Panthers vs. Saints NFL Week 7 spread, betting odds: Christian McCaffrey will not return Sunday

It's hard to argue against the fact that Carolina's Christian McCaffrey is the NFL's best all-around running back considering last year he had only the third 1,000-yard rushing, 1,000-yard receiving season in league history. Yet, the Panthers are 0-2 with the All-Pro in the lineup this season and 3-1 without. McCaffrey will not be able to return from a high-ankle sprain Sunday at New Orleans. The Saints are -7.5 on the William Hill NFL odds.

McCaffrey had two rushing scores in each of his first two games this year, but the Panthers lost 34-30 in Week 1 to Las Vegas and 31-17 at Tampa Bay in Week 2 – the game in which the former Stanford star was injured. Were this Sunday a playoff game, it sounds like McCaffrey might be able to go, but the Panthers play in the Thursday night game Week 8 so the team will play it cautious and hopefully see him return there.

Veteran journeyman Mike Davis, on his fourth NFL team, has played pretty well in McCaffrey's spot. Davis totaled just one carry in the first two games but has 63 carries for 271 yards and a touchdown in the past four along with 24 catches for 135 yards and two scores.

The Panthers aren't exactly tearing it up offensively over the past four in averaging 22.8 points, but their defense is playing much better in giving up 19.0 ppg in that span. That defense will be without safety Juston Burris for at least three games as he landed on injured reserve Tuesday following a ribs injury in last Sunday's loss to Chicago. Burris has 24 total tackles, two for loss, two passes defensed and an interception while playing nearly every defensive snap prior to the injury.

Sunday's game will be played at the Superdome – the Saints have threatened New Orleans with moving their 2020 home games to Baton Rouge if mayor Latoya Cantrell continues to disallow limited-capacity seating. LSU is being allowed 25 percent capacity in Baton Rouge and the Saints were being allowed only 750 people. However, Cantrell just approved up to 3,000 fans for Sunday. Season-ticket holders will get first crack at those.

New Orleans, incidentally, is the only team to start 5-0 on the Over-Under this season. The Saints are off their bye and should have All-Pro receiver Michael Thomas in the lineup for the first time since Week 1.

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