Chiefs vs. Buccaneers: The best rushing props for Super Bowl LV
Kansas City Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire goes around the end during a NFL game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Denver Broncos. (Photo by Steve Nurenberg/Icon Sportswire)
January 31st, 2021
Most casual fans and bettors will be focused on the exploits of quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady when the Kansas City Chiefs face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium in Super Bowl LV (6:30 p.m. ET, CBS). But each team boasts some talented running backs that could prove to be difference-makers on Feb. 7.
There’s a slew of available prop bets for rushing in Super Bowl LV, but we’ve narrowed things down to the top three.
Leonard Fournette Rushing Yards
Leonard Fournette should be good for at least 50 yards in Super Bowl LV, so this looks like an easy bet to make.
Fournette has assumed lead back duties over Ronald Jones in the postseason, rushing for 211 yards on 48 carries (70.3 rushing yards per game, 4.4 yards per carry). With the former No. 4 overall pick in such good form, it would be foolish if the Bucs shied away from him now.
GROWN MAN TD 😤
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 24, 2021
Leonard Fournette gives the Bucs the lead.
(via @NFLBrasil)pic.twitter.com/8VoRkDApPO
The LSU product faces a Chiefs defense that was 21st in stopping the run this season (122.1 yards allowed per game).
NFL pick: Over 48.5 (-112)
Clyde Edwards-Helaire Rushing Yards
Kansas City can be extremely hesitant to run the ball, so it’s hard to gauge how well Darrel Williams – who’s taken the bulk of the carries for the Chiefs in these playoffs – will fare. But the call on rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire is a lot easier to make.
Edwards-Helaire showed plenty of promise in his rookie campaign, but injuries have taken a toll on him down the stretch. He missed Kansas City’s Divisional Round matchup with the Cleveland Browns entirely, then went for a mere seven yards on only six carries against the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game. Edwards-Helaire ran for 161 yards on 26 carries against that same team in mid-season.
QUE GROSSERIA, POYER! OUCH! #BUFvsKC #NFLBrasil #NFLnaESPN
— NFL Brasil (@NFLBrasil) January 25, 2021
Assista à final da AFC e ao Super Bowl LV por R$60! Acesse https://t.co/uMRqwxJ5yr e assine o #NFLGamePass! pic.twitter.com/057PG5Ukf5
Add to this that Tampa had the best rushing defense in the NFL this season (80.6 yards allowed per game), and it’s easy to see Edwards-Helaire struggling in Super Bowl LV.
NFL pick: Under 30.5 (-112)
Ronald Jones Rushing Yards
Jones was Tampa’s go-to back for most of the 2020 season, but an injury that caused him to miss his team’s Wild Card win over Washington has clearly knocked him down the depth chart.
Ronald Jones' 2020 season:
— PFF (@PFF) January 24, 2021
🔺 PFF rushing grade - 86.4 (5th)
🔺 Yards per rush - 5.1 (7th)
🔺 YAC per rush - 3.6 (3rd) pic.twitter.com/Hnl4I7RCh6
The USC product earned just 78 yards on 23 carries through two postseason games. In a game that projects to be a track meet, Jones might not get to 10 carries with Fournette getting first call in the backfield. Don’t expect Jones to be a major factor against the Chiefs.
NFL pick: Under 37.5 (-106)
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