Steelers' Chase Claypool 2021 NFL season odds, props: Pittsburgh avoids disaster on practice injury for second-year standout receiver

While he didn't win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2020, there's no doubt that Pittsburgh receiver Chase Claypool, a second-round pick out of Notre Dame, was one of the most pleasant surprises among first-year players. Claypool went down scarily in practice Tuesday but appears to have suffered only a minor ankle sprain that likely will keep him out the rest of the preseason but should have him fine for Week 1 vs. Buffalo. Let's break down some Claypool season props from Caesars Sportsbook.

Because of the Minkah Fitzpatrick trade last year, the Steelers didn't have a first-round pick in the 2020 draft, but if there was a re-draft Claypool would definitely go in Round 1 instead of No. 49 overall – which was Pittsburgh's first pick in that draft. The 6-foot-4, 240-pounder finished his first season with 62 receptions for 873 yards, a 14.1-yard average, and nine receiving touchdowns, adding 10 carries for 16 yards and two rushing scores.

In a Week 4 win over Philadelphia, he had a Fantasy Football game for the ages in catching seven passes for 110 yards and three touchdowns and rushing for a score. That made him the first Steelers rookie ever with a four-TD game and only the third player in team history to do so. It hadn't been done since Roy Jefferson caught four touchdown passes against Atlanta on Nov. 3, 1968.

Claypool, certainly the best active NFL player to hail from Canada, also became the first Steelers rookie with a receiving and rushing touchdown in the same game since future Hall of Fame running back Franco Harris at Buffalo in 1972. For his efforts, Claypool was named AFC Player of the Week.

He also ended the season strong in Pittsburgh's wild-card loss to Cleveland, catching seven passes for 59 yards and two scores. Claypool was named to the Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team.

For this season, he is given Over/Under totals of 899.5 yards and 7 touchdowns. To lead the NFL in receiving yards, he's +6000 and +5000 to lead in receiving TDs. The last Steeler to lead in receiving yards was Antonio Brown in 2017. He led the league in receiving TDs in 2018.

In Tuesday's practice, Claypool remained on the ground after trying to catch a long pass on the next-to-last play of the day and had to be helped off the field – favoring his left leg -- by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and tight end Eric Ebron, but apparently has avoided anything major. Claypool tweeted: "All is well."

Claypool played in the Hall of Fame Game vs. Dallas and had three catches for 62 yards but was a bit banged up after a 45-yard reception. He didn't miss practice time but didn't play in the Steelers' preseason game last Thursday. He clearly will not Saturday vs. Detroit.

Pittsburgh is currently a 6.5-point underdog for Week 1 at the Bills. The SportsLine Projection Model forecasts Claypool for 4.0 catches, 45 yards and 0.38 TDs. When Pittsburgh lost in Buffalo 26-15 in Week 14 last year, Claypool had just three catches for 15 yards as the Steelers were largely shut down offensively. 

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