Saints vs Cardinals Week 1: Best Player Props & Picks

Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

By Ross Jackson

As the New Orleans Saints prepare for their first week of regular season action, the betting world is ablaze with opportunity. FanDuel Sportsbook has opened up some player props for the Saints as they take on the Arizona Cardinals next weekend. With new starting quarterback Spencer Rattler in place and the Saints’ offense mostly healthy to start the season, there are plenty of over/under props to consider.

All of the props listed below carry the typical over/under odds of -114.

Passing Yards

Spencer Rattler O/U 187.5 passing yards

In his six starts last season, Rattler surpassed the 187.5 passing yard mark in three games. All three of which, he went for more than 200 passing yards in the process. He eclipsed the mark against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers twice (one of which being his first career start) and the Las Vegas Raiders while falling short of it against the Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers (against whom he did not play the second half) and Green Bay Packers. He also threw for 135 passing yards in the second half against the Washington Commanders.

Passing Completions

Spencer Rattler O/U 19.5 completions

This number he achieved in four of his six starts. One of the two games in which he did not have at least 20 completions was against the Chargers, a game in which he only appeared in the first half. With a full host of wide receivers for the first time since the first pair of dropbacks against the Buccaneers in Week 6, the over makes some sense.

Receiving Yards

Chris Olave O/U 49.5 receiving yards

Rashid Shaheed O/U 37.5 receiving yards

Alvin Kamara O/U 28.5 receiving yards

Juwan Johnson O/U 24.5 receiving yards

For the top tight end on the roster, 24.5 yards seems like a solid over, especially with a young quarterback in the mix. In Rattler’s six starts last year, Johnson averaged 43.5 receiving yards while Rattler was in the game. Remove the game against the Chargers and that average leaps to 47.8 receiving yards.

Johnson is likely to be a bit of a security blanket as the big body operating close to the line of scrimmage.

Kamara’s average with Rattler hovers around 29.3 while it only takes one big reception for Shaheed or Olave to hit any weekly receiving total.

Rushing Yards

Alvin Kamara O/U 63.5 rushing yards

Spencer Rattler O/U 22.5 rushing yards

The over on Kamara’s rushing yards could be an interesting wager. Along with tight end targets in the passing game one of the best ways to support a young passer is to have an effective run game. Head coach Kellen Moore has put together several impressive rushing attacks and has expressed excitement all offseason to work with Kamara. The rusher saw only one snap in the preseason, leaving the Cardinals with very little to build a gameplan against.

Combined Rushing and Receiving Yards

Alvin Kamara O/U 98.5 rushing and receiving yards

Last year, Kamara topped this total nine times in 14 appearances. That might not count for much considering the change in offense. But if the star backs gets the touches expected in Moore’s scheme, it shouldn’t be long before this total becomes run of the mill for the back.