2 Best NFL Player Props for NFL Wild Card: Panthers vs Rams

NFL wild-card weekend opens with a Week 13 rematch in Charlotte: Panthers vs Rams. 

In addition to the pregame spread and total, bettors can now find NFL odds for player props at the BetMGM online sportsbook. 

Below, I’ve outlined a pair of player prop predictions for the matchup. Odds are reflective at time of writing and are subject to movement. 

Panthers vs Rams Prediction: Wild Card Player Props

Puka Nacua Longest Reception Over 26.5 Yards (-120)

When these teams met in Week 13, the Panthers defense failed to contain Nacua. 

The NFL Offensive Player of the Year candidate led all Rams with nine targets. His six receptions went for *only* 72 yards, but his longest reception came in at 31 yards. 

For the season, Carolina ranked 24th in DVOA against WR1s compared to first against WR2s. Only six teams surrendered more yards to top receivers than the Panthers. 

Carolina also deploys zone coverage at the league’s highest rate. That poses a problem against Nacua, who led all NFL receivers with a 4.05 yards per route run against zone. 

His 460 yards after catch placed him second to Ja’Marr Chase against that scheme. 

While Nacua stayed under this benchmark in two straight games, a pair of penalties in Atlanta erased completions that would have cleared this number. 

Prior to those games, Nacua recorded at least one 30-yard reception in five straight games. Those five successes round out seven for the season. 

Even with Davante Adams back for Los Angeles, I predict Nacua rediscovers his form and ends a two-game skid against this prop. 

Harrison Mevis Over 3.5 Extra Points Made (+110)

The Rams offense carries a massive advantage over Carolina’s defense. 

Los Angeles turned the ball over three times in Week 13….and still scored 28 points. Mevis cleared this benchmark by the hook in that game. 

Since his first game with the Rams – Week 10 at San Francisco – Mevis kicked at least four extra points in all but two games. 

Those two failures came via the hook, with one coming against a top-ranked Seahawks defense. The second came at Atlanta, another superior defense to Carolina. 

Conversely, Carolina played all of the top-four offenses in DVOA. 

Three of the four opposing kickers surpassed this benchmark, including six from Patriots kicker Andy Borregales. 

Even a declining Seahawks offense scored 27 points at Carolina. Jason Meyers kicked three successful extra points and scored nine points. 

All of that leads me to predict the price alone is worth consideration. Unless the Rams deliver another sloppy, turnover-filled offensive performance, Mevis should challenge this line.