It’s that time of year again when we get NFL games on a Saturday, which means we’ve got to have some action down at PrizePicks. Selecting the right projections may be challenging, but with the assistance of OddsShopper’s NFL PrizePicks Optimizer and thorough research, we’ve got you covered. Let’s dive into the best PrizePicks NFL picks and player projections for December 16, starting with T.J. Hockenson.
We are graced with a full day of football that kicks off at 1 p.m. ET with the Minnesota Vikings at the Cincinnati Bengals. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts will play in the afternoon slot at 4:30 p.m. ET, and we’ll close out the night with Denver Broncos at the Detroit Lions come 8:15 p.m. ET. All three games have playoff implications and feature spreads of four points or less, so we should get some decent football to watch.
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PrizePicks NFL Player Predictions: Picks for T.J. Hockenson & More
T.J. Hockenson M/L 53.5 Receiving Yards
The Vikings will travel to Cincinnati to take on the Bengals as 3-point underdogs. This game has a total of 40.5 points. At 7-6, Cincinnati will try to separate themselves from the six-way tie in the AFC standings and inch closer to a playoff berth. Meanwhile, 7-6 Minnesota will try and separate themselves from the six teams with a 6-7 record below them in the NFC. With Justin Jefferson banged up and the Vikings down to their third-string running back, they will need to lean on T.J. Hockenson to move the ball.
Hockenson gets a dream matchup against the Bengals, who allow the most receptions, yards, and touchdowns to the tight end position. In regards to volume, Hockenson has been the best tight end in the NFL, leading the league in both targets (114) and receptions (85). He ranks second in yards, trailing only Travis Kelce, and is tied for second with five touchdowns.
Best PrizePicks NFL Player Prediction: T.J. Hockenson More Than 53.5 Receiving Yards
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Sam LaPorta M/L 48.5 Receiving Yards
Another tight end on the list today, Sam LaPorta gets a favorable matchup against the Broncos. Detroit is a 4-point home favorite against Denver, who have won six of their last seven games. So far, LaPorta has put together a tremendous rookie season, leading all tight ends with six touchdowns. He ranks fourth in targets and receptions for the position.
The Broncos have allowed the third-most receptions to the tight end position and the second-most yards on the season. LaPorta’s projection ranges from 47.5 to 50.5 across the books. The one thing in common is they all have the juice on the over. Given the total, matchup, and volume that LaPorta receives, going with more than is a smart play on Saturday.
Best PrizePicks NFL Player Prediction: Sam LaPorta More Than 48.5 Receiving Yards
Russell Wilson M/L 5.5 Rushing Attempts
We’ll stay with the Lions-Broncos game to complete our entry today and look at quarterback Russell Wilson. If there was a fantasy score listed, I would like the more than for that projection, but the next best thing is rushing attempts. Wilson’s game has regressed over the past few seasons, but the one thing that has stayed consistent is his ability to run the ball. Wilson is averaging 4.6 rushing attempts over the last six games leading to five Broncos victories. This is a great game environment for Wilson to take advantage of his rushing instincts.
The Lions have allowed 80 rushing attempts and 399 rushing yards to quarterbacks this season, the most in the NFL. On a per-game basis, quarterbacks are attempting 6.1 rushes per game against Detroit. The Lions average 67.2 plays per game, making this a major pace-up spot for the Broncos, which should create a few more opportunities for Wilson to run the ball.
Best PrizePicks NFL Player Prediction: Russell Wilson More Than 5.5 Rush Attempts
