Steelers vs Ravens Player Props: Mason Rudolph, Tyler Huntley, Diontae Johnson
Joe Sargent/Getty Images. Pictured: Mason Rudolph.
Steelers vs Ravens Player Props: Mason Rudolph, Tyler Huntley, Diontae Johnson
In the table below, you'll find each of my Steelers vs Ravens player props for Saturday's AFC North matchup with bets on Mason Rudolph, Tyler Huntley and Diontae Johnson.
| Time (ET) | Player Prop |
|---|---|
| 4:30 p.m. | |
| 4:30 p.m. | |
| 4:30 p.m. | |
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Pittsburgh’s offense has been stagnant all season. The Steelers enter Week 18 ranked 27th in scoring and 22nd in yards gained per play – and they’ve scored 20 points or less in 10-of-16 games thus far.
However, a glimmer of hope arrived in Week 15 in the form of long-time backup quarterback Mason Rudolph. After failing to reach the 30-point mark in 14 straight games to open the season, the Steelers have scored 30-plus points in back-to-back contests with Rudolph under center.
The Steelers haven’t been overly cautious with their third-string QB either. In his two starts, Rudolph completed 17-of-27 pass attempts for 290 yards vs. Cincinnati and 18-of-24 attempts for 274 yards vs. Seattle, with both performances clearing his line for this contest by a margin of 75-plus yards.
Granted, Baltimore’s defense is a far more difficult task under normal circumstances. In this instance, however, Rudolph appears to be catching a slight break.
The Ravens are expected to rest starters after locking up the one-seed in the conference with a huge win over Miami last week. But quite frankly, I would still feel comfortable betting this prop with both teams at full strength given what we’ve seen from Pittsburgh’s offense the last two weeks.
As previously noted, the Ravens are resting their key players – and MVP front-runner Lamar Jackson is no exception to that claim with backup Tyler Huntley expected to start.
Huntley’s style of play is reminiscent of Jackson in many ways, making him the perfect backup QB for Baltimore. In eight career starts, Huntley has averaged 42 rushing yards on 8.9 carries per game. Also reminiscent of Jackson, the Ravens certainly aren’t afraid to let Huntley sling the ball, highlighted by Huntley attempting 30-plus passes in five of his eight starts.
Huntley isn’t in the spotlight very often. However, his passing skills have gradually matured with over the last few years. In his final two starts last season, Huntley completed 55% of his pass attempts for 122 yards per game to go along with a touchdown pass in both contests – and then in a very limited role this season, he’s completed 6-of-8 pass attempts for 57 yards and two touchdowns.
Huntley shouldn’t have too much trouble finding the end zone through the air vs. a Pittsburgh secondary that ranks 24th in yards allowed per pass attempt and 21st in passing TDs allowed per game.
Diontae Johnson is arguably having his worst campaign since his rookie year, currently averaging just 52 receiving yards on 3.9 receptions per game on the season. But Johnson’s struggles are more of an indictment on his health issues and Pittsburgh’s offensive woes in general as opposed to a decline in individual performance. For the most part, Johnson has continued to produce at a consistent level and he could be due for an uptick in volume with the Steelers aerial attack coming to life down the stretch.
The last two contests with Rudolph at QB has been a tale of two different games for Johnson. In Rudolph’s first start, Johnson caught just 2-of-5 targets for 15 yards vs. Cincy, and then in his second start, Johnson caught all four of his targets for 76 yards vs. Seattle.
Johnson has crossed the 50-yard receiving mark in four of the Steelers’ last six games, and he’s tallied 45-plus yards in eight of his 12 outings this season overall.
I’ll back Diontae to have another solid performance with Pittsburgh's season on the line.
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