Steelers Tight End Darnell Washington Offers Huge Prop Bet Upside

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin addressed the media in his usual Tuesday press conference this week, and the main topic of discussion was no surprise. After exiting Sunday’s win against the Bengals with a wrist injury, QB Aaron Rodgers was diagnosed with a fracture in his non-throwing wrist, and his status for Sunday’s game against the Bears in Chicago was up in the air.

For those of us looking to bet on NFL games this weekend, that meant a little patience was required, as most betting lines for prop bets weren’t released until late in the week, with some still unavailable on Friday afternoon. But after Rodgers suited up for a limited practice on Friday, he enters the weekend questionable, and we may not know who’s starting under center in Week 12 until Sunday morning.

But regardless of whether it’s Rodgers or Mason Rudolph throwing passes on Sunday, there’s a prop bet available on several sportsbooks in Pennsylvania that’s caught our eye.

After catching four passes for 67 yards on Sunday, breaking one tackle after another en route to winning NFL Network’s “Angry Runs,” Darnell Washington has officially stepped onto the national stage. 

And while Steelers fans may have expected this for a while, it was the style of Washington’s play on Sunday that was most interesting. When the season began, it was apparent that Aaron Rodgers loved having the 6’7” tight end close to the goalline as a “throw it up” target for easy touchdowns.

However, on Sunday, it was a different Darnell — one fueled by YAC.

It started on a 3rd & 21 in the second quarter. In need of a big gain, Rodgers found Washington open in the flat. When the 311-pound Washington hurdled a defender and nearly made it to the first down marker, it’s like a light bulb went on. Yards after the catch are typically reserved for uber-athletic, speed-first players. But how many players in the NFL are so big that they’re nearly impossible to tackle? And how many of those guys can catch a pass?

That gave way to Washington’s “Angry Run,” a 31-yard reception in the third quarter in which he put three Bengals defenders on the ground.

Want to hear a crazy stat? Over their last seven games, the Steelers have won every game in which Darnell Washington led the team’s tight ends in snap count, and they’ve lost every game in which he did not lead the team’s tight ends in snaps.

Of course, winning a game in the NFL isn’t as simple as getting one player a lot of snaps. But a stat like that shows just how crucial Washington’s involvement in the Steelers’ offense is to their winning games. 

And while the Steelers’ QB situation is still up in the air, there’s not a large drop-off in talent or intelligence going from Rodgers to Rudolph. In fact, after Rodgers began to find Washington open in the middle of the field on Sunday, Rudolph followed suit when he entered the game. Washington was targeted three times by Rodgers and twice by Rudolph in Week 11.

Take Darnell Washington Over 2.5 Receptions Against the Bears

The prop bet line for Darnell Washington’s receptions against the Bears on Sunday is set at 2.5, with most sportsbooks giving the bet +120 juice. After walking onto the national stage and showing that he can be a one-of-a-kind pass-catcher in Week 1, the likelihood of Washington following up that performance with at least three receptions is high, and in our view, well worth a plus-money wager at +120.

Let’s face it — Mike Tomlin’s history at Soldier Field isn’t great, and we’re not even sure who’s playing quarterback for Pittsburgh on Sunday. A moneyline pick or a bet against the spread is pretty risky. But if you back Darnell Washington hitting the over on 2.5 receptions, we think you’ll be a winner on Sunday afternoon.