Cardinals vs. Commanders NFL Week 1 odds, props: With Joshua Dobbs as starting QB, sportsbooks drop Arizona to 3.5 season wins

It would be tough for the sportsbooks to be any more pessimistic about the 2023 Arizona Cardinals, who appear to have the worst roster in the NFL and are essentially starting over with a new front office, coaching staff and, for at least the first four weeks, a new starting quarterback in journeyman Joshua Dobbs. The Cardinals are -7 on the SportsLine consensus for Sunday's game at Washington, but what's more interesting in my mind is that Arizona has been dropped from over/under 4.5 wins to 3.5 via DraftKings. 

It's tough for an NFL franchise to tank, considering there are only 17 regular-season games and players don't tank, owners and front offices do. That said, if you search Arizona Cardinals and "tanking," there's a lot out there. It's quite bleak for the franchise this year with star QB Kyler Murray out at least the first four games recovering from his torn ACL.

Under first-year coach Jonathan Gannon, Arizona was already the only team projected to not be favored once all season after losing its final seven games of 2022 and stars like J.J. Watt and DeAndre Hopkins departing. Dobbs was acquired from Cleveland on Aug. 24 after being on three different NFL rosters last season. He "earned" the starting job after Colt McCoy was cut by beating out rookie fifth-round pick Clayton Tune. Dobbs is 0-2 career as a starter, both last year with Tennessee.

There are no individual props for Dobbs up yet because the Cardinals haven't officially named him the starter and Gannon says he will not for competitive reasons, but there have been multiple reports it will be Dobbs under center. He is +2200 at DraftKings to lead all quarterbacks in passing yards Sunday.

Regarding that new win total, it's believed to be the NFL's lowest since the New York Jets were set at the same number in 2017. They finished 5-11. We may never see a 3-win total again now that there are 17 regular-season games. The last time was in 1995.

There are two key injury notes for Arizona. No. 1 tight end Zach Ertz and top wideout Marquise Brown are both in doubt. The total has dropped from an open of 41 to 38 as both have been limited in the practice this week. Second-year player Trey McBride would start if Ertz can't. Amazingly, the Cardinals haven't had a tight end with a 100-yard receiving game since 1989, the longest active streak in the NFL.

The good news for the Cardinals: They have both their own and Houston's first-round pick in 2024 and could become the second team in Common Draft era to pick first and second. The 1992 Colts took Washington defensive end Steve Emtman first that year and Texas A&M linebacker Quentin Coryatt second. Neither had a big impact in the NFL -- the entire draft class was pretty lackluster. The 2024 class could be loaded, topped by USC QB Caleb Williams and Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr.

There are two key injuries for Washington, with receiver Terry McLaurin and defensive end/former NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Chase Young ailing. McLaurin was in some question with turf toe but practiced in full Thursday and should play. He is looking to become first player in franchise history with four straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons. Young is questionable.

It will be the second NFL start for Washington QB Sam Howell, who beat visiting Dallas in a meaningless Week 18 game last season. The Commanders could be in the Caleb Williams Derby for next year as well if Howell, a 2022 fifth-round pick, doesn't pan out. Howell is set at over/under 210.5 passing yards and 1.5 TDs.

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