5 NFL Player Props You Need to Bet for the 2018 Season

• Books have released a huge number of NFL player performance props for the 2018 season; which offer the best value?
• Will new Vikings QB Kirk Cousins flourish in Minneapolis?
• Will aging stars Larry Fitzgerald, Ben Roethlisberger, and Rob Gronkowski have continued success in 2018?

The NFL Preseason is just around the corner and the regular season is less than two months away. While it’s probably still a little too early to start betting on Week 1, we’ve found you some more offseason betting opportunities.

Sportsbooks have released a ton of player performance props for the 2018 NFL regular season. You can find a wager on just about any big-name in the league.

Here are the five I like best:

#5 – Larry Fitzgerald Receiving TDs

The Cardinals will be welcoming a new head coach, offensive coordinator, and group of QBs to the roster. All told, 11 offensive players who were at least part-time starters last year have departed.

But Larry Fitzgerald has always been Mr Dependable in Arizona. Even well into his 30s now, his last three seasons have seen him record: 109 rec/6 TDs, 107 rec/6 TDs, and 109 rec/9 TDs. Only twice in his 14-year career has he finished with less than six TDs – he had two in 2014 and four in 2012.

No matter which new QB is behind center, likely Sam Bradford or rookie Josh Rosen, with limited offensive weapons, they’ll be looking to Fitz as a safety net to bail them out as they get used to a new team.

#4 – Kirk Cousins Passing Yards

On a team where the leading receiver only had 789 yards last year, Kirk Cousins spread the ball around for 27 TDs and 4,093 yards. The Redskins hardly had stars on offense, but Cousins – known as a gunslinger – made that offense tick, ranking 12th in passing yards/game.

Now a member of the Minnesota Vikings, he joins a team that ranked just above Washington last year in that category at 11th. Cousins’ lowest pasing total since he became a full-time starter was last year with 4,093 yards. He had 4,917 and 4,166 the two years prior.

What an incredible 6 years here in Washington. My childhood dream of becoming an NFL quarterback came true in this amazing city, and I have been truly blessed! https://t.co/FbYuUcVYjI pic.twitter.com/MJjH5f9cXH

— Kirk Cousins (@KirkCousins8) March 12, 2018

Finally receiving the big-time contract he’s been after, Cousins will be hungry to make an impact. He’ll have a more talented group of receivers at his disposal now, and an offensive line which ranked seventh in sacks allowed in front of him. Compare that to the 21st ranked line he had in Washington last year.

#3 – Ben Roethlisberger Passing Yards

One year ago around this time, Big Ben was talking about possible retirement after the 2017 season. It’s a sentiment he’s floated out there several times. Now at 36 years old, he appears to be a man well aware of the wear and tear his career has taken on the body.

“It’s a fine line I walk at this age, of resting and getting my body enough rest for the season and working out to prepare,” Roethlisberger said. “My trainer will get me as prepared as I can be. But it is a fine line of what you can do at this age.”

While Roethlisberger has likely had a Hall of Fame career thus far, eclipsing a total of 4,449.5 would be something he’s only done once in his career, back in 2014.

Last year he passed for 4,251 yards, and the previous two seasons he failed to hit 4,000. He also hasn’t played 16 games in any of the past three years.

#2 – Rob Gronkowski Receiving Yards

Another player who’s openly talked about retirement and who’s battled through multiple injuries in his career is Patriot’s TE Rob Gronkowski. With a total set at 1,059.5 receiving yards, sportsbooks are expecting Gronk to basically replicate his totals from last season. In 14 games, Gronkowski finished with 69 receptions for 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns.

On one hand, the departure of WRs Brandin Cooks and Danny Amendola could put Gronk in line for a heavier workload. But New England is known to spread the ball around, and make someone new the star each week.

One day 40-year-old Tom Brady will begin to decline. Will that day come in 2018? We can’t be sure. But we also can’t be sure extra touches would actually help Gronk as he’s always one big hit away from another injury.

#1 – Brandin Cooks Receiving Touchdowns

Brandin Cooks has led a charmed life in the NFL so far, being able to receive passes from two of the game’s greats in Drew Brees and Tom Brady. His 65 receptions in New England last year were 13 less than in 2016 and 19 less than in 2015. He still finished with a 1,000-yard season and seven TDs.

During his time as a Saint, he finished with eight and nine TDs in 2016 and 2015, respectively. The only time he’s had less than seven TDs came in his rookie year (2014) when he had three, only playing in ten games.

Now playing in Los Angeles with the Rams, Cooks finds himself on another offense-friendly team with young emerging talent Jared Goff behind center. In his first full season as starting QB, Goff threw for nearly 4,000 yards and 28 TDs. The team’s top receivers had five, five, six and eight TDs on the year.

There will be lots of guys looking for targets, but Cooks should be number one on the depth chart, and be a big part of what the Rams do offensively.