NFL player prop: Rice putting up numbers

A pair of suddenly vulnerable AFC heavyweights will square off in Week 14’s main event. The defending-champion Chiefs have lost three of their last five games to fall to 8-4, and they now host the desperate 6-6 Bills, who still rue an overtime playoff defeat in Kansas City two years ago. Although Buffalo did get a modicum of payback by winning an early meeting last season, this game has major playoff implications for both sides — and a newcomer to the rivalry gets our support for top prop:

The bet: Over 51½ receiving yards for Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (FanDuel)

As a senior at SMU, Rice caught 96 passes and averaged a sparkling 113 yards per game. He was made a second-round pick, but coach Andy Reid has elected to bring the rookie along slowly, keeping his offensive snaps below 70%.

Even so, Rice has increasingly produced like a No. 1 receiver, delivering back-to-back eight-catch games. He eclipsed the century mark for the first time two weeks ago with 107 yards and a touchdown as the Chiefs beat the Raiders. Then he comfortably cleared this number again last Sunday, finishing with 64 yards in a loss to the Packers.

Kansas City is playing this game without the services of lead back Isiah Pacheco, who’s sidelined by a shoulder injury. Patrick Mahomes figures to pass the ball even more than usual, and top target Travis Kelce will be a primary focus of Buffalo’s coverage schemes.

Those circumstances and the significance of the outcome should result in a heaping helping of Rice.