NFL Playoff Futures: Who Will Lead the Postseason in Rushing Yards?

The 2023-2024 NFL Playoffs will kick off this weekend with six exciting Wild Card matchups that will lead us in to the divisional rounds. Over on FanDuel Sportsbook, Wild Card Specials and Playoff Specials are available, leaving us with some intriguing future bets to consider.

Let's take a look at the odds for Most Playoff Rushing Yards and dive into some of the best options on the board.

Christian McCaffrey (+200)

Despite a bye week that will prevent Christian McCaffrey from racking up any yardage this weekend, he is still a clear favorite to come out on top as the lead rusher in the playoffs.

These short odds are courtesy of CMC averaging 91.2 rush yards per game (second-most in the NFL) and the San Francisco 49ers touting -130 odds (best) to make it to the Super Bowl.

If you think the Niners' -130 odds here sound about right, CMC at +200 is a good play. His usage and output should only go up as we enter the playoffs. Not only is he the arguably the most explosive and important non-QB player, but he's also been stopped short of his full potential at times due to SF victimizing multiple teams with blowouts in the regular season. Those 91.2 rush yards per game could be short-selling McCaffrey.

However, we should be wary of the fact that CMC will, at most, participate in three playoff games, with most other running backs having a chance to suit up in four.

Tony Pollard (+600)

I don't feel great about giving consideration to Tony Pollard, but among teams that will compete this weekend, the Dallas Cowboys have the second-shortest odds (+350) to see things through to the Super Bowl.

Pollard averaged just 59.1 rush yards per game (20th-most) this season. But if we start by looking at this in shorter terms, we can see that Pollard has the best matchup this weekend. The Green Bay Packers are allowing 128.3 rush yards per game (fifth-most in NFL; most among playoff teams).

Since Pollard is a candidate to explode this weekend and is on a squad that has a more realistic chance to play four games than other teams, he becomes worth a look here.

Isiah Pacheco (+1200)

No one is catching my eye more than Isiah Pacheco. He averaged 66.8 rush yards per game (10th-most) this season, but in four games with Jerick McKinnon on the IR, Pacheco has averaged 80.3 rush yards per contest.

Reports suggest that a return for McKinnon this season is pretty unlikely, so we should expect Pacheco to continue to take on a heavy workload for as long as the Kansas City Chiefs are in it.

But, can the Chiefs stay in contention long enough to afford Pacheco the playoff rush leader crown? Kansas City has left us with a sour taste in our mouth at times, and the Patrick Mahomes road-game skeptics are coming out in full force. However, the Miami Dolphins are a somewhat friendly matchup for the Chiefs in the Wild Card round; KC's -200 moneyline odds prove so.

The Chiefs currently have +490 odds to make it to the Big Game. With these odds for the Chiefs to partake in four postseason games, we have to be interested in Pacheco at +1200. Remember, McCaffrey will play a maximum of only three games, and unless Kyren Williams and the Los Angeles Rams pull off an unlikely trip to the Super Bowl, I feel comfortable siding with Pacheco over any other back that has potential for four games.

Others to Consider

If I had a bit more clarity on the status of Raheem Mostert (+3000) or a tad more faith in the Miami Dolphins' postseason outlook, it would be hard not to love either Mostert or De'Von Achane (+2500) at these odds. The Dolphins run game is legit and always firing. But, without a clear gauge on how these two will split carries, it seems apt to fade them for now -- even if Miami's +900 AFC Championship odds suggest great value here.

Kyren Williams (+1000), D'Andre Swift (+1600), and David Montgomery (+1800) round out the other solid longshot options. If you have faith in any of these players' respective teams to go far in the playoffs, this futures market offers some exciting value.

Looking for the latest NFL odds? Head over to FanDuel Sportsbook and check out all of the NFL betting options.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.