APC Week 3 NFL Picks: Confidence in Packers is strong with star receivers questionable

The Green Bay Packers got some good news and bad news on Thursday when the team took the field for practice. Kenny Clark was participating, an encouraging sign for the team’s interior defense. However, wide receiver Davante Adams was not, suggesting that he may be unable to play when the team takes on the New Orleans Saints on Sunday Night Football this weekend.

If Acme Packing Company’s picks this week are any indication, however, there are few concerns about the Packers’ ability to move to 3-0. APC is overwhelmingly picking the Packers both to beat the spread as a 3.5-point underdog and to win outright on Sunday.

One of the factors in that pick is the fact that the Saints are also dealing with an injury to their top receiver. Michael Thomas is dealing with a high ankle sprain that still appears likely to keep him out this weekend. That helps balance the scales a bit for our contributors with Adams out, as the Packers’ offense has been more impressive than that of the Saints so far. In fact, the Packers’ rushing offense has a higher DVOA than the Saints’ passing game, a surprising development given the weapons New Orleans has at its disposal and the overall higher efficiency associated with throwing.

Check out our picks for the Packers-Saints game and all of the other contests in week three here as we get ready for Sunday.