NFL betting is king in the United States, and prop betting is a big reason why. Instead of betting traditional markets like point spreads and totals, some bettors prefer props, where in-depth knowledge of teams and players can result in bigger value than more commonly used markets.
What are NFL Prop Bets?
NFL prop bets are short for proposition bets, which are wagers that are not tied to the outcome of a game. Instead, these bets focus on hyper-specific components of each contest that could go in either direction regardless of how the full game plays out. This creates a more personalized betting experience, as bettors can find themselves cheering for outcomes that other bettors may not have thought to look for.
What makes these types of bets so appealing is that they offer more value in many cases than markets related to the results of a game. Prop bets are typically newer markets than full game markets, meaning that there is more potential for books to set lines that can be beaten. As a result, bettors are flocking to some of these props in an attempt to be more profitable in one of the toughest sports to bet.
NFL Prop Bets Of The Week – NFL Week 17
NFL Week 17 Player Prop Best Bets
NFL Player Prop No. 1: Saquon Barkley Over 78.5 Rushing Yards
Barkley enters a matchup that is a very favorable home spot against the Colts. The Colts are in the bottom third of the league in terms of rushing yards allowed per game, and have had one of their poorest stretches of the season over the last three games. The Giants continue to fight for their playoff life, and feeding Saquon on the ground will be the path of least resistance for the offense.
Barkley is coming off a string of more difficult matchups in which he still topped 80 rushing yards, on par with his seasonal average. This is a more favorable spot and one where we could see him fed volume en masse. He has a pair of games over 30 carries this year, and the struggling Colts offense will make that approach all the easier.
NFL Prop Bet No. 2: Travis Etienne Over 70.5 Rushing Yards
Travis Etienne gets a matchup against what is the league’s worst rush defense by a truly significant margin. Etienne performed admirably the last couple weeks in more difficult matchups, and now draws the most juicy matchup the league has to offer.
The Jaguars are streaking and they will be able to feed Etienne 20+ carries in this matchup against the Texans. Etienne has hit at least 83 rushing yards and averaged 116 rushing yards per game in games he has had 20+ carries. This is highly likely to be the fourth in which he sees that volume. It should be noted Etienne hit 71 rushing yards in the first matchup against the Texans, on just 10 carries.
NFL Player Prop No. 3: Evan Engram Over 47.5 Receiving Yards
Yes we have a rushing prop on Etienne as well, but the level of recent involvement for Engram is simply not reflected in this prop line. Over the last three games, Engram has amassed a silly 33 targets, which he turned to 26 catches for 337 yards and a pair of scores. He’s averaging over 8 catches and 112 yards per game in that span. He has simply been massively involved.
This is a spot where a favorable game script could see his usage take a hit, but also have that not matter. Needing just 48 yards to get to his over is a fantastic spot for the Jaguars new found top pass catcher.
What Types of Prop Bets are Available?
There are two main types of NFL prop bets available for those interested in getting involved with props this season. Those are player and team props, which look at very different components of each NFL game.
Player Props
Player props, unsurprisingly, are prop bets that pertain to the performance of individual players during each NFL game. These are the most popular prop bets, as bettors can wager on the statistical outputs of key players in each contest each week. These most frequently come in the form of over/under bets, but there are other forms of player props worth looking out for as well.
For example, bettors can wager on how many receiving yards a player will accumulate over the course of a game. A sportsbook will set an over/under for the top receivers on each team, with bettors being able to select which side of that total they think will win. This is an option for categories such as passing and rushing yards as well, giving bettors several avenues to find an edge when betting on how players will perform.
Along with those over/under markets, bettors can wager on player props pertaining to touchdown scoring in each game. Sportsbooks regularly offer the ability to bet on which player will score the first touchdown in each game, and whether or not a player will get into the endzone over a full game.
Team Props
Team props are not as popular as player props in the NFL, but they still have their place in NFL betting. With team props, bettors can wager on how each team will perform in specific statistical categories within each game. Like player props, these also regularly come in the form of over/under bets, though there are some exceptions to that rule.
Examples of team props include betting on a teams total score over or under, how many touchdowns a team will score in a game, winning margin of a game or how many times they will sack the opposing quarterback. Just like with individual player props, bettors who are good at evaluating matchups going into each game have a chance to find an edge when betting on team props.
Best Online Sportsbooks for NFL Prop Betting
Caesars Sportsbook
Caesars Sportsbook offers a great variety of prop bets, with the added benefit of frequent odds boosts. The Boosts section of Caesars Sportsbook is typically loaded with NFL props throughout the season. This works to add some extra value when the odds are boosted for props that a bettor may have been considering making anyway.
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DraftKings Online Sportsbook
One of the areas that sets DraftKings Sportsbook apart in the world of prop betting is the ability to place in-play prop bets. For major prop markets like yardage totals and touchdown scorer props, DraftKings may offer live prop bets, where odds are adjusted based on what has happened in a game to that point. This feature can open up more opportunities for value betting in the prop markets.
Fubo Sportsbook
Fubo Sportsbook offers something that not many other sportsbooks can: the ability to watch most of the sporting events that bettors are wagering on. Bettors can place prop bets at this sportsbook, then watch them play out all from one place. The convenience factor is the major benefit to betting on props with Fubo, even if this book is not as mainstream as the others on this list.
Bet365
Bet365 might be one of the world leaders in terms of the sheer volume of betting markets that they offer. Well-known in Europe for offering more betting options than the competition, states that have access to Bet365 will see that they have plenty of NFL props as well. Combine that with an easy to use mobile app, and using Bet365 for prop betting is a very pleasant experience.
PointsBet
Odds boosts are a huge source of appeal for betting on props with PointsBet. They offer multiple boosts daily on bets of a player’s choosing, as bettors can boost their payouts for one traditional parlay and one same game parlay every day. Parlays can be risky bets, but the increased payouts can make the rewards match that risk on occasion.
PointsBet is the only site that offers the wild ride that is PointsBetting. Pointsbetting has been described as a prop bet on steroids, where you are rewarded (or punished) for how right (or wrong) you are. For example, if you place a PointsBetting bet on Jalen Hurts to have 250 passing yards, and he throws for 280, your payout will be multiplied. If he ends up with 200, your loss will be larger. Limits can be set, and PointsBetting is not for everyone, but you can try your first PointsBetting bet risk-free when you sign up using our exclusive promo code.
BetMGM Online Sportsbook
BetMGM has two main components that make it great for NFL prop betting: availability and variety. This sportsbook is available in more states than most online sportsbooks, including major states like New York and New Jersey. They also offer a massive selection of props to choose from, including some selections that are off the beaten path.
NFL Prop Bets & Picks
How to read NFL Prop Betting Lines and Odds?
When it comes to reading NFL prop betting odds, there are two things bettors need to comprehend: what each prop bet is about and what the odds for that bet mean. As is the case with any type of bet, the odds determine how much a bettor needs to risk to achieve their desired payout. Odds that begin with a minus sign translate to the amount a bettor needs to risk to win $100, while odds that begin with a plus sign signify the amount a bettor would win with a $100 bet.
For example, let’s say that a quarterback has a passing yardage over/under set at 299.5 yards at -110 odds. Here, a bettor would be wagering on whether they think that quarterback would throw for 299 or fewer yards on the under side, or 300 or more yards on the over side. On either side, a $110 bet would be required to win $100, though bettors can wager more or less than that amount to receive a proportional payout.
Should I Price Shop for the Best Lines on NFL Prop Bets?
Line shopping is one of the most important things a bettor can do when wagering on NFL props or any other betting market. The act of line shopping consists of using accounts at multiple sportsbooks to get the best possible price on each bet. This can result in a huge difference in profitability over time, which is the goal of any serious sports bettor.
For example, one sportsbook may offer -110 odds on a prop bet, while another may offer that same wager at -115 odds. In this scenario, the -110 odds would require bettors to risk $5 less to win the same $100. Over time, those $5 differences could mean the difference between turning a profit and giving those profits away.
For bettors looking to get the best lines, it is very important to sign up for multiple sportsbooks and take advantage of new player bonus offers at each betting site to help get the bankroll moving right from the start. Online sports betting makes it easy to price shop as a few swipes on your phone gives you immediate access to all the best lines as opposed to having to travel from casino to casino shopping lines.
What to Look For When Betting NFL Props Online
Prop Betting Selection
One of the most important components of prop betting is the availability of as many prop markets as possible. Bettors can only wager on the props that are available to them, and some sportsbooks simply offer more choices than others. Bettors should be sure to look at some of the upcoming games on the schedule to make sure their preferred props are well represented by any bookmakers they are thinking about using.
Best Odds
As we mentioned earlier, getting the best possible odds can be the difference between making money on prop bets and losing money on prop bets. Comparing odds across as many sportsbooks as possible is key. Bettors who take the time to do this will give themselves a huge advantage in the long run.
Best Lines
Just as important as getting the best odds is the practice of getting the best lines for each prop bet. This also requires bettors to compare the lines for each prop across several sportsbooks to find advantages that could be as small as a half-yard on a single prop. Even a half-yard could be the difference between a win and a push, or a push and a loss.
Parlays and Same Game Parlays
Prop parlays are very popular among bettors, as they can turn a low risk into a huge payout if every leg of the parlay is a winner. Most sportsbooks even offer same game parlays, where bettors can combine props from a single game into one parlay ticket. If that is something a bettor is interested in, they should be sure to use a sportsbook that offers that feature.
Promotions
Sportsbooks offer promotions on a regular basis to entice players to bet with them instead of their competition. This can work out in a bettor’s favor in a big way, as they can use these promotions to wager on prop bets. Be sure to keep an eye out for these promos, to get as much value as possible out of props when starting out with the top bookmakers in the industry.
Basic NFL Prop Betting strategy
From a strategic standpoint, the smartest thing a bettor can do when betting on NFL props is analyze the matchups ahead of each game. Determining the weak point in a secondary can help determine where a receiver may have a big game, or finding where a defensive line has an edge against an offensive line can help bettors spot a week where a quarterback may struggle. The starting point for any prop bet should be an in-depth analysis of the on-field matchups to help identify these potential advantages or disadvantages.
The use of correlated parlays is another place where strategy can help bettors. Using the same game parlay option to combine prop bets where one result is likely to help another can make it easier to cash parlay bets that are normally not a good value. For example, pairing a quarterback’s yardage under with the under for one of his top receivers has a better chance of winning than two unrelated props paired together.
NFL Prop Betting Promotions
NFL betting promotions can be a great way to extract some additional value from NFL prop betting. These promotions are designed to give bettors peace of mind when wagering on football props, while allowing customers to try new sportsbooks at minimal risk to them. With prop bets, which can be more volatile in nature than traditional betting markets, these promotions can be especially beneficial.
The most typical examples of NFL prop betting promotions are risk-free bets and deposit bonuses. With a risk-free bet, bettors have multiple chances to win their first bet with a sportsbook, as they will be refunded in free bets in the event that their first bet does not win. WIth deposit bonuses, bettors receive a percentage bonus on their first deposit, which they can then use on prop bets or anything else they choose.
Where Can I Bet NFL Props Online?
NFL prop bets are available in all states where NFL betting is legal. As of now, the list of states where online NFL betting is legal is as follows:
- Nevada
- Arizona
- Wyoming
- Colorado
- Iowa
- Arkansas
- Louisiana
- Illinois
- Rhode Island
- New Hampshire
- Indiana
- Michigan
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Pennsylvania
- New York
- New Jersey
- Connecticut