The NFL is at the quarter point, with every team except the Titans (3-0) and Steelers (3-0) having four games under their belt. After a month of play, the biggest story in the league has been injuries, including positive COVID tests. We’ll get to the injuries in a moment, but lets look at where the teams stand a quarter of the way through the season.
The Favorites
The defending Super Bowl Champion Chiefs are one of four teams 4-0 to start the season. Kansas City has the third best point differential in the league (+47) and are +350 to repeat as champs. KC exerted their dominance in a 34-20 win over another favorite, Baltimore, to end week 3, and upended New England in week 4.
The Ravens are now 3-1 on the season, and have fallen from being co-favorites with the Chiefs to win the Super Bowl, down to +600. Baltimore bounced back from the Chiefs loss to thump Washington 31-17 in Week 4.
The NFC favorites are the 4-0 Seattle Seahawks at +800. Russell Wilson’s squad won in Miami in Week 4 and have the second-most points in the NFL at 142.
The highest scoring team in the NFL is the 4-0 Green Bay Packers, who are +1000 to win the Super Bowl. Aaron Rodgers is having a brilliant season, even with his top WR Davante Adams injured. The Packers have scored at least 30 points in all four games, but their defense has also allowed 101 points on the season.
Player Award Check
It is no surprised that quarterbacks dominate the odds list for 2020 MVP. Wilson leads the way at +150, with Mahomes right behind at +250. Rodgers is +500 to win the MVP, while Lamar Jackson dropped to +1400 after the Chiefs loss. Keep an eye on Bills QB Josh Allen, who is at +1500 after beginning the season at +2500.
The Defensive Player of the Year does not have a runaway leader after four games. Rams DT Aaron Donald and Steelers LB T.J. Watt have the same odds at the top at +550. Cleveland’s DE Myles Garrett is +1000, while Chargers DE Joey Bosa is +1500.
The NFL Rookie of the Year Award has a clear-cut favorite in Bengals QB Joe Burrow at +125. He leads a trio of running backs in Kansas City’s Cylde Edwards-Helaire (+250), Jacksonville’s James Robinson (+800) and Indianapolis’ Jonathan Taylor (+950).
Injuries
Week 4 saw some big name players go down, with injuries impacting fantasy lineups, lines, and depth charts moving forward. The Chargers lost RB Austin Ekeler to a hamstring strain, and he will go on injured reserve and miss at least three games. The Browns won at Dallas, but lost RB Nick Chubb to a knee injury and he too is headed to IR.
Falcons WR Julio Jones played for a half against Green Bay on Monday, but he missed the second half with a hamstring injury. The All-Pro also missed the Week 3 game, and his status for next week is unknown.
Tampa Bay has a quick turnaround with a Thursday night game in Chicago. This week they lost TE O.J. Howard (Achilles) and RB LeSean McCoy (ankle), while WR Mike Evans was hobbled throughout the game but did finish in the win over the Chargers.
