Yes, your interest-free investment won’t pay off for months, but the wait could be worth it. With the 2024 NFL Draft now in the rear view, where should gamblers stack their greenbacks in the season-long props market? Here are my initial thoughts on an available wager tied to this year’s impressive wide receiver class.
The pick — Marvin Harrison Jr. OVER 1000.5 receiving yards (-110, DraftKings)
Memories of his pops carving up NFL secondaries while catching medium-velocity yet pinpoint passes from Peyton Manning are still fresh. Marvin Harrison Sr., who is top-10 in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns all time, no doubt passed down his Hall of Fame genes. Disagree? Dwell in a dark room and crunch tape, uneducated disbeliever.
Marvin Harrison Jr. was the Cardinals’ top overall pick for many convincing reasons. He owns ALL the traits to rack annual appearances on All-Pro lists.
For starters, the 21-year-old possesses ideal size at 6-foot-3 and 209 pounds. Coupled with his wide catch radius, footwork, route versatility, separation speed, reliable hands, body control and sensational football IQ, Junior is a perfectly forged prospect.
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Last year with Ohio State, he finished top-five among all college wideouts in deep yards and ranked top-15 in contested catches. And on corner, crossing, go and post routes, he garnered an obscene 124.1 passer rating, according to Pro Football Focus.
Trey McBride, Michael Wilson and Greg Dortch are Harrison’s only competition for Kyler Murray’s affections. The lone potential roadblock preventing him from amassing 140-plus targets is the menacing injury imp. That’s it. Roughly 8-10 targets per game should be funneled his way starting Week 1.
Yes, the Dachshund of the Desert left smelly deposits on the field last year. Murray’s No. 29 finish in adjusted completion percentage summed up the disappointment. However, with a No. 10 standing in the category in 2022, he should bounce back given Harrison’s radiant skill set.
Sure, Arizona has a daunting schedule. ESPN’s Mike Clay projects it as the fifth-hardest in the NFL. However, given the Cardinals’ lackluster defense and Harrison's unintimidating target competition, the rookie should race past the 1,000-yard mark this fall, possibly besting the above number by 150-200 yards.
In the opening act of what will likely be a dynamite career, Arizona’s new Larry Fitzgerald pays an instant dividend.