Allen Lazard 2022 NFL season props: Packers wideout taking heavy action to lead league in receiving yards

Davante Adams has been arguably the NFL's best wide receiver the past two seasons and formed a strong partnership with Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Yet Green Bay traded Adams to the Raiders this offseason because Adams wanted to play with his Fresno State teammate Derek Carr in Las Vegas. As good as Adams has been in his career, he never led the league in receiving yards. One beneficiary of Adams' absence figures to be Allen Lazard, and bettors at Caesars Sportsbook suddenly are crushing him to top the NFL in receiving yards.

On July 28, Lazard was +20000 at Caesars on this prop but is now down to +7500. Over that span, he has taken the biggest betting handle of any player at a whopping 36% as well as the most tickets at 14%. Overall, Lazard ranks sixth in handle (4.3 percent) and ninth in tickets (3.8 percent).

Lazard was undrafted out of Iowa State in 2018 and originally signed with Jacksonville. Late in the 2018 season, he was signed by Packers off the Jaguars' practice squad and he finished with one catch in his lone game with Green Bay, and failed to make the 53-player roster out of training camp in 2019. Lazard's best season was in 2021. He finished with 40 catches for 513 yards and eight scores – all career highs – in 15 games.

Green Bay didn't do a heck of a lot to replace Adams or Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who signed with Kansas City. Sammy Watkins was signed to a one-year deal, but he's way past his prime. The Pack selected Christian Watson in the second round of this year's draft from North Dakota State, but he hasn't been able to practice yet and is on the PUP list while he recovers from knee surgery. Aaron Rodgers has to throw to someone.

"I really think Allen is ready to make a jump and be a No. 1 receiver," Rodgers said recently.

At 6-foot-5, 227 pounds, Lazard certainly has the size to dominate cornerbacks. Last season, he converted 46.7 percent of his targets into first downs. That ranked ninth among all receivers with at least 50 targets (Adams was third at 49.7 percent). Lazard has plenty of financial motivation for a big year well -- he's a pending unrestricted free agent.

"I'm excited to see what he can be for us in a different role," GM Brian Gutekunst said of Lazard at the start of camp. "Allen's a confident guy. Every time we've given him opportunities, he's produced. So with these new opportunities, I'm excited to see him grow and develop. But I think sky's the limit for him. I think he can be a really good player in this league. He has been a really good player for us, and I think he's excited for the opportunity, as well."

Lazard is given season over/under totals of 750.5 yards and 5.5 touchdowns. Green Bay opens the regular season at Minnesota, and the SportsLine Projection Model forecasts Lazard to finish with 3.1 catches, 44 yards and 0.50 TDs – all tops among Packers wideouts. 

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