PREVIOUS WEEK RESULTS:
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SEASON RESULTS:
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Week 1 Preview:
The buzz around the 2024 NFL season is as high as any season opening there has ever been. Sportsbooks are taking in record handles as the amount of options and opportunities for sports bettors are at an all-time high. As books have adapted how they accept bets and assign juice, the value with player prop bets has often trumped traditional against the spread and over/under lines. The BetCrushers Prop Corner continues to be a cornerstone for our overall betting portfolio. Week one is probably the trickiest week to find player props due to a lot of uncertainties without sample sizes. For example, we really like Malik Nabers this week, however we simply have to wait to see if he receives a large workload, or if the Giants offense can perform. Our theory for opening weekend? Play a few guys we feel will have nice games and take their overs. We opted to dip our toe in to start the season, with a lot more fun and action on the way in the upcoming weeks.
Our Picks:
Kenneth Walker III – Over 66.5 Yards Rushing (-110)
The Mike McDonald era takes off in Seattle as his Seahawks will welcome the Denver Broncos in an interesting week one matchup. The Broncos are one of the intriguing teams that could end up outperforming expectations throughout the season. One area that has been a trouble spot for this team has been the ability to stop the run. While they were better in 2023 than previous years, they were still just middle of the pack, and struggled with physical running backs with breakaway speed. That’s exactly what Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III brings to the table. Walker does yield some time to backup Zach Charbonnet, however he does outsnap him, and when you look at his performances a season ago it was a pretty simple formula. Walker ran through poor run defenses, and struggled with tough ones. Anticipating the Broncos as a below rush defense, Walker should find success in what could end up being a bit of a smash-mouth style game. We’re counting on the fresh legs and weak opponent to help get Walker over the yardage total in this one.
Khalil Shakir – Over 46.5 Yards Receiving (-110)
The Buffalo Bills knew they wouldn’t be able to land a star wide receiver immediately when they shipped Stefon Diggs off to the Texans. Their plan all along was to spread those hefty targets around to remaining players on the roster. We’re not expecting any one player to dominate targets consistently on a week-to-week basis in Buffalo, but we do expect Khalil Shakir to garner a good chunk of what went to Diggs and Gabriel Davis. You could easily argue over the second half of last season that Shakir was the most reliable receiver the Bills had, with both Diggs and Davis plagued by drops. Sunday he’ll get to face an Arizona Cardinals defense that was one of the worst in the league a year ago, and doesn’t look like it will be all that much better in 2024. The Cardinals on offense however should be able to put some points on the board. That means the Bills should be throwing for the duration of the game. Look for Josh Allen to go to his trusted targets as he gets familiar with some of the new weapons on the roster. Don’t be surprised if Shakir’s receiving totals are near the 60 yard mark after a few weeks. Take advantage of this low number now against a weak opponent.
Evan Engram – Over 43.5 Yards Receiving (-110)
New weapons are always fun for a quarterback which is what Trevor Lawrence will have when the Jaguars head to Miami to face the Dolphins. However, what’s even better for a QB is the consistency of the safe target they’re used to throwing to. Sure the Jags will look to get rookie Brian Thomas, Jr. involved in the game plan, as well as free agent Gabe Davis, but when he needs a throw, Lawrence will be looking to Christian Kirk and Even Engram. The Jaguars tight end is a tough matchup because he has the rare combination of size and speed, making him difficult to cover. The Dolphins have some lockdown players at the cornerback position, which makes Engram an even more appealing option over the middle of the field. In 2023, Engram had at least 6 targets in every game, and bested this mark of 43.5 yards in all but four contests, routinely going well over. Add in the fact the Dolphins are likely to score some points, and the Jags could be throwing a lot in the second half of the game. Engram is a great potential play for week number one.
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