Best prop bets for Chiefs vs Chargers in Week 2
By KC Proctor
Let’s look at the best prop bets for the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs as they kick off Week 2 on Thursday Night Football.
The newest installment of the Patrick Mahomes- and Justin Herbert-era Chiefs and Chargers rivalry is set to take place this week and will be of the Thursday Night Football football variety. It is always fireworks when these two teams face off these days, but there is something particularly special when they line up in prime time.
Moreover, Thursday night will be the season opener at Arrowhead stadium, and you can rest assured that Chiefs Kingdom is ready to bring the noise. The Kansas City Chiefs are -4.5 point favorites and the points total is set at 54.5. Given the recent high-scoring history between these rivals, betting the over feels pretty safe; last season the Chiefs averaged over 29 points per game, and the Chargers averaged 27.9.
There are, however, a number of significant injuries that were suffered by both teams in Week 1, and that makes for some interesting props on Thursday night. Here are three of the best money makers this week (all odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook).
1. Marquez Valdez-Scantling to score a touchdown (+210)
Patrick Mahomes went on the record ahead of the Chiefs’ Week 1 matchup against the Cardinals, apologizing in advance to fantasy football players. He said, “There’s going to be a different player every single week who has a big game, I’m sorry to fantasy football managers, but it’ll be a different guy every week.”
That said, and considering which pass catchers received the most love in Week 1, MVS is surely on Mahomes’ radar. There is something to be said about the intangible value of a quarterback who spreads the ball around and maximizes involvement of the masses, and nobody does that better than 15. Marquez Valdez-Scantling caught all 4 of his targets on Sunday for a total of 44 receiving yards, but wasn’t involved in the red zone.
After a game in which he had no drops, Mahomes has to be feeling confident in his new speedster, and whether it’s on a go route early, or a jump ball near the end zone, I fully anticipate MVS getting a shot at a score on Thursday. +210 odds are borderline friendly from Vegas.
2. Patrick Mahomes over 2.5 passing touchdowns (+112)
It’s Chiefs vs Chargers, in Arrowhead, in the month of September. Mahomes getting his, and adding to the lore of his first-month success year-over-year, is written in the stars.
Last week, odds makers gave us this bet at +125, and Mahomes passed for five touchdowns. J.C. Jackson carrying a questionable status into Wednesday only improves the chances of Pat going off on Thursday night, but that’s not even my greatest confidence booster for this to hit.
I genuinely believe that 2022 is the year that Patrick Mahomes re-emerges as the league MVP, and the momentum he is riding into the first divisional matchup of the year is incredibly high. I’ll be hammering overs on Mahomes TDs until Vegas sets his line over three. Period.
3. Justin Herbert over 300 passing yards (+152)
We’ve already seen enough to know that Justin Herbert is a natural, and his arm talent is legitimately comparable to Mahomes. There is something about the innate competitiveness that these two superstars pull out of each other, and there are a number of reasons to support Herbert having as big of a day as Mahomes on Thursday.
First and foremost, Trent McDuffie got put on the IR on Tuesday, so he is 100% out for this game (and the three that follow). Say what you will about L’Jarius Sneed, Rashad Fenton, and Juan Thornhill as veteran presences in the Chiefs’ secondary, but McDuffie is special. He was dominant in his reps on Sunday, and the steadiness that he brings in coverage will be missed by Kansas City and exploited by Herbert. Jaylen Watson and Joshua Williams will need to step up big time, but their inexperience is likely to show through against a legitimate top-five quarterback.
I know, Herbert is going to be without Keenan Allen, but just like Mahomes, he can spread the ball around. Expect Mike Williams to get a fair share of targets, but keep an eye out for some lesser suspects to make notable contributions for the Chargers on Thursday. Josh Palmer is +220 as an anytime touchdown scorer, and Jalen Guyton is +750. Picking who will get the scoring looks is a crap shoot, but if this game is to be another blockbuster like I expect, somebody—multiple somebodies—will be in the mix. All these things support Justin Herbert surpassing 300 yards passing.
Last week’s props went 2-3, with Mahomes passing for over 2.5 touchdowns (he threw five) and 289.5 yards (he ended with 360), and Kyler Murray failing to reach the 35 rushing yards I bet on him to collect (he ended with 29). There is a very legitimate reason to support the season record advancing to 5-6 after another all-time matchup between the Chiefs and Chargers on Thursday Night Football.
Get a $1,000 no-sweat bet for any of these props at FanDuel Sportsbook now!
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