NFL Saturday Best Player Prop Picks: Joe Mixon, George Pickens Wild Card Round
With the 2024-25 NFL Wild Card Round spanning three days from Saturday to Monday, there is non-stop action this weekend. That also means that with three separate slates to enjoy, we know that fans want to be covered from every angle. So, we’ve shared our best Wild Card Saturday player prop picks with you.
To make the entire Wild Card Weekend even better, not just our NFL Saturday player pros, we’ve also got a massive $1,500 BetMGM Sportsbook welcome offer for you!
Best NFL Wild Card Saturday Player Prop Picks
Having the Wild Card Weekend spread out over three separate slates isn’t the only reason fans will be preferring Wild Card Saturday player prop picks. Playoff matchups means that the pressure is on heightened, and with both a close matchup and blowout expected on Saturday specifically, trusting sides can be difficult.
That’s without mentioning that one of the matchups is a divisional rivalry game in the AFC North with the Steelers vs. Ravens game, which can be even more difficult to predict. We’ve got one of our Wild Card Saturday player prop picks for that game and the other in the earlier Chargers vs. Texans game, so let’s get into our best bets.
Chargers vs. Texans Player Props: Joe Mixon Over 69.5 Rushing Yards (-115 at BetMGM Sportsbook)
The first of our Wild Card Saturday player prop picks is one that may be considered a bit against the grain based on year-long stats that we’ve seen from the Chargers defense, but we have reason to go against what has been considered arguably their biggest strength.
There’s no doubt that the LA defense has been their stronger unit, and their run defense specifically. However, it is not what it once was during the first half of the year, even falling outside the top 10 in terms of rushing yards allowed per game down to #14.
While they have performed admirably against lesser RBs, they have proven that they can be exploited when facing top-tier RBs. We’d consider Texans RB Joe Mixon in that category with how well he’s performed for his new team. He should also be as rested as ever since the team featured backup RB Dameon Pierce in Week 18 with the AFC South wrapped up.
When the Chargers have faced elite RBs like Ravens RB Derrick Henry (140 yards), Falcons RB Bijan Robinson (102 yards), Cardinals RB James Conner (101 yards) and even Buccaneers RB Bucky Irving (117 yards), they have struggled.
So, although they have had great numbers when facing lesser competition, we love taking advantage of that skewed success by starting our Wild Card Saturday player prop picks with Joe Mixon over 69.5 rushing yards (-115 at BetMGM Sportsbook).
Steelers vs. Ravens Player Props: George Pickens Over 3.5 Receptions (-115 at BetMGM Sportsbook)
Moving onto the night game with our NFL Saturday player props brings us to the aforementioned AFC North rivalry. We won’t be targeting Henry, but rather a WR, and also the Steelers side of the rivalry.
Pittsburgh has struggled mightily down the stretch of the regular season, as they’ve lost their past four games, including the game against the Ravens on the Sunday prior to Christmas. While Baltimore is expected to win this matchup given the double-digit point spread, we can use that as a factor in our Wild Card Saturday player prop picks.
That would imply that the Steelers will be trailing and therefore forced to throw more often to catch up. Even if that isn’t the case, we’ve seen the Ravens secondary be their weakest unit this season. Although it has improved as of late, seeing star safety Kyle Hamilton injured in Week 18 is a massive blow.
We’re also getting incredible value on Pickens given his struggles last Saturday. While the numbers weren’t there, he’s still been targeted six and seven times in his two games since returning from injury. When he faced Baltimore the first time this season, he went off with eight catches on 12 targets for 89 yards.
You could even consider a huge +210 anytime touchdown scorer play, but we’ll stick with George Pickens over 3.5 receptions (-115 at BetMGM Sportsbook) as the addition to our Wild Card Saturday player prop picks.
NFL Wild Card Saturday Player Props Player Prop Odds At BetMGM Sportsbook
You can also feel free to add to our best NFL Saturday player props with some other popular lines being targeted at BetMGM Sportsbook:
Passing Yards:
- Chargers QB Justin Herbert: Over 230.5 (-115) vs. Under 230.5 (-115)
- Ravens QB Lamar Jackson: Over 215.5 (-115) vs. Under 215.5 (-115)
Rushing Yards:
- Texans RB Joe Mixon: Over 69.5 (-115) vs. Under 69.5 (-115)
- Ravens RB Derrick Henry: Over 97.5 (-115) vs. Under 97.5 (-115)
Receiving Yards:
- Texans WR Nico Collins: Over 87.5 (-115) vs. Under 87.5 (-115)
- Ravens TE Mark Andrews: Over 46.5 (-115) vs. Under 46.5 (-115)
How To Bet On NFL Wild Card Round Saturday At BetMGM Sportsbook & Claim Your $1,500 Bonus With Promo Code ALARM
Make our Wild Card Saturday player prop picks, or any picks for that matter, as valuable as possible with a monster $1,500 BetMGM sign-up bonus:
- Register here for a new BetMGM account
- Enter the BetMGM promo code ALARM
- Make a first-time deposit of $10 or more
- Wager $10+ and up to $1,500 on anything
If that qualifying wager doesn’t win, you’ll receive a full refund in bonus bets! In other words, your first bet is fully protected when you become a new member using our exclusive BetMGM promo code ALARM!
Player News
Raiders.com reporter Levi Edwards said WR Dont’e Thornton Jr. “has already become a top target” for Geno Smith.
Edwards writes, Thornton is “using his speed to get vertical down the field,” towers “over smaller defenders in the middle of the field and [uses] his acceleration to create separation consistently.” Questioning Thornton’s 2025 fantasy impact is reasonable. In a best-case outcome, Thornton would likely be operating as the No. 4 receiving weapon behind Brock Bowers, Jakobi Meyers and Ashton Jeanty, leaving him with an unreliable target share. Still, this is the second positive report on Thornton in as many weeks. Perhaps, the Raiders found a starter in the fourth round. Stay tuned.
ESPN’s Jordan Raanan said Darius Slayton has formed a “really quality connection” with Russell Wilson.
Raanan notes that Malik Nabers has been sidelined, but Slayton’s “really solid” spring showing, coupled with Jalin Hyatt’s minor leg injury, bodes positively for Slayton’s grip on the No. 2 perimeter role. If Hyatt can get healthy and improve his play, he could challenge Slayton in-season, but for now, it appears as though the Giants’ steady 28-year-old field-stretcher will continue doing his thing. He can be treated as a volatile, likely matchup-based flex option.
Saints waived RB Xazavian Valladay.
The Saints also waived S Tra Fluellen and correspondingly signed CB Jayden Price, TE Seth Green and OT Barry Wesley. Cam Akers’ recent signing made Valladay obsolete, while also putting Kendre Miller, Devin Neal and Clyde Edwards-Helaire on notice.
Giants WR Jalin Hyatt suffered a “minor” leg injury during Tuesday’s mandatory minicamp practice.
It’s an unfortunate development for a player who Raanan described as having made “plays downfield early in camp” and looking like a better, “more confident player.” Raanan also downplayed Hyatt’s purported 15-20-pound weight gain, though he did say Hyatt “did put on weight.” Hopefully, Hyatt can get healthy in time for the start of training camp next month.
Speaking on the Pat McAfee Show, ESPN’s Adam Schefter said the Rams and Chargers are among Jalen Ramsey’s preferred landing spots.
Schefter said Ramsey “would like to go to the West Coast,” and specifically named Los Angeles as the ideal city. Schefter also believes a deal should happen before training camps begin in mid-July. Both the Rams and Chargers have more than $20 million available in salary cap space this year, which should make a new deal doable if Ramsey requests one post-trade, though he is under contract through 2028 on his current deal.
Christian Watson (knee) posted a video of himself running a route during a private workout.
Watson notably tagged a physical therapist in the post, ostensibly suggesting he is running and cutting under supervision by a medical professional. In the video, Watson can be seen running up and out, cutting left and right before striding downfield. It is difficult to measure Watson’s speed and exertion, but this video is, of course, positive. Watson suffered a torn ACL in Week 18 (January 5th, 2025). His surgery date and expected return date remain unknown, however, players typically return to play 10-12 months following ACL reconstruction.