 13 times for 81 yards the past two weeks and scored a touchdown while also hauling in 12 passes for another 88 yards. By comparison, Chris Ivory's numbers the last two games are 24 carries for 75 yards and one reception for five yards and no touchdowns. Powell's absence means an increased role for Stevan Ridley, who hasn't done a thing this season.
Jay Cutler is a much better quarterback with Alshon Jeffery in the lineup. Jeffery is out. When that happens, Cutler feels comfortable targeting tight end Zach Miller. But now Miller may not play against the Lions because of a toe injury. If Miller is a no go, the Bears are down to their third-string tight end and Cutler doesn't have a go-to receiver.