NFL Week 16 player props: CeeDee Lamb should feast on Washington

We head into Week 16 with Covid wrecking havoc around the NFL.

We had a little bit of bad luck with Chris Godwin’s injury last week as our only loss in Week 15, but it’s the holiday season so let’s keep our good run of late going with some more prop goodness today. I’ve done all the work for you here in case you’re thinking about throwing down some of that Christmas cash on your NFL Sunday.

Here are some players that could put a little holiday cheer into your pocket.

Record to date for the 2021 NFL season: 24-22 (-2.45 units)

Editor’s note: All betting lines are courtesy of Sports Interaction and are current as of the time of publication.

Denver Broncos @ Las Vegas Raiders 4:25 p.m. ET

Wager(s) to watch: TE Noah Fant total receiving yards (Over 39.5 -130, Under 39.5 -110), TE Noah Fant total pass receptions (Over 3.5 -175, Under 3.5 +125)

We’re jumping back on the Noah Fant train! Denver visits Las Vegas in this virtual do-or-die game at Allegiant Stadium in the race for a wild card spot in the AFC. The Broncos and Raiders are fighting for their playoff lives, but we want to focus on Denver’s No. 1 tight end and his total receiving yards and pass receptions prop.

Fant picked up five receptions on six targets for 57 yards, highlighted by a 28-yard gain early in the second quarter in last Sunday’s 15-10 home loss to the Bengals. The 24-year-old tight end has been money in the bank lately by recording at least four receptions in four of his last five games. He’s racked up 212 receiving yards over his past five games which is the most out of any Bronco pass catcher and has earned the second-most targets on the team over that time frame.

Fant had an eye-popping nine catches for 97 yards on 11 targets in Week 6 against Las Vegas. In four career games against the Raiders, he’s averaged 4.25 receptions for 41.75 yards on 6.50 targets. The Broncos’ No. 1 tight end is also well above league average in air yards per game and air yards per snap. He’s also been on the field for 82.86 per cent of Denver’s snaps on offence this season.

The Raiders, meanwhile, haven’t been great against tight ends this season. Cleveland’s David Njoku and Harrison Bryant combined for five receptions and 40 yards on seven targets in Las Vegas’ 16-14 victory last Monday night. The Raiders’ pass defence has given up 880 receiving yards to TEs this season, which ranks 28th in the NFL. Vegas is still riding the struggle bus while trying to shut down the tight end position. The Raiders have coughed up 213 receiving yards to TEs over their past four weeks, which ranks 20th in the league over that span. They’ve also allowed 7.61 yards per target to tight ends over their past four weeks which ranks 20th in the NFL over that time frame.

Pick: Drew Lock is getting the start at quarterback for Teddy Bridgewater who’s out with a concussion which makes us a little nervous. I do believe Lock will use Noah Fant as a safety valve, pair that with Las Vegas’ struggles against the tight end position all season, and this could be a really nice day for our prop bets here. Take Fant’s receiving total of 39.5 to go OVER at -130 and his total pass receptions of 3.5 to go OVER at -175.

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Washington Football Team @ Dallas Cowboys 8:20 p.m. ET

Wager to watch: WR CeeDee Lamb total pass receptions (Over 5.5 -110, Under 5.5 -130)

The Cowboys can clinch the NFC East with a victory while Washington has dropped two straight including that 27-20 loss to Dallas two weeks ago in Landover, Maryland. The Cowboys have won three-in-a-row and are averaging 35.5 points per game at home this season, but we want to talk about CeeDee Lamb’s total pass receptions prop here.

Lamb captured six of his nine targets for 50 yards in Dallas’ 21-6 victory over the Giants last Sunday. The 22-year-old wide receiver hauled in seven passes for 61 yards on 10 targets in the Cowboys’ 27-20 victory in Washington just two weeks ago. He’s also been a model of consistency lately by having three straight games with six receptions and at least 50 receiving yards. Lamb has been Dak Prescott’s favourite target lately by getting 32 targets (10.66 per game) over Dallas’ last three contests. The wide receiver has also been on the field for 75.85 per cent of the Cowboys’ snaps on offence.

Washington, meanwhile, has had trouble all year with wide receivers. The Football Team has coughed 197 receptions to WRs this season which is tied for the second-most in the NFL in 2021. Washington has also allowed 52 catches to wide-outs over the past four weeks which is 19th in the NFL in that time frame. The WFT also has the NFL’s 30th ranked pass defence by giving up 260.6 yards per game.

Pick: This feels like a get-right spot for the struggling Dallas offence and CeeDee Lamb should be the focal point. Lamb has combined for 12 catches on 17 targets in his last two games against Washington. I think there is too much value here with this matchup, so take Lamb’s receptions total of 5.5 to go OVER at -110.