The playoff picture is set and raring to go. As a result our resident dart thrower hopes to at least hit the board with his Wildcard action. After all, for the CEO of #TeamHuevos fearless forecasts are part of the gig. Fade or Follow? That’s up to YOU!
Game 1 Pick: James Cook UNDER 81.5 rush yards (-115, BetMGM)
The Bobby Flay of Buffalo has served nothing but Michelin rated four-course meals this season.
Winning the rush title over Jonathan Taylor in the 2025 regular season, the consistency king has largely been unstoppable. In 17 games prior to the playoffs, he finished No. 21 in yards after contact per attempt (3.16), No. 3 in missed tackles forced (62) and No. 6 in total yards created (1119). In non-nerd terms, the dude absolutely dominated. Josh Allen understandably receives the credit, but Cook is the lifeblood of the Bills offense.
Still, don’t expect Cook's legs to pump in the Wildcard Round.
Jacksonville hasn’t allowed a single rusher to surpass 75 rush yards against them this season. Inside the top-12 in rush EPA D since Week 10, they yielded only 3.87 yards per carry and 68.0 rush yards per game to RBs in the regular season. Unheralded LB Foyesade Oluokun led the team in run stops with 31.
In what’s sure to be a tight affair, the deniers in Duval should assert their will in the trenches. Cook is phenomenal, but he’s fallen short of the number above in six games.
Jacksonville’s Cinderella story is set to write another chapter.
BONUS NO CONTEXT PARLAY PLAY: SGP - Trevor Lawrence 3+ rush attempts, Josh Allen 20+ rush yards, Brandon Strange UNDER 36.5 receiving yards (+140, theScore)
Game 2 Pick: Saquon Barkley most rush yards in Wildcard Round (+450, BetMGM)
Toss another plate on the bar, get into position, slowly squat and grunt loudly. Work those quads, my powerful dude.
Saquon never skips leg day. Evidenced by his 2,000-yard season last year, he's someone capable of thriving. Yes, this regular season was a step back, but as witnessed in last year's stirring Super Bowl run, he's an individual who excels in pressure-packed situations. Last January's version of Barkley is about to resurrect.
Almost unfathomably, Saquon repeatedly sloughed in the regular season. At times resembling a parked Volvo, he finished in the bottom third in yards after contact per attempt (2.71) among qualifying running backs. Despite his per touch inefficiencies, he continuously functioned as the workhorse, earning 80.3% of the team's opportunity share. Most encouraging, he eclipsed 100 yards in two of his last four games, a possible sign of what's to come.
The Niners have fallen down a mineshaft defensively. Since Week 10, the Gold Panners are a measly No. 22 in rush EPA defense. In the regular season, they allowed a generous 4.49 yards per carry and 93.1 rush yards per game to RBs. Travis Etienne and Tony Pollard were the only rushers to tally 100 ground yard against them, but the per grip average conceded clearly denotes their up front inadequacy.
The Eagles offensive line battled through injuries and under-performance, but still managed to finish No. 12 in run-blocking efficiency according to Pro Football Focus. Against a beat up San Francisco D, Barkley bashes to weekend-leading yardage.
BONUS NO CONTEXT PARLAY PLAY: SGP - Niners +14.5, AJ Brown 50+ receiving yards, Brock Purdy 10+ rush yards, Christian McCaffrey 4+ receptions (+166, DraftKings)
Game 3 Pick: Drake Maye OVER 25.5 rush yards (-110, theScore)
As witnessed repeatedly in postseason games, NFL quarterbacks typically scramble with reckless abandon. Scurrying as though a determined axe-murderer were chasing them, bolting passers often chew up sizable ground gains. Whether Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts or others, gamers who've backed QB rush yards markets in recent years have greatly benefited.
Those who choose to slap action down on Maye's contribution in the category could soon experience a similar jubilation. The opportunistic signal caller dashed 6.1 times per game in the regular season, averaging a healthy 4.37 yards per clip while topping 26 yards in seven games.
Dialing up the heat is something Chargers DC Jesse Minter relishes. In the regular season, his Bolts ranked inside the league's top half in pocket pressure percentage, placing opposing QBs under duress on 23.6% of dropbacks. The steady flushings led some passers to exercise their escapability. In 17 contests, they allowed 18.6 rush yards per game. Five QBs raced past the number needed.
With everything on the line in a single elimination format, look for Maye to call his number between 5-7 times en route to 30+ ground yards.
Fire a musket, gamer.
BONUS NO CONTEXT PARLAY PLAY: SGP - Patriots ML, Justin Herbert 20+ rush yards, Rhamondre Stevenson 25+ rush yards (+131, theScore)