Mojo Spotlight: Values Set to Rise

Finally, you can turn your sports knowledge into real cash by investing in an athlete’s entire career. Prices rise and fall with every hit, huddle, and headline — and you can buy and sell instantly or hold for as long as you want. Three times a week, FTN will feature a player and his Mojo value — is it time to buy, sell, hold or short? Click here to get in on the Mojo action.

Looking to make some money for the upcoming NFL Week 5? Tired of betting the traditional sides, totals, and props? Why not invest in some players with Mojo?

Mojo is a whole new pure sports investment, based on athletes. The share price is the public’s expectations for a player’s career based on six objective stats. A player’s value can be greatly affected by the result of a single game.

Last Friday, I examined the investment value of three Miami Dolphins players for the remainder of the season. This week, I have identified one player at each position that could see a huge increase in value after Week 5. Here are three chances for a quick “buy and sell” Week 5 opportunity at Mojo.

Bailey Zappe, QB, New England Patriots

Current Price: $5.47
One Week Increase: $1.07 (24.3%)

One of the most impressive performances from Week 5 was from New England rookie quarterback Bailey Zappe. He only threw for 99 yards but completed 10 of his 15 passes with a touchdown, after unexpectedly being thrown into the game after an injury to Brian Hoyer. The Patriots lost in overtime, but Zappe has already earned praise from the notoriously tough Boston media. 

If starting quarterback Mac Jones cannot start against Detroit, Zappe will have a chance to compete, at home, against one of the league’s worst defenses. The Lions rank dead-last in defensive DVOA per FootballOutsiders, including 24th against the pass. With a full week of practice, I would expect Zappe to build on last week’s experience and put forth a solid performance. 

Zappe’s price rose 24.3% in the past week, but still currently resides at $5.47 per share. If he plays well on Sunday, investors could easily see a similar rise prior to Week 6, providing the perfect chance to either cash out or hold. 

Current journeyman backup quarterbacks currently hold a much higher price such as Houston’s Kyle Allen ($7.12), Washington’s Taylor Heinicke ($8.36), and Seattle’s Drew Lock ($8.91). All three of those players have demonstrated their production ceiling, which is still unknown with Zappe. Upcoming games against Cleveland, Chicago, New York Jets, and Indianapolis provide further opportunities if Jones’ recovery slows. 

If you are looking for a quick quarterback investment, New England’s Bailey Zappe provides the perfect Week 5 opportunity. 

Najee Harris, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Current Price:  $13.52
One-Week Decrease:  $0.21 (1.5%)

I’m buying the dip on Pittsburgh’s Najee Harris, who has underwhelmed in four games this season. He ranks 14th in rushing attempts (58), yet only 26th in rushing yards (202). With rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett now named as Pittsburgh’s starter, I project a conservative Week 5 game plan that should feature heavy touch volume for Harris.  

Harris’ price at Mojo has fallen $3.87 since the start of the season, representing a 22.3% value. He survived on volume as a rookie, seeing the second most carries and most receptions among all running backs. Last week, Harris failed to even see on target in the Steelers 24-20 home loss to the Jets. It was the first time in his career that Harris failed to record a single reception. 

On the road against Buffalo, as 14-point underdogs, I expect Harris to be an integral part of the game plan. Buffalo has the NFL’s best pass defense, ranking first in DVOA per Football Outsiders. I expect Harris to crest his rushing and receiving prop (73.5 yards), regardless of game flow. There are few running backs with more guaranteed volume than Harris, who is trading almost five dollars below his career high. This is a great buy-low spot for a running back off to a slow start in his second season.

Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints

Current Price: $14.29
One Week Increase: $0.87 (6.5%)

Through the first four weeks, New Orleans rookie Chris Olave ranks a surprising 13th in targets (36) among all wide receivers. He also ranks Top 20 in positional target share with 26.4% of the Saints passing game opportunities. The speedy Ohio State product now has a chance to feast against a porous Detroit secondary that has allowed the sixth-most receiving yards to opposing wideouts. 

Week 4 was a critical turning point for Olave, who battled his way to production with backup Andy Dalton. Olave produced four receptions, 67 receiving yards and a touchdown despite leaving briefly with an injury. 

Olave is now the favorite for NFL Rookie of the Year, listed at +500 on DraftKings Sportsbook. He has gained considerable momentum at Mojo, raising his price $2.52 (21.4%) over the past month. If Olave has another big game against the Seahawks, investors should expect his price to rise over $15 per share for a new career high. That would represent a 4.9 ROI, great for a one-day increase.