During what promises to be a compelling Wild Card Weekend, Sunday’s game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the New England Patriots should be among the most interesting.
Both have a quality quarterback leading the offense, although both teams also have top-10 defenses.
Let’s examine what players you should get behind and what players you should fade by looking at some of my favorite Chargers vs Patriots Wild Card props.
All NFL odds used for these Chargers vs Patriots player props are current as of Thursday, Jan. 8, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
Best Chargers vs Patriots Player Props
Drake Maye: Longest Completion Under 35.5 Yards (-115) vs Chargers
Maye hasn’t been afraid to throw the deep ball this season, and he’s done so with considerable success.
However, that success has come against many lackluster defenses, whereas the Chargers will be one of the toughest defenses he and the Patriots have faced this season.
- Prepare for this SNF matchup with our Chargers vs Patriots predictions.
In fact, the Chargers allowed the second-fewest pass plays of 20 yards or more this season, so preventing the big play is an area where they excel.
Plus, in his first career playoff start, Maye might have some nerves and feel better with short, safer passes.
Justin Herbert: Under 31.5 Pass Attempts (-104) @ Patriots
Jim Harbaugh certainly believes in Herbert, but he also knows that running the ball effectively is what wins playoff games.
The Chargers have a deep backfield, and they’ll lean on those running backs rather than make Herbert air it out 30-plus times, especially since their offensive line is the team’s biggest weakness.
Keep in mind that Herbert has thrown 30 or more passes just twice in his last nine games.
Look for that trend to continue against New England, which is why this is my favorite NFL pick of the day.
TreVeyon Henderson: Over 53.5 Rushing Yards (-112) vs Chargers
This is a small number for Henderson because the Chargers are tough against the run and because Rhamondre Stevenson had a big game in Week 18.
However, Henderson has been the preferred back for most of the season, so the Patriots will continue to feature him in the playoffs.
Outside of the game against the Ravens, in which Henderson left with an injury, he had rushed for at least 54 yards in eight consecutive outings until gaining just 53 yards last week.
Even if Stevenson gets his fair share of touches, a back like Henderson, who’s averaging 5.1 yards per carry, should get enough touches to record at least 54 yards.
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Oronde Gadsden II: Over 31.5 Receiving Yards (-109) @ Patriots
Gadsden’s usage has been a little inconsistent down the stretch, but his upside is always high.
He’s a bigger downfield threat than most tight ends, so he may not need more than two or three receptions to get over 31.5 receiving yards.
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Meanwhile, the Patriots haven’t been that good at stopping opposing tight ends, giving up 57 receiving yards to tight ends per game.
The likes of Kyle Pitts, Cade Otton, and Mike Gesicki have all gained well over 30 receiving yards against the New England defense this season, which is why I included Gadsden in my Chargers vs Patriots props.
