Megan's Past Picks
One of my favorite bets this season has been Sam Darnold to throw for multiple touchdown scores. That bet was cashed 12 times this season. And Darnold threw for three or more touchdowns six times this season. I like Darnold to bounce back Monday night after a brutal regular-season finale. He threw two touchdowns against the Rams in their first meeting. I like Darnold to throw for multiple touchdown passes again Monday night and I'll sprinkle on his three touchdown passes at plus money as well.
Rookie Jalen McMillian has been a key factor in the Buccaneers making the postseason. In the last five weeks, he has caught 316 receiving yards on 19.4% of the team's targets. He has gone over this receiving line in four of the last five games. Washington plays a lot of man coverage, and McMillian is targeted on 28.6% of his routes against man coverage these last five games. I like McMillian to go over this line again on Sunday.
This is no longer a committee backfield for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bucky Irving has had an exceptional rookie season and is the true workhorse running back. Irving is ranked top 10 in several running back statistics, including yards per carry, yards after contact, success rate, and plenty of others. He now has a pristine matchup against the Commanders' run defense, who rank 30th in yards per carry to enemy backs. He has soared past this longest rush prop in three of the last four games and I expect him to do it again Sunday.
Terry McLaurin has caught a career-high 13 touchdown passes. McLaurin has caught 13 of his 15 red zone targets for nine touchdown passes in the red zone. He is quite literally a red zone touchdown magnet. I like getting this price and plus odds for the Commander's go-to weapon in the redzone.
As each game gets more impactful, we know that Josh Allen tends to run more. During Allen's last seven games, he rushed for 45.7 yards per game. Allen averages 53 rushing yards per game in the month of January over his career. I like to bet on rushing quarterbacks or athletic quarterbacks rushing props in the NFL Playoffs. When the game is on the line, they'll take off and run. When the games get colder and more meaningful, I love to bet on Allen's rushing prop. I think he'll soar over this line Sunday.
We know to target the passing game and receivers against the Lions' banged-up defense. Jordan Addison had 66 receiving yards in the first matchup against the Lions this season. The Lions have sustained more injuries on defense since then and are a true pass funnel. In this huge NFC North battle Sunday night, I love both passing games. I like targeting Addison's receiving line in this excellent match-up. I'll likely bet his alt 70+ receiving yards to get plus odds.
Week 18 has a lot of contract incentives, and Courtland Sutton needs 82 receiving yards to earn $500,000. Sutton would hit his incentive bonus if he exceeds his receiving prop. There is extra financial motivation, but the biggest factor is the Broncos have a must-win game Sunday to make the playoffs. Sutton has become QB Bo Nix's go-to target, receiving nine or more targets in seven of the last nine games. I like Sutton to be a key part of the Broncos' offense against several Chiefs' backup defensive players.
The Denver Broncos have a must-win game against the Chiefs on Sunday to make the playoffs. Lucky for the Broncos, the Chiefs are resting several starters, including some key defensive starters. The Broncos have relied on the arm of Nix, as their running game has been average this season. Nix has thrown multiple touchdown passes in six of the last seven games. He threw for two touchdowns in the Broncos' first matchup against the Chiefs this season. I like Nix to throw for two or more touchdown passes Sunday against several Chiefs backups.
Kyler Murray needs 50+ rushing yards and one rushing touchdown to hit a contract incentive that would pay $750,000. Murray can call his own number and not have to rely on others to achieve this bonus. Murray had 83 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown the first time these teams met earlier in the season. I like Murray to find the endzone in the season finale to get his bonus.
Week 18 is full of contract incentives and statistical milestones. Calvin Ridley needs 59 more receiving yards to hit the 1,000 receiving yards milestone. His prop line is three yards above that, but I like him for 70+ receiving yards in this matchup vs. the Texans. The Texans give up big plays to receivers. Ridley had 93 receiving yards on five catches in the first matchup against the Texans this season. Extra incentive and a good matchup make me confident that Ridley will soar past this number again.
There are a couple of reasons that I like Jayden Reed to score on Sunday for the Packers. First, Christian Watson did not practice this week and is listed as questionable. If he's ruled out, that condenses the Packers' receiver room and target tree. Reed does very well against zone coverage, which the Vikings run the 6th most in the NFL. We saw this in Week 4, as Reed had 139 receiving yards and a touchdown against the Vikings. I love this price for him to score on Sunday.
We know Mike Evans is chasing the 1,000 receiving yards milestone to achieve his 11th 1,000-yard season in a row. Evans also has a great matchup against the Panther's defense that does not pressure the quarterback and is a funnel to perimeter wide receivers. When these two teams faced each other a month ago, Evans had 118 receiving yards. I like Evans to soar past his receiving line on Sunday.
Mason Rudolph has thrown for two passing touchdowns in the last two weeks against the Colts and Bengals. Now Rudolph faces the pass funnel Jaguars defense. This is an excellent matchup for Rudolph to have another multi-touchdown day. What's even better is the price at +165. I projected this to be around +130 so I love taking advantage of this price and plus odds to back Rudolph to have another multi-touchdown passing performance.
Calvin Ridley has surpassed this longest reception line in all but two games since De'Andre Hopkins was traded to the Chiefs. Ridley also has a quarterback upgrade in Mason Rudolph, as we saw in his performance last week. He had 78 receiving yards with a long reception of 38 yards and a touchdown last Sunday. Another revenge game against this pass funnel Jaguars defense that allows the most deep receiving yards per game. In Ridley's matchup against the Jaguars a few weeks ago, he had a long reception of 30 yards.
The Bills have been a target all season for running backs receptions and receiving yards. The Bills give up the most receiving yards to running backs. Breece Hall had most of the workload last week for the Jets backfield and caught five passes for 38 receiving yards. I like Hall to soar past his receiving line on Sunday vs. the Bills.