Although the Cincinnati Bengals went 9-8 and missed the Playoffs last season, they finished the year strong, winning five straight games. After starting last season 1-4, the Bengals will likely make it a priority to come out of the gates stronger than last year. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Browns are coming off a 3-14 season, their worst record since 2017. In the last few years, this has been a one-sided rivalry with the Bengals winning four of the previous five matchups.
Here are my favorite three prop bets for Sunday’s matchup between the Bengals and Browns at 1:00 p.m. ET.
Joe Burrow Over 2.5 Passing Touchdowns (+149)
Getting Joe Burrow at +149 on DraftKings Sportsbook to record more than 2.5 passing touchdowns is excellent value considering the way he finished last season. Burrow led the NFL in TD passes with 43 last year and had at least three touchdowns in eight of his final nine contests in 2024.
Burrow has had three-plus TDs against the Browns in three of his eight matchups, while hitting that mark in their previous game. Last season, Burrow played 17 games for the first time in his five-year career and threw his most passing TDs. Burrow averaged 2.53 TDs per contest last season, and if he picks up from where he left off in 2024, a big outing against the Browns is very possible.
Ja’Marr Chase Over 84.5 Receiving Yards (-114)
In 2024, Ja’Marr Chase had his best season of his career, catching 127 passes for 1,708 yards and 17 touchdowns. Chase led the NFL in all three receiving categories last season. After averaging 100.5 receiving yards per game last year, it is surprising to see his total at 84.5 on DraftKings Sportsbook against the Browns in Week 1.
Last season, Chase surpassed this total 10 times while doing so in the final six games of the season. Getting Chase’s total in receiving yards this low is an excellent play considering the Bengals are facing a Browns team that won four games a season ago.
Chase Brown Over 93.5 Rushing + Receiving Yards (-114)
One of the breakout stars in the NFL last season was former fifth-round pick Chase Brown, who totaled over 1,300 total yards in 2024. Brown finished the season with 54 catches, the fourth most on Cincinnati, and became one of Burrow’s top options down the stretch.
Brown enters this season as the Bengals’ No. 1 RB and doesn’t have to fight for the top spot like he did last year. He closed 2024, totaling at least 94 receiving and rushing yards in eight of nine contests. You can back Brown to hit this mark once again in the season opener against Cleveland at -114.
