While watching my Rays unfortunately lose to the Brewers, I spent way too much time using the Parlays/Combos tool to find my favorite bets for tonight’s game. But I’m going with the following.

After the Panthers got thrashed on the ground last week, I expect the Packers to take a more run-first approach this week leaning on Jacobs (and to a lesser extent Lloyd). Them running efficiently accounts for the Jordan Love under attempts and the GB win but the value of this combo is throwing in an inversely correlated Watson receiving yards over. This works uniquely here because this could hit by one of the many Packers deep shot attempts and/or Matthew Golden being questionable and either missing the game or playing fewer than his normal snaps.

We have fair price at 20.1c or +397 but I’ll be shopping around for the best price throughout the day as we see more makers competing on price. My recommendation would be to take advantage of one of the sites offers below if you haven’t yet to get their sign-up bonus (while also helping us out as a partner).

Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown both sat out Wednesday's practice, with Gibbs (shoulder) and St. Brown (ankle) headlining an otherwise quiet Lions report ahead of Sunday against Minnesota. Gibbs carried a season-high 29 times in Week 7, so some built-in maintenance makes sense, and St. Brown has been managing the ankle for a few weeks now.
My take: as long as it’s not a TNF team, I’m rarely ever concerned about a missed Wednesday practice but something we’ll be watching.

Lamar Jackson (ankle) was a full participant Wednesday, his clearest signal yet that he'll be back under center Sunday. Baltimore's offense looked nothing like itself in that game, and Derrick Henry spent the afternoon running into loaded boxes.
My take: I’m very excited for what this offense could be with a healthy Lamar, making this perhaps one of the last buying opportunities for Lamar, Derrick Henry, or Zay Flowers (though this one probably already too late).

Jeremiyah Love (ankle) returned as a limited participant Wednesday after missing two straight games, a real step toward Arizona getting its 3rd overall pick back on the field. Bam Knight has handled the work while Love has been down, but this profiles as a lead-back role the moment Love is cleared.
My take: I’m still concerned with load management but it’s hard not to be optimistic about what Love could do in this unexpectedly competent offense.

Elsewhere around Wednesday's reports: Davante Adams had successful hamstring surgery and the Rams are hopeful he returns at some point this season, so he's a stash-only hold, Brock Bowers (calf) and Rashee Rice (hamstring) were both limited but pointing toward playing, DJ Moore (shoulder) was limited for Buffalo, and the Eagles placed Dameon Pierce on IR while promoting Jaydon Blue from the practice squad.

8:15pm ET on Amazon Prime: CAR @ GB (CAR 36%, +3.5, O/U 47.5)

Start with confidence
Green Bay - RB Josh Jacobs, WR Christian Watson, TE Tucker Kraft
Carolina - RB Chuba Hubbard, WR Tetairoa McMillan

Start them if you need to
Green Bay - QB Jordan Love, WR Matthew Golden (Q), GB DST
Carolina - QB Bryce Young, WR Jalen Coker

Sit them if you can
Green Bay - RB Marshawn Lloyd, WR Savion Williams, K Trey Smack
Carolina - TE Darren Waller, K Ryan Fitzgerald, CAR DST

Christian McCaffrey (SF): Looks like a quad contusion. He returned in Week 7 but with minimal production, and most cases like this shouldn't cause a dip by Week 9, with San Francisco on bye in Week 8.

Lamar Jackson (BAL): Data strongly favors a Week 8 return with a mild dip in the rushing, and he likely needs a full practice to play.

Jaylen Waddle (DEN): The chest designation is the concern, especially with a prior chest injury on record. This looks like a re-aggravation at higher severity, so the lean is toward missing Week 8.

DeVonta Smith (PHI): A re-injured hamstring for the second time, and these tend to average three to five weeks.

Aaron Jones (MIN): A re-aggravated MCL, though the reports and video suggest low severity. Lean toward a Week 8 absence, likely short-term, with a usage dip if he does play.

Jaylin Noel (HOU): Turf toe, which is impactful for receivers and averages three to four weeks, with early returns often carrying a production dip.

Jeremiyah Love (ARI): Lean toward a Week 8 or 9 return, with the data favoring Week 9 as the more likely date.

DJ Moore (BUF): Data strongly favors a Week 8 return at his pre-injury level.

Cam Skattebo (NYG): Comments suggest a mild hamstring on the final play. Lean toward playing in Week 9, with the Giants on bye in Week 8.

Kyle Monangai (CHI): Lean toward a Week 8 or 9 return, Week 8 being most likely, and no dip projected if he logs a full practice.

A.J. Brown (NE): Likely still affected by the high ankle, and the production dip could continue over the next two to three weeks.

Tyler Warren (IND): These average around three weeks, so the lean is a Week 9 or 10 return. Week 8 is a TBD, but the data favors sitting.

Rashee Rice (KC): Three weeks post-injury. Most receivers return in the Week 8 to 9 window, but his risk is a touch higher given the knee plus the hamstring designation. No efficiency dip projected on return.

Ladd McConkey (LAC): Most would clear concussion protocol by Week 8, and expect a rise if he stays healthy.

Breece Hall (NYJ): Limited twice before being ruled out in Week 7, and the data strongly favors a Week 8 return barring a setback. Usage is the question with Braelon Allen playing well, but a full practice typically means no dip.

Saquon Barkley (PHI): Data strongly favors him playing without an efficiency dip, with re-injury risk around 15 to 20 percent.

Mike Evans (SF): Lean toward a Week 9 return, as this type tends to linger for several weeks without extended rest.

Deebo Samuel (SF): Data favors a Week 9 return, with a high in-season re-injury risk around 20 percent.

Emeka Egbuka (TB): Likely to clear concussion protocol. The bigger concern is the foot, but the lean is toward playing in Week 8.

Baker Mayfield (TB): Unclear whether the limited passing volume in Week 7 was game script or protecting the thumb. Suspect more game script, with a gradual rise in attempts.

David Montgomery (HOU): Data favors a Week 9 return with Houston on bye in Week 8, and usage is a question after he was ineffective previously.

Deepak Chona is an Orthopedic Sports Surgeon by day, data-driven injury analyst by night. You can follow more of his insights at @SportMDAnalysis.

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