NFL player prop: Call dibs on Gibbs

No matchup of Super Wild Card Weekend offers more compelling storylines than the Rams squaring off with the Lions. Not only is Detroit hosting a postseason game for the first time in 30 years, but the two starting quarterbacks were famously traded for each other. As Jared Goff looks to lead the Lions to their first playoff victory since January 1992, his expected passing duel with Matthew Stafford can be bolstered by the player who has our support for top prop:

The bet: Over 73½ rushing and receiving yards for Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (FanDuel)

In his lone season at Alabama following two years at Georgia Tech, Gibbs produced 926 yards on the ground and 444 through the air. Considering that those 1,370 yards were achieved over just 12 contests, his per-game average was an impressive 114.

Employing a conservative approach with their first-round rookie, Lions coach Dan Campbell and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson have given veteran David Montgomery more touches. But there’s no denying the explosiveness of Gibbs, who has ripped off runs of 14 yards or longer in 12 of his 15 games. Despite a season-low performance in last week’s win over the Vikings, he’s averaging 84 yards from scrimmage per game.

After Detroit traded tight end T.J. Hockenson to Minnesota last year, most of his targets ended up going to running backs. Gibbs has already posted 52 receptions for 316 yards, and his passing-game usage figures to increase since Pro Bowl tight end Sam LaPorta, a fellow rookie, is dealing with a knee injury.

With the season and a return to playoff glory on the line, Gibbs should see his biggest workload to date.