Five Prop Bets to Consider for 2021 Cincinnati Bengals
Despite three straight last-place finishes, there is a lot of optimism surrounding the Bengals heading into 2021. Their quarterback is back, pieces were added to both sides of the football, and a 17-game season will give Cincy lots of opportunities to improve their play on the field.
After an action-packed offseason, prop bets for all 32 teams have been released, giving fans an opportunity to make some money. And that’s what we’re doing today, as we take a look at five prop bets worth considering for the Bengals this upcoming season.
1. Ja’Marr Chase UNDER 1025.5 receiving yards (-120)
In the history of the NFL, there have been just 23 wide receivers to earn 1,000 receiving yards in their rookie season, with Tennessee’s A.J. Brown and Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson the most recent two. So even with an extra game this season, it might be just a little lofty to assume Chase will join that list this season.
Unlike Brown or Jefferson, Chase is entering camp as the potential number one receiver on the depth chart, which means drawing harder defensive matchups. It’s also a tough defensive division as a whole, evident by the fact that AJ Green is the only rookie receiver to net 1,000 yards while playing in the AFC North. Even with Chase’s prior relationship with Joe Burrow from their championship season at LSU, Chase seems likelier to crack 1,000 yards in his second season.
2. Tyler Boyd OVER 825.5 receiving yards (-125)
While it might be wise to hold off on betting on Chase to reach his total, it is okay to be bullish about Boyd reaching his. The veteran slot receiver, who is entering his sixth year, looks like a decent bet to finish well above 825 yards in 2021.
In 2018 and 2019, Boyd started every game and finished with over 1,000 receiving yards in each. Last year in 15 games, Boyd still managed 841 yards despite Burrow missing five of those games. Even with Chase in the fold, his experience will be heavily relied upon by Cincy’s young QB, giving the solid, steady Boyd a good chance to go over his yard total.
3. Joe Burrow UNDER 26.5 passing touchdowns (-120)
After a promising, albeit a shortened rookie campaign, Burrow enters his second season with plenty of high expectations. But one that may be a little too high is his projected passing touchdown total, which sits at 26.5.
Ultimately Burrow is in a position to throw the ball a lot once again, especially when you consider that Cincinnati might be trailing quite a bit this year. But that pertains more to yards than touchdowns, and Burrow’s 13 touchdowns in 10 games and mediocre red zone work weren’t aided too much by all of his attempts. He should definitely improve off of last season, but somewhere in the low-20s seems more reasonable for the former top pick.
4. Joe Burrow to win Comeback Player of the Year (+600)
Even if Burrow doesn’t go over his touchdown projection, there will be many people who marvel at his return to action following his gruesome leg injuries last season. While there are other big stars also contending for this award, betting him at +700 isn’t a terrible idea given his circumstances.
The Bengals have been stuck in the mud for a while but suddenly are playing meaningful football thanks to their young QB, who suffered multiple leg injuries halfway through his rookie year. That scenario is perfect for this type of award, and while Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is favored at +210, it’s at least worth taking a flier on.
5. Bengals OVER 6.5 wins (+100)
For the last prop, consider the Bengals to finish with seven or more wins. While that may still result in them finishing in fourth place, it would still make for a massive turnaround after not winning seven games since 2017.
The Steelers could conceivably drop off as they did last December, as could the Browns after they had a negative point differential. If those 12 and 11-win teams take a step back, Cincinnati can perhaps elevate their record thanks to a healthy Burrow and the addition of multiple draft picks and free agents. While this isn’t a slam dunk, you never know what can happen in the NFL.
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