NFL Week 11 Cowboys vs. Lions: Bettors clearly not expecting Matthew Stafford to play

Every Thursday in this space, we address which NFL teams are taking the biggest betting lean on the DraftKings NFL odds. And among Sunday's games in Week 11, there's a clear winner: Dallas. The Cowboys visit the Detroit Lions with a 1 p.m. ET kickoff from Ford Field. Dak Prescott & Co. are 4-point favorites.

As of this writing, the Cowboys are taking a massive 96 percent of the spread handle action and 94 percent of all spread bets. There's one pretty obvious reason why: Dallas backers don't expect Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford to play. He was a surprise scratch last Sunday morning in Chicago, snapping a string of 136 straight starts that was the second-longest active among all quarterbacks. Journeyman Jeff Driskel, a former sixth-round pick by the 49ers, got the start and wasn't great in a 20-13 loss to the previously struggling Bears.

Certainly, this spread would be a couple of points lower were Stafford to play. It's looking like a 50-50 proposition as he hadn't practiced as of Wednesday this week. Driskel has been taking all the first-team reps. In addition, tailback Ty Johnson, who took over as the primary ball-carrier when Kerryon Johnson was placed on injured reserve, hasn't practiced as he's in the concussion protocol and isn't likely Sunday. Possible that some sharp money comes in late on Detroit if Stafford is cleared.  

The Lions are 2-9 straight up and 3-8 ATS in their past 11 home games against teams with winning records. Dallas was upset last Sunday night at home by Minnesota but has won nine of its past 12 after a loss. The Cowboys also like those 1 p.m. ET kickoffs, winning eight of the past nine.

The other team taking a huge lean on NFL picks in Week 11 is the Jets at +1 as they visit the Washington Redskins, who come off their bye and give rookie QB Dwayne Haskins his second straight start. New York is taking 93 percent of the spread handle at DraftKings and 90 percent of all spread bets.

The most evenly-bet game so far on Sunday? The Colts giving 3 points to the Jaguars with Indy taking 55 percent of the spread handle and an equal percentage of the spread bets.