NFL Week 9 best bets: Five top picks for against the spread pools and contests include one backup quarterback
Backup quarterbacks are starting around the league, and one in particular is worth playing as a best bet
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Week 9 has turned into the Week of the Backup Quarterback in the NFL. The Ravens kicked it off on Thursday with third-stringer Joe Fagnano struggling to move the ball in bad weather against the Jaguars as Jacksonville easily covered. The 1 p.m. slate brings two more backups as Shedeur Sanders faces the Saints in New Orleans and Joe Milton takes over for Tanner McKee as the Eagles face the Giants. The late afternoon slate has a battle of backups with Gardner Minshew and Drew Lock squaring off in Cardinals-Seahawks, though technically Minshew is the new starter for Arizona. Finally, Carson Wentz takes the ball on Monday for the Vikings against the Bills in place of Kyler Murray.
Only one of those backups is favored, with the Seahawks laying 8.5 points after sitting around -12.5 before the Sam Darnold injury was reported. Seattle is also at a rest disadvantage after playing Monday and will come into this matchup with just a one-game lead on Arizona after the Seahawks lost to the Bears and the Cardinals rallied back to beat the Cowboys.
I'm putting one backup quarterback on my contest card as part of my five best bets, but which one? We'll get into it below.
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