NFL Week 9 Betting Props: Were Ajayi's Last 2 Games a Fluke?

The slate of games we have on the docket for Week 9 is pretty weak. To spice things up a little if you’re not feeling the spreads, why not get in on some prop bets. Sportsbooks have given us a slew of wagers to choose from and I’ve selected a few of my favorites to break down for this week's upcoming action.

Ajayi to the rescue

Miami floundered to start the season and was in danger of having another disaster year until giving the starting rushing gig to the former soccer-playing Jay Ajayi. The second-year man out of Boise State has rushed for a total of 418 yards, scored three touchdowns and averaged 7.9 yards per carry in the Dolphins’ last two games, which coincidentally were both wins.

Sportsbook has two props up for the young breakout running back as he goes up against one of the best rush defenses in football this week. The Jets have allowed the fewest rushing yards per game this season and are tied with the Packers and Panthers for allowing the fewest yards per rush attempt. That said, Ajayi looks like an unstoppable force who seems destined for at least 20 carries this week. Although I don’t expect him to have another massive day like he has his past two outings, I expect him to easily breach 71 yards and he should once again break the 100-yard mark.

The Black and Silver are back

Back in the 1960s, the Oakland Raiders had a reputation for their dirty play and the current Raiders rekindled that flame in Week 8 when they set the NFL record for penalties in a game against the Buccaneers, accruing 200 yards on 23 flags.

Racking up penalty yards had not been abnormal for the Raiders going into their Week 8 matchup as they were third in total times flagged and second in total penalty yards.

Sportsbook has a total up for how many penalties Oakland will get flagged for in the Week 9 Sunday nighter against the division rival Broncos and that number is set at 9.5. That total seems a little steep as the Raiders were averaging nine per game before their implosion last week and they will be making a point to avoid them against Denver – go ahead and take the UNDER.

Can the Seahawks get it going on the ground?

Through eight weeks, the Seattle Seahawks are one of the least effective rushing teams in the league and they’ve pretty much abandoned the run in the last three games. When we’ve seen the Seahawks at their best over the last three years, they’ve had a versatile attack and have been able to rely on Russell Wilson to tuck in the ball and take off when he’s gotten in trouble. This year, however, they are incredibly thin at the running back position and Wilson is not healthy enough to run with the ball like he’s been known to.

That said, the Seahawks are going up against one of the worst rushing defenses in the NFL in their Monday nighter vs the Bills this week. If you think they can breach 100 yards, there’s a -200 line in it for you, but if you think the Seahawks’ inability to run the ball continues and that they stay under 100 rushing yards for the game – like I do – head on over to Sportsbook and take advantage of the +150 line they are offering.