New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart is projected to surpass 5.5 rushing touchdowns this season, according to a betting analysis from the New York Post. This prediction is based on Dart's performance last season and his new head coach's offensive strategy.
Dart finished the previous season with nine rushing touchdowns in 12 starts, with a significant portion of those scores occurring within the 20-yard line, including four inside the 5-yard line. Despite this production, his prop bet for rushing touchdowns is set at 5.5.
Despite critiques of his aggressive playing style, which led to some notable hits and a concussion last season, Dart has stated his intention to maintain his running ability. "I’m not going to turn myself into a pocket passing quarterback. I’m not going to change the style that I play," Dart said on the DeepCut podcast. He believes that altering his natural style would hinder his effectiveness.
New head coach John Harbaugh appears to embrace Dart's dual-threat capabilities. In an interview with ESPN, Harbaugh drew parallels between Dart and Lamar Jackson, noting that his offense can incorporate similar schemes. "Now we can also get in the gun, or we can get in the pistol, and we can run we RPOs’s. We can run quarterback-driven runs with Jaxson Dart. A lot of the stuff that we did in Baltimore with Lamar as well," Harbaugh stated.
While other players like Cam Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy, and Devin Singletary may take some red zone carries, and the Giants have added receiving options to bolster the passing game, the analysis suggests Dart's running ability, particularly when plays break down, will remain a key asset. The betting recommendation is to bet on Dart exceeding 5.5 rushing touchdowns, citing confidence in his skills and Harbaugh's potential to leverage them.