Top Cardinals vs. Rams Prop Picks for Wild Card Weekend

Henry John

Last Updated: January 17, 2022 3:05 AM EST • 4 min 3 sec read. Twitter link Google News Link

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 09: Sony Michel #25 of the Los Angeles Rams during warm up before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at SoFi Stadium on January 09, 2022 in Inglewood, California. Harry How/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Harry How / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

The best prop picks for Monday night’s Arizona Cardinals vs Los Angeles Rams rubber match include a plus-money anytime touchdown pick for a player who tied for the second-most rushing scores during the regular season. We look at the top Cardinals-Rams NFL props for the final game of Wild Card Weekend.

For the third time this season, the Cardinals and Rams are set to go head-to-head on the gridiron. This trilogy matchup serves as the conclusion to NFL Wild Card Weekend. It also marks the first time a postseason game has been scheduled for a Monday night. The two sides split their regular-season meetings with each team winning on the other’s home field.

One thing that stands out in handicapping this NFC West playoff showdown is the number of key players on both sides who have been tagged with injury designations. Bettors are advised to pay close attention to the injury report prior to kickoff and adjust their prop picks accordingly. While talented QBs Kyler Murray and Matthew Stafford are both locked and loaded, this rubber match extends far beyond the two signal-callers in terms of significant personnel.

Here are my top NFL prop picks for the Wild Card Weekend matchup between the Cardinals and Rams (odds via DraftKings Sportsbook; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

Top Cardinals vs. Rams Prop Picks

Sony Michel Over 55.5 rushing yards (-120) ????James Conner anytime touchdown (+130) ???Zach Ertz Over 53.5 receiving yards (-115) ???

Cardinals vs. Rams Prop Predictions

Michel Over 55.5 rushing yards (-120)

Yes, the Rams have running back Cam Akers back in the fold following his recovery from a preseason Achilles tear. However, there is no reason to anticipate Akers unseating Michel as the lead ball-carrier in just his second week back. That certainly wasn’t the case in Week 18. Michel saw 21 carries to just five for Akers in Week 18.

Other than that Week 18 finale when he ran for just 43 yards, Michel has been extremely effective since taking over the workhorse role following Darrell Henderson’s injury. Michel started the second regular-season game against Arizona in Week 14 and totaled 79 rushing yards on 20 carries. He averaged no fewer than 3.9 yards per carry in five straight games after taking over the Rams' lead duties.

It should be noted that last week’s poorer effort came against the No. 2 adjusted run defense in the NFL. Michel certainly hasn’t been the only back to struggle on the ground against the San Francisco 49ers. Meanwhile, the Cardinals’ defense also ranks well in adjusted defensive efficiency against the run. However, a lot of different factors go into that overall metric. Arizona has proven to be vulnerable to giving up chunks of yardage on the ground. Opponents averaged 114.8 rushing yards per game on the season against Vance Joseph’s defense.

While Stafford, Cooper Kupp and the Rams’ passing attack garner most of the hype, head coach Sean McVay’s offense relies on establishing the run in order to open things up. Michel stands to see plenty of work against a defense that has proven capable of being gashed on the ground. It would be shocking to see Akers usurp him in the pecking order in just his second game back following a significant injury. Michel’s rushing total of 55.5 at DraftKings currently sits as much as four yards lower than the lines offered at other major sportsbooks.

Conner anytime touchdown (+130)

After being held out of practice all week before logging a limited session on Saturday, Cardinals RB James Conner is officially questionable for this NFC Wild Card Game. However, FOX Sports' Jay Glazer reported on Sunday afternoon that Conner will indeed be active and play on Monday night. If so, it’s hard not to jump in, especially at favorable +130 odds.

Despite missing both Weeks 16 and 17 due to injury, Conner still piled up 15 touchdowns over the course of the regular season. As the featured goalline back in what many people don’t realize is an offense that ranked 10th by run play percentage, Conner saw ample scoring opportunities. He scored two touchdowns against the Rams in each of the two matchups against them. In fact, Conner accounted for 36% (four of 11) total rushing touchdowns Los Angeles allowed to opposing RBs this season!

For all of the superstar names the Rams have assembled on defense, they struggled to stop the run all season long. Even if Conner takes a backseat to a presumably healthy Chase Edmonds in terms of touches, it’s no secret who the Cardinals will hand the ball to down in the red zone. Bettors should consider the +130 price on Conner to score at DraftKings to be solid value considering it mirrors the touchdown odds of backup Eno Benjamin. If he is active, you can bet Arizona will have every intention of feeding Conner down at the goal line.

Ertz Over 53.5 receiving yards (-115)

Since the Cardinals lost superstar wideout DeAndre Hopkins, Ertz has emerged as the clear favorite target. Murray has peppered him with passes since Ertz arrived in Arizona in Week 7. Ertz saw seven targets against the Rams in Week 14, and he drew 11, 13, nine, and 10 looks over his final four weeks, respectively.

Considering that Hopkins will remain sidelined for Monday’s NFC Wild Card game, Ertz figures to be a priority in the passing attack once again. Although he exceeded 53.5 receiving yards in only three of those final five games to close the regular season, one cannot deny the opportunity he has been getting to produce.

While the Rams' defense surrendered just four touchdowns to opposing TEs this season, they were in the bottom half of the NFL in receiving yardage allowed to the position. Tight ends totaled 878 yards against Los Angeles. That equates to an average of 51.6 when distributed over a 17-game schedule. Of course, few TEs play as large of a role in their team’s passing attack as the one Ertz now occupies for the Cardinals.

Bettors should expect Arizona to focus on establishing the run game as the focal point of the offense. However, as the top target for Murray, Ertz should see plenty of targets once again. Look to play over 53.5 receiving yards for Ertz in Monday’s matchup.

SEE ALSO: All picks and odds. Be sure to check out SportsbookReview.com’s community forums and betting t o ols.

Cardinals-Rams prop picks made on 1/16/2022 at 8:18 p.m. ET.

Written By:
Henry John

Henry’s passion for sports dates all the way back to childhood and has ultimately led to a full-fledged career as an analyst and content creator. After getting his start penning fantasy football articles, he forrayed into the betting side of the business in early 2019. His love for sports and statistics proved to be an ideal match with the dedicated research and strategy that handicapping requires. Henry currently specializes in betting analysis and picks for college football, college basketball, and NASCAR. He counts NFL, WNBA, and NBA player props as additional leagues/markets of interest. Henry graduated from SUNY Buffalo in 2021 with a Communication Studies degree and a Psychology minor. A native of the Finger Lakes region in Upstate New York, he and his pup, Harold, have since relocated to Laramie, Wyoming. Thanks to his professional goals within the sports betting industry, there has been a whole lot of steam on the odds for a move to Las Vegas in 2023! Most of Henry’s free time is spent on outdoor adventures, playing chess, snowboarding, or reading a good book. He is also a competitive powerlifter and aspires to qualify for the USAPL Nationals meet within the next 2-3 years.