Cardinals vs. Rams Prediction, NFL Week 6 Odds & Best Bets (10/18)

Fact checked at 8:35 AM ET, Oct 18, 2026

Odds as of Oct 18, 7:40 AM ET

Arizona's defense has been run over for a month. The Cardinals are 1-4, have lost four straight and have allowed 162 points, 32.4 per game and the most in the league: 31 to Seattle, 36 each to San Francisco and the Giants, then 45 to Detroit last Sunday. The secondary is short-handed: safeties Wydett Williams (concussion) and Andrew Wingard (knee) are out, and Budda Baker and Kitan Crawford are questionable. The offense loses rookie running back Jeremiyah Love to an ankle injury, so Tyler Allgeier becomes the lead back, with Jacoby Brissett expected at quarterback.

The Rams are 2-3 after a 37-34 overtime loss to Buffalo on Monday night. Left tackle Alaric Jackson is serving a one-game suspension, and David Quessenberry makes his first start since 2023 in his place. Matthew Stafford is not on the injury report. The Rams are 12.5-point favorites with a total of 51.5, and we expect them to get there through the air. Stafford has thrown at least 51 passes in three straight games, and both of these picks cash if that keeps going against a secondary missing two safeties.

Kickoff is Sunday at 4:05 PM ET at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, on Fox.

Cardinals vs. Rams Predictions

• Pick #1: Matthew Stafford Over 279.5 Passing Yards (-112)
• Pick #2: Kyren Williams Over 19.5 Receiving Yards (-110)

PICK #1: Matthew Stafford Over 279.5 Passing Yards (-112)

Stafford is on a run of four straight 300-yard games: 327 against the Giants, 390 at Denver, 317 at Philadelphia and 383 against Buffalo. The only time he missed this number was the opener against San Francisco (155). Over the last three weeks he has attempted 55, 51 and 54 passes.

Now he gets a defense allowing 252.4 passing yards a game, without two of its safeties. He threw for 281 and 259 yards in last season's two meetings, both Rams wins with Brissett starting for Arizona. And the Cardinals score enough (21 or more in four of five games) that the Rams probably won't be able to stop throwing early. At -112, the book is giving this a 52.8% chance. We think it's better than that.

What could go wrong is a new left tackle and a blowout. If Quessenberry struggles or the Rams build a big lead and lean on the run, the volume drops. That's roughly what happened in the 28-6 win over the Giants, when Stafford threw just 31 times, though he still finished with 327 yards.

PICK #2: Kyren Williams Over 19.5 Receiving Yards (-110)

Williams has been a real part of the passing game lately, with 7, 13 and 8 targets in the last three games. He has gone over 19.5 receiving yards in four of five: 24 against San Francisco, 70 at Denver, 67 at Philadelphia and 27 against Buffalo. That's a low bar for a back who keeps getting this many looks, and -110 only asks for 52.4%.

His one miss came in that same Giants rout, 12 yards on two targets, so a lopsided game is the shared risk for both picks. Blake Corum's share is the other risk after his 53 receiving yards against Buffalo.

21+ (18+ where permitted). Odds subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.