Best Player Prop Bets For Lions-Chiefs

It’s finally here!

The 2023 NFL Season kicks off on Thursday night when the Lions, America’s favorite underdog, take on the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs from Arrowhead Stadium.

We have waited for this game for nearly seven months so you know we are foaming at the mouth to get some sweet, sweet player prop action on the first of 272 regular-season games to be played in the NFL this season.

Let’s dive in with our favorite player prop bets for Thursday Night Football.

Isiah Pacheco OVER 50.5 Rushing Yards

At the time of this writing, Chiefs’ star TE Travis Kelce is listed as questionable for Thursday’s game with a bone bruise on his knee that he suffered in Tuesday’s practice.

Whether or not Kelce will play remains to be seen, but even if Kelce is in the Chiefs’ lineup on Thursday this is a play we really like.

Pacheco went from 7th round draft pick to the #1 running back on Andy Reid’s depth chart in his rookie campaign, and along the way he topped 50.5 rushing yards in 10 of the Chiefs’ last 12 games of 2022, including their victory over the Eagles in Super Bowl 57.

With Kelce hobbled, Andy Reid could lean on the running game more than he usually does, and the Lions’ defense showed they can be quite accommodating to opposing offenses a season ago where they ranked 21st overall at stopping the run.

While we don’t expect him to crack 100 yards rushing, look for Pacheco to start the new season by topping 50.5 yards rushing.

Best Odds: BetMGM (-115)

David Montgomery Anytime Touchdown

A season ago, Lions’ RB Jamaal Williams led all rushers in the NFL with 17 touchdowns. He has since moved to the bayou to play for the Saints, but his role in the Lions’ offense will be filled by former Bears’ RB David Montgomery.

Barring a last-minute contract extension before kickoff, the Chiefs also will be without All-Pro DT Chris Jones, delivering a massive blow to the Chiefs’ run defense. If he does sign a new deal and finds himself playing, it’s anyone’s guess just how ready he is to play meaningful snaps in a regular season game.

Each of these tidbits favors Montgomery finding the end zone in the season opener, especially if the Lions are to find themselves in a goalline situation.

Montgomery only scored five touchdowns in 2022, but that was on a Bears’ offense that was absolutely putrid outside of Justin Fields’ rushing. The Lions offense is nowhere near as barren and should give Montgomery a chance to find paydirt on Thursday.

Best Odds: FanDuel (+105)

Sam LaPorta OVER 29.5 Receiving Yards

We wanted to start 2023 off by taking a Travis Kelce prop, but his knee had other ideas.

With Kelce’s status in limbo, we’re going to pivot to another tight end that will be playing on Thursday in Lions’ rookie Sam LaPorta.

LaPorta was the 34th overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft and comes to the NFL by way of Iowa, where tight ends are as plentiful as flat stretches of land.

While we believe other weapons on the Lions’ offense will likely see more touches (Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jahmyr Gibbs for one), the yardage total for the rookie tight end seems especially low.

We like LaPorta to top 29.5 receiving yards and if you’re feeling extra spicy, a little sprinkle on him to score the first touchdown on Thursday (+2400 at FanDuel) sounds pretty fun as well.

Best Odds: FanDuel (-108)

Amon-Ra St. Brown OVER 6.5 Receptions

Our last prop selection of the night comes with the best wide receiver that will be on the field on Thursday with Lions’ star Amon-Ra St. Brown.

Amon-Ra has topped 90 receptions in each of his first two seasons as a pro and is coming off of a monster 106 catch, 1161 yard season in 2022. Simply put, Jared Goff absolutely loves the former USC product.

The likely absence of Chris Jones on Thursday not only impacts the Chiefs’ rush defense, it also delivers a significant blow to the Chiefs’ pass rush as well. And while the Chiefs’ pass defense isn’t completely inept, there aren’t many cornerbacks on their roster that figure to be able to significantly slow down the Lions’ top pass catcher.

Look for Goff and his favorite target to start the season on the right foot, with St. Brown having a monster performance in the season opener.

Best Odds: BetMGM (-130)