Nick Hennion recommended betting Marcus Mariota under 18.5 completions at -110. He noted that Kansas City has routinely held average or below-average quarterbacks under this number; only Jared Goff (23 completions) and Justin Herbert beat it, while Russell Wilson, Jalen Hurts, Geno Smith and Trevor Lawrence all fell short. Mariota has started twice this season and failed to reach 19 completions both times, logging just 16 in his start as an underdog at Atlanta. Hennion added that Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel are both questionable for Monday night, leaving Mariota with a depleted receiving corps against a top-nine overall unit. Combining the matchup history, Mariota’s own track record, injury concerns and the underdog game script, Hennion projected the veteran to stay under the 18.5-completion line for a third consecutive start.

Cory Bonini said bettors should hammer Marcus Mariota 25+ rushing yards at -164. Mariota has logged 30 or more rushing yards in two of his three appearances and 20 in the other while replacing the injured Jayden Daniels. Kansas City has been generous to mobile quarterbacks, giving up 26.7 rushing yards per game—the fifth-highest mark in the NFL—and four of seven opposing QBs have already eclipsed 25 yards. Bonini called the play "free cash," predicting Mariota will become the fifth signal-caller to clear the number on Monday night.

As part of his big-ticket SGP, Inglis played Marcus Mariota Over 23.5 rushing yards and noted he would consider it as a straight bet. He anticipates a ‘serious negative game script’ for Washington, forcing Mariota into frequent drop-backs where a couple of 10-yard scrambles would put the prop within reach. Mariota’s two prior starts produced 80 rushing yards, and Kansas City’s man-coverage-heavy defense tends to open lanes once receivers clear out.

Josh Inglis backed Marcus Mariota at +400 for an anytime touchdown, noting that mobile quarterbacks have cashed six rushing TD props in seven Monday-night games this season for +13.9 units. Mariota has already logged 8 carries for 80 yards and a score in just two starts, and he was priced as short as +280 in similar spots earlier in the year. Inglis pointed to a likely negative script for the 12-point underdog Commanders that will force extra drop-backs and increase scramble chances. He added that Kansas City recently surrendered 10 rushes, 54 yards, and two scores to Trevor Lawrence on MNF, reinforcing the matchup angle. Inglis would play the line down to +300.

Rich Cooling urged managers to grab Marcus Mariota off waivers now, calling him "one of the 32 best quarterbacks" who should be starting somewhere. If rookie Jayden Daniels gets banged up, Mariota would step into Kliff Kingsbury’s up-tempo Washington offense and immediately offer 4–5 designed runs plus every drop-back, giving him an automatic QB2 floor with upside. Cooling thinks a four-week audition could triple Mariota’s value—either via mid-season trades for a second- or third-round pick or by earning a 2025 bridge-starter role for another team. Because his current cost is a zero-dollar FAAB bid or a throw-in piece, the risk-reward profile is nearly all upside.