Top Billing: Offensive Stars Looking to Lead the League

Can Calvin Johnson and Matt Stafford lead the league in receiving and passing respectively?

With kickoff less than two weeks away, it’s time to get serious about betting. Whether you’re a spread better, like to play the totals, or think you can get the better of prop bets, a whole cavalcade of odds is available to you right now.

In the lead-up to kickoff, BettingSports.com has taken a look at the latest player prop bets available. Below you’ll find details of odds relating to offensive league leaders, including passing, rushing, and receiving.

Note: All odds quoted are supplied by Bovada.

Who Will Record Most Passing Yards in the 2013 Regular Season?

There’s a familiar face in pole position amongst passers this season. New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (7/2) is the favorite to finish the season with the most passing yards, a feat he has accomplished four times in his career (2006, 2008, 2011, 2012). The Saints figure to be a passing team once again this year, so Brees will get his shot at making it three in a row. He’ll be the first quarterback since Dan Marino (1984-86) to lead the league in passing yards in three consecutive seasons if he is successful.

Green Bay Packers triggerman Aaron Rodgers (6/1) is currently second on Bovada’s list. Rodgers has finished in the top 10 in passing in each of the previous five seasons, but has never led the league.

Matt Stafford (13/2) is third on the list. Stafford threw for 4,967 yards for the Detroit Lions last season, ranking second in the league behind Brees. A year prior to that, he was one of three QBs to breach the 5,000 yard marker. With a combined 10,005 yards over the past two seasons, he’s a smart bet again this season.

Peyton Manning (7/1) currently occupies the fourth spot on Bovada’s list. Manning has twice led the league in passing (2000, 2003), has finished in the top three in nine of his 14 seasons, and has never finished below seventh.

The tandem of Matt Ryan and Tom Brady (both 10/1) share the fifth spot. Ryan finished last season with 4,719 yards for the Atlanta Falcons, enough for fifth place on the passing list. Meanwhile, the New England Patriots gunslinger has led the league in passing in 2005 and 2007. He finished fourth last season.

Dark Horse: Tony Romo (DAL) – The much maligned Cowboys’ triggerman finished last season with 4,903 yards, behind only Brees and Stafford. At 18/1, he could well be a real steal going into this campaign.

Who Will Record Most Rushing Yards in the 2013 Regular Season?

When you surpass the 2,000 yard mark and come within nine yards of breaking the all-time single season rushing record, it’s to be expected that you’ll enter the new season as the favorite to lead the league in rushing. That’s exactly the case for Adrian Peterson (11/4) who finished 2012 with 2,097 rushing yards. The Minnesota Vikings running back will look to do the same again this season, becoming the first running back since LaDainian Tomlinson (2006-07) to lead the league in consecutive seasons.

Marshawn Lynch (7/1) of the Seattle Seahawks is currently the second favorite. He finished last year with 1,590 yards rushing, good enough for third. Last season, the Seahawks ran on 57 percent of plays. If they do the same this season, Lynch could be a rewarding bet.

Arian Foster – the 2010 rushing leader – and Doug Martin (both 10/1) are currently third on Bovada’s list. Foster carried the ball a career-high 351 times last season for the Houston Texans, but only finished sixth in the standings. Meanwhile, Martin just beat Foster to a top five finish, amassing 1,454 yards for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Last year’s runner up, Alfred Morris of the Washington Redskins currently has 12/1 odds of leading the league in rushing. Those odds are shared by Buffalo Bills back C.J. Spiller, who compiled 1,244 yards in his first season as a featured back.

Dark Horse: Trent Richardson (CLE) – Richardson ran for 950 yards in 15 games during his rookie campaign. The Cleveland Browns ran the ball on 41 percent of plays last season, and will do similar this year. Richardson could have a huge second year.

Who Will Record Most Receiving Yards in the 2013 Regular Season?

Detroit’s Calvin Johnson (5/2) is the obvious choice for favorite when it comes to receiving yards in 2013. Megatron caught for 1,964 yards last season to lead the league for the second straight year. It was also his third consecutive season, and fourth in five years, with more than 1,100 yards receiving. With Matt Stafford’s arm and Detroit’s penchant for passing, betting against Johnson is probably futile. That being said, it’s been nearly 20 years since a receiver led the league in three consecutive seasons. The last to do so was Jerry Rice (1993-95).

According to Bovada, Johnson’s No. 1 contender will be Dallas’ Dez Bryant (8/1). Bryant showed a marked improvement last year, finishing with 1,382 yards. With Tony Romo expected to sling the ball around again this year, his favorite target will be a treat to Johnson’s run, providing he doesn’t allow outside distractions to interfere.

Brandon Marshall (9/1) is third on Bovada’s list. Last year, in his first season with the Chicago Bears, Marshall had a career-high 1,508 yards receiving to finish third in the league. With a fully-healthy Jay Cutler, he might have had more. We might find out this year.

Cincinnati Bengals receiver A.J. Green (10/1) finds himself in the top five by way of 1,000-plus yard seasons in his first two years in the league. The explosive receiver will once again we the main target of Andy Dalton as the Bengals look to make the postseason for a third consecutive year for the first time in history.

Fifth spot is shared between Denver’s Demaryius Thomas and Atlanta’s Julio Jones (both 14/1). Thomas finished fourth last season, his first with Peyton Manning at the helm. Jones finished just outside the top 10 with 1,198 yards, second on the team to Roddy White (1,351 yards). With Jones and White sharing the ball again this season, Jones doesn’t look like the smartest bet.

Dark Horse: Victor Cruz (NYG) – Two years ago, Cruz finished with 1,536 yards behind only Calvin Johnson and Wes Welker. With a new contract in tow, he may well put up similar numbers again this year. At 22/1 he’s just outside of Bovada’s Top 10 and represents excellent value.

For a full list of Bovada’s NFL player prop bets, click here.