With another round of the NFL playoffs coming up this weekend, the oddsmakers have delivered another offering of interesting player props. Once again we’ll be focusing on passing, rushing and receiving yards prop odds.
Let’s start with the passing yards prop where the favorite to throw for the most yards this weekend is Tom Brady at +225. This season Brady led the league with 4,577 passing yards, averaging 286.1 yards per game. He’ll be facing a Tennessee Titans defense that ranked 25th against the pass, which could lead to some big numbers.
After Brady, Drew Brees, Matt Ryan and Ben Roethlisberger come next at +500, followed by Nick Foles and Case Keenum at +600. Then there’s the long shots, or more bluntly the wastes of money, Blake Bortles and Marcus Mariota at +1200.
Last week in the wild-card round, Brees led all QBs with 376 yards against the Carolina Panthers. He may have trouble doing that again versus a Minnesota Vikings defense that ranked second against the pass this season. Brees threw for 291 yards in a loss to the Vikes back in Week 1.
Moving on to rush yards, the heavy favorite to run wild this weekend is Le’Veon Bell at +175. Among remaining backs, Bell was the rushing leader this season, averaging 86.1 yards per game. One potential blemish against Bell is that he only put up 47 yards earlier this season against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Steelers’ opponent on Sunday.
Last week’s rushing leader was Derrick Henry. He racked up 156 yards against the Kansas City Chiefs and with DeMarco Murray still banged up, he could be a smart pick again this week at +600 when he faces New England’s 20th-ranked run defense.
Also worth a look on the rush prop odds are Leonard Fournette at +450 and Latavius Murray at +750. Fournette will get to face the Steelers again this week after previously burning them for a season-high 181 yards. Murray was the Vikings’ go-to back late in the season and is facing a Saints defense that wasn’t great against the ground game this season.
For the receiving prop odds, the favorite shouldn’t surprise anyone. Antonio Brown was the only receiver to average more than 100 yards per game this season with 109.5 and he’s obviously the prop favorite at +500. The only concern regarding Brown is that he’s returning from a calf injury that could hamper him on Sunday.
Following Brown on the prop odds list are the usual suspects with Julio Jones at +650, Michael Thomas at +800 and Brandin Cooks at +900. Among players still active this week, Thomas led all receivers last weekend with 131 yards against the Panthers. However, against Minnesota earlier this season he was limited to only 45 yards.
If you’re looking for a value pick, Minnesota’s Adam Thielen at +900 might be the way to go. Thielen finished fifth in the league in receiving yards this season and led all Minnesota receivers in receptions by a wide margin. He’ll also be facing a New Orleans defense that he posted 157 yards against earlier this season.