Week 3 of the NFL Season is here and after limping through the first two weeks our TSN Staff is back with four best bets on the action.
Domenic Padula has circled two favourites for a moneyline parlay, while Drew Morrison and Connor Ford have their eyes on a couple of pass catchers and Luke Bellus rounds it out with an home underdog.
A parlay of all four best bets is currently +1069.
Domenic Padula: Bengals + Chiefs ML Parlay -120
I followed up a goose egg from Colston Loveland in Week 1 by getting bailed out by FanDuel’s Bet Protect + when Dallas Goedert suffered an early injury in Week 2, so the pressure is on to deliver a Sunday best bet winner. The Chiefs might not cover the 10.5, but they should find a way to beat the worst team in the NFL in Miami. Then there’s the Bengals, which are 2-0 after wins over the Buccaneers and Texans. Cincinnati’s defence is one of the most improved units in the NFL and that improvement was a big reason for a Week 2 win in Houston. The Bengals are finally healthy, and they will be motivated to stick it to a division rival on the road with a chance to improve to 3-0. Meanwhile, the Steelers barely pulled out a win over Atlanta in Week 1, then managed three points on the road against the Patriots in a 17-point loss in Week 2. I’m not sure how much Aaron Rodgers has left in the tank, but this is another tough matchup at home for an offense that has struggled. Give me the Bengals and Chiefs to win outright at -120. Hopefully, we can build off a 3-0 start to the week with a Sunday winner.
Drew Morrison: Ladd McConkey Over 58.5 Receiving Yards
Much has been made about the Chargers being 0-2. The trendy preseason Super Bowl pick has looked terrible for two weeks and their upcoming schedule, beginning Sunday in Buffalo, could realistically lead to an 0-9 start. Desperation will force them to dial up the offence against a weak Bills secondary. Ladd McConkey had five catches for 82 yards and a touchdown before exiting week 1’s game with a chest injury. He was limited all week in practice before a less inspiring 3 catches for 35 yards in last week’s loss. He’s without an injury designation against the Bills, and I think there’s a chance he doubles this total. He had two games with 100 yards last season, and both came after embarrassing losses.
Connor Ford: Pat Freiermuth Over 34.5 Receiving Yards
The Bengals defence looks to be much improved this season, but they still seem to have a weak spot against opposing tight ends. Cincinnati allowed the most receiving yards and second most receptions to the position last season. They also ranked bottom five in those categories in 2024. That trend seems to have carried over to 2026, as they just allowed Dalton Schultz to go for 140 yards on 12 receptions in Week 2.
Meanwhile, Pat Freiermuth has carved out a nice role in the Steelers offence. The sixth-year tight end has seen five targets in back-to-back games to open the season, averaging 39 receiving yards per game. Only six tight ends have run more routes tha him. Pittsburgh should continue to be forced into pass heavy game scripts, especially with injuries at running back. Muth is averaging 62 yards per game in 10 career meetings vs Cincinnati. I like him to have another sneaky performance on Sunday.
Luke Bellus: Indianapolis Colts +1.5 vs. Houston Texans
There is nobody more desperate than someone with an 0-2 best bet record to start the season.
So, I am clicking my heels and backing the Colts +1.5 at home against the Texans in a battle of desperate 0-2 division rivals
While the Colts offence hasn’t quite hit its stride with Daniel Jones back under center, putting up 23 points against Baltimore and 30 in Week 2 against Kansas City is a respectable start
Now, the Indy offence faces a Texans defence that has looked vulnerable through two weeks, while Houston’s attack will be missing star receiver Nico Collins.
Texans’ QB CJ Stroud, at home, with Collins has always looked a strong player in the league, but get him away from home and take away his top option and offence can be tough to come by.
I like Indy to win the game, but for the sake of a best bet I’ll take the +1.5 in case Indy wants to fumble another game away and lose by 1 at the buzzer.
