Going into the season, it appeared that Monday Night Football’s matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions would be one of the season’s most anticipated. With the 49ers and Lions having faced off in a tightly-contested NFC Championship Game in January, it seemed to be an important battle for playoff positioning and, potentially, a conference championship preview.
However, thanks to a litany of injuries, San Francisco has floundered. The 6-9 49ers were eliminated from the playoffs two weeks ago and have nothing to play for. Meanwhile, the Lions are 14-2 and can take the No. 1 seed in the NFC if they beat the Minnesota Vikings next Sunday.
None of San Francisco’s problems have been the fault of four-time All-Pro tight end George Kittle, who’s hauled in 68 catches for 967 yards and eight touchdowns.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, the 49ers are 3.5-point underdogs, and the point total is set at 50.5. Below, I’ve identified my favorite prop bets centered around Kittle.
Best George Kittle Prop Bets on DraftKings Sportsbook
George Kittle 90+ Receiving Yards (+200)
In a season of turmoil for San Francisco, Kittle has been one of few constants.
Top receiver Deebo Samuel has been inconsistent, while his running mate Brandon Aiyuk tore his ACL in Week 7, ending a frustrating season early. The 49ers have lost each of their top three running backs to season-ending injuries. It’s no surprise that quarterback Brock Purdy has had the worst season of his three-year career.
With breakout wide receiver Jauan Jennings and Kittle as his only reliable targets, Purdy has leaned heavily on his veteran tight end. Although Jennings leads the team in overall target share (26.1%), Kittle is not far behind at 23.4%. He’s also by far Purdy’s favorite target within the red zone, garnering 32.8% of targets within the opponent’s 20-yard line, the seventh-highest rate in football. Kittle has posted 100 or more receiving yards in two of his past three games.
Meanwhile, although it can be partially attributable to the brilliance of Detroit’s offense, the Lions have given up yards in bunches to opposing receivers. Overall, Detroit has conceded 3,826 yards through the air — more than all but 12 teams — at the league’s fourth-worst efficiency (12.2 yards per reception). The Lions have also been extremely susceptible to the big play, allowing 55 receptions of 20 yards or more, more than any team except for the woeful Jacksonville Jaguars.
George Kittle O5.5 Receptions (+105)
Kittle has always been a reliable target, but he has been even more sure-handed than usual in 2024. He’s recording a career-high 81.9% catch percentage and has caught at least six passes in five of his last eight games.
Plus, if Detroit — the league’s most potent offense, with 32.9 points per game — jumps out to a big lead early on, Purdy might have to throw to keep up, especially given that running back Isaac Guerendo is a relatively untested rookie and far from the workhorse that Christian McCaffrey is. With Guerendo an inconsistent runner and a non-factor in the passing game, any early momentum by the Lions offense should mean more targets — and more catches — for Kittle.
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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook, lines and odds subject to change.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skills and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
