We're through 18 weeks of NFL action and into the playoffs, and we have six exhilarating matchups on the docket this weekend. I've got you covered from a betting angle for Wild Card weekend, and below I'll dive into my top player props at PrizePicks. If you opt for the PrizePicks Power Play and all three props cash, they'll net us a 6x multiplier.
Get instant alerts when a line reaches your target via the BettingPros App >>
We're through 18 weeks of NFL action and into the playoffs, and we have six exhilarating matchups on the docket this weekend. I've got you covered from a betting angle for Wild Card weekend, and below I'll dive into my top player props at PrizePicks. If you opt for the PrizePicks Power Play and all three props cash, they'll net us a 6x multiplier.
Get instant alerts when a line reaches your target via the BettingPros App >>
Best NFL Wild Card Weekend PrizePicks Player Predictions
The Jaguars (13-4) are on fire, entering the postseason riding an eight-game winning streak. The third-seeded club out of Jacksonville will host the 12-5 Bills, who are currently +1000 to win the Super Bowl. Kickoff is scheduled for Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET from EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, FL.
Jacksonville has been lighting up the scoreboard recently, averaging 33.6 points per game during its current eight-game winning streak. However, I think the last you want to do is try and go toe-to-toe with Josh Allen in a shootout. From my vantage point, it feels like the best option for the Jaguars may be to lean into the rushing attack on Sunday, perhaps trying to shorten the game and limit overall possessions. Additionally, running the ball right at the Bills has been Buffalo's weakness this season.
I expect to see a healthy dose of Travis Etienne Jr. on Sunday. He has sneakily been a workhorse in 2025-26, ranking eighth in carries (260), 16th in touches per game (17.4), and 11th in rushing yards (1,107). Etienne will be battling against a Bills' defense that graded out as the 27th-best run-stopping unit (50.4) and 31st-ranked tackling group (29.4), per Pro Football Focus (PFF). The Jacksonville running back finished the year ranked 14th in forced missed tackles (45), so he's primed to shred this Buffalo defense that's allowing 136.2 rushing yards per game (28th) and 5.1 yards per attempt (31st).
The Patriots (14-3) only beat one team with a winning percentage north of .500 this season (Bills in Week 5). They'll be put to the test right out of the gate on Sunday when they take on a veteran Chargers squad that finished the year 11-6. This Sunday Night Football showdown gets underway at 8:00 p.m. ET from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, NE.
Maybe you can deduce from my mentioning of New England's strength of schedule (or lack thereof) that I'm not too high on the Pats entering the playoffs. I won't be surprised if they fall completely flat in the postseason opener, especially against this Harbaugh-Minter-led defense.
In my opinion, the Chargers are assembled nicely to give the Patriots a true test. Los Angeles was graded as the seventh-best pass coverage defense (79.1), per PFF, and they ranked fifth in explosive play rate allowed (4.5%). As for some of the baseline metrics, the Bolts are fifth in both opposing completion rate (60.8%) and passing yards allowed per game (179.9), while ranking 10th in yards allowed per pass attempt (6.1).
I can also see the Chargers leaning on the run offensively and really trying to muddy this game up. Drake Maye is a rising star, and Los Angeles will want to limit his opportunities to beat them with his arm. I'll take Maye to stay under 242.5 passing yards, which isn't too far off of his season average of 258.5 passing yards per contest.
Wild Card Weekend wraps up on Monday night, with the AFC North-winning Steelers (10-7) squaring off against the Texans (12-5). This should be a low-scoring affair, as the total is just 38.5 points. Kickoff is slated for 8:15 p.m. ET from Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA.
I don't anticipate Houston finding much success on the ground Monday night. Per PFF, the Texans are graded as the 21st-best run-blocking team (59.8). Meanwhile, Pittsburgh's front seven is pretty much at full health, so it should be tough sledding up front for Houston.
The Steelers' biggest issue is their aging secondary. PFF ranks Pittsburgh's defense 20th in both pass coverage (56.5) and tackling (45.5). All of these factors lead me to believe that Nico Collins could turn in a monster game. The star receiver finished the year 17th in targets per game (8.0) and ninth in total receiving yards (1,117). Among qualified receivers, Collins was fifth in yards per reception (15.7) and 16th in average depth of target (13.3). He eclipsed this number in six of his final nine contests, and I think there's a good chance that Collins gets a heavy workload in this win-or-go-home matchup.
