NFL Week 1 Player Prop Pick for Bills vs Rams: Grab This Isaiah McKenzie Total While You Can

NFL Week 1 Player Prop Pick for Bills vs Rams: Grab This Isaiah McKenzie Total While You Can article feature image
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Bryan Bennett/Getty Images. Pictured: Isaiah McKenzie.

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Isaiah McKenzie Receiving Yards

PropOver 30.5 Yards (-114)
MatchupBills vs. Rams
Day, TimeThursday, 8:15 p.m. ET
Best BookFanDuel

There’s been only high sentiment and praise from Bills camp about Isaiah McKenzie’s work ethic coming into this season. Tracing back stats to his 2021 game log when he only had a 23 percent snap count in 16 games will do you no justice.

This is because the Georgia product is set to open the season in a meaningful role after being rewarded Cole Beasley’s starting slot receiver spot ahead of new addition Jamison Crowder in the depth chart. McKenzie had an undisclosed injury earlier but has recently been in a full participant in practice and Bills head coach Sean McDermott said he will be “good to go” for Thursday’s opener.

The Week 1 matchup vs the Rams features a high 51.5 O/U, which leads me to believe there will be a lot of firepower between the two Super Bowl contending teams. Josh Allen’s passing yard line opened at 275.5 and will be in an offensive scheme that committed 71% of the time last season to a three-receiver personnel set.

Star cornerback Jalen Ramsey will have his hands full shadowing Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis so that may result in Allen looking McKenzie’s way on some downs.

Camp reports say McKenzie has worked on zone coverage, which was his weakness last season, so this should benefit his production vs. the Rams. The former punt return specialist will now offers speed upside and YAC dynamics out of the slot, which is already an upgrade over Beasley in Allen’s bag of tricks. He will play a part in absorbing the 30+ yards achieved in 10 of 16 games Beasley had with the team last season.

I am honestly shocked we get the number this low to start the season. Yes, Crowder could eat into his snap count, but this is too low for what McKenzie has to offer. He’s a known “fantasy sleeper” who’s prime for his expanded role and the breakout starts Thursday night.

His reception line right now is set on DraftKings at 3.5 and getting 31 yards out of Allen’s 275.5 projected yards is not a lot to ask for. I would take this line up to 34.5, which I know it will move to quickly.

The Pick: Isaiah McKenzie Over 30.5 Receiving Yards (-114 at FanDuel) | Playable to 34.5.

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