NFL Week 2 player props: Betting on what was missing from Week 1

The tagline at the bottom of this article is supposed to be tongue-in-cheek but was proven true yet again when Travis Etienne, already over on his receiving yards, did this:

Alas, he didn't get those fumbled yards back despite a full second half to do so. Still, our player props for Week 1 finished at 7-3 (+3.7 units) to give us a nice start to the season.

Travis Etienne over 20.5 receiving yards

Yeah, we'll walk right back into the fire with Etienne! The fumble backward was a fluke, but Trevor Lawrence targeting his former Clemson teammate was no outlier. The four targets also included a missed throw for a would-be touchdown and a stone-cold drop on fourth down. Etienne looked more dangerous than his stats suggest, so we'll grab the over while it's still reasonable.

Robbie Anderson over 39.5 receiving yards

Anderson's 75-yard reception boosted his total, and oddsmakers might think he went over 40 yards receiving just because of that. However, with eight targets, Anderson had plenty of opportunities to tally yardage. He's always a deep threat, and in a familiar stadium against a shaky Giants secondary, Anderson should haul in a couple more of those throws.

Lamar Jackson under 53.5 rushing yards

Mike McDaniel's rationale for retaining Josh Boyer as his defensive coordinator may have been because of the Dolphins' game plan in their win over the Ravens last season. Miami allowed Jackson just 39 yards on nine carries. Last week, the Ravens quarterback only took off six times for 17 yards, showing his development by looking deep down field during his scrambling. Jackson's looking to throw, and Miami is fine with that.

Rhamondre Stevenson over 2.5 receptions (+145)

Stevenson was on the field for just 25% of the Patriots' offensive plays in Week 1 and was targeted just twice in the passing game. How well did that go?

Ty Montgomery had four targets but is out this week. The Patriots should use short passes to take the starch out of the Steelers' pass rush, even though they're without T.J. Watt. Stevenson will play more, get more short looks, and be a good value at well over even money.

Joe Flacco under 222.5 passing yards

Flacco threw the ball 59 times last week. His yardage total? Just 309, for a robust 5.2 yards per attempt. Now the Jets go on the road to Cleveland, which led throughout much of last week and still only had 27 pass attempts against. Flacco will need to throw upward of 40 times to clear this total, which won't be in the Jets' plans.

Carson Wentz over 249.5 passing yards

We got the full Wentz experience in Week 1, didn't we? Touchdown dimes, frustrating interceptions, a blown lead, and a comeback. Most importantly, Scott Turner appears unafraid of letting Wentz sling it, given his 41 pass attempts despite a largely score-positive game state. Now the Commanders take on a Lions team with a bad secondary and a never-say-die attitude in a game lined near pick'em. Wentz will be throwing it for 60 minutes again.

Kyle Pitts over 3.5 receptions (-150)

The Falcons could have done a better job getting the ball in Kyle Pitts' hands in Week 1, even though he had seven targets. Let's assume Atlanta's coaching staff is looking to improve upon that. We're paying extra juice on it, but -150 implies a 60% chance this wins, and I think it's even more likely that we see a few extra plays with Pitts' name on them.

Geno Smith under 206.5 passing yards

Smith hit the over 0.5 on fun postgame quotes on Monday, but we're fading him this week. The Seahawks quarterback's production really dried up in the second half against the Broncos. He completed 23 of 28 passes but still didn't crack 200 yards. The 49ers' offense will limit chances for Smith, and DK Metcalf won't hold onto to some of the errant throws he saved for completions in Week 1.

Cooper Rush over 218.5 passing yards

You probably guessed this was coming. The market is pretty low on Rush, but what evidence do we have to suggest he can't complete passes for below-average yardage? Rush threw for over 300 yards in his one start. The 7-point spread assumes Dallas will often be in a negative game state, so there should be opportunities - and Rush has enough ability to take advantage.

Kyler Murray anytime touchdown (+170)

If the scoreboard rings like a slot machine in Vegas on Sunday, Murray scoring has a far greater likelihood than this 37% implied probability price tag. He carried the ball five times in Week 1, likely to keep some mileage off of the diminutive talent given that a loss to the Chiefs was in the "Cards" early. This game is winnable, so Murray's number will get called by the goal line.

Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there’s a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.