NFL Thursday Night Football Player Props & Bets: Lions vs. Bills

by Steve Krebs |
Sep 17, 2026

Week 2 is set to kick off tonight. The first eight days have been nothing short of exhilarating. Let's jump right into our NFL Thursday Night Football player props for the Thursday matchup between the Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills.

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Best Week 2 NFL Thursday Night Football Player Props: Lions vs. Bills

(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)

Jameson Williams 60+ Yards (-112)

We suggested the receiving yards for Jameson Williams earlier in the week to get a jump on some lower totals. That line opened at 50+ and has now ballooned to 60+, with the possibility of ascending a bit further. Hopefully you were able to get in when the total was between 50 and 55 yards. A little extra work needs to get done to clear the 60+ threshold tonight. However, the young receiver could be in a very favorable spot to do so in a projected high-scoring affair.

Williams caught four passes for 45 yards in Week 1 for the Lions. We expect the young receiver to see a few more targets this evening. The total for this contest is at 54. Which means both teams are set to go off offensively, and Williams could very well be the beneficiary in that type of game script. Buffalo allowed over 375 passing yards on 35 completions to New Orleans on Sunday. Detroit clearly has a more prolific offense than New Orleans. Anywhere near 300 yards passing should result in 60+ receiving yards for Williams.

Jahmyr Gibbs 5+ Rushing Yards Every Quarter (-130)

This is one you have to dig for. Luckily, we have done the work for you. When you want to make a game a little more interesting beyond your standard bets and props, take a look at some of the game props. A favorite prop I use regularly is both teams to rush for a touchdown when I'm looking for a positive return, and both teams to throw a touchdown when I'm looking for something to cap off a parlay. The tale of the tape should tell you where and when to utilize these props for the maximum success.

Taking a high-volume player to record at least five yards every quarter in what is currently the highest total on the board will always be a play that profits you in the long run. That's especially true when the player rushed the ball on 29 plays in the team’s first game. Jahmyr Gibbs finished with 156 yards on the ground and 5.4 yards per carry last week. While a repeat of 29 touches sounds ambitious, the five-yards-per-carry mark should be enough for Gibbs to rush for at least five yards in every quarter. The young running back accounted for 29 of the Lions’ 33 rushing attempts in Week 1.

Both Teams to Score 1+ Rushing Touchdown (-130)

As previously mentioned, this is a prop bet that is normally a plus return. Given the 54-point total, the oddsmakers are taxing us. The juice at -130 is not ideal. However, we don't want to miss out on what could be one of the most straightforward options tonight. Not only do we have two of the highest-usage running backs facing off tonight, but Josh Allen also rushed for two touchdowns on Sunday. This play is even more successful when there are two quarterbacks who can score with their legs.

Josh Allen and Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for two touchdowns each in their Week 1 matchups. Gibbs is without a doubt the goal-line option for Detroit. Whereas, in Buffalo, we have two very viable options that can rush for a touchdown. The projected points scored by each team are between 24 and 30 points. If that's the case, it's more than likely to include a rushing touchdown from both teams.

James Cook First Quarter: 1+ Receptions (+109)

James Cook may be looked upon early in this contest considering Detroit's ability to rush the pass. If Josh Allen needs a quick outlet to an open receiver after the defense breaks through, Cook or Dalton Kincaid make the most sense. Kincaid offers a positive return on investment (ROI) on two catches. So, we are going to take the option out of the backfield to catch at least one pass in the first quarter.

Cook caught three passes for 12 yards in Buffalo's first contest against Houston. Detroit is equally as active on the pass rush, which should lead to an early reception for Cook. The Lions successfully dropped the quarterback on four plays against the Texans on Sunday - led by Aidan Hutchinson, who recorded two sacks in the contest. Houston running back David Montgomery caught three passes against Detroit, while Woody Marks also recorded one reception.

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