I’m going with a running back-heavy ticket of NFL prop bets for Week 1.
The pregame narrative: Neither Zack Moss nor J.K. Dobbins are the flashiest names in the game, but I like both to clear modest rushing yards totals with their new teams. I’m also backing Rachaad White to hit the over on his projected scrimmage yards and looking for Caleb Williams to throw an interception in his NFL debut.
Check out the best NFL Week 1 prop bets for the upcoming games.
NFL Week 1 prop bets
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Best bet: Moss over 47.5 rush yards (-117)
The post-Joe Mixon era is underway in the Queen City. Despite all the preseason buzz around Chase Brown, I view Moss as the RB1 for this team. And with that in mind, this is a very attainable yardage line.
Moss is No. 1 on the Bengals’ official depth chart, while Brown is slated to be the team’s primary kick returner.
No doubt Brown will steal plenty of touches, but this is a game where both backs should have ample opportunities.
Cincinnati (-8) is the heaviest favourite in Week 1, which means the team has the best chance possible for a positive game script to run the ball.
And given that Ja’Marr Chase only just returned to practice in a limited capacity on Wednesday — after holding out most of the offseason in a contract dispute — it’s possible that Cincy’s passing game won’t be humming at full speed anyway.
This is a narrative-heavy pick, but what else is Week 1 for? We won’t know exactly how the Bengals use Moss until they start using him.
What I know is that a sub-50-yard total for the starting tailback on a heavy home favourite should be well within reach.
Key stat: Moss averaged 56.7 rush yards per game last year. He cleared this total in five of his eight starts.
Quick picks
Williams over 0.5 interceptions (-129): I’m counting on Williams’ “welcome to the NFL” moment coming in the season opener against a new-look Titans defence.
Tennessee’s offseason included bringing in three-time Pro Bowler Quandre Diggs and notable ballhawk L’Jarius Sneed to beef up the secondary. Up front, rookie T’Vondre Sweat (the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year) should be expected to create pressure from the interior.
For as talented as Williams is, this will be his first Sunday seeing a bonafide NFL defence. Some mistakes should be expected, and I think the Titans can capitalize on them at least once.
White over 82.5 rushing/receiving yards (-113): The Commanders ranked dead last in points and yards allowed last year. They’ve got some new faces on defence, but this is still a group White should be able to exploit.
White rose to the occasion as Tampa Bay’s starting running back in 2023, and he was more productive as the season progressed. Over his final 14 games (playoffs included), he averaged 98.2 scrimmage yards while notching nine touchdowns.
He also cashed the over on this rushing/receiving yardage total in 10 of those 14 games.
Baker Mayfield is clearly comfortable checking down to White, who is capable of making things happen in open space. This is a great matchup for the tailback to do damage.
Dobbins over 32.5 rush yards (-110): If you’re new to a Jim Harbaugh-led offence, welcome. It usually involves a lot of ground-and-pound run schemes.
Harbaugh led the Michigan Wolverines to the NCAA football national championship last year while running the ball more than 60% of the time.
Now at the helm of a Chargers squad devoid of star-calibre receiving talent — not to mention a quarterback who nursed a foot injury through most of camp. I can see Harbaugh going with a run-heavy approach in his NFL return.
Dobbins is the 1B behind Gus Edwards, but Edwards doesn’t have the profile of a bell-cow. He averaged 11.6 carries per game last year with the Ravens, who ran the ball at a higher rate than anyone else.
I think 10 carries is a fair target for Dobbins on Sunday against the Raiders. If he hits that mark, he should cash this ticket.
Picks made at 12:35 p.m. ET on 09/05/2024.
Jordan enjoys writing data-driven game previews and analysis articles — especially for MLB markets or NFL/NBA props. And as a proud Ohio University grad, he’ll always have a soft spot for college sports (especially if the Bobcats are involved). Previous stops include mlb.com, Sportsnet and The Athletic.