Top NFL Week 2 Player Prop Bets: Picks & Predictions (2024)
Offenses were shaky to start Week 1 of the 2024-25 NFL season. Despite a lot of underwhelming performances across the slate, my five Week 1 NFL player prop bets went 3-2, eking out a bit of profit.
James Conner finished six yards under his 55.5 rushing yards total, while Drake London fell way short of going over his total receiving yards prop, recording just 15 receiving yards, never coming close to going over 63.5. We cashed Aaron Jones O 54.5 rushing yards with ease at 94 total rushing yards, a Tyreek Hill any-time touchdown scorer prop, and Baker Mayfield going over 245.5 passing yards with 289 yards thrown in a lopsided win against Washington.
I’ve found three Week 2 NFL player props to tail ahead of another jam-packed slate on Sunday. Follow me on X at Matt_MacKay_ for more free bets and weekly analysis.
NFL Week 2 Player Props
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Deshaun Watson O 211.5 Passing Yards (-114)
We’re getting a bit bold with this first player prop for Week 2 but it feels like the line is too low on Cleveland quarterback Deshaun Watson’s total passing yards. The Browns got routed by Dallas in Week 1 and Watson only completed 24-of-45 pass attempts for 169 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions.
Now, he’ll face a much more pass-friendly Jacksonville defense in Week 2, which just gave up 338 passing yards to Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins. The Jaguars pass defense is much worse than its run defense, and the game script will likely continue to favor a pass-heavy approach from Watson and the Browns’ offense.
Watson didn’t play against Jacksonville in 2023 but he’s familiar with their team based on his tenure playing in the AFC South for the Houston Texans. Yes, personnel changes have happened since then, but it still helps to know an opponent. Watson threw for 212 passing yards or more in four of his six starts in 2023, so let’s stake a unit on a bounce-back effort on the road against the Jaguars in Week 2.
Chris Godwin O 5.5 Receptions (+106)
Chris Godwin cooked the Washington secondary in Week 1, hauling in all eight targets for eight receptions, 83 yards, and a touchdown. Detroit’s secondary is not world-class by any means, allowing Matthew Stafford to rack up 317 passing yards during their Week 1 overtime win against the Los Angeles Rams.
Cooper Kupp had 14 receptions and even wideout Tyler Johnson, who replaced Puka Nacua as the second pass-catching option following an injury to Nacua, finished with five receptions. We only need Godwin to snag six catches to go over 5.5 total receptions at plus odds, which feels like a great wager to place. Baker Mayfield’s confidence is soaring and he gave the Lions’ defense fits in the NFC Divisional Round playoff game last season.
I’m willing to stake a unit on Godwin to finish with six receptions or more at +106 odds, even with Mike Evans lining up on the other side of the field on Sunday. In 2023, Godwin had six receptions and four receptions in both games against the Lions, so betting over 5.5 receptions is a quality investment.
Rico Dowdle U 35.5 Rushing Yards (-114)
We’ll wrap up with a fun NFC matchup between the New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. Both teams are coming off dominant wins, but here, we’re looking to fade Cowboys running backs against the Saints defense.
Rico Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliot had close to a 50/50 timeshare in the Cowboys’ backfield against Cleveland, with Dowdle finishing with eight carries for 26 rushing yards. It’s hard to get a gauge on the Saints’ run defense after forcing Carolina to throw due to being in a huge deficit, but historically, the Saints’ run defense tends to play well under head coach Dennis Allen.
35.5 rushing yards isn’t a lot, but factoring in Elliot’s presence, combined with Dak Prescott forcing the ball to CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks, is enough to get me to justify betting on under 35.5 rushing yards for Dowdle. Dallas had plenty of opportunities to grind clock and run the ball against Cleveland but Dowdle didn’t break 30 rushing yards in that scenario.
In a closer-scoring contest, where Dallas may be forced to sling it through the air to utilize their top assets in Prescott and Lamb, Dowdle will be a mere afterthought, primarily used on short downs and goal-to-go situations. Let’s wager one more unit on Dowdle to finish under 35.5 rushing yards at -114 odds on Sunday afternoon.
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Matthew MacKay is a featured writer for BettingPros and FantasyPros. For more from Matthew, check out his archive and follow him @Matt_MacKay_.