NFL Player Prop Bets
Do you play fantasy football? If so, you could hit a double whammy with player prop betting. In fact, player props have become a popular new way to bet in the 30 states where sports betting is legal.
One big advantage of prop bets is that they often pay out faster than bets on full games. So, let’s get to the real question.
What Exactly Are NFL Player Prop Bets?
Simply put, a player prop is a bet on a player rather than a game. The things you need to consider are a little different. However, the way you decide who to bet on doesn’t change much.
For example, say you bet $50 that a player will score a touchdown, at odds of +500. If he scores, you win $250 plus your $50 stake back, for a total payout of $300.
Types of NFL Player Prop Bets
You can bet on much more than whether a player scores or reaches a certain stat.
First, Last and Anytime Touchdown Scorer Props
These bets are exactly what they sound like. For the first touchdown scorer, you pick who scores the game’s first touchdown. Similarly, for the last touchdown scorer, you pick who scores the final one. Finally, for an anytime scorer, your player just needs to score at some point in the game.
If you guess right, you win, and the payout works as shown above. However, you usually can’t bet on who will throw the last touchdown. So, if you want to bet on a quarterback, he must run the ball in or catch a touchdown pass.
Passing Props
Passing props can pay well, although the rules are a little different. In fact, they work much like rushing props, which we cover below. Simply put, you bet the over/under on a player’s completions, passing yards or touchdowns.
Receiving Props
As with rushing and passing, you can bet the over/under on a player’s receptions, receiving yards or the game’s longest reception.
To pick a player for a big game, consider the opponent, how often he gets targeted and how he has played lately.
Rushing Props
You can bet the over/under on rushing attempts, rushing yards or a combination of the two.
Before deciding how much to bet and how big a game to expect, consider the team’s system and how often the player gets the ball. For example, if his offensive coordinator likes to run, and the opponent is weak against the run, he will likely get plenty of touches. On the other hand, if the team throws a lot, he may record more receptions.
The weather also matters. In fact, freezing temperatures and snow often push teams to run the ball more than usual.
Finally, consider playing time and how often the team runs and passes. If the team rotates its running backs, try to project how many touches your player will get compared with the others.
Are NFL Player Prop Bets a Good Idea?
It depends on how well you know the players. However, props can be a great place to start if you already play fantasy football. If you have solid reasons to believe a player will reach a certain stat, you could make some money.
Before you choose your bet and your player, consider a few key factors:
- The strength of the opponent’s offense or defense
- How the player has performed against that team in the past
- The weather, especially if rain or snow is expected
- The player’s health
- How much he is expected to play
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