NFL teams may not like the quick turnaround, but fans know we are one day closer to football. Even this week’s matchup won’t deter us, nor should it with the pick’em value on the board. Aaron Rodgers headlines Thursday hoping to make it through a Jets home game. The Patriots are trying to make sense of a decent start while balancing more injuries on the defensive side. It’s not the prettiest, but money doesn’t care. Here are the top two DraftKings Pick6 predictions for Thursday Night Football.
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DraftKings Pick6 NFL Predictions Today
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Rhamondre Stevenson M/L Than 66.5 Rushing Yards
After two weeks one thing remains constant with the Jets — they aren’t stopping the ground game. Rhamondre Stevenson looks to be the next back to gash this unit. The Patriots air game — more on that below — isn’t clicking and faces a far more difficult matchup than Stevenson does. The Jets run defense took a little hit with some injury, but they were already struggling against the run.
Jerrod Mayo has no choice but to rely on the run; it’s further compounded when he has a lead or is in a one-score game. In this case, the Jets rush defense allows big enough plays that Mayo’s Patriots may simply keep feeding Stevenson when down. We should expect to see north of 20 carries tonight for this workhorse, as the Patriots would rather rely on him over Jacoby Brissett.
It will be interesting to see the dynamic of how this game is called. The Jets have a clear advantage throwing the football, while the Patriots have the same but on the ground. With a lower total for the game, it’s reasonable to expect the Patriots want to keep Rodgers cold on the bench. Ride with Stevenson.
DraftKings Pick6 Prediction: Rhamondre Stevenson More Than 66.5 Rushing Yards
Jacoby Brissett M/L Than 165.5 Passing Yards
Yes, the Jets are down a few edge rushers and might trade Haason Reddick back to the Eagles, but Brissett is in full struggle mode. The Patriots passing offense is averaging nearly 30 yards per game fewer than this projection, so Brissett will have to play above what we’ve already seen this year. It’s clear to anyone watching that the Patriots are interested in one thing — running the ball. That is not a total slight on Brissett, rather the lack of overall confidence in the passing game.
That’s enough to keep him from hitting the projection, but we also have to factor the above play. Stevenson is going to command a bunch of touches, and most of the Jets defense is susceptible to the run. These are far tougher matchups for Brissett to throw the ball, and even if down, the Patriots won’t be rushing to him to trim the lead. It’s a tough combination for a talented journeyman to overcome — especially with this offensive line and group of “skill” players around him.
DraftKings Pick6 Prediction: Jacoby Brissett Less Than 165.5 Passing Yards
