...
By Matt Modi
Sports Betting Writer
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
This NFC North matchup between the Lions and the Packers is a doozy, as both of these teams have legitimate Super Bowl aspirations, and this game could very well end up deciding who holds the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs.
That might sound hyperbolic, of course, as there is still a ton of football left to play, but these two teams have the two best records in the NFC right now.
The Lions have the best record in the NFC at 6-1, but the Packers are not far behind them at 6-2, which is tied with the Commanders for the second-best record in the conference.
Read More
NFL Week 9 Early Picks Against the Spread For All 15 Games8 min read
Best NFL Week 9 Upset Bets: Can Bryce Young Bounce Back vs. New Orleans?6 min read
NFL Week 9 Player Props: 3 Best Bets for Sunday5 min read
Even with the expectation that Jordan Love is going to be able to play this game, the Lions are road favorites, currently favored by 2.5 to 3 points against the spread, depending on where you look.
Kickoff is set for 4:25 p.m. ET. Now, let's get into our best NFL player prop picks for Lions vs. Packers.
Jayden Reed o45.5 Rec. Yards (-110) Bet365
After three quiet games in a row, we are backing Reed to bounce back in a big way against the Lions.
We can somewhat forgive him for last week, as Jordan Love spent the first half of that game clearly hampered by his groin injury and not playing well, and then Malik Willis took over for the second half.
BET , GET 0 BONUS BETS
DRAFTKINGS SPORTSBOOK
,000 FIRST BET RESET (MUST USE CODE NEWSWEEK)
ESPN BET
,500 FIRST-BET OFFER
BETMGM
0 BONUS OR ,000 FIRST-BET SAFETY NET
BET365
,000 FIRST BET
CAESARS SPORTSBOOK
BET , WIN 0 BONUS BETS
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK
Reed has always been a boom-or-bust type of player, so it is not a total shock to see him with lower production over the past three weeks.
With that said, after these three bust games, we are betting on a "boom" this week against the Lions. This was the case last year and has continued into this year as well, but the Lions are a pass-funnel type of defense that is tough to run on.
On the season, the Lions are allowing the sixth-fewest rushing yards per game on the seventh-lowest yards after contact per attempt. However, they have allowed the second-most receiving yards to WRs in the entire NFL.
The Packers admittedly do not have a traditional, alpha No. 1 receiver, but there are games where Reed is the primary option in this passing attack, and the Lions have allowed the most passing yards per game to opposing No. 1 receivers, per DVOA.
On the year, this is a number that Reed has hit in five of eight games, including three in which he easily exceeded 46 yards, with 78, 138 and 139 receiving yards in the first three games in which Jordan Love started.
Look for Reed to have a big game on Sunday.
Jayden Reed over 45.5 receiving yards (-110): 1 Unit
Sam LaPorta Anytime TD (+225) Fanatics
On the other side of the field, we love this matchup for Sam LaPorta to get into the end zone for the Lions.
After a slow start to the season, LaPorta has come on recently. He did not score a touchdown in any of the Lions' first four games of the season, but he has scored twice in the last three weeks.
Last week alone, he had three red zone targets after receiving a combined two red zone targets in his team's first six games.
Part of the increased usage for LaPorta has been due to Lions WR Jameson Williams missing games, and Williams will be out for this game (and the foreseeable future).
LaPorta's recent increase in targets is something that we should be able to count on as long as Williams is out.
This is also a plus matchup against a Packers defense that has gotten shredded by tight ends over the past month or so.
Since Week 3, the Packers have allowed the second-most receptions to tight ends, along with the sixth-most yards and tied for the fourth-most touchdowns.
LaPorta had a historic rookie season with 10 receiving touchdowns, and it looks as though he is starting to get back in the groove that he was in last year.
He is a great Anytime Touchdown bet, especially at these odds.
Sam LaPorta Anytime Touchdown (+225): 0.50 Units
Newsweek may earn an affiliate commission if you sign up through the links in this article. See the sportsbook operator's terms and conditions for important details. Sports betting operators have no influence over newsroom coverage.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines