The countdown to the Super Bowl is nearly here as the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles prepare for their second championship matchup in the past three seasons.
Philadelphia returns with Saquon Barkley and an upgraded secondary looking to dethrone the NFL kings and prevent Kansas City from becoming the first team in the Super Bowl era to win three consecutive titles. The Chiefs also have a slightly different identity than we have been accustomed to seeing. Their youthful defensive unit continues to improve and will provide a challenge against this Philadelphia attack.
There are nearly countless ways to get involved in the action on DraftKings Sportsbook. With nearly endless options, one market that has my attention is the leading receiver market. DraftKings has odds listed for which receiver will lead the game in receiving yards in the Game Leaders section of the sportsbook.
I like A.J. Brown at +180 odds to be the leading receiver, which you can check out in the link above. Or, you can tail me in the DK Network betting group here.
Why A.J. Brown Will Lead the Super Bowl in Receiving Yards
Philadelphia has established its identity as a run-oriented football team. Saquon Barkley has feasted behind their dominant offensive line with Jalen Hurts making an impact with his legs as well. While this is sure to remain a key part of their offense, expect this also to be at the top of the Chiefs’ priorities to slow them down. Stacking the box is a necessity against this offensive line and Barkley. Look for this to open things up down the field and for Jalen Hurts to be ready to take some chances airing the ball out. Kansas City also ranked eighth in rushing yards allowed this season but 18th in receiving yards allowed.
A.J. Brown will be the biggest beneficiary of this. Brown has earned Hurts’ trust in putting the ball up for grabs when he sees one-on-one coverage and this has become a key part of the Eagles offense. Brown has recorded a catch of 20+ yards in 12 of the 16 games he has played this season, including against the Washington Commanders to help reach the Super Bowl.
Across the 13 games played in the regular season, Brown tallied 67 receptions for 1,079 yards and seven touchdowns. He has had a relatively quiet start to the playoffs with snow impacting the passing attack to an extent for Philadelphia. Even still, he has notched nine receptions for 120 yards and a touchdown in the postseason.
Looking at the receiving prop market, Brown’s over/under is set 10 yards higher than any other pass-catcher in this game.
While the belief in Brown is there, this bet has more to do with the other options he is competing with. Kansas City did not have a wide receiver record more than 638 receiving yards this season, and Travis Kelce was their leading receiver on the season with 823 yards. This also was the fewest yards Kelce has tallied over a complete season.
The star tight end is the biggest threat to compete with Brown for the leading receiver and is off to a strong start to the playoffs. He was held to just 19 yards in the matchup with the Bills but tallied 117 receiving yards against the Texans the game before. This 19-yard output against Buffalo snapped a 14-game playoff streak of the three-time champion recording 70+ yards in a game.
Buffalo showed the blueprint for slowing down Kelce, so expect this to be at the top of the Eagles’ priority list. Meanwhile, the Chiefs’ list of priorities starts with stopping Barkley, not Brown, and the latter went for 96 receiving yards in the first Super Bowl matchup between these two teams. While there are plenty of weapons on this Eagles’ roster, there is no doubt that Brown is the top wide receiver. With stopping the run being the focus for Kansas City, expect the deep passing options to be there.
Getting +180 odds of Brown being the leading receiver is a creative way to bet on the star wideout beyond just his traditional prop market. Expect the Chiefs to keep their passing attack more widespread among options, while Brown leads the way for the Eagles and ultimately the entire game’s production. Expect a few big play opportunities to go Brown’s way as he plays a key part in Philadelphia’s game plan and seek their Super Bowl revenge.
