NFL betting: What to look for in Week 6

Is it safe to back the NFC East in Week 6?

The NFC East is rolling thanks to Jayden Daniels and the Commanders, as none of their division rivals have been particularly consistent through the first part of the season. However, backing any of these teams in Week 6 is a massive gamble — and one you may not want to take.

Daniels is about to face his toughest challenge yet visiting the Ravens roughly 30 miles north in Baltimore. Washington is a 6.5-point underdog at DraftKings against a team it hasn’t beaten since 2016, which was long before the Lamar Jackson-Derrick Henry tandem got together. Given how good the Ravens have since starting the season 0-2, it’s going to be hard to back the Commanders here.

Elsewhere in the NFC East, the Philadelphia Eagles are 8.5-point favorites to beat the visiting Cleveland Browns, although they haven’t played well at home and will have a 21st-ranked rush defense going up against a tough run game. (And potentially a returning Nick Chubb.) The Dallas Cowboys are coming off of a victory but are 3-point underdogs at home against a red-hot Detroit Lions squad. And then there’s the New York Giants who, regardless of being 3.5-point underdogs this week, just aren’t consistent enough to back anyways.

When it comes to placing your Week 6 bets, beware the NFC East.

Don’t place your bets on Davante Watch just yet

As Yardbarker discussed last week, the Jets and the Saints are the favorites to acquire the superstar wide receiver ahead of the trade deadline. And while it makes sense that Adams wants to work with a quarterback he has familiarity with, you may want to hold off backing either of these teams to land him.

The Saints looked like an instant fit, but not so much now that Derek Carr is expected to miss multiple games with an oblique injury. And despite what talking heads are saying about a reunion with Aaron Rodgers in New York, the Jets’ level of disfunction has to be a turn-off. (Heck, Rodgers is a health risk with how much he is getting sacked right now.)

Sure, it’s crunch time to place those wagers with less than a month to go to the trade deadline. But this may be a scenario you sit back and watch given that the favored teams to get Adams aren’t in stellar shape.

Speaking of the Jets …

… they could be in for a world of hurt against an angry Bills team on Monday night.

Buffalo has dropped two straight and is desperate to get back to being a playoff-caliber team. Josh Allen’s crew likely hasn’t forgotten losing to the Jets in overtime in Week 1 last season, even though they got a big revenge win at Highmark Stadium later in the year. Buffalo is also averaging just over one sack per game, and Rodgers has been already been sacked 13 times through Week 5.

The Bills are narrow 2-point favorites, but they should have no problem covering against a discombobulated Jets team.

Bets in Sin City?

Neither the Steelers or the Raiders have been consistent this season, and Vegas has the kind of team that could keep Pittsburgh from covering a 3-point spread. However, Sports Illustrated still has faith in Mike Tomlin’s team — as long as Justin Fields stays under center.

“Mike Tomlin’s team is 4-2 against the spread as a road favorite over the last four seasons, and Pittsburgh still has an elite defense that is facing an uncertain quarterback room in Week 6,” writer Peter Dewey explains.