After getting our first taste of NFL football this past Thursday (in a rather disappointing game), it left all of us fans wanting more. While Josh Allen showed the world why he’s one of the favorites to win this year’s MVP award, the Los Angeles Rams looked like a team with more questions than answers. With that being said, the first Sunday of the NFL season is upon us, let’s slow down and enjoy the ride. There is no need to rush to conclusions, just let the season run its course before it’s gone. The first NFL Sunday calls for the first NFL Player Prop of the season.
One of the most exciting games we have in Week 1 is a matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Arizona Cardinals. Both teams are high-octane offenses, led by ascending young franchise quarterbacks with Super Bowl aspirations. The total for the game can be found as high as 54 points, meaning there should be plenty of points scored from both sides.
The Cardinals offense has some questions heading into Week 1. They will be playing this game without their all-world superstar wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins as he serves a suspension for the team’s first six games for the use of banned performance-enhancing substances. Also, they lost their second-best wide receiver from last year, Christian Kirk via free agency. Kirk had over 100 targets and nearly 1000 yards receiving last season; production they will need to replace. The Cardinals also lost running back Chase Edmonds via free agency, a receiving back who played a large role in the Cardinals offense last season (159 touches and 53 targets).
Not to mention, the Cardinals just lost their second-round wideout from last year, Rondale Moore, to a hamstring injury. To make matters worse, their veteran tight end Zach Ertz is dealing with a nagging calf injury that has had him in-and-out of practice all week. What does that mean for quarterback Kyler Murray and the offense in Week 1? Who is going to catch passes for this team in a game they will desperately need to score points to even have a chance?
The Cardinals made Kyler Murray a very happy man this offseason. Not only did they give him a $230M contract extension, they also traded their first-round pick in this year’s NFL draft to reunite him with his college wide receiver, Marquise Brown. In 2018, as teammates at Oklahoma, Brown had over 1,300 yards with 10 touchdowns while Murray went on to win the Heisman trophy. Brown and Murray’s familiarity and experience playing together should help ease any concerns about Brown having to adjust to a new offense and team. Between the free agency departures, Hopkins’ suspension, and the Cardinals current injury situation, I expect Brown to be heavily involved from the jump. This game is expected to have plenty of points scored and the Cardinals are 6-point underdogs. All the reasons mentioned above set up Brown with a nice opportunity to find the end zone in his first game with his new team.
My Pick: Marquise Brown anytime touchdown scorer +175 (via Fanduel Sportsbook)