5 best player props for NFL Week 2
The player prop market is a hot one for bettors. While standard spread and total bets account for an entire game, individual props focus on specific matchups. With a full slate of games Sunday, here are five bets to consider for Week 2.
Mark Andrews over 51.5 receiving yards
Quarterback Lamar Jackson and the Ravens' offense are getting tons of love in Week 2. It's tough not to when you hang 59 points on the road to open the season. While 50-plus probably isn't in the cards again for Week 2 against Arizona, it is another favorable matchup. Here, we're targeting Andrews, who faces a poor Arizona secondary that just gave up 131 yards on six catches to Lions rookie tight end T.J. Hockenson in Week 1. Andrews has developed a solid rapport with Jackson since the quarterback earned the job midway through the 2018 season and should be a go-to target again on Sunday.
Ryan Switzer over 3.5 receptions
Switzer's claim to fame out of North Carolina was his kick returning abilities, but he's now found an everyday role as a receiver in the Steelers' system. With Antonio Brown's absence in the receiving corps, it appears Switzer will benefit if Week 1 was any indication. He caught all six of the balls thrown his way against the Patriots and recorded 29 yards in the process. A shoddy Seahawks secondary that just allowed more than 400 yards to Andy Dalton is also dealing with some injuries. Expect Ben Roethlisberger to be throwing plenty, and for there to be enough on Switzer's plate to get this one home.
Ben Roethlisberger over 289.5 passing yards
Between Switzer's individual prop and a play on the over in our best bets column, it makes all the sense in the world to buy some Roethlisberger stock this weekend. If the Seahawks can't stop the Bengals at home after months of preparation, I find it hard to believe they'll be able to contain a pass-happy offense in what'll be an early start for a West Coast team. Roethlisberger is prone to lighting it up at home and he should be a huge bounce-back candidate this week.
Dede Westbrook over 4.5 receptions
Jacksonville rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew fared well in relief of an injured Nick Foles last Sunday, completing 22 of 25 attempts for 275 yards and a pair of touchdowns in his debut. It's a small sample size, but Minshew loved throwing in the direction of Westbrook, who hauled in five passes for 30 yards on six targets. Overall, the Oklahoma product accounted for roughly one-quarter of the target share when Minshew was under center. I'm still not sold on the Texans' secondary, making Westbrook a play for Week 2.
Mitchell Trubisky under 230.5 passing yards
Trubisky was horrible at home in the opener and there's nothing that would sway me to buy him in Week 2. The third-year quarterback's road splits last year were alarming, as he averaged just 208.5 yards per game. Now he matches up against Broncos head coach and former Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who should be able to exploit his weaknesses, and a defense that should put forth a better effort after failing to record a sack against the Raiders. The oddsmakers think this will be a slog - the total is 40.5 - and it doesn't look to be a favorable matchup for Trubisky.
Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AlexKoIodziej.