NFL Wild Card Weekend kicks off with the Rams vs. Panthers on Saturday, Jan. 10.
Los Angeles is a 10.5-point favorite and -575 on the moneyline, while Carolina is +425 on DraftKings Sportsbook. The game total is set at 45.5 points.
Here are my top Rico Dowdle prop bets for the Rams vs. Panthers Wild Card Weekend matchup on Saturday.
Best Rico Dowdle Prop Bets
Rico Dowdle has been one of the great stories of the NFL season. After a strong 2024 season with the Cowboys, Dallas chose not to re-sign Dowdle. He came to Carolina in the offseason, but started the season as the backup behind Chuba Hubbard. Hubbard got injured a month into the season, and Dowdle took over as the new lead back. In his first game in that role, Dowdle rushed for 206 yards against the Dolphins. He was the hottest running back in the NFL for a stretch in the middle of the season, before the entire Carolina offense cooled off down the stretch. Dowdle still finished the season as a 1,000-yard rusher despite barely getting any action in the first four games of the season.
My favorite Dowdle prop bet for this game is for him to go over 49.5 rushing yards. Since Hubbard got healthy, these backs have split carries. However, Dowdle is still the main man, leading the team in rushing in every game but one since taking over the RB1 role in Week 5. There should be a heavy dose of touches for Dowdle in this game against the Rams.
Los Angeles has one of the best rosters in the NFL, which is why it is a double-digit road favorite in this game. If this turns into a shootout between Bryce Young and Matthew Stafford, the Panthers stand no chance. Carolina’s best chance to pull off the upset here is running the ball efficiently, winning the field position battle and making it an ugly game.
If that is the gameplan for Carolina, Dowdle is the perfect player to utilize. He is a hard, physical runner who is also capable of breaking a long run with his speed. He should be able to pick up chunks in short yardage to keep drives alive, and could create the explosive plays that Carolina will need as well. The Panthers ran well against the Rams in the first matchup, rushing for 164 yards. Dowdle contributed 58 of those rushing yards, going over this rushing prop. The Rams’ defense is fantastic all around, but they rank sixth in EPA/dropback, compared to 12th in EPA/rush. The Panthers should have more success on the ground than through the air, and it also works in their favor to use up the clock and keep the ball away from Stafford. Dowdle should rush for at least 50 yards in this big home playoff game.
