Gross Bombs: NFL Props for Week 16
Josh Gross
Finally, you can turn your sports knowledge into real cash by investing in an athlete’s entire career. Prices rise and fall with every hit, huddle, and headline — and you can buy and sell instantly or hold for as long as you want. Three times a week, FTN will feature a player and his Mojo value — is it time to buy, sell, hold or short? Click here to get in on the Mojo action.
Last week, we outlined the benefit of “Going Short” on certain players last in the season. I have earned over a 22% profit over the past week by fading Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray.
This week’s Thursday night game features the Jacksonville Jaguars (6-8) at the New York Jets (7-7). Both teams are still battling for a playoff spot, and the spread is listed at New York -1. Both teams feature Mojo investment opportunities at several offensive positions. Let’s take a look at my two favorites for a lucrative start to the Week 16 NFL slate.
Travis Etienne, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
For some reason, Travis Etienne’s Mojo price has yet to match his on-field production. His price is currently trading at $10.07 per share, still substantially below his career-best of $12.41 back on Sept. 18. Since Week 7, Etienne has earned a 73% or higher snap share in every game except Week 12, which he left injured in the first quarter. Since Week 8, Etienne has posted three games with 19 or more carries, including a season-high 28 carries in Week 8 against the Raiders. He is one of the NFL’s most versatile backs, ranking top 25 at the position in targets, receptions and receiving yards.
This week he faces a Jets defense that has allowed the seventh-most receiving yards and eighth-most receptions over the past five weeks. After this Thursday’s matchup, Etienne will have an incredibly favorable matchup against a Houston team that is the most generous against opposing running backs.
It is impossible to find a running back with high projected volume, favorable matchups and a price this affordable. I’ll be “going long” on Travis Etienne prior to Thursday Night’s matchup, in exchange for a solid ROI over the next two weeks.
Garrett Wilson, WR, New York Jets
The old investment adage is “buy low, sell high.” With Garrett Wilson, it’s “buy high and watch it go higher.” The 22-year-old rookie from Ohio State has seen a 9.37% rise in his Mojo price over the past month.
Wilson has thrived in the second half of the season, despite dealing with uncertainty at quarterback. Over the last five weeks, Wilson has tallied the tenth-most targets (42) and fifth-most receiving yards (445) among all wideouts. He has seen seven or more targets in six of the past seven games, while producing a 91% or higher snap share in New York’s last three contests.
As the clear WR1 for the Jets, Wilson has even more room to grow with more consistent quarterback play. Most expected Wilson’s production to decline with embattled Zach Wilson back as signal-caller, but Wilson posted 98 receiving yards in Week 15 against Detroit. I expect another big performance at home against a Jacksonville pass defense that was just roasted by CeeDee Lamb (seven receptions, 126 yards) and Noah Brown (six receptions, two touchdowns) in the Jaguars overtime win over Dallas.
Many investors avoid buying players at their all-time high, but when you have the talent profile and volume of Garrett Wilson, there is still plenty of investment value in the near future. Consider investing long term in the Jets’ clear top receiving option, who has produced with marginal quarterback play during this rookie season.
