NFL Prop Bets: Brees a QB favorite

Drew Brees’ 34 TD passes in 2009 helped the Saints to the NFL title.

Pro football training camps are preparing to begin around the country for the upcoming campaign, providing steady entertainment until the Super Bowl in early February. Along with the speculation concerning what NFL teams will win their divisions or capture the Super Bowl, TheGreek.com has also installed some interesting offensive player props.

These prop bets detail players to record the most passing yards, the most rushing yards and the most receiving yards. The usual suspects are atop all of these lists, but there are always some interesting wagers lurking in the proverbial shadows.

TheGreek.com opened Peyton Manning and Drew Brees as the plus 500 co-favorites to throw for the most yards this season. Manning threw for exactly 4,500 yards last season, connecting on 33 touchdowns while tossing 16 interceptions. The former Tennessee Volunteer signal caller figures to have another stellar campaign with wideouts Reggie Wayne, Austin Collie, Pierre Garcon and Anthony Gonzalez in the mix.

Brees is also coming off a stellar campaign, upending Manning and the Colts in Super Bowl XLIV. Brees completed the regular season by throwing for 4,388 yards along with 34 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. New Orleans figures to post some solid offensive numbers behind Brees and running back Reggie Bush, tight end Jeremy Shockey along with receivers Marques Colston and Robert Meachem.

Other quarterbacks lurking near the favorite status include New England’s Tom Brady and Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers. Both of these signal callers have been installed with NFL odds of plus 650, while the ‘field’ enters the fray at plus 800.

Brady returned from an injury-marred 2008 campaign to post 4,398 yards passing with 28 touchdowns in 2009. The Michigan alum will be aided by a stellar receiving crew of Randy Moss, Wes Welker, veteran Torry Holt and rookie tight end Rob Gronkowski.

Rodgers might be a risky selection in this prop wager due to the Packers’ poor offensive line. The six-year veteran passed for 4,434 yards last season with 30 touchdowns and seven interceptions, but he also had to deal with an astounding 50 sacks.

While the quarterback remains the marquee position on the field, thegreek.com has also an extensive prop list of players to rush for the most yards in 2009. Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson and Tennessee’s Chris Johnson are the plus 500 co-favorites, while the ‘field’ has been listed at plus 650.

Peterson racked up 1,383 yards last season with 18 touchdowns, but he did fumble the ball 23 times. The former Oklahoma Sooner led the Vikings to the NFC Championship Game, but had some costly fumbles that prevented the team from advancing to the Super Bowl. A big season from Peterson will be of critical importance if the Vikings want to make their first Super Bowl appearance since 1977.

Johnson became just the sixth back in NFL history to eclipse 2,000 rushing yards in a season. The 24-year-old gained 2,509 yards en route to being named the league’s Offensive Player of the Year. Johnson is expected to lead the Titans offense once again, taking pressure off quarterback Vince Young in the highly competitive AFC South.

A couple of other interesting selections for this prop bet include San Francisco running back Frank Gore and Atlanta’s Michael Turner. Gore is a plus 650 selection, while Turner opened at plus 800. Gore started 14 games last season, racking up 1,120 yards on the ground with 10 touchdowns for the 49ers. Turner started just 11 games last season for the Falcons due to a recurring ankle injury, but he did post 871 yards and 10 touchdowns during that period.

Unlike the prop bets for most yards passing and rushing, the prop for most receiving yards has just one favorite. Houston wide receiver Andre Johnson has opened at plus 500 to lead the league in receptions this season. The University of Miami product enjoyed a stellar 2009 campaign with the Texans, catching 101 passes for 1,569 yards with nine touchdowns.

Other notable receivers on the board include Miami’s Brandon Marshall (plus 650), Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald (plus 650), Indianapolis’ Reggie Wayne (plus 650), Detroit’s Calvin Johnson (plus800) and New England’s Randy Moss (plus 800). The ‘field’ is currently set at plus 650.