NFL player prop: Grin and Garrett

In determining the teams for the NFL’s first Black Friday game, league decision makers were likely envisioning a pivotal AFC East clash involving premier quarterbacks. But the Jets lost expected franchise savior Aaron Rodgers to a torn Achilles on his fourth snap, and former second overall pick Zach Wilson has now been benched. As journeyman Tim Boyle steps under center and prepares to duel with the Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa, his primary target gets our support for top prop:

The bet: Over 4½ receptions for Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson (FanDuel)

Like yesterday’s winner, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Wilson was drafted in the first round after excelling at Ohio State. He went on to post more than 1,100 receiving yards and earn Offensive Rookie of the Year honors despite inconsistency at quarterback.

Wilson is already playing with his sixth different signal-caller in New York. When Boyle started two games for the Lions late in the 2021 season, it’s notable that he peppered Amon-Ra St. Brown with 11 targets each time. The featured receiver finished with catch totals of nine and eight, averaging more than 100 yards and scoring three touchdowns.

A similar aerial approach could be seen today. The last time the Jets faced the Dolphins was in the 2022 season finale, and Joe Flacco — a new member of the Browns practice squad — threw just 33 passes. But a whopping 17 of them went to Wilson, who made nine receptions for 89 yards.

Although he’s unlikely to see that kind of volume in this game, Wilson can surely will his way to five catches.