Davante Adams

On Thursday night, Russell Wilson delivered another fourth-quarter comeback for the Seattle Seahawks. The win over the Los Angeles Rams puts Seattle one step closer to taking the lead in the NFC West, though the San Francisco 49ers can keep it by moving to 4-0 with a win Monday night.

While Week 5 will be bookended by NFC contenders, there's a lot more going on. Sunday's action will feature an NFC South clash between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints, a battle between the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys and another installment of the always-entertaining Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers rivalry.

Week 5 also brings the Khalil Mack Revenge Game in London. Hopefully it won't bring with it as many across-the-pond references as we've seen in years past.

Here you will find a look at all of the remaining Week 5 contests. We will dive into the latest odds and over/unders from Caesars, some top PPR fantasy rankings and a few sleeper fantasy plays for the final 14 games.

                  

NFL Week 5 Lines, Over/Unders and Predictions

Arizona Cardinals (+3, 47) at Cincinnati Bengals: Arizona 28-27

Atlanta Falcons (+4, 50) at Houston Texans: Houston 30-23

Buffalo Bills (+3, 39.5) at Tennessee Titans: Buffalo 17-16

Baltimore Ravens (-3.5, 44) at Pittsburgh Steelers: Baltimore 30-25

Chicago Bears (-5.5, 40) at Oakland Raiders (in London): Chicago 24-17

Jacksonville Jaguars (+3.5, 40) at Carolina Panthers: Carolina 26-23

Minnesota Vikings (-5, 43.5) at New York Giants: Minnesota 24-22

New England Patriots (-16, 42.5) at Washington Redskins: New England 30-12

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+3, 45.5) at New Orleans Saints: New Orleans 20-18

New York Jets (+14, 43.5) at Philadelphia Eagles: Philadelphia 30-18

Denver Broncos (+6, 44.5) at Los Angeles Chargers: Los Angeles 27-20

Green Bay Packers (+3.5, 47) at Dallas Cowboys: Dallas 26-21

Indianapolis Colts (+11, 56) at Kansas City Chiefs: Kansas City 33-23

Cleveland Browns (+5, 47) at San Francisco 49ers: Cleveland 23-22

               

Week 5 PPR Fantasy Rankings, Sleepers

Quarterbacks

1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Indianapolis Colts

2. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers

3. Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans vs. Atlanta Falcons

4. Tom Brady, New England Patriots at Washington Redskins

5. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons at Houston Texans

6. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals at Cincinnati Bengals

7. Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints

8. Jacoby Brissett, Indianapolis Colts at Kansas City Chiefs

9. Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals vs. Arizona Cardinals

10. Philip Rivers, Los Angeles Chargers vs. Denver Broncos

        

Mason Rudolph, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph has quietly been a viable fantasy streamer over the past two gameweeks. He's only had 201 passing yards, but he's thrown for two touchdowns in each game during that span.

Rudolph should be in store for a much stronger performance in Week 5. The Baltimore Ravens have struggled against the past this season, allowing an average of 302 passing yards per game. Only two teams have allowed more.

This will be the third start for Rudolph, who appeared much more comfortable and confident against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 4. Expect him to improve on that game—in which he had 229 yards—while playing at home against a bitter rival.

Rudolph may not match the 342 yards Baker Mayfield dropped on the Ravens in Week 4, but it wouldn't be a shock if he comes close.

             

Running Backs

1. Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys vs. Green Bay Packers

2. Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

3. Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings at New York Giants

4. Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

5. David Johnson, Arizona Cardinals at Cincinnati Bengals

6. Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns at San Francisco 49ers

7. Marlon Mack, Indianapolis Colts at Kansas City Chiefs

8. Mark Ingram, Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers

9. Leonard Fournette, Jacksonville Jaguars at Carolina Panthers

10. James Conner, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens

       

Duke Johnson Jr., Houston Texans vs. Atlanta Falcons

Here's something that may surprise you. Despite having Deshaun Watson and DeAndre Hopkins headlining their offense, the Houston Texans have been more prolific running the ball this season than passing.

Houston is averaging 120.2 yards on the ground, 12th-most in the NFL. They are likely to continue their run-oriented approach against the Atlanta Falcons, who rank seventh in pass defense (215.2 yards per game allowed).

Both Carlos Hyde and Duke Johnson Jr. are worthy fantasy options in Week 5. Hyde, who has 250 yards and a touchdown rushing, has worked his way into being a weekly fantasy starter. Johnson is more of a sleeper, though he's held some PPR value.

Johnson is averaging 55 combined rushing and receiving yards and two receptions this season. Against an Atlanta defense that will work to take away the long ball, he could top those averages by a significant amount.

        

Wide Receivers

1. Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons at Houston Texans

2. DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Texans vs. Atlanta Falcons

3. Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

4. Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers vs. Denver Broncos

5. Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints

6. Odell Beckham Jr., Cleveland Browns at San Francisco 49ers

7. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals at Cincinnati Bengals

8. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints

9. Sammy Watkins, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Indianapolis Colts

10. JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens

          

Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Green Bay Packers at Dallas Cowboys

"If he can't go, it will say he's out," Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said of star wideout Davante Adams ahead of the release of the injury report, per ESPN's Rob Demovsky.

Adams, who suffered a turf toe injury against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 4, has been ruled out. That's bad for Green Bay but good for fantasy owners with Marquez Valdes-Scantling on their rosters.

Valdes-Scantling is the Packers' second-leading receiver this year, having hauled in 16 passes for 217 yards and a touchdown. Against the Cowboys, he'll be the No. 1 and will likely be targeted throughout the game.

According to FantasyPros, Aaron Rodgers has targeted Adams an average of nine times per game this season. Adams received 15 targets in Week 4, and that could be the sort of target share Valdes-Scantling sees in Week 5.

           

Tight Ends

1. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Indianapolis Colts

2. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers vs. Cleveland Browns

3. Evan Engram, New York Giants vs. Minnesota Vikings

4. Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Jets

5. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers

6. Austin Hooper, Atlanta Falcons at Houston Texans

7. Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

8. Tyler Eifert, Cincinnati Bengals vs. Arizona Cardinals

9. Eric Ebron, Indianapolis Colts at Kansas City Chiefs

10. Darren Waller, Oakland Raiders vs. Chicago Bears

                

Jack Doyle, Indianapolis Colts at Kansas City Chiefs

Here's the good news for the Indianapolis Colts: Wideout T.Y. Hilton practiced this week and may make his return against the Kansas City Chiefs. The bad news is that Hilton may not be at 100 percent and won't have wideout Parris Campbell playing alongside him.

T.Y. Hilton and Marlon Mack are officially questionable for Sunday.

Hilton practiced twice this week. Mack practiced once.

5 guys ruled out: WR-Parris Campbell, S-Clayton Geathers, S-Malik Hooker, DT-Tyquan Lewis, LB-Darius Leonard

— Kevin Bowen (@KBowen1070) October 4, 2019

This means Colts quarterback Jacoby Brissett could be looking for other receiving options against the Chiefs. Enter tight end Jack Doyle, who had four catches, 22 yards and a touchdown in Week 4.

Marlon Mack is questionable, so the Colts may be forced to go pass-heavy anyway, but they will likely be forced to rely on Brissett's arm while trying to match points with Kansas City. This is good news for Indianapolis' pass-catchers.

Fellow tight end Eric Ebron is a must-start in Week 5, but Jack Doyle is worth a start in deeper leagues.

Davante Adams was one of the players the Green Bay Packers could least afford to lose, but after exiting last week's game with a toe injury, the Packers ruled Adams out for Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. 

He is the clear-cut No. 1 wide receiver, so there is reason for concern in Green Bay even with Aaron Rodgers under center, Jimmy Graham at tight end and the combination of Geronimo Allison and Marquez Valdes-Scantling on the outside.

With that in mind, here is a look at fantasy reaction to Adams' setback as it pertains to some of the Packers' top playmakers.

          

Geronimo Allison and Jimmy Graham

Adams led the Packers in receptions (111), receiving yards (1,386) and touchdown catches (13) last year, and that production will need to come from other sources.

It is easy for fantasy players to point to Allison as an option as he slides up the wide receiver depth chart, especially after he put up a career-best 303 receiving yards and two touchdown catches last year in just five games before suffering a season-ending injury.

There still isn't an established track record to trust for the Illinois product, but he appeared to build a rapport with Rodgers and should see plenty of red-zone targets at 6'3" with the ability to high-point passes and beat cornerbacks downfield. 

Allison enjoyed his best game of the season last week when he caught three passes for 52 yards and a touchdown.

While Allison has been a hit-and-miss player throughout his career, he is worth a dart-throw start at flex this week, especially if you have players on the bye.

There are no track record concerns with Graham, who is a five-time Pro Bowler and one of the best tight ends of his generation. He entered the 2019 campaign with two seasons of more than 1,200 receiving yards and four seasons of double-digit touchdown catches on his resume, although he posted 636 receiving yards and just two touchdown catches last year.

Also, after catching three passes for 30 yards and a touchdown in Week 1, Graham did not record a reception in Weeks 2 or 3. He bounced back last week, however, with six grabs for 61 yards and a score.

Tight end is not as deep as wide receiver, and Rodgers figures to turn his way even more if Adams is forced to miss significant time. Considering how well Graham played last week with Adams ailing, he is worth starting currently.

            

Marquez Valdes-Scantling

Green Bay took a flier on Valdes-Scantling when it selected him out of South Florida with a fifth-round pick in the 2018 NFL draft, and he delivered in a marquee way with 38 catches for 581 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie.

While he was far from paralleling the production of Adams, he took advantage of Allison's absence and was second among wide receivers in yards. He figures to be the clear-cut No. 1 wide receiver option when Adams is sidelined since he has been Rodgers' most consistent target aside from Adams this season.

Through four games, Valdes-Scantling has 16 receptions for 217 yards and one touchdown this season. He has also been targeting a total of 17 times over the past two games.

Valdes-Scantling clearly has a good rapport with Rodgers and was already flex-worthy with Adams in the lineup, so he has the makings of a flex or low-end WR2 this week.

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Need more help with your fantasy football lineup? Matt Camp solves your fantasy problems live on B/R Gridiron's new show, Your Fantasy Fire Drill. Download the B/R app now to submit your questions and tune in every Sunday at 11:30 a.m. ET.

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams has been ruled out of Sunday's Week 5 game against the Dallas Cowboys because of a toe injury.

The Packers' dominant No. 1 wideout has caught 25 passes for 378 yards and no touchdowns in four games this season. He set a career high with 180 receiving yards against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 4.

A touchdown machine, Adams has hit pay dirt 35 times over his past three full seasons. He's averaged 87 receptions and 1,089 receiving yards during that span. The 26-year-old snagged a career-best 111 receptions in 2018.

He has largely stayed on the field during his six-year career, missing just six games. A knee injury forced him off the field for the Packers' Week 17 game in 2018, and his second concussion of the 2017 season kept him sidelined for his team's final two contests. An ankle injury sidelined him for three more in 2015.

Without Adams, the team will rely on Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Geronimo Allison as the two primary wide receivers. Allen Lazard, Jake Kumerow and Darrius Shepherd round out the wideout crew.

The Packers may also call upon tight end Jimmy Graham and running back Aaron Jones to assume more of a workload. Green Bay's passing game has been heavily reliant on Adams' production since he emerged as the team's top wideout in 2015.

The 3-1 Packers are tied for the top spot in the NFC North under first-year head coach Matt LaFleur.

The injury bug is the worst thing in sports.

Unfortunately, it played a featured role in Week 4 of the 2019 NFL season.

So, as our focus shifts to Week 5 and beyond, we'll examine the top streaming option—available in 50-plus percent of Yahoo leagues, per FantasyPros—to potentially replace the notable players who drew the ire of the injury bug.

                  

Notable Injury: Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills

A fast riser up the fantasy ranks through the first three weeks, Josh Allen couldn't keep his momentum going through his Week 4 tussle with the New England Patriots.

The 23-year-old completed just 13 of 28 pass attempts for 153 yards, no scores and three picks before a helmet-to-helmet hit with Pats defensive back Jonathan Jones knocked him out of the contest and into the concussion protocol.

Allen's status for Week 5 will be unclear until later this week, but Buffalo is preparing to start Matt Barkley against the Tennessee Titans.

"Until we know more (about Josh) that's what we have to do," Bills coach Sean McDermott said. "We have to make sure that Matt is ready to go."

                  

Top Streamer: Jacoby Brissett, QB, Indianapolis Colts (35 Percent Owned)

Maybe Jacoby Brissett flew below your radar the first two weeks, when his consecutive sub-200-yard performances seemed to scream "game manager."

Well, it's time to recalibrate your opinion on Andrew Luck's former understudy, as the 26-year-old is rapidly picking up steam.

After a 310-yard, two-score performance in Week 3, Brissett delivered another eye-opener Sunday. While not the most efficient line (52.2 completion percentage, one interception), the volume was more than sufficient: 46 attempts, 24 completions, 265 passing yards, three touchdowns.

Brissett, who had multiple touchdown tosses each of the first four weeks, now faces a possible Sunday night shootout with the Kansas City Chiefs.

This defense isn't exactly a wet paper bag, but Gardner Minshew II (275 yards, two scores) and Matthew Stafford (291 yards, three touchdowns) have both produced against it. All signs point toward Brissett doing the same.

                 

Notable Injury: Marlon Mack, RB, Indianapolis Colts

While Marlon Mack is among the league leaders with 72 carries on the season, his touches have declined each week from 25 in the opener to just 11 on Sunday.

That last figure is worrisome, and not only for the dramatic reduction in workload.

It could've been higher if not for an ankle injury that sidelined the 23-year-old in the second half of Sunday's 31-24 loss to Oakland. Mack framed his absence as a coach's decision, meaning he might be less hurt than the lack of usage suggests. But that just means Indy took the cautious route in Week 4 and could deploy the same strategy in Week 5.

"He wasn't medically ruled out by our medical staff, so I think he could have went in there," Colts coach Frank Reich told reporters. "Now, how effective he could have been, I don't know. We're just going to play it safe and conservative on the ankle and see how it progresses this week."

                

Top Streamer: Ronald Jones II, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (43 Percent Owned)

No sooner did the Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Ronald Jones II as the 38th overall pick in 2018 that his fantasy buzz started building. While that did nothing for his optimistic owners last season (30 touches in nine games), it's paying off for those smart enough to practice patience.

The 22-year-old is the best rusher in this backfield. While Peyton Barber has three more carries, Jones has 52 more rushing yards. Barber has more targets (eight to three) and receptions (five to three), but Jones wins receiving yards by a landslide (71 to 26).

As CBS Sports' Heath Cummings noted, the gap between the two might be even more pronounced than that:

"Forget about Week 2 for a second. Jones got dinged up and Peyton Barber got hot while Jones was getting checked out. Let's talk about the three games Jones has been healthy. In those three games he's averaged 16.3 touches and 95.3 yards per game. That's absolutely someone you want to start in just about any league."

Even if Jones is never a bell-cow back, he could easily be the most utilized one in an offense that has scored 86 points over the past two weeks.

                

Notable Injury: Davante Adams, WR, Green Bay Packers

As expected, the stars aligned for Davante Adams to enjoy an overdue breakout against the Philadelphia Eagles' generous pass defense in Week 4. He hauled in a career-high 180 yards on 10 catches, and that was without playing the whole game.

But therein lies the bummer.

A toe injury kept the 26-year-old sidelined for the Green Bay Packers' final drive, and it now has him unlikely to play Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys, ESPN insider Adam Schefter reported (via Packers Wire's Joe Kipp).

                   

Top Streamer: Geronimo Allison, WR, Green Bay Packers (24 Percent Owned)

Yes, Geronimo Allison trudged out of the gate and saw his ownership percentage plummet after recording just five receptions for 24 yards through the first three weeks. But that's fine. Let someone else's impatience be your reward.

If Adams can't go Sunday, Allison could be a steal.

His name buzzed during training camp, and the 25-year-old hinted at the reason why on Sunday. While he only touched the ball four times (three receptions and a rush), he turned those opportunities into 59 yards and a score.

Again, his appeal is tied to Adams' availability. If Adams goes, it's all too likely Allison gets lost in the shuffle; if Adams is out, Allison deserves strong consideration to be in your lineup.

Opportunities could come early and often in a game against the Dallas Cowboys that oddsmakers at Caesars Sportsbook have tagged with a healthy over/under of 47.5 points.

The toe injury suffered by Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams during the team's Thursday Night Football loss to the Philadelphia Eagles is reportedly not serious.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported the update Friday after Adams underwent an MRI and noted the Packers "will be careful" with their star wideout, but he's not expected to miss much, if any, time.

The 26-year-old Fresno State product was clicking on all cylinders with quarterback Aaron Rodgers before suffering the injury. He recorded six catches for 107 yards in the first quarter and finished the contest with 10 receptions for 180 yards.

https://twitter.com/packers/status/1177382433496297472

Adams wasn't available for the Packers' final drive, however. Rodgers drove the offense from its own 11-yard line to the Eagles' 3-yard line, but he was intercepted by linebacker Nigel Bradham at the goal line with 28 seconds remaining to end the comeback bid.

"It kind of just rolled up on me," Adams told reporters after the game. "My foot just got kind of stuck in the ground a little bit. Folded over. It's a turf-toe situation so just gotta take a look and see what the deal is."

The 34-27 home loss dropped the Packers to 3-1, and they have a difficult schedule in the coming weeks. They travel to face the Dallas Cowboys next Sunday at AT&T Stadium before returning home to Lambeau Field for a Monday Night Football clash with the NFC North rival Detroit Lions in Week 6. Both opponents are currently undefeated.

Playing on Thursday gives Adams three extra recovery days before the Cowboys matchup. It's the longest stretch of rest until the team's Week 11 bye.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling would take over as the top target if Adams misses time. It would also create more opportunities for Geronimo Allison and tight end Jimmy Graham.

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams suffered a right turf toe injury Thursday during the team's 34-27 home loss to the Philadelphia Eagles at Lambeau Field.

Adams revealed the nature of the injury to ESPN's Rob Demovsky and other reporters after the game, saying that his turf toe hurt so much that he couldn't even wear his right shoe, which he held in his hand. He also noted that he'll see a specialist to get the injury examined, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. 

Adams, who caught 10 passes for a career-high 180 yards, left the game after his final reception with 10:55 left in the fourth quarter.

The Packers initially listed Adams, who was seen limping on the Packers' sideline, as questionable to return. However, Green Bay's No. 1 wideout did not re-enter the game.

Adams has developed into one of the NFL's most dependable wideouts as part of the Packers' high-powered passing attack. He tallied 35 receiving touchdowns over the previous three seasons combined, which was one fewer than Antonio Brown for the league's highest total.

The 26-year-old Fresno State product has also showcased good durability since Green Bay selected him in the second round of the 2014 draft. He missed just six games over his first five years. He suffered a calf injury that forced him to miss one contest last year.

If he's forced out the lineup with the latest ailment, Marquez Valdes-Scantling should take over as the top target for quarterback Aaron Rodgers. It would also create additional opportunities for Geronimo Allison. Allen Lazard, Jake Kumerow and Darrius Shepherd round out the Packers' wide receiver depth chart.

Ultimately, it's hard to imagine the Packers offense struggling too much as long as Rodgers is under center. He will ensure the unit still moves the chains. But losing Adams for any extended period of time would limit the overall upside, especially in the red zone.

The Philadelphia Eagles are back to .500.

Philadelphia rebounded from back-to-back losses with a 34-27 victory over the Green Bay Packers in Thursday’s NFC showdown at Lambeau Field and improved to 2-2 in the process. The Eagles are still behind the undefeated Dallas Cowboys in the NFC East but have some momentum after Nigel Bradham intercepted Aaron Rodgers inside Philadelphia's 5-yard line in the final minute of the game.

PICKED! @NigelBradham_13 #FlyEaglesFly#PHIvsGB on @NFLNetwork | @NFLonFOX | @PrimeVideo
How to watch: https://t.co/32PKxts362 pic.twitter.com/0XZSD1iWeB

— NFL (@NFL) September 27, 2019

That, along with a dominant performance from Jordan Howard, was enough to win on the road.

As for the Packers, they are now 3-1 and still well-positioned for a playoff run, but they lost ground in a daunting NFC North that features four teams above .500.

           

Notable Fantasy Stats

• Aaron Rodgers: 34-of-53 for 422 yards, two touchdowns, one interception; 46 rushing yards
• Aaron Jones: 13 carries for 21 yards, one touchdown; six catches for 37 yards
• Davante Adams: 10 catches for 180 yards
• Jimmy Graham: six catches for 61 yards, one touchdown
• Carson Wentz: 16-of-27 for 160 yards, three touchdowns; 13 rushing yards
• Jordan Howard: 15 carries for 87 yards, two touchdowns; three catches for 28 yards, one touchdown
• Miles Sanders: 11 carries for 72 yards
• Zach Ertz: seven catches for 65 yards
• Alshon Jeffery: three catches for 38 yards, one touchdown
• Dallas Goedert: two catches for 16 yards, one touchdown

          

Eagles Ground Game Provides Blueprint for Future Success

Look out, NFC. The Eagles may have a running game.

Between Carson Wentz, Alshon Jeffery, Zach Ertz, DeSean Jackson and Nelson Agholor, Philadelphia's aerial attack stands out on paper. That was the case during the first three weeks when Howard failed to top 44 yards on the ground in any game and Miles Sanders averaged 3.1 yards per rush, but the pair—and the offensive line in front of them—had other ideas Thursday.

Philadelphia consistently opened up holes, which allowed Howard and Sanders to play a game of thunder and lightning that could carry through the rest of the season. 

https://twitter.com/mikefreemanNFL/status/1177400048088485889

Now looking like the Eagles we thought they would be at the start of the season. Talented, well-coached and resilient.

— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) September 27, 2019

Howard powered his way into the end zone twice, while Sanders eluded tacklers in space and shifted into turbo in the open field. What's more, Howard, who isn't known for his receiving prowess, got involved in the passing game and walked into the end zone on a pass to the flat.

Wheel route out of the backfield…
@JHowardx24 walks in for an easy @Eagles TD! #FlyEaglesFly#PHIvsGB on @NFLNetwork | @NFLonFOX | @PrimeVideo
How to watch: https://t.co/32PKxts362 pic.twitter.com/CZLdRJuKvA

— NFL (@NFL) September 27, 2019

Not only did Philadelphia's rushing game help save a secondary that had no answer for Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams and watched Sidney Jones exit with a hamstring injury and Avonte Maddox taken off on a stretcher, but it also provided a blueprint for success in the immediate future.

Tae Adams almost has 150 receiving yards and it’s still the second quarter.

“Eagles need some help?” pic.twitter.com/CSxG3L3oGd

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 27, 2019

Opponents will find themselves in trouble any time they have to commit additional defenders to the box against an offense featuring that many talented pass-catchers, and Wentz was able to take advantage with an efficient performance and well-timed touchdowns even though he didn't throw for many yards.

Philadelphia will need a balanced offense in a loaded NFC, and it was on full display Thursday.

           

Aaron Rodgers is Still Superman Even in Defeat

The Packers of old made an appearance for Thursday's game.

Green Bay has been known for its offense throughout the majority of Rodgers' tenure, but the defense led the way during the first three wins. It entered this contest 23rd in the league in points per game (19.3) and second in points allowed per game (11.7), thanks in large part to Preston Smith and Za'Darius Smith pressuring the quarterback and Jaire Alexander shadowing receivers.

That defense was largely missing against the Eagles and went through a stretch in which it allowed four touchdowns on four straight possessions (not counting a kneel-down to end the first half). It also forced its quarterback into the familiar Superman role.

Ditch the little gameplan go and let Aaron Rodgers go supernova on a bad secondary tonight. Not that hard. pic.twitter.com/OEykNp0vr8

— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) September 27, 2019

Rodgers excelled for much of the game, dropping dimes to Adams against an overmatched secondary and dispersing the ball to different playmakers like a point guard on the fast break.

He was never better than at the end of the first half when he worked his magic with a 70-yard drive that took just 50 seconds. The quarterback who may be the scariest in league history with the clock running out capped off the drive with a pass to Geronimo Allison that moved him into ninth place on the all-time list for touchdown passes.

.@AaronRodgers12 moves into ninth all-time 📈 pic.twitter.com/wphq0vbrnh

— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) September 27, 2019

Do @Packers fans even still get nervous when Aaron Rodgers is leading a TD drive to end a half?

Seems automatic at this point. #PHIvsGB pic.twitter.com/KXByihdJbS

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 27, 2019

The future Hall of Famer one-upped himself with a fadeaway throw off his back foot to Jimmy Graham that softly fluttered between two defenders late in the third quarter, but his touch ran out with the game hanging in the balance.

Bad man.

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/S3PkpKnzjU

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 27, 2019

Rodgers needed to be perfect to overcome the defensive struggles, but he threw four straight incompletions from the 1-yard line to end one possession and tossed an interception to end the next. 

Even Superman falls short sometimes.

         

What’s Next?

The Packers travel to Dallas to face the Cowboys in a high-profile NFC clash in Week 5, while the Eagles host the New York Jets.

Thursday night's matchup between the Green Bay Packers and the Philadelphia Eagles could be a playoff preview. Right now, though, neither team is playing like a legitimate title contender.

The Packers are undefeated, thanks to the strength of their new-look defense. However, the offense, which is averaging just 19.3 points per game, has not yet found its rhythm under new head coach Matt LaFleur.

The Eagles, two years removed from a Super Bowl win, have been plagued by injuries and poor play in the secondary. Philadelphia is surrendering 293.7 yards per game through the air—fourth-most in the NFL—and they're expected to be without key players DeSean Jackson and Ronald Darby on Thursday night:

Ronald Darby, DeSean Jackson, Tim Jernigan are out.

Corey Clement is questionable.

Everyone else is able to play -- including Alshon Jeffery, Dallas Goedert, Kamu Grugier-Hill and Derek Barnett.

— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) September 25, 2019

On paper, this is a game that favors the Packers, even with their offensive inconsistencies. It doesn't come as a surprise that Green Bay is giving four points at home, but will they be able to cover?

Let's take a look at some predictions for Thursday's game and the rest of the Week 4 slate. We'll also run down the latest lines and over/unders from Caesars, along with a couple of enticing props for Thursday night.

    

NFL Week 4 Lines, Over/Unders and Predictions

Philadelphia Eagles (+4, 46 o/u) at Green Bay Packers: Packers 25-18

Carolina Panthers (+4.5, 47.5 o/u) at Houston Texans: Texans 30-27

Cleveland Browns (+6.5, 45.5 o/u) at Baltimore Ravens: Ravens 33-27

Kansas City Chiefs (-6.5, 54.5 o/u) at Detroit Lions: Chiefs 30-28

Los Angeles Chargers (-15.5, 44 o/u) at Miami Dolphins: Chargers 28-17

New England Patriots (-7, 42 o/u) at Buffalo Bills: Patriots 27-24

Oakland Raiders (+6.5, 45 o/u) at Indianapolis Colts: Colts 30-24

Tennessee Titans (+4, 45.5 o/u) at Atlanta Falcons: Falcons 27-21

Washington Redskins (+2.5, 49 o/u) at New York Giants: Giants 26-22

Seattle Seahawks (-5, 48 o/u) at Arizona Cardinals: Seahawks 31-27

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+9.5, 49.5 o/u) at Los Angeles Rams: Rams 28-20

Jacksonville Jaguars (+3, 39 o/u) at Denver Broncos: Jaguars 24-21

Minnesota Vikings (+2, 38.5 o/u) at Chicago Bears: Vikings 22-21

Dallas Cowboys (-2.5, 47 o/u) at New Orleans Saints: Cowboys 28-23

Cincinnati Bengals (+4, 43.5 o/u) at Pittsburgh Steelers: Steelers 25-21

       

Aaron Rodgers OVER 272.5 Passing Yards

So far, Aaron Rodgers has not been carving up defenses in a manner we're accustomed to. His most prolific game came in Week 3, when he passed for 235 yards against the Denver Broncos. This is why the over/under line of 272.5 passing yards—found on Oddschecker—looks a little high at first glance.

This week, however, should provide Rodgers with his best opportunity yet to rack up the yardage. As previously mentioned, the Eagles are giving up more than 272.5 yards passing per game, and it's not as if Rodgers has suddenly lost the ability to push the ball downfield.

Rodgers topped the 272.5-yard mark nine times last season.

Because of Green Bay's defense, Rodgers hasn't had to put up outlandish numbers in order to win games this season. He may have to pass early and often in this game, though, at least if the Packers hope to move the ball.

While the Eagles have been vulnerable to the pass, they've been outstanding against the run. Opposing teams have averaged just 59 rushing yards per game and 2.9 yards per carry.

    

Davante Adams OVER 85.5 Receiving Yards

Because of Philadelphia's poor pass defense—and the likelihood that the Packers will need to be pass-oriented—Packers wideout Davante Adams should also be in line for a productive day.

An over/under of 85.5 receiving yards can be found for Adams at Oddschecker.

Adams, who leads the Packers in receptions with 15, has already topped this mark once this season. That was in Week 2 against a Minnesota Vikings defense that ranks 11th against the pass (225.7 yards per game).

Rodgers threw the ball a season-high 34 times against Minnesota. Given this week's matchup, he should throw at least that many times, and likely more. A handful of those passes should find their way to Adams. Green Bay appears eager to get him the ball after the sixth-year wideout only saw four targets in Week 3.

"Four targets for Davante is obviously not enough," Rodgers said, per Jason Wilde of the Wisconsin State Journal.

A couple of long plays should be enough for Adams to hit 86 yards.

What better way to start Week 4 of the NFL season than with a Thursday night matchup between two of the NFC's top franchises?

The Green Bay Packers will look to continue their strong start after winning their first three games of the season, while the Philadelphia Eagles aim to bounce back from a 1-2 start and prove they can compete with the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC East.

It should be a fun matchup to watch, as both teams have rosters filled with exciting players. Although the Packers are the favorites, the Eagles are in a situation where they have some must-win games early to avoid a disappointing year.

There are a lot of other exciting games on the way this weekend, too. Here's a look at the full slate, along with betting odds, picks and more.

        

Week 4 Odds, Predictions

Picks are made against the spread

Philadelphia at Green Bay (-4); Over/Under 45.5 points

Tennessee at Atlanta (-4); O/U 45

New England (-7) at Buffalo; O/U 42

Kansas City (-6.5) at Detroit; O/U 54

Oakland at Indianapolis (-6.5); O/U 45

L.A. Chargers (-16) at Miami; O/U 44

Washington at N.Y. Giants (-3); O/U 48.5

Cleveland at Baltimore (-7); O/U 46

Carolina at Houston (-4); O/U 46.5

Tampa Bay at L.A. Rams (-9.5); O/U 49.5

Seattle (-5) at Arizona; O/U 48

Minnesota at Chicago (-2); O/U 38.5

Jacksonville at Denver (-3); O/U 39

Dallas (-2.5) at New Orleans; O/U 47

Cincinnati at Pittsburgh (-4); O/U 43.5

Odds obtained via Caesars

         

Prop Bets (via Oddschecker)

Davante Adams will score a touchdown

Davante Adams is clearly the best receiver in the Packers offense, yet he hasn't scored a touchdown through their first three weeks of the season. It's time for that to change.

After last week's win over Denver, Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers made it known during his postgame press conference that he wants to get the 26-year-old more involved.

"Four targets for Davante is obviously not enough, especially on a day like [Sunday] when there was a lot of soft coverage and some stuff to be hit outside," Rodgers said. "We've got to keep finding ways to get him the ball more often."

Expect that to happen against the Eagles, and don't be surprised when Adams finds the end zone for his first touchdown of 2019.

        

The Patriots will score 30 points again

Through three games, the Patriots offense has dominated inferior competition, scoring 106 points, which includes at least 30 in each contest. The Bills might be 3-0, but they aren't going to slow New England's offense that much.

This unit has so much talent, and Tom Brady continues to manage it well. Although New England no longer has Antonio Brown in its receiver corps, don't think that's going to hinder it from scoring.

The Bills have excelled against weaker teams, beating the Jets, Giants and Bengals this season. Sure, they could contend for a playoff spot, but they're not going to unseat the Patriots as AFC East champions.

And this week, they're not going to shut down Brady and the Pats offense. Feel confident in betting on New England to again score 30 points.

         

The winning margin of Cowboys-Saints will be less than seven

If Drew Brees was healthy, this matchup would clearly be the best game of the week. But even without the veteran Saints quarterback, this is a contest that should provide a close finish Sunday night.

Dallas and New Orleans have been two of the top NFC franchises in recent years, and both are off to strong starts again. The Cowboys are 3-0, while the Saints are 2-1. Plus, New Orleans notched a road win at Seattle last week in Teddy Bridgewater's first start at quarterback this year.

That victory provided optimism that the Saints will stay competitive while Brees is out following right thumb surgery. They should keep it close against Dallas, and with a strong home-field advantage at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, don't be surprised to see them topple the favored Cowboys.

Either way, this game will be one of the closest of the week, so bet on this matchup to have a small winning margin.