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There are a number of key injuries in the NFL to be aware of before placing your Week 1 bets.
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Important Injury Notes
Sportsbook odds are often subject to fluctuate wildly as key player injuries and suspensions come to light. Always monitor the live odds here
The Patriots - Julian Edelman is out for the Patriots. There isn't one receiver who can step into Edelman's role, so the Patriots will lean on multiple receivers.
The Saints - Mark Ingram is out for violating the league's performance enhancement substance policy.
What it means: "Obviously this hurts, considering Ingram just had the best season of his career when he and Alvin Kamara became the first running back duo in NFL history to both surpass 1,500 yards from scrimmage. But the best way to absorb the loss of a Pro Bowl running back is to have two Pro Bowl running backs. Sean Payton has insisted that it would be a “mistake” to just double Kamara’s workload while Ingram is gone, so the Saints will probably spell him at times with backups Mike Gillislee and Boston Scott. But Kamara should get most of the "important" touches in red zone or no-huddle situations, etc. And if needed, the Saints could also lean a little bit more on Drew Brees and the passing game." -- Mike Triplett, ESPN.com.
The Eagles - The Eagles will be without their leading tackler from 2017 for the opener against the Atlanta Falcons, Nigel Bradham. They have players that can fill the void, but it won't be easy.
The Ravens They lose Jimmy Smith, arguably their top cornerback. This has resulted in poor play in the past. Baltimore hosts the Bills as a -7 favorite. You wouldn't know it from the line though, which has not dropped below 7 after moving up from -4 over the months.
The Panthers - They lose one of their top linebackers, Thomas Davis. He is suspended four games for violating league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
The Colts - Running back Robert Turbin is out for violating league's policy on using performance-enhancing drugs. This hurts as Indianapolis is lacking depth at this position.
The Jaguars - Dante Fowler Jr. is out for the Jaguars.
"Fowler isn't a starter, but he is a key part of the rotation and lines up opposite Yannick Ngakoue in the third-down rush package. With second-year player Dawuane Smoot battling an ankle injury (after missing time earlier in camp because of a hand injury), the Jaguars are going to have to rely on Lerentee McCray and rookie first-round pick Taven Bryan to back up Calais Campbell. Fowler had eight sacks last season and is solid against the run. That's probably where his loss will be felt the most in the opener against the New York Giants and running back Saquon Barkley." -- Michael DiRocco, ESPN.com
- Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com
