Cowboys vs. Saints: The best player prop bets for TNF

The New Orleans Saints will look to snap a four-game losing streak when they host the Dallas Cowboys inside the Superdome on Thursday Night Football in Week 13.

With Jameis Winston out for the season and Taysom Hill sidelined with a foot injury, backup Trevor Siemian has been tasked with leading the Saints offense and has lost all four of his starts.

Hill may step back into the starting lineup on Thursday to attempt to right the ship against a Cowboys defense that just surrendered 509 yards of offense in a 33-30 overtime defeat to the Las Vegas Raiders on Thanksgiving.

Dallas posted 373 passing yards in the loss but got just 64 rushing yards combined from hobbled running back Ezekiel Elliott and backup Tony Pollard.

The Saints defense also had issues in its Thanksgiving matchup with the Buffalo Bills. Quarterback Josh Allen went 23-of-28 passing for 260 yards and four touchdowns in the 31-6 beating, while New Orleans' offense totaled 190 yards, including 44 yards on the ground.

With the Saints reeling from injuries and the Cowboys navigating a recent COVID-19 outbreak, Thursday’s battle could go either way between two NFC teams in the playoff hunt.

Let’s dissect the matchup further, as we look at the three best player props to bet in Week 13’s Thursday Night Football contest.

Dak Prescott: Over/Under 285.5 passing yards

With Elliott working through a knee issue and starting right tackle Terence Steele sidelined because of COVID-19 protocols, the Cowboys' rushing attack has its back against the wall as it faces the league's No. 3 run stop unit.

The Saints surrender 91.9 rushing yards per game, but against the pass, they allow 251.8 yards per contest (23rd most in the NFL). 

In order for the Cowboys to snap their two-game skid, quarterback Dak Prescott will need a huge performance through the air.

Prescott averages 293.2 passing yards per game and has surpassed 286 yards in two of his past three outings.

Receiver Amari Cooper is questionable for Thursday's matchup, after he missed the last two games because of COVID-19, but Prescott will regain wideout CeeDee Lamb, who is out of concussion protocol.

With both of those players out in last Thursday's Thanksgiving battle, Prescott still managed to pass for 375 yards.

He'll get the chance to air it out again on Thursday and will hit the Over on 285.5 passing yards with Lamb back in the lineup.

Pick: Over 285.5 passing yards (-115)

Dalton Schultz: Over/Under 42.5 receiving yards

Another receiver Prescott will look to often in Thursday's matchup is tight end Dalton Schultz, who ranks second on the Cowboys, behind Lamb, in targets (66) and receptions (47).

On Thanksgiving, Schultz recorded his eighth game with 43 or more receiving yards and caught a 32-yard touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter.

The fourth-year tight end will confront a Saints defense that allows an average of 42.3 receiving yards and 4.6 receptions to tight ends.

In recent matchups against Philadelphia and Atlanta, New Orleans let Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert and Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts each rack up more than 60 yards receiving.

Schultz should enjoy a similar type of performance and will hit the Over on 42.5 receiving yards.

Pick: Over 42.5 receiving yards (-118)

Tre'Quan Smith: Over/Under 39.5 receiving yards

New Orleans' rushing attack has been as limited as Dallas', with star running back Alvin Kamara out with a knee injury. 

With Kamara likely to miss his fourth straight game, the Saints will rely on their passing game against the Cowboys' sixth worst pass defense (262.3 yards per contest), which surrenders 11.6 yards per completion.

In the last five games, Tre'Quan Smith has emerged as a top-three receiver for the Saints, and has averaged 12.06 yards per catch. 

He has topped 40 receiving yards in three of his past four games and will hit the Over on 39.5 receiving yards Thursday, regardless of which quarterback is under center.

Pick: Over 39.5 receiving yards (-115)