NFL Week 7 Player Props and Predictions: Justin Herbert will step up against Kansas City

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Jacksonville Jaguars at New Orleans Saints: Trevor Lawrence injury looms

The line for this game has fluctuated quite a bit and it all comes down to Trevor Lawrence’s knee injury. There’s been a lot made of Jacksonville signing Canadian quarterback Nathan Rourke to the 53-man roster, but that’s likely an insurance policy. Lawrence, who hurt his left knee in last week’s win against the Colts, has never missed a game in his NFL career and it looks increasingly like he will play on Thursday.

Results of an MRI on the knee on Monday revealed a sprain, but it’s not thought to be serious. Going on the assumption Lawrence will play, it’s fair to wonder how limited he will be. In five games this season, Lawrence has completed 67.1 per cent of his passes for 1,439 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions. With a lingering injury and playing on a short week, don’t bank on any big numbers for Lawrence in New Orleans.

NFL Week 7 Prediction: Take the Under on Trevor Lawrence passing yards

Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots: Short leash for Mac Jones

Mac Jones has been terrible this season and he’s really only holding onto his job as New England’s starter because the team has no other options. Through six games, the third-year pivot has thrown for 1,208 yards, six TDs and five INTs. He’s failed to throw for more than 200 yards in his last four games and he hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass in his last three.

Jones is almost always good for at least one interception. The only game he hasn’t thrown a pick this year was a bizarre 15-10 win against the Jets in Week 3, the Patriots’ lone victory of the season. Jones was pulled in Week 4 and 5 after New England scored a combined three points, including a goose-egg at home against the Saints.

NFL Week 7 Prediction: Take the Under on Mac Jones’ passing yards and passing TDs

Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs: Herbert Heroics

It’s a big divisional game for the Chargers on Sunday as they travel to K.C. to face the Chiefs. An upset win would tie L.A. with the Raiders for second in the AFC West. The Chargers are just 2-4 against Kansas City since Justin Herbert’s rookie season, but two of those games have gone to overtime and four have been decided by a field goal or less.

Herbert shows up against the Chiefs. In six career head-to-heads against Patrick Mahomes, Herbert has thrown for 15 TDs and just four interceptions. He averages 291 passes yards per game against K.C., throwing for at least 280 yards in five of six career matchups. Herbert’s two best games this season have been the Chargers’ only road matchups. He threw for 305 yards and two TDs Week 2 in Tennessee and followed that up with 405 yards and three TDs Week 3 in Minnesota.

We’re banking on Herbert and the Chargers having a bounce back week.

NFL Week 7 Prediction: Justin Herbert Over 270.5 passing yards (-110)

Miami Dolphins at Philadelphia Eagles: Tyreek Hill for MVP

It seems like a no-brainer to hammer the Over on Tyreek Hill’s receiving yards. The Dolphins’ superstar is on pace to smash multiple single-season NFL records and he’s a key member of one of the most elite offence’s the league has ever seen. Hill leads the NFL in receiving yards (814), receiving TDs (six), receiving first downs (35) and receiving yards after catch (326). He’s hauled in a touchdown in five of six games this year and he’s had four games with 157 receiving yards or more, including a season-high 210-yard performance in Week 1.

Hill is averaging about 136 yards per game, putting him on pace for over 2,300 yards this season. Keep in mind no player in NFL history has ever recorded 2,000 receiving yards in a single season, something Hill would be on pace the do even without the expanded 17-game season.

NFL Week 7 Prediction: Tyreek Hill Over 96.5 receiving yards (-120)