Best Chiefs-Lions prop bets: Top SuperDraft parlay picks for Week 1 Thursday Night Football

Nick Brinkerhoff

Best Chiefs-Lions prop bets: Top SuperDraft parlay picks for Week 1 Thursday Night Football image

Football fans have been waiting all offseason for Thursday night. It might not have the same ring as Carrie Underwood's hit theme song, but it'll do. The Chiefs welcome the Lions to Kansas City for what will be a night of celebration and, hopefully, some good football. The matchup caught many by surprise when the schedule was released, but the Lions hype train is off the tracks and the bandwagon is just about full, giving many a glimpse into what Dan Campbell's team is capable of in 2023. 

The Lions are mostly newcomers to the prime-time schedule, but Jared Goff and Patrick Mahomes have delivered in the past when the game kicks off after 8 p.m. ET. Remember the famous "Monday Night Football" thriller in 2018? Excitement is high, expectations are higher, and we can finally start cashing some NFL wagers again. Football is back. With that, let's head over to SuperDraft and find our favorite props to parlay for the season opener. 

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SuperDraft users can win 3X the amount wagered if their two-legged player prop parlay hits. Consequently, the more legs you add to your player prop parlay, the larger your potential payout becomes, but as the long odds indicate, completing a clean sweep is challenging.

Below, we'll break down four of our favorite SuperDraft player props for Thursday night's NFL season opener between the Chiefs and Lions. Users don't necessarily have to parlay all four picks together, though. Instead, you could make separate two-legged parlays to increase your win probability or attempt to hit it big if all three picks come through.

MORE: Join SuperDraft now and enjoy a first deposit match up to $20! Enter promo code "TSN" for a free $10 when you register!

Best Chiefs-Lions prop bets: SuperDraft player prop picks for Week 1

*10x potential payout if users parlay all four correct picks

1. Travis Kelce, TE, Chiefs — OVER 6.5 receptions

UPDATE 9/7: Kelce's injury has kept his props off the market for the time being. Now that he's officially OUT, we'll lean into the OVER on the Lions' Sam LaPorta's receiving yards line set at 29.5.

It might take some time for Patrick Mahomes -- or more specifically, his receivers with bigger roles in 2023 -- to adjust, but Kelce remains the constant in this offense. There's no denying to chemistry between the quarterback and tight end, who saw around nine targets per game on average in 2023 while hauling in around 6.5 receptions in the regular season. 

Kelce is always a mismatch for defenses, and his true value is in the guaranteed volume he gets every week. With that in mind, expect Kelce to have plenty of production in front of Chiefs Kingdom at Arrowhead on opening night and beat his average receiving total from last season. 

MORE SUPERDRAFT DFS & FANTASY PROPS: How to play SuperDraft

2. Skyy Moore, WR, Chiefs — OVER 38.5 receiving yards

UPDATE 9/7: Moore's receiving yards are currently off the market, so we also like Amon-Ra St. Brown to record at least seven receptions as a replacement option. With Travis Kelce OUT, we like Moore's OVER up to 55.5 yards given the extra targets he figures to see.

JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman aren't walking through that door anymore, leaving 135 targets, 1,230 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns up for grabs in the Chiefs offense. After securing a starting, every-down role for Kansas City, it's Moore's time to shine. Kadarius Toney's inclusion could complicate matters, but if the Chiefs have proven anything over the years, it's that there's plenty of production to go around. 

Moore has been the trendy breakout pick for Kansas City and has a great chance to make a lot of people look smart in Week 1 with a matchup against 2022's worst defense. Granted, Detroit did improve their defense in the offseason with the additions of C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Cameron Sutton, and Emmanuel Moseley (knee), who's uncertain for the opener. The Lions' defense really can't be much worse, but the key to hitting on picks early in the season is relying on players with opportunity. The sky is the limit for Moore, so expect him to hit the OVER. 

3. Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Lions — OVER 70.5 rushing and receiving yards

UPDATE 9/7: Gibbs' rushing and receiving yards are currently off the market. We like his OVER 3.5 receptions as replacement. 

Speaking of opportunity, we welcome Gibbs to our picks for Thursday night. The highly drafted running back will certainly be part of Detroit's plans offensively, but we just don't know how yet. Take it from Lions OC Ben Johnson, who said in a press conference, "We might use Gibbs in some ways that people don’t quite think we might."

Many have drawn the conclusion that will be as a receiving threat, but could it be in the backfield as a runner? The expectation has been that David Montgomery would assume the role that Jamaal Williams played last season while Gibbs would be more of a pass-catching option. A definitive answer isn't there one way or another, but we know the No. 12 overall pick in April's draft will see plenty of action. Kansas City's defense had the second-most targets, most receptions, and fourth-most receiving yards allowed to running backs in 2022. It makes sense since many teams were playing from behind against Andy Reid's team. Gibbs' 70.5 number is fairly high for a debut with his usage in question, but we believe he'll find 71 total yards either way. 

MORE: Join SuperDraft now and enjoy a first deposit match up to $20! Enter promo code "TSN" for a free $10 when you register!

4. Josh Reynolds, WR, Lions — OVER 25.5 receiving yards

Much like Kelce for Kansas City, familiarity is key on opening night for Reynolds. Detroit's receiving depth is well-documented by now with Jameson Williams' suspension being the headliner. Amon-Ra St. Brown picked up an ankle injury during training camp, but he will be ready to go. Regardless, Detroit is going to need other players to step up and contribute. Enter Reynolds, who played in Los Angeles with Goff as a member of the Rams and last year with Detroit. 

He's been mostly a depth piece in the past, but he should be relied upon when the regular season kicks off. With only five receivers on the active roster, expect Goff to trust some of the veterans, especially in what will be a tough environment. With Reynolds expected to start, it's worth noting that as a starter in 2022, he beat this total in seven-of-11 games, posting at least 50 yards four times. It also doesn't hurt that in his only game with Goff against the Chiefs, Reynolds put up six catches (eight targets), 80 yards, and a touchdown in 2018's Monday Night Football classic. Reynolds has a big frame and can be a threat to stretch the field, so don't be surprised if he finds the end zone or has plenty to say about who wins on Thursday night. 

Nick Brinkerhoff

Nick Brinkerhoff Photo

Nick Brinkerhoff is a content producer at The Sporting News covering the NFL, NBA and other sports. A proud New Jerseyan, Nick is also a graduate of Rutgers University. He is always in the mood for a good joke, the day’s best bets, or a debate about the mediocrity of the New York sports scene.