Welcome to a Raiders at Titans gambling preview via SoBros Network. This will focus on the 2022 NFL Week 3 matchup between the Tennessee Titans and Las Vegas Raiders. Every week, SoBros Network contributor Joshua Huffman will provide a weekly betting and daily fantasy sports (DFS) guide on Titans games.
Raiders at Titans: Week 3 Spread & DFS Gambling Preview (2022)
Introduction
The Titans (0-2) and Raiders (0-2) both entered the 2022-23 NFL season as trendy Super Bowl picks. Heading into Week 3, the Titans and Raiders face off in a game where the loser would fall into an 0-3 abyss that would make it very difficult to climb back into playoff contention. The game is even more crucial for Las Vegas because they play in a loaded AFC West division whereas the Titans play in an AFC South division where everyone has been well below average.
Tennessee comes into this game following a 41-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football. The offense has a ton of questions. A bad offensive line got worse when left tackle Taylor Lewan suffered an injury to the knee where he suffered an ACL tear in 2020. Star running back Derrick Henry has been ineffective because of a bad offensive line and no wide receivers who can take the top off a defense. After losing their best pass-rusher (Harold Landry) before the season opener, the Titans haven’t established a pass rush to aid their wounded and inexperienced defensive backfield.
Las Vegas comes into this game following a 29-23 overtime home defeat to the Arizona Cardinals. After jumping out to a 23-7 lead, the Las Vegas offense went nearly 50 minutes without seeing the field as the Cardinals scored 16 unanswered points to force overtime. They won the game after Raiders wide receiver Hunter Renfrow fumbled on two straight plays, the second of which Cardinals cornerback Byron Murphy returned for the winning touchdown.
Early Lines (as of September 21, via FanDuel)
DFS Prices
Titans
- RB Derrick Henry ($8,100)
- QB Ryan Tannehill ($5,700)
- RB Dontrell Hilliard ($5,100)
- WR Robert Woods ($5,000)
- WR Treylon Burks ($4,900)
- WR Kyle Philips ($4,000)
- TE Austin Hooper ($3,300)
- De Titans ($2,800)
Raiders
- WR Davante Adams ($8,400)
- QB Derek Carr ($5,900)
- TE Darren Waller ($5,800)
- WR Hunter Renfrow ($5,500)
- RB Josh Jacobs ($5,400)
- WR Mack Hollins ($3,100)
- TE Foster Moreau ($2,900)
- De Raiders ($2,500)
Key Injuries
Raiders at Titans Injury Report
Raiders at Titans: Best Bet, DFS Picks
Davante Adams
According to the Pro Football Focus Fantasy Football WR/CB Matchup Chart, Adams has run 81 routes. His pre-snap positions are split 33 percent each across left, right, and slot positions. He’s one of the NFL’s most versatile wide receivers who can line up anywhere…just like Buffalo Bills star wide receiver Stefon Diggs. Instead of adjusting, the Titans defense let undrafted rookie free agent Tre Avery guard him with no help. Diggs had 12 receptions for 148 yards and three touchdowns.
Here’s the good news for Tennessee:
Titans cornerback Kristian Fulton is Tennessee’s No. 1 cornerback. He didn’t play against Buffalo but should play against Las Vegas. Having Fulton and rookie cornerback Roger McCreary should give Tennessee a better chance of defending him whether he’s outside or in the slot; however, if Adams is lined up across from Caleb Farley or anyone else, the defense has to give them a LOT of help.
Darren Waller
Normally with daily fantasy sports, it’s a good idea to spend top-dollar on an explosive tight end. Waller has a good matchup in a game where he’s the No. 2 option behind Adams. Bills tight end Dawson Knox just had four receptions for 41 yards in three quarters against Tennessee’s defense. Waller can break out for 100 yards on any game day.
Austin Hooper
Henry always has the potential to breakout for a big game; however, if anyone stands out in terms of per dollar value, then Hooper has a chance to put up a decent performance. Despite two quiet performances where Hooper has combined for two receptions on six targets for 25 yards, he faces a Raiders defense that has allowed solid games to Los Angeles Chargers tight end Gerald Everett (three receptions for 54 yards and a touchdown) and Arizona Cardinals tight end Zach Ertz (eight receptions on 11 targets for 75 yards).
Hooper is worth a dart throw if you need a cheap tight end. Take note, however, that Tennessee has used some very peculiar offensive formations throughout the first two weeks, many of which haven’t included their top tight end. The offense continues to get comfortable with their personnel that largely changed from a year ago.
Raiders at Titans: Final Thoughts (Keys to Victory)
Monday night was an eye-opener. As I mentioned in my Week 2 preview, I was confident that the Titans would continue their trend of playing competitive games against elite competition. I couldn’t have been more wrong. This team has been nothing like last year’s No. 1 AFC seed; rather, they have severe personnel issues on offense, defense, and special teams. Offensive coordinator Todd Downing has the confidence of possibly nobody other than head coach Mike Vrabel. The biggest disappointment is how the defense looks closer to the horrendous 2020 version than the 2021 version that had fans expecting a top-five unit this season.
Pro Football Focus grades the Las Vegas offensive line as the NFL’s second-worst (No. 31). Titans defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons has a great opportunity to exploit an interior offensive line that is inexperienced and ravaged with injuries. This is crucial because they can’t let Carr get comfortable with Adams, Waller, and the rest of Las Vegas’ positional talents.
The same rings true along the opposite trenches. While Pro Football Focus ranks Tennessee as the NFL’s 12th-best offensive line (…how?), losing Lewan means that Tennessee needs two suspect offensive tackles to block Maxx Crosby and Chandler Jones.
Tennessee must get the ground game going because this will keep the pass rush from getting a jump start. If Henry continues to average two yards per carry, then you’ll see Tennessee forced into a lot of double tight-end sets where the TEs are kept in to block or at least chip away at the outside pass-rushers. Raiders defensive tackle Andrew Billings ranks sixth among DTs when defending against the run.
Las Vegas has the talent to exploit Tennessee at its biggest weaknesses. Crosby and Jones can attack an offensive line that was bad before injuries took a toll. Adams moves around the offensive formation so that allows him to exploit any individual cornerback unless someone shadows him.
The Titans will lose this game if they play like they have during the last six quarters. They will win this game if they play like they played in the first half against the New York Giants (13-0 lead).
What Are Your Thoughts on Raiders at Titans? Comment Below!
Joshua Huffman provides Tennessee Titans and broad sports coverage for SoBros Network. His personal blog, Armchair Prudence, offers sports editorials and a gambling diary that should help new DraftKings / FanDuel / MGM bettors. His content has been published on websites including Yahoo! Sports (via Contributor Network) and Titan Sized.
