Two running backs are primed to shine in Sunday’s divisional round game between the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles.
The pregame narrative: Saquon Barkley and Kyren Williams have been tearing it up all season. I’m backing each of them in the prop market alongside Los Angeles on an alternate spread in this +300 SGP.
Check out my Rams vs. Eagles same-game parlay predictions for the game on Jan. 19.
Rams vs. Eagles same-game parlay predictions
Go to full NFL betting markets
Parlay: Rams +10.5 + Williams anytime TD + Barkley over 89.5 rushing yards (+300)
Rams +10.5 (-225): It might seem awfully hard to bet against Philadelphia, which went on a 12-1 heater following its Week 5 bye.
That includes a 37-20 victory over the Rams, in Los Angeles, on Nov. 24.
But let’s not discount how good Sean McVay’s squad has been since that game:
- L.A. has won six straight games with its starters playing, beating the Buffalo Bills (44-42) and the Minnesota Vikings (27-9).
- The Rams have allowed 29 total points in their last three road games (all victories).
The worry here is that the Eagles will run all over the Rams like they did back in Week 12. But L.A.’s young defence has made major strides and will study that tape to make adjustments.
What I’m mainly bullish on is the Rams’ offence.
Matthew Stafford has been lights-out in the postseason since joining L.A. (5-1 record, 13:3 TD-to-INT ratio). He’s got a bevy of talent surrounding him and one of the best offensive minds in the league drawing up plays.
Keeping this within 10.5 points seems like a reasonable ask.
Other parlay picks
Williams anytime TD (+107): Williams is Barkley lite — except he’s a more consistent goal-line option.
The second-year back averaged 92.6 scrimmage yards this season and scored 16 touchdowns. He also turned 19 touches into 92 yards and a score against the Vikings last week.
Williams has scored in six of his last seven games dating back to the regular season. That includes one TD against the Eagles in a game where he rushed 16 times for 72 yards.
His 70 red zone carries are the most in the NFL — nine clear of Barkley — and it’s not like we have to worry about a Stafford tush push vulturing away looks.
Barkley over 89.5 rushing yards (-335): When I said Philly ran all over L.A. earlier this season, I wasn’t being hyperbolic.
Barkley exploded for 255 yards against the Rams, ripping off 70 and 72-yard touchdown runs. Even if you took those two plays away, he would still have cleared this total … by 23 yards.
I don’t expect Barkley to go nuclear again but this is a number he should comfortably clear.
The first-year Eagle went over 90 yards in 13 of 16 regular season games en route to a 2,000-yard season. He also had 119 yards in the wild-card round against the Green Bay Packers.
Picks made at 2:08 p.m. ET on 01/17/2025.
Avery joined NorthStar Gaming as an intern in 2022 before stepping into a full-time role soon after. He loves betting on and analyzing golf — mainly because it’s easier than actually playing — but is a fan of all sports, from the NFL to the UFC.