Every NFL fan knows what’s coming once the afternoon games conclude and Carrie Underwood starts singing. It is time for Sunday Night Football. Week 18 provides a much-anticipated matchup. The Minnesota Vikings (14-2) battle the Detroit Lions (14-2) at Ford Field.
Here’s a look at three-player prop bets that stick out from the rest in this collision of NFC powerhouses.
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Best NFL Week 18 Sunday Night Football Player Prop Bets: Vikings vs. Lions
(Odds Courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Jameson Williams OVER 59.5 Receiving Yards (-120)
Focus on pass-catchers in this showdown as the Lions and Vikings dominate through the air. Both teams rank among the top seven in passing yards per game and yards per completion. Detroit’s Jameson Williams has solidified his role as a consistent deep threat opposite Pro Bowler Amon-Ra St. Brown. The former Alabama speedster has averaged 75.8 yards on 4.4 catches per contest since the calendar turned to November. He’s tallied at least 60 receiving yards in five of the eight games during that span.
Keep in mind Minnesota has conceded the most receptions (240) and the second-most receiving yards (2,978) to opposing wideouts this season. It has also allowed 50 completions of 20 yards or more (ninth-most in the NFL). Lions quarterback Jared Goff has posted a career-high 9.2 air yards per pass attempt so far and has shown zero hesitation in slinging the football. There’s no reason to believe that stops now. Trust Williams to be targeted early and often in what is expected to be an offensive shootout.
Justin Jefferson 120+ Receiving Yards (+180)
The 2024 campaign has been one to remember for Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson considering he leads the league in yards per touch (14.7) and has tied his personal best with 10 touchdowns. Sunday night provides an opportunity to add to those marks massively. Jefferson has averaged a ridiculous 182.5 yards on 10.8 receptions (13.8 targets) per game across four trips to Ford Field. He crossed the 120-yard mark in all four contests as he frustrated one Detroit defender after another.
Detroit does not have the personnel to slow down Jefferson this time around. Multiple cornerbacks have been ruled out, including veteran leader Carlton Davis with a fractured jaw. Overall, the Lions are the one team that has surrendered more yards to wideouts than the Vikings (3,040). It has been tagged for 1,073 yards through the air in its past three games alone. Taking the over on Jefferson’s receiving yards line (94.5) is a great option, but I prefer going even bigger with a 120+ alt line at +180 odds.
Sam LaPorta Anytime Touchdown Scorer (+150)
The Lions are putting up a league-best 35.9 points per home game and boast a roster full of exciting playmakers. It makes the search for an underrated touchdown scorer a quick one. Only three tight ends have logged 11 red-zone targets since Week 12. They are Kansas City’s Travis Kelce, Arizona’s Trey McBride, and Detroit’s Sam LaPorta. LaPorta has regained the reliability he was missing in the early goings with four touchdowns in that stretch. Take note that 12 of his 17 career TDs have come at home.
There’s no denying that the Vikings have been guided by their hard-hitting defense. However, Minnesota has given up a touchdown on 71.4% of it opponent’s red-zone drives in away contests. That is the sixth-highest percentage in the NFL. Look for the Lions to be celebrating in front of their fans in the end zone instead of settling for short field goals against an NFC North rival. LaPorta scored in the final clash of the 2023 regular season and he has a great chance of replicating that result one year later.
