Lions Vs. Bills Best Bets: 5 Player Props For Thursday Night Football

Thursday Night Football gives us one of the most appealing betting environments of Week 2 as the Detroit Lions travel to Buffalo to face the Bills. With Buffalo entering as a home favorite and the game carrying one of the highest totals on the slate, there should be opportunities on both sides of the ball. My five favorite props attack that matchup from different angles, with James Cook benefiting if Buffalo controls the game and several Detroit passing-game props benefiting if the Lions are forced to chase points.

James Cook Over 78.5 Rushing Yards

James Cook’s rushing line feels too low compared to both his 2025 production and the matchup. Cook rushed for 1,621 yards on 309 carries last season, averaging 5.25 yards per carry and 95.4 rushing yards per game, putting this line nearly 17 yards below his season average.

The 57 rushing yards Cook produced in Week 1 don’t tell the entire story. He still played 69.2% of Buffalo’s offensive snaps and handled 88.9% of the Bills’ backfield touches. Now he faces a Detroit defense that surrendered 165 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns to New Orleans in Week 1, while Buffalo being favored at home should create a much better rushing environment.

Pick: James Cook Over 78.5 Rushing Yards

Jahmyr Gibbs Over 30.5 Receiving Yards

Rather than attacking Jahmyr Gibbs’ elevated rushing line, I want his receiving production. Gibbs averaged 36.2 receiving yards per game last season, catching 77 passes for 616 yards, so we aren’t asking him to reach an unfamiliar number.

Week 1 also showed us that Gibbs could be headed for one of the largest workloads of his career. He handled 29 carries and caught all five of his targets for 30 yards, with Sione Vaki receiving only two carries behind him. If Buffalo gets ahead and forces Detroit into a more pass-heavy approach, Gibbs’ receiving involvement should give him plenty of opportunities to clear 30.5 yards.

Pick: Jahmyr Gibbs Over 30.5 Receiving Yards

Sam LaPorta Over 4.5 Receptions

Sam LaPorta’s Week 1 usage is what makes this over attractive. He immediately saw eight targets, turning them into five receptions for 48 yards, and another seven-to-eight-target performance gives him a strong opportunity to clear this number again.

Buffalo allowed Houston to throw for 323 yards and two touchdowns in Week 1, and this game script could require Jared Goff to throw considerably more than Detroit would prefer. If Goff approaches 35-40 attempts, LaPorta doesn’t need an enormous target share to reach five receptions.

Pick: Sam LaPorta Over 4.5 Receptions

Dalton Kincaid Over 3.5 Receptions

This might be my favorite number of the night. Dalton Kincaid opened the season with five receptions for 130 yards on six targets, but the more encouraging development was an expanded role in Buffalo’s offense.

Kincaid was already one of football’s most efficient tight ends on a per-route basis last season; playing time and route volume were the primary factors holding him back. We’re also getting valuable line shopping here, with some books already offering Kincaid at 4.5 receptions. At 3.5, we only need Josh Allen to continue involving him enough to produce four catches.

Pick: Dalton Kincaid Over 3.5 Receptions

Jared Goff Over 34.5 Passing Attempts

Jared Goff’s passing-attempt prop ties the entire Detroit side of this card together. He has attempted 39, 42, 29, 54, and 41 passes over his last five games, averaging 41.0 attempts per game over that stretch. Even in Week 1, when Detroit gave Gibbs 29 carries, Goff still finished with 39 attempts.

Now Detroit goes on the road as an underdog against Buffalo. If the Bills establish a lead, Detroit should be forced away from an extremely run-heavy approach and toward Goff, which simultaneously creates additional opportunities for Gibbs’ receiving yards and LaPorta’s reception totals. We don’t necessarily need an efficient Goff performance; we just need volume.

Pick: Jared Goff Over 34.5 Passing Attempts