Prime-Time First TD Bets — Monday Night Football, Week 16
Alex Christenson
The conclusion of tonight’s Chargers-Broncos game will serve as the exact one-third mark of the NFL season. This provides us a significant set of data to assess season-long projections for each player.
Week 6 brought a litany of upsets, with six underdogs winning outright. The most shocking? Pittsburgh’s victory over Tampa Bay as 10-point underdogs.
Let’s take a look at some key risers and fallers at Mojo as we head into Week 7.
Risers
Jake Ferguson, TE, Dallas Cowboys
Performance: 4 receptions, 40 receiving yards, TD
Price: $2.60
Up: +23.1%
The 23-year-old Jake Ferguson posted his best stat line as a rookie, filling the void left by the surprise inactive tag for starting tight end Dalton Schultz. Ferguson was a fourth-round pick by Dallas this season but brings below-average measurables for a team desperate for playmakers. This is likely his best performance of the year, unless Schultz’s injury continues to linger.
Bailey Zappe, QB, New England Patriots
Performance: 24-for-34, 309 yards, 2 TDs
Price: $7.44
Up: +17.3%
Is there really a quarterback controversy in New England? The fourth-round draft pick from Western Kentucky has now led the Patriots to consecutive victories by a 67-15 point differential. Head coach Bill Belichick has been coy about his support for starter Mac Jones, but I don’t believe Bailey Zappe is a legitimate threat to Jones as the New England signal-caller.
Brandon Aiyuk, WR, San Francisco 49ers
Performance: 8 receptions, 83 yards, 2 TDs
Price: $11.72
Up: +8.43%
This one bears watching. Atlanta stuffed the San Francisco running game, which unleashed Brandon Aiyuk for a huge performance on 11 targets. It was Aiyuk’s first game over 63 yards this season, but Aiyuk’s price on Mojo is only slightly above his previous high of $11.15. There are several opportunities for Aiyuk’s production to continue in the upcoming weeks, starting Week 7 against Kansas City.
Fallers
Adam Trautman, TE, New Orleans Saints
Performance: 1 reception, 8 yards
Price: $1.71
Down: -18.1%
Adam Trautman only secured one reception before battling a foot injury in the second half of the Saints’ 30-26 home loss to Cincinnati. Despite entering the league as a highly-touted third-round pick in 2020, Trautman has yet to catch fire in any of his three NFL seasons. Despite the absence of all-pro wide receiver Michael Thomas, veteran Jarvis Landry and explosive rookie Chris Olave, Trautman’s underwhelming performance has investors wondering if he will ever approach his potential.
Marquise Brown, WR, Arizona Cardinals
Performance: 5 receptions, 68 receiving yards
Price: $14.22
Down: -12.3%
Marquise Brown hurt his ankle late in Sunday’s loss to Seattle and was seen in a walking boot after the game. Although X-rays were negative, reports said Brown could not put any weight on his ankle. His season might be in jeopardy. All-pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins returns from his suspension next week, and Arizona just announced a trade for former Carolina wideout Robbie Anderson today. This is all bad news for Brown’s stock value at Mojo.
Isiah Pacheco, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
Performance: 2 carries, 9 rushing yards; 2 receptions, 9 receiving yards
Price: $4.52
Down: -3.3%
Despite being a seventh-round pick, Isiah Pacheco entered the season with tremendous upside in an explosive Kansas City offense. While he has successfully passed veteran Ronald Jones on the depth chart, Pacheco still sits far behind Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Jerick McKinnon in touch volume. While his price has dropped in recent weeks, there is still a path for a huge late-season role in the event of an injury. His career-best stock price hit $5.58 less than one month ago.
