Player props can offer some of the best betting value on the board in any given week. They typically feature smaller limits and take less action than traditional game bets, so it’s not as imperative for the sportsbooks to hang accurate lines.
This is where the FantasyLabs Player Props tool comes in handy.
We take each prop bet listed across five of the most popular sportsbooks and leverage them against our player projections from Sean Koerner, the No. 1 in-season fantasy football ranker in each of the past three seasons.
Each prop bet then receives a grade, with 10 being the absolute best.
Our Props tool killed it in the last NBA season, with props graded a 10 covering at a 66.4% clip against the closing number. We currently have 29 props with a Bet Quality of 10 for Sunday’s NFL slate. Here are five props that are offering value for Week 2.
All lines are as of 9:30 a.m. ET on Sunday.
Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey
The pick: Over 4.5 receptions (-150)
This matchup couldn’t set up much better for McCaffrey's skill set, as the Falcons allowed the most receptions and fourth-most receiving yards to running backs in 2017. McCaffrey was the clear focal point of the Panthers’ game plan against Falcons last year to exploit those weaknesses, totaling five catches in each game on 14 total targets. Further, without Greg Olsen (foot), McCaffrey should be one of the primary beneficiaries of increased volume, along with Devin Funchess.
Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The pick: Over 1.5 passing touchdowns (-195 @ 5Dimes)
Lot of juice here, but it’s probably worth it to target Big Ben and the Steelers at home. Roethlisberger currently owns the second-highest ceiling projection in our models and it cannot be overstated how much Antonio Brown has smashed man coverage in his career. Naturally, a ton of Ben’s touchdown upside comes from Brown, as the Chiefs don’t have anyone who can cover him one-on-one. It’s really that simple. The Steelers have the second-highest implied total of the week in a game that could easily shoot out.
Falcons RB Tevin Coleman
The pick: Under 30.5 receiving yards (-115 @ 5Dimes)
In three games without Devonta Freeman, Coleman surprisingly saw a decrease in passing-game usage, averaging only 1.33 targets per game versus 2.32 with Freeman in the lineup. This matchup is below average, as the Panthers allowed the 11th-fewest targets to the position in 2017. Coleman is certainly a candidate to see 17-20 touches, but Atlanta is currently a six-point home favorite so the majority of his yardage will likely be on the ground.
Jets WR Quincy Enunwa
The pick: Over 3.5 receptions (-150)
Enunwa yielded a 0.97 Weighted Opportunity Rating (WOPR) — a volume metric that combines targets and air yards market share — trailing only Julio Jones (1.18) and Odell Beckham (1.02) for the highest mark of any wide receiver in Week 1. He was the clear focal point of Jeremy Bates’ offense and the more the Jets get him involved in the middle of the field, the more likely they can take some deep shots to Robby Anderson.
Broncos RB Royce Freeman
The pick: Under 16.5 receiving yards (-150 @ 5Dimes)
This line has already moved from -135 to -150 since Saturday night, and a big part of that could be that Freeman saw zero targets in Week 1. This backfield seems relatively spread out for passing snaps at the moment, with Freeman registering 11 last week in comparison to Devontae Booker (15) and Phillip Lindsay (nine). It would be shocking to see Broncos quarterback Case Keenum exceed 35 pass attempts in this game, so the under in this committee seems like the clear lean.
