Thursday Night Football’s largest bettors keep recommending the Falcons, despite the team being considered the worst in football. SportsLine subscribers received notice about Falcons +7 as early as Monday, and the odds have since declined. New users at DraftKings receive $150 in bonus bets after spending $5+. Atlanta’s struggles this season stem almost entirely from their quarterback problems. They have yet to take a snap in the red zone.
The Quarterback Situation Changes Everything
The Falcons will have Michael Penix, Jr., under center, while Tua Tagovailoa remains available as the backup quarterback. The Packers, meanwhile, are dealing with a growing list of injuries. Sports fans can place their wagers on the NFL using the current FanDuel promo code and receive up to $250 in bonus bets.
The column makes the case that the Falcons have finally found depth at quarterback after enduring an untenable situation there for some time. Should they win Thursday and have everything else go their way across the rest of the weekend, they could find themselves tied for first(!) in the division when Week 4 begins. That outcome may seem far-fetched, but it is not beyond reason. A loss is certainly possible, but so is being down by a touchdown+ to the Packers on Thursday night while still managing to push through and reach the top of the standings.
Player Props Worth Considering
The primary suggestion centers on Drake London, who sits at just 65.5 receiving yards through the season so far. Atlanta has been a disaster this year, and the quarterback position has been almost entirely responsible for that. Among fantasy producers, I doubt anyone has been worse than Drake London, who was selected as a second-round pick and has been nearly invisible with Cooper Rush and Jack Strand throwing him the ball. Backers here will need to make a leap of faith, but it is worth remembering that with Michael Penix under center, London’s share of targets goes way up.
Penix may not be an elite signal-caller, but he is fighting for his job and his future and he represents a huge step forward. London should be the focal point of the offense on Thursday night.
A smaller bet would be Chris Brooks Over 7.5 receiving yards (-110 BetMGM). The Packers offense has no settled rotation right now, which means it is hard to guess which players will see the most work. Rather than trying to pick out who gets the carries, the plan is to assume Brooks gets one leakout or a swing pass here. The goal is modest: just a simple dump-off pass on a third-and-long situation.
Touchdown Bets and the Upgrade Narrative
The top anytime touchdown scorer is Drake London (+220, DraftKings). This pick is a doubled wager, though it comes tied to a correlated move that appears to offer solid value due to the Falcons’ quarterback change and the matchup itself. Once more: London serves as Penix’s primary target whenever the two face off. The Packers will likely guard against Bijan Robinson running close to the end zone, which opens things up for the passing game. London ranks among the league’s best at getting into the red zone, even if he has not scored from inside it this season because he has not gotten enough chances or snaps. That should change on Thursday.
Another choice is Christian Watson (+215, DraftKings). Watson drew plenty of fantasy attention this season, and his deep-threat skill was the main reason why. Yet I found what Watson showed in the red zone last week even more impressive: lining up in the slot, faking a fade before delivering a back-of-the-end-zone cross, wide open for Jordan Love. He plays a complete receiver role and is someone Love targets near the goal line, particularly with the run game not performing well.
| Bet | Odds | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Falcons +5.5 | SportsLine subscribers saw +7 as early as Monday | Injury news has pushed the number down |
| Drake London Over 65.5 | -110 BetMGM | Target share jumps with Penix under center |
| Chris Brooks Over 7.5 | -110 BetMGM | Simple dump-off pass needed on third-and-long |
| Drake London anytime touchdown | +220, DraftKings | Go-to target in red-zone matchups |
| Christian Watson anytime touchdown | +215, DraftKings | Green-zone threat with Love under center |
Key facts:
- SportsLine subscribers were alerted to Falcons +7 as early as Monday
- Drake London Over 65.5 at -110 BetMGM
- Christian Watson anytime touchdown at +215, DraftKings
- New users at DraftKings get $150 in bonus bets after spending $5+
- Falcons have scored one touchdown through 120 minutes of game time
What We Make of It
The injury reports have shifted the numbers, and the column is asking readers to sign up with push notifications active so they can see the change before kickoff. The touchdown wagers on London and Watson stand apart from one another, each betting on a distinct upgrade tied to the Falcons’ quarterback position.
The Falcons face the risk of getting blown out. However, they could also find themselves trailing the Packers by a touchdown+ on Thursday and then turn things around with a late push. That is the honest way to look at it, and it is the one worth keeping. The touchdown bets offer the safer way in.
The part to pay attention to here is that the Falcons are the worst team in football, yet they are being told to win.
Source material: “Packers vs. Falcons odds, picks: Analysis, predictions, player props for Thursday Night Football,” CBS Sports.
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