Kyler Murray Player Props: Expert Makes Patriots vs Cardinals Bet for Monday Night

Kyler Murray Rushing Yards

Perhaps somewhat quietly, Kyler Murray is having a resurgent season as a rusher, especially of late. The dual-threat quarterback is averaging 41.5 rush yards per game, and he’s cleared this total in five of his last six games.

Whether it be a designed run or a run-pass option, Murray has had his number called on 35 rush attempts this season (excluding kneels). On those attempts, the former No. 1 overall pick has racked up 242 rush yards, good for 6.9 yards per carry.

But it’s Murray's scrambling that intrigues me tonight. He has tucked and run on 24 impromptu occasions this season, accounting for more than half his total rushing yards (204). And 11 of those carries have come in his last three games played.

Against the Patriots, we might be in for an uptick. New England employs man coverage schemes at a top-three rate in the NFL, and that coverage typically leads to more quarterback scrambles. With the Cardinals' two big-play threats in DeAndre Hopkins and Marquise Brown fully healthy, the Patriots' defensive focus will be to prevent chunk yardage.

Plus, the Patriots pressure the quarterback at the second-highest rate in the NFL. Murray has scrambled on 12% of his pressured dropbacks this season, compared to only 3% when he’s kept clean, according to Pro Football Focus.

I project Murray at 45 rushing yards tonight, making this my favorite bet for Monday Night Football.

Pick: Kyler Murray Over 34.5 Rushing Yards

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