This is the second in an occasional series on pro football proposition bets offered throughout Las Vegas: 

The Venetian Las Vegas has installed LaDainian Tomlinson and Adrian Peterson as the favorites to capture pro football’s rushing title in 2008. Tomlinson and Peterson are 7-2 to rack up the most rushing yards in the ’08 season.

Tomlinson led the NFL in rushing last season, racking up 1,474 yards on 315 carries. Peterson was second with 1,341 yards, but he averaged almost a yard more per carry than Tomlinson and missed a pair of games with a knee injury.

Colts RB Joseph Addai (1,071 rushing yards in ’07) and Rams RB Steven Jackson (1,002 yards) are the co-third choices at 6-1. Addai plays in one of the league’s most potent offenses, while Jackson’s ’07 production came over only nine games because of an ankle injury.

Chiefs RB Larry Johnson, who missed much of last season with a foot injury, is 10-1 He gained only 559 yards in eight starts.

Four other backs are 15-1 or less: Pittsburgh’s Willie Parker (12-1; 1,316 yards in ’07); Cleveland’s Jamal Lewis (15-1; 1,304 yards), Philadelphia’s Brian Westbrook (15-1; 1,333 yards); Buffalo’s Marshawn Lynch (15-1; 1,115 yards).

The likeliest winner out of this group: Tomlinson. The Chargers are going to have a lot of leads this season owing to a weak division.

Others to watch: Jackson, who will make a run at the title if he can stay healthy; and Parker, provided he comes back strong from a broken fibula suffered in Week 16.

Suspect contender: Addai, given the Colts’ strong passing game.

Longshots to keep an eye on: Packers RB Ryan Grant at 18-1 (averaged 92.9 yards rushing in 10 starts; his yards per game statistic is weighed down by five early-season appearances that netted only 30 rushing yards); Giants RB Brandon Jacobs at 25-1 ( averaged 91.7 yards per game, third-best in the league behind Peterson and Tomlinson).

Rookie odds, per the Venetian: Darren McFadden: 30-1; Jonathan Stewart (listed as ‘James’ on the sheet I have): 80-1; Rashard Mendenhall: 80-1; Chris Johnson: 100-1; Felix Jones: 100-1.