The stage is set for a fantastic matchup between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl 60. We’ve seen Klint Kubiak’s offense dominate all season long, and while AJ Barner hasn’t put up a big stat line in several weeks, the tight end does play a key role for his team.
Seattle is a 4.5-point favorite with the game total set at 45.5 combined points on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Here are the best AJ Barner prop bets on DraftKings Sportsbook for Seahawks vs. Patriots in Super Bowl 60.
Best AJ Barner prop bets on DraftKings Sportsbook
The Seahawks’ offense is undoubtedly one of the best in the NFL. The credit for that largely goes to the offensive coordinator, who has created a well-oiled machine in Seattle but a range of players deserve plenty of acclaim as well. Tight end AJ Barner worked as an important weapon throughout the campaign, finishing second on the team in receptions (52) and receiving touchdowns (six) as well as third in targets (68) and receiving yards (519). The unquestioned leader of the position group, his 933 snaps are nearly 600 more than the next-closest tight end as well.
This matchup is a bit of a tough one for Seattle’s pass catchers. The Patriots rank ninth in passing yards allowed this season and 11th in defensive EPA/pass. They aren’t entirely invulnerable though, giving up 25 passing touchdowns while also allowing a completion percentage of 66.41%, the league’s ninth-highest rate. New England also sits in the middle of the pack against tight ends, though on the lower end. This defense gives up an average of 7.70 targets, 5.55 receptions and 55.10 yards per game to the position.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, Barner’s prop bet lines are set at O/U 2.5 receptions and 25.5 receiving yards. His longest reception line sits at 12.5 yards and his odds of an anytime touchdown are listed at +230, fifth-shortest of any player in this game.
The Seahawks largely prefer to run the ball and control the pace of play, and outside of star wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba, it can be difficult to project the production of other pass catchers. Barner hasn’t exactly excelled in the playoffs with just three targets and two catches for 13 yards across two games, failing to even record a target in the Divisional Round. However, that goose egg may have come as a result of a blowout victory in that game.
While Barner’s lines are set quite low and there could be value in the overs, I’m instead going the opposite direction and targeting under 2.5 receptions for the tight end at +125 odds. I like getting this prop at plus money given that he hasn’t been a focal point of the attack in two postseason appearances thus far and has a target share of just 15.2% on the season to begin with. He’s had some nice games at times and is largely an excellent player, but this may not be a situation in which he sees his number called very often. The Patriots’ own offense hasn’t looked good throughout the playoffs for the most part, scoring 16, 28 and 10 points across their three games. In that 28-point affair, New England did score from a pick six as well to pad the scoring total.
Given how the Patriots have struggled against great defenses and face one of the league’s best in this Super Bowl, I just don’t think they’ll score enough to truly push their opponents. I fully expect a run-heavy game plan from the Seahawks as they feed the majority of receiving work to Smith-Njigba as usual, keeping Barner under this prop line.
Best Bet: AJ Barner under 2.5 receptions (+125)
Click the odds of this bet to tail!
