Pro Picks (Rise of the Chalk Donkey This Week)

Monster Play — 5 units

Saints -3.5 vs. Raiders
First home game of the year in the Superdome and 20 anniversary game after Katrina hurricane

High Plays — 2 units

Panthers -2.5 at Browns
Carolina is the sharper 1-1 team and should control a modest road favorite against a still-limited Cleveland offense.

Lions -6.5 vs. Jets
Detroit at Ford Field is a mismatch in tempo and scoring, and -6.5 is a fair price against a Jets team that has not shown it can hang in a track meet.

Seahawks -8.5 at Commanders
Seattle is 2-0 with Sam Darnold back, while Washington is 0-2 and without Jayden Daniels, which is too big a talent gap even on the road.

Vikings -1.5 at Buccaneers
Minnesota is 2-0 and should handle a 0-2 Tampa Bay team that has not found any consistency on either side of the ball.

Cowboys +3.5 vs. Ravens (Rio)
Dallas as a short underdog in a neutral-site game is the value side if this stays close and the Ravens do not pull away early.

Medium Plays — 1 unit

Bengals -3.5 at Steelers
Cincinnati is 2-0 and the better offensive team in a rivalry game that should not require a huge number to cover.

Eagles -3.5 at Bears (Monday)
Philadelphia is 2-0 and should travel as the more complete team against a Bears club still finding its footing.

Broncos +2.5 vs. Rams
Denver at altitude is a live dog against a 1-1 Rams team that has not earned more than a field-goal favorite number.

Texans -1.5 at Colts
Houston is the more functional 0-2 team and should be able to win a low-scoring, one-score game in Indianapolis.

Jaguars -3 vs. Patriots
Jacksonville at home is a small favorite for a reason and should be able to grind out a short-number cover against New England.

Low Plays — 0.5 units

Cardinals +7.5 at 49ers
San Francisco is the better team, but +7.5 is a lot of points if Arizona can keep this from turning into a blowout.

Giants -2.5 vs. Titans
New York is at home against 0-2 Tennessee and should still be good enough to cover even with Jameis Winston starting.

Chiefs -10 at Dolphins
Kansas City is 2-0, Miami is 0-2, and this is the one double-digit favorite on the board that actually looks like a mismatch