NFL Yardage Leaders Best Bets: Passing, Rushing & Receiving

Steve DomineySteve Dominey | July 16, 2019
DeShaun Watson at the draft
DeShaun Watson has long odds to lead the league in passing, but could be surprisingly prolific in 2019. (Photo: Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire)
  • BetOnline has released odds on which NFL stars will have the most passing, rushing and receiving yards this season 
  • Patrick Mahomes (+450), Ezekiel Elliott (+300) and Julio Jones (+375) are the favorites in their respective categories
  • Deshaun Watson (50-1), Dalvin Cook (25-1) and Odell Beckham Jr. (11-1) are intriguing longshots

After a 2018 campaign that saw 1,371 touchdowns scored (the most for a single season in the NFL’s 99-year history), we can expect more of the same this year with spread concepts, unique formations and play action increasingly en vogue across the league.

Using odds from Bovada, let’s try and find some sneaky longshot bets to lead the NFL in passing, rushing and receiving this year.

NFL Most Regular Season Passing Yards

Players Odds
Patrick Mahomes (QB Chiefs) +450
Matt Ryan (QB Falcons) +500
Andrew Luck (QB Colts) +800
Aaron Rodgers (QB Packers) +800
Ben Roethlisberger (QB Steelers) +800
Jameis Winston (QB Buccaneers) +1000
Baker Mayfield (QB Browns) +1400
Drew Brees (QB Saints) +1800
Philip Rivers (QB Chargers) +2000
Tom Brady (QB Patriots) +2500

The Quarterbacks

Despite becoming the youngest MVP since Dan Marino in 1984, Patrick Mahomes’ 5,097 passing yards didn’t lead the league last year (Big Ben topped him by 32 yards). Also, did you know two-time MVP Aaron Rodgers has never led the NFL in passing, and that Matt Ryan is #1 in passing yardage (18,554) over the past four seasons?

While a troubling injury history doesn’t make Carson Wentz a safe bet, the 26-year-old is generating a ton of MVP hype around the league. Available at 40-1, the Eagles’ fourth-year quarterback had eight 300-yard passing games through his first two seasons (only two QBs in history had more).

Another year removed from his knee injury, it’s also not out of the question that Deshaun Watson (50-1) ascends to superstar status.

Best Bet: Deshaun Watson (+5000)

NFL Most Regular Season Rushing Yards

Players Odds
Ezekiel Elliott (RB Cowboys) +300
Saquon Barkley (RB Giants) +450
Todd Gurley (RB Rams) +1400
Derrick Henry (RB Titans) +1400
Le’Veon Bell (RB Jets) +1600
Nick Chubb (RB Browns) +1800
Melvin Gordon (RB Chargers) +2000
Joe Mixon (RB Bengals) +2000
Dalvin Cook (RB Vikings) +2500
Leonard Fournette (RB Jaguars) +2500

The Running Backs

Ezekiel Elliott has been the NFL’s rushing champ two out of his three seasons, and he missed six games due to a suspension in the year he didn’t win. Saquon Barkley finished second to Zeke as a rookie and will continue to be fed the rock in a talentless offense behind an improved offensive line.

There are 24 reasons why Browns bruiser Nick Chubb is a strong buy at 18-1, but I’ll instead back the Vikings’ Dalvin Cook (25-1). Fully recovered from the ACL injury that ended his rookie year, the shifty third-year RB will be the bell cow in Gary Kubiak’s legendary zone-blocking scheme.

Best Bet: Dalvin Cook (+2500)

NFL Most Regular Season Receiving Yards

Players Odds
Julio Jones (WR Falcons) +375
DeAndre Hopkins (WR Texans) +650
Michael Thomas (WR Saints) +950
Odell Beckham Jr. (WR Browns) +1100
Mike Evans (WR Buccaneers) +1400
JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR Steelers) +1500
Antonio Brown (WR Raiders) +1800
Adam Thielen (WR Vikings) +1800
T.Y. Hilton (WR Colts) +1800
Tyreek Hill (WR Chiefs) +1800

The Wide Receivers

Julio Jones’ 1,677 receiving yards led the league last year and he’s finished top-three in the category in each of the past five seasons. The only offensive player in Madden 20 to get a 99 rating, DeAndre Hopkins will again be a target hog.

JuJu Smith-Schuster (15-1) was fourth in the NFL in targets (166) in 2018, and that was with Antonio Brown. With no guarantee that he will face any kind of suspension at all, Tyreek Hill (18-1) also has to be heavily considered.

Still, the fact that Odell Beckham Jr. is upgrading from Eli Manning to Baker Mayfield makes him a screaming value at 11/1. Since entering the league in 2014, Beckham is third in yards per game (92.8) and he’s going from one of the worst deep ball throwers on the planet to one of the best.

Best Bet: Odell Beckham Jr. (+1100)

Steve Dominey

Steve has almost 15 years of experience in marketing, PR and sports television. After acquiring a Journalism degree from Carleton University, he assembled highlight packs for Canada's most-watched sports network (TSN) before transitioning to a career in communications. He describes himself as a good father, great dog owner, and mediocre gambler and husband.