These NFL Week 16 best bets feature one ATS pick, a moneyline pick and two player props.
The Week 16 narrative: Philip Rivers and the Indianapolis Colts desperately need a win over the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football. There is value in fading the veteran QB, though, and the same can be said for Jahmyr Gibbs' rushing total.
Check out our NFL Week 16 staff best bets for our favourite picks this weekend, featuring a prop bet on New York Jets receiver Adonai Mitchell.
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NFL Week 16 best bets
These NFL Week 16 best bets were provided by NorthStar Bets writers Avery Perri and Jordan Horrobin.
49ers -6 (-110): Rivers didn't just join the Colts to extend his NFL health insurance plan for another five years.
Nope, it appears the 44-year-old signal caller will be in it for the long haul (aka, however many games remain in Indy's season). Rivers has been named the starter in Week 16, and that should be bad news for the Colts.
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I don't care that Rivers covered and nearly won against the Seahawks; he could barely put any zip on the ball and was a sitting duck for most of the game.
San Francisco's biggest weakness is its pass defence, but the secondary should have better success against the old-timer.
And the Niners' offence is rounding into peak form, scoring 31.0 PPG during the team's four-game winning streak.
I can't imagine a world where Rivers keeps up with that.
-Perri
Packers vs. Bears moneyline pick
Bears moneyline (+106): Chicago will be missing a pair of receivers on Sunday (Rome Odunze, Luther Burden). But that pales in comparison to the recent losses on Green Bay's side.
The Packers' superstar edge rusher, Micah Parsons, is done for the year with a knee injury. Meanwhile, neither the team's best offensive lineman (Zach Tom) nor its best defensive back (Evan Williams) had returned to practice as of Wednesday, meaning both are at great risk of sitting out on a short week.
Then there's Christian Watson (chest), who is hopeful to play for the Packers after exiting last week and taking a quick trip to the hospital. If he's out, the visitors will be severely shorthanded in terms of offensive weapons.
Green Bay did escape with a one-score win at Lambeau when these teams played two weeks ago. But Chicago has what it takes to return the favour at Soldier Field.
The Bears are 5-0 with a +64 point differential in their past five home games. They're also 5-3 SU as underdogs this season.
-Horrobin
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NFL Week 16 prop bets
Mitchell over 40.5 receiving yards (-115): Brady Cook made his first start for the New York Jets last week, and the rookie locked in on Mitchell has his favourite target.
Mitchell, who came to the Jets via trade from the Colts, finished with team-highs in targets (10), receptions (seven) and yards (69).
He also caught Cook's first NFL touchdown pass and delivered the ball to his teammate.
I won't read too much into the potential chemistry between Cook and Mitchell based on one game. But Mitchell's overall usage over the past five games is compelling:
- 6+ targets every game
- 8.2 targets/game
- 49.4 yards/game
- 3-2 vs. this prop
Mitchell is largely a boom-or-bust receiver, ranking in the 93rd percentile for average depth of target and the sixth percentile in catch rate, according to RotoWire.
With the target share he's seeing right now, I think he can convert enough of those chances into the necessary yards to cash this prop.
Gibbs under 72.5 rushing yards (-110): Gibbs is one of the most electric playmakers in football. But there are plenty of good reasons to fade him on a line this high.
First off, he just hasn't been that productive lately:
- The third-year back has gone under this mark in four of his last five games and nine of 14 on the season.
- He's averaging just 49.6 rushing yards in his last three games at 3.3 yards per carry.
But more importantly, Steelers rookie Derrick Harmon is expected to return to the defensive line. The No. 21 pick out of Oregon has been a game-changer in Pittsburgh's run defence.
The Steelers' defence is allowing 96.0 rushing yards per game with Harmon in the lineup (nine games) and 165.6 rushing yards per game without him (five games).
If Gibbs is going to do damage on Sunday, expect it to be as a pass-catcher and not between the tackles.
-Perri
