Along with a regular set of prop bet options for every NFL game on the Week 6 slate, some books will extend their offering by adding one or two unique props singling out some key players that could have a big impact on the outcome.
Moving on to this week’s list, the following two props offer some solid betting value going with the plus money in the odds as opposed to going chalk with the favored side.
Melvin Gordon Touchdown
The betting odds that Los Angeles Chargers’ running back Melvin Gordon scores a touchdown Sunday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers favors NO at -140. The money line for YES is set at +110.
Gordon ended his holdout with the Chargers a few weeks ago, and he saw his first action of the season in last Sunday’s 20-13 loss to Denver with Los Angeles closing as a 4.5-point home favorite. Once considered one of the premier teams in the AFC, the Chargers are trying to turn things around at 2-3.
This Sunday Night, they will face the 1-4 Pittsburgh Steelers, who have dug themselves into a hole in their first five games. The Chargers have been opened as seven-point home favorites with the total set rather low at 41.5 points.
In last Sunday’s loss to Denver, Gordon carried the ball 12 times for just 31 yards, and he caught four passes for seven yards. While he was out of the lineup, backup Austin Ekeler put up some impressive numbers. On the year, he has 227 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 59 carries. Ekeler also has 39 receptions for 356 yards and three scores.
Los Angeles desperately needs to win this game, and I see Gordon being a much bigger part of the offensive game plan to get it done. With most of the rust gone, I think he finds a way to get into the end zone in this game.
Aaron Rodgers vs. Matthew Stafford First Touchdown Pass
The betting odds for this prop favor Rodgers throwing the first touchdown in this crucial NFC North showdown at -150. The betting odds Stafford strikes first with a scoring throw are +120.
Monday night’s divisional clash is for first place in the NFC North standings. The 2-1-1 Lions go on the road as four-point underdogs against the 4-1 Packers with the total set at 47 points.
Stafford has thrown for 1,122 yards and nine touchdowns in his first four games this season while completing an efficient 62.4 percent of his 141 passing attempts. Kenny Golladay has been his top target with 19 receptions for 243 yards and four scores. Marvin Jones Jr. has 18 catches for 277 yards and a score. The Lions have been able to move the ball on the ground with an average of 120.5 rushing yards per game, but this is still an offense predicated on moving the ball downfield through the air.
Behind Rodgers, Green Bay’s offense is ranked 15th in the NFL in passing yards per game, and it falls to 23rd in average rushing yards. With the exception of the lone loss to Philadelphia, the Packers’ defense has carried this team to its 4-1 start.
Rodgers has thrown for 1,307 yards in five games with six touchdown passes against one interception. He has spread the ball around with at least one catch by 12 different players. His top target, Davante Adams, missed his last start due to a toe injury, and he is considered questionable for Monday night.
I actually think this prop is a toss-up, so I am taking the plus money on Stafford to throw the first touchdown.
