Player Prop Categories Explained (Yards, Points, Assists)

Scoring Props (Points, Touchdowns, Goals)

These are the most popular and intuitive props, tracking how many times a player puts points on the board.

NBA/NCAA basketball: Points scored (e.g., "LeBron James Over/Under 28.5 points"). Includes free throws, two-pointers, and three-pointers.

NFL: Touchdowns (e.g., "Anytime touchdown scorer," "Over/Under 1.5 total touchdowns"). Can be broken into rushing TDs, receiving TDs, or combined.

NHL/Soccer: Goals scored (e.g., "Connor McDavid Over/Under 0.5 goals"). Often priced as yes/no rather than totals due to low-scoring nature.

MLB: Runs scored, RBIs, or home runs.

Scoring props are straightforward but can be volatile. A player can score 30 points in three quarters or get shut out by foul trouble. Game script heavily influences touchdown props: blowouts suppress scoring opportunities for the losing team.

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Yardage Props (Passing, Rushing, Receiving)

Yardage props dominate NFL player betting and measure ground covered rather than raw scoring output.

Passing yards (QB): Total yards thrown (e.g., "Patrick Mahomes Over/Under 275.5 passing yards"). Includes completions only. Incomplete passes and sacks don't count as negative yards.

Rushing yards (RB, QB): Ground gained on carries (e.g., "Derrick Henry Over/Under 80.5 rushing yards"). Sacks count as negative passing yards, not rushing, for QBs.

Receiving yards (WR, TE, RB): Total yards gained on receptions (e.g., "Tyreek Hill Over/Under 85.5 receiving yards"). A 10-yard catch that gets tackled immediately still counts as 10 yards.

Yardage props are heavily influenced by game script. Teams trailing throw more (boosting passing/receiving yards), while teams with leads run more (boosting rushing yards but suppressing passing volume).

Read More: How Player Props Tools Save Time on Research

Volume Props (Receptions, Completions, Carries, Attempts)

These props measure opportunity rather than efficiency, making them more stable and predictable than yardage or scoring.

Receptions (WR, TE, RB): Number of catches (e.g., "CeeDee Lamb Over/Under 6.5 receptions"). A 1-yard catch counts the same as a 50-yard catch.

Completions (QB): Passes completed (e.g., "Dak Prescott Over/Under 25.5 completions").

Carries (RB): Number of rushing attempts (e.g., "Josh Jacobs Over/Under 18.5 carries").

Pass attempts (QB): Total passes thrown, complete or incomplete.

Volume props are ideal for targeting players in pass-heavy game scripts or when injuries create expanded roles. They're less volatile because they're driven by usage rather than big plays.

If you know a team will be trailing and throwing 45+ times, completion and reception props become easier to project than yardage.

Assist Props (Basketball, Hockey, Soccer)

Assists measure facilitation, helping teammates score, and are central to playmaker props.

NBA: Credited when a pass directly leads to a made basket (e.g., "Chris Paul Over/Under 8.5 assists"). Depends heavily on teammates making shots.

NHL: Pass that directly leads to a goal (e.g., "Connor McDavid Over/Under 0.5 assists"). Two assists can be credited per goal (primary and secondary).

Soccer: Final pass before a goal (e.g., "Kevin De Bruyne Over/Under 0.5 assists").

Assist props are teammate-dependent. Even a great passer can go under if his teammates miss open shots. In basketball, shooting variance from teammates is a major factor in assist prop outcomes.

Want everything you need for player props in one place? Use Shurzy's Player Props tool to track trends, compare categories, and build prop parlays directly on the bet slip.

Rebound Props (Basketball)

Rebounds measure possession of missed shots, split into offensive and defensive boards (e.g., "Nikola Jokić Over/Under 12.5 rebounds").

Influenced by:

• Pace (more shots = more rebounding opportunities)
• Opponent offensive rebounding rate
• Position matchups

Centers and power forwards dominate rebounding props, but some guards (e.g., Russell Westbrook) are prolific rebounders and offer value when playing alongside smaller lineups.

Read More: How to Spot Value in Player Prop Bets

Defensive and Specialty Props

Less common but increasingly available:

• Steals, blocks (basketball)
• Sacks, tackles, interceptions (football)
• Strikeouts (baseball pitchers)
• Shots on goal, saves (hockey, soccer)

These are harder to predict due to smaller sample sizes and game-to-game variance, but can offer value when matchups favor defensive playmakers. A pass rusher facing a weak offensive line, or a pitcher with elite strikeout stuff against a high-whiff offense, can present exploitable opportunities.

Combo Props (PRA, Fantasy Scoring)

Some sportsbooks offer combined stat props to smooth variance:

PRA (Points + Rebounds + Assists): Common in NBA (e.g., "Giannis Over/Under 50.5 PRA").

Fantasy points: Uses DFS scoring systems (e.g., "Player X Over/Under 42.5 fantasy points on DraftKings scoring").

Combo props diversify risk. If a player has a quiet scoring night but grabs 15 rebounds, his PRA can still go over. They're less volatile than single-stat props but require understanding how multiple stats interact.

Tailor Your Strategy to the Category

Understanding categories helps you spot where your knowledge translates to edges. If you're strong at predicting game script, yardage and volume props are your lane. If you excel at matchup analysis, scoring and efficiency props offer opportunity.

Don't bet every category equally. Focus on the ones you understand best and where your research gives you a real edge.

FAQ

Which prop category is easiest for beginners?

Volume props (receptions, completions, carries) are the most predictable because they're driven by usage rather than efficiency. Start there.

What's the difference between points and PRA props?

Points props only count scoring. PRA combines points, rebounds, and assists into one number, smoothing variance across multiple stat categories.

Do yardage props include yards after catch?

Yes. Receiving yards count from the line of scrimmage to where the player is tackled, including yards after catch.

Are assist props harder to predict than scoring props?

Yes, because they're teammate-dependent. A great passer can go under if teammates miss open shots, which adds variance you can't control.

Which categories are best for same-game parlays?

Mix categories to avoid overlap. Combine volume (receptions), yardage (receiving yards), and scoring (touchdowns) from different players for better distribution.