3 Best NFL Player Props for Week 1

Best Week 1 NFL Prop Bets in Summary

• Tyler Shough Over 16.5 Rushing Yards (-114)
• Saquon Barkley Anytime Touchdown (-120)
• Aaron Rodgers Under 210.5 Passing Yards (-114)

The NFL season brings us no shortage of NFL player props to target on FanDuel Sportsbook. From passing and rushing totals to receptions, receiving yards and anytime touchdowns, there are plenty of ways to bet the NFL beyond the traditional game lines.

Using our NFL projections as a guide, here are some NFL player props we like for this week. We’ll break down the matchup, recent production and expected usage for each player to help identify the best bets on the board.

All NFL odds come from FanDuel Sportsbook and may change after this article is published.

NFL Week 1 Player Prop Bets

Tyler Shough Over 16.5 Rushing Yards (-114)

Saints at Lions, 1 p.m. ET

Tyler Shough showed good running ability last season, and I like him to clear 16.5 rushing yards at the Detroit Lions.

Shough started nine games a year ago and averaged 16.9 rushing yards per game — right at this line. But he started running a lot more later in the year, posting rushing totals of 32, 55 and 34 yards over his final five games.

The New Orleans Saints are 6.5-point road ‘dogs at the Lions. There’s a chance New Orleans gets into a hole, and that would likely lead to more Shough drop backs, which means more chances to scramble.

In addition to this prop, I also like Shough to score a TD at +330 odds. He notched 10 carries from inside the 10-yard line last season and tallied three rushing scores despite not starting for almost half the year.

Aaron Rodgers Under 210.5 Passing Yards (-114)

Falcons at Steelers, 1 p.m. ET

This is a sneaky-tough opening-week matchup for Aaron Rodgers, pushing me to the under on his passing prop.

Rodgers appeared to be running on fumes for much of 2025, and he ended up averaging 207.6 passing yards per game. He threw for an average of 201.2 yards per game at home, compared to 215.9 yards per game on the road. He also started slowly last year, going for fewer than 204 passing yards in each of his first four games, and I think there’s a chance he misses the pass-game contributions of RB Kenneth Gainwell quite a bit this season.

The Atlanta Falcons ranked as roughly a league-average defense a season ago, permitting 5.3 yards per play (17th), but the strength of their defense was the secondary as they let up the 12th-fewest net yards per pass attempt (5.8).

All in all, I think it’ll be a slow day at the office for the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ passing attack in Week 1.

Saquon Barkley Anytime Touchdown (-120)

Commanders at Eagles, 4:25 p.m. ET

At these odds, Saquon Barkley is my favorite TD prop for Week 1.

The Philadelphia Eagles host the Washington Commanders on Sunday, and Philly is a 5.5-point favorite. Not only could game script work in Barkley’s favor, the Commanders are just a good matchup overall as Washington allowed the fourth-most yards per play last year (6.0) as well as the fifth-most yards per carry (4.8) and fifth-most rushing scores (16).

Barkley torched Washington in his lone meeting with the Commanders last year, racking up 123 rushing yards and a tuddie. In 2024, he played Washington twice and recorded four total rushing TDs in addition to 296 total rushing yards.

The tush push is always an obstacle for Barkley’s touchdown chances, but he still had 24 carries inside the 10 last year, tied for the 10th-most among all players.

In a game where Philly’s offense can have a lot of success, Barkley’s TD odds catch my eye.

NFL Prop Betting FAQ

What are NFL player props?

NFL player props are bets on individual player performances rather than the outcome of the game. Common examples include passing yards, rushing yards, receiving yards, receptions, touchdowns and completions.

How do you choose the best NFL player props?

The best NFL player props are typically identified by comparing a player's expected workload and statistical production with the sportsbook's posted line. Matchup, injuries, game script and recent usage can all play a role in finding value.

Where can I bet on NFL player props?

You can bet on NFL player props at FanDuel Sportsbook, where a wide variety of markets are available for each game.

What are the most common NFL player props?

Some of the most popular NFL player props include passing yards, passing touchdowns, rushing yards, receiving yards, receptions and anytime touchdown scorer bets.

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Which bets stand out to you this week? Check out FanDuel Sportsbook's latest NFL odds to see the full menu of options.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.