Rams vs. Seahawks NFL Week 18 odds, props: Seattle needs victory, help in wild card scenario; Geno Smith, Kenneth Walker can win individual awards

Not too long ago, it looked like the New York Jets would sweep the NFL Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year Awards. Yet Seattle running back Kenneth Walker III is now the Caesars Sportsbook betting favorite for top offensive rookie. The Seahawks could take home both that award and Comeback Player of the Year as quarterback Geno Smith is the second favorite for the latter entering Sunday's home game vs. the Rams. Seattle must win and get help from other teams to earn the NFC's final wild-card spot. The Seahawks are 6-point favorites against the Rams this week.

At 5-11, the Rams already have the most losses by a defending Super Bowl champion in history, and they will be without several injured players in the finale yet again, including three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald. Will it be the final game as Rams QB for Baker Mayfield? He has played reasonably well since being claimed off waivers and could re-sign as insurance for Matthew Stafford.

While the Rams weeks ago clinched the Under on their preseason win total of 10.5, the Seahawks did the same with the Over for their total of 6. In fact, they won their seventh game in Week 13 in Los Anegles, 27-23. Smith totaled 367 yards and three touchdowns, including the winner to DK Metcalf with 36 seconds left.

San Francisco running back Christian McCaffrey is the +150 Comeback Player of the Year favorite, but Smith is well within striking distance at +175 with a big game Sunday. He is set for free agency after the season.

If Seattle wins here, it needs Detroit to upset the Packers in Green Bay on Sunday night to earn a wild-card spot. However, a Seahawks win also eliminates the Lions from playoff contention and could therefore dampen Detroit's motivation, so it's a bit of a catch-22. Seattle had +600 preseason odds to reach playoffs at Caesars, the fourth-longest in the NFL.

Walker, a second-round pick out of Michigan State, is the -115 favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year, overtaking Jets first-round receiver Garrett Wilson (+220) after Week 17. In 14 games, Walker has 199 carries for 936 yards and nine scores and enters with back-to-back 100-yard games. Seattle has never had an OROY or CPOY winner.

• Picks: NFL | NBA | CFB | CBB
• DFS: Lineup Optimizer | Picks
• Early Edge: YouTube | Apple Podcasts
• Newsletters: SportsLine Daily | Fantasy

Qualifying SportsLine members receive a 30-day free trial of Paramount+ premium. Sync your account right here.