Lions vs. 49ers: Top Fantasy Bets, Predictions for 2024 NFC Championship

Lions vs. 49ers: Top Fantasy Bets, Predictions for 2024 NFC Championship0 of 3

Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

The NFC Championship and a berth in Super Bowl LVIII are at stake Sunday evening when the Detroit Lions head to San Francisco for a showdown with the 49ers.

The Lions hope to write the latest improbable chapter in the best story in the NFL by knocking off their star-studded opponents and advancing to the first Super Bowl in team history.

The 49ers, appearing in their fourth NFC title game in the last five years, will hope to advance to the Super Bowl and win their first Lombardi Trophy since 1995.

Ahead of the game, find out which fantasy bets are worth your time, attention, and money, and which team will ultimately hoist the George Halas Trophy by night’s end Sunday.

Fantasy Bet: Brandon Aiyuk, First TD Scorer1 of 3

Ryan Kang/Getty Images

The Detroit Lions may be strong up front, with a pass rush that proved problematic for the Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but they are susceptible to big pass plays.

Through 17 weeks of the regular season, that unit gave up the second-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers at 40.7.

While Deebo Samuel may be the most explosive playmaker on the 49ers offense, Brandon Aiyuk is the best wide receiver on the roster and should be able to exploit the leaky secondary to great success.

Including the first touchdown of the game.

Aiyuk currently sits at +650 (bet $100, win $750) to find the endzone first. Given the issues that exist on the back end of the Lions defense, which other teams have been able to take advantage of for big gains, there is plenty of evidence that it would be a good bet.

Matthew Stafford threw for 367 yards and two touchdowns and Baker Mayfield tossed three touchdowns and accumulated 349 yards. Brock Purdy will have every chance to put up big numbers and Aiyuk was the team’s most targeted receiver with 105.

Purdy will look for him early and often in an attempt to set the tone and jump out to an early lead.

Fantasy Bet: David Montgomery, Over 0.5 Rushing Touchdowns2 of 3

Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

The San Francisco defense may not give up a ton of yardage on the ground but Montgomery does not need a lot to achieve this bet.

Montgomery scored 13 times this season, with the longest run being 19 yards. He is a big, bruising, physical back who found the end zone in all but three of the 14 games he appeared in.

Though rookie Jahmyr Gibbs is a flashier, more explosive back, Montgomery is a tone-setter and Dan Campbell is a coach who will look to establish a certain level of physicality, meaning Montgomery may very well eclipse the 0.5 touchdown threshold fairly early.

Montgomery is currently +165 (bet $100, win $265) to score over half a touchdown.

Regardless of when he finds the endzone, it would seem rather unlikely that Montgomery will go two straight playoff games without his presence being felt via touchdown as the Lions look to establish the run game and keep pressure off of Jared Goff, who is 0-5 in his last five against his former division foes.

Prediction: Niners Return to the Super Bowl3 of 3

Ryan Kang/Getty Images

Both the 49ers and Lions are stingy defenses against the run. They will both look to shut down each other’s ground-based offense and force the opposing back to beat them.

Under offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Jared Goff has played his best and most consistent football. Sent packing from Los Angeles, with the idea that he would be a placeholder at best for the Lions, he has developed into a franchise QB with the leadership qualities necessary to lead his team to this point.

He has the weapons, too, in Amon-Ra St. Brown, Josh Reynolds, Jameson Williams, and running backs Gibbs and Montgomery. He can put points up.

With that said, he is still prone to mistakes when pressured and San Francisco defensive coordinator Steve Wilks will look to test the health of the Detroit offensive line by sending unique blitz packages to confuse and stunt Goff’s play.

Brock Purdy will be able to find his receivers downfield against a Lions defense that gives up big plays to talented receivers, of which the 49ers have plenty.

The Lions will make it interesting for a half or so before the high-powered Niners do just enough to ensure this Cinderella story strikes midnight.

Prediction: 49ers advance to Super Bowl LVIII with 10-point win over Detroit

Gambling problem? Call (877-8-HOPENY) or text HOPENY (467369).

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/MI/NJ/PA/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/NH), 888-789-7777/visiting ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 1-877-770-STOP (7867) (LA), visiting OPGR.org (OR), or calling/texting TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).

Odds and lines subject to change. 21+ (18+ NH/WY). AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/LA/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for full terms and conditions.