2022 NFL Futures Best Bets
Gambling Opinion by Ethan Irish
All odds from Caesars Sportsbook
Tom Brady Passing Touchdowns: Over 34.5 -115
Let him go to the Bahamas during training camp he isn't considered the GOAT for no reason. Over the last two seasons, both of which with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Brady has covered this number both times with 40 in 2020 and 43 (league leader) in 2021. I understand he is getting old but it has not seemed to bother him in the slightest. In 2020, he became the oldest Super Bowl MVP at 43 and last season he was the oldest quarterback selected for the Pro Bowl at age 44. While this could very well be his last season after retiring and unretiring during this past offseason, it makes that much more sense for him to try and push for another Super Bowl run.
He also has all of he weapons back with the exception of Rob Gronkowski, who unlike Brady, committed to retirement this offseason. The wide receiver group led by Mike Evans is still looking great. Yes, Chris Godwin did fall last year due to an ACL injury. To combat this the Bucs went out and got Julio Jones and Russell Gage during the offseason. They will more than likely fill in for the Penn State alum while he gets settled back into the Byron Leftwich system. More so Gage than Jones but having a decorated WR in the locker room like Jones does not hurt.
Joe Burrow Passing Yards: Over 4,350.5 -115
This one just seems like a lay up to me but I have surprisingly been wrong before. After suffering both ACL and MCL injuries in November of his rookie year, Burrow had every reason to have a bad year getting back into the action his second season as the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback. He ended up taking the Bengals to the Super Bowl, which they lost to the Rams, but that does not take away from the success he had. I am going to say that was not a fluke.
In 2020, before the injury, Burrow was putting up 268 yards passing per game and was on pace for more than 4,500 yards as a rookie if the season would have been 17 games long. In 2021, he did not show any slowing down as he managed to throw for 4,611 yards in 16 games. He still has the same receivers with star second year player and former LSU teammate Ja'Maar Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd. He also still has a dynamic, receiving capable running back in Joe Mixon, so I think this line should be easy.
Detroit Lions to make the playoffs: Yes +400
Yes, it is the Lions and this could be a risky play but there are a couple reasons why I think this bet is worth it. First of all, The Lions have one of the easiest schedules in the entire NFL getting the Washington Commanders, Seattle Seahawks, and Jacksonville Jaguars all at home. On top of that they get to play the New York Giants and Jets, as well as the Chicago bears twice.
If Detroit was going to pick a year where they get those teams all on their schedule they could not have picked a better year, the NFC North is arguably one of if not the worst division in the NFL. The Green Bay Packers have owned it for years but with Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling gone, and Robert Tonyan coming off injury there is a question mark. Minnesota Vikings are still hit or miss and the Chicago Bears are not looking too good at the moment. I think this is the year for the Lions and +400 seems worth taking.