• TE Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams — over 24.5 receiving yards: High-volume tight ends T.J. Hockenson and Sam LaPorta had monster games against the Saints in recent weeks, combining for 20 catches, 274 yards and two touchdowns, but Cole Kmet, Darren Waller and Evan Engram have all posted good numbers against this defense, too.
• Opportunities aplenty on Thursday night: The presence of Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp and the high-volume rushing offense with Kyren Williams leaves opportunities in softer coverages for Tyler Higbee, who has seen at least three targets in 12 of his 13 starts this season.
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Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
GAME OVERVIEW
The Los Angeles Rams have been somewhat of a surprise package this season. They are playing some good football right now, having won four of their last five, with the only loss being an overtime defeat on the road against the AFC-leading Baltimore Ravens.
L.A.’s win total coming into the year was 6.5, so they were not expected to be all that competitive, but they have a positive points differential and find themselves in second place in the NFC West.
Rams right guard Joe Noteboom is questionable, but he has not seen the practice field all week, so it seems likely that he will not be ready. Wide receiver Tutu Atwell made his way through concussion protocol and is ready to return, however.
The New Orleans Saints were heading in the opposite direction and dropped three straight games from Week 10 to Week 13. Luckily, they have gotten back on track after playing two of the worst teams in the NFL in their last two games, both at home.
That is the concern with the Saints this year — their schedule has been incredibly soft, but despite that, their wins have come against the worst of those teams (the Panthers twice, Giants, Patriots, Titans, Bears and Colts).
Injuries have piled up throughout the season, but Chris Olave and Rasheed Shahid appear to be through the worst of it, and running back Kendre Miller has returned to practice. Their biggest blow ahead of tonight is that right tackle Ryan Ramczyk will miss his second straight game.
TE Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams: Over 24.5 receiving yards (-113 FanDuel)
The Saints defense has been excellent in certain ways and terrible in others. Their outside cornerbacks have done an excellent job despite missing standout corner Marshon Lattimore, but their slot and middle-of-the-field guys have given up chunks of yardage in recent weeks due to teams not being able to pass to the outside.
High-volume tight ends T.J. Hockenson and Sam LaPorta had monster games against the Saints in recent weeks, combining for 20 catches, 274 yards and two touchdowns, but Cole Kmet, Darren Waller and Evan Engram have posted good numbers against this defense, too.
Tyler Higbee has shouldered a relatively decreased workload over the last month as he was dealing with the neck injury that forced him out of the second half of the Browns game and the Week 14 game against the Ravens. However, he has practiced in full all week and should return to his usual role and play 80% or more of his team’s snaps on Thursday night.
The presence of Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp and the high-volume rushing offense with Kyren Williams leaves opportunities in softer coverages for Tyler Higbee, who has seen at least three targets in 12 of his 13 starts this season.
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