AFC Championship Game Player Props: Top Predictions for Sunday, 1/26
What can we expect on Sunday from Khalil Shakir, Josh Allen, and James Cook? Follow along as our NFL betting expert, Nick Galaida, breaks down three of his favorite NFL prop bets for Sunday, January 26, 2025. Get all of Nick’s picks, including more football props, at ScoresAndOdds.
Tonight, NFL fans will be treated to another installment of the Josh Allen vs. Patrick Mahomes rivalry when the Buffalo Bills meet the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game. Buffalo is seeking their 1st Super Bowl appearance since 1994. Kansas City is hoping to get back to the big game for the 3rd consecutive season with a win this evening.
If looking to wager on the player prop market for Bills vs. Chiefs, we have 3 prop leans to consider for Sunday’s AFC Championship game!
AFC Championship Game, Sunday – NFL Player Props
- Khalil Shakir Over/Under 5.5 Receptions
- Josh Allen Over/Under 30.5 Pass Attempts
- James Cook Over/Under 12.5 Yards Longest Rush
Khalil Shakir OVER 5.5 Receptions (+110, Bally)
Khalil Shakir is Josh Allen’s favorite target when blitzed, which should lead to him seeing a number of targets on Sunday. This season, Shakir had 21 receptions and 241 receiving yards against the blitz. No other member of Buffalo’s receiving corps had more than 10 receptions or 180 receiving yards in such situations. Shakir had 8 receptions on 12 targets against the Chiefs during the regular season this year as Allen’s primary security blanket. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him heavily involved in the game plan once again.
Josh Allen OVER 30.5 Pass Attempts (-120, BetMGM)
Josh Allen has played 12 career playoff games. He has 35+ pass attempts in 8 of those contests and only 3 games with fewer than 30 pass attempts. In 3 career playoff games against the Chiefs, he’s thrown the ball 37 times, 39 times, and 48 times. Earlier this season, Allen threw the ball 40 times against Kansas City in a game that Buffalo led throughout. In a negative game script, it’s logical to conclude that the Bills could skew even pass heavier, especially given how adept the Chiefs are at ball control when they have a lead. There are a number of different ways in which this play could cash.
James Cook OVER 12.5 Yards Longest Rush (-120, DraftKings)
James Cook has at least 1 rush attempt for 13+ yards in 10 of his 18 games this season, including half of his road games and 3 of 4 primetime affairs. Those trends don’t have the most predictive value, but they do demonstrate that Cook has proof of concept, and he has proven himself capable of performing under the bright lights.
Kansas City’s defense has been increasingly vulnerable to big plays on the ground as the season has progressed. Since Week 12, they have allowed 8 of 11 running backs to go over their prop for longest rush. Cook should have opportunities to continue that trend in the AFC Championship game.
Check out the best DFS apps for fantasy football pick’em, and be sure to use our Sleeper promo code.
Image Credit: Getty Images