Taylor Bicht
2 min read • August 26, 2024
Posted in
As the new NFL season approaches, several defensive units are grappling with significant injury issues that could impact their performance. These injury concerns present valuable opportunities for savvy bettors to target teams with depleted rosters in the betting market. This free sample highlights some of the top selections to consider in the defensive prop market, with more NFL picks available at SIC Picks.
Latu was the first defensive player selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. While at Washington, a serious neck injury prompted medical staff to recommend his medical retirement, sidelining him for two subsequent years. Latu made a remarkable comeback at UCLA, delivering two straight seasons of double-digit sacks. However, the reason for apprehension surrounding Latu is his history of neck fusion surgery. Although many players return to play following such a procedure, Latu's case is complicated by the fact that undergoing this surgery a second time could prematurely end his career. According to our panel of Pro Football Docs, another neck injury—and the resultant potential need for further fusion surgery—would likely force him out of the game permanently.
The Colts have high hopes for Latu, but the experts at sicscore.com are tempering expectations regarding his production. With Samson Ebukam out for the season due to an Achilles injury, Latu will be heavily relied upon in 2024. Given his medical history, he is projected to fall short of his sack prop, as the risk associated with his neck condition remains a significant concern.
Hubbard's right ankle injury sidelined him for the last two games of the season. In the offseason, it was discovered that his injury was more severe than initially thought. He underwent a complete deltoid reconstruction in his ankle, along with a TightRope procedure to repair it. Although a full recovery is expected for the new season, it is believed that Hubbard will be a slow starter this year as he continues to recover from the issue.
Hubbard has been a consistent producer in sacks since joining the league, recording six or more sacks in five of his six years in the NFL. However, 2024 is likely to be a down year for the Bengals' star rusher as he works his way back from the ankle injury. This situation leads to potential value in betting the under on his sack prop, as his recovery may limit his effectiveness early in the season.
Jalen Ramsey tore his left meniscus in July 2023 but made a quicker-than-expected recovery, returning in Week 8 of the season. He moderately sparred on social media with our staff, defiantly claiming he could make a swift comeback. Despite not being at 100% for most of the year, Ramsey finished the season with 22 total tackles and 3 interceptions, showcasing his resilience and talent.
As Ramsey heads into the 2024 season, he's expected to be much more productive now that he's had more time to fully recover. Even in a season where he wasn't at full strength, he managed to collect three interceptions. This year, we anticipate even greater production from the star cornerback. With the interception prop set at 2.5, there is great value in expecting Ramsey to go over this mark, making him a strong candidate for a standout second year in Miami.
Steelers linebacker Cole Holcomb is currently on the active PUP list after sustaining a knee injury that ended his season and required surgery. Reporter Brooke Pryor noted that the injury is not just a simple ACL tear, and our analysis concurs, suggesting associated damage to other ligaments, which will prolong his recovery. Given his style of play, Holcomb’s side-to-side mobility will likely be hampered this year, and he may not return to his full form until 2025.
To address the likelihood that Holcomb will not be fully effective this season, the Pittsburgh Steelers brought in Patrick Queen, formerly of the Baltimore Ravens, during the offseason. Holcomb has averaged over 88 combined tackles per year in his five-year career, but Queen, who had an outstanding season in Baltimore last year with 133 combined tackles, is expected to lead the Steelers in tackles this year. With Queen taking on a significant number of snaps, he is likely to surpass his combined tackles prop, making him a key player to watch for Pittsburgh.
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Written by Taylor Bicht
