We've reached Week 5 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.
We 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 5:
Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals
This is the second straight week in which we have two double-digit favorites, at least as of now. Baltimore is the second-best choice according to FPI, and is currently second according to Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill (but it's very close, and could change). The Ravens are 3-1, with their only loss coming against the Chiefs, and they'll be hosting the 1-2-1 Bengals.
Line: Ravens -13
FPI favorite: Ravens 81.6%
Eliminator Challenge: 21% selected
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Kansas City is 4-0, including a win over Baltimore. But the Chiefs had to play on Monday night, after their game with the Patriots was pushed back a day. And they're facing a tougher opponent than the Ravens. The truth is, either Baltimore or Kansas City is a great choice this week. The Chiefs are the best one according to FPI, and Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill as of Wednesday morning.
Line: Chiefs -13.5
FPI favorite: Ravens 82.1%
Eliminator Challenge: 5% selected
Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants
If you want to live a little more dangerously, here's an opportunity to select a relatively poor team, and save Baltimore and Kansas City for another week (if you still have them available). Dallas is 1-3 and coming off a 49-38 loss at home to Cleveland. Yet the Cowboys are currently the third-best choice this week, according to both FPI and the books. That's how bad the Giants are.
Line: Cowboys -9.5
FPI favorite: Cowboys 79.4%
Eliminator Challenge: 19% selected
Others to consider: Rams (-7.5) at Washington, Saints (-7.5) over Chargers, Seahawks -7 over Vikings
The Dolphins-49ers game is currently not on the board at Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill, but the 49ers are the fourth-best choice this week according to FPI at 78.7%.