Monday Night Football’s meeting between the Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers may not have the buzz the league wanted for this Week 17 finale, but at least we have a tall total promising plenty of points.
That means lots of live options for Lions vs. 49ers anytime touchdown picks. Sportsbooks currently have eight players priced shorter than 2/1 in the “TD anytime” market.
I dig into the matchups for MNF looking for more bang for our "touchdown anytime" buck. Here are my best NFL picks and predictions for Lions vs. 49ers on Monday, December 30.
Lions anytime touchdown pick
Craig Reynolds anytime touchdown
+550 at FanDuel
Craig Reynolds gets a bump up the depth chart due to the injury to RB David Montgomery.
While fellow running back Jahmyr Gibbs will log the lion’s share of touches on Monday, Reynolds could see carries – especially if Detroit pulls away in the second half.
With a vital Week 18 game against Minnesota waiting for the Lions, Reynolds would get more run if the Lions can build a lead and lean into the ground game to protect it.
He logged 15% of snaps in Week 16, running four times for 18 yards while catching one pass for five yards.
Gibbs is a hefty -270 favorite to score a touchdown against a San Francisco defense ranked among the worst run stop units in the land. The 49ers have given up 15 rushing touchdowns and two receiving TDs to running backs this season, and those stats benefit Reynolds as well.
Given the high total and the Lions playing with much more motivation than their counterparts, Reynolds is a live “TDAT” flyer at this price. Some books have him shorter than 3/1 to score on Monday night.
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49ers anytime touchdown pick
Brock Purdy anytime touchdown
+500 at FanDuel
Brock Purdy was forced to make plays with his legs against the Lions in last season’s NFC Championship Game, rushing five times for 48 yards. Many player projections forecast another busy night for Purdy’s legs in Week 17, facing one of the most aggressive defenses in the NFL.
Detroit brings blitz at the second highest rate in the league, which means Purdy will be hearing footsteps. The San Francisco offensive line is a patch work protection and missing all-world tackle Trent Williams. Those crumbling pockets could prompt the Niners QB to tuck and run for the end zone on any plays inside the 20-yard line.
Purdy has four rushing touchdowns on the year and with the 49ers running back room worn very thin, he could also get his own number called for QB sneaks on any goal line possessions.
Adding to any rushing value with Purdy is a Lions pass defense that play predominantly man-to-man coverage, which means defenders are following their assignments and turning their backs to the quarterback, giving him a better chance to slip away.
Some sportsbooks have Purdy’s “touchdown anytime” odds as low as +375 but FanDuel is offering the Niners QB to crack the goal line at +500.
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