Underdog Pick Em: Wild Card Weekend

How It Works

Underdog Pick'em is a fun twist on daily fantasy games where you predict whether a player will go higher or lower than their projected stats across categories like touchdowns, yards, or fantasy points. To play, simply pick at least two props from two different teams. You can choose player stats like touchdowns, rushing yards, or even fantasy points and predict whether they will go higher or lower than the projected numbers.

Payouts

Underdog Fantasy offers a payout structure that rewards you based on the number of correct selections:

• Two picks: 3x your entry
• Three picks: 6x your entry
• Four picks: 10x your entry
• Five picks: 20x your entry

This article highlights a few of my favorite player props for Wild Card Weekend.

Chargers-Texans 3X

Gus Edwards Higher than 18.5 Rushing Yards

• Edwards practiced fully on Thursday and is no longer on the injury report. With J.K. Dobbins questionable, expect a split backfield where Kimani Vidal is phased out in favor of the two veteran backs.
• Edwards has played in 11 games this season and surpassed 18.5 rushing yards in nine of them.
• The Texans have struggled against the run in recent weeks. In their last meaningful game, Derrick Henry ran for 147 yards, showcasing vulnerabilities in the defense.

Nico Collins Higher than 86.5 Receiving Yards

• Collins should be a focal point of the offense against the Chargers. In last week’s regular season finale, he played just 11 snaps but still managed five targets, resulting in 38 yards and a touchdown.
• In nine games this season where Collins played over 70% of the snaps, he topped 90 receiving yards five times.
• The Chargers have been vulnerable to big-bodied wide receivers. Recent examples include Jakobi Meyers (9 catches, 123 yards, 1 touchdown), Mike Evans (9 catches, 159 yards, 2 touchdowns), and Tee Higgins (9 catches, 148 yards, 1 touchdown).

Steelers-Ravens 6X

Rashod Bateman Higher than 46.5 Receiving Yards

• With Zay Flowers sidelined and the Steelers likely focused on containing Derrick Henry, Bateman is set to play a key role for the Ravens. In their Week 16 matchup against Pittsburgh, Bateman and Flowers combined for 114 receiving yards.
• Bateman has played at least 70% of the snaps in eight games this season, surpassing 50 receiving yards in five of them (68%).
• In this crucial playoff matchup, Bateman should rarely leave the field and is poised for a strong outing with Flowers unavailable.

Rashod Bateman has achieved separation on 77.3% of his snaps this season, leaving defenders in his wake at an elite level!

Heading into the most important game of the season so far, the onus is on Rashod to continue his vein of form! #RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/oupObjiCzP

— Nic Mason (@British_Raven19) January 10, 2025

Isaiah Likely Higher than 26.5 Receiving Yards

• Likely became a key passing option for Lamar Jackson last week after Zay Flowers exited due to injury. Flowers posted 38 yards and a touchdown on five targets before leaving the game, which opened the door for Likely to step up.
• Likely’s snap count has been elevated recently, playing at least 61% of the snaps in each of the past four games.
• The Steelers struggled against tight ends last week, allowing Bengals tight ends to rack up 14 catches for 102 yards.

Calvin Austin III Higher than 23.5 Receiving Yards

• In the Week 15 matchup against the Ravens, Austin led the Steelers passing attack with four catches for 65 yards.
• Since Week 12, Austin has averaged 38.9 receiving yards per game and surpassed 29 receiving yards in five of his last seven outings.
• As a key target in a potentially pass-heavy game plan, Austin is well-positioned to exceed this modest receiving yardage line.

Commanders-Buccaneers 3X

Jalen McMillan Higher than 50.5 receiving yards

• McMillan has exceeded 51 receiving yards in five consecutive games, scoring a touchdown in each of those outings.
• He is playing a similar role to Chris Godwin earlier this season, when Godwin was consistently productive.
• With growing confidence and a key role in one of the league’s more dangerous offenses, McMillan is poised for a strong playoff debut as the #2 target.

Jalen McMillan and Ja’Marr Chase were the only players to catch 7+ TDs in a 5-game span this season ? pic.twitter.com/lRttBtD1vi

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) January 9, 2025

Zach Ertz Higher than 36.5 receiving yards

• Ertz has averaged 5.5 catches, 58.0 yards, and 1.5 touchdowns per game over his last two outings, emerging as one of Jayden Daniels’ favorite targets.
• The Buccaneers are a classic pass-funnel defense, having faced the second-most passing attempts and allowed the fourth-most receiving yards this season. Tampa has faced the third-fewest rushing attempts, forcing opponents to lean on the passing game.
• Tampa Bay, as a home favorite with a red-hot offense, creates a game script where the Commanders are likely to be more pass-heavy than usual.
• Last week, the Buccaneers allowed 12 catches for 122 yards to Saints tight ends, highlighting a weakness Ertz can exploit.