The Eagles will look to move to 2-0 at home in Week 2 against the visiting Vikings. The defending NFC Champions are favored and should get the job done. A probable negative game script for Minnesota influenced the following Eagles vs. Vikings player props.
Eagles vs. Vikings Player Props
Editor’s Note: These Thursday Night Football prop bets come from DraftKings Sportsbook and BetMGM. If these operators are not legal in your state, you can still place these Eagles vs. Vikings player props at Underdog Fantasy.
Here’s a sample of an entry inspired by Josh’s picks below. If we hit all five, we’ll 10x our stake.
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3 Best Thursday Night Football Prop Bets: Week 2
Here’s a trio of Eagles vs. Vikings player props I like for Thursday’s primetime matchup.
Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson Over 4.5 Receptions (-166)
Line shopping immediately adds to the intrigue of betting on this prop. T.J. Hockenson’s odds to exceed 4.5 receptions are as short as -204 at Caesars Sportsbook, making his odds at DraftKings Sportsbook more palatable, albeit still chalky.
Hockenson has three things working in his favor to pile up receptions tonight. First, the game script should be bad for the underdog Vikings, forcing them to throw. Second, Minnesota doesn’t need their arm twisted to air it out. According to Rotoviz’s pace app, the Vikings passed at the third-highest rate (64%) in neutral game scripts in 2022. In Week 1, the Vikings ran 58 plays in a neutral game script and passed at an eye-popping 71% clip.
Third, the matchup is stellar. The Eagles coughed up eight receptions to New England’s tight ends last week. Additionally, per The 33rd Team, tight ends have tallied the 11th-most receptions (89) against the Eagles since last year.
Fortunately, Hockenson has the target-earning ability to take advantage of the matchup. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Hockenson’s been targeted on 23.3% of his routes with the Vikings. Furthermore, he’s produced 6.5 receptions per game, with a median of 6.5 for Minnesota. Finally, Bet Prep projects Hockenson for 5.16 receptions.
Where to bet: T.J. Hockenson Over 4.5 Receptions | -166 DraftKings Sportsbook
Vikings QB Kirk Cousins Over 0.5 Interceptions (-135)
Kirk Cousins had substantial home and road splits last year, struggling in enemy territory. Cousins threw only our interceptions in nine games at home and 10 in eight contests on the road. In addition, per PFF, Cousins had a 2.5% Turnover-Worthy-Play percentage (TWP%) at home and a 3.8 TWP% on the road.
And, of course, Cousins melted down in Philadelphia last year. He threw three picks and had four turnover-worthy plays against the Eagles in primetime last season. Cousins wasn’t the only quarterback who tossed interceptions against the Eagles last year. The Eagles were tied for the fourth-most interceptions (17) in 2022.
The Eagles should have plenty of chances to intercept Cousins if the Vikings stick to their pass-happy tendencies. Moreover, if the game goes according to the betting spread, Cousins will be forced to throw in obvious passing situations, allowing the Eagles to pin their ears back and pressure him into mistakes.
Where to bet: Kirk Cousins Over 0.5 Interceptions | -135 DraftKings Sportsbook
Vikings RB Alexander Mattison Under 50.5 Rushing Yards (-115)
Minnesota’s pass-heavy approach and a probable negative game script bode poorly for Alexander Mattison’s rushing volume. He’s also an inefficient runner in a middling to challenging matchup.
Mattison has rushed for a pathetic 3.7 yards per carry on 219 rush attempts since 2021 and hasn’t cleared 4.0 yards per carry since 2020. He also didn’t get off to a fast start as Minnesota’s lead running back, running for just 34 yards on 11 attempts last week against the Buccaneers.
The matchup is also suboptimal for Mattison’s potential for rushing success tonight. The Eagles held New England’s running backs to only 54 rushing yards (2.8 yards per carry) in Week 1. Philadelphia has also allowed a humdrum 4.3 yards per carry to running backs since last season.
As a result, Mattison likely needs 13-15 rush attempts to exceed 50.5 rushing yards, and that’s probably out of his reach. Finally, Bet Prep agrees, projecting Mattison for just 44.78 rushing yards tonight.
Where to bet: Alexander Mattison Under 50.5 Rushing Yards | -115 BetMGM Sportsbook
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