Manning & Brees Among NFL Betting Prop Favorites

Following a season off to deal with a chronic neck injury, Peyton Manning has seemingly answered all questions about his ability to perform as the reigning NFL MVP in leading the Broncos to back-to-back 13-win campaigns. Of course the naysayers will argue he still struggles in big games with an 11-12 career playoff record, including last year’s disappointing 43-8 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVIII. But Manning remains a sure-fire, future first-ballot Hall of Famer who could top the 5,000-yard plateau again this year.

Only New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees has been able to accomplish that feat of multiple 5,000-yard seasons, which is why he and Manning are 11-4 co-favorites on the NFL betting odds to lead the league in passing yards during the 2014 regular season. In fact, Brees has thrown for more than 5,000 yards in three straight years, and there’s no reason to believe he can’t do it for a fourth consecutive season barring injury. The Saints are absolutely stacked again offensively, although they will be without Brees’ safety valve out of the offensive backfield in running back Darren Sproles, who was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in the offseason.

Other NFL betting picks worth considering for the most passing yards with more value are Packers QB Aaron Rodgers (7-1), Lions QB Matthew Stafford (15-2), Patriots QB Tom Brady (12-1), Falcons QB Matt Ryan (16-1), Colts QB Andrew Luck (18-1) and Bears QB Jay Cutler (20-1). Brady, Ryan and Luck are all expected to have their top receivers back from injuries, while Rodgers and Cutler are both returning from injuries themselves. Cowboys QB Tony Romo is also 20-1 but a risk coming off back surgery.

The RB and WR races for most yards are difficult to call when breaking down the NFL betting lines, although each has a few players that are clear-cut favorites at this point. Vikings RB Adrian Peterson (4-1) and Eagles RB LeSean McCoy (9-2) are the last two NFL rushing champions, but former Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson is the only player since 2000 to win two rushing titles within a four-year period. Tomlinson led the league in rushing in 2006 and 2007 while Peterson’s two titles came in 2008 and 2012.

McCoy is the defending NFL rushing champ and will likely have a tough time topping his career-best numbers for carries (314) and yards (1,607) from a year ago. If you’re looking for NFL betting tips to follow here, consider backs who have not won a rushing title in their careers. Players who meet that criteria and might be worth a look include Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles (7-1), Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch (12-1), Redskins RB Alfred Morris (16-1), Packers RB Eddie Lacy (18-1) and Bears RB Matt Forte (18-1).

The NFL online betting favorite to have the most receiving yards is a familiar name in Lions WR Calvin Johnson (13-5). Johnson led the NFL in receiving yards in 2011 (1,681) and 2012 (1,964) and should be right near the top again in 2014 after finishing third last year with 1,492. His top competition – Browns WR Josh Gordon – is expected to be suspended for most if not all of the upcoming season for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy after leading the league with 1,646 yards last year. However, Cowboys WR Dez Bryant (15-2), Manning’s top target Demaryius Thomas (8-1) and Falcons WR Julio Jones (8-1) are all capable of preventing Megatron from having the most receiving yards for the third time in four seasons.