ES 
NFL Previews 
MLB Previews 
NBA Previews 
NHL Previews 
Soccer Previews 
As I was writing this, there were no TD numbers on the guy I was looking for – Justin Jefferson – because the Minnesota Vikings had just named Sean Mannion the starter against Green Bay, with Kirk Cousins on the COVID list.
Jefferson, as you may know, did one of those “non-complaint complaints” about what the Vikings did on offense last week against the Rams. He questioned the “play-calling” in the red zone and the overall plan.
Of course, when a receiver questions play-calling, it only means one thing – that there aren’t enough passes thrown to him.
With Adam Thielen out, Jefferson is the most reliable option the Vikes have, and he has been targeted more than twice as many times as any other wide receiver who will be on the field for them this week. Plus, Mike Zimmer wants to save his job.
So I may have taken the guy at any price.
Michael Carter Props Picks for Week 17
Time: Sunday, January 2 @ 1 PM ET
TD Scoring Odds: +175 to score “Anytime” Touchdown
If can imagine it, Michael Carter and Javonte Williams were in the same collegiate backfield at North Carolina. No wonder Sam Howell had such an easy time of it last year, and has suffered without them. Williams has already made his NFL splash as practically the hardest running back to take down in the NFL. And Carter is in the process of making that happen.
He is filling that dual-purpose role, with 566 rushing yards to lead the team, along with 35 receptions. And he draws nothing but high praise from his coaches. Offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur (brother of Matt – I know, he gets that all the time) says that “This dude, it’s like his sixth year in the NFL. Every day is the same for him, he’s constant, he’s a professional, he brings energy, he brings juice.”
Head coach Robert Saleh sees him as potentially Zach Wilson’s best friend, because he can take some of the pressure off his fellow rookie. So let’s put it this way – if the Jets are indeed going to score, this is the guy we think is going to do it.
Odell Beckham Jr. Props Picks for Week 17
Time: Sunday, January 2 @ 4:25 PM ET
TD Scoring Odds: +150 to score “Anytime” Touchdown
Let’s concede that Cooper Kupp is the most likely receiver, perhaps in the entire NFL, to score a touchdown. He does have 14, to lead the league, and has crossed the goal line in nine different games. He has a massive 132 receptions for 1734 yards and should be a prime MVP candidate.
The Ravens are dreadfully thin in the secondary, and will invariably wind up giving some extra attention to Kupp. And maybe that opens up opportunities for a guy like Beckham, who is developing a connection with Matthew Stafford. He has now scored a touchdown in four of the last five games, and four of his 20 catches for the Rams (20%) have gone for TD’s.
#youtube:zMDigb9rBws&t=2s#
John Bates Prop Picks for Week 17
Time: Sunday, January 2 @ 1 PM ET
TD Scoring Odds: +500 to score “Anytime” Touchdown
Bates, a 6’6″ rookie out of Boise State, has played at least half the offensive snaps for the WFT in each of the last seven games, and 75% last week. He is not terrifically productive, but inasmuch as the team spent a fourth-round pick on him, they want to give him every opportunity.
And seriously, you have to take a look at tight ends whenever the Eagles are the opponent, because they’ve had their share of difficulty defending the position. They are, in fact, tied with the Colts in receptions surrendered to tight ends (98) with a 77.7% completion rate and 12 touchdowns (tied for the most).
Zach Ertz Props Picks for Week 17
Time: Sunday, January 2 @ 4:25 PM ET
TD Scoring Odds: +260 to score “Anytime” Touchdown
Ertz certainly wasn’t ignored upon his arrival in the desert, but he has lately been getting extra attention from QB Kyler Murray in the wake of the absence of DeAndre Hopkins, as he has been targeted a total of 24 times in the last two games. No, there haven’t been many touchdowns (three), but he did score 38 times when he was with the Eagles. So that should come.
Antonio Brown Props Picks for Week 17
Time: Sunday, January 2 @ 1 PM ET
TD Scoring Odds: -120 to score “Anytime” Touchdown
Yeah, we’re going back to the same game twice. But that’s okay, if you have a good play.
We might have a good one here with Brown.
After coming off suspension, and with Chris Godwin and Mike Evans out of action, Brown did everything BUT score a touchdown against Carolina, hauling in ten passes for 101 yards. Were you wondering whether Tom Brady trusts him? Against the Panthers, Brady threw 30 passes. Half of them (no less than 15) were directed at Brown.
Godwin is out for the year. Evans could probably play, but he’s still dealing with a hamstring and just came off the COVID list. Brown himself sat out a couple of days of practice with a sore ankle. But against a Jets defense that has surrendered almost 8.2 yards per pass attempt, if Brown suits up, he may get this.
