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Another TD Pass from a Non-QB in Week 17 Pays +155

Daniel Coyle

by Daniel Coyle in NFL Football

Updated Apr 1, 2020 · 12:25 PM PDT

Christian McCaffrey Panthers RB
Christian McCaffrey has one of the ten touchdown passes thrown by non-quarterbacks in the 2018 NFL season. Photo by Keith Allison (Flickr) [CC License]
  • Non-quarterbacks have connected on 10 total touchdown passes this season
  • Odell Beckham Jr. leads the way with two TD tosses
  • Christian McCaffrey poised to toss for two TDs for first time since his sophomore year at Stanford 

An anemic Arizona offense got a brief boost last weekend, when wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald connected on a 32-yard touchdown pass to David Johnson in the Cardinals’ 31-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

Fitzgerald’s TD toss lifted the total number of scoring passes thrown by non-quarterbacks this season to a lofty 10.

But that trend is not expected to continue in the final weekend of the NFL regular season, with the odds of at least one touchdown pass being thrown by a non-QB during Week 17 pegged at a lengthy +155 on the NFL specials.

Touchdown Passes Thrown By Non-QBs In Week 17

How Many Touchdown Passes Will Be Thrown By Non-QBs In Week 17? Odds
Over 0.5 +155
Under 0.5 -220

*Odds taken 12/28

TD Passes by Non-QB’s on the Rise in 2018

The prolific passing exploits of non-quarterbacks this season comes in stark contrast to recent years.

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Over the eight NFL campaigns prior to 2018, non-quarterbacks averaged fewer than 4.4 scoring passes per season, with a passer other than a quarterback connecting on just two scoring passes in 2015.

While Fitzgerald is the most recent non-QB to hit an end zone target, it is Odell Beckham Jr. who has led the way.

The colorful New York Giants wide receiver has made the highlight reel with two scoring passes, first hitting rookie Saquon Barkley with a 57-yard scoring strike in a 33-31 loss to Carolina in Week 5, and following up with a crucial 49-yard scoring pass to Russell Shepard in New York’s stunning 30-27 win over the Chicago Bears in Week 13.

OBJ Sidelined for Week 17

But after being sidelined by injury for the past three weeks, the Giants have confirmed that OBJ will also miss the team’s Week 17 clash with the Dallas Cowboys, further strengthening short -220 odds of UNDER 0.5 touchdown passes being thrown this weekend by non-quarterbacks.

Boswell and Sanders Missing Too

Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell and Denver Broncos WR Emmanuel Sanders will also be denied a chance at tossing a second scoring pass the season.

Boswell was placed on the IR with a shoulder injury earlier this week, while Sanders remains sidelined with a leg injury suffered in Week 13.

However, there remains no shortage of potential candidates eager to match OBJ’s passing numbers this season.

Panthers will Count on McCaffrey in Season Finale

With Cam Newton on the shelf with a shoulder injury, Panthers quarterback Kyle Allen will take all the help he can get in his first NFL start in New Orleans on Sunday.

Throwing for touchdowns is nothing new for the McCaffrey, who also connected on a pair of TD passes during his sophomore season at Stanford in 2015

The undrafted rookie will likely lean on rusher Christian McCaffrey, and with good reason.

YouTube video

McCaffrey has not only set the NFL record this season for receptions by a running back, but also connected on a 50-yard scoring pass to Chris Manhertz in a 12-9 loss to the Saints two weeks ago.

Indeed, throwing for touchdowns is nothing new for the McCaffrey, who also connected on a pair of TD passes during his sophomore season at Stanford in 2015.

With several playoff-bound squads expected to give their starting quarterbacks plenty of rest in Week 17, opportunities could abound for non-quarterbacks setting their sights on end zone targets.

And with nothing on the line, eliminated squads could look to stir up offense with some creative play calling, resulting in a scoring pass from a non-QB for a third straight week.

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