Happy Thanksgiving! If you’re planning to bet on Week 12 NFL player props for this highly anticipated Minnesota Vikings vs. New England Patriots Thursday matchup, then you’ve come to the right place.
We’ve analyzed the game’s highest-probability scripts to assess the most likely outcomes, including which players are in line to thrive more than anticipated and which could fall short of expectations. All prop bets are based on DraftKings Sportsbook, BetMGM, or FanDuel Sportsbook, where you can get a no-sweat first bet up to $1,000.
Top Vikings vs. Patriots Player Props To Target
The following NFL betting recommendations are based on proprietary PFN predictive analytics pulled from decades of NFL historical data. Using this data, I’ve built dozens of models showing actionable probabilities of better-than-expected and worse-than-expected outcomes.
Kirk Cousins Player Props
How will Kirk Cousins and the Vikings rebound from a 40-3 loss to Dallas on Sunday? That’s the $64,000 question heading into this Thursday night showdown against one of the league’s top defenses.
There’s an interesting pressure point on Cousins’ Thanksgiving production outlook. The Patriots are only 20th in scoring and sixth in offensive time of possession. By and large, they’re doing a good job moving the ball and the clock, but are not posting enough points to force opponents into catch-up mode.
MORE: NFL Survivor Pool Picks Week 12
As I result, I’m not anticipating Cousins engineering a frantic second-half comeback effort. This game should move pretty quickly, featuring both backfields prominently.
That doesn’t mean we’re looking at 140 yards for Cousins; he’ll pick his moments with one of the NFC’s best receiving corps in a critically important rebound game. But we should temper expectations.
- Passing attempts under 32.5
(-108) — FanDuel - Passing yards under 250.5
(-115) — BetMGM - Passing TDs under 1.5
(-110) — DraftKings - Interceptions under 0.5
(-125) — DraftKings
Dalvin Cook Player Props
Which team is yielding the fewest RB fantasy points per game? The Patriots. Opposing backs are averaging only 3.9 yards per carry. Dalvin Cook could be in for a long night.
Except . . . Minnesota has inexplicably gone away from their bell cow in the passing game. Cook’s receptions per contest have dwindled each year since reaching 3.8 in 2019. This year he’s netting only 2.2. What gives? I don’t know, because I haven’t talked with their coaching staff, because I lost their phone numbers.
Here’s what I do know: offenses and defenses adjust. It’s the nature of sports. And four days after an embarrassing home loss in which Cook went catch-less, I’m anticipating the Vikings will get him more involved in an area where he can be most dangerous.
Cook was No. 5 in the NFL (among all players, not just RBs) in yards after the catch in 2019. And as good as New England has been against running backs on the ground, they’ve been only middling against RBs through the air, giving up the 17th most RB receiving yards.
Your turkey and stuffing won’t be the only things Cooking on Thanksgiving. (Thank you, thank you.)
- Rushing yards under 74.5
(-114) — FanDuel - Receptions over 2.5
(+150) — DraftKings - Receiving yards over 11.5
(-114) — FanDuel
Justin Jefferson Player Props
I keep referring to Sunday because it’s essential to understanding what could happen Thursday. Against the Cowboys, Justin Jefferson saw only five targets — his fewest since Week 9 last season.
While 80+ yards might be a stretch, I expect Cousins to pepper his No. 1 receiver with looks. They might need to get creative, such as hitting Jefferson on quick strikes at the line of scrimmage, hoping he can juke the defensive back and pick up some chunk yards.
Simply put, it would be shocking to me if he has less than four targets in the first two drives, and 10+ for the game seems realistic. I’m eyeing a roughly 7-58-1 receiving line.
- Receptions over 6.5
(+105) — DraftKings - Receiving yards under 88.5
(-115) — DraftKings
T.J. Hockenson Player Props
Every week I write the same thing about T.J. Hockenson: the Vikings acquired him to generate offense, not merely block (although in fairness, blocking does generate offense for teammates, but let’s not get stuck in the weeds).
Since joining his new team, Hockenson has hit 9+ targets in each game while averaging seven receptions for 50 yards. That’s a reasonable expectation in this matchup.
- Receptions over 4.5
(+112) — FanDuel - Receiving yards over 42.5
(-114) — FanDuel
Mac Jones Player Props
There aren’t as many Patriots props to choose from, except the “Anytime TD” variety. But two guys offer intriguing betting opportunities.
First, Mac Jones might not be the answer for New England beyond this season. But he doesn’t need to be this season if his backfield and defense continue to produce W’s. As long as this game stays close, Jones might not be asked to do much — not surprising for a guy with four passing TDs and seven picks.
- Passing yards under 224.5
(-114) — FanDuel - Passing TDs under 1.5
(-225) — BetMGM
Rhamondre Stevenson Player Props
Is Rhamondre Stevenson slowing down? He never operated as a bell cow in college, and his yards per carry have dropped in recent weeks. He earned 21 touches on Sunday, compared to only 10 for the seemingly rejuvenated and healthy Damien Harris.
This might spell trouble for Stevenson, who’s no lock to maintain his 1A role. 10 carries for 45 yards seems more realistic than 14+ for 59+.
- Rushing attempts under 13.5
(-105) — DraftKings - Rushing yards under 58.5
(-114) — FanDuel