With the quarterback position being a major point of interest in New Orleans throughout the offseason, there is a market where DraftKings Sportsbook bettors can cast their pick on who will start for the Saints at QB in Week 1 of the regular season.
Regardless of whoever plays under center in Week 1, they should have Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed at their disposal. As such, if the Saints fail to put up numbers offensively, the QB position will absolutely be where questions arise.
Let’s take a look at how DraftKings Sportsbook bettors view the quarterback battle in New Orleans, along with some of the traditional futures markets.
QB to Take First Snap for NO Saints in Regular Season Week 1
Tyler Shough opened as the favorite with -260 odds. This play has also seen sharp money, taking in 43% of the handle on 24% of the bets.
But, Shough is no longer the favorite. His odds have bumped up to +105. Meanwhile, Spencer Rattler has become the favorite, with his opening +190 odds moving all the way to -140.
As much as the sharp money seems to be on Shough, Rattler may be the move here — despite the latter being the public play (50% of the handle on 57% of the bets). Shough’s odds increased to improve potential payouts. Rattler has seen his odds shorten despite being a clear public play. The line movement does not track with the splits.
Saints Win Total
Entering 2024, the Saints had a win total of 7.5 This year, that number is down to 5.5.
More bad news for Saints fans: The sharps and the public like the under, which has seen 92% of the handle on 85% of the bets.
Notable Player Prop Splits
Kamara, Olave and Shaheed all have season-long player props available on DraftKings Sportsbook. Unfortunately for Saints bettors, it seems the sharps like the unders on these New Orleans betting options:
- Alvin Kamara’s Regular Season Rushing Yards prop is set at 750.5. The under has seen 43% of the handle on 22% of the bets.
- Chris Olave’s Regular Season Receiving Yards prop is set at 825.5. The under has seen 73% of the handle on 58% of the bets.
- Rashid Shaheed’s Regular Season Receiving Yards prop is set at 700.5. The under has seen 62% of the handle on 46% of the bets.
- Olave’s Regular Season Receiving TDs prop is set at 3.5. The over has seen 94% of the handle on 99% of the bets.
The lone option above where it may be worth-while to fade the under lean is Olave’s TD prop. Six percent of the handle on one percent of the bets is significant despite both amounts being small, but that number of 3.5 isn’t insurmountable.
Shifting gears to look at Shough’s Offensive Rookie of the Year candidacy, he opened with +7500 odds. Those have since dipped to +1600 while he’s seen three percent of the handle on two percent of the bets.
Betting Trends from 2024 to Consider
The Saints are the first team in this series that isn’t giving us much to work with in this section. Kamara was 8-6 to the over on his receiving yards and receptions gameday props last season, but only 7-7 to the over on his rushing and rush attempts gameday props.
Meanwhile, Olave and Shaheed had shortened seasons. Olave’s standout number in this regard is that he went 5-3 to the under on his receptions props last season. As for Shaheed, he was 4-2 to the over on his gameday receiving yards props.
Use the data you find in this series to place your NFL bets on DraftKings Sportsbook before the season begins.
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