NFL Props to Target for Divisional Round Playoffs When Lines Open
49ers Kittle Underwhelming Against Cowboys
There’s no doubting the fact that George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers is an elite NFL tight end. However, the perception of Kittle among Dallas Cowboys fans is probably not up in that stratosphere.
To be sure it’s a small sample size, but in two career starts against the Cowboys, Kittle’s performance has proven to be underwhelming. In last year’s NFL Divisional Round meeting between these two clubs, he caught three passes for just 18 yards. During a regular-season game in 2017, Kittle snared a solitary pass for 16 yards.
In last year’s playoff game against Dallas, Kittle’s reception total was set at 4.5 and his receiving yardage at 50.5 Through seven career NFL postseason games, Kittle has never gone over 4.5 receptions and only once topped 50.5 yards. Playing the under on one of both of these options looks to be worth a go.
Bengals Chase to Find the End Zone
When it comes to locating pay dirt, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase is like an end zone magnet. There’s a powerful force that is continually pulling him across the goal line.
This season, Chase has scored TDs in eight of the 13 games in which he played. He’s recorded five multi-touchdown games.
Chase has also been heating up heading into the playoffs. He came into postseason play with TD receptions in three of the past four games. Against the Baltimore Ravens on Wild Card Weekend, he didn’t just score an anytime TD, Chase was good for the game’s first TD. He snared a seven-yard scoring aerial from QB Joe Burrow.
The anytime TD prop for Chase paid out at +105. His first TD odds were +600. Chase has also caught TD passes in two of his last three NFL playoff games. And bad news for Bills fans. Even though it’s Buffalo set as 5-point favorites, when Chase finds the end zone and cashes on a TD prop play this season, the Bengals are 8-1 straight up.
Eagles Hurts So Good vs Giants
The only intra-divisional matchup of the NFL Divisional Round playoffs, Philadelphia won both regular-season meetings with their NFC rivals the Giants. And Eagles QB Jalen Hurts played a significant role in making both of those wins happen.
While he might be best known for what he can accomplish with his feet, Hurts has been so good through the air against the Giants. He attempted 30+ passes in both games and completed 20+ passes on each occasion.
However, it’s the end zone where we find the best NFL player prop play on Hurts during Divisional Round action. Hurts has gone over his TD pass total in five of the last six home games that he’s played. He’s thrown for 13 TD passes over that span.
And just in case Hurts needs a little bit of added motivation this weekend, Giants head coach Brian Daboll was Alabama’s offensive coordinator when Hurts was benched in favor of Tua Tagovailoa in the 2017-18 CFP National Championship Game.
Chiefs Kelce Is Money On Reception Yardage
Travis Kelce of the AFC Championship odds favorite Kansas City Chiefs is a monster. That’s not a secret. But just how much of a player prop monster he is, while that’s certainly worth repeating.
Among NFL tight ends this season, he was the only one to go over 1,000 yards in reception yardage (1,338). As well, Kelce was the lone TE to hit triple digits in receptions (110) and double digits in TD catches (12).
On average this season, Kelce goes for 78.7 yards per game. It’s the fifth successive season in which he’s topped the 70 ypg plateau.
This week, Kelce is facing the Jacksonville Jaguars, and that’s like letting the Kardashians loose in an NBA locker room. He’ll be grabbing everything in sight.
Jacksonville is the worst team in the NFL at defending the tight end. The Jaguars’ defense is surrendering a league-worst 68.61 ypg to tight ends this season. Jacksonville is also ninth-worst in the NFL in TE reception totals per game, allowing 5.28 catches.
Playing the over on either the receptions or receiving yardage props on Kelce will likely pay dividends. However, it’s the receiving yardage over that looks to be the best bet.
