4 eye-catching Commanders futures bets to strongly consider in 2023
By Sean Labar
Sam Howell - Commanders QB
- Over 3.5 rushing touchdowns at +100
This was the third lock when looking at NFL future individual player bets for 2023. While Sam Howell is no Lamar Jackson or Jalen Hurts, we’ve seen his ability to use his legs to scramble out of pressure and pick up big gains.
Howell barely ran at all during his first two seasons at North Carolina. But out of necessity, he added a key element to his game in order to escape constant pressure in his final collegiate year and finished 2021 with 11 touchdowns on the ground.
Eric Bieniemy is going to be careful utilizing Howell as a runner, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a few designed runs per game, particularly in the red zone. The Washington Commanders quarterback found the end zone with his legs on a designed fake pitch in his lone start against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 18, so there could be more to come.
He also had two rushing touchdowns in his NFL preseason debut against the Carolina Panthers. The first wasn’t a designed run, but as we have seen from the signal-caller when he goes through his progressions, if doesn’t see anything and faces pressure he’s shown the ability to make big-time plays instead of taking sacks.
Whether by design or necessity, I like the chances of the newly appointed Commanders QB1 rushing for at least four touchdowns this season. So this is a very tempting bet.