Will any team sign free-agent receiver Anquan Boldin before NFL Week 1? He’s a borderline Hall of Famer who was still pretty solid last year with Detroit. Boldin did visit with Buffalo recently but he reportedly wants to play close to his home in Florida. With rookie Zay Jones showing well in Buffalo’s camp, signing Boldin is not as big of a priority as it once was. Many games are going down in Week 1, but we take a look at our top ATS picks with the latest NFL odds.
NFL Week 1 Top ATS Picks
NY Jets at Buffalo Bills
When: Sunday, Sept. 10, 1 PM ET Where: New Era Field TV: CBS Radio: ESPN New York 98.7 FM (NY) / WCMF 96.5 FM (Buffal0) Opening NFL Week 1 Lines: Bills -6.5Who Starts For Jets?
It’s still not clear who will be the Jets’ starting QB this season, although I can promise one thing: He won’t be any good. The options aren’t exactly great. It looks to be a two-man race between Josh McCown versus Christian Hackenberg. That’s because thus far in camp, Bryce Petty has received the fewest number of practice reps in the Jets’ quarterback competition. Coach Todd Bowles refused to attach any significance to the rep totals and rotation order, insisting the starting job remains wide open. Bowles confirmed that he’ll select his quarterback based on which guy gives him the best chance to win. “Always, yes,” Bowles said. “Obviously, production takes care of a lot of it – command, intelligence, toughness, [being] vocal,” Bowles said. “There are so many things [in] a quarterback that you look for. You try to get as many of those as you can going forward to make that decision.” Expect it to be McCown, who at least has had success in the NFL. Hackenberg has never taken a regular-season snap.Forte Already Hurting
Arguably the only name player on the Jets’ offense is RB Matt Forte, and he’s already hurting. He’s been out all week. It’s the second straight year Forte has dealt with an early-camp hamstring injury. Forte’s hammy wasn’t an issue last season, but he dealt with various other minor ailments. In 2016, his first with the Jets, Forte rushed for a career-low 813 yards. With 585 in 2017, he’ll surpass 10,000 career rushing yards, which would put him at No. 30 on the all-time rushing list.Last Season
The Bills were somehow 0-2 vs. Jets last season. The game in Buffalo was a 37-31 New York win. Forte became the 13th New York player to score three rushing touchdowns in a game. That was by far the highlight of his season. Take Buffalo here.Latest NFL Week 1 Betting Trends
- NY Jets: +6½-110 / O 42½ -110
- Buffalo Bills: -6½-11 / U 42½ -110
Seattle Seahawks at Green Bay Packers
When: Sunday, Sept. 10, 4:25 PM ET Where: Lambeau Field TV: Fox Radio: 710 ESPN (Seattle) / 620 WTMJ (Green Bay) Stream Option: NFL Live Opening NFL Week 1 Lines: Packers -3Diversified Green Bay Offense?
The Packers have arguably the best quarterback in the NFL in two-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers, but they would like to run a bit more this season so Rodgers doesn’t have to do it all himself. Plus the fewer times a QB drops back to pass, the less chance he has of getting hurt. “There’s two ways to throw the ball — action passing game or dropback,” head coach McCarthy said. “You want to have both of them on first and second down, in legitimate threats, too.” Just the threat of running can open things up on the back end for Rodgers. The coach added the team plans to utilize more two-tight-end sets after bringing in Martellus Bennett and Lance Kendricks. Green Bay ran the NFL’s second-fewest plays from “12” personnel last season. That could mean more carries for Ty Montgomery assuming he can hold onto the starting job. He was a wide receiver to start last season before transitioning to the backfield.Seahawks Expect More From Graham
Coming off a ruptured patellar tendon in 2015, Seattle tight end Jimmy Graham turned in a solid 2016 season, finishing with 923 receiving yards (third among tight ends) and six touchdowns, but there is still a feeling that he hasn’t quite found his role in the offense. Pete Carroll said this week that the team had to manage Graham’s injury throughout last season, and the coach expects the tight end to have a big year in 2017. From 2011 to 2014, Graham averaged 8.7 targets per game with the Saints. In the past two seasons with the Seahawks, that number is 6.1. “He played in every game and didn’t miss any time, but he wasn’t at his best,” Carroll said. “He survived it, and now he is really moving up.”Latest NFL Week 1 Betting Trends
- Seattle Seahawks: +3-105 / O 49½ -110
- Green Bay Packers: -3-115 / U 49½ -110
