What was slated to be a relatively ho-hum game to start NFL Week 14 got a little more interesting earlier this week when the Rams claimed quarterback Baker Mayfield ahead of their matchup with the Raiders. And he could make his Thursday Night Football debut.
That may seem like a no-brainer just days after the team waived the former No. 1 overall pick. Maybe so. But it leaves some potential value on the Los Angeles side, but still uncertain. Ahead of the exciting midweek game, here are three of our favorite FanDuel bets:
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Rams vs. Raiders game predictions and player props for Thursday Night Football
Derek Carr is -122 (FanDuel) over 34.5 assists.
This game will be largely determined by uncertainty under center for one side, but we know what we’ll get from Carr, who has been one of the most consistent backs in football over the last month.
It’s not hard to figure out how Oddsmakers stumbled upon that number — he’s averaging 34.5 assists per game — but it’s also a bit misleading. Carr attempted a season-low 26 passes in the Week 8 loss to the Saints when he was brought in to back up Jarrett Stidham, but he attempted 36-38 passes in each of the next four weeks.
He attempted just 30 passes last week against the Chargers, who boast a tough secondary but are terrible against the run. This week will be against the Rams, who are impenetrable on the ground and vulnerable through the air, so I expect Carr to take advantage of this game and tear it up once again.
Cam Akers 114 over 44.5 rushing yards (FanDuel)
Regardless of who plays quarterback for the Rams on Thursday, this looks like a definite place to lean on the run game. And that backfield has never been more evident than entering this week.
After playing 50 percent of his snaps or less in each of the first 12 weeks, Akers took control last week in his fourth start of the season, turning a season-high 17 carries into 60 yards and two touchdowns. Importantly, he also saw 72 percent of his team two weeks after Los Angeles released its previous leading rusher, Darrell Henderson.
That looks like Akers’ backfield right now, and while his production has been erratic this year, he has passed for 60-plus yards in two of his last three games, and that’s a comfortable matchup against a brutal Raiders defense. . With so much uncertainty under center, this seems like a big spot for a Rams rusher.
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Davante Adams is -114 (FanDuel) over 88.5 yards
If a player is as hot as Adams, there’s only so much the oddsmakers can do, knowing that the sharp blades will punish them for speculating too far in either direction. Still, that total doesn’t go nearly as far considering how spectacular the Raiders’ top games have been.
Since the aforementioned Week 8 catch for just 3 yards, Adams has averaged an NFL-best 132.8 yards over his last five games and has at least 125 yards in four of those five contests. showed That seems consistent given his ridiculous size — he’s seen 67 targets (13.4 per game) through five games and has never finished with fewer than seven or 74 yards. .
The five-time Pro Bowler is averaging 98 yards per game and has completed 95 or more in eight of 12 games this season, so it’s not like this superstar came out of nowhere. This may seem like a high amount on the surface, but it’s surprising why it doesn’t cost more.
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