NFL Player Props: Tony Pollard Is A Breakout Candidate For Sunday Night Football Week 16

Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard (20) return the kickoff in the first quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at AT&T Stadium.
Image Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

A couple of weeks ago, the Washington Football Team was in a position to make a run at the Cowboys and make their division-winning hopes more challenging. That is now no longer the case, as any combination of Dallas wins and Philadelphia losses clinch the NFC East. Barring a miracle, Washington is out of the playoffs. Still, the Sunday Night Football game between Washington and Dallas provides plenty of good NFL player props opportunities. Let’s get into it.

All odds courtesy of BetPrep, updated 9:00 AM Eastern on December 24, 2021.

Dallas Cowboys: Dak Prescott

Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys scrambles with the ball during the first quarter against the Denver Broncos at AT&T Stadium on November 07, 2021 in Arlington, Texas
Image Credit: Tom Pennington/Getty Images

The Prop: Dak Prescott Passing Yards vs Washington Football Team
The Odds: Over 277.5 yards (-116)/Under 277.5 yards (-114)

The Cowboys have been winning, but the offense has been struggling. In Dallas’s current three-game winning streak, which includes victories over the Saints, Washington, and the Giants, Dak Prescott has thrown for 238 yards, 211 yards, and 217 yards.

Prescott had a monster 375-yard game during the shootout on Thanksgiving, but you have to go back to October to find another 300-yard game. And only twice in his last seven games has he thrown for as many 277 yards.

Washington just gave up 297 yards to Jalen Hurts, but you have to go back to Week 6 and Patrick Mahomes to find the previous quarterback to throw for more than 277 yards.

For the Prescott line, take the UNDER.

Editor’s Note: New to NFL player props? Check out our complete NFL Props Betting Guide to get up to speed! 

Dallas Cowboys: Tony Pollard

Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard (20) runs the ball against Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Kenneth Murray (9) during the second half at SoFi Stadium.
Image Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

The Prop: Tony Pollard Rushing Yards vs Washington Football Team
The Odds: Over 65.5 yards (-111)/Under 65.5 yards (-119)

In terms of winning the division, it’s possible this game will be meaningless since Dallas will know the Eagles’ result before they kick off Sunday night. That means resting Ezekiel Elliott could be the play by the Cowboys, and Tony Pollard becomes RB1.

But even with Zeke getting 16 carries last week against the Giants, Pollard ran for 74 yards. The week before that against a good Saints defensive line he ran for 71 yards and scored a touchdown, and Elliott ran the ball 13 times.

That’s the thing with Pollard – even sharing the backfield makes for a good play. And against a Washington defense that just gave up 238 rushing yards to the Eagles, take the OVER.

Washington Football Team: Terry McLaurin

Washington Football Team wide receiver Terry McLaurin holds the football in his left hand after scoring a touchdown
Image Credit: Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

The Prop: Terry McLaurin Receiving Yards at Dallas Cowboys
The Odds: Over 63.5 yards (-119)/Under 63.5 yards (-111)

With Antonio Gibson banged up, and quarterback Taylor Heinicke missing last week due to COVID, you really can see how lacking of stars this Washington offense has. Fortunately Terry McLaurin exists, otherwise it’s unclear if they would have any.

But even Scary Terry has his limits in this offense, which can be quite pedestrian at times.

Washington managed just 237 yards in their loss to the Eagles, and McLaurin had to settle for just four targets and 51 yards receiving. Against Dallas the week before that he was shut out on three targets, before leaving the game in the third quarter. Against the Raiders in Week 13 he had just three catches for 22 yards.

McLaurin is great, but not this Sunday. Take the UNDER.