The first Sunday of the 2025 season is here as teams kick off the regular season. Plenty of star talent will be on display during these matchups, including the Jaguars vs. Panthers game.
These teams feature two young quarterbacks and a star rookie in Travis Hunter, who is primed to play both wide receiver and cornerback in his NFL career.
Jacksonville is a 3.5-point favorite and -198 on the moneyline, while Carolina is +164 on DraftKings Sportsbook. The game total is set at 46.5 points.
Here are my three favorite player props for this Week 1 NFL game between the Jaguars and Panthers.
Jaguars vs. Panthers Best Prop Bets
Travis Hunter under 4.5 receptions (-149)
Not many NFL fans are willingly tuning into a Jaguars vs. Panthers game without some betting or fantasy incentive. This isn’t the most exciting matchup on the early afternoon slate, but it does have one major reason for people to watch.
That’s Hunter. The No. 2 overall pick was a standout in college, playing at an elite level at both the wide receiver and cornerback positions. It’s something that’ll be difficult to do in the NFL, but many people are curious whether he can accomplish this.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Jaguars plan to use Hunter as an “every-down wide receiver and situational corner” against the Panthers. This doesn’t change his season or career outlook, but it gives fans an idea of what to expect in Week 1.
Although he’s primarily playing wide receiver, he won’t be Trevor Lawrence’s top option. That’s still reserved for Brian Thomas Jr., who was excellent as a rookie last year. Hunter will get secondary looks, making it unlikely he surpasses 4.5 receptions.
Travis Etienne Jr. under 9.5 rushing attempts (-123)
Back-to-back under props for the Jaguars may make me seem like a Panthers’ believer, but that’s also not the case. Jacksonville should win this game, but it won’t be because of Travis Etienne Jr.
After back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons, Etienne fell to 558 yards in 2024. He played 15 games, but two missed games aren’t the excuse for that large of a drop off. It’s an indication that the Jaguars are moving past the Clemson product.
Tank Bigsby outperformed Etienne and should continue to get more touches in 2025. Bigsby had 766 yards in 16 games last season, but he was the starter in just one game. The main difference between the two running backs, aside from starts, was efficiency. Bigsby averaged 4.6 yards per carry, while Etienne averaged 3.7.
Etienne made more of an impact in the pass game, but Bigsby seems to be the top rusher for the Jaguars. That should trickle over into 2025 with Etienne getting less than 9.5 carries in Week 1.
Chuba Hubbard over 60.5 rushing yards (-111)
Again, these prop bets are anti-Jaguars, but it’s not indicative of how the final score will look. Chuba Hubbard will be a major part of this Panthers’ offense, regardless if they win or lose.
Carolina doesn’t have many weapons on offense, aside from Hubbard and rookie wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan. The latter is receiving balls from Bryce Young, who isn’t the most consistent passer. That’s why I’m sticking with Hubbard for this prop bet.
He broke out last season for 1,195 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. He also increased his yards per carry from 3.8 to 4.8 last year. While regression is possible, he’s the primary source of offense for this team.
The Panthers will utilize him often this year, and fans should see that beginning in Week 1.