Burrow’s toe injury crushes Cincinnati’s Super Bowl dreams for now, pushing Browning into the starting role and sending odds from 20-1 to 80-1. Taylor insists Browning can win games and contend for post-season glory, while the schedule pitchers a tough road ahead with multiple high-scoring defenses—yet several favorable matchups offer a real path to a late-season surge if Browning hits stride.

Predictions for Weeks 3–18 hinge on defense, turnover timing, and Browning’s past experience stepping in during 2023. If Cincinnati can steal a few key wins against leaky defenses—and Burrow isn’t needed for a playoff run—their postseason odds aren’t dead, just dramatically thinner.

With eight teams allowing 29+ PPG, the path remains plausible: the Bengals face Browns, Ravens (twice), Steelers (twice), Dolphins, Bears, Jets and others in a 15-game stretch. If Browning can navigate this slate and Cincinnati sneaks to 9-8 or similar, Burrow could return for a dramatic postseason push.

Week 3 spotlights a primetime parade: Buffalo hosts Miami on Thursday as the lone double-digit spread (Bills -12.5). Sunday Night features New York against Kansas City, while Monday Night pits Baltimore against Detroit. A slate of marquee matchups—Patriots at Steelers, Eagles at Rams, Bears at Cowboys—gives fantasy managers a wealth of angles. The sportsbook scene is rich with promos from DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars, FanDuel and Fanatics. SportsLine's model leans Steelers to cover Patriots, Chiefs to win at the Giants, and Ravens-Lions to go Over, underscoring high-scoring ceilings and key DFS targets like Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jared Goff.

Atlanta’s defense overwhelmed Minnesota, racking up eight sacks on J.J. McCarthy and delivering a decisive 19-point cover as underdogs. Seattle surged with Kenneth Walker’s 8.1-yard average and a high-velocity pass rush against Rodgers, while Detroit found a cleaner pocket and kept the connection to Amon-Ra St. Brown flowing. The piece then maps Weeks 3–6, highlighting soft and tough schedules to spot lines, totals, and futures edge for fantasy players and bettors alike.

Las Vegas heads to Washington as 3.5-point underdogs after a 20-9 MNF loss that exposed a stalled Raiders offense and three costly interceptions. Week 3 odds pull LV into a low-scoring tilt with an over/under of 44.5 and a moneyline of +152. Washington sits at -180, while Buffalo-Bills are heavy -12.5 favorites over the Dolphins.

Washington may be without Jayden Daniels, adding risk for fantasy projections. Opening boards spotlight Chargers -180 over LV, and the slate centers DFS and betting decisions around a few clearer-friendly matchups. FanDuel remains the site to lock Week 3 lines and build rosters.