NFL Week 1 Odds: Will Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase Play Vs. Patriots?

Sportsbooks have recently adjusted their fair share of odds for NFL Week 1. Among them are the odds of the Bengals versus the Patriots, with Cincinnati stationed as favorites. Joe Burrow and Co. opened near -9.5, but the Ja’Marr Chase holdout has forced bettors and operators alike to gear their attention toward lowly New England. Here is the latest on Chase’s status and how his potential absence is baked into the spread.

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Is Ja’Marr Chase practicing?

While many players have held out this offseason, Chase is the lone wideout waiting for a new contract before participating in practice.

Nevertheless, his contract dispute differs from most because he still attends team facilities. Moreover, Chase is asking for a new deal with two years left on his contract. The final year is a club option, which the Bengals opted into during the offseason in April. Other receivers have held out with just one year left on their deal.

Although the organization has yet to agree upon a new contract with Chase, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler has reported that Chase will participate in Wednesday’s practice. Given a day-to-day schedule within a team’s workweek, Chase’s status against New England would’ve been in doubt if he hadn’t participated in Wednesday’s drills.

Chase has sat out practice over the last several weeks as contract negotiations have stagnated.

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valuing ja’marr chase to the spread

On this week’s episode of “Behind The Lines,” BetMGM lead trader Christian Cippolini said Chase is worth around a full point to the spread. Cippolini also stated that sportsbooks that have shifted from Bengals -9.5 to -8 have already baked in Chase’s potential absence.

Even if Chase suits up against the Patriots, Cincinnati may decide to slowly work him back into the fold after missing all of training camp. The Bengals face the defending champion Chiefs in Week 2.

Cincinnati winning the AFC North is one of my NFL division bets. Thus, I’m bullish on the Bengals undergoing a bounce-back season, assuming Chase is playing and Burrow’s wrist injury doesn’t resurface.

WATCH: Cippolini Talks Ja’Marr Chase & Bengals Vs. Patriots

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