On the surface, there is little about a rookie fifth-round quarterback making his first career NFL start in a Week 12 game between a pair of two-win teams that screams appointment television.
But when that rookie is the son of a Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback nicknamed “Prime Time” who dramatically tumbled to the third day of the draft, reportedly balked at being selected earlier by another team and then racked up multiple speeding tickets in training camp?
Well, the spotlight focused onShedeur Sanders has often been more intense than his on-field performance might otherwise warrant.
Sanders will make his first NFL start against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, a week after completing 4 of 16 passes for 47 yards and an interception in relief of an injured Dillon Gabriel.
It has ratcheted up the intrigue around the Browns’ game in Sin City on Sunday, and led to numerous sportsbooks spinning up prop bet markets around how Sanders will perform.
Among the slew of “Shedeur Sanders Specials” being offered at DraftKings is the standard how many passing yards he will throw for: 150+ being offered at -129 with 10-yard increments all the way up to 300+ at +3300 longshot odds.
But the prop market also includes more exotic options:
–Sanders to Have a 10+ Yard Long Rush (-135)
–Sanders to Either Throw 2+ Passing TDs or Score 1+ Rushing TDs (+190)
–Sanders to Have a 40+ Yard Completion (+250)
–Sanders to Have 25+ Passing Yards in Each Quarter (+350)
–Sanders to Have a 20+ Yard Long Rush (+400)
–Sanders to Have a 50+ Yard Completion (+650)
–Sanders to Have 100+ Passing Yards in Each Half (+650)
–Sanders to Have 5+ Rushing Yards in Each Quarter (+1000)
–Sanders to Have 25+ Rushing Yards in Each Half (+2500)
–Sanders to Have 50+ Passing Yards in Each Quarter (+5000)
–Sanders to Have 1+ Passing TD in Each Quarter (+17000)
The raging curiosity is just how Sanders will fare on Sunday, going from third-stringer to starter during the course of his first season and taking full first-team reps for the first time on Wednesday.
Despite the presence of star pass rusher Maxx Crosby, the Raiders would appear to be an ideal soft landing spot for a rookie quarterback. Cleveland has a stellar defense that should give Las Vegas’ beleaguered offense all it can handle, and the Raiders are coming off a Monday night game in which they were torched for four touchdown passes by Dallas’ Dak Prescott.
Granted, Sanders is light years away from the veteran Prescott, but the Raiders have lost four consecutive games in a season that has spiraled out of control. Las Vegas has been outscored by 98 points this season.
For the critics itching for a Sanders train wreck on Sunday, there are props for that, too. The Over/Under for his interceptions thrown is just 0.5, in part because the Browns are expected to employ a run-heavy ground and high percentage passing game.
–Sanders INTs 1+ (-125)
–Sanders INTs 2+ (+165)
–Sanders INTs 3+ (+447)
–Sanders INTs 4+ (+1160)
Sanders’ Over/Under for total completions has been set at a very modest 15.5 by DraftKings, while his combined passing and rushing yards is being offered at 182.5
“I know our fans have a lot of expectations and hope,” Sanders said. “And I would be doing a disservice to myself and a disservice to the organization if I didn’t feel like I am the guy. I did everything I need to. I’m doing everything I need to prepare to be the best version of myself as possible.
“With the circumstances, everything got to be sped up and that’s great. I like pressure in life. I’m just excited for everything. So, I feel like I’m the guy. I know I’m the guy, but you just have to be able to see.”
