It's Week 4 of the 2020 NFL Eliminator Challenge. The rules are simple: Pick a winner each week, and don't use the same team twice. If you win all 17 weeks (or outlast your fellow group members), you're the champ. You can find all the rules here.
This article will look at the top Eliminator options each week, using betting lines (Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill), ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI), trends, future schedules and anything else that can help determine the best picks. (For more on how FPI is calculated, click here and here.)
Here are our recommendations for Week 4:
Los Angeles Rams vs. New York Giants
The Rams are coming off their first loss, 35-32 in Buffalo. But they beat the Cowboys and Eagles in their first two games of the season and should pick up another easy win against NFC East competition here. The Giants are 0-3 after being blown out at home by the injury-ravaged 49ers, 36-9. Los Angeles is the biggest favorite of the week according to both the FPI and the bookmakers.
Line: Rams -13
FPI favorite: Rams 84.8%
Eliminator Challenge: 34% selected
Baltimore Ravens at Washington Football Team
The Ravens just suffered their first defeat of the season, 34-20 at home to the Chiefs, but losing to the defending Super Bowl champs is nothing to be ashamed of. Washington is in first place in the NFC East, but that's nothing to brag about. The team is 1-2, with the only victory against the winless Eagles in Week 1. Baltimore is the second-biggest favorite this week, according to both the FPI and the bookmakers, despite being on the road.
Line: Ravens -12.5
FPI favorite: Ravens 80.5%
Eliminator Challenge: 17% selected
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Los Angeles Chargers
The Rams and Ravens are the clear top two choices this week, given the large point spreads and high FPI percentages. But four other teams are currently favored by seven points or more this week. The 49ers are the third-best choice according to the FPI (78.8%), but they were missing 10 projected starters last week and might be missing quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo against the Eagles on Sunday. The Buccaneers are right behind the 49ers in terms of the FPI, having won two in a row after their Week 1 loss in New Orleans. The Chargers, on the other hand, have lost two in a row and will have to travel cross-country this week.
Line: Bucs -7.5
FPI favorite: Bucs 78.4%
Eliminator Challenge: 3% selected
Others to consider: 49ers (-7) over Eagles, Chiefs (-7) over Patriots, Packers (-7.5) over Falcons
The Seahawks, 6.5-point favorites on Sunday in Miami, are currently the third-most popular Eliminator pick (16%). But they're just the ninth-biggest favorite of the week according to the FPI, at 62.5%.