ProFootballDoc: Actionable Health Issues for NFL Week 16

COVID dominates the NFL landscape but also provides some injury advantages for those that stay on top of the situation and that is what we are here to do with the FIeld View and SIC scores at Sports Injury Central www.SICscore.com.

Using injury analysis, we hope to improve on the five Sunday games against the spread, which sits currently at 41-33-1 (+8). Use the info to make your own analysis but here are our picks and honorable mentions for the week using the current FanDuel lines as of posting.

L.A. CHARGERS -10.5 @ HOUSTON

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The Texans have the lowest team, offense and defense SIC scores of the season. Nine defensive starters and four out of five offensive lineman are out with COVID and unlikely to clear. One look at Houston defense Field View and there is so much red it is like the "Valentine's Day Massacre." Yes the Chargers have their own COVID issues including Austin Ekeler, Mike Williams and Joey Bosa but they pale in comparison to the Texans. The game really should have been postponed and with nothing to play for, it seems the Chargers should cruise despite being the big road favorite.

ATLANTA -6.5 vs DETROIT

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The Falcons are not a great team but they are 26.7 points healthier on our SIC score versus a Lions team without Jared Goff and lacking CBs and LBs. Atlanta is in a must win to remain alive for an outside shot at the playoffs. Atlanta is poised for this home win and with Goff and other offensive weapons out, we feel better about avoiding a back door cover.

CAROLINA (+10) vs TAMPA BAY under 42.5

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The Bucs are among the bigger fillers in health this week with loss of offensive fire power in Chris Godwin, Mike Evans and Leonard Fournette. The Panthers get a little healthier offensively but still carry a low offensive SIC score. It seems like points will be at a premium in this contests and thus the Panthers could keep it close.

CINCINNATI -7 vs BALTIMORE

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We loved this game at Bengals -2.5 earlier this week when we postulated that Lamar Jackson would not play due to an ankle bone bruise. Indeed the line crept up to 4.5 but with Tyler Huntley out with COVID the line is now 7. Since we go by the FanDuel line at time of writing of this article, we have to use the 7. The Ravens remain shorthanded in the secondary and at defensive end. Journeyman QB Josh Johnson just signed with Baltimore 10 days ago and will start. We love the Bengals at -2.5 and we base our advantage on the hidden injuries whereas the Ravens issues are quite public, but have to still be on the much healthier Bengals at -7.

PHILADELPHIA -10 vs NY GIANTS

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Almost 20 SIC score points healthier, the Eagles get to face a third string QB signed a few weeks ago off the Bills practice squad. Philadelphia is a rarity with almost a completely healthy defense and and offense returning stars. I get this is a division rival but the air if out of the Giants season while the Eagles are very much in playoff contention.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Go to www.SICscore.com to see all of the fantasy/DFS/wagering and prop play advantages to make your own decisions.