NFL 'TNF' player prop: Pollard won’t be collared

A week after their dominant 35-point win over the Commanders, the Cowboys host another Thursday game and welcome a fellow Thanksgiving participant in the Seahawks. Each team sits two games out of first place in its respective division, giving this matchup significant NFC wild-card implications. While the halftime show is unlikely to rival 77-year-old singer/actress Dolly Parton performing in a cheerleader outfit, we like another juggernaut to deliver our top prop:

The bet: Over 86½ rushing and receiving yards for Cowboys running back Tony Pollard (FanDuel)

Serving as a complement to Ezekiel Elliott last year, Pollard outplayed the veteran and gradually earned a larger role. Then he suffered a fractured leg in the playoff loss to the 49ers, and that setback likely contributed to this season’s slow start.

But Pollard seems to have turned a corner recently. He registered 103 yards from scrimmage last week, and his 19 touches were the most that coach Mike McCarthy has given him since Week 6. In addition to averaging a season-high 6.1 yards per carry, Pollard caught six passes for 24 yards, seeing extensive work as a receiver for the second straight game.

Over their past five contests, the Seahawks have allowed 5.3 yards per carry to running backs, which is the third-highest mark in the league. They’ve been especially vulnerable to dual threats, surrendering massive combined totals to the Ravens’ Keaton Mitchell (134), the Commanders’ Brian Robinson (157) and the 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey (139).

Showing his old explosiveness, Pollard should rack up a figure that’s nearly as impressive as Dolly’s.