NFL Week 4 Picks: Rams, Lions, Texans Earn Expert Consensus — SkimNews
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- Four surprise division leaders (the Raiders, Browns, Giants, and Saints) enter Week 4 tied for the best record in their divisions after last-place finishes in 2025, making them sleeper candidates to watch.
- Indianapolis Colts vs. Washington Commanders plays in London with both experts backing the Colts despite their league-worst 417.3 total defense; both expect another Jonathan Taylor showcase (325 total yards, 4 TDs through three weeks).
- Los Angeles Rams are the unanimous pick over the Philadelphia Eagles, with both writers noting the Eagles have yet to score a first-quarter point all year and haven't covered the spread in 2026.
- Houston Texans are unanimously picked to beat the Dallas Cowboys, with both experts citing the expected return of Nico Collins, who raises Stroud's yards per attempt from 7.7 (other receivers) to 10.7.
- Detroit Lions are picked by both writers to blow out the Carolina Panthers on Sunday Night Football, riding an 11-0 SU and 9-1-1 ATS primetime record as favorites under Dan Campbell; the Panthers will likely be without top cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson.
- Denver Broncos at San Francisco 49ers is a split: Dajani backs Denver citing Bo Nix's 10-0 record vs. NFC opponents plus San Francisco injuries (Nick Bosa, Mike Evans, Dre Greenlaw), while Dubin rides the 49ers' league-best offense.
- Jacksonville Jaguars at Cincinnati Bengals is the other split: Dajani backs the Bengals (noting Joe Burrow is 3-0 vs. Trevor Lawrence dating to the 2019 College Football Playoff), while Dubin takes the Jaguars as the popular upset after their 29-point demolition of New England.
Why it matters: The experts' convergence on the Rams, Texans, and Lions gives bettors a clear Week 4 signal on three games, with DraftKings Sportsbook lines (taken Sept. 29) favoring the same sides. The two split games — Jaguars-Bengals and Broncos-49ers — hinge on injury reports (Bosa, Evans, Greenlaw for SF) and Burrow's track record against Lawrence, making late-week news more decisive than usual for those slates.
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