Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs. Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

NFL player prop: Rookie ready to roar

By John Dudley | Last updated 9/7/23

Winning the Super Bowl for the second time in the last four years earned the Chiefs the traditional honor of kicking off the next season at home on Thursday night. While the up-and-coming Lions make for an intriguing opponent, the game marks the first time since 2001 that the defending champs have opened against a non-playoff team from the other conference. In what figures to be a high-scoring affair, an electric newcomer on the visitors deserves our backing for top prop:

The bet: Over 31½ receiving yards for Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (DraftKings)

After averaging more than 40 receiving yards per game during his two seasons at Georgia Tech, Gibbs transferred to Alabama and became the lead back. In addition to gaining 926 yards on the ground, he caught a team-high 44 passes and turned them into 444 yards.

Now Gibbs, the 12th overall pick in the draft, gets to make his pro debut against a Kansas City defense that allowed the most receptions by running backs last year. He will be a featured playmaker for a high-octane Detroit offense, and his deployment figures to be unique for his position. Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson indicated as much by saying, “We might use Gibbs in some ways that people don’t quite think we might.”

With star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown running a lot of short and intermediate routes and expected field stretcher Jameson Williams serving a suspension, Gibbs could well assume the role of vertical threat. But even operating as a traditional tailback, he should see enough check-downs from Jared Goff to clear this number.

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