As has been the case for the past few years, the Bengals’ star-studded offense will take up most of the oxygen in Cincinnati this season.
Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins’ contract disputes are no longer hanging over the team, meaning Joe Burrow has his two favorite targets secured for the long run. It isn’t as if the receivers’ uncertain futures limited the Bengals’ offensive production in the past, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to have the three faces of the franchise all on the same page.
Burrow, Chase and Higgins joined forces to routinely clear the over in 2024, with 11 of the Bengals’ 17 games exceeding the points total. At the same time, Cincinnati’s lackluster defense that ranked 25th in points against held the team back from reaching their win total.
Bengals Win Total
The Bengals entered 2024 with a 10.5 win total, only to finish 9-8 and miss the postseason by one game. The bar has been lowered a bit heading into 2025, with DraftKings Sportsbook lowering Cincinnati’s win total to 9.5.
With Burrow, Chase and Higgins leading the charge, 78% of bets are on the Bengals going over their win total. However, only 63% of the handle is on that play, so there doesn’t appear to be much sharp support for Cincinnati blowing past expectations.
Joe Burrow Futures Splits
Burrow strung together a legitimate MVP campaign in 2024 despite his team’s middling win-loss record, leading the NFL with 4,983 passing yards and 48 passing touchdowns en route to a fourth-place finish in voting. He won AP Comeback Player of the Year for the second time in his career after missing seven games and posting a handful of career-lows in 2023.
The former Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall pick may not be the odds-on favorite to win MVP in 2025 — Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen both boast shorter odds — but he is the most popular play on the market. Burrow to win MVP at +650 is receiving 23% of the bets and 25% of the handle, both of which rank first.
The overs for Burrow’s Regular Season Passing Yards (4150.5) and Regular Season Passing TDs (33.5) are both extremely popular plays in their own right. 90% of the bets and 94% of the handle are taking the over for yards, while 93% of the bets and 98% of the handle are taking the over for touchdowns. Burrow has safely cleared both marks in each of his three healthy seasons in the NFL, only falling short when he was hurt in 2020 and 2023.
Other Notable Player Prop Splits
Chase has played a big role in Burrow’s dominance over the years, and that is hardly expected to change in 2025. He is the most popular Offensive Player of the Year candidate on the market, earning 21% of the bets and 16% of the handle, as his odds have climbed from +1200 to +950.
Higgins shouldn’t be overlooked, though, and the sharp play seems to be very optimistic about his role in the offense.
Here are the prop lines Chase, Higgins, running back Chase Brown and others are working with heading into 2025, as well as the splits for each bet:
- Chase’s Regular Season Receiving Yards prop is set at 1300.5. The over has seen 91% of the handle on 94% of the bets.
- Chase’s Regular Season Receiving TDs prop is set at 10.5. The over has seen 93% of the handle on 98% of the bets.
- Higgins’ Regular Season Receiving Yards prop is set at 975.5. The over has seen 73% of the handle on 51% of the bets.
- Higgins’ Regular Season Receiving TDs prop is set at 7.5. The over has seen 95% of the handle on 98% of the bets.
- Brown Regular Season Rushing Yards prop is set at 900.5. The over has seen 94% of the handle on 97% of the bets.
Disgruntled defensive end Trey Hendrickson and coach Zac Taylor could work their way into awards conversations, as well. Although, there doesn’t seem to be much notable traction on either front. At +2200, Hendrickson is garnering 1% of the bets and 1% of the handle for Defensive Player of the Year, while Taylor is getting the same splits at +6500 for Coach of the Year.
Betting Trends From 2024 to Consider
With so many familiar faces returning from 2024, it may be worth taking a look at how the Bengals’ biggest names performed on a game-by-game basis last season.
- Joe Burrow
- Passing Attempts: 10-7 to the over
- Completions: 11-6 to the over
- Ja’Marr Chase
- Receiving Yards: 11-6 to the over
- Receptions: 10-7 to the over
- Tee Higgins
- Receiving Yards: 7-5 to the over
- Chase Brown
- Rushing Yards: 10-6 to the over
- Receiving Yards: 10-6 to the under
The road warrior Bengals of a year ago also went 8-1 against the spread in away games, which is something to keep in mind for the early-season matchups at the Browns, Vikings, Broncos and Packers.
Use the data you find in this series to place your NFL bets on DraftKings Sportsbook before the season begins.
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