Primetime NFL games bring in the numbers -- and the bets. In an attempt to boost gamer bankrolls, this only occasionally profitable bettor will attempt to stack greenbacks under the lights. As always, fade or follow -- that’s up to you.
The Pick: SGP - Christian McCaffery anytime TD, 25+ receiving yards, Carolina +14.5 (+105, BetMGMt)
Sometimes it’s simply not your year.
In the Red Grange Invitational -- a 14-team SuperFlex fantasy league this dunderhead formed in 1995 -- Machete the Yeti is the real-life equivalent of the Tennessee Titans. Yep, a miserable 1-9 franchise. Naturally, the barrage of smack issued by various league-mates has been relentless and well-deserved.
Bring on the embarrassment. Bring on the endless ridicule. Bring on the punishment.
The reason for the suckage squarely sits with the dastardly injury imp. Starting with Joe Burrow in Week 3, SEVEN -- you read that correctly -- SEVEN key players have missed extensive time. Trades were made. Pickups were added. And the losses still mounted.
Even a FSWA Hall of Famer can endure a humiliating season. If only CMC was on my team …
Those who drafted Christian McCaffrey were widely believed to be basement dwellers. Though marvelous when healthy, he was bound to succumb to another significant setback. Last year’s bilateral Achilles tendonitis -- which naysayers were convinced would flare up -- set the stage for disappointment.
Instead as Brock Purdy, George Kittle, Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall and other key Niners suffered sapping injuries, it’s the alledgedly fragile McCaffrey who has defied seemingly long odds and remained upright.
A jack-of-all-trades, the Football Factory has churned out stellar across-the-board stats. As a receiver, he’s No. 1 in routes run (29.3), yards per route run (2.27), target share (27.2%), receptions (74) and receiving yards (732) among RBs. Specific to the parlay above, he’s recorded at least 40 receiving yards in every game this year.
On the ground, McCaffery is equally consistent. Tops among all rushers in red-zone touches (55), he’s crossed the chalk in seven of 11 games. Against a Panthers D that’s No. 24 in rush EPA D entering the week, BetAlytics gives No. 23 an almost outrageous 80.3% chance of splashing six. Hello, REVENGE GAME!
Throwing in an alt-line on Carolina to confuse the algorithm, plus money is achieved. Just stay competitive, Panthers.
This scribe’s fantasy season wrapped long ago, but thanks to CMC markets, here's hoping the betting season won’t wind a similar path.
NO CONTEXT PARLAY PLAY: SGP - Brock Purdy 2+ pass TDs, George Kittle 30+ receiving yards, Rico Dowdle 10+ receiving yards (+138, ESPN Bet)