Week 3 of the NFL season will conclude with a Monday Night doubleheader. This will mark the first of four Monday Nights in which two games will take place.
Tonight night will kick off with the Buffalo Bills taking on the Jacksonville Jaguars as 5-point favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Jaguars are +200 on the moneyline while the game total over/under sits at 46.5 for the game. The night will then conclude with a matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Washington Commanders.
I won’t be the one complaining about more football. Especially given the additional options on the board, here is a look at the top player prop picks for the Week 3 Monday Night matchups, particularly the Bills vs. Jaguars matchup.
Brian Thomas Jr. Over 44.5 Receiving Yards (-115)
After being selected with the 23rd overall pick in this year’s draft, Brian Thomas Jr. has made his presence felt in the opening two weeks. The LSU product leads the Jaguars in receiving yards with 141, along with recording five first downs and a touchdown.
Thomas tallied 47 receiving yards and a touchdown in the opening week and then 94 yards in Week 2. The crowded rookie wide receiver class has watered down Thomas Jr.’s hype but don’t let him get lost in the shuffle. In his final season at LSU, he tallied 1,177 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns in just 13 games.
Standing at 6’3, Thomas is an intriguing combination of big play potential and advanced route-running ability. He is climbing up the pecking order on the Jaguars but is still second in targets behind Gabe Davis. Despite this, he has been able to eclipse 45 receiving yards in both games at the NFL level thus far and should only see his opportunity grow. Expect him to take advantage of his primetime debut and for Thomas to make his presence felt.
James Cook Over 63.5 Rushing Yards (-120)
Coming off a season in which James Cook tallied 1,567 yards from scrimmage and earned Pro Bowl recognition, expectations have not been high enough for James Cook in 2024. The Bills’ running back has a case for most underrated running back in the NFL. Cook has become increasingly important to the Bills’ offense with a weaker wide receiver group than in past years.
So far this season, Cook has recorded 149 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns. The Georgia product recorded 11 carries for 78 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the opening week. He then followed this up with 19 carries for 71 yards in Week 2.
Heading into Week 3, James Cook will continue to be a key part of the Bills’ offense. He is in line for a significant portion of the carries with only Ray Davis set to share a few backfield chances. Cook averaged 66 yards per game last season and has only grown more important to this offense. Expect the Bills to put the ball in his hands often and for Cook to record 64+ rushing yards for the third consecutive week.
Khalil Shakir & Gabe Davis to Combine for 150+ Receiving Yards (+400)
The Buffalo wide receiver group is weaker this season than it has been at any other point in the Josh Allen era. Stefon Diggs’ departure to Houston has taken most of the headlines, but Gabe Davis also left this offseason. Davis did not have to wait long to have a chance to get revenge on his former team and he will return to his former home field in Week 3. In his opening two games with the Jaguars, Davis has tallied 105 receiving yards and leads the team in receptions. Expect there to be a little extra motivation for Davis as he returns to face his former team. With plenty of opportunity within the offense, look for him to put a dent in this 150+ yard total.
Looking at the new wide receiver group in Buffalo, it’s evident so far that Khalil Shakir has established himself as Josh Allen’s number-one target. Through the opening two weeks, he leads the team with eight targets for 96 yards and a touchdown. No other pass catcher has tallied more than five passes within the offense. Shakir has built up a chemistry with Allen during his three years with the Bills. While he may be as talented as some of the other WR1s across the NFL, opportunity is everything and Shakir is a sure thing to see plenty of targets.
This is a bit of a bigger swing, but both Shakir and Davis are necessary to the production of their teams. Expect both to be very involved in the offense and for at least one of them to be flirting with 100 yards receiving in the game to make reaching the total easier.
Josh Allen & Jayden Daniels Anytime TD Parlay (+320)
Have a little extra fun with the double-header by extending a parlay across both games. In the Bills’ game, Josh Allen is considered the biggest favorite for an anytime touchdown at -135 odds. Allen was tied for the most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with Jalen Hurts with 15 last season. He also has kicked off this year with a pair of rushing touchdowns in the first two games in addition to the three through the air. Allen’s 6’5 frame makes him a legitimate red-zone threat and he will continue to be the Bills’ biggest vehicle for scoring production.
In the late game, look for Jayden Daniels to begin to establish a similar identity around the red zone. While Daniels does not have the commanding physical presence of Allen, his legs are even more dominant. The Commanders have been conservative in their usage of the rookie, but he has been able to rely on his rushing ability. Through the opening two games, he has not thrown his first passing touchdown. Instead, he has rushed the ball 26 times for 132 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Daniels is a big play threat on any given touch, but the Commanders have also specifically called rushing plays for him in the red zone.
Both of these quarterbacks will be among the leaders in rushing touchdowns this season and have a chance on any given week to find the end zone. Both the Commanders and Bills also have some concerns regarding their other options for scoring in the red zone. Look for both quarterbacks to capitalize with their legs and capitalize on the +320 odds.
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is seanbarnard) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
