Falcons vs. Raiders: Monday Night Football Picks for Tonight
Monday Night Football features a double slate tonight, with the Falcons and Raiders closing out Week 15. We’ve got Monday Night Football picks and predictions for the Falcons vs. Raiders clash below for NFL DFS and PrizePicks, including three picks to focus on, plus a game prediction.
Below, we’ll highlight some of the NFL DFS picks for Monday Night Football and a Demon pick to boost your payout for what’s set to be an interesting matchup in Las Vegas.
Don’t forget to head to the PrizePicks NFL board and lock in your Monday Night Football picks by choosing more or less on player projections. Build your Lineup to get in on the real money NFL action.
Find PrizePicks picks for the other Monday Night Football game — Bears vs. Vikings — right here.
Monday Night Football Picks: Falcons vs. Raiders
Here are three of the top Monday Night Football picks on PrizePicks for Falcons vs. Raiders, plus a full game prediction.
Falcons vs. Raiders on Monday Night Football: Time, TV, Preview
Date: Monday, December 16, 2024
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
Location: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nev.
TV: ESPN, ESPN+ (streaming)
At 2-11, the Raiders are eliminated from anything meaningful and are only playing for pride at this point. The Falcons however have everything to lose in this matchup.
According to the NFL, with a win tonight the Falcons have a 35% chance to make the Playoffs, but a loss practically eliminates them, moving their chances down to just 10%.
One thing’s for certain, both teams rank near the bottom of the league in points allowed, so it could be a fun high-scoring affair in which the Raiders look to play spoiler, especially with Raiders QB Desmond Ridder looking to get revenge against his former team, as he’ll fill in for the injured QB Aidan O’Connell — listed as questionable but unlikely to play. The Raiders will also be down top pass rusher Maxx Crosby, who was ruled out for the season.
🎯 More Picks, Predictions, and TD Scorers for tonight's Monday Night Football Doubleheader
Falcons vs. Raiders: Monday Night Football Picks for PrizePicks
Below, you’ll find our four favorite Monday Night Football picks for Falcons vs. Raiders on Monday Night Football for NFL DFS on PrizePicks.
Kickers Daniel Carlson + Younghoe Koo 3.5 FG Made — More
While I’ve frequented kicker combinations for longest FG made, this is a kicker combo square I like better this week. The matchup is ripe for these two to combine for four or more field goals, and I like it this week on the volume of FGs these two teams allow.
With both teams ranking towards the bottom of the league in points allowed per game, both teams also rank towards the bottom of the league in FGs allowed per game. The Falcons give up 2.2 FGs a game (tied for 21st) while the Raiders give up 2.6 FGs a game (tied for 30th).
On the season, Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson is averaging 1.92 FGs a game on 2.3 attempts per game. Koo is averaging 1.76 FGs a game on 2.38 attempts a game. This nets us an aggregate of 3.68 FGs made a game between the two. When you account for the opposing defenses — they should come in well above their combined averages.
In Carlson’s last five games, kickers have combined for 2, 5, 9, 4, and 3 field goals. In Koo’s last five, the kickers have combined for 3, 5, 3, 3, and 2 field goals. Tonight, both teams should see ample opportunity in getting across the midfield and into FG range, and I expect both kickers to bring home at least two FGs each.
Related, and equally appealing, I like the More on Carlson+Koo 120.5 FG Yards Combo with Carlson averaging 69 yards a game and Koo averaging 67 yards a game for a combined total average of 136 kicking yards a game.
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Raiders RB Sincere McCormick 18.5 Rush Yards in First 5 Attempts — More
I’m sincere when I say don’t sleep on this guy. If you aren't in a deep fantasy league or a Raiders fan it’s safe to say you may not know McCormick. By far the most efficient runner the Raiders have trotted out this season, McCormick has earned the trust of his coach even if the guys above him on the depth chart return.
When asked Wednesday, Raiders HC Antonio Pierce let the media know he will remain the teams RB1 stating “He deserved it” and has been “running his tail off.”
McCormick ran for 64 yards on only 12 attempts against Kansas City — the most the Chiefs have surrendered all year to a running back through the first 14 weeks. Kansas City has gone toe to toe against the likes of Derrick Henry and Bijan Robinson and yet, McCormick did the most damage to them on the ground.
In his three games this season, McCormick has ran for:
- 33 on his first 5 attempts against Denver
- 30 on his first 5 attempts against Kansas City
- 35 on his first 5 attempts against Tampa Bay
Needing just 18.5 yards in his first 5 attempts sounds enticing when you look at his small body of work, but it gets better. Denver ranks 6th in run defense, Kansas City ranks 3rd in run defense, and Tampa Bay ranks 11th in run defense.
He now gets to visit the worst run defense he’s seen in 17th-ranked Atlanta. With a season long average yards per rush of 5.5 yards, I see him getting closer to 30 yards in his first 5 attempts as he has done in his last three outings.
TD Scorer Prediction: Falcons WR Drake London (Demon)
After six touchdowns in nine games, Falcons WR Drake London has cooled off significantly — not finding the end zone in four straight weeks. Regression lovers rejoice, as he is so due to break the down trend. In the last four weeks London garnered 46 targets, more than any other four week stretch of his season, yet he doesn’t have the TD to show for it.
While you could simply blame QB Kirk Cousins and his zero TDs thrown in the last four weeks, London has still seen ample opportunity to get it done. In the last two weeks alone, London saw four red-zone targets.
Of all receivers to see four or more, 6-of-8 scored, with only London and Jets WR Garret Willson being the odd men out. Of those with three or more red zone targets, 7 of 14 scored a TD.
One thing London has that no other receiver in the entire league can lay claim to through 14 weeks is target share in the red zone. London currently commands a 64.5% target share while in the red zone, with George Pickens (59.3%) and Amon-Ra St. Brown (51.6%) behind him. If Cousins is passing near the end zone, he wants the ball going to London.
The good news for Cousins’ favorite scoring threat is both defenses in this matchup are porous. The ball should move down the field with ease for both teams, and they should find success in scoring.
Las Vegas currently ranks 30th in points allowed at 27.8 a game, and are tied for 27th in passing TDs allowed at 1.8 a game. London should finally break the trend and turn his elite volume and red zone targets into points against the Raiders.
Note: Demon picks add a payout boost to your lineup on PrizePicks, as they are more difficult projections to hit.
Monday Night Football Prediction: Falcons 27, Raiders 16
The Falcons next two opponents — the Raiders tonight and the Giants next week — have a combined record of 4-22. This could be a great time for the Falcons to correct the ship and be ready to fire on all cylinders and roll into the playoffs hot.
The Raiders were far more lifeless last week after going toe-to-toe with the Chiefs the week prior, and I think the team is ready to call it quits. They now move onto their No. 3 QB Desond Ridder for this week.
I see Falcons QB Kirk Cousins regaining his form, and the Falcons sailing past the Raiders with ease.
Build Your Monday Night Football Lineup on PrizePicks
Whether you’re going big with a Demon pick or staying safe with the Goblins, there’s no better way to add to the excitement of Monday Night Football and Falcons vs. Raiders than building your ideal PrizePicks Lineup.
It’s the easiest way to get real money action on Monday Night Football.
Just pick more or less on two or more player projections like the ones above, set your lineup, and lock in for Monday Night Football. Keep coming back to the Playbook for more insights on NFL DFS all season long.
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